From 1973-1985 I worked in the financial industry, marketing investment services to corporate, state and municipal pension and profit sharing plans. I have been a full-time homemaker and homeschooling mom since 1985, but the challenges of being a single income family in New Jersey - arguably one of the most expensive places in the country to live - were what led me to explore network marketing in 2000.

I have actually been making money online for about 10 years, starting with affiliate programs in 1997. I started with an online bookstore, imagining that I was going to make enough money to help pay our property taxes.

Yeah, maybe property taxes in North Carolina, but not in New Jersey.

I have been in many MLM programs, some very successfully and some not very successfully. But for all my "experience" in network marketing, it seems that I never found anything that actually worked for me.

It isn't that the products were bad. I can actually say that there are some products that I have been getting for years because I love them, even though I never made a thin dime.

It isn't that I didn't have a system. I was in a number of programs where they had a "system". Sometimes it was even an automated system. I suppose my networking career highlight was when I created an innovative marketing campaign and leads cooperative that resulted in a duplicating organization of 40,000 affiliates. I had 30 active leaders who developed 30 more active leaders on ten levels.

Whew, that's a mouthful.

When this company’s compensation plan was converted to a 2 x 12 matrix and people were placed according to a formula that included length of time in the company and size of organization, I was placed on the second level from corporate.

I have received a check from this company every month since September, 2001.

But it was all nickel and dime. The most I ever made from that program was around $2,000 month. With 30 active leaders who had 30 active leaders. Imagine if I had been in a program that paid well!

Programs fail. Systems run out of steam. People get tired of not making any money and quit.

I knew there had to be something else out there, though. So I kept looking.

I now have more than a decade of experience in direct sales, working with all kinds of companies. You name it, I've done it.

Shopping, Consumer Benefit Plans, Health and Wellness, Travel, Internet Advertising, B2B Technologies, Information products, CRM Solutions, Local Advertising, Telecommunications, and Real Estate and Financial Services.

I've even been in some programs could be described as "selling air." Pretty darned expensive air, too. I made anywhere from $6-$10,000 a month with one of those.

Eventually, my conscience got the better of me. I realized that some of the things I had been involved with were completely inconsistent with my Christian values, but that I had needed money so badly that I was willing to overlook some things, of which I am now deeply ashamed. I couldn't keep working these stupid programs that offered only minimal value for the money, and where the average person could not dupicate my "success".

Can you say "hypocrite"? Boy, did I feel like one.

Then I discovered that it isn't about the company, or the pay plan, or the character of the founders or any of those things that we have been taught to sell to people.

In fact, it isn't even about selling to people.

But in the process, I also discovered - the hard way - that after all these years I still had the wrong kind of relationship with money. While it is not money that is the root of all evil, the LOVE of money can ensnare you and cause you to spend foolish money doing foolish things.

I observed the success of people who used "The Secret" and certain other what I will call "science of mind" theories about making money. You know what I am talking about - the "think and grow rich" idea.

I mean crazy success. Beyond your wildest dreams success.

But on my way to this success, I lost something way more important. I lost the daily, personal communion with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He didn't go away, of course. But He wasn't happy with the direction I was taking. He even tried to warn me. But I wanted so very much to believe that I could think and grow rich that I ignored His warnings. I immersed myself in a strange brew of religion, psychology, and -ahem- universal wisdom, that sucked the life out of the Word of God that I loved, and the intimacy with the Lord that I depend on to put one foot in front of the other every day.

It didn't bother me so much at first. But eventually, I realized that I wasn't willing to "gain the whole world and lose my soul."

I will be glad to share the details of what I have experienced with anyone who asks, but for now, let's just say I am glad that "the blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it." (Proverbs 10:22) I have shifted my focus to a more traditional referral marketing business that I have been involved with since September 2008, which just happens to have a great pay plan, long term stability, a great management team, and great products.

Now it is my turn to pay it forward. You have found your way here, and I want you to have the same opportunity I had to turn your business - and your life - around. I know there is something in my experiences that can help you, whether it develops that you are interested in my business or not. You are not here by accident.

There are a couple of places to keep up with me.

Head on over to Twitter and look at the profile there, or you can also catch me on MySpace or Facebook.

Or just call me and leave a message - 609-528-2492. Say you saw me on Adland Pro, and I will call you back.