Inspirational Words from Madolyn

Great Habits to Have!

2009-08-11T10:57:00.008-05:00

“What’s your favorite basket?” I’m often asked that question so here goes…

It’s really hard to beat the Divided Caddies in our product line. I love the Signature Collection Divided Caddy because I can leave it on the counter and it looks great and I can easily tuck it away when company’s coming. I use them to organize hair products in the bathroom, office supplies by my desk, and kitchen stuff under the sink. Once you have one, you always find uses for lots more!

The same is true of the Storage Basket which is another one of my favorites. I have reorganized my closets with the new Classic Collection baskets and I love them! I have everything that used to be messy on my shelves neatly stored and labeled with our Classic Label Pockets. The Signature Collection Storage Basket is great for places where you can see it. I use it to hold magazines and work-related reading materials for those ‘spare moments’ when I’m trying to catch up. They always look beautiful in any room of my house and I can easily tote them from room-to-room.
And I love the Small Rectangular Caddies. We used to call them cracker baskets because they are the perfect shape to serve crackers. But now they are used everywhere to organize just about anything so I have them all over the house. I use the Signature Collection caddies in my pantry and I have the Classic Collection caddies in lots of drawers! It’s so easy to find everything that’s in the drawer. I think everybody has at least one junk drawer that can be made sane with these caddies!

Baskets have just been such a great help to me for every stage of my life. I got started using them when Cari was just a baby. There were so many little things that needed to be close at hand. When I went shopping I could find products that would neatly organize all her ‘stuff,’ but nothing coordinated or it was just plain ugly. I also wanted to be able to tote things from room-to-room of our small apartment.

When I started the business, I figured other people probably had the same challenges so I created the product line around the need for organization in my own home and in my life! Somehow as Cari grew, the size and volume of her ‘stuff’ grew too! You all know the challenges…toys everywhere and enough stuffed animals to start your own carnival!

When Cari and Cathi were little, they each had a Divided Caddy near their bed. It stored whatever was most important to carry with them at the time. For awhile they would take a particular small stuffed animal or a favorite book and then they would change to other toys. The basket went everywhere from room-to-room in the house and then to the car so they had their favorites things with them wherever we went. They felt very important to have their own basket!

All through grade school they knew where to put their school papers and important papers for me to read…of course, a Signature Collection Storage Basket! And I still have a huge wicker trunk full of math and spelling papers as well as beautiful works of art from those precious years.
During their teen years baskets helped to keep things somewhat sane in their rooms. I found out years later that Cathi had baskets under her bed with notes from her friends stored in them! She shared with me that she sometimes stashed candy bars so nobody else would eat them! I guess having special things in special baskets became a good habit to have!

And the legacy lives on! When my granddaughter Ashley was old enough to sit up, Cathi sent me a picture of her in our old country Carryall. At Cari’s house there are four Classic Cubes in front of the couch making a great ottoman or coffee table. But the kids know that stored inside are their toys and they each have their own special Cube!

Having places to put things is half the battle to keeping everything in its place and our Signature HomeStyles baskets have not just helped to keep our home organized, they have created habits that are being passed down to the next generation!

I would love to hear what your favorite basket is and some of your favorite ‘basket stories.’ We always say that Signature HomeStyles is where old traditions are celebrated and new traditions are born. What are yours?

Got Clutter?

2009-07-27T08:05:00.000-05:00

Join the crowds! Seems like that’s the big title on magazine articles! There has even been a surge of new TV programs to talk about ways to declutter the house. And professional organizers are popping up all over. I’ve seen bumper stickers that ask, “Want to clear out the clutter?” with a phone number. It reminds me of the movie “Ghost Busters”…who ya gonna call?

Signature HomeStyles, of course! Most of our readily visible clutter is there because we want things close at hand. When we tuck it away, it just creeps back. That’s where our beautiful baskets come in. They organize all the things we want to have within easy reach in a decorative and tasteful way. If you want to test whether you need a basket in a particular spot, just watch what keeps creeping back!

When I need to get an area organized, I sort in three categories: Toss, donate (or garage sale) and keep. The best way to make sure the toss pile is larger than the keep pile is to ask myself, ‘Why am I keeping this?’ It’s especially true for the highest shelves in those cluttered closets. Things I’m not ready to let go of yet get moved up…maybe next time I’ll be more willing to part with them! And somehow donating or moving things via a garage sale feels better than tossing so I find that I am much more willing to get rid of things. After all, we have all this clutter because we have too many things!

As hard as it is to toss things, I also have a couple of ways to force myself to do this. When I have worn things, I put the hangers on the rod backwards. Then I can clearly see what I have not worn and make a decision to either wear it or donate it. I have baskets in most of my drawers and when one becomes full and I have to dig to find something, I set it on the counter and find 5 minutes to sort that basket. I also try really hard to donate an equal number of things I no longer use whenever I purchase something new.

Organized Attack

Now and then I’ll have an area that simply needs a full fledged “attack,” not just a small basket at a time, but big cardboard boxes at a time: One marked ‘garbage’ and one marked ‘donate.’ There’s something about having those marked boxes sitting just outside the door of the room when you sort it that forces you to fill them up. Why do we keep paint cans when we no longer have that color in the house? Last week I tossed wallpaper that is no longer in the house! I keep things I don’t need. We all do and we just have to take the time to toss and reorganize. I felt so good when I cleared the clutter out of my furnace room!

A recent research report on home organization states that organization products have grown at a rapid pace over the past five years because consumers have a penchant for purchasing a lot of “stuff” which has led to clutter-filled homes which has led to the need for organization in nearly every room of the house. The research further reported that consumers can’t bear disorganization in their homes and feel a sense of calmness when things are organized. They are looking for new ideas to rid their homes of clutter.

So Signature HomeStyles Clutter Busters are here to answer the call!

Shoot For the Moon!

2009-07-20T11:49:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was the 40th anniversary of the United States landing on the moon. It was great to see the photos again and hear the famous words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” I can remember being glued to the television watching all the tense moments leading up to the landing and celebrating the accomplishment by watching the astronauts parading in New York City. When President John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to land on the moon, many thought it would be an impossible, even a ridiculously outrageous vision for America.

