2016
Really? For those who know me well, they may call BS on this statement. But chances are they don't know me well enough and here are the reasons why.
I wish to start by saying that when I got started in Network Marketing, I was a HUGE skeptic...and this beginning was over 10 years ago when I was involved in 2 companies (that relied on me hosting parties and begging my friends to host them for me too).
Fast forward to 2009. I began a product line to feel better. I was a new mom with a 2 year old and a 6 month old and I was always tired. I wanted nothing to do with a network marketing business, but decided to try the products. That was September 1st 2009, the day I decided to take better care of my health.
The rest of that year was fun...I had more energy, I lost the pesky pounds I carried from my pregnancies and I just felt an overall sense of gratitude for this gift. Not long after I began to feel great again, I started to share it with others I cared about. And bingo a network marketing business was born.
In the beginning I didn't really know what I was doing, I felt excited and as we called it "ignorance on fire" became the way I felt fuelled. I wasn't a nutrition expert, I wasn't a business owner (or so I thought) and I didn't know how to completely support people other than to get them started the same way that I did, by opening an online wholesale account.
2010 I was still teaching when I could. Getting called at 6:00 am wasn't very convenient anymore to be a substitute teacher, considering my husband was working shift work, we had middle of the night wake up calls for another "feeding" and well, I didn't want to take my babies to daycare so that I could teach other people's kids at school. My passion to be home grew.
Luckily that year I was able to work when I had time, to do what I could to support people who wanted to use the same products that I grew to love. (insert the fact that my husband was a HUGE skeptic about this network marketing thing...and he wanted me to get back to school and teach more often than I was). That year I earned just shy of $8000(*see disclaimer below). Doesn't seem worth it? But I knew it was.
2011 came and went...like all years do, but we had our 3rd baby. So a 4 year old just starting part-time JK, a 2 year old and a newborn. Somehow I managed to build my business to almost $47,000 that year (please note these figures are not to brag or to say that it WILL happen to everyone). I was working even when I was in labour. Work became my obsession. I worked every waking moment and often didn't go to bed until after midnight, only to wake throughout the night for feedings.
2012 continued the way 2011 did. My 5 year old was in SK part-time (every other day). My 3 year old and infant were home with me everyday. This year I earned $103,000(*see disclaimer below) from home. Again, this is not to impress anyone and it is also not to say that it was easy to earn that amount of money. But it sure helped me convince my husband that this Network Marketing Thingy, was a valid and financially sound business model when we work harder for our business than we do for any boss we may have had - and I was always a hard worker for anyone I ever worked for. So I took this business very seriously, I had a HUGE why. I wanted to stay home with my children.
Every year after 2012, my business income grew and grew...and in 2014 I hit what felt like the top of the world. I was closing in at almost $200k(*see disclaimer below) that year and with the rate of growth I assumed that it would continue this way.
2015 hit hard. We moved into our dream home in 2013 (banking on our increased revenue projections year over year) and we were laughing. Everything felt so right. When 2015 came, it started off like any year...40% growth most weeks (year over year *see disclaimer below) and no fear about where this business would take us. Kate (our baby) started school (full day, all day kindergarten) that September. I had a breakdown. I became so sick, so angry, so resentful, so disconnected from my passion for my business. I was broken and found myself beating myself up for so many reasons. I reached out to a friend I trusted and she recommended that I take time to see a Naturopath as she felt that I had adrenal fatigue. What the heck was Adrenal Fatigue was my question? Sure enough, in October 2015 it was confirmed...and I was told this could take a long time to get "better". I was devastated yet hopeful. That year we didn't earn as much as we did in 2014 and that reduction in income hurt the bank...and along with trying to help my adrenals recover, the added stress around finances and taxes weighed both my husband and I down. We had hit what felt like rock bottom - but together we were solid. I still remember when I told him that I wasn't feeling like socializing for our annual team Christmas Party, he supported my wishes to try something new - to paint at a jazz bar over a glass of wine with some old cheese and meats. My light was lit. I was finding peace in the slower and creative pace.
2016 has been a struggle, but as we come close to the end of another year, I recognize how truly beautiful this year has been for me. I would have to say that this is MY BEST YEAR in NETWORK MARKETING and here is why:
My vision for my business is stronger today than it ever was. This business is so forgiving of us. Even though I haven't put the same amount of time in that I had for the previous 5.5 to 6 years, it forgives me. I no longer work for myself, I work for my business...and my business doesn't want me to burn out. My business doesn't want me to become someone I am not. My business doesn't want me to say yes to everything and everyone. My business wants me to place healthy boundaries on myself. My business also wants me to love everyone for where they are at. My business doesn't appreciate when I make excuses for why I can't touch my business today - because in all honesty, this kind of business is SIMPLE, it might not be easy everyday, but it is simple. When we add value to others, we are touching our business...and I don't know about you, but adding value to others is something I hope that I truly do - every single day I am alive on this Earth.
