I read. A lot. My dream is to be a novelist, so I read a lot. Right now I'm on Vacation to work on a novel. This guy created
"National Novel Writing Month."
Nicknamed NaNoWriMo, or NaNo for short. I've got just over 17,000 words out of the 50,000 required to "win" the contest. If I could get myself working on the novel again, I'm quite sure I can knock out 10,000 words per day, and easily hit 50,000 before the end of the month.
I read Stephen King's book On Writing about the process of writing fiction. One of his biggest tips was to Read a Lot, Write a Lot. So i have taken that to heart. That's why I finally broke down and read the Twilight books, but that's another post for another day.
Last night I was reading David Baldacci's novel Absolute Power. I'm 99% sure that is the book that they made a movie out of that Clint Eastwood starred in. I am thoroughly enjoying it. It has a few characters with an incredible amount of drive and ambition. One of them is musing about how hard he's worked and what he sacrificied to get where he is. He's thinking about his drive and ambition. I thought to myself,
"What if?"
What if I could exert a little bit of drive, a little bit of consistent ambition? I have incredible, enormous hopes and dreams for my life and the lives of those around me. There is a quote that says something to the effect of "A wish is a goal without backbone." Or "A goal without a plan is just a wish without backbone." I tried looking it up and couldn't find it. Right now I am the epitome of that idea. I have all sorts of dreams and goals and wishes. A few of which I can't actually do much about. But there are plenty I can make active plans and purposeful steps towards.
As I was pondering that last night, I thought, as I often do, about my business with L'Bri. If I exerted a minimum of consistent backbone I could have more than a few active plans full of purposeful steps towards achieving some of those dreams. And, that action may propel me forward in the areas that I can "do" less work in to achieve a certain goal. (i.e. being single; I can put myself out there and try dating etc, but at the end I can't "make" someone love me or want to marry me.)
What about you? do you have dreams without a backbone? Do you have wishes without a plan? Do you need a vehicle to generate some income? or some self-esteem? or some public speaking skills? or some general leadership abilities?
We can be that vehicle!
For a small investment you can try us out and see if we fit! I heard a speaker at our convention ask if L'Bri was the vehicle to achieve your dreams. And I realized something, I love L'Bri. This is a company I can believe in and happily be a part of. This is a product I can offer every single one of my family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers in good conscience. We have a hostess opportunity and income opportunity I can believe in and, again, offer in good conscience.
But what he made me realize, was that it is possible (incredible as I consider it ;) ) that this could not be the right vehicle for someone else. That another company might be a better fit. I say all of this to say "I would love to help you start with us, give it a month or two, and see if we fit! Give us a chance, give me a chance!
I would be more than happy to sit down and discuss what our opportunities look like and how they might fit in with your life and goals.
No pressure. No signatures in blood.
Just a talk.
What do you think?
Could we be exactly what you're looking for?
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Dreamer
I am a dreamer at heart. I used to work in downtown Janesville and often drove past an old movie theater on my way home. I would daydream about marrying some amazing business man and us opening a Dollar Theater there. I felt (and still kind of do) that I needed a husband for that type of business because I am great at the idea, and lousy at the execution/follow-through.
I would drive past a seniors only apartment complex and day dream about asking for a break on my rent if I intentionally get to know the tenants and plan activities and events for everyone.
I see other people starting traditional businesses and I'd day dream about doing the same.
A large part of what would always stop me is that I simply do not want to have to work that hard to keep my head above water. In a nutshell that's why I choose to maintain my place as An Employee. (See Richard Kiyosaki's 4 quadrants if you don't know what that means.) I want to know that I get paid to show up, to some extent. The risk is minimal. The reward good enough to keep my butt in that chair day after day.
And all of that is one of the reasons I Love L'Bri. It allows me to dream. It allows me an outlet to consider a life different than what I have. It not just allows, but demands I consider a life different than what I have.
What if you got a trip to a spa just for helping other people join you in something you love doing??
What if you got a free car, including paid insurance, for helping those people maintain and grow their own dreams and hopes and goals?
What if you got an all expenses paid trip to somewhere exotic and warm and beautiful in January! For keeping in contact with your customers, giving away some free stuff, and doing nothing more than working towards that Spa trip?
Can you imagine any other scenario in life in which this could be true??
You bring a few friends to Kohl's to shop and they give you $100 in free clothes because you got some friends to come spend their money at Kohl's.
You get a free car because you recruited 10 of your friends to join your gym and they stayed for a year.
You get an all expenses paid trip because those friends you brought to Kohl's with you, well they got a few of their friends to go and did the same thing you did a few times too and you did it some more on top of those original friends.