Stories I saw over the weekend looked back at the process to make that dream a reality. Scientists at NASA were challenged, enthusiastic and focused on the goal. They worked extremely long and hard hours. Now stories show that they took many risks, even almost running out of fuel prior to the famous lunar landing. Ground control had tremendous challenges with communication and systems during the flight. All these challenges made the success even sweeter and set the stage for even greater future accomplishments in the space program.

So was it a ridiculously outrageous vision? Did JFK ever wonder himself about the dream a whole country had embraced? What about other dreamers? Historians have reported that President Ronald Reagan was advised not to include the portion of his speech that challenged Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin wall. But Reagan’s mission for peace and vision of democracy rang out in the words, “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace...tear down this wall!”

Mickey Mouse, Microsoft & Madolyn
What about Walt Disney? He envisioned an entire enterprise that started out with a cartoon mouse! And Bill Gates envisioned Microsoft in his dorm room while still a college student! A good friend of mine started her multimillion-dollar international business in the basement of her home! And I started Signature HomeStyles out of my apartment! Was it a silly idea? Who would have ever thought that you could start a business with $1,500! Of course there were naysayers and challenges.

Every visionary is challenged. Every dreamer takes risks and works extremely hard. And dreams start to happen when they are fueled by commitment, passion and focus on the goal. Whether it’s landing on the moon or building a small business, the challenges and the steps to success are the same. Having a dream and making it happen sets the stage for even greater future accomplishments.

Never, ever let go of your dream!

Shoot for the moon and you will at least land in the stars!

I Like ME Best When I’m With You!

2009-07-06T13:34:00.002-05:00

I read once where “I like me best when I’m with you” is the greatest compliment you can give to another person. Think for a minute about the people or groups of people that make you feel that way. Your time together is always joyful…just a warm fuzzy feeling.

At Convention I talked about the feeling that we have when we’re all together. There’s just nothing like it. You can’t really describe it; you have to experience it. And you can’t quantify the value because the feeling is priceless! We often compare Convention to a family reunion but it’s much more than that.

This year we saw what can be done in spite of all the bad news about the economy and the sea of negativity we are pounded with almost daily. The Awards Night ceremony was inspirational because others would say what they accomplished would be impossible in this economy and our Top Achievers proved that all things are possible with the right attitude and actions!

As I was traveling on the highway yesterday, I heard a commentary on the radio about shutting out all the media negativity and surrounding yourself with positive people and positive activities. (Of course, it did occur to me that the radio is part of the media, but I didn’t shut the radio off and continued to listen!) Wow! That just describes the Signature HomeStyles experience…the opportunity to be surrounded by positive people and doing Shows in a positive environment!

Part of being successful is learning to shut out the negative and find the source to fuel the positive. It’s taking that feeling when you can say, “I like me best when I’m with you” and strategizing ways to sustain that feeling and turning it into action.

The news may scare us, but it can’t stop us!

The negativity may persist, but positive action will always win!

When one door closes, another door opens.

Making a Difference…Our Mission

2009-06-29T08:25:00.006-05:00

What a powerful story we have! To think that 38 years ago this multimillion-dollar international company started with $1,500 from my teacher’s retirement fund! And to make our story even more amazing, it started off so fast that just a few weeks later I was running out of money and my next door neighbor secured my future by loaning me $600 out of a shoebox she had tucked under her bed! Like so many of our Signature HomeStyles Representatives today, I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom with my first child, Cari and my business was launched!

The story and the progress in the beginning years formed the foundation for a business that would become an award-winning company and one of the most highly respected in the direct sales industry. The values that drove the company in the beginning: home, family, financial stability, honesty, integrity and faith are cemented in our mission and our value system. They are the cornerstones of our strong foundation and the driving force of our bright future.

Our New President Cari!

And I am proud to announce that our future is further cemented as my daughter Cari takes on the role of President of Signature HomeStyles. She will have full responsibility for day-to-day operations and implementation of our strategic plans. I will continue as Founder and CEO focusing on the things I love: people, products and telling our incredible story!

Cari has been with me every step of the way absorbing the values that built this great company and exemplifying the work ethic that has driven us to success. Most companies don’t have this incredible opportunity and I believe that we are unique in our mother-daughter ownership and leadership of a direct selling company.

We also are unique in that Cari is taking on this role as part of a long succession planning process that began over 10 years ago. She has worked in or supervised every department in the company and for the last several years she has taken on a leadership role in sales and marketing. I’ll never forget Cari’s kitchen table tour to meet with our Leaders with six-month-old Joseph in the car seat!

As we enter into the warm summer months, followed by the beautiful fall months and culminating in the season of giving, I am proud of our company’s history, thankful that I will continue this incredible journey with my daughter at my side, and grateful to all of you who continue to honor the values of the company.

I truly thank God for blessing this great company and keeping us in His Hands as we journey together into our bright future.

Our mission to make a difference is in great hands.

Ready, Set, GO!

2009-06-22T12:01:00.018-05:00

WOWEE!

Things are really hopping here as we get ready for Convention!

The excitement builds as each project gets completed and the final statistics come in. What a Convention this is going to be! Belinda can’t wait to get here and Frank is excited to be coming back.

And what an Awards Night this year is going to be! Company historic records have been broken, and many Representatives have set new records! Top achievers will be leading training in workshops for all attendees to learn their secrets to success.

I thought you’d enjoy a sneak peek at what we’re doing. We’re all like a bunch of busy bees…

At the office we have product all over the place being boxed up to take to the hotel.

Sneak previews are getting stuffed in envelopes.

We’re busy with final details for registration.

The workshops, meetings, and speeches are being fine tuned.

And the power point presentations and videos are being finalized.

We have staff practicing dance routines.

We’re crunching numbers for final tallies.

Preparing our greenery!

And counting out cash for the cash machine!

We’re ready for a fabulous Signature HomeStyles Convention that will bring out the best in everyone and inspire you to Reach New Heights in the years ahead!

I know you’re just as excited to get here as we are to see all of you!

Roots and Wings

2009-06-15T08:47:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday we had ‘Baseball Day’ at work. Employees could wear shirts of their favorite baseball team to work. Stacy brought popcorn and peanuts to share and it looked like the Cubs won over the Sox! When Cari was getting ready to leave for work, she said goodbye to Joseph and he said, “Mommy, you need to get dressed!” Cari was in her Cubs T-shirt and ball cap and Joseph knows that she never wears that to work.

