New Year’s Eve 2017

It is New Year’s Eve Day……Since it’s the weekend, I’m sure some will start the celebrations early.  Others are eagerly preparing to celebrate. Somewhere in the midst of all of the craziness, there is always the talk of New Year’s Resolutions, right? Most people pick a resolution because of a plaguing problem (sometimes for years) and vow to change it.

Has resolutions worked for you?

Here is usually how it goes:

January – motivated, committed and on track to keep resolution

February – some motivation, mostly on track

March – motivation gone and Resolution forgotten

Does this sound like you? It was me for many years.  Until a challenge in 2013 became a new way of approaching the New Year.  This past year (personal and business) had some great lessons in it and I found a word to sum up my plan for 2017 (I’ll reveal it tomorrow)!

The “One Word” experiment helped me to move from the long list of changes to ONE WORD.  The addition of an acronym last year helped me stay on track.  My one word has helped me to take all my big plans, and narrow them down to a single focus.  When things got tough, when Doubtful Debbie and Negative Nellie visited; I went back to my ONE WORD and gained focus.  Usually somewhere around March is when I need a refresh. It isn’t always easy but it helps me focus on the goals for the year. Notice I didn’t say resolutions, I said goals.  No more resolutions for me!

Here are the steps I recommended by “the one word experiment”:

Step 1: DETERMINE THE KIND OF PERSON YOU WANT TO BECOME

The first step is to simply take some time and decide what kind of person you want to be at the end of the year. This goes beyond simply being healthier and wealthier, but it must drive deep into your soul. What about the condition of your heart? What about the person God Himself has created you to be?

Step 2: IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERSON

Picture the person and then simply identify their major characteristics. Is the person gentle? Is the person generous? What are the qualities of the person you want to become?

Step 3: PICK A WORD

Once you have a list of the characteristics, simply pick a word. There might be fifteen things you want to change, but you must resist the temptation to promise you will do them all. Instead, simply commit to ONE WORD.

Step 4: MAKE IT AN ACRONYNM

Now you have a word, add steps for each letter of the word.  Not only will the word help you to focus BUT when the struggles come, the words or action steps attached to the word will help you persevere.  This doesn’t mean you add “goals” or another word, it is all about reminding ourselves of the positive steps to take to achieve our dreams.

One Word will provide you with a lens to see the changes you need to make as well as a way to determine whether or not change is actually happening. Understand this process is hard, but staying focused on your word will help you to struggle in the right direction so you can actually see God working in your life.

I have my word for 2018 and despite my best efforts to move to a different one, God has continued to bring this word up.  I can see how this ONE word will be my guide as I strive for the goals I have for 2018 in my personal, professional and business life.What is your ONE WORD for 2018? Or are you still in the “resolution list” mode? Either way, share them with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Throwback Thursday – I’d Be Happy If…

UGH!  I cringe every time I see this picture but it is a constant reminder for me. Yes, it is me at a hefty 295 pounds with my awesome daughter.  This is definitely a #throwback.

This was a period of time in my life when Negative Nellie and Doubtful Debbie were playing along side me.  My mantra then was always “I will be happy when…..” and as a result I sometimes missed out on things.

Have you every said or even thought these words? Have you started a sentence with “when I am…., I will be happy”? I will be honest and say there are still some days when those thoughts knock on my door.

On my weight loss journey to goal weight, my favorite line was “I’ll be happy when I reach goal weight”.   Guess what?  I reached goal weight and there was no magic wand to make me happy.  When fear and doubt creep into my business, I say “I’ll be happy to make my minimum goal”. OH NO!!!

The Universe brings us what we put out there.  Fear and doubt brings more fear and doubt.  The statement “I’d be happy if ….” takes our focus off the blessings we already have and those waiting for us.  We miss out on the moment and no matter what you may think – good, bad or otherwise – the moment is a blessing.

What if you were to change this statement to “I’m thankful for…..”?  Sometimes in the dark it is hard to see the blessings.  Maybe you are struggling with finances, a shaky marriage, addiction, homelessness or (fill in the blank).  There is blessings in them.  Maybe it is a stranger who smiles at you or pays you a compliment.  Maybe it is a friend who drops by unannounced with groceries.  Maybe it is a song on the radio which evokes a pleasant memory.  Being thankful for the smallest thing truly will make a difference in your life.

