Get into Action

Sundays for me (or at least that is my goal) is a day of rest and reflection.  It is a time for me to recharge my battery for the week ahead - mentally, physically and spiritually.  

On Friday night, I had the opportunity to co-host a Celebrate and Connect (Thirty One's bi-monthly consultant meeting/ training).  There I was able to connect with old friends while making some new ones.    This is part of the devotion that I started with as our theme was "Get into Action"

Hebrews 11:1 

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen.” 

What does faith mean to you? 

• Faith in Electric Company. Proof? Flip the switch! Faith confirmed. Can you all agree with me that unless you FLIP the switch it’d not going anywhere for you?
• Faith in the Water Department? Proof? Turn the nozzle! Faith confirmed.  Can you all agree unless you turn on the faucet water will not drip from the spout?
• Faith in your Car Keys? Proof? Turn the key in the ignition! Faith confirmed.  Can you all agree that unless you put the key in the ignition and turn that key your car will not go anywhere?
• Faith in that alarm clock? Proof? It woke you up this morning! Faith confirmed.  Can you all agree with me unless you SET the alarm, it will not wake you up?

Faith without works is dead. We can all have faith…but unless you work to get what you want…it’s dead.

I ENCOURAGE you all: Let’s FLIP our SWITCH. TURN ON our Faucets. Put the KEY in the Ignition. & SET our alarm clocks.  We CAN GET INTO ACTION in our business and make our dreams come alive.

God has a plan for you and no matter who your Higher Power is or what you call him - you need to do the footwork.  What does faith mean to you?  What do you have faith in?  Are you ready to follow the plan of your Higher Power even if you don't know what the results will be?

As for me, I will reflect on my faith today so that I can hopefully listen and act on God's plan for me in the upcoming week.  Rest, Recharge and get ready for the week...

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Anchors - Not the Boat Kind

I was looking for inspiration this morning when an email popped up about the Entrepreneurial Think Tank's Conference -  Power of Connections in September.  One of the speakers is Jennifer Tuma-Young who wrote the book Balance your Life, Balance the Scale!

I was curious so I clicked the link to check out what Jennifer had to say.  Anything that will help me to balance the scale and reach goal weight is of interest to me!  I found an interesting posting on "Identify Your Anchors".  To say the least, I was curious because I THOUGHT I knew what my anchors were but it seems that I had balance and anchors a little mixed up.  To me balance is having everything in a row or running smoothly - no ruffles in my feathers.  WOW!  Did she ruffle these feathers!  Anchors are core values - those that are part of who we are and yes, I had forgotten what my core values were in the midst of this crazy thing called LIFE.

So, I took the challenge to identity my list of values.  For some this may be easy but for me as I am peeling off the layers of who I am versus who I think I should be, it was a little bit more difficult. I have a hard time deciding what are MY values and those that are imposed by others.  So, I read the list (click the challenge link to see them) and begin listing all of them that I thought applied to me.  Okay, so now the true test - praying and deciding what were my anchors.  Here goes:

• Faith
• Marriage
• Family 
• Financial Independence
• Giving 
• Inspiration (I couldn't decide between that or Encouragement)

These go along with my 4 Business principles that I had to identify during a recent training:

• Positive Attitude
• Customer Satisfaction
• An Encouragement to Others
• A Balanced Life

What are your anchors?  Take the challenge.  Come hear Jennifer at the conference.  Read her book.  I can't wait to hear what else she has to say.  Share your thoughts and comments, I love to hear from you.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!  

The V-8 Moment

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"  Hebrews 11:1

WOW!  I feel like I have been in a "V-8" commercial the last few days.  You know the one where the person hits themselves on the forehead and says "should have had a V-8".  The only difference is that God is asking me "Do you truly BELIEVE and have FAITH to walk the path that I have set aside for you?  Powerful questions that really got me to thinking about the alternate routes that I have been taking over the last several months...

I believe that there is a plan for all of us and despite the fact that we may veer off the road, we will get to the ultimate destination if we truly trust and believe.  Having had the V-8 moment on Saturday, went to Church on Sunday only to hear that the sermon was on FAITH!  I was definitely in the right place.  Pastor said a few things that really hit home:

• It is not a matter of what we say we believe but what we do that indicates what we truly believe.  I need to not only talk about the walk but I need to walk the walk.
• What we truly believe effects the way in which we live our life.  If we truly believe and have faith, we will not bail out when the going gets tough.