Our children observe everything we do and say. They watch our actions, they listen to our words and they even observe how we dress! Without saying a word to him at age three Joseph already understands that Mommy goes to work every day…and she doesn’t wear a T-shirt!

Role Models
When we have the monthly promotions where we call Hosts at their Shows, her children have overheard her on many calls. One evening as she called, I heard Emily saying word for word what Cari was speaking into the phone. “Hi, this is Cari from Signature HomeStyles”…in a very perky voice, of course! Cari’s children not only hear her words, see how she dresses, but also they observe her work ethic. Like all mothers, she is their role model.

Every Signature HomeStyles Representative who has children is a role model to them as they watch her drive to her Shows, go to meetings and make calls to her Hosts and Guests. They hear her words as she tells her story and why she loves her job to a potential Start-Up. They hear the conversations as the family discusses how the money will be spent or which trip Mom is working to earn. They get excited when they know they will be going on a family cruise that Mom earned!

And every step of the way they are learning things that are rarely taught in school. When you work hard, you reap the benefits. When you stay positive, a world of possibilities will open up around you. It’s okay to dream…for everybody!

Earlier this year Senior Executive Director Carol Romkema forwarded an e-mail to me that was sent by her daughter, Lisa. “I am writing my review for 2008 and thought of you…I sort of hit the ground running with TARGET like you did with Signature HomeStyles. I am looking at all the things I have done since last year and it feels GREAT! Thank you for giving me motivation to succeed and a sense of pride in that success! And thank you for taking me to all those leadership conferences and meetings, and for all of those books…I wouldn’t be where I am without you!”

We set the pace for our children. We influence how they feel about work, what they want to do with their lives, and most importantly how they feel about themselves. Our homes are the foundation for the cornerstones of their lives. It’s where they get their roots.

How we live our lives is where we give them wings!

Special Moments…Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

2009-06-08T08:31:00.001-05:00

There are just certain wonderful times in our lives when we are in the right place at the right time. I had one of those special moments last Wednesday at the Reagan National Airport as I was coming home from the Direct Selling Association’s annual meeting. I was at the gate waiting for my flight and talking on the phone with my Mom when I suddenly heard people clapping. I told my Mom that it must be soldiers returning and I would call her back. She told me to clap for her too!

I moved over to the nearby gate to join the crowd that had spontaneously gathered and discovered that in fact they were honoring soldiers. But these were not soldiers returning from the Middle East. They were soldiers from World War II who were coming in on the Honor Flight for a day in Washington D.C. People were lined up clapping and shaking their hands as they passed by in their orange T-shirts. Many were in wheelchairs, many had canes, and some proudly walked off the plane. Like many others at the airport, I choked up as I applauded these honorable men.

On the plane I ran into a friend of mine and he told me he was brought to tears as he saw the men coming off the plane. It reminded him of his father who also fought in the war but has since passed away. I also thought of my father who watched the flag go up on Iwo Jima and didn’t see me until I was a year old. He would have proudly joined the group were he alive today. These men tugged at the heartstrings of everyone in the airport that day because they reminded all of us of the sacrifices of our heroes and their families.

When I returned to the office the next day, I checked the Honor Flight Web site and discovered that the soldiers on Wednesday’s flight were from Illinois! Since the World War II memorial was completed, Honor Flight has brought hundreds of veterans to Washington to visit the memorial and be honored. It is a day that the soldiers, their families and the volunteers will remember forever.

And it was a special moment for me….when I was in the right place at the right time!

“Non Voyage!”

2009-06-01T08:06:00.001-05:00

I just read an article about “staycations,” the new term for people who aren’t going on vacations this year and are exploring the fun spots closer to home. “Non voyage!” is what you say to someone who is about to embark on a “staycation.” As I read the article, I thought about how much I would love for all the readers to hear about Signature HomeStyles.

I would tell all of them that they don’t have to give up a family vacation. They can hear all of their friends say, “Bon voyage” as they head off to the Caribbean with their families just by working consistently with two or three Shows a week! That’s only 10-15 hours a week! And the really cool part is that they will be making money while they earn the FREE trip! People who aren’t familiar with our company and the direct selling industry find this whole concept foreign…it just doesn’t happen in most other businesses.

Of course I also would tell them that they can get going for a very small investment and start right now and even earn a trip to Maui in February! Why wouldn’t everybody jump at the chance to walk on the beaches of Maui and take their family on a cruise a year later? It’s because they just don’t believe they can do it.

Dream Vacations
Every year when I sit down with the President’s Council, we talk about the trips they have been on and where they would like to go on a company trip. Then I ask them if they thought when they started with Signature HomeStyles that they would earn a trip. And every year I hear the same thing…they never dreamed it would happen. Now they would never miss earning a trip…and neither would their husbands and/or families!

So if I had a chance to tell our story to the readers, I would tell them the powerful stories about our trip earners who didn’t think they could earn it in the beginning, learned to dream and make dreams come true, and have now set their sights on even bigger dreams. I would tell all of them not to settle for less, but to strive for more!

The more you do, the more you get…

The more you get, the more you can give to others.

The Power of the Word “Home”

2009-05-22T08:43:00.000-05:00

Monday is Memorial Day and I’m thinking about Homes for Our Troops…thinking about what those words really mean. Every soldier who has ever fought for his/her nation has left home…left behind parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters and an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. Many of them leave behind a husband or a wife and children. While they are left at home, families think of their loved ones every day and pray for his/her safe return. And never in their lives did the word “home” have more meaning than it does to the soldier and everyone else as it does when he/she returns home again!

When soldiers are deployed, they are not only willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country, they are sacrificing all the comforts of home that we take for granted. Home means so much more than an address on a street or a building on the farm. Home means the warmth of a comfortable bed, the joys celebrated by a family gathering, the freedom to come and go as we please and the security of a free nation. Home is where we got our roots to give us wings; the place where we know we are loved. Coming home is like snuggling up in a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate by the fire on the coldest day of winter surrounded by people we love.

Coming Home
Now imagine how it must feel when Homes for Our Troops completes a house for a severely disabled soldier—either building their family a brand-new house or modifying their current home to accommodate them! Wow! What a joyful day! “Coming home” has a whole new meaning for those soldiers and their families.

