Four Years

Four years ago today, I had a conversation with Hope Shortt.  After Facebook stalking her, I had decided that I wanted to join her Thirty One team.  Okay, let me be clear – I was working full-time at a job that I loved, a 4-hour round trip commute to work, craft shows on the weekend, a single mom with a child at college in North Carolina, a finance and planning a wedding.  Talk about a full life, right?  Direct sales was NOT in the picture.  I had no big dreams.  I didn’t even have a why.  I just loved the products and God was tugging on my heart.  I didn’t want to do home parties and I wasn’t interested in having a team.  I LOVE Hope because she said “no problem, I am here for you”.  No pressure just support and kindness.

My pink box arrived and inside were all of these GREAT products:

Vendor/ craft shows were something that I had been doing for over 20 years so what better place to meet people AND share this AMAZING product that I loved. Over the next few months I would share Thirty One at work and at vendor events – selling but still NOT booking parties. I mean I had a CRAZY busy life, who had time for home parties.

First came TWO potential recruits. OMG!!! I was honest with both of them from the start. I wasn’t into doing home parties and I was going to learn along with them. Believe it or not, they still joined and quickly qualified. I was a Senior Consultant by default. Then came a home office lead that wanted a HOME PARTY! Panic set in… it was someone I didn’t know and I was clueless. I had never done a home party. I could do this… and I DID! Of course there was lots of encouragement from Hope and the Beacon of Hope team.

In 2012, I attended my FIRST Thirty One National Conference and it was then that I decided that I wanted to be in Leadership.  I was amazed that my team had grown to 12 people and two of them attended conference with me.  I actually set a goal to be Director BEFORE National Conference 2013. All of those stats that say those who go to national conference earn more – TRUE! Those who go to national conference – PROMOTE – TRUE! October, 2012 I was DIQ and in January 2013, I was blessed to earn my $1,000 Director Bonus. It was a whirlwind time filled with lots of emotions.

National Conference 2013, I was blessed to be joined by my daughter and members of the Rays of Hope Team as I walked across stage as a NEW Thirty One Director. Tears of joy flowed freely that weekend and continue each time I think back to the moment. Yes, I am tearing up now.  I walked across stage and was hugged by Hope Shortt, my National Executive Director where I held it together until I got off the stage at which point I started to cry again.

At National Conference 2014, my team had grown to 32 and I had my first Director.  WOW!  This little “purse” thing had taken off.  Due to health reasons, I had given up my full-time job and Thirty One became one of my main sources of income.  So, now I was half way to the next promotion.  My goal is still to promote to Senior Director but I know it will be in God’s time.

I never thought that direct sales would be for me.  I never thought that I could actually pay bills with an income from direct sales.  I had heard all of the stories but I had no confidence in myself.  I was a people pleaser from way back and routinely compared myself to others.

My “why” continues to be financial freedom from debt – those college loans for my daughter’s education are a killer.   Now I also want a successful healthy business.  A chance to help others DREAM BIG!  A chance to GIVE BACK to causes that are near and dear to my customers’s hearts!

Home parties have become second nature. Vendor events are used to expand my circle and share the gift of Thirty One. I continue to work on personal development so that I can CELEBRATE – ENCOURAGE – REWARD my team. The biggest blessing from Thirty One is the restoration of a confidence in myself that I lost when I was in HIGH SCHOOL. Yes, I have earned FREE products! Yes, I have been able to pay off debt & travel as a result of my commission checks! Yes, I have found a sisterhood that I didn’t know existed in my Thirty One sisters! Yes, I have grown in my walk with God, learning to trust and believe!

Are you a stay at home mom looking for a night out?  Are you looking to earn some extra money to pay for your kids extras?  Are you looking for a new career?  Do you need to reconnect with women for friendship and support?  Whatever your reason, Thirty One may be the place for you you.  The NEW Spring Summer Catalog is AMAZING with things for you, your home and your family.

Could Thirty One be the thing that changes your life?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

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