I got to interview another mompreneur about how she quit her job after a few months selling on Amazon.
I met Athena Severi at the SellerCon event in Orlando Florida. She is a successful Amazon seller and the Founder of Athena Magic, an organization that hosts international summits for entrepreneurs and global sourcing trips to China.
After a few months of building her Amazon business, Athena was able to quit her corporate 9-5 job and immediately start networking and making connections with other Amazon sellers. She now devotes her time to helping people grow their Amazon businesses.
This mompreneur has proven that you can have it all. Are you ready to learn how she quit her job and went on to build a successful business selling on Amazon?
Watch the video below:
(Click here to watch on YouTube)
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Do you want to learn how to build a profitable business selling on Amazon? CLICK HERE for instant access to my free video training!
How would it feel if you didn't have to go to your 9-5 job anymore, and you had the freedom to design your dream lifestyle? Building an Amazon business allowed Athena to do just that.
She shares how she quit her job after a few months selling on Amazon.
Here is a sneak peek of our interview together, where Athena talks about how her life has changed since leaving the corporate world.
Could you share a little bit about your story and how you got into selling on Amazon?
I was working a 9-5 job in corporate America at a consulting firm. However, when I had my first son I tried to stay home. I wanted to continue my career and work from home. When I decided to have a second child, things got a lot more challenging. I was stretched in so many different directions. I wasn't living life the way that I wanted to live it.
How did that lead to you finding out about the Amazing Selling Machine?
A good friend of mine worked at the same company as me. He was quitting his job and I asked him what he was going to do. I thought maybe he got another consulting job, but he told me that he was selling kitchen products on Amazon. I laughed out loud. He said, “Why don't you come to lunch with me and I'll show you.” Both he and his wife had quit their jobs to pursue their Amazon business.
He actually opened up his Amazon seller account for me to look at and showed me the numbers.
Every two weeks he was getting these big cheques that looked like what I get in months of working at my intense job. I immediately signed up for Amazing Selling Machine (ASM).
Did you do the course on your own, or did you collaborate with your husband?
At first, my husband was very skeptical, but he trusted that I knew what I was doing. Within 3 weeks I had already picked my first product, which I'm still selling today. I didn't have a lot of time because I had a very demanding job and two small kids.
After a few months, I showed my husband that I was making more money from selling these simple products on Amazon than I was at a job that was killing me.
One morning, I got up the courage to pick out my “I'm quitting” outfit.
That was the moment when I really felt like a true entrepreneur. I didn't even realize that I was one until the moment that I let my corporate job go.
It must be very challenging to juggle the responsibilities that come with being a mother while building an online business. How did you manage everything?
What I love about ASM is that they break down the information into small, easy to understand steps. I worked on building my business every day.
Little by little I started to achieve success, despite all of the stuff that was on my plate.
At first, I think I put 3-5 hours per week into the program. That wasn't enough to build a huge business, but it got me going. It took me about 4-5 months before I could quit my job, which isn't too bad. I made a list, saw a product that I liked, followed the steps and the rest is history.
What were some of the challenges that you faced along your journey?
Time was a big challenge. I also didn't have any prior marketing experience. In fact, I never owned my own business before starting this one. I always had a job working for someone else. Communication with China was a struggle at first. However, once I found good suppliers things got easier. This is my business. I'm creating something that I can be proud of and that's an amazing feeling.
I know that you have worked with a lot of Chinese manufacturers. Do you mind sharing what the process looks like, and what you’ve learned along the way?
The Chinese people really value relationship-building. You are either a part of their family or you're not. You don't have to go to China to build a successful Amazon business. In fact, I ran my Amazon business for 1.5 years without going there. However, someone offered me a trip and I took the opportunity. I'm glad I did.
When you go there, you find an ocean of possibilities. You get to meet with people face-to-face and it allows you to really innovate your products.
Is there a fair that you go to in order to meet with all of the different suppliers?