One of the most powerful experiences many of our Signature HomeStyles Representatives have had has been to meet some of these soldiers and their families and help them to organize and beautify their new homes…to help make things handy for the soldiers and to help the family with some new decor. Even if we haven’t all been part of that process, we have contributed by encouraging our customers to donate to Homes for Our Troops with their purchase at our Shows.

So the next time you do a Show and talk about our products, be proud that you are contributing to the homecoming of a very brave soldier…a soldier who values the word “home” as much as we do at Signature HomeStyles.

May God Bless all our soldiers who have served in the past, and those who are currently serving.

We support you, we pray for you and we honor you today!

P.S. Don’t forget that May 30 is Homes for Our Troops Day! Signature HomeStyles will double its donation ($2) for all sales of our Home Photo Frames and our Signs from the Heart sets sold.

Signature HomeStyles Gets an A+

2009-05-20T09:36:00.003-05:00

Woo Hoo! Can you hear me shout? The Better Business Bureau just informed me that Signature HomeStyles has been rated with an A+! This grading system will be available to the public from the Chicago and Northern Illinois BBB beginning June 1, 2009. The new rating system will be used by all Better Business Bureau’s in the United States and Canada.

This new rating system is calculated based on 17 different criteria, the largest of which is a company’s overall complaint history. Other factors such as type of business, size of business, annual customers and years in business also are considered. This is just one way that Signature HomeStyles is validated for “above and beyond” service to hundreds of thousands of customers over the last 38 years!

Once again, kudos to the whole team…from the staff who service our Representatives to the Representatives who service our Hosts and customers. Thanks for a job well done!

The Difference in Doing it Right!

2009-05-18T08:30:00.001-05:00

We all want to be the best that we can be 100% of the time! The reality is that we all make mistakes sometimes, never intentionally, but things just don’t always happen as planned. Recently I received an e-mail with a fantastic statistic! Signature HomeStyles’ order accuracy rate is 99.94%! Wow! Then I started thinking about the thousands of items that are shipped from our facility day-after-day and what it means to our customers and business to have such a great accuracy rate.

What Does It Mean?
It means that thousands of Hosts received their Shows and gave the orders to even more thousands of their neighbors, friends and families and they all got excited to be able to show off the new items in their homes. It was easy because everything was nicely bagged and tagged so the Host didn’t have a garage or living room full of products to sort. It was easy because the Host didn’t receive any calls that her Guests were missing items. And the Host can enjoy all her FREE products and those she purchased in her half-price shopping spree!

A happy Host will be willing to host another Show, and she will shout the praises of Signature HomeStyles at future bookings. The positive effects from doing a good job in the first place ripples a long way down the line of our customer base. So a big SHOUT OUT and THANKS to the Warehouse Team for a job well done!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
And what about those times when there are unintentional mistakes? The true colors of an organization come through when things go wrong! How do they make it right? Whether we made a mistake or the customer just didn’t like the item they received, the Signature HomeStyles staff takes care of the customer. It’s been said that a happy customer may tell one other person about the company but an unhappy customer will tell more than 10 other people. Bad news travels faster than good news! We want the good news about Signature HomeStyles to travel so customer service is a top priority. A big SHOUT OUT and THANKS to our Customer Service Team for a job well done!

Making a Difference
Somewhere along the way I picked up the phase, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!” Why? Because doing things right does make a difference…

…A student comes home from school and drops his school papers in a basket on the kitchen counter and a mom will know exactly where to find them later. A neighbor comes to visit and admires the new grouping on the wall of the house next door and the owner is glad she hosted a Show and got her walls decorated for FREE. A grandma picks up her magazine from the basket by her chair and is delighted that her daughter gave it to her, saving her steps every day. Before her Guests arrive, a Host lights the candles at her table and admires the linens that have given new life to her antique table.

A teacher in the Midwest jumps in her car to go do a Show and is thankful that she can supplement her income and pay for her summer courses. A retiree in Canada holds Shows to pay off debt and build up her retirement account. A mom in the south watches her kids on the swings at the park and is grateful that she can be with them during the day and her business helps them to make ends meet. A family in the east has had a rough time financially and they bow their heads as they gather around the table thankful that mom works for Signature HomeStyles.

When you do things right…it DOES make a difference!

Storm Stories

2009-05-12T13:10:00.003-05:00

Last week powerful storms came through the Chicagoland area…strong winds, loud rumblings of thunder and majestic flashes of lightning! At home I listened to the storm, the rushing wind and loud cracks of thunder. I watched my whole backyard light up from the frequent bolts of lightning. Storms can be frightening to all of us, but especially to our children. Storms also can be inspiring.

Thunder…And Popcorn!
When the kids were small and we would have a regular thunderstorm, I started the habit of going out on the front porch. Our front porch was long and wide with a couple of chairs and a table. I would cuddle them in my lap and we would count the seconds between the lightning strike and the sound of the thunder. It was a habit my father had taught me to determine how close the storm is, because each second calculated as a mile.

The front yard and the other houses in the neighborhood would light up, we’d start counting, and we’d sit quietly awaiting the clap of thunder. Lightning and thunder became sights and sounds to celebrate. And the best part was that I would always pop popcorn! What might have been a time of great fear became a time to get close, celebrate and eat popcorn! Our venture to the porch always ended with the refreshing smell that penetrates the senses after the rain…and an empty bowl of popcorn! And still today, when we hear a thunderstorm approaching, we crave popcorn!

Weathering the Storm
Sometimes we feel that our lives are in the midst of a storm. The winds of change have affected us with rumblings of doubt in the future. These storms can either paralyze us with fear or inspire us with hope. Similarly to counting the seconds between the lightning and thunder, we can be inspired when we count the blessings in our lives.

“The Weather Channel” has a series called “Storm Stories” that shows the affects of powerful storms around the world. Every successful entrepreneur I’ve ever met, heard speak, or read about has their own “storm story,” a story of overcoming obstacles and climbing the ladder of success. Their “storms” become our inspiration. Behind every successful Signature HomeStyles achiever there is a “‘storm story,” a story of challenges overcome with positive actions and perseverance.

Just as God created the awe of a thunderstorm, He has given us the power to adapt to change, take action and create our own future. After all, it takes the sunshine and the rain to make a rainbow!