The best year of my Network Marketing business has been 2016. My new sense of self is much more loving, more respectful of myself and others and is much healthier. I no longer beat myself up and I don't allow others to make me feel that I am not worthy. I love and accept myself (mistakes and all) and I pick myself up, no matter how hard that may feel some days...because I know this legacy we are creating together is worth every effort we put forth. (many of you reading this know exactly what I mean and for those who don't imagine wanting the very best for everyone in your life that you love most).
We may have bumps in the road, but those bumps are never enough to knock us off the path...they simply help us find gratitude and clearer, healthier focuses.
Giving up lasts forever, slowing down and refocusing is always a benefit when our body, mind and soul requires us to.
One thing that I do know is that I will NEVER allow myself to lose touch with myself and my family the way that I may have in the past...but I wouldn't change a single thing. If I didn't do what I did for the first 5 years, I wouldn't be here today...running fast, really is so much easier because it built my confidence and skill set much faster than if I took a snail's pace. Not everyone will run fast and that is ok. Staying grounded and more emotionally, physically and mentally balanced is a skill that only the few will learn...truly learn. And the only reason I've been able to learn it is likely because I was forced to. Once again, I will not beat myself up about it, but I will recognize that it was a very important part of my journey and the process. In my opinion True Wisdom is created by the experience, not by reading it in a book.
Fast forward to 2009. I began a product line to feel better. I was a new mom with a 2 year old and a 6 month old and I was always tired. I wanted nothing to do with a network marketing business, but decided to try the products. That was September 1st 2009, the day I decided to take better care of my health.
The rest of that year was fun...I had more energy, I lost the pesky pounds I carried from my pregnancies and I just felt an overall sense of gratitude for this gift. Not long after I began to feel great again, I started to share it with others I cared about. And bingo a network marketing business was born.
In the beginning I didn't really know what I was doing, I felt excited and as we called it "ignorance on fire" became the way I felt fuelled. I wasn't a nutrition expert, I wasn't a business owner (or so I thought) and I didn't know how to completely support people other than to get them started the same way that I did, by opening an online wholesale account.
2010 I was still teaching when I could. Getting called at 6:00 am wasn't very convenient anymore to be a substitute teacher, considering my husband was working shift work, we had middle of the night wake up calls for another "feeding" and well, I didn't want to take my babies to daycare so that I could teach other people's kids at school. My passion to be home grew.
Luckily that year I was able to work when I had time, to do what I could to support people who wanted to use the same products that I grew to love. (insert the fact that my husband was a HUGE skeptic about this network marketing thing...and he wanted me to get back to school and teach more often than I was). That year I earned just shy of $8000(*see disclaimer below). Doesn't seem worth it? But I knew it was.
2011 came and went...like all years do, but we had our 3rd baby. So a 4 year old just starting part-time JK, a 2 year old and a newborn. Somehow I managed to build my business to almost $47,000 that year (please note these figures are not to brag or to say that it WILL happen to everyone). I was working even when I was in labour. Work became my obsession. I worked every waking moment and often didn't go to bed until after midnight, only to wake throughout the night for feedings.
2012 continued the way 2011 did. My 5 year old was in SK part-time (every other day). My 3 year old and infant were home with me everyday. This year I earned $103,000(*see disclaimer below) from home. Again, this is not to impress anyone and it is also not to say that it was easy to earn that amount of money. But it sure helped me convince my husband that this Network Marketing Thingy, was a valid and financially sound business model when we work harder for our business than we do for any boss we may have had - and I was always a hard worker for anyone I ever worked for. So I took this business very seriously, I had a HUGE why. I wanted to stay home with my children.
Every year after 2012, my business income grew and grew...and in 2014 I hit what felt like the top of the world. I was closing in at almost $200k(*see disclaimer below) that year and with the rate of growth I assumed that it would continue this way.
