A story by Pascal Chrétien

May 2017

Last March, during a business trip in Toronto, I was sitting in a restaurant with my friend Louis-Philippe. As we talked, my friend mentioned the word “career”. For a while, I don’t hear what he says because I just realized that I do have a career. But most of all, that I chose this career.

Some people decide to become doctors, realtors or lawyers. They go to college and work part-time to make a little money. When they graduate, they often have student loans to pay back, but they do what they like and that’s what matters.

I am a high school dropout. Without a degree, I first worked in a grocery store then in a factory. Circumstances led me to work an office job in that same company: from 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. I made a good living, but I had no passion for what I did because I didn’t choose to do it. That job payed the bills and that’s about it.

In 2002, I was encouraged to start my own business in Direct Sales. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and all I knew about Direct Sales were the usual stereotypes and clichés:

• It’s a scam.
• You make money on other people’s backs.
• And (the popular one), it’s pyramidal!

Even today, fifteen years later, it is still what I hear most often. Strangely, when I ask people what a pyramid scheme actually is, no one can tell me. As a matter of fact, pyramid schemes are illegal in North America.

So, I started as a PartyLight consultant in November 2002. I learned the trade and had my first successes. It took seven years, but I became the first male Vice President in Canada. Then, in 2010, I joined Tocara with a dazzling start. This time, it took me only two years to become Vice President.

Over the years, I learned to speak English and built a structure of 900 people, 36 leaders, across Canada. I travel often to meet with my teams and I earn a lot of recognition for my performance, including vacation trips. I do not have a degree, but I now have a six figures salary and drive an Audi. I even had to create two assistant jobs in my business as it continues to grow.

Speaking with my friend, I realized that I had chosen this career. I chose to push myself every day, to learn from others, to get out of my comfort zone to achieve my goals, to help people reach independence and find confidence in themselves. I’m lucky enough to live my passion. A growing passion that gets me up in the morning.

In short, I chose a career that fills my everyday life with happiness. I chose Direct Sales!