We Have Jobs!

2009-04-27T15:47:00.001-05:00

Every week I’m either seeing or hearing about a news report about the number of people who are turning to direct sales as they either lose their jobs or fear that they may lose their jobs. Finally people are becoming aware that they must take control of their finances more than just continuing to cut costs. This is a time to SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY and get the word out that WE HAVE JOBS!

Make it your mission to reach out to people who need money! Wherever you are…at your Shows…when you’re shopping…when you’re at ball games…when you’re at appointments…EVERYWHERE YOU GO! At your Shows talk about our debt-free values and our mission to help people make ends meet, pare down debt, save money and pursue a special dream. Have a sign in a Wall Wizard that says, “We Have Jobs!”

How about a sign in your car window? Put the sign in your Signature HomeStyles bag with the clear plastic pocket and carry it with you everywhere you go. How about printing business cards that say, “We Have Jobs” big and bold to get your message out?

And what about your local media? Whether it’s a radio station, television network or newspaper, they are looking for ways to help the community. Give them your “good news” story to share! Most local communities have organizations that help people who have lost their jobs. Reach out to them! What about the local churches? Many of them are holding classes to help members of the congregations. Find out from the local Chamber of Commerce if there are job fairs coming up. And with the warmer weather come the local fairs and festivals. What better place to put your “We Have Jobs!” sign?

Who do you know that can be on your mission with you? It’s the friends and relatives who often refer people because they know the circumstances and want to help. Ask family and friends to help you find people who are out of work. And encourage Guests at your Shows to refer people to you. You can never have too many “talent scouts” on your Team! Everywhere you go use your business cards to tell people, “We Have Jobs!”

We are on a MISSION POSSIBLE! It’s possible to overcome obstacles families are facing! It’s possible to get rid of credit card debt and still have money to spend! It’s possible to be able to make ends meet and still put money into savings! It’s possible to have new dreams and make new plans!

The DREAM is alive and well at SIGNATURE HOMESTYLES!

We are on a MISSION POSSIBLE!

WE HAVE JOBS!

SHOPPORTUNITY

2009-04-20T08:49:00.000-05:00

I saw an ad on television last night from a retailer who showed how they get their products from overstocks to give value to their customers and they called it ‘SHOPPORTUNITY.’ Wow! I love that word! It’s theirs and we can’t use it, but it sure does describe what we do! We bring our store to their door for our customers and Hosts to SHOP through our wonderful line of products or the OPPORTUNITY to be a Host and get them FREE. And we also show them our fantastic OPPORTUNITY to earn money while prioritizing their work schedule. Put them both together and WE have SHOPPORTUNITIES too!

In today’s economy customers are clearly spending money when they have a need and see the value. Selling to them has to be value-based. What better SHOPPORTUNITY than our organizational products that clearly meet a need. The Classic Collection is a great price point and the Signature Collection is perfect for those places that need to be handy…and it’s pretty too.

When I go into people’s homes, I see so many beautiful tables; dining tables, end tables, coffee tables…all that can be enhanced with just a touch of color and decor from one of our table groupings. Just a runner across a dining table can give it new spark. Combined with a Trunner® and some candle decor, it becomes absolutely stunning!

End tables can look barren with just a lamp on them. Add candlesticks, photo frames or mosaic pieces and they become much more interesting. Coffee tables can become cluttered spots for dumping magazines or newspapers. Spice them up with a beautiful runner, a tray, and/or candles. What do you put on a sofa table that’s in the entrance or behind a couch? Once again, one of our beautiful runners with glass jars or candleholders really makes a statement.

Refresh & Renew
And people are spending a lot more time at home…looking at the bare walls or walls decorated with old pictures and decor. At Signature HomeStyles they can treat themselves to new, beautiful walls and put all the old stuff in a garage sale! Our SHOPPORTUNITY makes it easy to freshen up tired walls.

The home you have can be the home you’ve always dreamed of…just take advantage of our SHOPPORTUNITY!

The Pursuit of Happiness

2009-04-13T08:17:00.001-05:00

You may have seen the movie titled The Pursuit of Happyness, or have read the book of the same title. You may have seen Chris Gardner whom the movie is about on the Oprah show or interviewed on other television shows. I was privileged to be able to meet him and hear him speak at a Direct Selling Association’s annual meeting. He used the word PASSION a lot in his speech and I have heard him use it consistently in interviews. “Find something you are passionate about and pursue it” is his message.

Think of all the people we say, “I love you” to…our mate, kids, grandkids, parents, siblings and even our close friends. The words PASSION and LOVE are so interconnected. We’re passionate about all the people we love! Most of what we do in our lives is to take care of those we love.

And how often do I hear all of our Signature HomeStyles Representatives saying things like “I love this company” and “I love our products?” Chris Gardner would tell you that you can take your dreams as far as you want to when you allow that PASSION to drive you! If you’ve watched the movie, read the book or listened to him, you’re aware of the challenges that he faced and his triumph over those challenges. How did he keep his PASSION alive?

He was persistent in pursuing his passion and he kept hope alive…he stayed positive! Every success story has dozens of challenges beneath the surface. Pursuing what you are passionate about makes the hurdles more scalable and the successes more joyful. Success comes to those who combine PASSION with PERSISTENCE and POSITIVE THINKING. Their journey truly is The Pursuit of Happiness!

Need Jumper Cables?

2009-04-06T08:46:00.000-05:00

Last February on our Vacation of a Lifetime to the Bahamas one of the trip earners shared with me that her family and friends were all pressing her to get a full-time job which she didn’t want to do. She had been through some very difficult personal challenges and her Signature HomeStyles business was in a slump. I asked her if a full-time job would require her to be gone from home five days a week for eight hours each day and she thought it would. So I asked her why she wouldn’t do five Shows a week in half the time for more money. She replied that she didn’t know how she could get that going. I suggested that she pick one week in the coming month and book five Shows in that week and to send me an e-mail when she got that week booked.

Jump starting a business is no different than starting a car that has been sitting idle for quite a while. It’s no different than trying to draw water from a well that has not been used in some time. To get the water flowing you have to prime the pump and work the lever really hard and fast to draw the water upwards and get it flowing again. To start an idle car, you often have to use jumper cables to get the extra charge it needs to get started again.

