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What Are You Reading?

So many times when my older children were younger, I’d wonder if I’d have the brain power to read anything more challenging than Dr. Seuss or Winnie the Pooh. By the time I was reading these books to my 4th child, I had Hop on Pop and many others memorized.

In honor of Read Across America, though, I’ve paid some homage to Dr. Seuss.

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A-Grape was assigned Ramona the Brave last week, and sadly, it had gone missing. I ordered her a used copy, and it arrived yesterday. As she took it out of the poly bag that it was shipped in, I inquired as to its condition. Her reply “It’s better than ours!” Because, as the youngest child of six, all voracious readers, by the time the books get to her, they are VERY used and worn, and our copy of this book had disappeared anyway. It’s in an invisible state at this point, so anything is better than that if one really wants to read the book.

She makes me giggle.

She read Ramona the Brave in one afternoon, and has gone on to read it and Socks by Beverly Clearly for the upteenth time again today too.

Ramona 1 Ramona 2


Now that the children are older, my grown up book tastes are returning. I even have begun reading books that pertain to growing my brain! As I’ve talked about business growth, goals, my vision board, one area that I’ve mentioned having goals is the area of Recreation. I’ve set a two book/month goal. These books also cross over into my Business Growth goals, and are part of training.

In January I read Go-Giver Leader,  and Go-Givers Sell More (affiliate links) by Bob Burg. These books are story form books about providing service and value as leaders to team members, as well as providing them with tools for success, and how to give value to customers so that they want to continue to do business with you. Keys are building trust as a seller demonstrates knowledge but cares first for the needs of the customers. These keys are within the context of five areas. These books seem to go against the grain of the Go Getter mentality often found in sales, but through my own experiences, I’m finding the idea that caring, service, listening to customers and those I’m serving are paramount to a referral business and to having repeat customers.

In February I read Build It Big by the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, and Success Secrets of a Million $ Party Girl by Lynn Bardowski. (affiliate links) In her book, Lynn Bardowski defines “Visionista, noun: A woman who knows who she is, where she’s going, and guides her tribe of Leading Ladies to the top.” She shares her own journey as a leader through successes and failures, and empowers the reader to take the steps necessary to keep plugging along to building a “Visionista” business. She is real, down to earth, and shares even the pain and embarrassment of some of her circumstances. Build It Big shares a bit more basic business building and team leading skills, and would be a great gift and resource to someone just starting a direct sales business. It is a compilation of different direct sellers sharing what they have learned as they’ve built their businesses.

I haven’t started my reading for March yet, but the two business books I hope to get through are Build Her Brand compiled by Teresa Garrison, and Living Forward by Michael Hyatt. One of the other books I’ve had on my list to read for a while, and that I started at the beginning of the summer last year, is Teaching From Rest. I hope to finish that by the end of March too.

   

All affiliate links. With income earned from affiliate links, we are able to give a portion back to organizations such as Reece’s Rainbow in order to reduce some of the financial hardship of adoption by helping to grow the adoption grants of international children with special needs so that they can get adopted. The child whose grant we are trying to grow is Hannahlee. 

Before children, I worked as a registered nurse, and I do still keep my license up. With that means that I have to keep up with continuing ed credits also. I love to learn, and I love to keep my skills up. I don’t want to let my license lapse in the event that at some point I need to return to the nursing field. In the month of March, I’ll be focusing on some of earning some of those credits too, because I’ll need to renew my license at the end of 2017!


What are some of the books you are reading? Do you read only for pleasure, or for learning? I hope you are stretching and growing and learning too!

Blessings, 

Deb

PS. Be watching for a fun and exciting coming later this week or next! And, don’t forget about the Lilla Rose customer special or Flexi of the Month. 

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Toward Vision And Goals With Spring In My Step

There is Spring In My Step! A friend saw crocuses as the snow melted in her yard. The sun has been shining in Michigan the last few days. At the mall where I’ve been walking, pastel colored items, Easter dresses, and flip flops are on display. I’m stepping, and practically skipping with springiness, toward my Vision and Goals for areas of my life and starting new seasons.

Crocus


A training  I took recently was talking about a vision board, a vision word, breaking down goals into tiny bite size steps, and breaking down goals for five areas of life-Faith, Family, Business, Recreation, and Self-Care/Health. She recommended making a collage with pictures and words cut out of magazines.

