Shane Douglas, ACN Senior Vice President - Success Story

Shane lives a life free of debt and full of opportunities

Success is no stranger to Shane Douglas, a senior vice president with ACN. Running his first business shortly after college, he was reaping the financial benefits at age 21. He worked from his home selling appliances, and over 10 years’ time owned and managed several traditional independent businesses. His entrepreneurial drive and dedication brought in the money, but the cash proved an end in itself. There was little time or energy for anything but work.

All work and no play

“My problem was not that I wasn’t making money,” Shane says. “I just didn’t have any time to spend it.”

He said it was normal to spend 16 hours a day as an independent business owner. “I had success in traditional businesses,” Shane says. “But I had to be willing to work nights and weekends with no vacations.” While working felt normal to Shane, he knew he needed to move in a different direction if he wanted to have more time for his family and other personal endeavors. So after almost 10 years of success, but no free time, Shane said good-bye to his long hours and began his direct selling career.

First things first

Eager for a lifestyle that put his family first, Shane worked several years in network marketing before joining ACN. In just three years with ACN, the Douglas family not only reached their goal of becoming completely debt-free, but Shane achieved a financial freedom that no longer required work to be the driving force in his life.

“I have a lifestyle now, and not just a life,” Shane says with delight, describing some of the benefits he and his family have experienced. He now creates his work schedule around his life, instead of his life around his work. “It enables me to be the only dad at the basketball games,” he says referring to his teenage son Tyler. “Others want to be there, of course, but they can’t; they don’t have that option.”

While working in traditional business ownership, Shane found himself driven by a desire to make more money. Wanting to shift the focus to his family, he had to find a way to gain more time without struggling financially. His understanding of the relationship between the two-making money and securing personal time-has proved paramount to his success.

“No one wants to be greedy; but money gives us more choices,” Shane says. “It allows us to take three-week vacations instead of three-day vacations-and take them several times a year.” Money is no longer an obstacle for his family, but is a means for new opportunities. When he wants to do something-take a vacation, spend a weekend golfing, purchase a new car-he can. He no longer has to worry if he can afford it.

Time off is still time paid

“The hardest transition to make was to realize that I didn’t have to work such long hours, and I was still making money,” Shane says. “I didn’t have to trade dollars for hours.”

He explains how this excess of time and money is possible. “ACN is a technology-based company that will always be marketing new services people use to communicate,” Shane says, “The best part is that I don’t have to sell people on anything. ACN provides needed, everyday services plus, as technology advances, ACN is ahead of the curve, launching the very latest services, like digital phone service with video phones. People don’t need to be sold on a video phone, because they’re seeing people across the world. How many companies can offer something like that?”

As a traditional business owner, no work meant no pay for Shane. ACN is different. “People are going to continue to pay their monthly bills, and I’m going to receive a percentage of residual income from other people paying their bills,” he says. “When people continue to use ACN services, I get paid residuals. It just makes sense.”

Not just a job

More money. More time. Residual rewards. What else could add to Shane’s successful lifestyle? There is still something more: When Shane is working, he enjoys it.  He calls ACN “a company of highest integrity-the ownership provides great vision for the future, and they’re constantly looking to expand.” That expansion comes through building relationships and supporting new members. When Shane’s not spending time with his family, he is mentoring and coaching other leaders on his team. He holds one-on-one meetings and empowers others to reach new business goals. “My goals center on people’s success,” Shane says. “We’re trying to create an environment that’s more about personal development. At this point, I help people grow their business larger.”

After three years with ACN, the Douglas family is completely debt free.

“Once you get past the thought of making money, it becomes more about how you can help others make it to your same place,” he says. “There’s no competition, because you want others to have financial freedom and become debt free; you’re helping each other.”

Shane says a leader is someone who has the ability to step back and let others receive the accolades and recognition. “It’s someone who can celebrate others’ successes without always having to be in the spotlight,” he says. He has taken that role in his own life, building his business and pursuing his dreams with a steadfast spirit. Now, he enjoys the benefits of living a lifestyle that is financially free-with time to spare-and takes great care in supporting others still on their way to the top.