Jump Start Your Business
So to jump start a business you have to do more than you would normally do…you have to prime the pump to get it flowing. Choosing a one-week period in which you do five Shows is a way to put the extra charge into jump starting your business. When you do Show after Show in that week, you become energized and your Hosts and Guests can sense your energy. The sales are happening, you’re making great money, the bookings start flowing and your enthusiasm draws people to join your Team.

There’s an old saying, “If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’re going to get what you’ve always gotten.” The first time I heard it, I had to really think about the message. For something in our life to become different than what it is today, we have to do something different to make that change occur. We have to prime the pump. We have to find our own jumper cables!

And what about the Representative who was in a slump just over a year ago? She e-mailed me when she had five Shows booked in a one-week period. She did those five Shows, made great money and jump started her business. She’s on track to walk across the stage this year achieving the Circle of Dreams award and her sales are projected to be 50% over the previous year!

Which week will you pick? Send me an e-mail and let me know which week you have chosen so I can plan on celebrating your success with you!

What It Feels Like to be 38-Years-Old!

2009-03-26T12:26:00.003-05:00

WOW! On April 1, 38 years ago I signed the papers to incorporate my small little company. I always had big dreams, but little did I know that my company would become one of the largest woman-owned companies in the country and a leader in the direct sales industry. When I look back, I realize that it took a lot of HARD WORK, a lot of PASSION and DRIVE, and a lot of DEDICATED PEOPLE to build this great company.

As we celebrate our anniversary and begin our 38th year in business, I am so grateful for the VALUES I learned as I grew up. Those values led me to understand that there is no substitute for HARD WORK and that helping others always will come back to you abundantly. Those values instilled in me a YEARNING for LEARNING that gave me confidence to step out of my comfort zone…to go under, over, around or through to take the next step forward. With each hurdle I knew I was growing and so was my business… all of which reinforced my PASSION and DRIVE to keep on building.

Ten years into the business after Cathi was stabilized from her lung disease, it was time to respond to all the inquiries outside the Chicagoland area. I had built a million-dollar organization there and constantly received inquiries about being a Representative from other states. OPPORTUNITY was knocking on my door! I had a DEDICATED staff to support me so I hit the road and soon found others who had the PASSION, DRIVE and VISION to WORK HARD and pursue their DREAMS. It was exhilarating to see those people grow! My DREAM became their DREAM.

We hear so much bad news about the level of unemployment and yet in 1971 it was at 5.9% and it didn’t bother me! When Sharon Morgan started as a Representative, unemployment was at 7.4% and the last time we had double-digit unemployment is the year that Sharon added 100 people to her Team and began her climb to a Million-Dollar Team! Carol Romkema built her Team during one of the most difficult economic times for the farming community around her. It became her mission to help other people save their family’s farms!

So on this day when I think of celebrating our 38th anniversary, I am ever so thankful for the VALUES I grew up with and the DREAM that continues to grow because of the DEDICATED PEOPLE who WORK HARD to pursue their DREAMS and continue to reach out to other people as I did in those beginning years.

Happy Anniversary to everyone in the Signature HomeStyles family!

Memories for a Lifetime!

2009-03-06T15:18:00.005-06:00

WOW! What a great trip we had to Puerto Vallarta! Seventeen years ago we had a company trip there and it was great to be back to see all the changes and all the wonderful quaintness that had not changed. The hotel was fabulous, the food delicious, the pool and beach spectacular, and all the fun activities together FANTASTIC! But of course the togetherness would be FANTASTIC because the Signature HomeStyles people are just the BEST! It was great to share meals together, chat by the pool, shop and tour together, spend time with seasoned Representatives and get to know new ones.

One of my favorite questions along the way was to ask Representatives which trip that they earned was their favorite. Over and over again I had Representatives tell me that this trip to Puerto Vallarta was one of the best ever whether they have been on many trips or just a few. For family trips, anything Disney always ranks high on the list with many Representatives sharing what great memories their children have of those trips. I had Representatives tell me that their first company trip, regardless of the location, stands out in their memory as a favorite. Most seasoned Representatives who have been on many trips couldn’t choose just one but had two or three on the top of their lists. All-inclusive resorts ranked high with cruises ‘to anywhere’ being a favorite. And, of course, I had Representatives tell me that Hawaii is a DREAM trip for just about everybody.

For many, a couples trip or family vacation is just that…a DREAM. When you’re raising a family, there are just too many other needs. Yet vacations can be some of the best bonding times for families whether it’s a couple taking time to be together or the whole family. When I was growing up, we didn’t have the money to fly to fancy destinations, but my parents loaded us all up in the car and we drove to destinations in the United States and Canada. Memories of those times together still give me a warm fuzzy feeling and I love to look back at pictures of those trips. We shared day after day of pure FUN together!

So one of my greatest joys at Signature HomeStyles is to be able to provide a program where families can take time out of their busy routines and share pure FUN together! I know so many Representatives share in this joy as it is the reward for working their businesses consistently, and they are overjoyed with pride that they can thank their families for supporting them all year long with such fantastic vacations. We set lots of goals for ourselves, but we rarely think that we could achieve a goal that would create memories that are a positive imprint on our families for a lifetime! The money we earn is ever so meaningful to enhance the lives of our families, but you can’t put a price tag on the value of the memories from a VACATION OF A LIFETIME!

Invest your time into figuring out what you need to do to earn one of these trips and take action on your plan. Once you earn your first Signature HomeStyles trip, you and your family will never want to miss one! Every trip will be your BEST memories ever because you are traveling to the BEST destinations with the BEST travel companions…your own family and your Signature HomeStyles family!

Let’s watch the sun set over the ocean together in Maui and/or sail the seas together on a cruise to Key West and Cozumel!

A Special Day for Special People

2009-02-11T14:32:00.002-06:00

Have you received any valentines yet? Have you mailed or e-mailed any yet? If you have school-aged children, I bet they’ve been busy putting names on the valentines for their classmates. Have you made any special plans for Valentine’s Day?

I love Valentine’s Day…it’s just one more day in the year to send a special note to friends and show appreciation for those we love. And there are special memories attached to Valentine’s Day. I remember decorating a shoebox with red hearts and doilies, putting a slit in the top, carefully printing my name on it, and taking it to school. All week long classmates dropped valentines through the slits in the boxes. The day of our class Valentine’s Day party, we ate cupcakes, played a few games and proudly took home our shoebox full of valentines.

