De-Stress Your Mind and Body

“Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent. We cannot nurture others from a dry well. We need to take care of our own needs first, and then we can give from our surplus, our abundance.”           Jennifer Louden

Happy Friday!  This isn’t just any Friday.  It is the Friday of a holiday weekend.  For many, it will be the kickoff to 3 days of family, fun and sun.  For some, they will use this time to relax and recharge while others will think of the million things that need to get done.

Yup, I am the one who pushes myself.  For years, I didn’t seem to have an off switch.  I mean to be successful you need to work hard, right?  I am learning that self-care is important for me to reach my BIG goals.  Sometimes I think the latest round of health challenges was the wake up call that I needed so I had no choice but to nurture and heal myself.

It can be tough finding time to practice self-care, we all need to nurture ourselves—emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally.  Here are some tips that you can start to practice this weekend…

1. Take ownership.

Take personal responsibility for your wellness. We need to form and maintain healthy habits that enable us to thrive. No one else can do this for us.

2. Commit.

It wasn’t until the brain fog, the chronic tiredness along with the aches and pains set in was I willing to make a commitment.  It was when I was unable to do the things that I loved that realized the many things that I took for granted.  Identify the self-care practices that help you function at your best—meditation, short walks, getting out in nature; anything that helps you recharge physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Then schedule these activities into your day.  Start with just 10-minutes a day so it isn’t so overwhelming.

3. Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness is the foundation of self-care, because we’re only able to identify our needs when we’re present in our bodies. Mindfulness also nourishes our spirit by rooting us in the present moment. By practicing mindfulness, we become engaged with our surroundings.  Meditation is a great way to get a sense of calm, peace, and balance.

4. Take breaks for deep breathing.

I always thought this was crazy BUT taking regular mini breathing breaks throughout my day helps me to connect my mind, body, and spirit. Believe it or not, a few deep breaths during the day also energizes me.

When you breathe in, feel the gratitude for your life.  When you breathe out, et go of all the unnecessary demands that you place on yourself.

5. Nourish your spirit.

This could be getting outside and enjoying nature—a leisurely walk at sunrise or sunset, a swim in the ocean, or even just stepping outside into the fresh air and stopping to acknowledge how truly miraculous the world is. It is the simplest of acts that will fill your spirit with light.

6. Beware the “busy life.”

We are all BUSY.  Some believe it is a sign of success. How successful are you when you are stressed, exhausted, physically and mentally depleted, and missing out on opportunities for joy in your daily life?  I am trying to set boundaries so I am not using being too busy as an excuse for living a beautiful life.

7. Keep it simple.

It is only when we slow down that we’re able to recognize all the chaos that can fill our world. Keeping life simple is now a priority.  Where can you simplify or scale back? Where are you creating unnecessary stress or drama in your life?  When I keep it simple, I am open to accepting more love, laughter, joy, and happiness into my world.

8. Recognize and eliminate energy drains.

Who and what drains your energy?   What habits, activities, or relationships aren’t healthy for you? What, if eliminated, would provide a huge sense of relief?  When you are exhausted, and your energy is depleted, you need to learn to manage and replenish your energy—mind, body, and spirit—so that you can recover quickly.

You are worthy of self-love and self-care every day. We all are. For every positive choice we make, we support our mind, body, and spirit. Self-care fuels us with the strength and energy we need to achieve all of our dreams.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Chasing Rabbits

 

“You cannot chase more than one rabbit at a time and catch either one of them.”  Mary Kay Ash, cosmetics mogul

This is a busy week for those in the Thirty One pink bubble as well as other direct sales companies that are launching a new catalog on August 1st.  It is the end of the month and the end of the season.  It is a week of transition between old and new catalogs.  It is making sure that your customers don’t miss out on their favorite retiring products.  It is getting your hostess packets and marketing materials ready to ensure that you have a full calendar for the next few months. WOW!  I am tired just thinking about it.  Actually my list is getting longer by the minute of things to get done.  What about you?

One of my biggest mistakes and maybe yours too, is that I try this idea, that idea, that website, and this coach. We want to try all of these things at the same time and see what works.  We are running around trying what everyone else is doing instead of looking at our own business and evaluating what worked and what didn’t work for us.

Change can be good, sometimes.  Just imagine a potential recruit.  Maybe she has been to a few of your parties.  You think she would be great on your team.  As you talk to her, you hear “I couldn’t do that”, “you are so (fill in the blank) and that isn’t me” or “I don’t have time to change things up all of the time”.  The truth is change can be good if it is for the right reasons but just for the sake of changing could hurt more than help. You may have just made your job look so hard that no one wants to do it.

Been there, done that and lost the recruit.  I have tried every party idea that came along because it sounded fun or because it increased XX business, so it will help mine.  The truth is our circle of customers can be very different.

I am kicking off the new catalog by going old school. What does that mean?  I am SERVING my customers and hostesses.  I had some of my best parties when I wasn’t “trying” too hard.  When I focused my hostess coaching to boost her excitement.  When I asked what kinds of things her guest would like – not just products but the party experience.  It wasn’t my agenda but it fit into what they wanted to do for the night.  My basic script was always the same. Some may say boring, others would say it was a good thing.

 

 

You know what is happening?  My hostess coaching is getting better.  I am building better relationships with my hostesses which will lead to a better relationship with her guests.  I am focused on the best products to present instead of what game to play or what I am going to say,  KISS – Keep It Simple Sister!

