Shoes and A Direct Sales Business

I love shoes! What woman doesn't? I have so many pairs; I'm almost out of room in my closet!

There are some that looked great in the store but took on a totally different appearance once they got home with me so they remain in the closet untouched by my feet!

There's a pair that I've worn a total of ONE time...eleven years ago (on a date with my husband after Ethan, my eleven year was born!)

Then there are a few pairs that pinch my feet because they are a half a size too small...but they look so good on!

This past week, I was organizing my closet and for some odd reason the variety of footwear taking up residence in there, forced me to see some similarities between my shoes and my Direct Sales career!

If you are anything like me, you've probably been involved with more than one Direct Sales company. We tend to try on opportunities for size...to see if they are a good fit for us!

Many years ago, I joined a company (which shall remain nameless); I couldn't wait to get the starter kit...I was so excited, I stalked the UPS driver! When the highly anticipated kit arrived, I unpacked it and eagerly explored all the contents! Somehow what I had seen and had been told didn't quite match up to what was in front of me. This was my first experience of being a "closet" distributor...my kit was pushed into the back of the closet until I found someone to pass it on to!

Shortly after this misadventure, I decided to check out another Direct Sales company(same rules of anonymity apply here) which everyone was raving about! I quickly signed on the dotted line with the same level of excitement as with the previous company. The kit arrived and this time I will admit I gave it a good 100% of effort...doing everything I was told to do; but a few months down the road my excitement begun to wane. All too soon that kit also became part of the landscape at the back of my closet.

A few years ago, still not burned out by my experiences with Direct Sales; I found a company which I fell in love with! I was on fire! Nothing was going to stop me know! I had a wonderful product and was shouting it from the rooftops! I took that product everywhere with me...I life styled my business like a true Direct Sales professional!

Guess what? As much as I loved and was passionate about this business, I was having minimal success to say the least. But I hung in there because I loved the product and what I was doing so much!

Fast forward to three weeks ago...I noticed that an online friend who been a distributor with my company (and who was doing very well) had switched! I got curious and reached out to her and based on the information that she gave me and my own research; I switched and joined her.

Same PRODUCT, different COMPANY...but what a difference! I love my Gold Canyon Candle business just as much just as much as I love my shoes! It fits me perfectly, just like my favorite pair of Jimmy Choo's!

Switching Gears

Hello World
I have not written in my blog for over a year and I must admit I have missed connecting with my readers. I was inspired to begin writing again when I read a post on a friend's Facebook page. Simon T Bailey said in his post: "If your life is not moving in the direction you want it to go, then make a U-Turn. That's right You-Turn and go in the opposite direction." I thought about it for a few days and realized that MY life was not moving in the direction where I wanted it to go. I decided it was up to ME to make the turn and steer myself back onto the path that I had strayed from.

It was kind of a hard decision to make because I had become quite comfortable in the rut that I had somehow gotten stuck in this past year. I was enjoying not over extending myself and growing quite used to staying in my comfort zone. I was unfortunately, very comfortably ensconced in mediocrity in both my personal and business life.

The most difficult part was the first step; assessing myself and deciding what changes had to be made. The first things I looked at were in my personal life. I was not eating properly and was not getting enough exercise. I immediately changed my diet and have started a walking regimen. It's strange stretching both my mental and physical muscles but I'm getting used to it.

I then had to take a long hard look at how I was running my business. My desk was disorganized and I know I have spent many BUSY mornings just reading and answering emails. I was not being productive at all. My first task was to organize my office and make sure it was ready for me to get back on the road of productivity.

