Do You Struggle with Confidence?

Are you a people pleaser?  If so, you may struggle with confidence.  Why do I say that?  Well, as people pleasers, our world can be crushed when some says “they are disappointed in us” or they get upset with us.  Our confidence is shaken and the inner gremlins begin to bounce around in our head.

As we start a new year, it is time to work towards a new you.  One who is confident and believes you are good enough.  My goal in life has always been to bring a smile to the face of others.  Somewhere along the way, the people pleaser side took over and I lost myself.

Last year, I caught glimpses of how talented I was yet there was something deep inside me which believed I wasn’t good enough.  On the days I feel confident, I know I am good at running my businesses and the joy shines out for all to see.  On the days those inner gremlins are chipping away at my confidence, I sit in wonder and doubt about everything I have done in my life or am planning on doing.  Those days can be crippling.

I’m sure I am not alone.  Many of us have been taught to “fake it until we make it”.  For some it works – they can mask their lack of confidence closing the door on those inner gremlins.  There are others (like me) who wear their emotions on their sleeve.  How many times have you been told “get over it”, “pull yourself together”, or the one which makes me the craziest “you should be over this already”.

Sometimes it is more complicated.  Sometimes, it is tough to get over the self-limiting beliefs which have haunted us for years.  We can overcome them with compassion, and patience.

#1 Get to the heart of it

Your struggle with confidence exists for a reason. Maybe someone told you once you weren’t good enough. Maybe you weren’t nurtured growing up. Maybe you were crushed too many times.  Painful, horrible, heartbreaking things can happen in our lives. Some big, some small, which all affect how we feel about ourselves.  Diving deep into these experiences and our stories can help us connect the dots to see where we are now.

#2 But don’t live there

We get stuck!   Once we own the things which shaped and affected our confidence, it’s easy to feel defeated, overwhelmed, and even a little angry.  But we can’t stay in there because we can’t thrive if we do.  It’s our job to move forward, rewriting the stories we’ve told ourselves.  We need to grow confidence in our skills and in ourselves moving forward every day.  The most important part is  letting go of the things which don’t serve us along the way.

#3 Surround yourself with the right things

Everything we surround ourselves with shapes our perspective and experience – it all matters.  We need to surround ourselves with people who believe in us, who inspire us, and who cheer us on every step of the way.  Look for ways to push yourself to be the very best version of you.  STOMP out those inner gremlins which make you feel small or overwhelmed. It is important to nurture your mind and your body. Fill your days with the things which bring you joy, inspires you to take action, and supports you to show up with a whole heart to your work and your life.

#4 Focus on you, not your fears

Fear can be healthy and it is an unavoidable part of living life. But when we devote our time and energy to honing, growing, and nurturing ourselves, we can grow confident in our creative work and life.  The more we show ourselves what we’re capable of, the more we build grow and the more confident we become.  Don’t let self-doubt and fear distract you from becoming the crazy-awesome creative person you’re meant to be.

#5 You’re the one who your lack of confidence hurts the most

OUCH!  This is and was the toughest realization for me.  If I give into my fears, if I let my self-doubt take the wheel, the person who suffers the most is me.  Believe me is won’t be easy – facing ourselves, our biggest fears, and our toughest experiences.  By believing we are capable of more, and we are worthy of running in the direction of a life which feels true to us takes a whole lot of courage.  Becoming confident takes time.  We need to show up every day, even when this inner gremlins in our head are telling us we should quit.  We need to push through the crap so we can get to the good stuff.

The truth is: it’s always, always, worth it.  When we believe in ourselves, once we bear witness to our gifts, strengths, and creativity, we can start to do incredible work in the world and  build a life which is impactful, fulfilling, and sustainable.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Organizing with Thirty One

The new year is here and Thirty One has everything you will need to help you get organized this year.  I will be getting a sneak peak of the NEW Spring catalog on Saturday at Product Premiere.  It is always an exciting and fun time, connecting with my Thirty One sisters.  Yes, I squirreled…

Thirty One has been showing their appreciation for you, our customers since mid-December with Weekly Deals.  This is a NEW version of our annual Outlet Sale, the best part is NEW products are added every week.  Some are retired prints and products while others are currently prints and products which may (or may not) be available in the NEW Spring catalog.  Be sure to check them out.  The sale only lasts until January 14th.

