From the Mind of a Psychologist

We Leave THIS Week!

2012-01-30T08:34:00.000-05:00

I woke up with the realization this morning that we leave for our cruise this week! It seems like it took forever to get here, and now that it is here I need more time!

Okay, honestly, I don't need more time, but I do feel like I have a million and one things to do before we go. The hubby and I are both waiting to hear on jobs/promotions, and that is making us a little stressed on top of the regular going on vacation stress. I am almost packed. I am still deciding on which formal dresses to take, and may end up taking them all if they all fit in the garment bag! I do need to go out and buy a pair of new black formal dress shoes, so that is on my last minute shopping list for tomorrow.

I cannot wait for warm sunshine, clear blue waters, rum punch, and cruise food! The two best parts of vacation for me are not having connection to anyone, and not having to cook or clean for two weeks! I love turning off the cell phone, disconnecting from e-mail, facebook, and the internet. I love being unreachable! I also love not having to make the bed, wash dishes, or vacuum. Vacation is wonderful and I leave in three days!

It has been a while!

2012-01-26T08:53:00.000-05:00

Wow, I had not realized how long it has been since I blogged! Life has been different lately. While I am not SUPER busy, I feel busy. I leave for our two cruises in a week, and that means that I have been packing and planning like crazy. All that is left to do is the little things that cannot be done until right before we leave. I have been riding the bike and that does wonders to keep my stress levels down. Most of my time has been spent been working on a large project that is very personal to me, and it is taking not only my time but also my emotional energy. Because of that, I have not really been invested in other things. I am very happy to have this time off of work to explore the direction I want my life to go. I have been watching the direction of some people in my life, and I have learned some things. First: It doesn't matter how much money you have if people view you in a negative way. All of your successes won't matter if you aren't making a difference in the lives of others on a deep and emotional level. Second: Money has the potential to change people for the worst, and I have seen this happen and it has changed my drive for financial success. I am quite content living on our current income, and should it go up exponentially, I will do everything I can to not let it change the characteristics of compassion, empathy, and respect that I cherish in myself and others.

I had decided a few months back that I needed to return to the role of therapist. However, because of our vacation, I had been putting off applying and interviewing as I did not want to start a new job right before the cruise. However, I had a second interview yesterday for a position that would offer me the challenge I desire as well as the flexibility and financial income that I need. I am hoping to hear whether or not I have the position before I leave for the cruise.

Life is a journey, and sometimes I feel like mine is just beginning.

Out With The Old

2011-12-31T19:51:00.000-05:00

2012 is nearly here, and I am contemplating the who New Year's Resolution thing... Of course I want to be in better shape, save money, blah blah blah... those are the things everyone wants! So, instead of those same old resolutions that I only stick am for a few weeks, I am thinking differently this year. Instead of NEW things I want to do this year, I am thinking of getting rid of the old habits that are holding me back. I am making it my resolution to cut out the things that cause me to be unhappy, cause me stress, and make my life less of the kind of life I want to live. It won't be easy, but it is something I really want to do this year!

1. Stop giving people who don't deserve my time the ability to stress me out, make me angry, and annoy me, my focus. Instead of answering the phone, I will let it go to voice mail. Instead of dwelling on them, I will let it go. This may mean deleting some e-mail without reading it, or limiting my Facebook time. It must be done this year.

2. Stop watching so much TV, and put that time to better use. Seriously, how much time is wasted watching TV that really doesn't matter or add anything to our lives?

3. Cut out a huge chunk of the useless food that has no nutritional from my grocery shopping list. This will help with the budget and my waist line.

4. Cut out Facebook Time... this goes right along with the first two... Less drama, more productivity.

So, those are my resolutions, to CUT out so much of the CRAP that is part of my life!

Happy New Year Everyone!

She is Here!

2011-12-20T07:11:00.000-05:00

For the past two years, my wonderful Husband had been driving around a 1995 Nissan Maxima that needed to be in a junk yard somewhere. We had owned the car since May 2005, but she really started to show her age about two years ago. We lovingly called her Gabby. Gabby had no air conditioner, which is fine except she had leather, meaning in the summer you burned yourself on the hot seats and smelled like you just worked out at the gym after a 2 minute ride in her. We had been replacing the tires one at a time, as they wore thin and ruptured. We put a new starter in her last Winter, and a new Alternator in her last month. Her exhaust system was so rusted she might as well of had none. Gabby had 206,000 miles on her, the suspension was shot, and on Friday, December 16th, the back struts pushed through causing the back end of the car to drag on the ground. Michael decided that this time, instead of trying to get her to run again, we would go purchase a new car.