Those are incredibly loose examples, but they are as close as we can get in the "real" world. Can you even imagine any of those scenarios to be real?? You'd ask for the fine print. Where's the catch? Where am I going to get screwed on this deal??
I know. It sounds crazy. Partly because Direct Sales doesn't translate to "real life" because it is such a different dynamic and a vastly different structure. But also because we've been told all our lives the 40 hours a week in a cub, for 50 weeks a year doing 30 to life, and you'll get to retire at some point, hopefully with enough money to eat something better than catfood.
What if?
What if it were possible? What if it were possible for you?? What if this were the opportunity that coudl change your life? Or your family's life? Or your outlook on the world?
What if this is the situation that gives you just the outlet for adult conversation you need after too many consecutive hours in the same house with your kids?
What if this is the opportunity to buy your husband that La-Z-Boy he's been drooling over every time the ad comes on TV?
What if this is the chance to have that exotic vacation to somewhere warm in the middle of the Dead Wisconsin Winter??
What if you said yes? Yes to any of the above. Yes to all of the above!
Yes to something new and different and fresh and exciting.
Yes to work, a different kind of work. A different style of interaction. A drastically different program for income. But Yes.
I would absolutely love to get together with you and explore how saying Yes could impact your life. I would love to get you the information you need to make an informed decision. Let's meet for coffee.
Whaddya say? Wanna dream with me?
I would drive past a seniors only apartment complex and day dream about asking for a break on my rent if I intentionally get to know the tenants and plan activities and events for everyone.
I see other people starting traditional businesses and I'd day dream about doing the same.
A large part of what would always stop me is that I simply do not want to have to work that hard to keep my head above water. In a nutshell that's why I choose to maintain my place as An Employee. (See Richard Kiyosaki's 4 quadrants if you don't know what that means.) I want to know that I get paid to show up, to some extent. The risk is minimal. The reward good enough to keep my butt in that chair day after day.
And all of that is one of the reasons I Love L'Bri. It allows me to dream. It allows me an outlet to consider a life different than what I have. It not just allows, but demands I consider a life different than what I have.
What if you got a trip to a spa just for helping other people join you in something you love doing??
What if you got a free car, including paid insurance, for helping those people maintain and grow their own dreams and hopes and goals?
What if you got an all expenses paid trip to somewhere exotic and warm and beautiful in January! For keeping in contact with your customers, giving away some free stuff, and doing nothing more than working towards that Spa trip?
Can you imagine any other scenario in life in which this could be true??
You bring a few friends to Kohl's to shop and they give you $100 in free clothes because you got some friends to come spend their money at Kohl's.
You get a free car because you recruited 10 of your friends to join your gym and they stayed for a year.
You get an all expenses paid trip because those friends you brought to Kohl's with you, well they got a few of their friends to go and did the same thing you did a few times too and you did it some more on top of those original friends.
Those are incredibly loose examples, but they are as close as we can get in the "real" world. Can you even imagine any of those scenarios to be real?? You'd ask for the fine print. Where's the catch? Where am I going to get screwed on this deal??
I know. It sounds crazy. Partly because Direct Sales doesn't translate to "real life" because it is such a different dynamic and a vastly different structure. But also because we've been told all our lives the 40 hours a week in a cub, for 50 weeks a year doing 30 to life, and you'll get to retire at some point, hopefully with enough money to eat something better than catfood.
What if?
What if it were possible? What if it were possible for you?? What if this were the opportunity that coudl change your life? Or your family's life? Or your outlook on the world?
What if this is the situation that gives you just the outlet for adult conversation you need after too many consecutive hours in the same house with your kids?
What if this is the opportunity to buy your husband that La-Z-Boy he's been drooling over every time the ad comes on TV?
What if this is the chance to have that exotic vacation to somewhere warm in the middle of the Dead Wisconsin Winter??
What if you said yes? Yes to any of the above. Yes to all of the above!
Yes to something new and different and fresh and exciting.
Yes to work, a different kind of work. A different style of interaction. A drastically different program for income. But Yes.
I would absolutely love to get together with you and explore how saying Yes could impact your life. I would love to get you the information you need to make an informed decision. Let's meet for coffee.
Whaddya say? Wanna dream with me?
Saturday, October 23, 2010
My First Time
I was a faithful (other brand) user for years. At some point towards the end of high school or possibly the beginning of college I realized the value and logic to washing your face regularly. And when a friend started selling (other brand) I started buying. First and foremost because I was a good friend, but secondly because I knew I ought to be using something on my face regularly. I liked what they had to say, and at the time I liked how it made my skin feel. I used the product faithfully, even switching between programs, following consultant suggestions and figuring out what would work best for my skin and, more importantly, my lifestyle. I used it for 5 years or so, maybe. As with many things in life, one loses track of the timing after the time has passed.
