From Overworked Mom to WAHM

Spring Into Spring: Natural Ways To Get More Energy

2011-04-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Feeling stressed, low on energy and tired? Or as the classic I Love Lucy commercial goes: "Do you poop out at parties?". Who doesn't love Lucy and that episode with the Vitametavegamin? My candle business team has had many laughs about exactly that when talking about balancing business and the hustle-bustle of daily life, courtesy of Darren Sanford, one of my team partners from It Makes Scents.

Our team has had some incredible giggles during our past Weekly Team Conference Calls about just that subject matter (and Darren does one heck of an impression of the whole comedy routine). But, let me ask WAHMs - How true is it sometimes?

Don't we all have days that present their challenges where we just feel tired, sluggish and un-motivated? Sometimes there is just a very fine line for a WAHM trying to be a business person while balancing the sometimes chaos of a house full of children and housework? How many times have you woke up and needed the reinforcement of a strong cup of coffee just to attempt to motivate after being up with a sick child all night?

Being a WAHM definitely has it's perks but I think anyone who works from home can relate to those "less than perfect" days. How can you get back on your game?

This WAHM can't live without her morning cup of coffee so I have no room to talk but caffeine really isn't the best solution, because the "up" is followed by a "down" and let's face it, we can't drink coffee all day. Spoken by Ms. Morning Blend here but it's true.

Alla Berger of Modern Mom recently published a great article about just this subject matter that I wanted to pass along as particular interest to WAHMs who sometimes feel just these things. You can check it out here:

6 NATURAL WAYS TO BOOST YOUR ENERGY LEVEL

She offers some great suggestions to pump up your energy level without a high test cup of coffee. Take a look and let me know what you other WAHMs think. I especially like her idea of turning on some good music. A good tune can work wonders and really energize.

More from me soon. Right now I'm going to turn on some good tunes myself. Make it a great week everyone!

MIA Blogger Springs Back Into Action.....

2011-04-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

It has been way to long since I've been here blogging. While there are many reasons for my absence, it's Spring and time to Spring Into Action.

For those in the northern states, Spring is such a great time of renewal and while I love life in Southwest Florida, I miss the changing of the seasons. Spring is such a time of rebirth, renewal, growth and change. While our natural surroundings show constant signs of it, we too can make this time of year a time of growth, new beginnings and renewals.

I haven't had time to really share my journeys in the past few months and want to share in more detail in future blog posts because I think it's important. But for now, let's just say that I have a new lease on life as I knew it before. With my adventures this past winter, I realize even moreso how very precious life is and how new beginnings and renewal is such an important part of our lives.

I did not go public with everything that was going on, but in retrospect, maybe I should have. As many of you know, cancer has affected my life in many ways especially through the loss of loved ones and good friends. I am passionate about cancer related causes and early detection. Early detection saves lives - a fact I've always believed but am now living proof of.

During my absence here, the message of early detection hit home in my personal life. I am now proud to say I'm a Breast Cancer Survivor blessed by the gift of early detection, some really awesome doctors who treated me and tests that are available to all of us that created such a good outcome.

As I was going through all of this, I didn't share it because I didn't want to worry people. Gosh knows, there is enough in our world to worry about! My prognosis was always good because it was caught so early. Everything went without a hitch, not totally free of challenges, but as anticipated and now that it's all behind me I do feel renewed with a new lease on life.

I will share more about this in future posts because there is a big message I want to share with my Mom and women friends. The main one for now is this - we all hate mammograms and tests but they are oh-so important!

I count my blessings every day! I have many but with this experience a new one to add to my list.

I will be back blogging more regularly with a lot to share about life and business. There is a lot going on here - all of which went on simultaneously with treatments and medical stuff - making it almost impossible to keep up at times. Now that all of it is behind me, it's onward and upward (as my Mom always said). Time to "Spring Into Action"!

Here's wishing you a rich Spring full of that same committment to renewal, growth and ACTION!

Three Incredible VistaPrint Offers To Promote Your Business

2010-12-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for printed items to personalize and promote your business, look no further than VistaPrint!

I have used them for years and highly recommend them. You can use your creativity and come up with some really incredible marketing pieces for pennies. That's a winner in today's economy!

Right now they are offering three special deals and I wanted to pass them along:

The Holiday Everything For $0 Sale allows you to get any items you want for FREE. All you pay is applicable shipping charges. Check it out HERE.

Buy One, Get One Free Premium Business Cards will give you one set of business cards for every set you order. BOGO is always good right? Check it out HERE.

Get One Free Calendar or Purchase 3 Calendars For The Price Of One - Your choice on this deal. Calendars make your customers remember you all year. Check it out HERE.

Plan ahead for a prosperous New Year while gearing up with business tools. Put your new marketing ideas into motion and let them fly!

Wishing you every success!

Here Are Some Great Articles For My WAHM Friends

2010-11-28T07:17:00.000-08:00

Time really flies! As I look at my blog, it doesn't seem that long since I've shared with you on here but in reality it has. I see that when I look at the date of the last post. There's a lot going on with our family in the way of new changes, growth and a few bumps in the road even that have kept life both busy and interesting.

Thanksgiving was wonderful and we had a lot to be thankful for this year in the way of the blessing of having great friends in our lives, the positive changes that have taken shape in our lives and the answered prayers as we went through some of those bumps in the road.

Life is good and we are getting in the swing of the Holidays. Candles burning (but of course) and it's great to be enjoying the scents of Christmas Pine and Home For The Holidays, two of our Scent-Sational favorites.

My Cool Candle Business website has a lot of additions with more to come. One of those changes is the ability to learn more about our products with item specific links to our company webstore to make your shopping and browsing easier. Come check it out:

COOL CANDLE BUSINESS ONLINE STORE

I wanted to pass along some recent articles that my WAHM friends might be interested in. I am proud to be the Home-Based Business Examiner for Orlando, Florida. I will have some exciting news to share soon about some of the writing I do on the internet (which I love to do). Can't wait to share it with you!

Check out my current Examiner articles. I would be grateful for your visit, any comments and if you would like to come follow me, I would appreciate it. Then you can get all the content right in your email inbox.

If you like to write as I do, please give me a shout at scentsationalbiz@aol.com with the title "Writing" in the subject line. I have some suggestions on how you can get some great exposure for your business and share your passions online too. I would love to share my knowledge and expertise with you.

Enjoy my articles and please let me know what you think!

Making Money Helping Others Save Money This Holiday Season

Shopping From Smaller and Home Based Businesses This Holiday Season

25 Ways To Identify Potential Consultants For Your Direct Sales Business

2009 Statistics About The Direct Sales Industry

You can check out all my content on my Examiner page here.

Wishing you all the blessings of the Holiday Season!

Why Making Mistakes Can Actually Be GOOD For You

2010-10-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

It's a fact of human nature: We are all human and we all make mistakes. It's like the old saying goes "To err is human".

Our mistakes and blunders can cripple us if we let them. Fact is, we have all done things where we looked or acted silly and more. I think all of us can relate to having a list of things we wish we had "do-overs" on.

But making mistakes can be GOOD for you. I think sometimes we all need a reminder of that.

What you say? How can that about that which we wish we had a second chance on, the things that embarrass us to the point of putting our peppermint shoe in our mouth or wanting to slink under the carpet? Can that really good for us?

THE ANSWER IS YES, YES, YES!

Let me explain......

Since each of us make mistakes, it's the lessons and life skills we learn from them that make them good for us.

Making a mistake can teach us to have a sense of humor. It can allow us to be less hard on ourselves and far less self-critical than we tend to be. Most of us are harder critics of ourselves than others. Giving yourself permission to make mistakes actually frees us up to be willing to laugh - about life, about mishaps and even at ourselves.

Making a mistake in retrospect often allowed us to try something new or different that is out of our norm. Think of it as stepping out of your normal box if you will. When we do what is contrary to the normal, we are actually taking risks and trying something new. In that, we are not letting fear cripple us and that in itself can be a good thing.

Making mistakes allows us to be ourselves and be true to ourselves. Sometimes you just have to do so regardless of the circumstances. It gives us freedom to embrace our individuality without worrying what others will say, think or do.

Making mistakes is part of trying and failing. But in that, the good flipside is you took a chance possibly at pursuing your dreams, goals or passions. That is a good thing too.

Making mistakes and moving beyond them actually is liberating in that it gives you the option of becoming a leader instead of a follower.

Today I find myself reflecting on these thoughts as I ran across a great article that addresses just such subject matter. I found myself having an "Aha" moment as I realized that the long list of mistakes I made actually made me more of who I am today. I find myself being okay with being far-from-perfect and knowing that mistakes are just a part of life. But what we do as a result can actually be GOOD for us. Now isn't that a great thought for today?

Here's the article for you and it's a pretty quick read. You'll find yourself realizing as I did that mistakes can be good for you:
5 MISTAKES EVERYONE SHOULD MAKE

Miracle Momas Blog Party - Come Join The Fun!

2010-06-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

It's a Blog Party and you are invited! We are proud to be participating in the Miracle Momas Blog Party and would love to have you join in the fun...

How does this Blog Party work you ask?

You visit the Miracle Momas blog. Everyone that wishes to participate should follow these instructions:

You write a post about the party on your blog on June 24th for everyone to visit. You can grab the button and include it as I have above and make sure you link back to the post on the Miracle Momas blog about the Blog Party please.

Then you hop over to the Miracle Momas blog and add your blog to the link up with a link to the party post on your blog. Pretty simple!

Starting on June 25th you can start visiting the blogs and leaving comments.

The Blog Party is June 25th and 26th.

There are also some prizes to be won plus we will be getting familiar with each other's blogs and following one another.

In order to be eligable to win any prizes you must visit at least 5 blogs. You will need to leave a comment on each blog and follow them if they have a follow widget. Keep track of the blogs you visit because you will need to come back here and leave ONE comment with a list of the blogs you followed.

Then visit the Party Prize Page and pick the top 3 prizes you would like win and leave a comment telling us what they are. All prizes are numbered and tell how many winners there are.

Let's have some fun with this and hope you will join in the fun! See you there!

Change Your Future - Our New Business In A Box Under $100!

2010-06-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

Who says you can't launch a lucrative business and change your financial future for under $100? Our company has made it possible in these economic times! Wait until you see all you get in this great new startup option.

I am proud to introduce it to you and if you are thinking "What If...?" there has never been a better time or better way to change your life, start your own business and build your financial future.

This new Starter Package is guaranteed to kick your new candle business off right. You are going to love this package! You will be able to start sharing our great producst and making sales the day you receive it.

What's even better? It's a $190.70 savings off normal distributor wholesale costs! This is incredible....

You can get in on this new startup option for just $95.00! This is the ultimate way to get on the fast track to YOUR very own successful home based candle business. Boy, I wish they had this available when I started but I am loving being able to share it with those who are thinking about making a change in their lives by starting a home based business.

Introducing our Candle Party Startup Pack for just $95.00! Wow! (Plus tax and shipping, of course). Imagine the possibilities of being in business with product in hand within days of getting started. It's an INCREDIBLE value and savings!

Think of it as your new "Business In A Box". It is!

The Candle Party Startup Pack includes everything you need to do business "on the go" including scent samples and actual product you can sell - and be able to put instant retail profits in your pocket. From there, you are all set to share our products with others, lifestyling your business and building it YOUR way. There are many opportunities for retail: through one-on-one sales, get togethers, networking, expos fairs and shows, home parties and more!

The Candle Party Startup Pack (a value of $285.70) can be your's for just $95 and includes:

1 Scent Sample Bag - an easy take-along over the shoulder bag that's versatile and a wonderful business tool. Normal price is $195 just for the bag alone so this is a GREAT deal. Includes 80+ 1/2 ounce scent samples of all our popular fragrances so you can use our "Smell and Sell" technique to get orders. WOW!
PLUS:

1 16 Ounce Jar Candle
1 Signature Series Candle
1 Spa Sations Candle
1 Designer Series Candle
1 Pack of Melts (our wonderful version of the tart)
1 Bella Bath Bar
1 Scent Simmer Pot
1 Plug-In Scent Simmer/Nightlight Style
and
1 Package of 50 Catalogs to show, share and take orders from.

If you are thinking "What If....?" and today's economic times have you wondering about things, it's time to take the first steps towards your Plan B.

You can change the course of your financial future through our wonderful business opportunity. With this new startup option, you can also do so affordably without breaking the family bank and be on your way to creating a business that is flexible, family-oriented, quota free with no pressure or hype and committed team partners to help you succeed. Training and tons of information and guides are readily available.

All we need is YOU in the equation to make the change you desire in your life.

Visit my website today to request a Free Business Information Kit and sample. Or, why wait? Take the plunge and get started today! You'll be glad you did!

COOL CANDLE BUSINESS

Riches Lie Within You

2010-06-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

The other day I was listening to a CD I often listen to when I want to feel like I am "in the right place at the right time". We all have days where we need that little pick-me-up, right?

Now, don't get me wrong. I was loving what I do but feeling very challenged lately. Among those challenges are the pride of home ownership (with the price tag and bill for a big repair I wasn't prepared for to show for it), the notion that by this time next week my son will be home for the Summer break, how to balance work and creating a fun Summer for him as well as the general time management issues most WAHMs can appreciate and relate to. That feeling of too much to do and not enough time to do it in.