Well, here she is! A 2011 Nissan Altima. She was used since May 23rd, as the Demo for New Car Sales. She has never been owned before, and we got an AMAZING deal on this car. She had less than 10,000 miles on her when we took her for a test drive. She still has new car smell! The interior is jet black, and she has amazing features. Michael loves that she can be driven as an automatic or manual transmission. I love that she starts with the push of a button. She is roomy, very comfortable to drive, and super quiet. Seriously, it is like driving on a cloud.
She still needs a name, and we are working on one. I am so excited that our new car has arrived. Merry Christmas to US!

Cutting Corners!

2011-12-13T09:35:00.000-05:00

Because of some unexpected financial expenditures, the hubby and I are going to have to start cutting some corners until February. This is fine by us, as we should have been doing this anyway. I am actually very excited about the expenditures (more on that later), but it would have been nice if we did not have to spend now, and if it could have waited until March. Oh well.... such is life.

Instead of seeing this as a set-back, I am choosing to see it as a financial challenge. I love trying to see how much money I can save up in a week or two. I love seeing our bills drop each month. I am competitive, so I see this as competing against myself every month.

This morning I turned down the heat, and I put on a sweater. Easy way to save a bit on our heating bill. The cats have long fur coats, and my bird can snuggle up on my shoulder to keep warm. We will be fine!

I am only using the dryer for things that need to be dried right away and my husband's work clothes. My jeans, t-shirts, etc... they can be hung to dry. This means less time to dry items, and less money on the gas bill!

I have made it a personal goal to unplug and turn off things I am not using. I have no need for the phone to sit on a charger all day. The printer does not need to be on all the time. I don't turn on the tv as much, as I was just using it for background noise anyway!

I am making it my personal goal to not spend any more money this month except for the few items we will need from the grocery store (milk, eggs, fruit and veggies). This means being creative in our meal plans and not letting food to go waste. It is a good thing I have a freezer full of meat, and some already prepared meals that we can use to get us through the next few months.

There are lots of ways to easily cut money from our budget. I am eager to see if we can make it each month!

Craving Authenticity

2011-11-30T10:12:00.000-05:00

I had a conversation yesterday with someone who was struggling. She was so real about her limitations to handle the situation she was in. She had sought out the wisdom and advice of others, then called me because I have a background in Substance Abuse Therapy, and she thought I would be able to help. While I am glad I could offer support, resources, and advice to the situation, I was more impressed with this woman's willingness to be authentic. She was not afraid to admit that she had been unprepared, and had made mistakes. However, she wanted to understand the situation and work with someone to improve it. I LOVE THAT!

When I got off the phone with her, I realized two things. First, I realized how much I missed being a therapist. No worries on that front, I have 4 applications submitted that I am waiting to hear from, and crossing my fingers I can start AFTER our cruise in February. The second thing I realized is how much I miss authenticity.

What was so profound about this conversation was that no one was trying to sugar coat things. We were both straight shooters, sticking to the facts, and trying to problem solve. It was real, it was genuine. We weren't afraid of saying something that might be negative. Negative things happen, and we can't hide that from people in our lives. We have to address it, and be open about how we are going to change or fix it. We weren't afraid of finding out what was going on behind the scenes. It felt good to not be BS-ing, or trying to wrap something up in a nice neat little package to sell it.

I want to be real in my life, always. I want to share how I feel, what the facts are, and call out when others are afraid of being real. I can't live my life being apologetic for the lack of authenticity of others. Instead, I will be real, I will be me, and I will be happier because of it. I will quote my friend Heather, and the post she put on my Facebook wall today, " Today's lesson.... Don't "be a leader"... Be yourself."

New Website Lauch!

2011-11-20T16:38:00.000-05:00

Check out my New Website!

http://wrap2bskinny.weebly.com/

If it is not Broke, Don't Fix It!

2011-11-20T12:23:00.000-05:00

Somethings in life work great. If things are going well, and you don't have complaints, why fix it?

I hate it when things are going smoothly and there is no need for change, but someone else decides to wreck the current system.... Websites are an example!! If it wasn't broke, don't try to go in and change everything and make it more complicated.... GRR! This is a HUGE pet-peeve of mine. Facebook is a great example, as is my company's current website change (Which has cost me personally at least $200, probably more in lost revenue!).