What have I learned over the last year?  Sales were down slightly. Parties were down. Why? I could blame it on the economy.  I could blame it on the “s” word. But when I get gut honest, it is the way that I ran my business.  I was so busy trying the latest party idea that I missed out on building a good relationship with my customers, hostesses and team.  I looked unsure, and possibly even insincere because it wasn’t me!  Love this statement by Carrie Wilkerson

You don’t want your baby delivered by the Dentist. You want a specialist. I could not have chased all those rabbits and done as well as I did.

Trust me – focus on one model that works for you. I am not saying that you can’t change it up once in a while BUT keep the basic format the same.  I love the simplicity of Thirty One’s WOW format – Welcome, Offer Solutions, Wrap Up.  We want our job to look as easy as it is.  We want people to climb on board as hostesses and team.

 

Do you get distracted in your business when you see LOTS of ideas flying around?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Hello, my name is….

 

Picture this: you’ve just met someone at a conference or the local grocery store. You’re chatting as you both introduce yourselves.   Maybe a new friend?  The dreaded question always comes:

So, what do you do?

For some the answer is easy, I am an accountant/teacher/writer, I work at the hospital, I am retired – you get the idea.  For others of us in non-traditional jobs, the question can be a agonizing.  If you’re anything like me, you cringe thinking about the times when you stumbled over your words trying to muster up an answer.

Usually, it is “I have my own business”.  Okay, not bad but then comes “What kind of business?” This is where I stumble.  I mean we are  more than just purses, right?   I know, where is my 30-second elevator speech, right?

I love what I do and I am the CEO of my own business.  I have office hours, appointments outside the office, have a budget, draw a salary and have an awesome team.  So why is it so hard to tell people what I do?  Mainly because I have pre-judged what they are going to think.

Thank you to The Nectar Collective  for some great tips.  Here are some of the samples they provided:

 

 

Instead of saying you’re a blogger, try, “I run an online website geared toward helping creative entrepreneurs build their dream business.”

Instead of saying you’re a freelance designer, try, “I help small businesses build a strong web presence through design and consulting services.”

Instead of saying you have a jewelry store on Etsy, try, “I own a jewelry business that’s focused on environmental sustainability. We only use recycled products in our designs.”

The key is to focus on what sets you apart and how your business adds value to the people it serves. Not only will this make you more memorable to new friends and peers, it will also deepen your conversation and give you the opportunity to elaborate further on what you do.

So, how does this work for me:

I “honor others positive energy” with a variety of products  for you, your friends, your family, and your home.

KISS – Keep it Simple Sister.  Use words that the average person is familiar with. Focus on ways to communicate your work in a clear, easy-to-understand way.

Practice! Practice! Practice!  Now, I don’t mean just reading it.  I mean SAY IT!  Repeat! Repeat! Repeat!  Simply reading it just isn’t enough to introduce yourself and mean it. Do it so much that it becomes natural.  Try this: every morning when you’re getting ready in front of the mirror, push your shoulders back, stand up straight, and say your elevator speech. The more you practice, the more natural and effective it will be when someone at your local coffee shop strikes up a conversation with you. This time, friend? You’ll be ready.

So, what are you going to do?  First thing is to figure out the value you provide to others.  What makes you different.  How do you help others? Who do you help?

Then put it into just a few short sentiences using words that the average person will be familiar with, especially if you are in a field that people don’t know much about.  Finally, PRACTICE!  Then continue to practice it for a minute each day until it becomes second nature.

I’d love to hear your new introduction! Share it in the comments below. What do you do, friend?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Five Ways to be Unforgettable

Making a lasting impression is one of the best ways to be unforgettable.  Now for me, most people know me as “the bag lady” always in HOT PINK and black.  Some may add the word crazy with that while others talk about the positive experience they had when they held their home party.  I always used to say “I don’t care how they talk about me, as long as they are talking about me”.  Okay, maybe not the best thing in business but even if they are worried about what I am doing to grow my business, it means that I am making an impression.  I didn’t start out wanting to make a lasting impression or even giving it much thought, in fact, I thought most people thought I was just plain silly.    

Without even knowing it or meaning to, I have used some of these top five tips: 

1. Maintain a positive attitude.  At vendor shows, they usually say that I am “too bubbly for the early morning”.  At parties, I love to make people smile so if I am smiling it is a little hard for them not to catch the positive waves.  I believe in and LOVE the products that I sell.  I also love sharing solutions with potential customers.  
2. Use logic in your presentation.  I think I do this.  Basically, you want to present facts and reasons into your party presentation.  I do this by sharing the multiple uses that not only the company provides but also those I have gathered from my customers.    
3. Tap into emotions.  This is easy to do not only for me but for my customers when they find the “perfect” solution to their organizational problem.
4. Be concise.  or  as I would say “K.I.S.S.” (Keep It Simple Sweetie).  I use a basic script or outline during my parties to keep me on track so that I can keep them simple and fun.
5. End with a creative idea that has impact or something visually powerful.  The way I deliver my parties to each hostess is the “WOW” impact that I love to share.  Each order is sorted, bagged & tied with a bow, tagged with the customer’s name, has a thank you note, and a frequent buyer card attached to their receipt from the company.  It may take me a few minutes more to do this but it is well worth the lasting impression that it makes on my hostesses and the customers that attended her party.

Are you using any of these tips to make yourself unforgettable?  The key is to truly believe in what you are presenting/ selling and put your own pitch to it.  What are some of the things that make you unforgettable.  I would love to have you share them.