Time management is a hot topic and when you are a WAHM, there's a fine line between home life and work life. Sometimes very fine! When those lines get crossed, it's usually not subtly but more like a bulldozer plowing on thru. Multi-tasking WAHMs and mothers in general can relate to that. It's kind of like the "if you want your child to want to talk to you, get on the phone" kind of concept. Usually when you are in the midst of a big, important project is exactly the moment when a drama or crisis occurs.

Mind you, I am not complaining and love being home with my son and my fur babies. I say all the time it's a blessing to me but the other day I was being presented some challenges where my "attititude of gratitude" was just bit shaken. It was one of those days where I needed that pick-me-up.

So I grabbed a CD and listened as I worked on the computer. The CD was Start Smart, Finish Rich by David Bach. David Bach happens to be a favorite of mine in books and audio. As far as this CD goes, I've listened to it hundreds of times over the years. But it's funny how you can hear exactly what you need to hear (that which you might otherwise tune out or just brush over) at the exact right moment when you need to hear it!

As David talks about acquiring wealth and building a business, here is the essence of his message:

PEOPLE WILL WORK HARDER FOR THEIR VALUES THAN THEY WILL SIMPLY FOR MONEY

People who dream of things like new, expensive cars and things might work hard towards their goals but most will not. He contends that there is no sharper focus than someone working for their values, the things that are important to them like family. I agree!

While I had heard this as many times as I've previously listened to the CD, that message was at the forefront of what I heard.

I had a moment of clarity and thought about my life and of the many WAHMs I know out there working to pay for private schools, karate and ballet lessons, college eductions and college savings for their children, family vacations and more and it hit me. We are taking daily action and despite the fact some days just don't turn out as planned, our focus on working towards our values will carry us through those days and into brighter ones.

An incredible thought I would say!

This past month has been an interesting mix of obstacles and challenges for me. In that, my attitude of gratitude got a bit shaky. A virus got to my computer and that's been a fun adventure. My web host got hacked and that felt like a major setback. Then there's the usual stuff: child support issues, juggling to pay the bills because the money doesn't always hit when the bills do and now this septic system malfunction.

The good news is: tomorrow the water flow in and out in my home will be back to it's normal self. Hooray! It will be fixed tomorrow which I am anxiously looking forward to. It's functional now but I still look at the growing pile of laundry, which the guy has advised me not to do yet, and groan.

Which was what I was doing again this morning, wishing it was already tomorrow so I could get caught up and feel a sense of normalcy in my home. As I sat down with my morning cup of coffee and scanned my emails, Max Steingart's Daily Motivation was in my inbox.

I really like his Daily Motivations and often share them. Today, I was feeling very much like this man was hiding in my closet somewhere, knowing what I was feeling and found the perfect message to get my off my things aren't going quite as I would like and too much to do pity pot. Here it is:

RICHES LIE WITHIN YOU

Wealth without enjoyment is little consolation. Your real riches in life are riches of the head and heart. Satisfaction comes when you appreciate what you have.

While success is getting what you want, true happiness is wanting what you get.

It's not how much you have, but how much you enjoy that truly matters. Riches lie within you, not in your material possessions.

© 2010 YourDailyMotivation.com

What a profound and true message! Between that and listening to David Bach lately, I'm realizing I am exactly where I need to be. It was just the encouragement I needed to become productive today, to forge on and blaze thru the obstacles to work for my values, which is my family and home, and take daily actions to create the lifestyle I so well know and love. Attitude of gratitude back and in check.

It's amazing how we can feed our minds and instantly realize how silly some of our thoughts are. A good dose of positive motivation is just what we need to get us off the pity pot on the days when we feel more challenged.

I'm ready to take on the world today and this weekend as I have lots of projects on the drawing board. No longer am I feeling overwhelmed but now I feel a sense of excitement and urgency. That's a good thing, right?

Here's the link to the CD from David Bach "Start Smart, Finish Rich" if anyone is interested. It's a great CD for those who are in direct sales, network marketing and have their own business. You will wrap up listening to it realizing you are on the right path and in the right place. It's a great prospecting CD too!

University Reviews Online: Overworked To WAHM Blog Named Among 101 Best Blogs For WAHMs

2010-06-06T14:59:00.001-07:00

University Reviews Online recently published a list of the 101 Best Blogs For WAHMs and I am proud and honored to say Overworked To WAHM was listed. Granted, this blog was #94 but in light of the competition and the many very great WAHM blogs out there I was honored by the mention.

CHECK OUT 101 BEST BLOGS FOR WAHMS

I love writing on the internet and sharing ideas, but I don't really consider myself a professional blogger by any means. My work on Squidoo, other article writing sites and Examiner.com is more something I enjoy doing. Over the years, it has connected me with numerous great people I otherwise would not have had the privilege to meet.

If you enjoy writing and sharing your ideas, you might consider taking that road too. Blogging and article writing has lots of great benefits including the exposure online as well as the connections you make with like-minded people.

I would be happy to tell you more about Squidoo and my journey there! Squidoo has a referral program and it would be my privilege to refer you into the community, cheer you along and help you get your feet wet as a mentor and supporter. If that sounds like something you might be interested in, please give me a shout as I love helping other WAHMs and work at home individuals and gladly pay the knowledge forward. Just email me at scentsationalbiz@aol.com

Right now, I am working on a big project I've had a vision of for sometime. In recent months, the concept really took shape for me thanks to some wonderful new ladies in the WAHM community in addition to my team mates in my business, who always inspire me, support me and cheer me on. It's a big undertaking and I'm working very hard on it behind the scenes. I can't wait to show it to all my WAHM friends. I think you are going to be blown away by what we have planned.

I am following this passion and taking a fork in the road in some ways from what my plan was because I feel so strongly about it. I've thought on it long and hard and prayed for direction as I felt it calling to me very strongly. I have a strong belief in some things being meant to be. In this case, I believe I am being called in this new direction for a reason. Part of me feels it is making me grow to be more like my late mother, who was one of the biggest hearted, most giving women I've ever known. I think she will be proud of what I accomplish by this project.

This project isn't about ME, it's about US. It's about WAHMs and the Work At Home community at large. If you share the passion with me that together we can achieve great things, that in unity there is success and that there's nothing a group of WAHMs can't do, please come and join me on our new Ning group as this concept takes shape.

http://wahmsacrossamerica.ning.com/

It's going to be an exciting, fast moving and interesting Summer. In today's environment, I think this is so needed and can't wait to show it to you. Please come along for the ride and thanks for following my blog.

"If You Do A-B-C, You'll Be Successful Just Like Me" (Or Something LIke It)

2010-05-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a coaching call with distributors from several companies which really hit the nail on the head about this subject. Additionally, I have had some one on one conversations with others in our field that relates. So much so, I've given this a lot of thought.

It is interesting territory to say the least. Call it the "If You Do ABC, You'll Be Successful Just Like Me" approach or something like it. I found it interesting subject matter for a few reasons.

First, because I believe ever so strongly that industries like Direct Sales and Network Marketing ARE a people business. Which is where part of my quandry comes in. I embrace the uniqueness of human individuals, that we are not a one-size-fits-all species, and that our differences make the world go round in many ways.

Secondly, I have seen an increase in these types of claims, moreso in recent times, which would make me (or anyone for that matter) question their validity. As a non-believer of the one-size-fits-all approach to people and success, I have a difficult time swallowing those claims about a System and how it will make you successful when I hear or see them.

Third, it might not make me popular to address this with some, which is okay. I am not in business to win a popularity contest. I am in business to empower and build people. Part of building people is respecting their individuality instead of treating them as a one-size-fits-all being. Perhaps some won't like it. I don't mind being unpopular for the sake of empowering others, affirming to them that it's okay if they are different or to validate that something that works for most everyone else might not work for them, whatever the reason.

My purpose in blogging this post is not to play Devil's Advocate. I am not out to engage argument or upset anyone. However, I am passionate that this needs to be said for those who are struggling with the "If You Do ABC, You'll Be Successful Just Like Me" or something like it concept.

What I am talking about are the Systems being introduced and hyped about by people in the industry who claim they have the newest, surefire way to create success for everyone. It's truly not that I believe all systems are bad. Many systems are good and necessary. They make things run smoother. However on the flipside, I think it would be true to say that a system, in every aspect of life, fails someone. When it does, the individual often feels like a failure instead of what really happened: which was the system failing them.

This isn't a novel concept and can be applied to all areas of human life. From our governmental systems to the smallest system out there, while it may work for the many, there are always some who it just doesn't work for. Someone always falls thru the cracks. Someone is really sincere and yet it doesn't work. In other words, the system fails the person. It's not that the person has done anything wrong. It just happened that way.

So let's talk about these new Systems, or ways of doing business in our industry and really examine if they are a one-size-fits-all solution. Or how do you handle it when the system fails or doesn't work in your case?

Websters provides several definitions for a system. Take a look at these definitions:

1. A regularly interacting or interdependent group of items forming a unified whole

2. A group of interacting bodies under the influence of related forces

3. A group of devices or artificial objects or an organization forming a network especially for distributing something or serving a common purpose

4. An organized society or social situation regarded as stultifying or oppressive

Some of those definitions I found interesting when we talk in respect to this subject matter.

So you've heard all the talk about the newest System to build your business like never before, to take you to the next (fill in the blank) or to make you successful.

That's great! I'm all for trying all suggestions to build a successful business, don't get me wrong. I believe that a group of minds is better than one and in some instances a System can be created that works for the many, the masses, but still is not a one-size-fits-all system.

That's where I believe it's beneficial to look at the root of the new Systems and their origins, the motivations behind them and the possibility that just because it's the newest, greatest System, it might not work for you for various reasons. I don't think anyone can argue there is no such thing as a 100% sure thing.

It's important to look at the way the system came about. Was the system always there but maybe not as hyped about? Is this really something so unique that no one else has ever thought of something like it? Is it a foolproof system or one of those things that are thrown at the wall or out there to the masses to see what sticks? Does the System provide a Plan B?

If the System was so great, why wasn't it always in place and readily available to all? Why is it the newer, better top secret path to success today? Did the person who is sharing it really attain their success that way?

When asking those questions in recent conversations and coaching, that's where my cause for concern came in.

Fact is, in most cases some form of the System has always been around. Therefore it's not new and original. It may be to the messenger or messengers, but it's been there since the beginning. In the beginning, it wasn't a one-size-fits-all answer, therefore it can't be any more so today.

What makes the concept behind the System new and improved is the hype and claims that they will provide the recipe for success for the many. Again, what concerns me is there is no 100% foolproof system for success. Success is an individual thing. No two people attain success on exactly the same road. It's been said time and time again, there are no "insider secrets", "secret handshakes" etc. meaning the one-size-fits-all system can't meet the needs of everyone, their path to success and their needs.

The sudden change in gears, the tide of the newfangled Systems and all their buildup came about for a reason. If it's always been there, then one must question why the sudden change and the belief it now is a one-size-fits-all answer to success? There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to success by any means. So are people just reinventing the wheel on something that's been there all along or what?

What I've discovered in conversations with many is this: the new System really isn't how the claimant of the "If You Do ABC, You'll Be Successful Just Like Me" really became successful in the first place. That is not company-specific or unique and in every case I've recently looked at or discussed this has been 100% the honest truth.

The invention, or reinvention of the wheel, in it's momentum is in many cases a way to drum up new business in a slow economy. Now that's tough to swallow, but I call it as I see it. It's finding the path to the least resistence in keeping up group volumes, retail volumes, recruiting numbers and all that goes with our business in a flat economy. So in actuality, the new System (which remember we said isn't new or unique in concept) is a way to excite people to keep on keeping on in tougher times. It's no more original today then it was say five, ten or fifteen years ago. What makes it original or new is only the way it's being promoted as the newer, better way of doing business.

So, have you encountered these new systems? Heard about them? What is your take? For me, my take is I'm all for trying new things but wonder to what degree these newer, surefire, better Systems of success might actually set some up for failure. Realizing that a system does not work for everyone, one has to wonder if that would be the case.

Now, in fairness to the System creators, in order for an individual to determine a system doesn't work for them, they must put a sincere, heartfelt 100% focused effort into trying the system to see if it works. You can't just "say" the system doesn't work, you must take daily action steps to trying to work the system.

If along your path, you realize this isn't the system for you, you are not unique or alone. The hype about the System leads you to believe that if you can't embrace and work the system, you will bottleneck your chances for success. You think it is working for everyone else so you do feel alone. Do you give up on your business? Do you feel the failure?

THAT my friends is what concerns me about all these great Systems I'm hearing about that are rolling around and being talked up by many companies and it's leaders!

I contend that people are individuals. My path over the past 5+ years in my current business and your's has been different. My paths, failures and successes in past business endeavors in my 25+ years in this industry don't mirror your's.

What works for me might not work for you. I might harbor a passion for something you might not be keen on doing. You might have a method that would never fit for me, my personality or my way of building a business.