2015 hit hard. We moved into our dream home in 2013 (banking on our increased revenue projections year over year) and we were laughing. Everything felt so right. When 2015 came, it started off like any year...40% growth most weeks (year over year *see disclaimer below) and no fear about where this business would take us. Kate (our baby) started school (full day, all day kindergarten) that September. I had a breakdown. I became so sick, so angry, so resentful, so disconnected from my passion for my business. I was broken and found myself beating myself up for so many reasons. I reached out to a friend I trusted and she recommended that I take time to see a Naturopath as she felt that I had adrenal fatigue. What the heck was Adrenal Fatigue was my question? Sure enough, in October 2015 it was confirmed...and I was told this could take a long time to get "better". I was devastated yet hopeful. That year we didn't earn as much as we did in 2014 and that reduction in income hurt the bank...and along with trying to help my adrenals recover, the added stress around finances and taxes weighed both my husband and I down. We had hit what felt like rock bottom - but together we were solid. I still remember when I told him that I wasn't feeling like socializing for our annual team Christmas Party, he supported my wishes to try something new - to paint at a jazz bar over a glass of wine with some old cheese and meats. My light was lit. I was finding peace in the slower and creative pace.
2016 has been a struggle, but as we come close to the end of another year, I recognize how truly beautiful this year has been for me. I would have to say that this is MY BEST YEAR in NETWORK MARKETING and here is why:
- because of my adrenal concerns (breakdown) I found ways to stay grounded and more peaceful
- I regret to say, that I didn't touch my business much at all in 2016. I attended and hosted less events, I helped less people to get started, I did less trainings, I spoke less on stages and on phone calls
- however I am grateful to say that even though I may not earn the financial amount that I earned in 2014 or even in 2013, I found peace within myself again.
- through challenges we find our strengths, I felt that if I only knew how to build this business "ALL IN" all the time, how on earth would I ever be able to build this business any other way? Yet as I finish off this year, I realize that every challenge that I've gone through has truly been my gifts.
My vision for my business is stronger today than it ever was. This business is so forgiving of us. Even though I haven't put the same amount of time in that I had for the previous 5.5 to 6 years, it forgives me. I no longer work for myself, I work for my business...and my business doesn't want me to burn out. My business doesn't want me to become someone I am not. My business doesn't want me to say yes to everything and everyone. My business wants me to place healthy boundaries on myself. My business also wants me to love everyone for where they are at. My business doesn't appreciate when I make excuses for why I can't touch my business today - because in all honesty, this kind of business is SIMPLE, it might not be easy everyday, but it is simple. When we add value to others, we are touching our business...and I don't know about you, but adding value to others is something I hope that I truly do - every single day I am alive on this Earth.
The best year of my Network Marketing business has been 2016. My new sense of self is much more loving, more respectful of myself and others and is much healthier. I no longer beat myself up and I don't allow others to make me feel that I am not worthy. I love and accept myself (mistakes and all) and I pick myself up, no matter how hard that may feel some days...because I know this legacy we are creating together is worth every effort we put forth. (many of you reading this know exactly what I mean and for those who don't imagine wanting the very best for everyone in your life that you love most).
We may have bumps in the road, but those bumps are never enough to knock us off the path...they simply help us find gratitude and clearer, healthier focuses.
Giving up lasts forever, slowing down and refocusing is always a benefit when our body, mind and soul requires us to.
One thing that I do know is that I will NEVER allow myself to lose touch with myself and my family the way that I may have in the past...but I wouldn't change a single thing. If I didn't do what I did for the first 5 years, I wouldn't be here today...running fast, really is so much easier because it built my confidence and skill set much faster than if I took a snail's pace. Not everyone will run fast and that is ok. Staying grounded and more emotionally, physically and mentally balanced is a skill that only the few will learn...truly learn. And the only reason I've been able to learn it is likely because I was forced to. Once again, I will not beat myself up about it, but I will recognize that it was a very important part of my journey and the process. In my opinion True Wisdom is created by the experience, not by reading it in a book.
As I look forward from this day with brand new beginner's eyes...I know that I can make an even greater impact than I have in the past 7 years...and that impact starts today as I come face to face with the old stories, the old habits and the old patterns. I am grateful that I continue to learn, and continue to build my "tool box" so that I can really help others find their own gifts that are within them too!
*Income Disclosure: Any mention of income in this blog is not a guarantee or projection of actual income that an Associate will earn through his or her participation in the Isagenix Compensation Plan. Any guarantee of earnings would be misleading. Success with the Isagenix Compensation Plan results from successful sales efforts and business development on the part of the Associate.
There is a lot of free info and a very helpful e-book on Adrenal Fatigue on https://adrenalfatiguesolution.com.
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