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Date: January 6, 2006
Section: Sandy/Draper
Edition: Final
Page: S4 |
Family sells the house, buys RV, chases dream
Tabatha Deans Close-Up Correspondent
A 38-foot-long bus, an 18-month-old son and a year and a half traveling through 48 states might sound like a grueling task to some. But for Dan and Mylisa Graham of Sandy, the opportunity was the fulfillment of one of their life's dreams.
The couple, owners of Dang Ventures and distributors of American Longevity nutritional supplements, sold their home in Sandy and embarked upon what was supposed to be an extended business trip promoting their products and meeting with business associates across the nation.
Originally planned to last about six months, the trip turned into over a year and a half of adventures for the Grahams and their young son, Zachary.
It was Mylisa who originally approached her husband with a radical idea: selling their home and taking their business on the road. He jokingly admits he was reluctant, having no idea how accommodating today's motor homes were.
"We went to the RV show to check them out, and we bought one," said Dan. "Then we covered almost every inch of it with our company slogan and Web site address. I wasn't even sure how to drive it at first."
Dan eventually became efficient at driving the home on wheels that took the Grahams to dozens of historic sites across the states, including Niagara Falls and the Spam Museum in Minnesota.
The Grahams are part of a sometimes controversial profession called network marketing. Not to be confused with multilevel marketing or pyramid schemes, they say true network marketing entails exactly what it implies: networking.
"You get the opportunity to establish relationships and build businesses together with people that have the same morals and goals," said Dan who started selling for the company eight years ago.
"I decided I was going to work for myself and began looking for a product that I believed in and a company that I trusted.
" It was difficult in the beginning. He lost his car and his apartment,. but he stuck with it, and claims today he has been able to realize many of his life's goals. Longtime friends and one-time co-workers, Dan and Mylisa married six years ago, and she joined him in the world of network marketing after the birth of Zachary.
"I wanted to be able to stay home with Zach, and I was tired of working at jobs that held no personal satisfaction for me. After I met some of the people that used the supplements, and saw how it made their quality of life better, I realized I had the opportunity to not only help people feel better but to also help them become independently wealthy," said Mylisa.
Although the trip was fun, the Grahams agree that the satisfaction from their profession comes from helping others.
"We get to make a difference in people's lives, and we've met hundreds of incredible people along the way," said Dan. "And we get paid to do what we enjoy doing.
" The Grahams do offer a few tips for anyone interested in starting a network marketing business:
* Do your research; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
* Find a product you believe in; if you don't like what you're selling, you won't sell it well.
* Don't quit your day job right away; make sure you have found the right product and company before committing your life to it.
"Then," Dan said, "work hard and pursue your dreams."
On the road
* The Grahams chronicled their journey on video, which can be viewed at www.gotminerals.com.
The Grahams of Sandy -- Dan, Mylisa and son Zachary -- traveled to 48 states and promoting their products, Youngevity formerly known as American Longevity nutritional supplements, and meeting with business associates across the nation. Photos by courtesy of Graham family.
(c) 2006 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc
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