My contention is that all of this is okay! Maybe that's because I still embrace the greatness of individuality, the spirit of creativity and the concept that everyone can achieve success if they set their mind to it. Their path and methods are not a one-size-fits-all system, therefore it's not worth feeling like there is any failure in the fact that the newest, greatest System didn't work for you. That's negative energy best left put aside. If you have felt that in the past or are feeling it today, please put that aside and start on a new path today!

My advice:

Try one of the new Systems you hear so much about. Give it honest 100% effort (really!) for 60-90 days and see what results it brings you. If it works for you, great you are who it was meant for and stick with it.

At the end of 60-90 days, look inside yourself and make an honest assessment of your performance. If you find you have given your 100% to this System and it isn't working for you, I wouldn't fret over it. Obviously, something is not clicking. Please do not take it personally in spite of any hype that this system works for everyone. Again, remember no system works for everyone! Don't feel like a failure! Go back to what works for you, what you are passionate about and build that way. And do so with gusto and don't be afraid to can the System if it isn't working for you. Nothing is one-size-fits-all.

Embrace your individuality, explore your creativity and embark on a path that's in keeping with your spirit and what has brought about success for you in the past, or invent new ways that are more "you" and less one-size-fits-all.

As you grow and prosper, please do your downline one big favor too: Please do not reinvent the wheel and come up with another great duplicatable System that's one-size-fits-all.

Let's not perpetuate a feeling of failure in our industry if something doesn't work for everyone. It's bad enough that we are in a slow economy and it's hard enough to do business today. Let's get back to the day where we are truly building people, not group volumes and recruiting figures. If we are building people, embracing the journey of individuality, creativity and more, the success will come. Forget the Systems and build your people. That would be a great thing in my eyes!

We Rolled Out A New Team Website In Honor Of Earth Day!

2010-04-25T10:23:00.001-07:00

I am pleased to announce a new website for my candle business team, called Our Flames Team. It's great way for you to get to know my business partners!

Earth Day and it's celebration turned 40 years old a few days ago. We found it a very fitting time to debut our new website.

Everyone on the team is busy getting their information ready for inclusion on our new website. As the site develops and grows, you will find it a great resource to learn about our team distributors, products, company and opportunity. Come learn more about us as the site grows and develops here:

OUR FLAMES TEAM OFFICIAL WEBSITE

I am very proud of my distributor team! They are a dedicated, focused, talented and fun group of people. I couldn't ask for better people to partner with! I already love what I do from a personal standpoint but having such great peeople to work with is really the icing on the cake.

There is such a great team spirit and such a willingness to help and support one another. Thus our motto: Sharing....Earning....Growing. We have fun while working, have become friends, make money, share ideas and so much more. I look forward to sharing my team and the pride I feel about them with you too!

Our team blog, Our Flames Team, made it's debut on the internet scene not too long ago also. Plus we have a new team guest blog coming soon. You will hear from the members our our great distributor team as they share from the heart what they love about our business, what got them into the business (their "why"), their favorite products, testimonials and more.

CHECK OUT OUR NEW TEAM BLOG HERE

In my eyes, Earth Day was the perfect pick to debut our team website! 40 years of Earth Days is a big deal to us! It's a milestone for observing Earth Day and working towards the goal of saving our planet for our children, grandchildren and future generations.

What is an even bigger deal to us, as candle lovers and business owners, is the fact that you can celebrate Earth Day every day with our cleaner, greener candles and products.

When Earth Day began in 1970, the trend towards saving our planet, going green and eco-friendly products was just a baby. Earth Day 2010 is just behind us and today it's hip and chic to Go Green!

The company we are distributors for was founded in 2002. It brought to the marketplace a creating a cutting edge candle and product line that was cleaner, greener and more eco-friendly. It was right on the mark!

Candle statistics demonstrate that the highest percentage of growth in the candle industry is in natural candles. The trend towards going green would make that statistic kind of a no-brainer and easy to expect that trend to continue.
Our candles are made from natural, renewable sources and are crafted from an alternative plant/vegetable wax blend.

Our comprehensive candle line offers 90+ great smelling, very realistic scents in our 16 ounce jar line. The most popular fragrances in the line are also offered in our 26 ounce Grande sized jard.

For those fans of going flameless and wickless, our brand of melts are made from the same plant/veggie wax (making cleanup a breeze) and will rival any tarts on the market today.

The Bakery Line of pies and cinnamon buns are really fun. These are again finely crafted from the same wax blend and make great gifts as well as for your own enjoyment.

The Signature Line is a tri-colored 20 ounce three wick candle currently available in 4 very stylish, upscale scents. You'll love them!

The Spa-Sations line, an 8 ounce jar in a frosted glass. Turn your home into a relaxation haven and create a Day Spa for yourself!

Our Orchard Line was just introduced and are going to be a big hit. These too are 8 ounce specialty candles from the same wax blend. You can bring the essence of fresh picked fruits right from the orchard to fragrance your home.

Going green smells great with our candles! Going green is beautiful with our natural mineral makeup beauty line. As distributors, we are proud to be associated with a company that offers superior gourmet products that are more eco-friendly too!

Please come visit our new team website, our team blog and our team guest blog when it debuts to learn more about us! Visit us often as we share with you about our candle business world

Happy 40th Earth Day to Planet Earth! Go green with your candles and celebrate Earth Day every day!

2010-04-22T11:17:00.001-07:00

Happy Earth Day! Have you Gone Green with your candles yet? http://ping.fm/q6Hmz

Have You Seen Our Latest Products?

2010-04-21T21:02:00.002-07:00

Spring is in the air! It's one of my favorite times of year! The weather here in Florida is perfect. Not too hot, not too cool, just right like the Three Bears say.

Spring has officially sprung and the newest additions to our product line is no exception! These latest additions to our cleaner, greener Gourmet Candle line are fabulous. It's my pleasure to share them with you! I look forward to sharing them with my customers and letting them experience these for themselves. They are going to be a big hit this Spring and Summer.

Let's begin with the newest addition to our Signature Line: The Iced Mint Signature Line Candle. Like all the other Signature Line candles, this great new scent is a tri-color 20 ounce, three wick candle that is sure to please the senses. Cool and refreshing, Iced Mint is inspired by a sun kissed morning in the country garden. Fresh picked mint leaves and rich earthy notes capture the essence of this crisp refreshing fragrance. This is a great addition to this already popular line available in: After Dark, Fireside and Twilight.

Fruity scents are always popular, requested favorites that remind us of Spring and growth. Our new our Orchard Series just made it's way onto the market and you are sure to love these!

Created very similar to our Spa-Sations line, the Orchard Series features four fruity favorites: Crisp Apple, Fresh Peach, Juicy Pear and Honeydew Melon. I, for one, am glad to see the Honeydew Melon scent come back to us in such a great line!

The Orchard Series comes in a 8 ounce frosted jar with superb packaging that looks like they just arrived from the orchard.

These are exciting additions to the line that I will be well received by our Gourmet Candle Connoisseurs everywhere.

Come check them out on my Company Website complete with pictures and descriptions. As always, feel free to get in touch with me with any questions or to place your order. You can also order online right on my Company webstore:

ICED MINT SIGNATURE SERIES CANDLE

THE NEW ORCHARD LINE

Have you visited my company website lately? If not, you must! Our company websites have undergone a major facelift and it's beautiful! Please come check it out, you will love it!

While you are there, please enter my Free Candle Drawing too using the button on top of the page and I hope you will visit often. I am always here to help and thanks for taking the time to learn about our newest products. Now, come experience them for yourself!

My Blog Pays Me....Does Your's?

2010-04-16T05:24:00.000-07:00

what.ismyblogs.name - You've never heard of it?

It's a blog. Many of us already have them and for a small business, they are an incredible way to gain internet presence. But when you blog, often you are "on your own" so to speak to get followers and increased exposure. Not so with us!

It's also an affiliate program. It's one of the most exciting opportunities available in our current economic situation. A simple affiliate program that even many without a computer are joining.

How can this be possible you ask? Here's how.

First off we have made the price of the service very affordable at only $9.95 per month. So anyone can do this!

You pay for a blog service that will cost you only $9.95 per month, you then refer others to do the same and you will be rewarded $1 each month 5 subaffiliates deep. We hear you laughing! $1 whoopee!

Well, it's all in the math. Here's what we mean. Let's use the number 10 since it is a very easy number to do mental math with. Let's say you refer 10 people and they sign up for the blogging service, we know you get $10 a month because you get $1 per each sign up. This is your first level subaffiliate.

Now let's say that each of these 10 people refer 10 people each, you get another $100 a month because 10 people times 10 people equals 100 people and this is your second level of subaffiliates. Remember too, you go five levels deep.

So now, let's say these 100 people each refer 10 people each, that's of course 100 people times 10 which equals 1000 people and $1000 a month more to you on your third level of subaffiliates. If you check out the math on the remaining two levels you will see how very powerful this can be!

Your results depend on you and there is work and promotion involved. You do have to share the opportunity to make it work. What I truly like about it is this:

MANY OF US are blogging anyhow to promote our businesses, share ideas and more. Why not get paid for it? Earn residual income from your blog. How cool is that!?!

Sound too good to be true? Is it worth $9.95 a month for you to find out?

If your answer is YES, here's a special offer:

Take What Is My Blogs Name out for a FREE 30 DAY TEST DRIVE! That's right...you will get the opportunity to try it out for free and see if this incredible tool will work for you. After that, it's just $9.95 a month for this incredible tool and income opportunity. It won't take much to cover that expense and be blogging and earning. Come join me and GROW WITH US!

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE FREE 30 DAY TEST DRIVE

Here's to our success! Let's work together to make this great!

2010-04-07T12:48:00.001-07:00

There's nothing better than reaching a goal. I achieved Giant Squid status at Squidoo this past quarter. What an honor - it feels so good! http://ping.fm/SKNMA

Business Is Like Planting A Garden

2010-03-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

This is a great article written by Ilene Meckley. Ilene is one of my idols and mentors in the business world. I love and totally subscribe to her philosphy of "Networking From The Heart".

Now that Spring is here, I wanted to pass along a great article about How To Plant Your Business Garden. Enjoy and Happy Planting! Let's make it a successful Spring!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Daylight Saving's time is here. It is time to spring forward. Be sure it is spring time in your business too. It is time to move it forward as well. Get ready for growth!

~Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your
business garden grow?

~I show I care with my goal to share.

~A good deed is to plant a seed which helps find
those in need.

~Spring is here and it is time to get rid of fear.

~Good cheer and getting rid of fear leads to a
great career.

By: Ilene Meckley

Spring will officially be here in a couple of days. Business is so much like planting a garden. We first have to plant the seeds, and then we have to water, mulch and fertilize. We know some plants will grow easily and some plants require a lot of care. Some people even believe in talking to their plants. We want to be sure we help your business garden grow this Spring! More and more insects start to appear in the spring. ANT’s (automatic negative thoughts) are not fun to have around! Keep them from invading your business! We are having “Getting Rid of ANT’s “ parties this spring. You are invited! Call 702-673-0361 to attend this fun activity in your city.

Tips for your business garden:

Getting the soil ready--It is important the soil is ready to receive the plants. In a business garden that means working the day as you would prepare the ground--making a plan as to where you are going to make the contacts, just like you would make a plan as to where you will put the garden and when you will work on the garden throughout your daily routine.

Fertilizing--to make the soil richer is like doing the full service contact to be sure the person you talk to can be richer also! They can be enriched from all the services you offer. This is such an important step in the growing process. This is also a step in gardening that can be sometimes not so pleasant. We still do it because we know it is important.

Planting the seeds--we know that some will grow heartily, some will sprout and then die and some seedlings will never make an appearance. We know we have to plant many seeds to have a full, beautiful garden. This is the same philosophy needed for our business garden. Expect the no's, accept the no's and respect the no's in the same way as you would from the seeds in your garden. Focus on the plants that do make the garden so worthwhile working for.

Watering--this is the most important step to being sure the plants have what they need. Are you watering your business--making 5-10 contacts--knowing that you are watering your business with each contact?

In a nursery, there are so many types of plants to choose from and in your business, there are so many kinds of people and places to meet people. Spring is a time to get out more and meet new people.

If you like what you read here, I highly recommend Ilene Meckley's newsletter! You can find out more information about her and subscribe at:
http://www.ilenemeckley.com

Passing On Some Great Food For Thought For Network Marketers

2010-03-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

This arrived in my Facebook inbox the other day. I am a member of a group called Successful Leaders United and this was sent to me from the group. I must give credit to them for it. It tells it like it is. I really like that.

Today's economic climate has made everything tougher and more competitive. From Corporate America, to mom-and-pop type businesses and everything in between. Network Marketing is still a great way to make a living but I've noticed an increase in hype, greed and ego and more from a lot of people I thought were "above that". Call it a sign of the times or maybe a bit of everyone feeling the pinch, but it saddens me to see.

I believe it's no accident that hype is located somewhere between hooey and hyper in the Webster's Dictionary. One thing that has always amazed me is the "I'm not going to give you any hype but" statement. Guaranteed right behind it is usually exactly that! Brace yourself....