The next thing I looked at was my actual business. Here is where the most crucial switching of the gears was made. I have enjoyed being a candle distributor with the same company for almost two years. Unfortunately I was not performing the actions I should, to be successful. I was recently reminded by Todd Falcone in his newsletter about the ten things I had not done to make my business as successful as it should be. They are:

1. Pick a company
   
2. Make the commitment to build it.
   
3. Start building it and don't stop.
   
4. Help people get what they want and maintain your focus.
   
5. Work hard and work smart.
   
6. Don't quit.
   
7. Be honest...first and foremost with yourself!
8. Be REAL. In other words, be genuine.
   
9. Keep working on your skills.
   
10. Lead by example.
    
    I had to make a sharp u turn away from all the activities that I was doing that were not helping me be productive in my business. I am so excited to be embarking on a new leg of my Direct Sales journey. I will be posting regularly about my adventures and whether I am staying on my newly forged path. I look forward to sharing with you.
    

Putting Your Horse In Every Home Based Business Race!

Recently, I met a lady who was looking at my gourmet candle business. While getting to know her, she said to me, "I've been trying my hand at this home based business deal for twenty five years. I've tried just about everything out there...as a matter of fact I'm currently with three other companies."

My eyes popped open and I hoped she hadn't seen the shock on my face! Twenty-five years with no success and currently promoting three other home based business opportunities?

Her statement resonated deeply with me! It reminded me of something my Mom used to tell me when I was a teenager.."You want to put your horse in every race, take care you don't win any."

Yes I am writing about horses again!(I happen to love them).

We have a horse race in Barbados that takes place annually-it's called the Cockspur Gold Cup. It takes place in March and people travel from all over the world to be there.(My father-in-law from Queens, New York has not missed it once in fifteeen years!)

It's like the Belmont Stakes...the creme-de-la-creme of the horse racing community turns out. Picture these horses trying to run this prestigious race after having just run another!

This veteran home business seeker of twenty-five years had put her horse in two many races, and unfortunately was not winning any! Have you seen a horse after it has run a race? They have no stamina, they tire easily...they literally cannot run another race right after they've ran one.

Take a look at every successful home home based builder around you. What do they all have in common? If you don't know, I'll tell you...They all have their HORSE in only ONE race!

Choose your home based business race carefully and try to make it a Cockspur Gold Cup race!

Read a good book along the way!

Be REMARKABLE!
Sharon Mayers
"The richest people in the world look for and build networks;everyone else looks for work."
...Robert T. Kyosaki, Author, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"

Be A Horse In Home Based Business

I'm from the tiny island of Barbados in the
Eastern Caribbean. Horse racing is a
major sport there second only to cricket
and soccer.

I grew up going to the Garrison Savannah (our one
racetrack) every Saturday with my Dad. I remember
asking him why horses wear blinders. He told me that
they wear them to focus on the finish line and to not
get distracted by the other horses in the race and
people around the track.

I must confess that when I first got started in building
my gourmet candle business, I did not put my blinders
on. I had a clear target in mind but I was not focused
on it.

As you know there are tons of distractions, especially
on the internet where I build the bulk of my business.
I have been distracted along the way by other horses
in the race (other home business opportunities) and by
other people around the track (reading and answering
emails, talking on the phone and a myriad of the
by-products of life).

I recently read a sentence by Mark Joyner that had a
profound effect on me: "If a surgeon was going to give
you a heart transplant do you think he could accomplish
this while watching a ball game on television at the same time?"

I have to tell you this was a wake-up call for me. How
could I successfully build a million dollar business, if my
eyes weren't focused on the finish line? How could I
lead and mentor my business partners if I was spinning
around with my eyes wide shut?

I decided to put my blinders on and become fully
engaged in the race I was in. The race to personal
and financial freedom; the race to teach others
how to achieve their goals and dreams.

Sure, there are other people in the race, but if I am
distracted by them, I will never finish, let alone win!

So my advice to you is to burst out of the gate with
your eyes focused on the end result. Let no-one and
nothing distract you from your success goals...
Be a HORSE...put your BLINDERS on!

Read a good book along the way!


Be REMARKABLE!
Sharon Mayers
"The richest people in the world look for and build networks;
everyone else looks for work". --Robert T. Kiyosaki, Author, "Rich Dad,Poor Dad"

A Remarkable Home Based Business

Have you ever read a book that inspired you to
change your whole outlook on life? Well I have.
Four years ago during my search for a home based
busines, I came across a book by Seth Godin called
" Purple Cow: Transform Your Business By Being
Remarkable." Intrigued by the title and the concept
of a Purple Cow, I purchased the book.

