In 1979, my husband and I... moved our family from Bible College in Owatonna, MN (where we lived in a mobile home), back to our home town in St. Paul (we moved into a relative's basement). We were 24 years old and broke! Our children were 3 and 4 and I was pregnant with our third child. A few weeks before the baby arrived, we purchased a run-down home on the west side of town. Mike and I moved ourselves while I was nine months pregnant. I remember Mike trying to drag the refrigerator into the house by himself -- but that was the least of our struggles.

To make ends meet in our "new" home, Mike was driving a city bus during the day, and caring for our children while I was working nights at a fast food restaurant. We didn't have any money. I was on the WIC program (Women In Crisis) to get formula and some food for the kids. Our relatives helped with gas and groceries as they could. There was childcare, clothing, and transportation (which eats up a large portion of a woman's income when she works). I figured by the time I was through, I was making less than minimum wage -- maybe $5 an hour tops. We were not lazy or uneducated people. We were just young and following the guidelines of everyone else -- get a job, work hard and life will be great. But it wasn't!

About a month after moving and having our baby, Mike's brother stopped by to show us his new in-home business opportunity. He was excited and got my husband excited too. Before I knew it, they brought in pills and bottles and set up shelving in my dining area and started bringing people over for meetings.

I, however, was not excited. Our home pretty much combined the kitchen, dining and living rooms into one space, which meant that I had to take the three children in the bedroom and keep them quiet while Mike did meetings. I did not help and I am sure I probably hindered my husband with my negative attitude.

As important as money is needed to live, I needed self-esteem and self-worth by knowing what I did made a difference for others. You can get that by owning and running your own business. However, you must treat it like a real job, not a hobby or a game to play only when you feel like it. People sometimes look their noses down at homemakers like they do not have a "real" job. The reality is that 20-million people work from home offices. I like what my friend Duke DuVall says, "Even the President of the United States works out of his home!"

Here's the cool part. Your kitchen and dining room are now workplaces. (Remember, this is a pre-EcoQuest story -- still about her Shaklee experiences...) I did nutrition seminars and one-on-one presentations, salad lunches, business breakfast briefings, Italian dinners, Weight Loss weekly program, and whatever interested me. You need to enjoy it and want it. Find out what you enjoy and what your fastball is and do it consistently. If you feel your business is an interference, then it will be. You are a role model. Other women see how you do it and copy you. This is called leadership -- influence. So, you need to do it with class and style and grace, even when you do not feel like it. PRIDE -- You can tell the people who have it and take pride in their business.

You must put your EcoQuest business as a high priority (even if it is part-time). Fit your life into your career. No one gets to go to work and tell their boss, "I'll work when I can fit it into my life!" This means that your home IS your workplace. If that is true, make it a priority if you plan to succeed. No one just stumbles blindly into a successful home-based career. You have seen the advertisements on TV where the person is sitting on the beach and he has checks coming in. No, this is not the way it is. The work comes first, and then down the road you will be able to work less and still keeps checks coming in.

It is also important to note that you do not have to be a Master Manager or reach the top level in our business to be successful. You can make one or two sales a week and make more money than a typical job and stay at home with your family. You cannot succeed if you try to fit EcoQuest into your life. There is never enough time or room in your schedule. You all know what it is like. It seems like something fills every hour of our day and when it does not, we just need a break. EcoQuest and your everyday life must become the same -- it is all one big puzzle that fits together.

A friend of mine, Becky Baker, said, "There are people in my house all the time. I don't have time to clean anymore." So, she got someone else to clean her house. You can make $250 to $300 by selling a single Fresh Air by EcoQuest. What is the cost of having someone come in to clean and iron and do the windows? Get busier placing units. Set a goal to have someone else mow the lawn and do things around the house.

My family is important to me. I come from a large family of Italians and right from the start, I enlisted their help. Two of our children were under five, but they could put stickers on the bottles, help take stuff out of the box, and place it on the shelves. Have your children shake hands and learn how to act in the presence of adults. Teach them and include them and introduce them as your little partners. My kids have never been an interference -- they are my purpose in life.

I eventually outgrew my home and moved into an office. My daughter and son-in-law were my first primary employees in the office answering calls and shipping product. My younger son also worked part-time cleaning machines. Then I added a part-time individual to help with mailings and small tasks. (I cannot tell you the importance of having a monthly newsletter to keep your group connected.) We bonded, and they have grown into responsible adults (so far). We rewarded them by taking them on every trip -- all over the world. My 15-year-old daughter recently did a talk in front of over 2,000 adults. She didn't even think twice when Mike asked her if she would. It was natural for her. She has great self-esteem and character. She sets goals and already makes things happen. Each of our children is a hard worker. This is a benefit a family home-based business brings that goes beyond money.

EcoQuest is a career, not a race. You are not in competition with Lori Kirkham or Jane Gillen. But, you also must pretend that you have a boss. It is so easy to let the day slip by doing little things in the office and thinking you are working hard. If I came by this week to look at your activity list, what progress did you make? If I were your boss, what should I pay you for your efforts? We all are given the same 24 hours in a day. We have to do something! So, why not do what you enjoy with your family and take them on great rewarding family trips each year?

The key is to LOOK and LISTEN. What are your prospect's needs? How can I help fit EcoQuest into their life? When you were sponsored, someone tried to fulfill your needs. Be just as concerned about others.

As a Christian, I would not want to make money at other people's expense. Part of my joy is helping people live better. I love talking to mothers and women in general. I do not consider myself a speaker and do not conduct meetings any more, but we can all make a difference. I would encourage you to give EcoQuest a second look. Make a commitment for 6 months to a year. If it is not the best home-based business today, you can always do something else. But, I know you will be hooked the first time someone says, "This machine has changed my life" or "This check changed my life."

Helping Others Live Better - that is the EcoQuest motto. It is worth it.

Good Luck and God Bless.

Nata Jackson
MAC services President and wife of CEO Mike Jackson