Where to Find a Job in a Struggling Economy

August 2008-The U.S. unemployment rate rose to the highest level in more than four years as employers cut jobs again in July, increasing the threat of a deeper economic slowdown.

Payrolls fell by 51,000, less than forecast, the Labor Department said today in Washington. The jobless rate rose to 5.7 percent, from 5.5 percent the prior month.

The last time unemployment climbed so much in three months was at the end of the last U.S. recession in 2001. Payroll cuts combined with decreasing property values, stricter lending rules and near-record energy prices to send consumer confidence levels close to the weakest in 16 years in July.

September 2008-Tens of thousands Wall Street brokers loose their jobs as the US mortgage and lending institutions collapse under the weight of billions of dollars of under performing mortgage securities or assets.

October 2008-The US Senate votes to pass a 700 Billion dollar bailout of the US credit or floundering mortgage markets. This is the largest bailout out of US financial companies and the entire banking system.

November 2008-What or who is next is the big question facing not only US residents, but people from across the globe are bracing for a global recession. Will you be ready? What is your exist strategy if you suddenly lost or was laid off from your job as a result of the global recession?

Well, look no further than your computer. I am talking about the home based business opportunity. There are literally thousands of home based business opportunities, from data processing, billing, sales, and freelancing, direst selling opportunities to consulting.

With a home based business, you are sure to find an opportunity that suits your background, knowledge and expertise.

Home based business is a 427 billion dollar a year industry. That is more than the pharmaceutical industry, food industry and consumer goods industry combined. Why? Because the sheer number of people in business working for themselves. The extremely low start up costs, flexible hours and the internet are fueling the growth for home based businesses. About 170 million people in the USA alone, enjoy the benefits and flexibility of working from home.

 The fastest growing segment of the home based business is the direct selling approach. In direct selling or direct sales, the middle man or wholesaler is eliminated and those savings are passed on to the consumer.

 Direct Selling is the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location. These products and services are marketed to customers by independent salespeople. Depending on the company, the salespeople may be called distributors, representatives, consultants or various other titles. Products are sold primarily through in-home product demonstrations, parties and one-on-one selling.

Direct selling has had a bad name and is not widely accept yet in the US as it is in many foreign countries. We all knew someone at one time or another tried to sell us some vitamins, lotions, potions and pills over the years.

Many non reputable companies over the years have resorted to high pressure sales tactics, fraudulent product, over priced merchandise or income potential by purchasing and stocking one’s garage full un-saleable or worthless products in hopes of becoming rich quick, sometimes over night.

Well, unfortunately, some of these businesses still exist, or try to exist before the federal government shuts them down as illegal pyramid schemes. Anyone considering a direct selling business should do their home work carefully, before shelling out a single dollar to a direct selling company.

There are also many great direct selling companies that offer great name brand products, new or unique products and legitimate home based business opportunities. Many offer products that we currently use in our own households or businesses, such as home and business phone service, internet services, home security, health and beauty items and the list goes on, almost forever.

There are 5 important items to look for in a good direct selling company or any home based business opportunity:

1. Training and support

To succed in any direct selling business, you must have the proper training and support.You need to constantly feed your mind with company sponsored training through conference calls, supplied training courses and videos.

2. Duplicatable system

Some direct selling businesses will teach you a recruiting system that is not duplicatable, for one reason or another. For example, their recruiting methods may be too expensive. They may involve marketing skills like selling on the phone, which is not easy for most people. If a system is not duplicatable, you won't be able to grow your downline quickly.

3. Valuable product

Look for a direct selling company that provides a product with value. Find a product that people would buy regardless of the business opportunity. Customers will continually buy a product if it provides them with value.

4. Reliability and stability

It is important to find a direct selling business that is reliable and stable. Companies that have been around for a while are more likely to stay for even longer. Working with an established direct selling company can build you a solid long-term income.

5. Excellent compensation

The compensation plan of the direct selling company should enable you to reach your income goals. If the payout plan is on the low end, you cannot expect to build a huge residual income in a reasonable period of time. Make sure you can understand the compensation plan, so that you can explain it to others who inquire about it.

Anyone can do it.
There are no required levels of education, experience, financial resources or physical condition.

People of all ages and from all backgrounds have succeeded in direct selling.

Direct sellers are independent contractors. You're your own boss, which means you can:

• Work part-time or full-time - you choose when and how much you want to work.
• Set your own goals and determine yourself how to reach them.
• Earn in proportion to your own efforts. The level of success you can achieve is limited only by your willingness to work hard.
• Own a business of your own with very little or no capital investment.
• Receive training and support from an established company.

People like to shop through direct selling.
According to recent surveys, 74 percent of Americans have purchased goods or services through direct sales. That's more than the number who have purchased through television shopping and on-line computer services combined. People value the products available through direct selling and 45 percent of Americans want to buy from direct sellers.

Direct selling is a growing industry.
Sales in the U.S. have more than doubled in the last decade to more than $30 billion and are now more than $100 billion worldwide.

People from literally all walks of life, of all ages, are successful in direct sales. About 75 percent of those working in direct sales are women, 10 percent are African American, six percent are Latino and three percent are Asian, Native American or other. Many people start part-time, and later leave their other careers when direct selling becomes more lucrative.

If you have already lost your job or want to secure your OWN financial freedom before you are a victim of the global recession, look no further than your computer for a great job or business opportunity through direct selling.

I have been involved in direct selling for years, and after doing my home work, I found my fortune with a company called Fortune High Tech Marketing. View my direct selling opportunity at Fortune Hi Tech Marketing at http://www.time4fortune.com or our blog at http://time4fortune.blogspot.com