I know, what does all of this have to do with organizing, right?  Well, this month we are introducing a NEW product from the Spring line-up: the Your Way Display Bin.  This bin lets you organize the rooms in your house or your closets, pantry or office space. The open design is short in the front and tall in the back for easy access and display. The side handles make carrying the bin and contents a breeze. It is  5″H (front)/7.5″H (back) x 15″W x 12.75″D, the best part is it can be personalized!   Check out the many uses…

Would you like help getting organized while earning FREE and discounted products?  Send me a snapshot (if you aren’t local) of the area you want to get organized, I will make some suggestions – options with and without Thirty One products.  We will schedule a 31-minute Facebook party to show you, your friends and your family how to get organized.  I will share solution sets and tips.  As friends and family place orders, you will be able to get organized with FREE and discounted products?  Easy, right?  I do all of the work and YOU reap the benefits!

As a hostess, you will also have the opportunity to purchase a Stand Tall Bundle which includes another NEW Spring product – the Medium Stand Tall Bin.

If you don’t like FREE stuff, then you can just shop.  Did you know it only takes 6 orders of at least $35 to get some FREE products?  No pressure!  You can shop the Weekly Deals and claim this month’s Customer Special with a $35 purchase…

Next week the Retirement List will be out as well as some sneak peaks of the NEW Spring catalog.  Don’t want to host your own party, join the fun as we “Get Organized” in my Facebook event.

Maybe you are stressing over the upcoming holiday bills or thought about getting a part-time job.  Why not try this “purse gig”?  Whether you are looking for some friendships/sisterhood, some me time or some extra money, Thirty One could be just what you are looking for.  This is a great time to join (believe it or not) as we ramp up for our 15th Anniversary Celebration.  You can earn money during the Weekly Deals, host online parties during the crazy cold weather and make your own hours.  There are currently TWO enrollment kits to pick from and a NEW one coming in the next week or so. Have questions?  ASK!  I’m happy to help you…

So, who is ready to get organized?  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Spring Premiere 2017

Today is Thirty One‘s Spring Premiere for consultants.  For those in direct sales, you know the introduction of NEWNESS creates a lot of excitement.  You are eager to share the catalog with friends, family and customers.  You want everyone to be excited so YOU can fill your calendar.  This would be AWESOME, if the catalog started in the next few weeks.  What happens if you get a sneak peak in December and the catalog doesn’t start until February 1st?

As a hobbyist, I was one of those people who wrote off the rest of December and January; eagerly sharing the new catalog with everyone.  I didn’t have a plan on how to get through December and January.  I would just push for the Spring.  I mean who doesn’t want to think about warm sunny trips when the temps are dropping every day?  My customers had seen the same catalog for the last several months and they were ready for something fresh.  What was the result?  Not only were sales down BUT my paycheck took a nose dive.  Could I have expected anything more?

The last two years as a result be being a part of an AMAZING upline team with Thirty One, catalog changes take on a whole new meaning for me (and my team). Now, I put a Damage Control Campaign in place.  These two months are crucial because they are part of the numbers for the Leadership Incentive Trip I am working towards for hubby and I.

We are in the busiest selling season of the year, so make the most of it.  Your direct sales company may have a cut-off to ensure delivery in time for Christmas BUT don’t close up shop once it has passed.  Does Macy’s close their doors after the holiday blitz?  What happens over the next six weeks will effect your business in three months.  Do you want to be sitting with an empty calendar in February or March?  I know I don’t.  It’s crucial to set GOALS and have a plan.  This way we can kick off an AMAZING Spring Summer season.

Here are some of the tips:

• Use Customer Care Card or Door Prize Slips to secure bookings and leads at events.
• Use Hostess Stacking and booking games at parties.
• Use games to keep the party fun and help to fill your calendar. To keep your business growing, your goal should be at least 2 bookings from every party or event.
• Build strong relationships with customers and hostesses. Communication before, during and after the party is the key that builds trust and begins building a solid relationship.
• Think outside the box of a home party in December or January.  Take your party on the go. Couldn’t we all use a break after the holiday madness? What about a Facebook Live party or a ZOOM party?
• Knowing what is available, and what is coming in the following month helps to build consistency. It encourages conversations with potential hostesses.  It allows you to have one on one conversations,  making them feel special because you are providing them with a sneak peek of the upcoming hostess and customer specials.
• We all want to keep our January booked and busy even though our customers are going to want to get their hands on the new Spring catalog.   Offer a fun enticing way to get them to book in January. Give your hostesses the opportunity to get a sneak peek of the new spring catalog at their party in January.
• January is a great month to offer last chance opportunities for the current catalog. Last chance/ first glance parties.  These give your customers a chance to purchase retiring product as well as get a glimpse of the NEW items. Encourage your hostesses or customers to plan parties or purchase early in the month, as items begin to sell out closer to the end of the month.

So, what is YOUR best tip for keeping your calendar full during a catalog change? Share your tips with us.

