Women on Fire

As I entered Super Day, I had an overwhelming feeling that God was there nudging me to DREAM BIGGER.  To have faith in Him to provide the way as long as I was ready to do the work.  The speakers for Super Day, brought everything into the light for me.  A true AHA moment or should I say, a smack on the head!

I have talked forever about my struggle with my why and what success is for me.  I may still struggle but if I reflect on the lessons of this day, I will be able to put things in perspective.  Debbie Phillip from Women on Fire kicked things off.  I knew I was in for a treat because she was recommended to me by someone who changed my life – Stephanie Dalfonzo.  Women on Fire provides support for your dreams, strategies for your goals and inspiration for your passion.  Debbie Phillips did all of that for me in her brief talk.

“Networking is dead – long live community”…. WOW! Those words hit me hard because I really believe in networking.  When she talked about the 5 ingredients to creating YOUR community, I realized that is really what I was doing… So, here goes:

1. Purpose – What is YOUR purpose for your business?  Mine is to carry the Thirty One mission of providing women with an opportunity for financial freedom while sharing fun, functional and affordable solutions to life’s challenges.  This could be by providing them with the Thirty One opportunity, helping them plan a much needed Girl’s Night Out or helping them to organize a room in their house.
2. Philosophy – What is the foundation of your business?  Here are some questions that may help you with this one – I know it did me.  Do you treat others & yourself as someone special? Do you give before you ask?  Do you invest in others?          
3. Behaviors – The recommendation is to pick behaviors that you want in your community and begin to choose who will be a part of that community.  Here are some behaviors: cheer on the success of others, invest in self, ask for help, be aware of the impact on others, honor and appreciate those who support you, always play BIG, and never compare yourself to others.   For me, the behaviors that I want in my community are: cheering on the success of others, ask for help, honor & appreciate those who support you and lastly, never compare yourself to others.  The other behaviors are good to but I find when I surround myself with people who have these similar behaviors – we all GROW together.
4. Communication – This is something that we hear a lot “people do business with people they know, love & trust”.  You need to be consistent in your communication and you need to have FUN because both of these traits transfer into reliability in the eyes of our customers.  Pick a form of communication that is good for you (and your community) – phone, email, text?  For me, I am still trying to find the perfect form of communication.  I have learned that it varies with the people that I am interacting with in my community.
5. Rituals – are a form of comfort sort of like comfort good.  Your community can count on you and those in it for comfort when you are tethered together for a purpose.  Providing support and encouragement during all aspects of our community members lives help them to feel support and comfort.  It is not just about the sale, it is about making them feel special and important because YOU may be the only one in their life nourishes them in this way.

Are you ready to build your community?  As you build your community, you will begin to book, sell and recruit – the basics of our business.  When we take the focus off our needs and wants, place them on the wants and needs of the community, we will reap the blessings that God has for us.

What are some of you rituals?  Are you networking or building a community?  Share your stories with us…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

 

Leadership Live

I am always surprised when I attend a Thirty One event – you would think by now I would know what to expect, right?  When we arrived, we were greeted by Mike Clouse, Manager of Sales Field Development

  and given our gifts:  

As I circled the room connecting with many of the women that I had met on Facebook over the last few months, I realized that I was different.  I felt like I belonged in this group – 5% of the company who are in leadership.  The transformation that took place last month at Mom’s Grows a Business continues to help me succeed in my business.  I was a little nervous being out of my comfort zone but that didn’t stop me from walking up to people that I didn’t know even from Facebook and introducing myself.

The training was AWESOME.  I realized some of the things that I used to do that helped me to book parties that I no longer do.  I found some new tricks that might help me to succeed in booking more parties and recruiting.  I was in awe of the fact that Thirty One paid their Directors and above over $3.4 million dollars in commission in just the Northern region in the month of April.  Not only does Thirty One invest in their leaders but in all of their consultants.  Since conference last year (July 2013), Thirty One has spent approximately $9.3 million dollars on our six Celebrate and Connect meetings.  These are bi-monthly training meetings that are hosted by local directors where EVERYONE who attends receives an amenity when they leave.  FREE product to help us grow our business plus training – what company does that for ALL of their consultants?

Yes, I love Thirty One – the people that I have met, my Thirty One sisters, the company’s vision and its products, the changes that it has made in my life – so I am sure I drive people crazy with my passion but I LOVE what I do and I LOVE to share the gift with others.  The cherry on the top of the cake was a visit from Cindy Monroe, CEO and Founder of Thirty One.  She hit two cities (Baltimore and Phillie).  She not only inspired us with her words but she answered countless questions, had her picture taken with everyone individually and signed our John Maxwell books.

