Hello Linda,

I know where you are coming from. I was in a similar situation. My career was with the military. I was in the Active Guard/Reserve Program.

As a Spec5, my family of 5 was eligible for food stamps. My wife was home with three children by choice. I refused to apply for food stamps, but had no immediate hope of promotion, and 13 years to go to retirement.

I looked for something I could work on the side after hours. I didn't want a second job, and Al Gore hadn't got around to inventing the internet back then.

I started looking for an alternate source of income, that would allow me to stay in the Guard and yet generate real income.

I had already tried one MLM with no real profits to speak of.

I finally spotted an ad about starting my own business, selling imprinted advertising items, ink pens, calendars, coffee mugs, etc.

I committed myself to spending 8 to 10 hours each week making sales calls on the way home. It wasn't easy starting a new venture in a city where I knew only a few people, and only 1 potential customer.

I was a slow started, but within 8 months, I was earning enough for us to get a second vehicle. Then I could leave my catalogs and samples in my work car and always be ready to make cold calls.

I hated cold calling then, and I rarely make any today. But after 18 years, I get a lot of leads and have many contacts through the Chamber of Commerce.

After 2 years part time, my sales income was about $5,000 gross. My situation with the Guard changed and I left with no retirement and little in savings.

I ended up taking another full time job, but this one allowed me to start my sales at 3:30 which gave me more business hours to work with.

After 6 months, the company I sold for as an independent agent passed some accounts to me from an agent they lost.

I went full time in July '87, and have remained self-employed since then.

I'm much better off, because I had started my own business on a part-time basis while I still had the full-time job and benefits.

With the internet, that option is availble to your and others today.

So looks for ways to start out while reducing your risks.

Good luck in finding your niche.

Dennis Bevers




My promotional advertising business that keeps me from having to get a job!