careers-in-america.com

Caryn Gottlieb FitzGerald asked:


When my daughter was born, I had no second thoughts about going back into the work place. After all, I had spent 6 years in college getting both a bachelors and masters degree in the field I had wanted to make my career. I spent many years in the prison system as a mental health counselor for medium security male inmates. I enjoyed what I did, but in the back of my mind I was always thinking, is this really it for me? Is this really what I want to do with the rest of my life? Do I really want to be working for someone else? When my daughter was about 18 months old, I started thinking more about leaving corporate America and branching out on my own. I jumped at the first direct sales option that came along without doing research, what a mistake. In the end, I think it cost me more than I had earned and I was still in the same career I was trying to get out of. My husband, although very supportive of my desire to get out of the workplace and be able to be home to raise our daughter, said this to me, “honey, you can do whatever you like as long as you are happy and you are earning money.” We have a lifestyle that we enjoy, so if I were to leave the workplace and my salary was gone, we would have had serious financial issues and that scared me. What if I caused our family to be out on the street because of my selfish desire to be an at home mommy?

In the end of 2002 I decided to make a serious effort to be home with my daughter and have my own company generating an income for our family. The only thing was, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had heard about different direct sales companies over the years, but for some reason everyone I knew that was involved with them was still in corporate America in one way or another as they were only making enough to provide a little extra. I was seeing these people working 40 hours for someone else PLUS 10-20 hours for themselves giving them a small financial gain and less time to spend with their families. This was not what I was striving for.

Then in early 2003 the answer came to my door, literally. I received a jewelry catalog from a friend in another state. She was selling this jewelry and was passing the catalog on so I could see what she was offering (and buy something of course). I glanced at the catalog and realized I wanted a lot of the jewelry that was in it. As I read through it, I saw a paragraph about earning money and immediately called my friend. I wanted to know more about it. She gave me the information and it was great – 50% on my orders immediately, low start up cost, all items guaranteed and the company was over 20 years old, I was sold! I talked to everyone I know and generated an order for my start-up costs. From there things went slowly but steadily upwards. I was still working in corporate America, but each month I was getting more and more customers and my confidence was growing. I was also able to take my daughter with me when I did my home shows, which made this even more appealing, plus it was nice to be able to get her that special something she wanted when we went to the toy store. She and I were spending our weekends together as my company began to grow. In the summer of 2003, my husband got word that he was being offered a promotion. However, this also meant we were going to be transferred. At first, the thought frightened us, but then we realized that this was not only a great Opportunity for him, but if all went well this could be the answer to growing my business even larger as we were moving from a small rural area to a large city which would have an incredible client base. For the next few months, I worked my fingers to the bone, marketing my products and doing research on how to increase my visibility and income. My bookings increased as did my return customers, and I began to really hear what they were saying. As people can only buy so much jewelry for themselves, I heard my customers saying “I’m going to get this for my daughter…my friend…my boss.” I soon realized that many of them were buying these items as gifts. My mind started working overtime gifts need cards, why should my customers have to go to a store for their cards? I could offer those as well. The end of 2003 was fast approaching, and the move was drawing near, I acted fast and decided to do research on expanding my offerings.

The last few months of 2003 and the first month of 2004 are basically a blur as things happened so fast. We moved from Georgia to Texas and I never did return to corporate America. Instead I listened to what my customers were requesting and between February & March I had added a wonderful line of personalized cards called PS I Love You as well as Arbonne, the most amazing skin & health care products I have ever used in my life, to my company’s offerings. In addition, my years of playing on the computer finally paid off in that I was able to build websites and network to build my personal and professional relationships through the Internet. My company finally had a name as well ~ FitzByDesign and the motto of “You know it Fitz your budget if it’s from Fitz By Design.” The products I offer are high quality at low cost and that is what makes it the success it is today.

It was a long hard struggle to be able to get to where I am now. I learned that yes, it is a big leap of faith, but with the proper guidance you can create a business for yourself that you truly enjoy offering to others. I would like to take this Opportunity to share the main questions I have found to be helpful in making a life change and going from employee to your own boss and earning what is referred to as “life changing money.”

~What do I really want to do? ~Where do I see myself in 1, 3 and 5 years with this endeavor?

~How much time am I willing to invest? How much money do I need to invest? ~How much money do I have to invest? ~What is the best possible return I could see?

~Will I be truly happy with this endeavor?

Once you have decided to take the leap into direct sales, here are a few helpful questions to ask when choosing .company to represent.

~Would I use these products? ~Would my friends use these products?

~What are the guarantees on these products? ~How long has this company been in business?

~What is the saturation rate for this company? ~What kind of success are others having with selling these items? ~How can I market this product? There are some companies that do not allow their consultants to market on the Internet, so if this is something you are interested in, ask the corporate policy before you sign. ~Will customers return? If you are planning on selling a larger item such as vacuums or furniture, people will not be back soon for a second one. If you are selling a food or cosmetic product that is consumable, your customers should return quickly.

