I did not have an easy start in life.
Nevertheless, I have never abandoned my dreams.
For big dreams, life needs to make you strong.

I was bullied, beaten, insulted, and ridiculed.
I was told I would not achieve what I wanted.
Love was nothing more than a word; it didn’t mean anything to me.

All of that made me into the strong man I am now.
I turned my hurts and fears into manifesting my dreams.
It is my purpose in life to help others do the same.

March 2003 – I had just started teaching economics in a small-town high school when, during morning break, a stylishly dressed-in-black, high-heeled colleague came up to me.

She started with some friendly small talk, but pretty soon she cut to the chase:

“Would you be interested in a business opportunity you could start as a side-job or possibly a new career?”

“What’s it about?” I asked.

“Finance” she said, “if you want, we can have a talk about it!”

As I had always wanted to start my own business, I responded positively.

The next day, I found myself in her apartment sitting at the kitchen table.

The moment I saw the information she was about to present to me, I said:

“Oh, I know that. It’s that pyramid thing. Yeah. I’m not doing that!”

She smiled and simply asked me: “What do you think is wrong about it?”

I honestly couldn’t think of much to say besides the fact that some friends had told me not to do it, after I was presented with the same thing some time before.

I let her present the business to me again, and this time I decided to listen and ask any question I had.

I was intrigued and decided to join her for a two day seminar in Antwerp the following weekend. She would pick me up at my place on Saturday morning. In those days, it was all still real-life based. It is far easier now in our online world.

I must confess, I thought about cancelling many times. After all, I didn’t know her very well. What was I getting myself into?

I’m so glad and grateful I didn’t pull back, got over my doubts and fears and stepped in her car. After all, what did I have to lose? If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t do it. There were no strings attached.

That weekend my life changed.

It was the first time in my life I found myself among what I now call'”my people’. It wasn’t even the large figures presented on the big screen. It was their energy. The way they talked. Their ideas about mainstream society. How free they were both in their minds as well as in their day to day life.

In the following months, mostly, it was quite hard work.

But the camaraderie and the common purpose, each achieving their own goals in a mutual endeavor, was the first real home I ever knew.

December 2003, 9 months later, I touched my first 5-digit commission.

A little over € 12,000 – in one month – I had just turned 25.

But way more important than the money, was the person I was becoming and the life I was beginning to lead. Not only was I allowed to dream, but I had a tool to achieve them and friends to do it with.

Thanks to that experience, I have been blessed with many beautiful things.

I have travelled the world and continue to do so.
I was able to live and invest in amazing real estate.
I have learned from great men and women who freely shared their experience and helped me along my way.
I am honored to say that just by presenting this business, people have started their own careers or were able to secure amazing jobs afterward due to their experience.
Sometimes even love was found.
I am touched by the miracle that I am godfather to a beautiful young man whose parents got to know each other in the early years I was building my network. How much more beautiful can it get?

Of course – it is not easy.

Nothing worth a while in life, ever is.

Success demands a strong mind, the ability to withstand negativity, a willingness to learn and adapt, perseverance, and most certainly, kindness and patience.

Rome wasn’t built in a day – neither in a month or a year.

Any business start-up, which a career in Network Marketing always is, takes a while to build and stabilize.

If you’re wanting quick money without a lot of effort – then let it go – Network Marketing is not for you.

It is an amazing tool – but it only works, if you work it. It does nothing out of itself. But when used correctly and sensibly, it is a proven and exciting way to manifest your dreams and help others on their way (Read “My Big Why” here)

After all – what do you have to lose?

To your success,

Dietrich Sven Corthouts
Elegant Network Marketing