I was nervous meeting Cindy but I held back the tears!  Can you believe it????  I am so excited to see what the future holds for me with Thirty One.  I am being intentional about my goal:

I want to be an Executive Director making a minimum of $5000 per month. I want a strong team who is “helping others pursue excellence”, making a difference in the lives of the women and families that they touch.

Thank you Thirty One for continuing to help me grow, for allowing me to help other women reach their goals and fulfill their dreams.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Transformation Revisited

I talked about the “Transformation” that took place at the Mom Grows a Business Conference… you know the one where I let go of years of baggage (and my lack of confidence).  Well, as things often do, they run their course and I figured it was back to the same old feelings.  WRONG!

It started at an ETTM networking meeting on Friday.  During the Think Tank portion of the meeting when we introduce ourselves that changed to “Hi, I am Hope and I give people H.O.P.E. by helping others to  pursue excellence through my blog and as a Director with Thirty One”.  WOW!  How confident I felt and I was surprised how the words just rolled of of my tongue.  As I talked about ‘not’ getting a new recruit (last month’s goal), I quickly changed to a positive about having another Director promote on my team.  No more talk about lack of confidence and struggle – a go-getter kind of attitude.

Fast forward to my first home party since the transformation…typically, I have struggled with nerves, finding the right words or worrying if they were going to “like” me and my party presentation.  Hold UP!!  I passed out my party cards (Thank you Shari Hudspeth) and started my presentation.  Played the dice game, too.  No worries about whether or not they were going to like me, just had fun.  Guess what!  I booked 2 parties and have a possible recruit!  WOW!  Everyone talked about how much fun they had.. the cards gave the information (booking & recruiting seeds) while I got to highlight our amazing products.

CONFIDENCE in ME!  Feeling okay with who I am and sharing my passion for Thirty One with EVERYONE!  Thank you Stephanie Dalfonzo for giving me back a life that I thought I had lost.  That was the greatest birthday gift that I could get.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Transformation

Happy Monday!  WOOHOO!  I am enjoying a new found freedom thanks to the AMAZING “Mom Grows A Business” conference on Friday.  I was blessed to be able to go along with my ETTM friends which made it even more fun.  Today, I am feeling like a young butterfly that has just emerged from her cocoon.

I have to admit, I wanted to go but I really didn’t understand how this kind of conference would help me – a direct sales consultant.  I mean EVERYONE that I met either had their own business (solo-preneur) or were getting ready to open their own business.  Here I was a Thirty One Director in the mix meeting amazing women but wondering how all of the available information would or could apply to my business.

Along comes the lunchtime round table discussion… I should have know it was going to be AWESOME when most of the lunch buffet catered to vegetarians.  YEAH!  Okay, with lunch done, the discussion began with Stephanie Dalfonzo and so she began to talk about the road blocks that are holding us back.  Stephanie shared that on her drive to the conference, she was lead to change her format for the discussion group.  I have heard these kind of talks before and they have helped for the  MOMENT.  I was lead to have her “work” with me.  I was a little curious because the process she used with me was different then the other two people at the table.

Stephanie is a Master Intuitive Coach, a powerful navigator – like your own personal G.P.S. Her use of E.F.T. (Emotional Freedom Techniques), and N.L.P. (Neuro-Linguistics Programming) made me a little nervous.  The difference this time – I was READY to overcome my ONE obstacle – NO CONFIDENCE!  Okay, I am sure that some are surprised by this revelation but the truth is beneath this crazy bag lady is a woman who experiences no confidence on a regular basis.  A simple 5 minute process changed EVERYTHING.  I know that there are some that are skeptical but the truth is – I feel like YEARS of no confidence is GONE!  It seemed funny to me that for the rest of the day, I smiled and felt relaxed even when I was walking up to new people and introducing myself.  Everyone at the table, reminded me for the remainder of the day that I was “radiant”.  WOW!  I can’t remember anyone every saying that before to me.  I can’t thank Stephanie enough for her life changing 5 minutes!

Not to worry, I will keep you posted on the long term outcome.  I am approaching my business and my personal life with more confidence.  I AM a GOOD Leader for my team.  I AM a GOOD wife, mom and daughter.  I AM an AWESOME Thirty One consultant who puts the needs of her customers and hostess above her sales.  Let’s see how this new freedom effects some of my blogs.. not in a bad way but by looking at things in a different way.

Share your thoughts… Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!