“Women make up half of the human resources available. ... If that half is not being channeled into the economy and not being made part of decision-making processes, then economic potential is bound to suffer.

As we prepared to go to press with this issue, I received news of the loss of Leslie Campbell, President of TARRAH Cosmetics. A car accident took her from us far too soon. Leslie was a former colleague at Avon and friend throughout the years who gave much of her time to Direct Selling Association activities and committees. I know that TARRAH Cosmetics had many loyal and faithful consultants, and I hope they will be able to continue their journey, for that is what Leslie would have wanted. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go to her husband, family and many friends.

It seems that no matter my age or stage of life, I am surrounded by a culture of women. I attended an all-girls school for 10 years, where our senior class slogan was “Women of Wonder.” At that stage of our lives we were full of wonder and curiosity, but had yet to fully understand where that wonder could lead us. My first job was in the Office of the First Lady at the White House under Hillary Rodham Clinton and it was an honor to work with some awe-inspiring women who were true role models. I recently became a mother for the first time—to a daughter—and throughout my pregnancy and early days of motherhood I was touched by the sisterhood of supportive women I encountered and connected with immediately. And, for the past eight years I have had the privilege of working at the Direct Selling Association on behalf of 16 million direct sellers—nearly 90 percent of whom are women.

Traveling opens doors to the world, and helping others opens doors to hearts.

More than a year ago, I received a letter from Susan Stratton, who shared her journey of personal development as she embarked on a career in direct selling.

“Most people don’t yet realize just how cool coins really are, but we do,” says Kent, who coined the trademarked phrase, “Coins Are Cool.” Where did the slogan come from?

Shaklee Corp., Rodan + Fields Dermatologists, Regal Ware Inc., Avon Products Inc., LifeVantage Corp.

Momentum, or The Big Mo as it is often called, is a powerful thing. It can create massive growth, incredible sales and a tremendous lift in your recruiting. But how do you create it? Most of the recent books on the subject of momentum treat it as an elusive, almost mythical creature that only a few are privileged to see. Many in our industry now regard it as the exclusive domain of startups and new ventures. But momentum is neither exotic nor proprietary to the next new direct selling venture. Momentum is simply the compound effect of a plan executed over a period of time, and nothing more. It can be achieved by any organization, but it must be created intentionally.

This month’s cover story is, once again, a pleasure to bring to you! One year ago we took on this project for the first time and the result was quite revealing, educational and informative. We ranked the markets that were responsible for $1 billion or more in annual revenues. The stats and facts, as always, are important, but the bigger story is the fact that each market is contributing in excess of $1 billion per year as a result of the direct selling channel. This means so much more than the revenues of the individual companies doing business in a market.

At the mention of the word “Whistlestop,” students of American history certainly envision the iconic photo of Harry S Truman, on the rear platform of a train, displaying a newspaper proclaiming “Dewey Defeats Truman.” The image was important not only for the historical significance of Truman’s election to the presidency, but also for the significance of his campaign travels, covering long distances over vast expanses of land by train, stopping in small cities and towns to greet the citizens.

Nature’s Sunshine has helped people achieve brilliant bodies for almost 40 years with its supplements and encapsulated herbs. Now there’s a broader focus—creating brilliant businesses for its distributors.

Using Social Entrepreneurship to Fight Global Malnutrition For Mannatech, the passion and the culture of its business has always been to change people’s lives. The developer of high-quality health, weight and fitness and skin care solutions based on nutritional science has had one mission in mind since it was founded in 1994: to enhance the quality of life for those it touches through its products and Real Food Technology® solutions.