More and more U.S.-based direct selling companies are looking abroad to capture the growing demand for new products and career opportunities. Regional markets in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia are leading the industry in growth of salesforce and revenue.

Honors and accolades seem to be a way of life for direct seller Ambit Energy. And why not? The company was built to excel.

Our industry is often referred to in many ways. The more I think about it, the more convinced I become that we are really in the relationship marketing business. People like to do business with people they like, trust and know who care about them. Why? It’s not only because they can rely on their products, but they can also rely, depend and trust on their service and honesty.

XOWii means “life” in Greek. When the company’s founders were deciding on a product line, their desire was to empower their distributors to live the life they wanted. They believed this goal could best be realized through products that both changed people’s physical health and allowed them to create wealth.

This past month, our industry lost a passionate advocate. Harry Hersey Jr., DSA Hall of Famer and former company owner, leader and longtime consultant for many, left us in an unfortunate accident. Those of us who knew Harry will always remember him, not just for his sincere friendship but for what he believed direct selling means to the people who choose it as a way to build a business on their terms. Harry will be missed!

As I approach retirement on June 30, 2011, I am getting more nostalgic about the 40 years I will have spent at DSA, and more analytical about the things that over these past decades have made an impression on me. I thought I’d share some thoughts and observations with you today. Next month, my successor, Joe Mariano, who becomes president and CEO of DSA on July 1, will share his vision for the industry’s future. Here are a few hypothetical questions on the industry for your consideration:

Mary Kay believes it: 40 is the new 30. Or in its case, 47 is the new 24 to 35.

­Great customer service is one of the hallmarks of any successful company. The one aspect of customer service that can break a company is not delivering product in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Many companies have experienced challenges with this in the wake of a growth spurt or while facing business decline as the economic climate changes. The trick is to stay in front of the changing landscape—plan for the future, and fit your operations to handle growth and the cycles of the future.

Beauty and personal care products remain a cornerstone of the direct selling industry.

Reputation is everything in the game plan for success. Behind every successful business is a reputation of excellence. How would you grade yours? Do you know or care? You should.

Thirty-One Gifts is turning heads for their ability to rack up incredible growth numbers, while maintaining a close-knit family feel.

Amway’s Corporate Citizenship Program has been around for a long time, even before it was named. Jesse Hertstein, Amway Senior Corporate Citizenship Specialist says, “Before we started calling it Corporate Citizenship, it was just a way we did business—an ethic and value that was baked into the DNA of our company.”