On the other hand, if something isn't working, or not living up to its expectations, change it. This is my current situation, and I am currently contemplating another life change.... It will probably be complicated at first, but less complicated in the end...

Just a thought.... something I have been struggling with a lot lately... I am expecting some great changes in the future... More information to come....

Packing

2011-11-17T11:18:00.000-05:00

I have been sick, and I mean VERY sick for the past two days. I fought long and hard, but my immune system could not keep up, and lack of sleep put me over the edge. So, after two days of NOTHING getting accomplished at my house, I am finally feeling a bit better and have decided to tackle all those tasks that need completed before we leave for Thanksgiving Vacation.

I needed to complete the mountains of laundry that have piled up, so that was first on the list this morning. Then, I dragged out our suitcase to pack for our trip to see my family 800 miles away. Since we drive, I can pack whatever I want, but I never know what the weather will be like. Honestly, one year it was in the 70's and we were wishing we had packed shorts! This year the Weather Channel says low 50's, so I am packing our fall sweaters and jeans. I am threw in a few t-shirts, because one can hope for nicer weather. I also plan on packing my winter coat, just because you never know.

Like everything else in my life, I try to have a strategy when packing. How many days, what events on which days, ability to do laundry (thank you Grandma!), weather, etc. If it were up to my husband, we would pack the night before, throw some stuff in a bag, and head out. I need more time and put way more energy into packing that that! One thing I will be packing for sure is my GREENS! I love the GREENS and hope they help me ward off any more germs!
Oh, and for those of you in the Kansas City Area, I will be bringing my Body Wraps and other It Works! stuff, so if you want a wrap appointment or wrap party, just contact me and I will be glad to set it up!!

Packing for our trip to the Caribbean is much more fun. I can guarantee shorts, swimsuits, and sunglasses. Ahhhh, a mere 75 days to go!

Happy Veteran's Day!

2011-11-11T08:17:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much to those who serve to protect our freedoms, rights, and economy. Our Veterans and those actively serving are truly the heroes of our nation.

Holidays, iPad2 and Cruises!

2011-11-08T08:02:00.000-05:00

The Holiday season is quickly approaching, and I am happy to say that this year I am not dreading it as much as I normally do. This year I won't have to work on or around Thanksgiving or Christmas. Michael has lots of days off, so we might actually get to spend some part of th2e Holidays with just the two of us. I even got a Christmas present early!! I got an iPad, which I love! I am still learning how to make the best use of this amazing device. I am sure I have not yet cracked the surface of what it is capable of doing. So far I am filling it with free apps, 2 player games, and books to read on the cruise. I still plan on getting a Kindle, because there just seems to be something wrong with leaving the beautiful iPad on a beach towel while I go snorkeling... A kindle seems more appropriate for that kind of thing....What surprised me the most is that I now prefer to read a book on the iPad rather than an actual book. I did not think it would be so, but the iPad is surprisingly comfortable to sit and read with! The luggage weight will be greatly reduced with these handy little devices!

This holiday season is filled with many trips, so fun technology is always welcome on flights and long car rides. We are visiting my family in Kansas(10 hour drive). We are going to a work conference in January, and just a few days after that we leave for our cruise! Oh, by the way... I count Holidays from Thanksgiving to Valentine'e Day because we have so many birthdays and other things going on around those times....

Well, I am off to hit the end of summer sales that are hopefully marked down to near nothing! It is my favorite way to get clothes for the cruise!!

Am I Still Using My Advanced Degree?

2011-11-02T09:06:00.000-04:00

I was asked yesterday if I am still using my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology now that I am running a Network Marketing business. The answer is: Of Course!

As much as I love the company's products, and as much as I love selling the products, I am really in this business to be a leader, develop a team, and eventually launch a public speaking/publishing career. Part of building a team is encouraging, problem solving, and guiding others. That is the main way I am using my degree every single day. People get discouraged in this business. People have down days, and issues of everyday life get in the way. As a team leader, it is my job to build them up, encourage them, and talk them through the rough spots. It is just like being in a therapy session with one huge difference: The people I am helping now WANT help. They actually are invested in my time. Before, most of my clients were not invested. They were in therapy because someone in their family, the courts, or other circumstances made them be there. Most did not pay for treatment (thank you social programs and tax payers), so they had little to loose if they did not engage. The people I work with now have a lot to loose financially as well as time investment, emotional investment, and in other ways.

