Lisa Conner

Direct sales careers can be rewarding, but require the right type of mindset. After 39 years serving numerous positions in direct sales, Lisa Conner’s company closed, forcing her to seek a new direction. This time, she wanted a business that made a difference. After four months of research into over 400 companies, she found it — and became an advisor with H2O at Home. H2O at Home produces non-toxic products for personal and home care, all of which aim to help people save time and money while improving their health and the environment. After four-plus years, she feels that her selectiveness has proved to be very rewarding.

In 2015, her husband Denton approached her and her three grown children with the prospect of purchasing another business. He felt it was a unique opportunity and that each member of the family had certain strengths to apply toward its growth. Particularly, he knew Lisa had sales and customer service experience in addition to organizational strengths and keen attention to detail. They became owners of Reading Soda Works and Carbonic Supply.

A truly unique business, RSW produces craft sodas that are pinpoint carbonated — one of the few remaining bottlers left doing so. They also sell dry ice, CO2 and Beer Gas, and many homebrewing supplies. Lisa and her family had no prior experience in this industry, but their dedication has given RSW new life and has helped it make great strides.

Women should look at Lisa as an example of what is possible when you set goals and are persistent with them. Having both a fulfilling work and home life, she is able to spend time with her grandchildren while also being passionately involved in two successful businesses, but she cautions that building success requires good time management, immense self-belief, and lots of patience.