Then a very dear friend of mine sent me an invitation to this L'Bri thing. She had bad acne. Cystic, painful, red, very self-conscious-ness generating. I didn't have any of that. I got a blemish or two only around my "cycle" and those weren't all that bad. I was, however, a "picker." I'd pick at my blemishes and pop them etc. So I had some scarring on my chin, but nothing to make me all that self-conscious, and certainly nothing noticeable enough to deter me from picking.
Now, what you probably do not yet know about me, is that I am an incredibly Loyal person. Like, ridiculously so. I find anything I like or appreciate, and I will be Loyal to the END of Time. I am incredibly disappointed when a manufacturer stops making my favorite conditioner or hair creme or brownie mix or whatever. Having been a Loyal user of (other brand) for years, and having helped a couple of different friends maintain their sales quotas with (other brand) I debated the merits of going to this L'Bri thing my dear friend was having.
In the end, Loyalty to my Friend won out over Loyalty to my Brand.
4 years later, I can say,
I am so glad it did!
We participated in the Lesson and used the product right on our own faces. We did this masque thing they had on only half of your face so you could see the actual difference. Which was dramatic for some and noticeable for others. My friends noticed the smile lines around my mouth had faded, but then I was only halfway into my 20s, so I didn't have much "aging" to work on yet. ;)
The consultant spent some time going through one of their brochures and talking about the ingredients in most cosmetics products. She said that most products have a first ingredient of water, but that L'Bri used Aloe Vera Barbadensis instead of water. She told us how Aloe is a natural anti-inflammatory and therefore, very good for you skin. She told us how L'Bri only uses natural ingredients in as pure of a state as they can access. She explained that the only scent or color in any of the products came from the actual ingredients contained therein, i.e. the cleanser is green because it contains chlorophyll, which is the same stuff that makes plants green. She also explained some of the chemicals used in most other brand's products and how those were detrimental to your skin and could actually accelerate the aging process.
I'll be honest, I was a bit cynical. Anyone can print a pretty brochure and tell you "facts" about this ingredient or that chemical, but the proof is in the pudding ... or the cleanser as it were. But, I can honestly say, by the time we were done with the demonstration, I was very impressed with how my skin actually felt. I wasn't sure yet if I bought into all their propaganda (which is what I basically called it in my head) but I did know that I had bought into the results of using the product.
I ordered the "just starting off" set and was quite impatient to get it in the mail. And I went so far as to book my own lesson because their Hostess Program at the time, was to give you a free Masque when you hosted your own qualifying lesson. And, believe me, after seeing some of the dramatic results around my friend's table ... i wanted that masque.
After learning what I did about the ingredients, having felt the product on my skin, and having ordered a set, I had a very difficult time going home and continuing to use (other brand) until my L'Bri set came. But I did, because I am Good Follower and "they" tell you to wash your face every night and every morning. I was so excited when my products came in the mail. And I had a great lesson of my own and expanded my product set.
That was 4+ years ago. And I can still say that I am incredibly grateful to my friend for inviting me. And grateful to my God for prompting me to go and help my friend out, because L'Bri has truly changed the course of my life. I use a product I believe in. I have an opportunity I can share with confidence. I became a part of a company I could represent proudly.
And I am excited about what the future holds. For L'Bri. And, for me.
Then a very dear friend of mine sent me an invitation to this L'Bri thing. She had bad acne. Cystic, painful, red, very self-conscious-ness generating. I didn't have any of that. I got a blemish or two only around my "cycle" and those weren't all that bad. I was, however, a "picker." I'd pick at my blemishes and pop them etc. So I had some scarring on my chin, but nothing to make me all that self-conscious, and certainly nothing noticeable enough to deter me from picking.
Now, what you probably do not yet know about me, is that I am an incredibly Loyal person. Like, ridiculously so. I find anything I like or appreciate, and I will be Loyal to the END of Time. I am incredibly disappointed when a manufacturer stops making my favorite conditioner or hair creme or brownie mix or whatever. Having been a Loyal user of (other brand) for years, and having helped a couple of different friends maintain their sales quotas with (other brand) I debated the merits of going to this L'Bri thing my dear friend was having.
In the end, Loyalty to my Friend won out over Loyalty to my Brand.
4 years later, I can say,
I am so glad it did!
