Advice for Supplemental Income: Pampered Chef and Other Opportunities

[AJPratt]

So, I got this email from someone who is also a member of this organization I belong to. She does mortgages but with the real estate market slowing down, so has mortgages. She mentioned that she has picked up odd jobs to make more money. So, of course I mentioned the opp (included). She has applied to the casinos, which are just not good to employees and some other places. I could really use some advice...

This is part of what I sent back...
When you mention extra money... I can't help but ask have you ever considered doing what I do with Pampered Chef? I work a very flexible schedule, just few hours a week and make ridiculously great money. Is that something you might be interested in?


This is the response I got...
I can't do Pampered Chef... not with the dogs and the kids. I need a job outside of my home where I'd get something done. Thanks for thinking of me though... if you run across anything else let me know. I applied at the casino's and the Press of Atlantic City. Something I can do late night preferably. I want to see my boys in the evening

 

[cmdtrgd]

Tell her about the power hour and that she can do shows anytime...even brunch shows while the kids are in school. Ask her to sit down with you at your office space and go over a few things that you do to keep yourself sane while working from the house. Maybe go over commuting costs (gas, time, professional clothing, babysitters) versus working your own schedule.

 

[soonerchef]

Wow...that's a toughie, I would respond like this...

I just wanted to let you know that I thought of you because I think that this opportunity would be a great one for you and I think that you would be great at this job. I know it can be tough with kids and jobs and all of that. That is why I love TPC, it works around my schedule and I know that when I work for a couple of hours doing a show (really just hanging out with my friends) that I am going to make $XX an hour. I was really just trying to help and I would die if you passed up this opportunity and it was something that would actually work better for you than some of the other options out there. Please keep me posted on how the job search is going and I will let you know if I come across anything else that might be a good fit for you.

If it were me that is what I would say now...that's just off of the top of my head and it might need a lot of refining but, you get the point.

 

[AJPratt]

Andrea: I love it!

cmdtrgd: If I get a face to face I will be sure to bring up these points!

 

[beepampered]

Depending on how old her children are, you could even encourage her to include them in the business - do packets as family, kids learn computer/math skills entering in shows or something.

 

[pampered1224]

But...It does not sound like she is looking to replace a job but suppliment the one she has. Therefore, day shows would be out. Also, she is looking to be home in the evenings and work a late 2nd or early 3rd shift.
How many people do you know want to book shows at 9 or 10 at night?
And if she wants to be home with her kids in the evenings, you know weekends will be out as well. I hate to be a cerschmudgin but I think you are asking the wrong person.
I know, I am a party pooper but I ran across one similar to this about three years ago. She works during the day until 2:30 is home until 8 then goes to work again until mid-night. 8 is when her kids go to bed. So there was no way she would work those times into a PC business.

 

[soonerchef]

But...if this lady is looking at a part time job, say 20 hours a week or so,
that job would be the same amount of money as 2-3 shows a month, maybe less if she is good...a part time job could be 3-5 nights a week out of the house or PC at 3 nights a month. I know which one I would pick!

 

[AJPratt]

I just think that this is so flexible, she could make it work much better than working for the casinos. If you want to work late, go to Starbucks, or some other place open late.

 

[speedychef]

Also, if she's worried about getting work done with the craziness of home, she can always pack up her "everything binder" and go to the library or someplace quiet...

 

[luvs2cook]

Can she be a catalog consultant? Just do Catalog shows???

 

[ChefJesssica]

Maybe she just dosen't want to be a consultant. This isn't for everyone. Its great that you offered her the opportunity, but if she dosen't want it, you can't push her. You don't want to be "that crazy pampered chef lady."

 

[AJPratt]

You don't want to be "that crazy pampered chef lady."

Oh, its too late for that. I did send her back an email similar to what Andrea posted. If she doesn't want to do this, then that's ok. I'd rather her make an educated decision, but it is her choice. Thank you so much for all of your great input!