There are many different opportunities out there for individuals who wish to either leave the corporate world or add to their current income, and the only way to find out what is right for you is to ask questions, research and most importantly take your time. Use the products you are considering selling, as it is much easier to sell something you fully believe in, than something you have no opinion on and have never used personally. Remember, people are in sales for that very reason, to sell. The best sales person, whether they are in a store or a work-at-home-mom, is going to be excited about what they are selling and what they can offer you. Getting caught up in their excitement is great, but not when it costs you $500 and you are now signed as a consultant for .company you know nothing about and may not be interested in representing. Be confident in your decision; do not be afraid to say “no thank you” if you feel the Opportunity is not for you. Remember, this is a life changing decision and when made in haste the negative can outweigh the positive. Talk with others, do not be afraid to ask lots of questions and take your time. Offers that are here today and gone tomorrow are usually not worth the time and effort. In the end, the decision is yours and regardless of what you choose to do, I wish you joy and happiness along with much success in your endeavors.



Dwight

lady_greentree asked:


The premise behind weakening our immigration laws is the assumption that there are no Americans who will do certain work — such as harvest our crops. I challenge this claim: Prisoners fight fires, clean city and county roads, repair roads and other sorts of public related work. Why can’t prisoners be bused out to farms to harvest crops? It would save the government money in farm subsidies, it would save the government money it spends on programs to support immigrants who come here just for these specific jobs, it would expand career options in the field of law enforcement, and it may help improve morale among inmates. I’m sure there are other benefits as well. What do you think of this idea? Could it work? Would Congress consider this as a viable alternative?

Kelvin

Andy West asked:


Culinary arts careers have been pursued by generations of people wanting to cook for living. In the past, however, most people who wanted to become chefs did so because they grew up familiar with gourmet cooking and fine dining. The thought of a career in the culinary arts wasn’t one that caught the interest of many middle-class Americans.

In the last ten years, however, gourmet dining and cooking has gone mainstream. One reason is the greater availability of cookbooks and cooking utensils geared toward “gourmet cooking,” which has sparked a great interest in cooking schools in recent years. A greater influence, however, has been the rash of gourmet cooking shows that have flourished on television networks such as the Food Network and other cable networks.

Television and Culinary Arts Careers

Many people grew up watching traditional cooking shows such as Julia Child or the Galloping Gourmet, Graham Kerr. These shows were strictly utilitarian, with a chef instructing viewers on specific recipes and had an audience made up primarily of gourmet food fans. In the last several years, food programming has turned up the heat by adding elements that broaden its appeal.

Shows like Iron Chef America, Hell’s Kitchen and Dinner: Impossible feature difficult culinary challenges and high-stakes competition as well as fine cuisine. Some viewers begin watching to enjoy the fierce competition, the personality clashes and the inevitable drama and end up developing a real interest in the foods being prepared.

Educational shows like Good Eats with Alton Brown make food interesting by educating viewers about food history, the scientific basis of cooking and various cooking cultures. More than one culinary arts career has been sparked when someone has discovered that cooking goes far beyond simply making food taste good. It’s also about applying both science and art to food and understanding cultural tastes. Shows like BBQ with Bobby Flay and Simply Delicioso illustrate that gourmet cooking isn’t just about cream sauces and rare vegetables you can’t pronounce; it can be about elevating home cooking and back-yard favorites to the next level.

The Personalities of Cooking Shows

The many food programs on television today have opened up the door to culinary careers in another way as well. They have shown that people from all backgrounds and walks of life can pursue culinary arts careers successfully. One of the most popular shows, America’s Next Top Chef, features competitions between cooks from around the country. Although many have had some type of training, others are self-taught chefs who have become successful in restaurants or catering businesses.

There are tough guys, moms, self-made business owners and classically trained cooks on a level playing field in competition. The program is inspiring more people each year to explore a culinary arts career, something many wouldn’t have considered otherwise.

It is apparent that the popularity of food-focused programs won’t wane any time soon. Fortunately, the increased interest in culinary arts careers is a bonus that we can all enjoy, since more people from diverse backgrounds can only add spice to the foods we dine on.



Nelson

PrEtTy gUrL asked:


I want to become an MA but I cant decide which school I should attend, either Everest College or Career Colleges of America, which school do u guys think is better?

Dana

Paul Megan asked:


Serious job seekers may be surprised to learn that their most exciting business career growth options could best be uncovered in small town America.

The Milken Institute, a private think tank, annually ranks the job growth in cities, according to Time Magazine. 11 of the top 20 cities had populations well under 1 million.

The study showed that many smaller regions share characteristics that act as job magnets. These include lower costs, tax breaks for employers, funding for entrepreneurs and a deepening pool of skilled and educated workers.

Many are college towns, seats of government, or home to a big company that nourishes others. Thanks to the internet and to satellite technology, a company in Iowa can be as connected as one in Los Angeles.

So, if you thought all the job opportunities are to be found in large cities exclusively, the evidence shows the contrary is true. And if you’re looking around, this may be the right time to consider that small town environment you always dreamed about.

Job seekers who once thought their business career was in major cities and turned their noses up at small town positions . . . well, times have changed and now they’re eagerly seeking small town opportunities while pickings in the big cities are suddenly slimmer.

How do these towns come up with desirable jobs? How can they fulfill your business career aspirations?

Companies don’t move to these small towns on a whim. It generally takes money in the form of incentives. For example, Arkansas has spent $700 million on roads and airports around Fayetteville over the past decade. Cities like Fort Myers and Santa Fe offer tax abatement packages to big and small business in exchange for creating jobs.

If you’re in the job market, maybe small town America may be your business career advancement choice. Of course, acclimating to smaller-town life can take time, especially for former city slickers. But, for a lot of folks, their biggest concern is that small town job opportunities may suddenly get very popular.



Gary