So, today let’s list what we are thankful for this week. This is my list from 2014 (since this is #TBT) I am thankful this week for:

• A relationship with God that gives me comfort when I struggle
• A loving husband who supports me no matter what
• A loving family who accepts me for who I am along with all of my faults
• Feeling a little bit better and learning how to manage my IBS
• Not re-injurying my back during the mini storm last Monday
• A business that allows me the flexibility to make my own schedule
• A supportive network (ETTM) of fellow solo-preneurs and network marketers
• A full March calendar that allows me to share Thirty One with friends and family
• Only nudging the scale up (1 lb) a little this week. Yes, I would love a loss but as I change my eating habits there will be some changes in my weight. Building a bridge and getting over it!
• Receiving an unexpected refund check when the checkbook was getting a little low

As I look back and reflect on this past week, here is what I am thankful for now:

• A relationship with God which comforts me when I struggle (never changes)
• A loving husband who supports me no matter what (my rock)
• A loving family who accepts me for who I am along with all of my faults
• Learning to manage my MS
• A business which allows me the flexibility to make my own schedule
• Grateful the scale keeps going down every week
• A support network who continue to help me stay accountable to my goals.

Don’t think you are blessed?  Think this is all silly?  The truth is a change in your mindset will definitely change your outlook and the results.  Start with the little things you are grateful for: waking up in the morning, no traffic on the way to work, a roof over your head, family, food on the table, a job, and the list goes on.

I could go on and on because I am BLESSED.  When doubt and fear creep in or Negative Nellie or Doubtful Debbie try to pay a visit – I take a gratitude walk. I STOP and start listing all of the things I am grateful at the MOMENT – no matter how large or small. For me, this closes the door on the negative thoughts and helps me to focus on the positive things in my life.

What is your “I’d be happy if” statement? Let’s change it from a negative to a positive…

Here is one of my favorite songs by Laura Story…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

September Basics

Where is September going? In just a few short days, it will officially be autumn.  The Jersey Shore has been hit with some hot humid weather so it is hard to believe that it is actually the middle of September.

Being in direct sales, I always feel like September is a restart.  Thankfully, every month we get to wipe the slate clear and start again.  I just came off an awesome 3 months in my business with personal and team volumes back to where they used to be.  So, I was riding on the high of summer unlike the past when I was in Vacation Veronica mode. But the reality was, my numbers for September during the BEST special of the Thirty One year were not where I wanted them to be.  I have been working hard to turn them around by putting forth a little more effort…. actually going back to basics.

I know it can get old, right?  Many times, I have written off a month when my numbers were not where I wanted them to be and began focusing on next month.  It always seemed easier to get excited about something NEW coming then to WORK in the here and now.

I was a Doubtful Debbie for a long time.  Never really taking some of the suggestions to heart OR doing any of them.  Never really trying. Playing the “comparison game”.  This time, I let the doubts linger for a day or two and then I kicked it into overdrive.  Sat in my office to do “money-producing” tasks.  Yes, that means picking up the phone – making calls and texting.  Calling people just to thank them for their support of my business.  I have been sharing my business with EVERYONE! Well, almost.

Occasionally,  I slip back into the “JOB” mindset.  Yes, I work a part-time job. Although, I don’t want people to see it instead of my business when they think of me.  I ran into an ex- co-worker from WAWA.  She asked me if I was working.  I said yes and proceeded to tell her about my part-time job!  OPPORTUNITY  MISSED!!!!  I called my hubby to tell him I was on my way home and had an AHA moment.  I had only causally mentioned Thirty One, I mean I was wearing a Thirty One t-shirt so did I really have to say it?  DUH???  I guess so because she asked “are you still doing Thirty-One”? OMG!  How did this happen?

When I started with Thirty One, I told everyone about my business.  I am not sure when the mindset changed and the worse part is I didn’t even realize it.  I LOVE my business.  I LOVE making a difference in the lives of others.  The passion is still there BUT I began thinking “people know what I do”  so I don’t need to say anything.  WRONG!!!!!  Talk about an AHA moment.  As I struggle with health issues, I have found I need to PRACTICE sharing about my business when people ask me what I am doing.  I say practice because it is a habit  I got out of and need to desperately get back into.

Thirty One pays the bills (or a lot of them) AND I want it to be the ONLY thing paying the bills.  It affords me the opportunity to spend time with my family and make my own schedule. It is my business!  My part-time gig is just a part-time thing – nothing permanent.  It has helped to fill the gaps as I struggle with health stuff. Or, do I hold onto it out of FEAR?  That is a scary question.  Do I not have enough faith in the fact with God’s help I can make my business a success?  Did the mindset change when I lost some of my faith and I didn’t even realize it?  WOW!  No, I am not going to try and answer these in this blog…

I just wanted to share my thoughts with you… maybe you are having an off month, maybe you are desperately seeking to have your own business but hold onto a JOB out of fear, maybe you need to change your mindset?  Whatever the struggle, there is still time this month to KICK out of the old mindset and bring in the NEW.  Almost sounds like a New Year’s Eve blog, huh?