I think that is what makes using my degree now so rewarding. I still see people grow and change every day. But I see more growth and positive change in one week now than I would in months in my old job. I never expected to use my degrees this way, but I love it, and I would never go back to the way things were.

End of the Month, End of the Year

2011-10-27T07:57:00.000-04:00

It is getting close to the end of the month, and that means time to calculate commissions, look at my distributor volumes, and hope for the best when it is payday. I can usually calculate my commissions within a few dollars. As my team grows, that is getting more and more difficult. Orders sneak in during the night, and at times I am not expecting!

I always take the end of the month to set new goals for the next month. My biggest goal is to double again next month. It should not be too difficult. I just need everyone on my team to add 3 loyal customers, and I need to add 5 distributors. If that can happen, my volume will most likely double! Hoping for good results.

So, not only is it close to the end of the month, but the end of the year is upon us as well. I am excited to say that this year is ending much better than I had imagined. Usually it ends with me working on or very close to Christmas Day, trying desperately to get Thanksgiving off to go see my family, and wishing I did not work at a low-paying Government run facility! Well, NOT this year! I have all the time off I want, and even the hubby has some time off around the holidays. We have a cruise planned for shortly after the new year, and I love working for myself.

Now I just have to start working on those New Year's Resolutions!

10 Things I have Learned in the past 3 months

2011-10-24T22:12:00.000-04:00

After quitting my job as a therapist in August, the past three months have been a learning experience. I wanted to share some of my insights of my time on this journey.

1. I NEED a schedule to survive. Waking up and working from home is difficult for me. I have to have a schedule, a to-do list, and a plan or else I accomplish nothing. My body craves a schedule. One of the most important things I have learned is to wake up and treat my work at home as if I am going to a job. This means showering and getting ready before I work. This means taking calls in my office. This means not having the TV on when I am writing E-mail. Work gets accomplished when I do the above. When I don't, I can't call it work.

2. Some days, I just need to get out of the house. Whether that means going shopping, having lunch with a friend, or just going to a coffee ship to type out some e-mail. I have to get away from the house for a bit each week. It helps keep me sane. It helps me fight the loneliness that sometimes comes from spending 8+ hours a day alone. It also helps that the hubby works close and we can often have lunch together!

3. I need people to talk to about work. I love working for myself, but I also love that I have a great team around me to support me, encourage me, and to teach me. If I start to think for a second that I have it all together and have nothing else to learn, I start to fail. Life is about working with others. I need others to be successful. Without the amazing support of my "upline" I would not be where I am today in my business.

4. When working with people over the phone, you have to try extra hard to show enthusiasm. Working over the phone lacks eye-contact. It is easy to miss social cues. It is important to watch your tone of voice and word choice even more when making phone conctacts. If I am having a rough day, I know it comes through on the phone. Sometimes I try to avoid making important business phone calls on those days!

5. With Number 4 in mind, it is possible to build very successful friendships and social relationships over the phone. Some of my best distributors feel like life-long friends because of our phone conversations.

6. You have to have a LOT of patience when working in the type of business I am running. A lot of things depend on the success or failure of others. I am currently waiting to promote to the next level of the company, and it won't happen unless one of my distributors has a successful launch event. That is frustrating to me because she lives across the country. I can support her, but I cannot physically change her success. Thank God for a smart phone, face-to-face time on the iPhone, and text messaging!

7. I need the support of my husband more than ever. And I am happy to say that I have it! He takes the brunt of my venting and my successes. He helps me plan my next business move, listens to my ideas, and helps me get through those frustrating days. He lets me dream. We dream together. He is the love of my life and I could never do this without him.

8. You don't have to re-invent the wheel. There are very successful people out there who have amazing systems that can be replicated. If you think you have to start from scratch, you are going to either 1. Fail, 2. Exhaust yourself, or 3. Put in WAY too much effort that could be better spent on other things. I am thankful that my team has a system in place that is successful. If I learn the system, work the system, and teach others the system, I will be successful.

9. People will never cease to amaze you. This is both positive and negative. I have seen people do nasty things, undermine others, and be completely unethical to get ahead in business. It is often cut-throat and nasty. I have also seen people selflessly give opportunity to others, build others up, and be ethical even when it means giving up financial gain.

