Building a Thriving Direct Sales Team with Confidence & Integrity: A Conversation with Erin Klein
Hi, friend!
Welcome back to the Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust Podcast. I’m Lindsay Dollinger—high-school Spanish teacher, dog mom, world traveler, and direct seller. I help women run their direct sales businesses the right way so they can earn the money they deserve and live a life filled with purpose, profit, and a whole lot of magic.
Today, I’m bringing you a powerful conversation with my friend Erin Klein—a seasoned network marketer, coach, mom, and multi-passionate entrepreneur who has spent the last 15 years building and teaching success in this profession.
If you need a wake-up call, inspiration, or a fresh perspective on team-building, leadership, and the right way to grow in this industry… Erin delivers ALL OF IT.
Let’s dive in. ✨
Listen to the full episode here:
Meet Erin Klein: From Uncertain College Student to Direct Sales Leader
Erin’s story starts in college—where she changed her major every semester because she had no idea what she wanted to do. (Relatable, right?!)
She got her first taste of direct sales selling Cutco knives one summer… but didn’t consider it a “career.” Then at the end of her junior year, she was introduced to network marketing for the very first time.
She’d never heard anything good.
She’d never heard anything bad.
She was simply open-minded.
And that open-mindedness changed her entire life.
She made $9,000 in her first 90 days.
Like many of us, she pulled out her calculator and thought:
“OMG, I’m going to be a millionaire by 25.”
That moment was the spark.
The real journey started after.
She dropped out of school (sorry, mom!) and moved across the Midwest to help open offices, train new reps, and lead teams—all while learning the raw, behind-the-scenes skills needed to succeed:
- sales
- leadership
- team culture
- self-development
- resilience
She spent six years moving from city to city, building teams, growing offices, and learning exactly what not to do as a leader.
Eventually that company was bought out, and Erin transitioned to a new opportunity—one she’s been with for over eight years now.
Today, she’s built multiple streams of income, coaches network marketers, empowers moms in business, and co-hosts The Confident Woman Podcast.
Why Erin Is Passionate About “Doing Direct Sales the Right Way”
After 15 years in the industry, Erin has seen it all. The good, the bad, the cringey, and the downright harmful.
“I don’t judge people for doing it wrong—I feel bad because this industry is such an amazing opportunity, and some people shoot themselves in the foot before they even get started.”
Her mission now?
⭐ Teach people how to build correctly
⭐ Help moms work smarter, not harder
⭐ Show women how to create multiple streams of income
⭐ Build leadership with integrity
⭐ Equip others with the skills to succeed long-term
She believes—deeply—that this industry works when we focus on people, not pressure.
Being a New Mom & Running a Business: Erin’s Honest Advice
Erin became a mom less than a year ago, and she shared so many golden nuggets for all the mamas (and busy women!) building businesses.
1. Become “as insignificant as possible” to your team.
This one may shock you—but it’s genius.
When you make your team dependent on you, you’ll burnout fast.
When you build leaders, not followers, your business becomes scalable and sustainable.
“My team can run without me. That’s leadership.”
2. Integrate your family INTO what you’re doing.
Instead of “balancing,” Erin practices work-life integration.
One of her favorite ideas?
🌟 Create a fun puzzle or vision activity with your kids.
🌟 Each time mom has a sale, a meeting, or a business win, they add a piece.
🌟 When the puzzle is complete, you do a family reward—movie night, pizza, outing, etc.
Your kids start cheering for your business instead of feeling pushed aside.
3. Grace is essential.
Especially for new moms.
Life will look different.
Your schedule will change.
Your energy will shift.
And it’s okay.
Your business will always be there.
Your baby is brand new only once.
How to Build a Team Without Burning Out
This part of the conversation was full of truth bombs every network marketer needs.
Here’s Erin’s best advice:
1. Stop being the expert. Let your team learn.
Leaders often jump in too fast:
- answering every question
- training every new person themselves
- stepping in to save the day
- doing the work for their team
Short term → this looks helpful.
Long term → you train your team to depend on you for EVERYTHING.