What do YOU need to do different in your business?  Share it with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

CRUNCH Time with a Positive Attitude

Well, here it is the last day of the month. For those in direct sales, this is CRUNCH time.  Now I don’t mean the sit-up kind – I mean that race to the last minute to meet our personal and team goals for the month.

“It is the way that we react to circumstances that determines our feelings.” ~Dale Carnegie

For the leaders in Thirty One, we are ending the month not only reaching for our personal and team goals but we are also working hard to earn that FREE trip to the Riviera Maya in September.  Many have already earned the trip and I am so excited for them.  There are some of us who are still dreaming BIG and reaching for the goal.

So, what does that have to do with a positive attitude?  It is easy to feel envious as others are reaching their goals and seem to be growing at a pace that you have dreamed of for so long.  It is easy to let Doubtful Debbie and Negative Nellie step in and take over, crushing your dreams and your enthusiasm.

Here are some things that I have learned recently – yes, just recently, that are helping me to be optimistic and continue pushing for the dream till the very last minute.

Focus on yourself.  This has always been a tough one for me because I have been playing the comparison game since high school.  The truth is that it is unproductive, takes up energy and in the end can send off some negative vides to the people around us.  Realize that there is nothing you can to do to change events outside your control. What you can do, however, is find ways to make changes in your own life.  Step out of your comfort zone.  Read a self-development book.  Fill your calendar with positive,  productive things.  Set small goals and reward yourself when you achieve them.

Things are not always what they seem.  Does the grass look greener on the other side?  Of course but the question is “Is it?”.  The truth is that everyone’s life has both good and bad.  It’s unrealistic to compare our own lives, which we know inside out, to the shiny, clean surface of someone else’s.  But how many of us have done this?

Life is a marathon, not a sprint.  Okay, so I am NOT a runner.  I was always falling behind but I did always finish.  The truth is the only one who I was falling behind were my own expectations.    What about you?  Do you except too much of yourself?  Do you worry that you will never catch up to everyone else? We are each running our own marathon.  We will be winners no matter when we cross the finish line.

Envy is an unproductive feeling but it’s perfectly natural and happens to everyone.  The difference is how we deal with it.  Will we let it consume our lives to the point of being unhealthy and make us helpless?  Will it crush our positive attitude or will it cause us to fight harder for what we want?

I am learning to change the negative into a positive.  I am taking steps to by putting out a detailed action plan and implementing it.  I am learning from others’ successes and difficulties.  I am applying them as lessons in my own life.

Time to CRUNCH numbers.  I am positive that Personal Volume and Team sales goals will be met.  I am not sure about the trip to Mexico but it is okay.  I am learning that there is a reason for everything and there is always next year.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

My Strength

“The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 28:7 (NLT)

I LOVE this verse and when I am struggling, it helps me remember to give thanks.  What about on the days that I am stressing?  I am sure I am not alone – the day when you remember you forgot to pay the cable bill or when you forgot to write down a check in the register and now, you might be overdrawn.  Or do you stress about other things?  Enough hours in the day to complete your to do list?

On those days, when stress takes over my mind and my life  – am I really trusting God?  Of course, I am – aren’t I?

I mean on those stress filled days, we shoot up a “fox-hole” prayer right?  Help me please, Lord?  Willing to give up anything or everything for the stress to go away.  Stress or trusting in God?

So let’s dissect today’s verse:

It starts with  “The LORD is my strength and shield.”  A great reminder of God’s strength to handle any and ALL of our problems.  If we truly turn them over to him.

Then, “I trust him with all my heart.”  If we truly practice trusting him with our heart, a sense of calm will come over us surpassing all understanding.  Is that what happens when you street?  You trust in God and everything falls into place.  I know, I don’t.  As much as I would love to say it happens ALL of the time – it doesn’t.

At the end, “He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”  I will admit that on the days that I am falling into that pit of Debbie Doubtful or Stressed Out Sally, if I stop to give thanks to God for all of my blessings, I feel a sense of calm.  Don’t get me wrong, I may struggle with the song of thanksgiving.  I hunt for things to be thankful for despite how small or insignificant they may seem to others, to me – they help me get to my deeper gratitude.

So, just for today… I will not rush to achieve my goals leaning on my own strength and forgetting that I can rely on God.  Just for today, I will not allow stress to rule my life.  What about you?  What are you going to do “just for today”?

Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let he righteous be shaken.” (NIV)

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!