Later, the excitement centered around the card I would give to ‘that special someone’ and the hope that flowers might arrive at my house! And as the circle of life turns, Valentine’s Day became exciting as I helped my own children get their valentines ready for the party at school. At home I made heart-shaped cakes or cookies. One year I tried to make the whole Valentine’s dinner red. It worked for the jello, but not the mashed potatoes!

Special days for special people create special memories.

May the love of special people abound in your life this Valentine’s Day!

Thanks for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow!

2008-11-25T14:54:00.000-06:00

You wake up in the morning a little sleepy and immediately notice the wonderful aroma in the house. Like every Thanksgiving, you can smell a turkey already stuffed and cooking in the oven. And is that an apple pie I smell? You bound down the stairs to see Mom busy in the kitchen…it’s a mess with bowls, spoons and measuring cups…with flour sprinkled on the countertop and some that made its way to Mom’s cheek. You smell that wonderful apple smell again and see that Mom has made a big pot of mulled cider. She fills a mug for you and reminds you that you need to have your breakfast and get ready for church. You know that today will become the special day that it always is…the day the house fills with family and friends, eating together, playing games together, taking pictures together. It’s a day of warm togetherness as everyone bows their heads and gives thanks.

Thanksgiving is that wonderful holiday that celebrates traditions founded by our ancestors who gathered to give thanks for the harvest. For many it is still a gathering to give thanks for the harvest from the fields. For others it is the time to celebrate the bountiful harvest of blessings in our lives. It’s a day to gather and be reminded of the cherished memories of the past and to be thankful to God for the blessings of today.

Whether you are the Mom in the kitchen creating those wonderful aromas throughout the house, or one of the many family and friends gathering on Thanksgiving day, may you have a wonderful day counting your many blessings and knowing that I thank God for my Signature HomeStyles family…for all the memories of the past…for all the blessings of today…and for all the cherished memories and wonderful blessings yet to come.

May God bless you and your family.

Wall Street to Main Street

2008-10-01T12:10:00.001-05:00

As I’ve watched the news of the financial crisis lately, I am ever so thankful that we have a DEBT-FREE philosophy at Signature HomeStyles! Over the past 37 years, we’ve weathered economic recessions, runaway inflation and the negativity that goes with an election year. The lessons of all these years have helped us build a strong financial foundation. The experience of all those years has given us the ability to make good decisions. We can comfortably look into the future and know that we won’t get caught in a credit crunch brought about by this crisis and our employees and sales representatives can be comfortable going about their future at Signature HomeStyles!

No matter what channel you watch on television or what radio station you may listen to, the news is all about the crisis that is facing the United States financial industry. Wall Street and Main Street are used in the same sentences and since most of us live on or near Main Street, we are all concerned that life as we know it today could change depending on how this crisis is resolved. At the heart of this crisis is DEBT…mortgage debt, credit card debt, debt owed by Wall Street investment firms, and huge debt being borrowed by the government. The debt on the mortgages of many homes is greater than the value of the home, credit card debt is at an all time high, Wall Street firms are now having to lean on the government for loans, and the government is borrowing money from other countries like China and those in the Middle East to support our debt. Yes, it’s a mess!

When the problem is so massive, we feel somewhat helpless and hopeless about what we can do as individuals. Rather than feeling hopeless, I believe there are things that each of us can do. Maybe what we need to do is to start thinking of how we can SAVE more money. When people put money into savings accounts, banks have money to loan and can extend credit to farmers and businesses that are the engines of our economy, maintaining and keeping America employed.

Many of our local community banks have operated conservatively, are solid in their investments, have a strong capital base and did not get caught up in the Wall Street mess. I heard that the total bailout package, when divided up among the American population, comes down to $3,600 per person. If each person were to save $100 a month in a savings account in a local community bank, in three years the amount of capital available to local banks would equal the amount of money that Wall Street is asking for. Wow! I’d sure rather see my money supporting my banker that I see at the local grocery store!

It may be dreaming to think that every American would save $100 a month, but I think it’s a good start in thinking about what each of us can do. We can begin to SAVE money! We can begin to reduce our personal DEBT! We can support our local community banks and shift the strength of our financial markets from Wall Street to Main Street where it belongs!

Experts for months have been saying that if you can’t make ends meet, get a part-time job so you can make more money. And we know at Signature HomeStyles just how everyone can do that! Every Representative is in charge of her own business and therefore in charge of her own financial future. At a time when things may seem out of control, you are in control of the lifestyle that you choose to maintain.

So now we need to think about how everyone can earn more money so they can SAVE more money and help SAVE AMERICA! Think about it—with just one more Show a month, each Representative could save an extra $100. At the end of the year they would have over $1,200 to pay off a credit card, pay down a mortgage or keep in a savings account. And while that money is in savings, it’s providing a local bank with the funds to supply credit to the community. No matter how the money is used, when it goes into a savings account at a community bank, it is helping to SAVE AMERICA!

The American Dream is alive and well at Signature HomeStyles! We are a part of the innovation and imagination that drives this economy and makes America strong. As one of the commentators said, “If I were placing bets, I’d always bet on America!” And that’s what I see in all of you…the innovation, imagination and work ethic that is the hallmark of our country. Time and time again we have proven our courage and strength!

It is that courage and strength that gives us the ability to do something as individuals. We can WORK a little harder, SAVE a little more, reduce our DEBT and in the process, help ourselves, families and communities. Let’s lead the charge to SAVE AMERICA!

“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage…”
Harry S. Truman

Memories of September 11, 2001

2008-09-11T13:40:00.003-05:00

It was so great to come into work today and see the American flag proudly draped next to our company name. We all remember what we were doing and where we were when we heard the news of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Our Home Office was located directly along the path of the west runway into O’Hare Airport and so is my home. We were all used to the constant flow of airplanes overhead so there was an eerie silence for several days following September 11.

