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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.

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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.)

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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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Comparing Apples & Oranges

I walked 8500 steps or about 3+ miles at the mall on Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday I walked 9000+ (partly because I have mean sons who wouldn’t let me off the hook.) ♥ I’ve gradually been working up the number of steps I’m walking because I have a goal of losing 3 lbs/month before my son’s wedding. I had been biking but I had a bike injury, and I have to keep losing weight. Frankly, this is for my health too, because this time last year, I was feeling physically lousy for a while.

I keep saying I don’t mind looking like the proud mom of six, but I don’t want to look like the frumpy proud mom of six. I don’t want to buy a dress for the wedding until I’ve reached a few more of my goals. I bought the Lilla Rose Arrow flexi clip in varying sizes and coordinating bobby pins for my hair. I have hair jewelry. But I have no dress.

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In the past couple of weeks, I’ve received some really negative comments and attitudes toward my health goals and about business oriented concepts. I can honestly tell you that my dander is up!

Don’t tell me I can’t or won’t achieve them!

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I was at the mall at 8:30 on Tuesday to walk. I’d had no coffee yet. I really couldn’t believe I was there that early, being that I’m not a morning person anyway.

I began observing who was also walking, because I figured there wouldn’t be many of us.  There were middle aged men, whole families, children walking with Grandma, and ladies pushing baby strollers. Ladies my age had weights strapped to their wrists and ankles as they blazed a trail doing mall laps. There was a group home of people with diverse special needs. There were several well seasoned in life men and women literally taking 15-20 steps, and sitting on their walkers to rest. They repeated getting up, walking 15-20 steps, and then sitting to rest.

I passed one very seasoned gentleman four times before he made his one lap. Actually, I didn’t pass him. I could have/would have, but I felt bad so I turned before I reached him and did my lap in the opposite direction instead. I felt like I was flaunting that I could pass him….and frankly, I was proud of him for going that lap. That was clearly hard work for him.


This brings me to the negative business attitude I have seen with direct sellers within some direct sales companies and selling groups. There seems to be the sentiment by some direct sales leaderships that if one person has a certain set of challenging circumstances, and they achieve some level of success or a earn a promotion, then anyone can achieve that level of success without too much difficulty. If they don’t, they are making excuses. That comes with some dangerous elite-est comparison attitudes, sometimes, suggesting that another person’s situation isn’t that difficult or as difficult as another’s. Or, it suggests that the person not achieving success doesn’t have high enough goals or perhaps priorities are wrong. Comparison gets ugly.

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What if I’d said to the seasoned gentleman making his one lap “Come on. You can do more. If I can do it, so can you.” What if I’d said that to the young mom who was pushing the infant in a stroller and a 2 year old not wanting to keep up? It would be pretty jerky and insensitive of me to tell her she wasn’t pulling her walking weight.

All these people at the mall were walking with the same idea, same goal, same purpose. They are trying to maintain or regain their health. They were all doing so at their own pace, based on their own needs and circumstances, and working hard. They were getting their steps, miles, laps in, reaching their own private goals. Some of us were healthier and could walk faster. Some of us are doing great if we could do a single lap in an hour and a half.

Going into direct sales, small business, and entrepreneurship is not that different. Nobody can or has the right to determine another’s priorities or goals. All are always looking at circumstances of another through the lens of their own personal ones. What is motivating is observing another whose circumstances as far larger than we think we can manage, and then saying “Hey! You have more circumstances/more hard than I do! How do you do it so that I can improve?”


On Wednesday, I hadn’t wanted to walk at all. I’m allowed 2 days off/week. I was sore, tired, and it was cold and snowing outside. I didn’t want to leave my warm house, but my son would not take no for an answer and insisted I go walk with him. He was driving, so I reluctantly went.

I’m glad I did, by the way. We had great conversation, and I went those 9100+ steps which has me 900 steps away from my first goal of getting up to 10000 steps, and ahead of schedule, for what that is worth.

While he was parking his car, I began my warm-up laps through the food court. As I made my first lap, I saw the seasoned gentleman with his walker. He had a big smile on his face as he headed to a table of his waiting friends. First, I was convicted of my laziness. This man had already been walking for his one lap, and it was only 9:30 in the morning on a cold, snowy, blustery day. I hadn’t wanted to leave my house. I resolved to walk a little faster as I rounded my second lap waiting for my son. As I did, I noted his table of friends, all happy to see him, greeting him. Nobody saying a single negative thing or looking impatient at waiting for him. They just all began to have coffee together and celebrating their morning routine.

I got a little teared up.

This, my friends, is positive team encouragement, accomplishment, and success. It’s beautiful when there is no condemnation or judgement, no “what took you so long.” or “You could have done it faster if only you had…” It’s beautiful when we each set our own pace and achieve our goals. It’s beautiful when we have positive reinforcement and support.


Do work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit energize you? Do you love hair styling and accessories? Would you love excitement, rewards, fun, and friends?

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During January, I’m seeking 10 new Stylists to join my Lilla Rose team, and to be Hair Heroes with me! With effort you’re able to put into your business, you could earn a full or part-full time income by helping ladies look and feel beautiful, and by providing them with an easier morning hair routine!

Message me for details, click my Lilla Rose link and sign up to “become a Lilla Rose” too.

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I can promise that I’ll do my level best to be an encouraging and supportive influence as you work toward the business goals you set for yourself! To the best of my abilities, I won’t compare my apples to your oranges and be one of *those* leaders!

Blessings, 

Deb
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What a fantastic Lilla Rose January customer special! Most excellent.

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Taking Time Out For Perspective

This past weekend, Dr. P and I took a date weekend. On Friday, we went to a favorite destination spot in Shipshewana, Indiana. We soaked in Amish farm land, Amish horses and buggies, Amish furniture stores, and the peacefulness of the Amish community. We had lunch at an Amish deli, and dinner at a tourist-y restaurant where we had been given a gift certificate. It serves Amish like buffet style food.

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Bulk food shopping-favorite shopping trip of the year is here!

We logged many steps on our Garmin Vivofits (affiliate link) and got lots of good conversation in as we are trying to gain perspective on some decisions we need to make. Sometimes uninterrupted by children conversations are just less distracting, more productive, and less frustrating.

On Saturday, we went canoeing on the St. Joseph River for about 4.5 miles. It was a cool, windy, but sunny Michigan day, and it was peaceful and quiet. We didn’t get to talk much, but enjoyed doing a project that required us to work together for two uninterrupted hours–paddling until we got to the end of our route.

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Liquid Therapy in Three Rivers, MI is where we rented a canoe.

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“Your hair glistens in the sun. It’s all sparkly.” Hubby stated.

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Dr. P at the helm.

It was enough time for quiet thinking and praying through the decisions about which we’d been talking the day before.

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Prayer time

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. –Psalm 37:23-24

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…–2 Chronicles 16:9

And hearing God speak.

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The Lord speaks.

I made a big, final decision. It affects our finances, but it affects my physical and mental health more. It affects our home and family life most.

It’s the best decision.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2:1-8

There is peace at the finish line.

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4.5 miles in one hour 50 minutes. Go us! This was a true day of rest.

Blessings,
Deb
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Lilla Rose October Customer Special