My Entrepreneurial Journey

byKStieneke

100 followers

1 month ago

Introduction

Entrepreneurship has always been a part of my life, even before I fully realized it. From a young age, I found myself drawn to various interests, including business, journalism, writing, and psychology. While my professional journey took many twists and turns, the spirit of entrepreneurship always remained with me. This is the story of how my passion for business evolved over the years, shaped by experiences, opportunities, and challenges.

Early Entrepreneurial Experiences

As a child, I unknowingly took my first steps into entrepreneurship. In grade school and junior high, I raised chickens and sold eggs to school teachers. Looking back, this was an invaluable experience. If only I was now in a place to have chickens, especially considering the high price of eggs today. Additionally, during the summers, I would sell sweet corn by the roadside from my father’s garden. These small ventures planted the seeds of business in my mind and gave me a taste of earning my own money.

College and the Shift in Focus

Despite my early exposure to business, I never considered studying it in college. Mathematics was not my strong suit, and the idea of business as a subject seemed uninteresting. Instead, I initially pursued a career in investigative journalism. However, everything changed when I took a psychology class. I became fascinated with understanding human behavior—why people make certain choices and what drives them. My interest in psychology led me to explore theology, sociology, and social work, taking me further away from business, though the entrepreneurial mindset never completely left me.

First Attempts at Independent Work

After earning my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, I stayed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for nearly a year, working at a daycare and a group home for emotionally disturbed adolescents. However, I still longed to do something on my own. I placed an ad offering odd jobs such as painting and lawn mowing. Although I only got one call and earned $15 for mowing a lawn (which was significant in 1981), it reaffirmed my desire to be my own boss.

Exploring Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)

By 1983, I had moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and was working at the Lincoln Regional Center, a psychiatric hospital. My roommate, the late Arlen “Ray” Sollenberger, introduced me to a couple, Ed and Dora Maddox, who were involved in Amway. Curious, I attended meetings and learned the classic sales tactics of inviting people to dinner and pitching products. However, MLM systems were far less sophisticated back then, lacking the modern tracking software that exists today. After about two years, I decided Amway was not a viable income source for me.

Transition into Mail Order and Network Marketing

In 1986, mail order began merging with MLM, network marketing, and direct sales. Many companies emerged, some with excellent products and compensation plans, while others failed due to poor management. During this time, Keith Laggos launched a multi-level marketing newspaper called Money Maker’s Monthly. Subscriptions were sold via network marketing, and subscribers received monthly certificates for advertising in the publication. I earned around $250–$300 a month, despite being new to mail-order network marketing.

Through Money Maker’s Monthly, I connected with Gery Carson, a Lincoln-based entrepreneur running a home business. He published Mail Dealer’s Newsletter, catering to network marketers. Meeting Gery was pivotal—he was living the dream I aspired to: working from home and running a successful business.

Building a Business and Achieving Success

Over the years, I joined several companies under Gery’s guidance and did well. In 1989, two significant events shaped my entrepreneurial path. First, I joined Watkins, a direct sales company, and second, I launched my own business opportunity tabloid, Opportunity Assistance. By 1994, between Watkins and another company, Beverly Hills International, I was earning around $6,000 a month. Confident in my success, I left my job at the Lincoln Regional Center without saving money for unforeseen circumstances.

Setbacks and Challenges

In 1995, my business took a hit. Watkins restricted Gery from using his marketing materials, which had been crucial to both his and my success. Around the same time, Beverly Hills International shut down unexpectedly, leaving its members, including me, without compensation. Though I stayed with Watkins for a few more years, my income gradually declined. I recently rejoined Watkins for personal use, though its product line has diminished significantly.

My tabloid, Opportunity Assistance, later rebranded as Network Growth Opportunities but ceased publication in 1997.

The Rise of Internet Marketing

For a brief period, I stepped away from network marketing and mail order. However, the rise of the Internet brought new opportunities. Although it contributed to an increase in email spam, it also revolutionized marketing. I rejoined Gery in several ventures, but none seemed like the perfect fit. Then, in 1998, Gery launched SFI, originally called Six Figure Income, later rebranded as Strong Future International. It featured magazines, physical products, and digital services. I achieved some success, but the economic slowdown after 9/11 hindered my progress, and I never fully regained my momentum.

Present and Future Endeavors

Today, Gery has restructured SFI as a support platform for programs like Wealthy Affiliate and GreatLife Worldwide. I have eagerly joined both, as they align with my passions. Wealthy Affiliate enables me to write and create online content, while GreatLife Worldwide focuses on health, wellness, and anti-aging—fields I deeply care about.

As for the future, I remain committed to learning everything I can through Wealthy Affiliate. I am focused on building email lists and eventually reentering physical publishing. These are my entrepreneurial dreams, and I am determined to turn them into reality.

Conclusion

My journey has been filled with highs and lows, successes and setbacks, but one thing has remained constant—my entrepreneurial spirit. From selling eggs as a child to running network marketing businesses, I have learned invaluable lessons along the way. With the ever-evolving landscape of online business, I am excited to see what the future holds. Through continuous learning, persistence, and adaptability, I am confident that my entrepreneurial journey is far from over.