10. I have absolutely NO regrets for quitting my job. I am happier now than I have been in over a year. Nothing beats being a team leader, being able to support others, and encourage and see growth. This is why I became a psychologist. It is sad that I had to quit my job as a therapist to be able to use my gifts and see my dreams come true. However, I think this is an amazing opportunity, and I would not change a minute of the last three months.

Enter Cruise Mode!

2011-10-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

It is that time of year again! The weather is getting colder, and I start dreaming of warm sand, salty water, and sun on my neck! Only, come February, it will not be a dream! Since our last cruise ended in May, we have had a back to back cruise booked for February 2012. For those of you who don't know, a back to back is two, seven night cruises in a row. We pick cruises that do different itineraries each week, so we go to different places. It is heaven! Over two full weeks to relax. We fly out on February 2, 2012 and don't come home until the 18th! Life does not get much better than that!

Since we financially have the budget completed, the real cruise planning has begun. I booked flights this morning, and hope to have the hotel booked at lunch time. Excursions are planned, and we only have one left to book. I am in FULL cruise mode!

Don't tell my husband, but I even pulled out a suitcase and started filling it a bit this morning. I am justifying this crazy behavior because I had to clear out the summer clothes from my closet and bring in the sweaters anyway this morning! Why not kill two birds with one stone?

So, please forgive me when the next few months are filled with cruise talk. I am living out my dreams!

A Smal Self-Esteem Boost

2011-10-13T08:51:00.000-04:00

One of the aspects of my new company that I love is being able to help people look and feel better about themselves. When people look good and feel good, their minds are going to be in a better state. Something about getting all dressed up, looking great, putting good, healthy things in your body does a lot to lift the spirits of a person, and in turn, it can increase their self-esteem.
I admit, that I have been having a rough patch recently. I blame it on working from home too much, and not getting out of the house as often as I would like. I am not one of those people who can be happy sitting around all day. Granted, I work from home, a lot, but it often feels like I am just sitting at home all day. So, I decided to make an effort to get out of the house for a FULL day once during the work week. That way I have a reason to dress up, put on makeup, and really get out there and feel good about myself.
Tuesday, I decided to give myself another self-esteem boost, and I used one of the body wraps I sell for myself. What a boost that is! I am NOT going to post before and after pictures, but I will tell you this. I lost a FULL inch in my waist, THREE inches in my stomach, and 1/2 an inch in my hips. In 45 minutes, just sitting and answering e-mail, I lost 4 1/2 inches with the Ultimate body Applicator. I sell these products every single day, but I am always amazed at how well they work. If you would like to try one, leave me a comment or send me an e-mail and I can tell you how! Also, you can visit my website: AmandaHoeksema.ItWorks.net

Grumpy

2011-10-03T09:14:00.000-04:00

Forgive me if this post is not the usual upbeat posts that I normally type. I need to vent a bit. I admit it, I have been pretty grumpy lately, and I am not sure why.... Okay, I know a few reasons why, but I still don't like it. First of all, I have been dealing with some difficult people who tend to suck the life out of you when talking to them on the phone. You know the kind of people I am talking about. They hold you hostage on the phone, and all you want to do is have them get to the point? Yeah, I have at least two of those people that I MUST be in contact with right now, and it is driving me crazy. I get off the phone with them and immediately my mood has soured. Now, as a psychologist, I know that I cannot let others have that kind of control over me, yet it is very difficult. SO, I am working on that issue today.

Second, my hormones are going crazy right now as my body is recovering from the toxic hormones that I had in me for the past 6 years of being on birth control (no, I am NOT trying to get pregnant). I don't like not being in control of my emotions. I cannot watch those ASPCA pet adoption commercials because it breaks my heart and I burst into tears. Not my idea of fun. So, since I am an emotional wreck right now, my body feels lousy, and I am stressed, I ask for forgiveness if I snap at you, burst into tears, or sit quietly in my room and ignore the world for a few days.

Thanks for letting me vent, and for understanding.

Broken....

2011-09-29T15:59:00.000-04:00

Yeah, that is what I did today. My Brand New iPhone 4 (well, bought it in July) hit the ceramic tile in my kitchen and the glass on the back complete shattered. I was heartbroken. You know that sick feeling in your stomach when something terrible happens and you know there is no way to fix it, but you still hope you can? Yeah, that was my day.

I tried to turn on the phone, and no luck. I thought for sure it was dead. I tried plugging it in, and it powered on. Hum.... I wondered if other things would work. Turns out, everything works!!! HUGE sigh of relief. I called my husband and tell him the awful news. He took it better than I thought he might.