Tighter economic times have brought out the competitive edge in many. This short article hit me close to home. Sadly, I realize there people I once thought were "above that" who seem now to find it all the more necessary to be overly-competitive, full of themselves and possessing a Me First attitude. It's no longer about team spirit for those but rather personally about their paycheck.

It would be true to say I've felt the pinch in these economic times. Do not doubt that for one minute. I think it has affected all of us in ways. We are all living more frugally and waiting for this economic cycle to run it's course.

As a single parent, a decline in my income means changes in my household. Do I look upon it with regret? Do I become bitter and get that killer instinct? Do I develop an attitude that it's about Me First? I thankfully believe that is NOT the way to go and will remain true to my inner self.

Besides, a premise of Network Marketing is it's not about YOU, it's about THEM. If they are successful and you help enough people, you enjoy success as a by-product. I don't believe that any less in today's economic climate than when I began my journey in this industry many years ago.

It means being more inventive, branching out, exploring other income sources and working harder. I am doing so, some successfully and some future successes yet to be had. It also means staying the course which includes staying true to your core beliefs and values.

The economy will turn around given time. People will continue to look at Network Marketing as a profession and business that they would want to enter. There are too many great advantages to it for this not to be!

When the economic cycle bounces back, I will be able to proudly say my income suffered right along with the masses in MLM. Despite that, I kept a sense of humility and did not lose sight of the concept of Team. It was never just about my paycheck, it was about achieving together and changing lives for me. Always has been, always will be! I will weather any storm with my team together and I know that I'm blessed for being surrounded by great people who share my spirit.

I am glad when the tables turn I will have nothing to "take back" because I've been true to myself. How does that credit card commercial go? Value....priceless.

Check the article out for yourself. We all have seen this type of Networker around the internet and in our daily travels. I urge all my friends in Network Marketing to be true to yourselves, weather the storm and don't stoop to this kind of stuff. There is a saying...to thine own self be true.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Greed And Ego Are The Kiss of Death in Network Marketing

Every time we have ever seen a company or downline explode and go away, it does so because of the same 2 reasons: GREED and EGO.

True leaders are the Mentors with the servant's heart. It's never about the money. No Money Focus = No Greed. Build people and people will build the business.

People are people. They are not a number. They have goals, dreams & desires. Network marketing is not a sales business. Network marketing is a teaching & mentoring business. So the track record & attitude of leadership is critical.

When you've joined a business and someone calls you, telling you to make a list of your friends & family, I can promise you that they do not have a system. "Friends & family" is what has been puked downline for the last 50 years, and that is the reason for such high failure rates in MLM.

It's Really All About Target Marketing.

You've got to find people who will raise their hand, looking for you and/or your product, your service, your opportunity.

Too often, somebody calls you up, pitching you. They don't even know who you are. They don't care who you are. They don't care anything about you.

I've heard certain network marketing leaders say, "It's a relationship business." And many of these people have never built a relationship with anybody. Nobody on their team would want to go on a one-month cruise with them.

Some "Leaders" Don't Even Want To Be Around Their People At Convention!

Why? It's all about the greed & the ego. The fancy watch, fancy jewelry, fancy suit, exotic cars, being the superstar, all that stuff.

Do they ever help the person who's been squashed by life? Do they ever pay for the next guy going through the toll gate? Do they ever just freely give their time to mentor others, expecting nothing in return? Do they ever use their income to buy good tools for those in their group who are obviously trying to build?

No, they don't. Instead, it's always about greed & ego, me, me, me. It's never about the other person.

You truly have to care about people. And then you won't have the greed and the ego. And THAT is the kind of person who can build huge in network marketing, because you will attract people just like you!

Musings Of A Missing Mom Blogger

2010-03-10T09:52:00.000-08:00

March is moving forward fast and it is so hard to believe I have been MIA from my Blog since last year. It's been about 5 months to be exact. Five action packed months of change, growth, new developments and all kinds of things that have kept me away but it's good to be back blogging again.

March came in like a lion, even here in Southwest Florida! We experienced nighttime lows dipping down into the 30's and yes, I even was scraping my windshield. Try that in the Sunshine State where we are not proud owners of our own ice scraper. It's been chilly to say the least, certainly too cold for my thinned out Floridian blood. Thankfully, the warming trend is here and hopefully as it goes March will go out like a lamb.

Today is beautiful and I'm back in my normal Florida attire for my work at home office - a tank top and denim capris. I have spent the morning musing and recapping what life has been like the five months I've been MIA so that I might share it with you.

Daylight savings time is right around the corner. Could it be? It feels in many ways like the Holiday season just left us and honestly I do not know where the time goes other than to say it's been busy, a good busy, and that life has a way of moving at a fast pace.

I am looking forward to the change in the time. While it takes my body clock about a week to adjust, I can not wait for the extra sunshine in the evening. I really do like daylight savings time and it's a sign that Summer is coming and I greet that and the sunshine wholeheartedly!

My last blog post was prior to our move into our new home. We closed the end of October. Redecorating and painting the new house and being a do-it-yourselfer was a big nut to crack. I loved doing it but it was one time this single Mom wished maybe she had a male counterpart to help out?! Did I just say that?

I painted the whole inside of the house myself, did most of the repairs, refaced my kitchen cabinets and so much more. I actually amazed myself with what I am really capable of. We were done and ready shortly after Thanksgiving and began the move.

Ah, the move! Again being a do-it-yourselfer and only moving across town, I decided to do that one myself. The home we lived in was my late Mom's. She had lived there since 1990, myself on and off with her but full time living there since 2000. That was the only home my son has ever known.

As he came into the picture, so did a remodel of that house that included 4 additional closets. Closet space is always great but it's likewise a great way to store stuff you really should be getting rid of! To make a long story short, I relocated much of this to the new home including a lot of family items that I would not part with and my Mom's momentos, photos etc. All this moving to a home minus the four big, roomy closets we custom added. It indeed was an adventure.

Prior to the move, I had two huge yard sales and really had fooled myself into believing I had gotten rid of so much. Daylight savings time is a welcome thing too because there are some big yard sales to be held this Spring as we clean out the garage and continue to find places for those things we want to keep. Eighteen years of "stuff" from Mom, myself and my son. Hindsight says: If you don't use it, get rid of it. Great lesson to live by henceforth!

I've shared a couple of pictures of our new home and we are happily settling into our new digs. There is still so much I want to do until it's "perfect" but I am very proud of how it's shaped up and we are very happy.

With a new mortgage and the economy being what it is, I continue to strive for domestic perfection while balancing my business and how I earn a living. The economy (yes and a new mortgage too) has required that I get a little more inventive in how and what I do. I've looked at many ways to add to the family budget without having to sacrifice what I worked so hard for. I fired the day care and don't want to have to send my son back to it now that our living situation has changed.

Days go by and sometimes I feel like a one armed paper hanger. The to-do list seems to stay a mile long and there are many projects and ideas I have that have yet to come to fruition. Happily though, I work on those daily and it's resulted in a lot of new, fun things with more to come!

CandleDawn is still very much active in her home based candle and mineral makeup business. I am revamping my goals and focus for what I want to achieve this coming year.

Real Estate school is completed and soon I will be joining the brokerage firm I've chosen and paying my dues to rejoin the Association of Realtors. I'm looking forward to it as I've missed the industry.

Several other irons in the fire, lots of website work going on behind the scenes as I have much to share with everyone as I unveil the new things I am doing to create the lifestyle and income I need to stay home with my son while embracing the passions and interests I have. It's a great life when you can take something you love doing and turn it into an income. This economy has made it interesting but where there is a will, there is a way.

The MIA Blogger will be making a commitment to blog more regularly among the many things she plans now that we are settled. So I will be around more regularly and plan to share a lot of good stuff with all my readers that will hopefully help all of us during this crazy economy to make life easier, stretch the family budget and promote all WAHMS and family owned businesses to the masses. That's where my passions lie and I am following them. On this beautiful Sunny Florida day it's good to be back and stay tuned.....

The Remarkable Story Of Jessica's Journey

2009-10-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

I have been deeply touched by the story of one courageous young woman in Naples, Florida named Jessica Stevens. A young woman like Jessica should be in the prime of her life at 21 years of age. Jessica is on an incredible journey to change her life and the rare illness called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

There are many fundraising efforts underway not only in Southwest Florida but now nationwide as Jessica's story is shared by outreach and the media.

The journey that will take Jessica to Mexico to undergo some radical treatment is a story of bravery, courage and determination. Despite her illness, Jessica is determined and unwavering in her faith in her life path and decisions to pursue treatment.

Being so touched by her story, I would like to share it with all of you on my Blog. Should you be touched by her story as well, please feel free to spread the word. She needs an outpouring of support both in financial help and prayers.

I have setup an Online Candle Fundraiser and will donate my profits to Jessica's Journey. Due to my move and my van being in the shop at the time, I was unable to make the Dinner Fundraiser held in Naples on her behalf on October 3rd but hope to make future events and assist in supporting this very worthwhile cause.

You can read about Jessica's journey here:

Naples Daily News Article

Jessica's Journey Blog

Support Jessica's Journey and the online candle fundraiser here:

Candle Shopping Online

When you check out, please use JESSICAS JOURNEY in the Code Box and your purchases will automatically be credited to her fundraiser.

Nancy Sustersic of Naples is helping head the fundraising effort and she is a networking friend of mine. I will make sure all proceeds are forwarded to Jessica's Journey Savings Account and will keep everyone posted as updates are available.

This story touched me deeply and I hope and pray for the success of Jessica's Journey daily. I hope you will join me in those prayers as well as the fundraising efforts and spreading the word about such an incredibly strong, courageous and remarkable young women.

Thanks to all!

A Great Motivation That Spoke To The Way My Life's Been Lately....

2009-09-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

Life is moving at a fast pace here at the Mathisen house and there has been so much going on. It's a hectic pace with a lot of upcoming changes and challenges but I'm looking at all of this as a great opportunity for a lot of new beginnings.

First and foremost, we are planning a move. We are house hunting right now and should have a final contract and make a final decision next week. It's a big one for me. Since my son was born, I have lived in the same home I've been in with my Mother. Since she passed away last year, I've felt the loss even harder in a way because I still feel her all around us in our daily lives. It's going to be hard to lose that connection when we leave this house, but I think she would be proud of my son and I embarking on a new chapter of our lives.

Next, I am returning to school next week. It's ironic in a way because I feel in a sense that my life has come full circle. From the age of 18 where I thought I knew everything and could take on the world to today in my 40's where I find myself going back to my roots and those days on more than one level. Kind of funny in a way I guess.

When I was 18, I was studying for my Real Estate license and was in direct sales with a cosmetics company. Today, I am returning to school to get my real estate license active again and the company I decided to join in 2005 for the candle business took me back to my roots with a great natural mineral makeup line I now represent.

So I feel in a sense like I'm 18 again. The key is not to make the same mistakes I did when I was young. This time the plan is to live up to my full potential and I have a lot of reasons WHY to make that happen.

It's been a year of change for us, not free of difficulty, emotions, challenges and growth. I have been finding myself very busy but yet optimistic about the future and what it holds for us.

As I was pondering this idea, my Daily Motivation email (which I love to receive) popped into my inbox and spoke to me as if it had in a sense been on this journey with me. Thanks Max Steingart...this is a great message but have you been spying on me? This describes my life lately!

In today's fast paced and fast changing world, it describes many of us. With all that is going on, there seem to be more challenges we face...as employees, parents, business owners, spouses, providers for our families. I wanted to pass this along with the hope that it will inspire you too!

I will blog again soon and give everyone an update. In about 2 weeks we'll be on the road to a new house, my new business venture, more time to spend on my existing one and a NEW BEGINNING! I'll keep you posted but for now take this message and see if it helps you as much as it did me!

OPPORTUNITY LIES IN THE MIDST OF DIFFICULTY.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Every problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem.The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity.

You'll find that every situation, properly perceived, offers you an opportunity. As fast as each opportunity presents itself, use it. No matter how tiny an opportunity may be, use it. You'll find new directions when you have an open mind and a willing hand.

Successful people don't achieve their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They developed an opportunity that was at hand. You must make your own opportunities if you want to be successful.

Opportunities are all around you. Find one and take action.

© Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com Reproduce freely but maintain Copyright notice.
from http://www.maxsteingart.com http://www.yourdailymotivation.com

Your Daily Motivation - Great Email Series & Example...

2009-08-08T14:19:00.001-07:00

I subscribe to an email newsletter type series that I absolutely love! It gives me great "food for thought" through it's Daily Motivations and I would like to share it (and recommend it) to all my WAHM and work at home friends who follow my blog and like that kind of stuff.

You can find out more at http://www.yourdailymotivation.com

Max Steingart shares both written and video Daily Motivations for you to help you put things in perspective, build success in life and business and deal with the normal things that come along for all of us.

In many cases, this is stuff that in a sense we already know. But it's always good to have those triggers and reminders of these things.

I hope that this helps some of my online friends and followers become more successful, focused and motivated in their business.

Here is an example of the Daily Motivation (and this is one I particularly like)

EFFECTIVE TIME USAGES DETERMINES SUCCESS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyday you make an investment of your time in your chosen activities.