We participated in the Lesson and used the product right on our own faces. We did this masque thing they had on only half of your face so you could see the actual difference. Which was dramatic for some and noticeable for others. My friends noticed the smile lines around my mouth had faded, but then I was only halfway into my 20s, so I didn't have much "aging" to work on yet. ;)
The consultant spent some time going through one of their brochures and talking about the ingredients in most cosmetics products. She said that most products have a first ingredient of water, but that L'Bri used Aloe Vera Barbadensis instead of water. She told us how Aloe is a natural anti-inflammatory and therefore, very good for you skin. She told us how L'Bri only uses natural ingredients in as pure of a state as they can access. She explained that the only scent or color in any of the products came from the actual ingredients contained therein, i.e. the cleanser is green because it contains chlorophyll, which is the same stuff that makes plants green. She also explained some of the chemicals used in most other brand's products and how those were detrimental to your skin and could actually accelerate the aging process.
I'll be honest, I was a bit cynical. Anyone can print a pretty brochure and tell you "facts" about this ingredient or that chemical, but the proof is in the pudding ... or the cleanser as it were. But, I can honestly say, by the time we were done with the demonstration, I was very impressed with how my skin actually felt. I wasn't sure yet if I bought into all their propaganda (which is what I basically called it in my head) but I did know that I had bought into the results of using the product.
I ordered the "just starting off" set and was quite impatient to get it in the mail. And I went so far as to book my own lesson because their Hostess Program at the time, was to give you a free Masque when you hosted your own qualifying lesson. And, believe me, after seeing some of the dramatic results around my friend's table ... i wanted that masque.
After learning what I did about the ingredients, having felt the product on my skin, and having ordered a set, I had a very difficult time going home and continuing to use (other brand) until my L'Bri set came. But I did, because I am Good Follower and "they" tell you to wash your face every night and every morning. I was so excited when my products came in the mail. And I had a great lesson of my own and expanded my product set.
That was 4+ years ago. And I can still say that I am incredibly grateful to my friend for inviting me. And grateful to my God for prompting me to go and help my friend out, because L'Bri has truly changed the course of my life. I use a product I believe in. I have an opportunity I can share with confidence. I became a part of a company I could represent proudly.
And I am excited about what the future holds. For L'Bri. And, for me.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Words of Affirmation - courtesy DSWA
I attended our L'Bri National Convention this weekend. I love this Convention! I love any gathering of people and especially those gatherings in which fun will be had and laughs will be laughed. But when you add to that the level of positivity and encouragement that you see, the joy of the experience grows exponentially!
In case you don't know, I love L'Bri!!
I love the company.
I love the product.I love the founders.
I love my team.
I love nearly everything about it. I can't quite say I "love" that it challenges me, yet, but I think I'll get there too.
In our Saturday session we had Nikki Keohohou from the Direct Selling Women's Alliance speak to us. One of the things we did was a Words of Affirmation exercise. On Friday she had asked us to write down 10 Words that would describe us, our characteristics, our core values. She explained that a compliment is (typically) external, i.e. your hair looks great, love those shoes. And a Word of Affirmation is internal, i.e. you're so funny! you are such a caring, giving person. She asked us to go around the room and find 3 people to give Words of Affirmation to.
I knew right away who my first person was going to be. My 'new' friend, and hero, Julie. She has sold L'Bri for a few years and just recently we connected on facebook. She has 5 kids, the youngest of whom has special needs. She is not a lazy mom, she is not a 'things come easy' person. And boy is she FUN! We danced like crazy Friday night at the Western BBQ! To see pics, you'll need to go look at my facebook fanpage ...
When I was done sharing my joy and "I'm so blessed by you" conversation with Julie I headed off to find my other new friend, Kim. But I was waylaid! By a lovely girl, whose name I still don't know, that I had grabbed and made her come dance with me. She actually Thanked me for that! (gasp!) I was so glad she shared. I had wondered, after the fact, of course, if she was annoyed or upset or embarassed or if she just plain enjoyed it. Well, she came to thank me and tell me she was glad I had pulled her out and that she really enjoyed herself.
That whole exercise was wonderful. I think everyone in the room was blessed.
Having said all of this, Today's call to action:
Share your Words of Encouragement with someone in your world.
Me perhaps?
A significant other?
A child?
A good friend?
Go, share, smile!
When I was done sharing my joy and "I'm so blessed by you" conversation with Julie I headed off to find my other new friend, Kim. But I was waylaid! By a lovely girl, whose name I still don't know, that I had grabbed and made her come dance with me. She actually Thanked me for that! (gasp!) I was so glad she shared. I had wondered, after the fact, of course, if she was annoyed or upset or embarassed or if she just plain enjoyed it. Well, she came to thank me and tell me she was glad I had pulled her out and that she really enjoyed herself.
That whole exercise was wonderful. I think everyone in the room was blessed.
Having said all of this, Today's call to action:
Share your Words of Encouragement with someone in your world.
Me perhaps?
A significant other?
A child?
A good friend?
Go, share, smile!
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