I’ve heard the Vision Board/Word idea in the past, and honestly it sounded like busy work and clutter to me. I don’t want a vision board collage of magazine pictures and words hanging on my wall. Ick. I equate that with the dreaded and useless paper plate crafts done to whittle away time in preschool Sunday school classes.

But, I was hearing enough of theses ideas from enough different business experts, that I decided there might some merit to the idea, and that maybe I needed to implement those ideas in a way that is more suitable to my style.

Words like Build It, Solid Foundation, Team, Boldness, and Goals were some of the words circulating in my head.

A friend sent me the book Build It Bigger, and my son, Mechanical M, gave me a Build On! mug, which also has some fun knock off building bricks. (Side note: Not all versions of the mug contain a teeny building set, however. And this is an affiliate link.)

build on

Brick by brick, I’ve been building.


I’ve been wanting to share the Vision Board I discussed in early January. I was waiting for my graphic designer and fitness partner, my 17 year old son, who works nearly for free, to help me finish it. He is a high school student involved in studying and completing his own list of priorities. This project was not top on his list.

Mum's Vision Board

 


In January, I did accomplish several of my goals. In the area of Recreation (and mental health) I was able to finish three crochet projects which I demonstrated on FB Live.

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Peppermint Mocha Ponytail/Bun hat

Doing FB Live is a Business goal met too! I read a couple of business building and leadership books, attended trainings, and I did my first blog Giveaway! I have a VIP customer group for my family, friends, and registered customers, and a new group for sharing the Lilla Rose business opportunity. If you are a registered customer, I invite you to request to join!

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Bricks (Ideas) scattered around.

In the area of Self Care/Health, my goal is to lose three pounds/month until July. The plan was to walk 3 miles, 3-5 times/week. One month ago, I started keeping a food journal and I began keeping track of measurements. In one month,  I’m actually walking 4-5 miles 4-5 times/week. I’ve lost all that I regained during the holidays, plus 3 more pounds, and I’ve lost 1-1.5 inches in different areas. This week I began strength training, too. My goal for February is to walk those 4-5 miles 5 days/week more consistently and in less time, with 2-3 sessions of added strength training each week. I won’t lie. This is taking more time than I would like or can spare, and it’s hard! I have blisters. But, I’m sleeping better, have more energy, and drinking less coffee, so staying positive.

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And, YAY! For added bonus, I had my monthly massage and bi annual hair trim!

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And starting to take shape.


Little by little, brick by brick, I’m Building It with a Limp in My Step From the Blisters on my Feet  Spring In My Step, and stepping toward goals in business, health, recreation, our family is growing in many ways, and these areas are challenging me as I’m building my Christian faith.

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Brick by brick, idea by idea, creating Vision and stepping toward Goals, building it.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

How are your 2017 goals shaping up?

Are you accomplishing Putting Spring Into Your Step Toward Your Vision?

Here is an example of Lilla Rose/LoveLeavingLegacy’s Monday night Facebook Live at 5.

Blessings,

Deb


There is a Lilla Rose sale on select Limited Release products with Free shipping on retail orders $60+ through February 17, 2017 at 11:59 PST.  Don’t miss the customer special, too!

If keeping the bills paid wasn't a problem, what is the one thing you would do with the extra from your Lilla Rose income- (1)

February 2017 customer special

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On Beginning A Business: Advice From Winnie the Pooh & Friends

Yesterday, January 18, 2017, was A. A. Milne’s birthday, and national Winnie the Pooh Day.

I enjoyed reading through some of Milne’s quotes. Many can be used for business inspiration, so I pulled out a few and had fun making some graphics.

Corner of the Forest

For instance, in order to bloom in business, an entrepreneur or direct seller can’t stay hidden at home! Somehow, staying out in front of customers is a must.

How could I get myself out in front of customers?

  • Be at vendor events selling or presenting a product to customers.
  • Attend networking meetings or events with other small business owners.
  • Do in home Style Boutiques. (home parties for some companies)
  • Do online Style Boutiques or home parties.
  • Find ways to show the product in use all the time in every day life.
  • Wear a Luci advertising bag.
  • Use social media or a blog, which is a key point for a person home bound and running a business.

How is a direct sales small business owner different than a chain store?