The last thing was his "department store" story.  Faith is like a department store.  First you have to enter in the building or make a conscience decision to have faith in a higher power.  Once you have made that choice, you check out all that is offered on the ground floor before you are ready to move up to the next floor or grow deeper in your faith.  See there is always more to learn and understand if we are only willing to grow.  Sometimes though we get stuck on a floor and are not willing to grow - this is me lately - stuck on a floor because of FEAR.  

My two biggest struggles: 1) reaching my goal weight and 2) becoming successful in my direct sales business.  

Over a year ago, I left my full-time job with the goal of having a thriving direct sales business and not ever going back to work for someone else again.  In January, a touch of fear hit me and instead of praying, believing or having faith - I took a part time job.  I enjoy the people and it is only 1 or 2 nights a week but the reality is that it is just a crutch for me.  The nights that I used to work my business with training, customer calls, etc. is now spent at a part-time job.  The only nights that I am actually off are when I have booked parties/ events or when my hubby is off.  Let me tell you this was definitely a V-8 moment. 

So what alternate route are you taking?  Do you have reasons/ excuses why you needed to veer off the path, heading in another direction for the moment?  Acknowledge those FEARS and find FAITH in your higher power BELIEVING that he will bring you through whatever it is you are afraid of.  

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day.

Becoming a Leader

Several months ago, I promoted to Director with Thirty One - a goal that I had been working towards for several months.  In fact, that was my main goal to achieve before National Conference this year in Atlanta.  Goal achieved!  

As I read an article by Karen Phelps on Leadership Skills, I realized that I had achieved my goal but didn't know what to do next.  Although I have been a Program Coordinator and a Chief Operating Officer in the non-profit world, in the direct selling world of leaders - I was clueless.  It seems that after doing some research, I wasn't alone according to Karen Phelps - "many direct selling leaders arrive accidentally at a new position and aren't sure how they got there or what to do next".  On paper my goal was to be a Director but I don't know if I really knew what that meant (besides a more money in my commission check).  The reality that there was more to being a Director hit when one of my downline recruited TWO new team members.  Her question "Who will send them their new consultant binders - you or Hope Shortt (my Director)?" SMACK!  It would now be me and I was definitely not ready for that task.  Quickly, I began to cut and paste what I was sent to send to MY new team members.

So, here are a few tips that I gained from the article and will begin to put into action for myself:

• Change yourself first!  If you need to change things in your life, start there.  Don't worry about what everyone else is doing just what positive things you can change.  This is a tough one for me because I almost always catch myself comparing my business to others.
• Realize that human beings are emotional and that what we say and do is based on our emotions.  Basically, we need to take time to find out about our team.  I have been blessed to be able to connect (even if only by Facebook or email) with most of my team so I know what their goals (large or small) are as it relates to their business.
• Good leaders are empathetic and sensitive to others.  Basically, be a good listener so that you can hear what they are saying between the lines.  The more that you listen, the more they will trust you.
• One of the greatest ways to influence others is by asking questions and really listening to the answers.  Don't state a comment if you can ask a question.  This goes along with the 10-second rule that I learned from Dana Wilde from the MindAware.  If you are talking for more than 10-seconds after you ask a question - you aren't listening.  I try to practice this on a regular basis.
• Set a good example!  People love to follow a leader that knows where she is going.  Good leaders are self-disciplined, have clear ideals and continually aspire to reach their goals.  Sometimes I think I just fall into this.  I do have goals, a vision board and on most days clear ideals.  As far as self-disciplined, this is something that I have to work on.
• Keep Learning!  When you arrive at a leadership level it is the perfect time to learn new skills so you and your team can keep ahead in the game!  I am always looking for new tips and skills that I can put into practice as well as share with my team.

So, even though my goal was to promote to Director, I am not sure the reality of it has hit or will hit until I have the privilege of walking across stage at National Conference in July to meet THE Cindy Monroe and have my picture taken.  On any given day, I have to have FAITH that God is with me, walking beside me to help me on this journey and is guiding me to fulfill my mission which is "to inspire and nurture women; cultivating their inner beauty that God delights in.  To help them identify their dreams while providing personal, preferred service to my Thirty One customers, hostesses and team."   

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!