You cannot save time for later use. You have to use it as it comes. And you only have 24 hours to each day.

Try to get the most out of the time you have. Focus your efforts on doing those things that will have the mostsignificant impact on your life and your work. Do the important things first and stay focused on them until they are done.

Nothing makes you more effective than your ability to stay focused. Challenge yourself to stay focused. You'll be amazed at how much you'll get done, when you actually work the whole time you're working.

Your time is precious and cannot be replaced. Use it effectively with focus and get things done.

Don't serve time, make time serve you.

© Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com
Reproduce freely but maintain Copyright notice.

If You Give A Mom A Muffin (A Cute Twist on Laura Joffe Numeroff's Books)

2009-08-02T21:35:00.001-07:00

I just love Laura Joffe Numeroff's books! They were mainstays in my home when my son was younger and frequent reads in my Pre-K classroom.

Recently, a friend of mine shared this with me. I must give credit to the author Kathy Fictorie for a great adaptation of the works of Laura Joffe Numeroff. This is fun...it's motherhood at it's best. True and sure to give you a few giggles. Enjoy!

IF YOU GIVE A MOM A MUFFIN

If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
So she'll pour herself some.
The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.
She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do some laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With a Pound of
Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for the checkbook.

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She'll smells something funny.
She'll change the two year old.
While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring. (Of course!)
Her five year old will answer it and hang up.

She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come over for coffee on
Friday.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.
And chances are,
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Written by Kathy Fictorie

Based on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Saving The Honey Bees

2009-07-31T22:32:00.000-07:00

My son and I are back from our vacation at Walt Disney World and what a great time! It was nice to getaway and that was our big Summer fling as we have a lot on the agenda leading back up to school time. It's hard to believe in less than a month the children in our area will be back to school.

Have you heard the BUZZ about the Honey Bee? I have written about it in several places but have yet to post it on my Blog with all our traveling etc.

There is a condition called Colony Collapse Disorder that threatens our Honey Bee populations. It is a much more serious situation than many really realize.

I invite you to come check out my new webpage at my website to learn more at:

http://coolcandlebusiness.com/help_save_the_honeybee.html

Ask yourself "Could Events Like In 'The Bee Movie' Really Happen?". Yes they could and this crisis could affect everything right down to the human food chain.

Like your fruits, veggies and nuts? What would the world be like without them? More information is available for you here at my Squidoo Lens about Save The Honey Bee here:

http://www.squidoo.com/save_the_honeybees

I have always been a super-proud distributor from our Company. I love what they stand for, the quality of the products that I represent and they make. I am even more proud that our Company has become involved in the plight of the Honey Bee with the creation of our Honey Bee Vanilla candle line. Your purchases helps fund research into this crisis and dilemma. I am asking all my friends, associates and customers to spread the word on how people can help!

Now isn't getting a great smelling candle AND helping to save our planet a winner in everyone's book?

Creating The Perfect Face Canvas For Your Mineral Makeup

2009-06-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

These have been exciting times with my business! I have been experimenting with our new Mineral Makeup Beauty line and all I can say is WOW! I am looking forward to the many possibilities this additional line will bring.

I have tried several other Mineral Makeup brands and comparatively speaking I think our company's ROCKS! Plus it's kind of cool to buy from my own store instead of online companies or the local mall - you have to admit!

I will be posting a full review with all my feedback, helps and hints soon. I have been happy with all the products and a couple get absolute raves. I am still experimenting and creating my favorite looks.

My #1 favorite product thus far has been the Mascara. It's incredible! Tired of putting several coats of mascara on to lengthen and curl only to get that heavy feel on your lashes? (Which I can't stand by the way) You need to try our's as you will LOVE it!

Today I want to talk about the important considerations for creating the perfect face canvas to apply your Mineral Makeup to.

Mineral Makeup has many benefits and women who rave wildly about it. On the flipside, it has it's critics who say it's drying to the face, looks cakey or leaves creases that actually accentuates wrinkles and fine lines.

It is my opinion that these less-than-perfect successful results come from two areas. First, check your ingredients in your Mineral Makeup because not all of them are created equally. Second, there are some tried and true "musts" when it comes to creating the perfect Mineral Makeup look.

This is my professional opinion from years of experience in the skin care and cosmetics industry prior to my present company. It is also my consumer observation because I have to tell you frankly I have tried some other lines that have not lived up to the reputation of a finer mineral makeup.

I am proud to be associated with my company and again I must say they've outdone themselves with this great product line. But before you even get started let's talk about.....

CREATING THE PERFECT CANVAS FOR YOUR MINERAL MAKEUP

Just as an artist paints or creates on a clean canvas, so too is it true that your face becomes your canvas when it comes to applying a great Mineral Makeup look.

The overall condition of your skin is a factor in your success with application.

So back to basics:

What is your current skin care regimen?

A good skin care regimen consists of cleansing before the application of any products to your facial skin. Skin care products are a personal preference and I have mine but I am of the theory that less is more.

Personally, I use the cleaning bars our company makes and don't do a lot besides that (other than moisturize or use SPF in Florida if I am going to be outdoors).

Before even getting started with our Mineral Makeup, you will want to have your face cleansed from impurities of the skin, any oil build-up etc. That's the beginning of a great canvas.

If you are prone to acne or roascea, you will want to consider a toner to neutralize and have the cleanest start possible.

Once your facial skin is properly cleansed, the next key factor to success with your Mineral Makeup application is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize....

Now I know some will say "But Mineral Makeup is supposed to moisturize". While that is very true and it's one of the many attributes of mineral makeup, again you want to create the best facial canvas. Applying your moisturizer a few minutes before your mineral makeup, giving it time to dry in, insures that any fine lines and wrinkles you are concerned about have the additional moisture before makeup application.

If you are in a more tropical climate or are going to be outdoors, you may want to apply a moisturizer with SPF protection. Even though the natural minerals in mineral makeup to a degree act as a sunscreen you will want to be sure to use the SPF as a protection.

So you've cleansed and moisturized and you are ready to go....

Well....almost. Depending on your skin, you may find that you have what I call "trouble areas" on your face. For me, it's a scar on my cheek that I got as a child from scratching chicken pox. And a blemish on the side of my face that is the result of some adult acne that never cleared up 100%. We all have those little trouble spots but I am going to share a great pointer with you on how you can further diminish them.

Light application of a yellow base has a tendency to cover imperfections and create more even tones. Once the foundation is applied, you will not even know that the yellow undertone is there unless you over-apply it.

Use care not to use a heavy hand and by applying a yellow toned base before foundation application, you can cover up those trouble areas. By the time you layer your Mineral Makeup on you will hardly know they are there!

One of the nice things about Mineral Makeup are their versatility and in my case with our product line I have actually been using an Eye Shadow that has a yellowish base and it's been doing "double duty" as my concealer. The shade is Water Lily and it has the right yellowish tone without looking too gold or metallic. It's working like a charm!

Do an assessment of your skin care regimen and take the extra few minutes to create the perfect face canvas for your Mineral Makeup application. The results are well worth it.

It's OFFICIAL - My Company Is Now In The Mineral Makeup Business!

2009-06-01T21:06:00.001-07:00

It's official that we are now in the Mineral Makeup business with our new Beauty Line and all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW!

First because the opportunity to become a "product of my own product" and buy my mineral makeup from "my store" (myself) at wholesale prices versus going to the mall or online makes great sense to me! I am impressed with the line and it's rather extensive including foundation, loose powder and finishing bronzer, pressed powder, blush, eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick, lip gloss and quality brush sets including a large Kabuki brush for application. Great color selections too!

Second because this is the kind of product our company is famous for. Great ingredients with superb benefits to your skin and face and even gluten free! This product just adds quality and credibility to our already excellent line of candles and home fragrance items.

Third because this opens doors to many new retail and customer opportunities! It is going to be great to be a one-stop-shop for my ladies to buy not only their cleaner burning gourmet candles but now their mineral makeup too. This is going to be great...for them as well as for my business. When you combine quality products with personal service it sure beats ordering online and not knowing what you are getting.

Fourth because I see opportunities in this Beauty Line for many out there looking for a business with true potential. I mean, how would you have liked to be in at the beginning of say Mary Kay or AVON? I mean truthfully think about it! This fabulous line just rolled out today, June 1, 2009 so those who jump on board with this company for the mineral makeup are truly in NOW at the beginning! How incredible is that?

Mineral Makeup is all the buzz. It's a hot commodity and I'm excited to announce it's debut to everyone who follows my blog.

Please visit my website and you can see the line by going to My Company Website and then the Products tab. It shows everything including the color selection. The products should be available in the shopping cart area - under the Shop Online tab - for purchase soon so stay tuned.

Come check out our new line and all we offer at:
http://www.coolcandlebusiness.com

If you are one of those people who would love to be in on the beginning of something BIG take time to read over my site and consider joining our team today! Not only are you joining a great company but a great team! I make my living not just retailing products but in coaching and mentoring my team to success. In your success is where I realize my own. I am sincerely interested in hearing what you are looking for from your life and let's see if this great business will fill some of those needs.

BUSINESS IS GOOD today!

Real Moms, A Belated Happy Mothers Day & Misc

2009-05-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

This Mom Blogger wishes all of you Moms out there a belated Happy Mother's Day. Again I find myself MIA and have to make a more serious commitment to my blogging activities. I am sure all Moms out there can relate. Too much to do, not enough time to do it in....

There's been a lot happening on the Mom Businesswoman front here and it's all exciting, challenging and believe me keeping me busy!

Over the past few months I've welcomed some new business partners in my Home Gourmet Candle Business from around the country. Each of them is a wonderful addition to my candle business family and brings their own talents, gifts and enthusiasm to the table.

I dare say I am blessed because there is so much negative swing on the economy and small business. It's why I rarely watch the news or listen to the media anymore. I choose to put blinders on and not "buy into" the propaganda.

While I can not refute that today's world economically is different than it was a few years ago, opportunities still exist out there! You have to look a little harder to find them. Often times they are disguised as hard work, often for very little pay in the beginning but in the long run so worth it. It's a time to reinvent yourself....who you are, your WHY, your goals and what you want your life to look like months and years down the road.

We have to become believers - in the system and in our own destiny. I know for some it's hard to find that faith in light of all the negative spin on the economy but we can create our own opportunities to survive, if not prosper, despite what is going on all around us.

Thanks to my circle of customers, business partners and networking friends I consider myself truly blessed. My business and opportunity still presents itself to me every day and that in itself is a blessing.

Okay, so I'm off the soapbox. You know what I am saying. I have become even stronger in my convictions on some things:

First, that we must support our small businesses, local economy and that Made In The USA is more than just a slogan but saves jobs in America. I am finding ways to support my fellow WAHMs, local small business and companies that value the American worker instead of buying from Corporate giants who import from other countries.

Second, I have become more creative in my personal finances. Figuring out where I can get the most value for my money, how I can benefit from that purchase by shopping online and receiving discounts and/or rebates or some benefit to my family. Locally, I am taking advantage of those coupons and discounts too! I find myself being more frugal and looking for the greatest benefit from all the purchases I'm making today....

Third, that going green and saving our planet is something we all need to do and think about! Our national economy does depend on that as we are so dependent on products and companies that pollute our environment, ruin our national resources and nature and just generally do stuff that is not good. I can't turn a blind eye to that.

Onward to another fun and exciting happening in my life. I became City Leader and Director of Operations for a social networking site for Moms here locally. It's been a wonderful opportunity and it's exciting and growing daily. I thank my new friend and associate Dayna and City Mommy for making that happen.

I've added a link to City Mommy to the blog where you can visit and if you are a Southwest Florida Mom sign up and join in the fun!

It's an online social network. Think of us as the Facebook of Southwest Florida Moms. Online there is a Message Board/Forum, Groups of interest, Calendar of Events, Shopping Links, Business Directory and more....

Offline we are in the planning stages of events in Southwest Florida that will be fun, family-friendly, include our children and provide some fun outlets for get togethers and play dates especially this summer when the kids are out of school.

So if you are a Southwest Florida Mom please be sure to join us today and create your profile by clicking the City Mommy button.

If you are interested in promoting your business to Moms in Southwest Florida please get in touch with me because this group and venue is going to provide you with an excellent opportunity to do so! You can email me at my email address for the group which is citymommyswfl@embarqmail.com.

So that's my life on a professional level of late...

On a personal level I had a wonderful Mother's Day and hope all of you did also. I had a nice little getaway with my son and a group of family friends at Fort Myers Beach. We stayed at a hotel, the kids played and had a blast and it was just overall a good time.

It's hard to believe this is my 9th year of being a Mom. Where did the time go? My baby boy is now very much a young man and amazes me every day!

I created this fun trip down Memory Lane for those of you who know us and wanted to share it. Several have told me it made them want to reach for a box of tissues but it's a great look back on my little man. I made it for him. He loved it and so did others so we decided to share it on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdzSkeBny7A

I look at my son today and he's grown so much. That little angelic creature is now a big boy with long legs and a typical 8-1/2 year old boy complete with all that goes along with it....

