Will This Matter A Year From Now?

Yup, it is Monday morning.  Even worse is the fact for some it is after a LONG 4-day holiday weekend filled with food, family & friends and lots of shopping.  Time to get back to work as we start to juggle the holidays with work.

Black Friday has passed.  Small Business Saturday is done.  Cyber Monday is in full swing.  But the question I have for you this morning is…

Will This Matter A Year From Now?

The countless hours spent rushing around for gifts?  The baking? The decorating?  The non-stop whirlwind of activity?  Some would say yes because despite the craziness, they are enjoying the moments.  For others, you are so busy racing around, you don’t even remember the moments.

Life is constantly changing…. just when you think you got what you were looking for, doubt starts to creep in.  Maybe this year you have more money (or less) for gifts.  Maybe you are working countless hours missing out on time with family and friends.  Maybe you have lost who you are as you spend time pleasing the rest of the world.

If you answer to the question above is a resounding NO!  Then “let it go”…. (here the music for Frozen playing in the background)

Why do we spend time worrying about things we can’t control or fighting for things which don’t deserve our energy?

Did holiday celebrations with family trigger a button inside?  You know the one of self-doubt, fear, or anger.  Did the inner gremlins rear their heads because you allowed someone to push your button? Now you are spending your time on things which are insignificant in the big picture of things…

Maybe it was fussing with a rude store clerk during holiday shopping, or making a point with a trouble-making co-worker, or nitpicking over every mistake your child might make. The reality is some things simply are not worth it.

Fighting every battle leaves you little energy for the ones which really matter. In the process, you can damage relationships and stress yourself out. When you are intentional about which battles to engage in, you are more effective in resolving those challenges. After all, if you let go of the small stuff, it becomes clear the battles you choose are important. As a result, the people in your life or more likely to take notice and listen.

As we head into what is probably the craziest time of the year, I challenge you to let go of at least one battle this week. Enjoy the drop in your stress level.

What battle(s) did you engage in over the long weekend? Will it matter a year from now?  If it won’t matter a year from now, are you willing to drop similar battles when they arise?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

CELEBRATE Small Business Saturday

Today is Small Business Saturday…  I have been a small business owner for more years than I can count.  I started as a crafter dreaming of having a full-time business.  Fear always kept me from making the complete transition.  First it was “preemie baby clothes”, then American Girl Doll Clothes.

I was blessed when Belinda was in high school to have a home-based consulting business working with various local non-profit agencies.  A dream come true where I made my own hours, stayed home during bad weather while working with a variety of  AMAZING agencies who provided services to disadvantaged populations.  I LOVED my job but the stress of bidding for contracts always put a damper on things.

For the last 5 plus years, I have been working my Thirty One Gifts – rather inconsistently, if I was 100% honest .  2017 is the YEAR!  Yup, I am #JUMPING…

I am going to DREAM BIG and reach for the stars while continuing to grow my business.  I have seen the potential of building my business with Thirty One for a long time BUT fear always crept in.  As I put together my vision of “bringing a smile and hope to those who are struggling, reminding them they are special and worthy” it is all coming together.  Yes, there have been months filled with struggles of booking parties and reaching my goals.  Yes, there have been months I am overwhelmed by the amount of new recruits joining our Rays of Hope Team family. Through it all, I would not trade it for anything – having my own business.  I am  blessed with a husband who loves me unconditionally and supports my dreams.   AMAZING friends and family who continue to support me on my journey and give me the support I need each and every day.  Words can not express how grateful I am for my customers, my hostess and those who continue refer me to host parties for their friends and family.

In 2017, I will combine my Rays of Hope – Angel Connection and my Thirty One business to continue to make a difference in the lives of others.  To bring smiles to those who are struggling.  To celebrate momentous occasions.  To silently pray for all those who I meet in the hopes I will be able to #impactasoul.  Watch for things to come….

I encourage you to shop locally, support those small businesses in your community as well as those who you know in direct sales.  It is with your support and purchases, these business owners are able to re-invest in their own communities.

Share your favorite SMALL business with us.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Small Business Saturday

 

Today is Small Business Saturday…  I have been a small business owner for more years than I can count.  As a hobbits crafter, I always wanted to move my business from a hobby to a full-time business.  Unfortunately, I never made that transition when I was making “preemie baby clothes”, then it was American Girl Doll Clothes and now my Angels.

I was blessed when Belinda was in high school to be able to be an home-based business as I did consulting work for various non-profit agencies.  A dream come true since I was able to make my own hours, stay home when the weather was horrible and work with a variety of agencies that provided AMAZING services to disadvantaged populations.  I LOVED my job but the stress of bidding for contracts always put a damper on things.

As you have all heard (a million times), almost 3 years ago (in February) I was blessed with the gift of Thirty One.  Now, I could DREAM BIG and reach for the stars with my own business.  Okay, so in the beginning it was a hobby but now I see the potential of building my business with Thirty One.  Yes, there are months that are a struggle booking parties and reaching selling requirements.  Yes, there are months that I am overwhelmed by the amount of recruits who want to join our Rays of Hope Team and the record breaking sales of our entire team.  Through it all, I would not trade it for anything – having my own small business.  I have been blessed with AMAZING friends and family who have supported me on my journey and continue to give me the support I need each and every day.  Words can not express how grateful I am for my customers, my hostess and those who continue refer me to host parties for their friends and family.

I encourage you to shop locally, support those small businesses in your community as well as those who you know in direct sales.  It is with your support and purchases, these business owners are able to re-invest in their own communities.  Some of my favorites small business owners: Names at the Jersey Shore, EnV by Vanessa Coppes, and Sea of Dreams.

Share your favorite SMALL business with us.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!