“If a teammate calls while showing a friend the product and you answer, they never learn. If you don’t answer, they HAVE to figure it out.”
Of course, you support brand-new teammates…
But your goal is to gradually let them step into their confidence and leadership.
2. Don’t push YOUR method—let people build the way THEY thrive.
Erin has leaders who build in totally different ways.
She doesn’t force one system.
She doesn’t micromanage.
“If it works for them, I support it. I don’t need everyone to build the way I build.”
This is how you build leaders—not clones.
Should You Start a Team Page or Team Group? Erin’s Surprising Answer
Her take?
👉 You don’t need one until you have 30+ business builders.
👉 And create it for the right reason—not ego.
Most people rush to create a team page because they want to feel important or “official.”
But team duplication is NOT about having more groups, more tasks, and more noise.
It’s about clarity and simplicity.
“Why create more work for yourself if your upline already has an amazing resource? Use what exists and build when the time is right.”
(Yes, yes, YES.)
How Erin Builds Team Culture (Without a Team Page)
1. Deep, REAL connections.
Erin learns about her people—who they are, what they love, what they do outside the business.
Then she connects people intentionally.
Example:
If two team members are both football coaches or both moms of toddlers—she introduces them.
Instant community. Instant trust. Instant belonging.
2. Helping others give back.
Service builds community.
Her team has done:
- food pantry collections
- adopt-a-family projects
- charitable giving
You can do this virtually or in person.
3. Include everyone, not just the top performers.
This is a big one.
Some leaders unintentionally create a “mean girls” dynamic where only the highest ranks get access, attention, or love.
Erin does the opposite.
“Everyone matters. Every customer. Every distributor. Every builder. Everyone plays a role.”
Growing a Team from Social Media or Cold Market? Erin Says…
If you’re expecting your Instagram post to suddenly explode your team—you may be disappointed.
She doesn’t build her business on social media.
She doesn’t post about her company daily.
She builds her warm market by:
- connecting with people in real life
- networking
- building genuine friendships
- living her life so her warm market never dries up
Her advice for social sellers?
Use social media for YOU—not just your products.
Post your life.
Post your personality.
Post your joy.
Post your values.
People buy YOU before they buy a product or opportunity.
And if you’re messaging people?
Message like a human.
Not a robot.
Not a “Hey girl boss babe want an opportunity??” template.
The Skill Most People Avoid (But Erin Says Can Change Your Business)
📌 Emotional detachment from results.
If someone says no → cool.
If someone says yes → also cool.
If someone ghosts you → also cool.
“Their yes or no doesn’t change your life. You weren’t earning from them before, so nothing changes.”
YES.
YES.
YES.
Detach from the outcome.
Focus on the next person who needs what you offer.
Erin’s Top Tips for Anyone Wanting BIG Success in Direct Sales
1. Know what YOU want—not what your upline wants.
Are you here for:
- $300/month?
- to pay off a bill?
- full-time income?
- financial freedom?
- fun community?
Your why determines your work.
2. Stay true to who you are.
If you were class clown in high school (hello, it’s me ✋), don’t suddenly become Corporate Robot Barbie.
Let your personality lead.
3. Set goals—even small ones.
A goal could be:
- reaching out to one scary person
- hosting one event
- sharing your product daily
- doing your first live
Progress builds confidence.
4. Don’t overcomplicate things.
The more confused you are → the less you do.
Keep it simple.
Keep it duplicatable.
Focus on the basics.
Where You Can Find Erin Klein
Want to connect with Erin?
📍 Instagram: @erin_travelsforlife
📍 Facebook: Erin McKay Klein
📍 Website: MomsJustWannaHaveSun.com
🎙 Podcast: The Confident Woman Podcast
Go follow her—she is a wealth of wisdom and the warm hug every network marketer needs.
Final Thoughts
This conversation with Erin was FULL of truth, strategy, humor, and heart. Whether you’re:
- building your first team
- stepping into leadership
- revamping your systems
- or ready to scale in a big way
…there is so much here for you.
Her biggest message?
👉 Be yourself.
👉 Build with integrity.
👉 Focus on people.
👉 Create freedom your way.