We go to the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China. There are 3 different phases, but we go to the 2nd and 4th phase. We also check out Hong Kong. At the fair, we find products and we innovate. I have a friend that does a very simple product in the kitchen space. There are millions of them on Amazon, but because he goes to China and gets the best quality product, he kills it.
Even if you don't have a product yet, you can still go to the fair, meet all of the different suppliers, and check out what they have to offer. When you connect with new factory owners, they become your partners. They are equally as excited for you as they are for themselves.
From what you've observed in your work, what are the biggest reasons you think that a lot of people struggle with building an Amazon business?
For me, it's really about staying positive. That's why I really love what you do Stefan. You are so committed to your goals and you consistently hit them.
If you have a goal and you can figure out your purpose is, you are on the road to success.
My why are my children and all of the amazing people that I've helped. I got into Amazon for myself, and then when I found out how amazing it was I started to tell everyone. It doesn't matter if you're just trying to make some extra money, or if you want to build a massive brand. Having the freedom that an Amazon business provides is amazing.
Think about the number of hours that you spend every day at work. There are so many people out there that aren't even happy with what they do. They do work that is draining on their souls. They don't spend time with their family, and even if they are home, they aren't really there because they are stressed. That stress affects everything.
If you think that it's going to be a walk in the park, it's not. Being an entrepreneur isn't easy.
It's about having a goal and a purpose to succeed and making that stronger than any of the little pitfalls that you will encounter along the way. I would have never found that if I hadn't let go of my day-to-day grind.
Maybe Amazon isn't your end goal, but if you could cover your income, what other types of things could you do with your time?
Can you talk a little bit about the value that you receive from events like SellerCon?
Think about the years of experience that people go through in terms of building up their Amazon businesses. All of that knowledge has been put into a training program. ASM shows you the exact steps that you need to take in order to build a successful business.
If you build an Amazon business on your own, you will struggle.
Why not learn from the people who really know this business? You pay a small fee for that knowledge. I paid for ASM 3.5 years ago, but because they update their program every year, they always let me know when there has been a change on Amazon that may affect my business.
I'm going to try and put into words what it means to be a part of such an amazing community of people. Imagine you are in a room and you are surrounded by people that are either very successful or are on their way. They are excited about the future and they are motivated to support one another. The ASM mentors will do anything to help you succeed.
You don't have anything to lose. If I wouldn't have taken ASM, my life wouldn't be what it is today. I'm so appreciative of people like you Stefan and the rest of this community for making that possible.
I hear that your two young sons have become entrepreneurs as well. Can you share more about that?
This is such a big deal for me. If people want to go to university, that’s great. However, I've started to notice a trend. Kids are coming out of school with $150,000-$300,000 worth of debt, only to struggle to find an entry-level job.
I want my boys to feel empowered to create the futures that they desire.
Three years ago we introduced my kids to the Amazon business. They actually went through the whole ASM process. They were seven and four years old. That's how simple it is. My son would be able to find you ten product opportunities on Amazon.
They wanted to make a lemonade stand. I said, “Tell me about your business plan. How could you turn that into a business on Amazon?” Today, they sell lemon squeezers and zesters on Amazon. That's their brand. They aren't killing it on Amazon, but they actually control their entire business on their own. They make money and all of it goes back into their business.
By the time they are 18, they will have a thriving brand. They understand topics like marketing, finance, and negotiation. They don't teach kids those types of things in school. My kids are my pride and joy. I love that I'm not just a Mom. I'm also inspiring them through the work that I do.
If you feel that you have something that you want to accomplish, think of what would happen if you were to try, versus what would happen if you don't.
This is how she quit her job after a few months selling on Amazon.
Every time I interview a mompreneur, like Athena, I am left feeling so inspired. If you’ve ever felt like saying goodbye to your 9-5 job and creating the financial freedom that you desire, I hope Athena’s success story has motivated you to take a leap of faith.
Do you want to learn how to build a profitable business selling on Amazon? CLICK HERE for instant access to my free video training!