While reading the book, I continued my search for
a home based business but with a much more discerning
eye. I wanted to align myself with a REMARKABLE company
and a REMARKABLE sponsor.

I wanted to be REMARKABLE...I even had a purple cow logo
specially designed for me and am currently working on developing
and launching Purple Cow Wealth...a company focused on teaching
home business builders how to be REMARKABLE in their careers, in
their personal and their business relationships.

I found THE REMARKABLE company with a REMARKABLE product;
a gourmet candle company. I have learned to choose my
business partners carefully. I choose to grow my home based
business only with individuals with the potential to be extra-
ordinary, to think big and stand out.

I have learned that not everyone is my ideal customer....sure
everyone looooves candles but there are candle lovers and then
there are gourmet candle lovers!

I am also passing on my Purple Cow traits to my four young sons
as I raise them to be responsible citizens who make meaningful
contributions to their community.

If you are still searching for a home based business, find a Purple
Cow company, with a Purple Cow product..I encourage you to be
extraordinary, to stand out and above all BE REMARKABLE!
Read a good book along the way.

Be REMARKABLE!
Sharon Mayers
"The richest people in the world look for and build networks;
everyone else looks for work". --Robert T. Kiyosaki, Author, "Rich Dad,Poor Dad"

Chinese And A Gourmet Candle Business

A few days ago, a letter came to the house from my sons’
school. They were writing to inform me of their intention
to introduce a Language Immersion program at the
Kindergarten level. The five-year-olds will be taught
entirely in Chinese for half of the school day.

Needless to say, I was very excited; my baby Isaiah
started Kindergarten in the Fall...(Isn't he adorable?)
Here in Florida the Fall semester begun in late August.
We are the first elementary school in the entire state
to offer Chinese as an Immersion language.

Why Immersion?

“Immersion programs are the fastest growing and most
effective type of foreign language program currently
available in U.S schools. Most immersion students can
be expected to reach higher levels of second language
proficiency than students in other school-based language
programs.

Becoming bilingual opens the door to communication with
more people in more places, and more parents want to
provide children with skills tointeract competently in an
increasingly interdependent world community.”
-Eric Digest

Why Chinese?

“Earlier this year Rep.Rush Holt of New Jersey introduced
legislation calling for increased funding of programs for less
commonly taught languages. “For reasons of economics,
culture and security we should have much better facility
with Chinese languages and dialect,” he says.

The State Department has designated Chinese a “critical
language” but the most recent data show that only
24,000 students in grades 7 to 12 study Chinese, a
language spoken by 1.3 billion people worldwide.
-Newsweek…World News

The school administration held an informational meeting
last Thursday for parents interested in enrolling their kids
in either program. As the program requirements were laid
out to us, I heard disheartened groans and looked around
the room at a sea of disappointed faces.

You see, the program requires a family commitment. We the
parents have to become fully involved and learn the language
also! How else will be able to help our children with their
homework? This was something none of us had taken into
consideration.

The vast majority of parents in attendance are two income
families working outside of the home and cannot possibly
take advantage of the awesome opportunity of free lessons
offered by the school twice per week.

Even as their faces clouded over, I felt a huge smile burst
upon mine. Because of my decision to start building a home
based business three years ago and the action steps I took
to fully automate my business, I enjoy total freedom in my
personal life.

I enjoy the FLEXIBILITY that 95% of parents cannot. I can
sit in my son’s classroom all day if I so desire. My business
affords me the FREEDOM to do everything with my sons…
including learning Mandarin Chinese! Isn't life GRAND!!!

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Be REMARKABLE!
Sharon Mayers
"The richest people in the world look for and build networks;
everyone else looks for work". --Robert T. Kiyosaki, Author, "Rich Dad,Poor Dad"