Consideration eeyore

  • Customer service is personalized. Customers and team members (sometimes known as downline) want to know they are cared for more than a product or an upline’s promotion, and, the focus is not solely on sales and profit.
  • Trust and loyalty needs to be earned.
  • There is mutually agreed upon communication, follow up, and meeting times.

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Who sets the pace for business growth? Is direct sales small business ownership “easy money?” Is it a “pyramid scheme?”

  • There is absolutely no business that will earn a person “easy money.” There a huge difference between filling out some surveys for “easy money” and working a small business. I’d also like to point out that that so called “easy money” is often a scam. I’m telling you–if anyone uses the words “easy money” in regards to business, just run. Any direct sales small business is not going to be a “get rich quick” endeavor.
  • Building a customer base on trust, and a good working team takes time, effort, and perseverance.
  • Sometimes growth depends on how many hours a person is willing to work, consistency, experience in presenting and discussing the opportunity, and for how long an entrepreneur is willing to persevere. The river may branch in a different direction within a team or for a team leader.
  • Just because one doesn’t realize progress is being made or as fast as one thinks it should doesn’t mean that progress isn’t happening.
  • Pyramid schemes are illegal in the United States. Direct sales is not a pyramid scheme, as there is a product to sell. Direct sales has a real business model, with a potential for growth and promotion within a company by building teams. Read more here from the Direct Sales Association.

When is the best time to start a direct sales or small business?

What day is it

Today, or whenever you are ready, is a great day to get started!

Please, though, count the costs before signing on dotted lines. You want to be able to go the distance and on a firm foundation!

 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’” Luke 14: 28-30
  • Why does one want to start a direct sales business? What are the goals?
  • What can one afford without going into big debt? One needs to do homework and do research of different companies, compensation plans, and the market in one’s area for the product. Start up costs in direct sales are far lower than those businesses with a brick and mortar building.
  • How much time is one willing to invest in a new business? What hours and days would one be able to dedicate to its growth? Fifteen to twenty hours to start is ideal.
  • Is one required to carry inventory, and if so, what are the costs for that?
  • Would one have monthly, quarterly, or yearly sales minimums?
  • Would one have to pay for a replicated website?
  • Would one need to sign up for a newsletter, video making, or graphics designing sites, and if so, what are their fees?
  • What are costs of display materials for vendor events? What are the costs of catalogs, business supplies, and other business branded needs?
  • Is one required to sponsor a team? If so, they should know the structure for how that works. Are there minimum sponsoring requirements? Is the person willing to invest in those new team members and understand that as their leader, he/she would have an obligation to assist with their success? If not, refer again to that compensation plan, because he/she is likely paid a percentage of their sales of product. Earning the compensation happens when one helps the business team succeed.
  • Does one need insurance, to be listed in a business association, or need special licenses?
  • How will one get trained? Does the company offer trainings, and if so, how often? What books should one read, and which direct sales or small business trainings should one attend at the start? How much money will need to be invested in these trainings? New business owners are investing in their own personal growth as leaders in their field when they invest in training.

I’m sure this list is not exhaustive, and it’s not meant to be so, but perhaps it is a springboard for questions to ask as one counts costs of doing business in direct sales especially.


As one who had zero intention of doing a direct sales business when I joined Lilla Rose, it never occurred to me to count any of those costs. I had no idea if, how, or where I’d earn an income. I had no plan, no idea what anything would entail. I spent my first eighteen months learning all of the above, and investing in myself to begin to learn. I had a number of Lilla Rose leaders encouraging me and directing me, but a business plan is not anything I’d ever considered. I had asked no questions.

Here are some of the most basic pieces of information in starting a Lilla Rose business.

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I’m looking for new entrepreneurial minded people to join my Lilla Rose team. Could one of them be you? If so, let’s talk.

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If one grows a team, there is more to the Lilla Rose compensation plan. I’m happy to discuss this in more detail in a conversation.

If anyone needs to discuss the opportunity, I’d invite you to reach me at loveleavinglegacy@gmail.com, or on Facebook messaging via my Lilla Rose/LoveLeavingLegacy page

Blessings,

Deb

 

Wise Words on the Lilla Rose Opportunity from the inventor of the flexi clip and owner of Lilla Rose, John Dorsey himself!