So, I did some research, and found that since everything works, I just need to get the back glass replaced. I called the Apple Store and scheduled an appointment to have it replaced tonight. The guy said around $30! WOW! Way better than I was expecting. I am so relieved that this was not worse. I am definitely buying an Otter Case tonight.

So, now I have a greater appreciation for my electronics. I should have known better, and I should have had a nicer case when I bought the phone. Sometimes it is worth the money upfront to protect something. Whether it is your phone, computer, car, or even a life... cutting corners, being cheap, or trying to save a buck is not always worth it. The hubby and I learned that the hard way. SO.... tonight I am getting the phone fixed, getting the more expensive phone case, and we are putting our iPhones on our homeowners insurance (State Farm has a special iPhone insurance plan that is only around $20 a year per phone, cheaper than through Apple).

What could be protected in your life? What might need some added protection?

The Power of Momentum

2011-09-27T13:54:00.000-04:00

Momentum is an exciting thing. Momentum helps you get motivated. Momentum can create an environment of ambition.

I am starting to see momentum in my new business, and it is creating a wonderful environment for my team. At first, it seems like you put in a whole lot of effort with little in return. However, that effort pays off a little, and then others start to put in that effort, and before you know it, a whole team is putting in effort. All of a sudden, my effort produces a much greater result. It seems as if I am not working as hard, because the returns are better. This makes me want to work even harder!

When momentum starts the ball rolling, it is often difficult to stop. This is a great thing! Once you start a project, the momentum can keep you going to the end. Once you start an exercise program momentum can keep you on track. Once a family or group of people are on board for making changes, momentum makes those changes happen.

Momentum is an amazing thing. After a while, your effort doesn't even need to be that big to see results. That is what I love about my team right now. The momentum is starting to build, and I am excited to see where it will take us and how big we can grow!

Scheduling

2011-09-26T10:40:00.000-04:00

Now that I am working from home, I tend to need a strict schedule to make sure I am being productive with my day. You see, our bodies crave schedules. We need consistency in our daily lives. Every night when I am winding down before bed, I get out a sheet of paper and write out my to-do list/schedule for the next day. When I wake up the next morning, I can add or change it as needed, but I have a general idea of what my day will look like. Not only does this help me stay organized, but it also helps me sleep better at night. No longer do I have tons of things spinning around in my head making me stressed right before bed. No, they are all nicely written out on paper, allowing me to sleep peacefully and deal with them in the morning.

Here is an example of my typical daily schedule:

6:30am wake up, see the hubby off to work.
7:00 am-8:00 am check e-mail, send out work e-mail to my leads/team. Check news, weather, and plan day accordingly.
9:00am grab breakfast, do hour long bike ride.
10:00 am shower, get officially ready for the day.
10:30 am call my morning leads and discuss business until 12:00.
12:00 pm lunch time, break from phones.
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm begin calling afternoon leads. Create team e-mail, do some internet marketing, make sure dinner is planned, run any errands, finish afternoon lead calls. Check to see if I completed my goals for the day.
4:30 welcome the hubby home from work.
5:30 make dinner and eat dinner.
6:30 begin calling evening leads.
8:00 relax with the hubby.
9:00 team call if it is that day of the week.
10:00 bed time.

Now, that changes day to day, but I like to keep somethings routine, like my wake up and go to bed times, meal times, and morning bike ride. If I get off on those things, my body starts to get cranky!

Keep a schedule. It will help you reduce stress, stay healthier, avoid sickness, be more alert throughout the day, accomplish more, and overall feel better!

City Tour Inspiration

2011-09-23T06:57:00.002-04:00

Michael and I were out very late last night at a work conference for my company. It was amazing to see a business that cares so much for it's employees. Definitely something I did not have at my last job.

We got to hear all the newest products and upcoming events for the next 4 months. I also get to product test a new product that won't come out until next year!!

The best part was hearing the inspiring stories about what It Works! has done for the people who work them. We heard stories of people being able to come out of bankruptcy, pay off their homes and debt, and are now living their dreams. It was inspiring! My team leader was honored for moving up to Presidential Diamond status, she has one more place to go before hitting the highest level in the company.

I also signed a new distributor last night, so I have now signed 4 in 3 days! Loving that! My team is growing so fast, I can't wait to see where we will be by Christmas.

The theme of the night was dreaming big and going all in. They encouraged us to see our dreams and go for them. What company, in this economy, is telling it's employees that they are writing bigger and bigger checks each month, and they want their employees to dream so big!