Knowing that our lawn was visible from the air and also in a high-traffic area, we decided that we could take advantage of our location to carve out a message. Joe Slavicek, our warehouse manager and a Vietnam veteran, spray-painted a huge red, white and blue heart on our lawn with the words U.S.A. in the center. Then we gave all our employees a flag and each one planted a flag around the heart as we joined hands in prayer for the people who were lost, the families who were grieving and for God to give our country strength to recover from this tragedy. Cars and trucks passed by and honked their horns and smiled at our message.

Several days later the planes began to fly again. We will never know if passengers and staff in the airplanes flying overhead saw our message, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was the action we took, the prayer we shared and the moment that is engraved in all our hearts.

Two days later on my way into work there was a gentle rain falling that had created a rainbow. As I passed over the top of a bridge I could see the rainbow stretching across the whole Chicago skyline with an airplane right in the middle of it poised for its landing at O’Hare Airport. I felt like it was God’s way of saying, “I will be with you always,” not just to me, but to the city and to our country. That moment also will be engraved in my heart forever.

September 11 changed a lot of things, but it didn’t change the determination of our people to overcome challenges and keep the American dream alive. Today is a day to reflect on all the blessings we have and reconfirm our faith in the future and our faith in God’s guiding hand. So today, as we did in 2001, we once again are reminded to pray for the victims, the families who are still grieving and for God to give our country strength.

God Bless America!

My First Show

2008-08-27T12:16:00.002-05:00

Today is Emily’s first day of school. Next week is Michael’s first day of kindergarten. Emotions are a mixture of excitement and trepidations. Excitement to meet new friends and be reunited with old friends…trepidations about this year’s teacher and how tough the homework will be!

Our lives are filled with firsts and as I walked into work today thinking of my grandchildren’s first days of school, it reminded me of how many firsts I have had and thousands of others at Signature HomeStyles. We can all recall the excitement and trepidation of that very first Show. We were all excited about the launch of our new business, yet nervous to stand up and talk about our company, our products and our opportunity.

My first Show was with my friend Emmie. We met in college, stood up in each other’s weddings and had both started our families. I knew most of her friends and family and they were all there at her house for my first Show. I’m not sure if that made it easier or harder to do the Show! As my eyes scanned the room, I knew I had to avoid looking at her mother-in-law but settle on eye contact with her sister! To my surprise, during my presentation they were all smiling and nodding their heads as I gave them ideas on how to organize their homes with my baskets. The Show turned out to be a great Show and I continued to see all of them at many Shows after that…even her mother-in-law who turned out to be one of my best customers!

What I learned that night is that one of the best parts of doing a Show are the connections that happen. They had a great time looking at the baskets, handing them to each other, and telling each other what they should buy to organize their home! They started teasing each other about the messy spots in each others’ homes, joking and laughing together and truly enjoying being together. It felt so good to see all of them enjoying the evening and connecting with each other and I knew that my company was the vehicle that facilitated these wonderful connections.

And they all took me into their circle as well, considering me the expert in organization, giving them advice on which basket would work best. By the time I had done a few more Shows with them, I felt like a member of the family! Every Show was an update on who just had a baby, or who was getting married. I shared in their joys, and also their challenges. The connections were far more than just a business relationship…they were personal. And as my business grew, they grew with me, helping me to build my Team in those beginning years.

Now I look back at that first Show and have to think of where it led me and so many others. So often I’m asked if I ever dreamed that the business would become what it is today. Frankly, the day of that first Show I was so nervous that I knew I had to do my best just to make sure that I would get bookings to be able to keep my business going! The day after the Show, I knew that, if I worked really hard, this could be the best thing that ever happened for my family. I was launched…I was excited…and I became unstoppable!

I will be forever grateful for my first Show…how they connected with me and how I connected with them…how their jovial embrace of my company, my products and my opportunity gave me the confidence to begin a journey of a lifetime.

What We Can All Learn from the Olympics

2008-08-18T10:42:00.001-05:00

“I’m just like Michael Phelps!” he hollered as he jumped into the pool. A few weeks ago at a pool in the backyard of one of my friends, I watched her son swim with great enthusiasm and pride, modeling himself after the swimmer who has taken the Olympics by storm. I’ve been watching the Olympics sometimes with my grandchildren and they were working with their swimming instructor with the same enthusiasm and pride. Joseph, who is only two, even got caught up in the excitement and jumped in with great enthusiasm. But, since he can’t swim, he quickly learned his lesson as we pulled him out of the pool with a mouthful of water!

I love the Olympics! To see all the great athletes who have worked all their lives come to one place to compete is so inspiring! The cameras catch them as they prepare and deal with the stress and mental anxieties. We see their faces up close as they work to do the best performance of their lives. And then we see some of them dealing with the agony of defeat and others beaming with pride and emotion as they bend their heads to receive their medals and stand poised to hear their countries’ national anthems played in China and around the world to millions of viewers. And my pride and emotion is right there with them, cheering them on, empathizing with their defeats, and celebrating their successes. When their eyes tear up on the podium, I’m grabbing for the Kleenex!

Overcoming Challenges and Dreaming Big
And I love the stories about the athletes…stories about the challenges they’ve had to overcome…stories about their dreams and visions of success…stories about the people who have inspired them…and stories about their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families to pursue their passions and make their dreams come true. Each story touches every person in a different way and no matter what sport it is, we are all inspired by all of them.

Once in a while the cameras will catch the athletes in conversation with their coaches or fellow team members and you hear them saying things like, “We can do this,” “That was great,” “Great job!” or “I’m so proud of you.” They are interviewed and they talk about their commitment to their sports and they say things like, “You can never ever quit” or “Our goal was to get the medal as a team” or “I’ve been dreaming about this day since I was 6- years-old.”

Olympic-sized Lessons
We can learn such great lessons for success from the Olympic athletes about hard work, determination, commitment, passion and lofty goals and dreams. We see for ourselves how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. They did it by putting the word EXTRA in front of everything in their lives…extra hard work, extra determination, extra commitment, extra passion and extraordinary goals and dreams.

They won’t all go home with gold medals but they will all go home with great pride that they did their best and that they were part of a group of extraordinary athletes who competed in the Olympics. All of them have inspired a worldwide audience of future Olympians. None of us knows today who these future Olympians are…they could be jumping in pools, balancing on beams, or racing down streets all over the world. Some will not come back, some will move onto other things in their lives, but many of them will be back four years from now because they learned that you never ever give up on your dream!