I shared this on the City Mommy Message Board recently but wanted to share it with my Mom Blogger friends as well. It's entitled Real Moms and is a tribute to Moms as well as a statement about the growth pattern of our children from baby to tween to teen to adulthood.

It touched me on several levels. First because admittedly I'm a Real Mom and my life although I strive for the best can be crazy at times and a Murphy's Law kind of existence. I'm sure a lot of you can relate.

Second because when I look at the growth pattern part it saddens me because most at age 45 are supposed to be asking "Wonder what Mom thinks about it?" As a forty-something woman I lost my Mom already and this was the first Mother's Day without her with us. It was bittersweet in that sense. I miss her daily and I don't think I'll ever get over that feeling.

So here it is with my wishes for a belated Happy Mother's Day to all. I'll catch everyone next time. Stay happy, productive and blessed!

REAL MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade...It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother....

The Images of A Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE - Mom doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother? She's clueless.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman?!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom thinks about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

The MIA Blogger Flies Back On The Radar

2009-01-30T10:19:00.000-08:00

Long time, no blog. Many good intentions later I resurface....

Think of me as the caterpillar in the cocoon. I have been in a cocoon for months now.

Today I resurface and the butterfly has flown! I am back with a renewed sense of self and direction. Today I fly in the beautiful form of a butterfly with growth and change a major part of my life.

As I journeyed back to my Blog, I read some posts that made me reflect back on where I was then or made my cry. A lot can change in a small window of time, yet it can take months to bounce back.

Thus my cocoon. My cocoon is a metaphor for my hiding out and waiting for the change to occur within myself.

Summer of 2008 to present presented me with a lot of life changing events, challenges, mixed emotions and even sad times. The growth and change had to occur for a transformation to take place.

So, you ask, why have I been in a cocoon awaiting change or transformation?

First and foremost, my wonderful Mother passed away in August. Despite my desire and plan, the plan of her life was carried out by my Higher Power (God). That's not to say I easily accepted that plan for her life or in spots even resisted it, questioned it or felt emotions like anger, loss, confusion and the like. Believe me I did and still have days where I do.

But, those days are becoming fewer and farther between. Instead of questioning things I find myself today on a path of rediscovery. What is the plan for my life? What can I do to change the future? How can I be a better me? How can I honor my mother's memory and actually make her proud? How can such a profound loss bring about positive change?

Deep thoughts for me to grapple within the cocoon. While I felt safe and warm, it wasn't a thoughtless existence!

Join me at Squidoo and read my tribute to my mother! I would love to count you among my friends there!

http://www.squidoo.com/A_Tribute_To_My_Mother

The loss will never subside in my life. My mother was just too important a figure in my life for that to probably ever happen.

When the butterfly emerged from the cocoon, she discovered there were ways to carry forward sharing positive results from a sad event in her life. Like to hopefully bring peace and positive thoughts to others dealing with illness and death. Or to achieve what is now a major goal on My Bucket List (what I want to achieve before I leave this world) which is making a difference. One of my major goals is to raise six figures during the remainder of my lifetime to help fund Cancer and Stroke related causes. I see that as how I can make a difference and help support the road to prevention, early detection and a cure.

During the Holidays, which were especially tough for me and a year of "firsts", my melancholy was brought into check when I saw the resilience of my son. For a little person, he showed remarkable insights, faith and coping ability with what was a major loss in his young life. His Grandma was like his other parent so the loss was substantial. The three of us lived together since the day I brought him home from the hospital. It was all he knew. Yet he showed maturity and wisdom beyond his years in much of my sadness.

While I wasn't at my best, I shyed away from a lot of things. Blogging of course being one as you can tell. I found it better to hide in my cocoon where I didn't have to put my best face forward for the world. At times, I didn't have to put on any face at all.

Then the realization hit me right after the Holidays and I found myself questioning "Is this really what I want my life to be?"

After taking a long hard look, I realized that the best way for me to snap out of it, so to speak, was to look at my son and his resilience. And to reflect on the person my mother was (a fighter until the end) and decide that the best way to honor the two people closest to me in my life was to break out. Fly free and let the butterfly emerge.

The cocoon is a metaphor for my Comfort Zone. Let's face it, we all have them. It's easy to crawl into that place in our lives especially when bad things happen. Or when things don't go our way. But all that does is imprison you further instead of allowing you to grow. The caterpillar in the cocoon can't become a butterfly without growing!

We all could grow from working on our Comfort Zones and how to step out of them. For more on the subject, visit me here:

http://www.squidoo.com/step_out_of_your_comfort_zone

I am sure by now you can tell I have discovered Squidoo. Squidoo initially for me was a way to promote my business online and it wasn't until I lost the will to further my ulterior motives there that I found what it really can do! For a time, I backed away from not only my Blog but Squidoo. I wasn't really interested in furthering my business because I was too busy feeling sorry for myself, finding something wrong in the world and keeping myself bogged down in the busy work to really want to. True confessions!

But then the unselfish Squid emerged. That's what they call us in the sea of Squidoo!

I have always had a love for writing. Those who have known me the longest will remember that from my high school days even because the school newspaper was a major passion for me. Those of you from Bishop Verot will surely remember the Viking Spirit! Over the years, I have still written things but most were personal journals and every now and then a business related article.

Squidoo has become therapeutic for me, renewing my passion for writing. It's likewise renewed my passion for making a difference, helping others and giving to charities that made their way onto My Bucket List. Someday I will publish My Bucket List for the world to see but I keep adding and editing still.

Give me time, after all I just emerged from the cocoon a couple of weeks ago! Bye, bye, cocoon! You kept me safe and warm during the holidays. You allowed me to grow to where I feel cramped up enough to want my freedom. Now I'm ready to fly!

So the MIA Blogger is back with a renewed sense of direction and purpose. Let's all transcend into butterflies and Rise, Shine and Fly with a new sense of purpose in 2009!

RECRUITING SUCCESS - Become A Stop, Look and Listen Detective

2008-07-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

As you go about your daily life you will find clues every day about people who might be interested in your business opportunity.

I will give you the same advice I used to teach in a Head Start Lesson at school when talking about crossing the street:

STOP LOOK & LISTEN

The advice we give small children when learning basic life lessons about crossing the street can apply here. While we are far removed from our Pre-Kindergarten years, we are on the "street of life". Every step we take is a pathway to building our business. Lifestyling our business and following those three simple steps could yield lots of clues and open the doors to sharing your opportunity.

STOP: Take time to pay attention. Don't always be in such a rush that you aren't aware of your surroundings. Everyone is always in such a rush these days. Often times we overlook even simple courtesies like saying "Good Morning" to a clerk who waits on us or someone we meet. Or pass by the opportunity to stop and give a cheerful word or even just a smile to someone. Or compliment them on what they are wearing or something else great that you notice about them. As you make your way through your daily life take time to Stop and take in your surroundings. Be aware, involved and engage with people in your daily life, even if it takes a few extra minutes, because those few extra minutes can open doors for you.

LOOK: Are you on a mad dash running in and out of places as you do your errands? Take time to take in the scenery. Look at your surroundings. People watch. Don't be so caught up in the task at hand to forget to smile, greet or be of assistance to someone you meet. Take an extra minute to thank someone who went out of their way for you. Say "Good Morning" or flash an extra smile to the people you meet. Look around you and be aware. A simple gesture in today's hectic world can open doors to conversations and opportunities for you also.

LISTEN: When you engage people in conversation, is it all about you or THEM? Are you a good listener? That is an invaluable skill in our business. I always tell my son it's why we were born with two ears and one mouth. We should be listening twice as much as we are talking. Same is true when we go about our daily lives. When you go up to a clerk to help you, for instance, is it all business or do you take time to greet them, thank them, maybe even compliment them on something about them or the job they did for you? Such little gestures open the door to more conversation. It makes the person you are interacting with feel appreciated. Good listening makes another feel appreciated. Take time to hear people....really hear people...and they will appreciate that. It will also open doors and create rapport and relationships.

STOP LOOK AND LISTEN! Put it all together! When you do people will engage you in conversations even if they are brief that will give you clues. As you are talking to people in your daily dealings and go down the street of life you will find clues that they might be open for, willing to look at or possibly a good candidate for your opportunity. Subtle hints and clues you pick up when walking, talking and interacting will help you open doors to recruiting new business partners.

I will share some clues you might stop, look and listen for when going about your daily life and routine as well as your business activities.

BECOME A STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN DETECTIVE!

You can become a Stop, Look and Listen Detective in the area of Recruiting. Just as a detective looks for clues to solve a mystery, you can identify where you might have an open door to talking about your business. Or who has a need in their life, a "Why", a reason to want to look at a business opportunity.

When lifestyling your business and going about your daily life there are opportunities everywhere if we just Stop, Look and Listen for them. Are you picking up the clues?

Here are some suggestions, subtle hints or definite clues you might have an audience to talk to about your business. This is in no way comprehensive, just some ideas, and I am sure as you become a Stop, Look and Listen Detective you will find many more.

* People who say they need extra money.
* People who express concern over the economy.
* Someone you meet who is working a second or part-time job.
* Someone who is out of work or afraid for their job security.
* Mothers with small children.
* Parents with grown families who are feeling "empty next syndrome".
* Parents with children in college who have financial worries.
* Anyone who seems unhappy or dissatisfied with their job.
* People who seem like go-getters who want something more from life.
* Someone approaching and concerned about retirement.
* Someone middle aged who seems unsatisfied with their life and finances.
* A person shopping a luxury item or big ticket purchase.
* People upset about their income tax situation.
* People who are retired but seem to feel the need to be busy.
* Anyone who might open the door to financial concerns and worry.

Not to forget those of you who retail one on one or do Home Parties and Shows, there's lots of Stop, Look and Listen Detective Clues there too. Again this isn't all of them I'm sure but gets you started looking for your clues.

* Party guests who give the most input about your product
* The guest at a party with the largest order.
* A customer or reorder customer who places a large order.
* Guests at parties or customers who ask lots of questions.
* People who bring extra guests to a show or party.
* Anyone who stares at you during the presentation at a party or show.
* The guest who picks up a product and demonstrates it.
* The guest who lingers after the presentation.
* The person who is naturally attracted to you as a person.
* People who nod their head when you give your recruit talk.
* Customers or party guests who give you referrals.

Hope that this helps you to hone your recruiting skills and find some opportunities that are on the street of life in your every day doings and activities.

Become a Stop, Look and Listen Detective! Find those clues and add to your Recruiting Success Story!

The Value Of Being There For Family.....Priceless!

2008-07-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

I love those credit card commercials that talk about various purchases and then culminate with a special item, event or occassion and say "Priceless".

I've been MIA a lot from my blog (as I'm sure those reading will notice). Mainly since March but with reason.

I am getting back in the swing of my online internet activities more now including getting back to blogging. I've missed it a lot but have had limited time resources to do those "extras" if you will. I already run two small businesses - one from my home being my Gourmet Candle Business which is pretty much a full time job and the other I run a shop at our local flea market mall, Fleamasters, where I own a shop called Everything Webkinz. A fun business venture with my son!

Having two businesses on my plate plus things going on within my family has made time and freedom a valuable and appreciated commodity. It is time and freedom that I want to talk a little about today....

I share this story simply because I want to illustrate how important both time and freedom can be.

I often speak about how being a WAHM (Work At Home Mom) has been a dream come true for me with respect to my son. It's been more than that with respect to my family and I want to share with you some of that story.

My mother has fought two battles with colorectal cancer. She is an incredible woman with a strong spirit and devout faith. I admire my mother more each day the older I get. Her courage, her outlook, her faith, her deterimination and her loving nature. She has always been an incredible support to me, accepted me for who I am and inspired me to be the best person, mother and daughter that I can be. There was no option ever in my mind not to be there for my mother 100% during this.

In early 2007 I was still employed by the School District. That was when my mother's first diagnosis hit us. It was a hard time for our family and a lot of unknowns which made it scary. My son, mother and I live together so it didn't just hit close to home - it hit home! I was scared and worried about her. She was a big help with my son with respect to his school schedule and my schedule at the school I worked at (which were different schools). I had morning bus duty to get the children in our class from the bus plus an hour commute in the morning which began long before my son's bus time. Even the Before School Program at his school wasn't open yet I left so early in the morning. She did the things for me as a single parent that I couldn't do for my son myself and was a blessing to me for that! I looked at the logistics of what was before us with her cancer surgery and early recovery stages and made the decision to request FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) from our School District during that time. I was out of work for about a month.

Having had several illnesses myself during that school year I had little personal time left. I thought this was the best decision for everyone concerned. It allowed the school to get the same substitute for me during this time because I stated when I would leave and when I would return to work. Working with Head Start children I knew the importance of structure and schedule as little ones aren't often equipped to deal with a lot of change. I thought it had worked out well. I took the time unpaid under FMLA thinking it was good for me, the children and my school and the program.

I won't go into the reality but let's just say all parties were not in agreement. I was made to feel that I was disruptive to the children I taught and basically made to feel unreliable and undependable. The end result wasn't good. It saddened me because I really did love what I did as a Helping Teacher. I genuinely loved those children. It a decision no one should have to make between your family and your job. Especially in light of the fact that I cared for the children who I worked with that year. But in the end I had to do what was right for my mother and my son. My family comes first. That's really all I can say.

