When I was still in high school, I decided that right after I got out, I would enlist in the Navy for the full 20-year period. Although I knew that it would greatly limit my freedom and opportunity, I also knew that the retirement benefits were great, and believed that the income would help to provide my family with a comfortable living, and a good retirement for my husband and me. That was my seemingly ideal plan, but reality was not so kind. After spending almost 18 years in the Navy, I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease. Two years away from retirement, I was discharged and I lost all of my benefits which I had worked so hard and long to get, including all medical and dental care for my family, as well as my take-home pay of $2600.00 a month. Within two months after my discharge, my husband and I were looking at bankruptcy.

When I was in the process of being discharged, the military told me that no one could hold my disability against me when I was looking for a job. Once again, however, reality was not so kind. Everywhere I applied, I was told they were finished hiring, only to look in the paper the next week and find a help wanted ad from the same company. We were desperate, as we knew that we could not make it financially on just my husband’s income!! Then I saw a "Work From Home" sign. I followed all the directions and was introduced to the IHBN business opportunity. My husband saw my enthusiasm for this business opportunity (something he hadn’t seen for a while), so he said "Go for it!"

This was my little business, and he said that he was 100% behind me. He saw my depression melt away, and watched me change back into the woman he had married. Although he always asked me about the business, I know now that he really didn’t think much of it. However, one month into the business (while I was still in the Navy), one of my Navy paychecks got lost, and of course I didn’t tell him. When my next paycheck didn’t show up either, I was worried, but still didn’t say anything. But when they lost my third paycheck, I thought I’d better tell him. As you can imagine, he was furious!!! He asked me how I was paying all of the bills with only his income. I told him I was "borrowing" from my business! That’s when he sat down and looked at my business bank account, watched the audio and video tapes about the IHBN business opportunity, looked at all the training material, talked to people in the business and got really EXCITED! Now, it is "OUR" business and he talks to everyone about it. At times I think he’s more enthusiastic about it than I am!

This business has also changed our family life. Before, we each had our own little lives, even our 4 year old. The kids would go to school or nursery, come home, eat and go to bed. Now, my kids help with the business, and know that they’re part of really helping the family. Alexandra (8), Jonathan (7), and Amber (4), help with booklets, carry things for me to the post office, and actually look for people in the stores we’re in and tell me "Mommy they need to be in the business!" They also love not being "latch-key" kids. When Jonathan comes home from school he always asks "So how’s the business Mom?" Our teenagers help with the phones, talk on training calls, and help us with advertising. My kids know more about business than some adults I know!!!

This business has absolutely changed all of our lives. We have grown as a family, have things in common, and are getting to know each other!! We now have family goals and dreams, and the kids are learning something they may never learn in school — how to make money, set goals, and help other people!!!