I was thinking about my dreams last night, and I have quite a few of them. These are all long-term, big picture dreams.

1. Pay off school loans and house debt (4 years).
2. Go to graduate school for my Ph.D. and have no loans and not have to work while I do it (5 years).
3. Retire Michael from his job.
4. Buy a beach house on St. Croix (5 years).
5. Start a no-kill cat sanctuary and rescue for abandoned dogs and cats (6 years).
6. Buy a condo on The World (cruise ship with condos on it).

City Tour!

2011-09-22T08:01:00.003-04:00

I only have time for a quick post this morning, but I am very excited about the It Works! City Tour in Grand Rapids, MI tonight! Anyone who is interested in finding out more is welcome to come as my guest for FREE. The tour starts at 7:00 and is held at the Cultural Center on East Paris AVE. If you will be coming as my guest you need to plan to meet me before, so we can register together. Contact me through e-mail so we can arranged this.

Learn all about It Works! Global.
Hear the exciting news and direction the company is headed in.
Meet the President and CEO, along with other important leaders in the company.
Meet the Grand Rapids, MI team.

Goal Setting

2011-09-21T08:52:00.005-04:00

It is that time of year. The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are changing, kids are back in school, and the holidays are a few months away. For me, this is the time to re-evaluate my goals for the year and set new ones. Some people set goals around the New Year, but then they never go back and revisit those goals.

Here are some of my goals for now until the end of the year.

1. Reach Diamond status within my company. I have built my team to a solid foundation, and now I am building up my team members to help me achieve this goal. The next two months are critical. I need to add 5 new team members and have them placed under my current team members. I need to train some of my team members to help make them successful leaders.

2. Begin using my business earnings to pay off our cruise vacation. Our next cruise is in February, and we are a bit behind on our budget because of investment in my business. I hope by the end of the month I can re-pay back the investment three fold, and pay off our entire cruise.

3. Bike 1000 miles on the trainer between October 1 and December 31. This will help me stay in road riding condition, and help achieve my next goal.

4. Continue to use the healthy eating and exercise habits I currently have going to continue toward my health and wellness goals.

5. Read 10 books between now and Christmas. I have a huge reading list and have barely made a dent this year. I am going to dedicate 1 hour a day to reading, 5 days a week.

Goals are important because they motivate, inspire, and drive a person towards success. Make sure your goals are realistic. Make sure they are reachable, and make sure they are taking you in the long-term direction you want!

What are your goals?

How Important is Emotional Health?

2011-09-20T08:13:00.002-04:00

As part of running my own business, I have begun to re-evaluate the importance of emotional health across all aspects of life. I used to think of Emotional health in only a relational sense. How well do people interact with others? How do they get along with their spouse, family, friends? How does one feel about one's self? Those sorts of things.

However, I have begun to look at emotional health in a new light over the past two months. Emotional health is absolutely going to affect my business. If I am emotionally healthy, I am going to project that to others, and the are more likely to sign up for my business. If I am discouraged, it is difficult to convince them this a good business to get involved with. If I am motivated and enthusiastic about my life, my success, and my goals, it will be easier to achieve goals, have a positive outlook on life, and I will see more success.

Emotional health involves many aspects of one's life. Managing stress, managing time, and finding that balance between work and social life are very important. Staying positive in the times when things get rough is key to emotional well-being. Also, staying in reality. Looking at the here and now, setting goals that are realistic, and being grounded in what is and not too caught up in what was or what could be.

How is your emotional health?

What is your Motivation?

2011-09-19T06:57:00.003-04:00

When I am leading my team of distributors for my new business, one of the things I like to focus on is people's motivation. What is your motivation for success? What drives you? For some people it is money, financial freedom, getting out of debt, buying a new car, vacation, etc. For some it is health reasons. I have one distributor who is saving for a surgery that she needs to get healthy. For others, they join the team to help someone else. I have several family members of distributors who joined specifically to build a customer base to help those people above them earn more money and grow their teams. For others, they just like being active. This business is something to do now that their kids are grown and moved away. For others, it brings them a sense of pride to be successful at something.

Motivation is an important tool in any area of life. It pushes us to grow. It helps us succeed. It drives us through the difficult times, and encourages us to better ourselves. Without motivation, business would not succeed, relationships would fail, and the economy as we know it would fall apart.

What is your motivation?