Flash forward to December 2007 where I am no longer working for the School District. I am a WAHM home with my son and able to do all those things I was missing when I worked at the school. I was there in the morning to take him to his bus or drive him to school whichever the plan was that particular day. I met his bus or picked him up at school in the afternoon. That in itself was what may seem like a minor thing to some but those mothers out there know that little things like that are important in their children's lives.

Right before Christmas my mother underwent some tests with our suspicions already that her cancer was back. Nine months to the day from her surgery in March 2007 we got the news. This one to me was scarier and more aggressive since it came back so fast. Her treatment plan this time obviously much more intense: radiation, chemotherapy, surgery followed by more chemotherapy and a couple of more surgeries before we will be done. I am anxiously awaiting that day...not for me...but for her so that she can go on enjoying her life without all that the cancer has caused in her daily life.

She had that surgery in March of this year. Which is a big part of why many of my online activities, including blogging came to a hault during that time. It was a difficult time but I thank God every day her prognosis is good. She's had a lot of complications and some weeks feels like an endless series of doctors, appointments, tests, labs, hospitals and medications. I look forward to the day when things will be back to normal for her. I know how tiresome it is for her but she is so courageous through it all.

The value of being there for my mother....Priceless! While I was there for her first surgery and cancer I had to return to work. I wasn't there in so many ways to help her along in her recovery. Her second time around I was already home. It has been a blessing to me to have the time and freedom to make those appointments with her. To be there to take her to those tests and get the results. Being home allows me to be there when she needs me during her long recovery process as this one is going to be much longer than the first. We will get through this as a family and it will be a distant memory when she is well and we've moved on. But for being there right now I'll use that word again Priceless.

I am blessed that I have the business to fall back on. While I've been doing all of this my business continues on especially the residual side of my candle business. What a blessing that is to have the check direct deposited even if I haven't worked a full time week in several months.

Now that I am back to a more full time work schedule from home and juggling those appointments with Mom, I am realizing the true value of time and freedom. It's quite a change from the feeling I had a year ago when I had to decide between being there for her and my job. Today, there is no decision.

Am I getting rich for all the time away from the business? Definitely not! But I am getting paid over and over again for the work I did months ago in building my team and business. My team has been incredible through all of this - understanding, supportive, helpful to one another and I thank each and every one of them.

I consider myself rich in many other ways. With the blessing of time and freedom to be there for my son as well as my mother during her cancer battles. We aren't done yet but it's nice not to feel the pressure from outside influences anymore.

There is always time to make more money. My goal is to get my mother well and make up for some lost time. In the meantime I have a great team that I call friends still working their businesses and making part of my time and freedom during this time a reality. That is a true blessing and as we build and grow I know great things are ahead for all of them too. Including the time and freedom to be there for when their families and loved ones need them. And I will return the goodness that they've shown me 100%.

I know that's not in fitting with the theme of those credit card commercials as there's usually a material thing tied to the end of it. Whereas my priceless thing sounds so simple and is not material. You might never know how valuable it is until you really need to call it in. When something happens in your life and you face tough decisions. Thanks to this business I've had the time and freedom to do what I've needed to do without having to make the hard choices I did in 2007!

"The Value Of Being There For Family....Priceless!".

Friday Frog Story - For My Frog Friends

2008-06-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

TINY FROGS

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competiton. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower...

A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the frog contestants. And so the race began, but honestly:

No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. The crowd made statements like:

"Oh way too difficult"

"They will never make it to the top"

"Not a chance they will ever make it to the top"

The tiny frogs began collapsing one by one. Except for those who in a still fresh tempo were climbing higher and higher...

The crowd began to yell at this point "It's too difficult! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs collapsed, got tired, simply gave up...as if they began realizing the crowd was right and they wouldn't make it.

But there was ONE who cotinued higher and higher and higher...

This one wouldn't give up! The crowd and frogs who were dropping out were amazed at this one. Surely he would quit soon, right?

Close to the end all the other frogs had quit trying to climb the tower. Except for that one tiny frog who wouldn't give up...

After a big effort and one last charge, giving it his all, he FINALLY reached the top!!!

The spectators and all the rest of the tiny frogs wanted to know how did this one frog manage to do it?

How did that tiny frog find the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out...

That the determined frog and winner was DEAF!

Since he didn't hear the crowd he never bought into the idea that he couldn't do it! His mind was so focused on the goal it never occured to him that he could not do it!

Moral and wisdom of the story:

Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic because they are the "dream stealers". They will take away your most wonderful dreams and wishes. Be true to the wonderful dreams and wishes you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have (There's life and death in the power of the tongue - Proverbs 18:21)

Everything you hear, read and talk about will affect your actions and your outcome!

Therefore:

Always be positive. Fill your mind and your days with positive actions, affirmations and deeds. Don't get caught up in the negative buzz or gloom and doom around you. Remain the optimist and look for the silver lining (and be positive about) every situation and circumstance that comes your way.

Be like the winning frog and be DEAF when others tell you you can not fulfill your dreams! Keep focused on the goal and you won't hear the negativity going on around you.

You can do it!

HAPPY FRIDAY TO ALL MY FROG FRIENDS!

To All The AWESOME and BEAUTIFUL Moms Out There!

2008-03-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

I've had this in my inbox for awhile and I wanted to share it. It's so very true! I wanted to share it for all the Moms I know online.

Every day I hear success stories of Moms balancing family and job. The stories of them finding the right work at home opportunity and PUTTING FAMILY FIRST! I think that is a big part of what needs to change in our society is that our children need to come back home from the daycare centers.

For single mothers like myself the stories inspire me even more! It can be done and I thank God every day now that I call myself a WAHM (Work At Home Mom).

I loved teaching which is where I spent the last three years of my J-O-B life...in a Head Start classroom with 4 and 5 year olds. It was rewarding in so many ways. But I get sad when I realize I had missed so much of my own child's formative years by working outside the home....

I salute you Moms, WAHMs who have made it happen and all Moms out there still looking to put FAMILY FIRST! I am living proof it can be done. It is a sacrifice and sometimes in the beginning feels overwhelming but today I feel blessed that I was persistent or thick headed enough to hang on long enough to write my own small success story. And the story gets better every day. And only I DETERMINE WHERE THE STORY ENDS! How great is that?

GOD BLESS ALL THE MOMS....YOU ROCK!!

Dawn Mathisen
Southwest Florida

Before I was a Mom I never learned the words to a lullaby.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Drooled on. Chewed on. Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple little grin.

I never sat up for hours watching a baby sleep.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

I had never known the warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Share this with the awesome, beautiful, inspiring moms you know....I just did.

And remember that behind every successful mother... Is a basket of dirty laundry!!

Have a Scent-Sational Day!

WHY DID YOU CHOSE THE COMPANY YOU DID - A Guide For The Opportunity Seekers or Those Wanting Change

2008-03-10T16:44:00.000-07:00

When talking with people about business opportunities (mine specifically or in general) I often hear the question "Why did you choose the company that you did?".

I believe it true that everyone in the industry who has an existing home based business - be it Direct Sales, Network Marketing, MLM - would have answers for that question. Not that any of them are right or wrong and I believe there are many legitimate opportunities out there for the "RIGHT" person. The problem is determining if you are the "RIGHT" person for that particular opportunity.

For those who are new or again exploring to find the right business to commit to and put your energies and resources into can be a daunting task....

It took me many "learning experiences" with things that did not quite fit me, my lifestyle and my goals to find the "RIGHT" opportunity for me. By sharing the criteria I used I figure I might save a few opportunity seekers and possibility thinkers out there some time in narrowing down what opportunity might be for them.

To be successful and be able to stick with it for the long term the company has to be RIGHT or as I always say it has to be a "true fit" in your life. Depending on your present situation - children and family, jobs, commitments, health and so many more aspects of life - it's important you find a company where you can still succeed within your current lifestyle.

I also credit those "learning experiences" in both the direct sales and network marketing industry as great stepping stones to finding and appreciating where I am at today.

My last investigation and research of my present company came when I would not have even considered myself actively looking. The company and opportunity found me in many ways. But as I investigated it and weighed it out I realized this was the right one for me.

Here are some of the criteria I used when evaluating my present company:

CONSUMABLE PRODUCT = REORDERS AND ONGOING RETAIL SALES

Consumable products in my estimation are the way to go! A product that someone will use or deplete in a reasonable amount of time meaning that they will need to purchase (reorder) more when they run out. An example would be the candles I sell in my business but also can include products such as cosmetics, nutritional products, cleaning products and the like.

In years and businesses past I was with companies that in my estimation marketed fantastic products. But the "shelf life" of that product was long term meaning there wasn't a reorder base in place and you constantly had to go out and find new customers. Companies that fall into that category include many home decor and home enhancement products, toys, jewelry and the like. Something a person might only buy once or twice but definitely not on a repeated basis.

Consumable products - in my case candles - allow me to continually market to my existing customer base by way of new products, occassions and holidays that call for more of my product, new scents etc. It means my customers will keep coming back for more! Repeat business means better retail profits!

UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRODUCT LINE - SOMETHING MOST EVERYONE WANTS

For me, candles fit the bill there too! I have been with other companies in the past who also had great product lines but ones that didn't necessarily appeal to everyone I met. I wanted a product that appealed to everyone - female or male, all ethnic groups, all income levels because I knew that would make the retail part of my business easier. The more sales you make the more successful you are!

In the past I'd been with cosmetic companies (excludes men), home decor companies (excludes people for various reasons including age bracket and income level, whether they own or rent and how much discretionary money one could spend on home decor) etc. etc. I'm sure you get the idea.

Personally I chose candles because it's pretty much a universal product to women. Most men I know also purchase them if not for themselves then for gift giving occassions. It doesn't matter if you rent or own. It doesn't seem to matter what economic bracket someone comes from. Candles are one of life's little pleasures and a feel-good product that appeals to everyone. Everyone loves a good candle and the home fragrance industry is big business!

FREEDOM FROM QUOTA-DRIVEN SALES PRESSURE

Quotas equal stress and headache in my book! I had been with companies like that in year's past and decided I was never going to shelve inventory for the sake of making a quota - to get my commission check due me - again!

In my direct sales past I found it was a struggle being a "part timer" with a full time quota in a business. Let's face it life deals you all kinds of things! While you might have a ton of sales one month something could happen to preclude you from having that sales volume the next. If you have a team under most of these comp plans - what do you do? You order products anticipating the future needs of your customers and shelve them. That way you get your check....but is that fiscally sound?

In 2001 when I "retired" from a direct sales company I had CASES of product plus my kit and lots of demo/sample items. I looked at it and realized it didn't make sense. I swore when I did join another company again when my son was older I would not join a company where I had to store a ton of products.

Quota-driven sales pressure keeps many ladies tied to the home party gig. Stop doing them and you stop meeting your quota....then you are in trouble! Keep missing your quota and it could signal the end of your business!

So you can't really take a vacation for a month or two from doing home parties can you? Don't get me wrong...I like home parties. I still go to a lot of them! It's a fun night out for moms. But I remember in 2000 and 2001 being a single mother with a full time job that already kept me away from home like 9 hours a day. My son was an infant and the thought of leaving him to do another home party to meet my quota no longer was fun! It was time away from him to meet a company's expectations of me. It was quota-driven sales stress I didn't want! When the business stops being fun....I did what should be done and I "retired" from that company in 2001!

My present company found me in 2005. There I was with a full time job and also a part time job so I was very emphatic that doing home parties could not be a necessity but an option - meaning IF I wanted to do them not because I HAD to do them. In my three years with my present company I've only done four home parties because I wanted to (for friends) not because I had a quota to meet. This business fit for me because I didn't have that quota-driven sales headache and it was okay to have a huge retail month one month and not sell anything the next.

All I have to do to get everything due me under the comp plan with my company is make my $39.95 a month purchase of the Candle Of The Month! How easy is that? The Direct Sales background side of me absolutely loves this! So any ladies out there who are under quota-driven stress or quota-driven headache, I've been there, done that and would be glad to share why what I am doing today is so much better!

RETAIL PROFITS AND BUSINESS EXPENSES

Another big consideration for me was the profit percentages and costs of doing business as a distributor. Having background in both direct sales and network marketing I was able to recognize the pitfalls each industry offers on a resale/retail profit level. And what the "hidden costs" could be for being with a company depending on their structure.

Products from direct sales companies usually have a retail profit or a commission percentage you derive from selling it. I've looked at literally hundreds of companys' offerings. Some of these percentages are really low, even as low as 20% although the industry average seems to be about 35%. Think about a typical retail business - a brick and mortar store. Have you ever heard of the concept of "keystoning your product"? That's the rule most brick and mortar retailers use....they must "key" their product - double their money or better on a retail sale to cover their overhead. Now before you jump in and say you don't have overhead when you work at home, yes you do! We'll talk a little bit more about that in a bit....