 

[soonerchef]

Maybe she just dosen't want to be a consultant. This isn't for everyone. Its great that you offered her the opportunity, but if she dosen't want it, you can't push her. You don't want to be "that crazy pampered chef lady."

Anne is already the crazy PC lady!!

 

[AJPratt]

Well, at least you know that NOW!

 

[cmdtrgd]

So, Anne, what happened?

 

[jdavis]

Anne is already the crazy PC lady!!

Um, yeah, I think we have known that for a while now, lol.

 

[AJPratt]

I invited her to the cluster meeting but she couldn't make it because her son had soccer or something. What gets me is that while this is a business, I think people make a bigger deal of it than it is. Meaning, they think its sooo much more complicated than it really is. Pass around a catalog, do a few cooking shows...

 

[pampered1224]

I think I got it!You know how many people would rather let other people control their lives! Almost eveyone! She is one of those, "I don't want to be responsible for making my life better" people. She is used to doing what she does as if programmed. Kinda like the Stepford Wives! You all remember that moment when you had cramps, bad headaches and swelling and pain in your stomach? (No, I don't mean PMS or labor pains!) I got it!
I mean the day you decided that you were going to take controll and signed that agreement. It is so NOT a human beings way to "rock the boat" that we make our selves sickest when we decide there has to be more! And we're going to go get it. We have the best products, the best training and the best program out there and yet, no one seems to understand that it is not like crawling out on a tree limb, turning around and cutting it off. Pampered Chef has never left anyone hagning on the wrong end of the branch and never will. If you loose money doing this anywhere but on your taxes, then you are doing something very wrong. The great part is, that can be fixed. People do think this takes alot of time. We have to keep telling them at shows that we average about 4 to 5 hours per show. That's all. We can average $20 to $??? an hour on any one of those shows. We get fringe benefits. Time especially. There is the time for her to spend with her kids in the evenings. If she spends every night with them, well, personally not having kids, I don't want to be verbally hurt, but is that good? Isn't time away from your kids so they have time for friends as good for them as it is for you? I could be wrong here but I don't know. And here is the BIG ONE! FEAR! Fear of the unknown is something we all dispise. We all don't want to turn that dark corner or jump in that murky pond. We don't want to find something there that will destroy us. We have to make people understand that starting your own business WILL NOT KILL YOU! Let me clarify that, Starting your own PAMPERED CHEF business will not kill you. They have to understand that once you have the initial $90 out lay paid, you are actually free to roam, free to live life to the fullest and not have to look over your shoulder for someone with a gun. Because every time you close and pay for that last show, you can shut it off by simply laying down your apron. It's that simple. No one is going to come after you for the $350 that was put into the kit, no one is going to tell you you MUST stay for such and such an amount of time. No one will ever say. "YOU OWE US!"
Why do so many people not want more?
God only knows, because I ain't one of them!
I twisted my puppeteirs wires long ago. He thinks he controlls my movements. Not quite, I let him think he does. Because I simply choose to do what I do full time right now. But I am the one really in controll because I know I have a way out at any time.
Arguments:
1) time for kids - one night a week and maybe a weekend day would bring in roughly $800 a month. A little sacrafice for finacial freedom. (ever here of smothering? (Don't say that but...))
2) time to prep - 4 to 5 hours per show is all you need and about 1 of that is at home per show. 8 shows a month - 8 hours at home. An hour here an hour there, average two hours per week. Oh yeah, maybe an extra three per month for training meetings.
3) money - $90.00 out of pocket the first time. The rest is minimal for catalogs and product samples every 6 months. You choose how much you want to spend. Then $9.00 an hour compared to $20?? What's the next question?
4) Insurance - not a problem PC has that covered.
5) savings - that too! Next!

 

[soonerchef]

Gabby much John?

 

[AJPratt]

John, you make some really great points and you know, I think some "me" time for my friend is what she really needs. I think she knows it too, but she self admittedly says that she overthinks everything. She is also very sweet and doesn't want to start and go inactive and hurt me.

NOTE TO SELF: NEVER, EVER, EVER mention the sales requirement AGAIN. Now, I know why my director didn't.