Have ThirtyOne-derful day!

Purging for the New Year

As we approach the new year, many people are doing the annual cleaning.  Okay, so most people do it BEFORE Christmas to make room for more stuff.  I, on the other hand, seem to work better doing the annual clean just before the new year.  It clears my head and gets me focused on my goals for the upcoming year.

Cleaning out (or purging) is what getting organized it all about…

And purging isn’t just for stuff, although that’s a big piece of it. Purging is also about letting go of the past, forgiving yourself, and even discarding thoughts which no longer serve you.

So, here are some things that I never thought about that I hold on to:

Pictures – So many pictures. Do I need them all? Do I want them all? And more positively, which of these pictures brings me JOY? I cleaned a lot of the pictures out when we sold the house in South Jersey but I still have a lot of them. Mostly the ones that do bring me JOY!  Now to just get them in a format that will allow me to look at them and fondly remember those times..

Clothes – What is the rule? If you haven’t worn it in 6 months, get rid of it. With the change in seasons, I usually do the “if I haven’t worn it in 2 seasons – get rid of it”. Or what about those “just in case clothes”. You know the ones that are too small or too big – just in case you lose weight or gain back the weight you lost.

Negative thoughts – This used to be a HUGE problem for me. I have found that with the help of a good life coach, I am practicing extreme gratitude and radical compassion for myself.  I am squashing out those inner gremlins that haunt me.

Saying YES even when I don’t want to.  That is the people pleasing side of me. Come on, be truthful, you do it too, right? What if we were to choose to spend five uncomfortable minutes now saying NO so that we are not regretting our YES for the next several months.

Office supplies. I can say that I used to hoard office supplies.  Having a home office, I found myself shopping on impulse when there is a sale.  Time to donate some while those that are too old will be tossed in the garbage!

Belinda used to say when I got in “clean mode”, if you aren’t tied down or have a purpose, you get tossed. It is so true. I used to need to do this more when we lived in the bigger house but now in the condo I try to keep things simple.

There really are good feelings that come after the initial hyperventilation of actually beginning the purge, freaking out, and thinking, “I can’t do this!”

Purging is a practice – and a good one when it is done thoughtfully, consciously, and from a mindset of love and abundance (I am enough, I have enough).

Go ahead, try it. Do it and let me know how it feels when you’re done (or let me know why you started and never finished).

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Is Your January Frightful

There are 12 days till Christmas Eve. There are 18 days till the NEW Thirty One Spring Catalog goes live. And just 19 days till it is out with the old and in with the New Year.

For some, this is when Vacation Veronica kicks in.  To be honest, that is what I have done in the past.  I have just finished an AWESOME selling season as I am sure many of us have and feel like I deserve a break.  When I had my consulting business, I shut down from the 15th of December to the 2nd of January.  Of course, I was still getting paid and if I felt like working a little bit, I did.

For those of us whose business is to co-host an AWESOME Girl’s Night Out helping our hostess to earn LOTS of FREE product, Vacation Veronica only gets a short break this time of year.  Why you ask?  Because if we take 2 full weeks off in December, when January rolls around we are going to be struggling to find a hostess.

I am working on booking January parties NOW!  I know for many, they can’t think about anything but the holidays.  These are the same women that will need a “Girl’s Night Out” with their friends when all of the craziness is over.

First set a goal as to how many Girl’s Nights you want to hold.  I have been steering away from the word “party” because for some that adds more stress then the thought of relaxing with friends.

I am going to book like crazy.  Booking twice as many as I want to hold just because I know the weather can be kind of crazy in January.  I have some HOT DATES where there will be extra gifts for those who book.  To top it off, Thirty One is helping me out by offering DOUBLE HOSTESS CREDITS.  Yes, you heard me.  Now, your $300 party will get you $80 in FREE product.  Can I get a “woot! woot!”.

So, when people say, “after the holidays”, say “Great!  I’m scheduling January parties now, would ________ or _______ be better for you?”.  I am getting my hostess excited about what’s in it for her friends.

Who doesn’t love happy mail, right?  Each hostess will receive a small gift along with her mail prior to her party.  I will also mail a Holiday card to each one of my January hostess, telling her how you are looking forward to her special party.

This is a GREAT idea too – Every week mail a post card or a quick message of encouragement along with your party challenges. Positive communication locks in parties!

The weather outside might be frightful but you control your calendar. Remember to over-book your schedule.  I am adding Facebook party dates for each party in case of bad weather.  I know some people are setting SNOW dates which is an interesting thought too.

What are YOU doing to control your January?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

#partywithHope, #thirtyone, #girlsnightout