Products from a network marketing company are different. These are usually more consumer or distributor consumed (meaning the distributor and their family is the end consumer). Usually the retail possibilities with most of these products are minimal. Or if they do offer a retail-able product the profit margin is very small.

I chose my company because of the double-your-money and better retail profits I can earn at suggested retail prices. However I also have the flexibility of setting my own prices which I absolutely love! That means I can run specials and offer discounts for repeat customer loyalty without taking my profits down to zero or bare minimum.

What are the other costs of doing business...even if it is home based? There are costs and you have to do some checking around to find some of them sometimes. Are there sign up or renewal fees? Does your company provide a website or do you do so at your own expense? Can you order your marketing materials (say business cards) where you want or do you have to order from the company vendor? How about product catalogs? How often those change becomes important as this can be a big expense!

The company I am with includes the website in my monthly purchase so I get product to resell and the company website. There are no "hidden" costs which I really like. When exploring a company these are all considerations to be checked out.

A COMPENSATION PLAN FOR SPONSORING THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN ACHIEVE

The compensation plan for residual income (commissions) is a major consideration especially if you are looking towards residual income to change your life indefinitely.

Of course you want to go with a company that is established, in good standing, with a track record of timely payments to it's distributors. That goes without saying....

But take a long hard look at the compensation plan for sponsoring. Do the math! What would it take to realize the kind of income you would like to see? Is it attainable to you, especially if you are new to the industry or haven't quite honed the skills to be a big recruiter?

I've never considered myself a huge recruiter but I am a successful sponsor and have built organizations in several companies in my background.

With direct sales companies I've found most compensation plans for sponsoring don't go deep or in order to do so it takes a rather large organization to realize significant residual income. Since most direct sales companies are naturally retail-driven, you can luck out on recruiting but I have found usually it takes more than what the average person, especially the part timer, are capable of.

With network marketing companies, many compensation plans are loaded with those direct bonuses for sponsoring. Which is great in a sense of large up-front payouts. But what happens when you stop sponsoring? Take time off? Those bonuses go away and the actual residual portion of the check isn't usually something that excites most - again unless they have a large organization under them. Again the criteria is usually more than what the average person, especially the part timer, are capable of.

The company I am with now has a very straightforward residual income compensation plan. Most in direct sales will find it exciting! While at first glance some network marketers may not, once they realize the full impact of a comp plan like we have they get excited because it's not bonus based. Meaning as they grow an organization they will have the freedom to take time out without worrying about their check decreasing! Isn't that why most people get into network marketing to begin with - freedom?

It simply takes 5 - and the power of duplication - to get paid on 6 levels no matter how wide the organization grows. No break-away groups or loss of income. You can actually promote and get paid on up to 8 levels plus leadership bonuses. So there is an unlimited residual income potential here....

But what's not unlimited is WHO it is available to! The average person can do this and succeed with our marketing plan.

THE BEST OF TWO INDUSTRIES - DIRECT SALES AND NETWORK MARKETING

Direct Sales and Network Marketing are both huge and respectable industries with millions globally earning incomes this way!

If you can find a company that appeals to both industries and works beautifully you can capitalize on the power of both those concepts and duplication! The company I am with offers that. Our program, our compensation plan, our residual profits and all the items covered above make it a winner for an individual who is in direct sales and a network marketer too!

With a background in both industries it thrilled me to find an opportunity that appeals to both! Thus I am very passionate about this fact and feel it sets the company I am with apart from most others!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It is my hope that I shared some insight into my experiences, my background and things to look for in your search for the RIGHT company for you! True I shared a lot about my company and why it might be the one - but whatever opportunity you decide take hold of it, believe in it, make it your passion and GO FOR IT! Best wishes and see you at the top!

Random Thoughts On A Busy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

This morning began EARLY with my son up veeeeery early to see his Valentine's gift. Now it couldn't be that he knows there was a Webkinz in store for him could it?

After he left for school a happy little Valentine camper, I began to ponder the difference a year can make....

Last year, I was still working at the school (a different school than my son attends). Last year at this time I would be off to work preparing to celebrate Valentine's Day with my little gang of Pre-K students.

Instead I grabbed my morning coffee and began some office work. I went through my emails and am preparing for an Women's Lifestyle Expo this weekend in Charlotte County, Florida - Port Charlotte to be exact. So I've been busy getting literature and displays in place as I'm representing my Gourmet Candle company there. It's going to be an exciting weekend!

Quite a difference a year makes....

Instead of being with my Pre-K kids this year in my old class, I will be attending MY son's Valentine's Day party at school at 1:00 this afternoon. While I was still working, that was not possible.

Freedom is a sweetheart of a deal! True, I am loving and thinking fondly of my loved ones and distributor team this Valentine's Day (all of whom have helped make my vision with this business possible by way of support and contributions along the way). But I'm loving the FREEDOM that my business has allowed me to enjoy immensely!

Our first "teaching job" is always with our own children. It's so nice now to have the freedom to do that job more effectively, with more time for my son and the things that are important in his life.

I wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. Hug your loved ones and love them like no tomorrow. Find those things that you are thankful for, those things that are better this year over last and enjoy!

If you are looking for more freedom in your life and love candles you can always hop on over to my profile and visit my website for further info!

HAPPY, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I'm off now to finish my work and get set to go to a fun first grade party! Kids and lots of sweets....yippeee!

Out Of The Mouths of Babes - Our Business Is Our Million Dollar Mission.....Deal or No Deal?

2008-01-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

You know that old saying "Out of the mouths of babes".

My son is 7 years old and gives me so much joy. But as a typical child (and boy child to boot!) there is just no telling what will come out of that boy's mouth sometimes! We have a lot of fun, always a few laughs and some learning experiences.

I want to share an experience where I actually learned something about my business and industry recently from my young son.

Television is not a thing that is on in our house a lot. As a former educator I know too well what too much television does to children. I prefer things that are educational or interactive to watching my son sit in front of the square box getting square eyes. I'm probably one of the very few American households that doesn't have cable television or satellite!

Last fall on one of the occassions where I did have the television on, my son discovered the game show "Deal Or No Deal". He absolutely loves it and it's one of the few programs we watch on a regular basis. He knows the models by name and even does a very good Howie imitation!

Lately, Howie Mandel has been on the Million Dollar Mission on Deal Or No Deal. Those of you that are watching know what I'm talking about.

The other day my son and I were talking and out of the blue he came out with the fact that I was on a Million Dollar Mission with our Gourmet Candle business. "After all Mom you always say our candle business is going to make us a million dollars someday".

Out of the mouths of babes!

Is Network Marketing and the company I'm with like being on a Million Dollar Mission? After thinking about it I've joined the conclusion YES YES YES!

My son and I had a little fun with what he said and drew some neat parallels. Ones that a seven year old can relate to. Now when I am making recruiting calls or talking to my team he understands this is part of our Million Dollar Mission. Is Mom going to make another call? Deal Or No Deal?

We came up with reasons why the business was our Million Dollar Mission. Whys are important even to seven year olds.

Just like the game show Deal Or No Deal, it's a game of chance because you don't know who you are going to meet next or what opportunity lies around the corner. Even a chance encounter can lead to a customer or new distributor on your team.

Just like the show, it's a game of endurance because slow and steady wins the race. Bail out too soon and you miss the possible Million Dollar payday at the end. You have to hang in there and weather the bumps (like when you open a high dollar case) and see it through to the end.

Just like on the show, sometimes when you open a case there are disappointments or discouragements when the number is high. In our business we have some of those too. Not everyone is a receptive audience to what we have to say. We have to open more cases because the more we open the more chance we have of attaining our Million Dollar Mission.

We came up with the idea that every new contact, every phone call, every meeting was like a case on the show. You have to spend time and open the case to see what's inside.

What is inside could be your next big sale or a slight disappointment but we have to keep on keeping on! It's a game of chance, remember! If you keep opening the cases (contacts) you are well on your way to your Million Dollar Mission.

Our Million Dollar Mission offers lots of fun....new customers to discover and new team members to meet. Just make the contact (open the case) and see what is inside and what lies ahead.

Am I ready to make that next phone call? Or hand out that next scent sample? Or talk to someone you meet in your daily life about your candle business? Deal Or No Deal? I say DEAL!

Ready to follow up on the next fundraiser? Book the next home party? Do the next expo or show? Deal Or No Deal? I say DEAL!

Are you making your business your Million Dollar Mission? Will you see it through to the end? To see the rewards as great and take those daily action steps? Do you see our business as the vehicle to make your Million Dollar Mission a reality in your life? Deal Or No Deal? (Again I say DEAL!)

We had a lot of fun with this here at home and are continuing our Million Dollar Mission into 2008 and beyond....

Are you? How many cases are you going to open today? This week? When you get that disappointment are you ready to move on and open the next case? Will you see it through to the end and win the Million Dollar Mission? Deal Or No Deal? My son and I had lots of fun with this and say DEAL!

I know this family plans on winning this Million Dollar Mission! Stay tuned!

Dawn Mathisen
$10K Diamond Distributor/Team Leader
Southwest Florida

What Made Me Who I Am Today - My Introduction

2008-01-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

My story is much like many of your's out there.

I am the oldest of three children. My father was a great provider and worked hard to be and attain what he did in his life. He worked sometimes at two jobs and became college educated with three children in the early 1970's. Not an easy task to work and take college credits and I respect and appreciate him for it.

My mother worked in my younger years but once there were three of us it just made sense to stay home. In my parent's generation, one income households were more the norm and daycare wasn't a word you heard on a daily basis.

Maybe I'm dating myself a little there. I'm not secretive or ashamed of my age since I'm in my 40's now. I've come to terms with aging and truthfully the only way I would ever consider going back is if I knew then what I know now.

Among my friends and peer group daycare costs and issues are a constant struggle for most working mothers and it's one of the many examples of how our world has changed since the days of my childhood.

I always did well in school and got a scholarship to college. But of the three of us I was the one who was less the traditionalist if you will. My brother and sister both pursued the college thing to it's end but I didn't. I think it's because I did not so much subscribe to the teaching of go to college, get a job, retire, live happily ever after.

I saw how that did not work for my grandparents and many seniors around me who seemed to struggle or basically made ends meet. The golden years for most are not full of fun, travel, glamor and all those things that working hard and retiring promises. Pensions and social security don't provide that lifestyle for retirees which to me is kind of like a big, broken promise.

My college years were more an exercise in self discovery. Much unlike my high school career which was filled with good grades and extracurricular activities. College was where I found myself. I discovered that I disagreed with some of the teachings of life. I realized I was more a free spirit and didn't buy into the notion that a college degree alone guaranteed you a great job with above average income.

I did what I had to do to get by in college, admittedly. I didn't get the exceptional grades and I don't have any regrets because what I learned about myself to me has more value. It's where my entrepreneurial spirit was born.

At 18 years old I found my first Direct Sales company in the cosmetics and skin care industry. Looking back I know it wasn't a true fit for me and I wasn't so passionate about it but it was my starting point.

Two years into college while working for a real estate company (in a clerical capacity) I decided to leave college and get my real estate license. The call of being my own boss, working for myself in a sense, was stronger than the pursuit of higher education. I could after all make as much as my college educated friends as a realtor.I had the desire to be my own boss. Many of us do. Usually time and the "real world" or the "school of hard knocks" stifles that desire somewhere in us.

It is one of the sad realities for many that the desire to be your own boss gets stifled somewhere. But fortunate for me I became a series of what I term learning experiences that lasted until 2005 where I found my current company and business.

I had thick skin, or a thick skull as my family always thought. I was always into something, some venture, some pursuit of making that lifestyle I dreamed of.

I've had varied work careers which included Realtor, Marketing Director for a title insurance company, travel agent and later travel agency owner, customer service in the insurance and utilities industry and finally as a Helping Teacher with our school district. Quite a resume huh?

You can say and I readily admit I was a jack of all trades, master of none. Everyone needs a job and I enjoyed the jobs I've had in my life. But that call, that inner dream of self employment and creating a lifestyle, was always there.I also tried several Direct Sales and Network Marketing companies that I found only mediocre success with. I loved both industries and totally saw their potential. But I still lacked the burning desire, the passion, the full commitment and conviction that this was the right company and vehicle for me.

So what I lacked back then was the true fit in my life. Somewhere where I felt at home and firmly believed that I had found what could build that dream lifestyle.

Becoming a mother in 2000 forever changed my life. My son was a wonderful gift at 35 years old and I consider him a true blessing in my life! I firmly believe he was meant to be. But with circumstances with his father I also found myself facing single motherhood which to those who are single moms know is rewarding and a struggle at the same time. It can be bittersweet but so worth it!

In 2005 my life was forever changed when I finally reached the end of my quest. I found the company where I now have that burning desire, that level of conviction and commitment and the place I can call home.

I found a company that combined the best of the two industries - Direct Sales and Network Marketing beautifully. With a product line I was naturally crazy about - candles - so my quest has ended and my new venture began.

I will share more about my Gourmet Candle Business and my journey from overworked single mom to WAHM (work at home mom) in my future blogs.

To those who are out there still looking for that fit I have some advice. Find a company and a product line that you feel passionate about. That is of utmost importance to your success in creating not just a life, but a lifestyle, in your own business.