Hard Work

We always hear the saying that 'success isn't always easy, but it's worth it' right?  But sometimes we need to be reminded that this saying is 100% truth.

I have to admit that sometimes I just don't want to be "uncomfortable".  Sometimes I don't want to do those things that are hard or inconvenient because, well, they are just that- hard and inconvenient.

After a few month break from running, I've jumped back in preparing for my races this Spring.  The other day I went on a run on snow covered streets.  It was 30 degrees out & very windy.  I'm also very out of shape and have been battling sickness for over a week.  As I was coming up a huge hill I just wanted to stop.  I started to say to myself "what in the world are you doing??  It's cold, you've been sick and exhausted.  Just rest."  My mind then shot to the Olympics that I've been glued to.  Those athletes aren't stopping when it's too hard or they're tired.  They push through pain, discomfort, tiredness.  'No excuses' is their motto I'm sure.  That gave me the push I needed to get up the hill and finish my run.  I knew to get to my next level and run faster race times it wasn't going to be easy.  But it was going to be worth it in the end.

My mind then went to my business.  Why do I think that I'm going to get to my next level in my business if I'm not willing to be inconvenienced?  I know that growth in Mary Kay can sometimes mean pushing through fear, insecurities, self doubt, tiredness and uncomfortable situations.  But in the end it's always worth it, isn't it?  Making an extra $2,000 this month is worth making those scary booking calls.  Or talking to that neighbor or co-worker that freaks you out:)  Reaching your goal may mean taking 2 hours out of your relaxing Saturday to go hold a party.  Or give up 1 lunch break a week to make some phone calls.

As humans we usually want to do what's easy and comfortable.  We don't want to stretch ourselves because sometimes that hurts.  But I had to ask myself in that moment- do I want to keep staying where I'm at, or do I want to be in a new place a year from now?  I want growth.  And growth means I need to have a 'no excuses' attitude about work.

wisdom

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him"- James 1:5

As I was praying this morning, I prayed for wisdom.  It's something I know I need to ask for, but I tend to forget.  Yet, I know that "man's" understanding will never touch God's.  I have been blessed with the opportunity to lead a unit in Mary Kay as a Sales Director, and to lead my offspring Directors as well.  I am often reminded that I need God's direction, because isn't it Him who put me in this position to begin with?  So this morning as I prayed for wisdom, I asked that the noise of this world would not influence me.  That I would be able to distance myself from the world and it's "wisdom".  I knew that meant allowing God's Truth to soak in more than the world's "truth".  

And then it hit me.  I purposely put myself in the world's "truth" daily.  And not just put myself, but immerse myself.  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TV, magazines.  I could go on & on.  The world is influencing my mind and I can slowly feel myself pulling away from what's real Truth.  The things of this world begin to have a greater hold over me than God.  And that's when I begin to feel unsettled. Not content. Sad.  Frustrated.  Fearful.  Doubtful.  

Today I am going to be purposeful to strip away the things that distract me.  Being connected isn't bad, but when it has a strong hold over you and your time, it's unhealthy.  I want to be still so that I can hear God's voice.  I want Him to lead my steps and tell me which way to go.  Pray for wisdom today, and then be still to hear His voice.  

I will be with you...

"I will be with you".  God told this to Gideon as He called him to save Israel.  And Gideon responded to God with "BUT...".  God was promising Gideon supernatural strength to defeat an army much bigger than his, and all Gideon could look at was his weakness.  

What is God calling you to?  And what are you saying "BUT..." to?  I read this commentary in my Bible that summed it up beautifully to me-

"Although God promises us the tools and strength we need, we often make excuses.  But reminding God of our limitations only implies that He doesn't know all about us or that He has made a mistake in evaluating our character."  

We need to have faith that if God says "GO", that He will provide.  Despite our weaknesses.  Despite our shortcomings.  Despite all of the odds against us.  We can sit and make endless excuses, but we will probably then live a life of regret.  God saw that Gideon was a warrior, even when Gideon couldn't see it for himself.  God sees who He created you to be, even when you can't see it for yourself yet.  Trust His voice.  

BE STILL

I love to run.  In fact I would pretty much say I'm addicted.  I always find I have my biggest "AHA!" moments while I'm out running.  I have nothing to distract me.  No phone to check. No dinging going off with incoming text messages.  No kids calling my name every 5 seconds.  It's just me & my thoughts.  

When I'm home it's a different story.  All those things that I love to escape while running are now staring at me in the face.  Or are they?  My mind has felt jumbled lately.  I feel like my days are running into each other and I'm just hanging on.  As I was spending time in prayer today that phrase "BE STILL" popped into my mind.  I took it differently today than I typically do...I felt called to BE STILL with my time.  Stop checking my phone every 5 seconds (I know I'm not alone:).  Stop feeling like you have to know EVERYTHING that's going on with your friends & the world.  Allow yourself to be still.  

Now I can't escape my kids, but I think most of us probably feel heavy with the weight of taking on "stuff" that we don't need to consume ourselves with.  In order to be the best ME I can be, I don't need to worry about why Miley Cyrus is doing what she's doing.  Or who Taylor Swift is dating now.  Right?  Jokes aside, I need to be the best mom, wife, friend, and Director that I can be.  

So what are you allowing to consume your mind?  We can't hear God's gentle whisper when our TV's are blaring.  We can't see God at work around us when we're staring at our computers all day.  Pray that God would show you what's distracting you from Him.  There are amazing things going on around us that we are missing because we aren't willing to be still.  You don't have to be doing "something" every second of the day.  Be ok with silence.  Be ok with just sitting and thinking.  Be still.

The following article is an excerpt from a speech given by a direct seller

at a local meeting. We are told she was asked to speak on how direct sales

compares to working a "regular" job. It was submitted to us, and although

the original author is unknown, we wish to thank her for her thoughts and

insights. We have edited it to share with you as you embark on a brand new

year, with new opportunities to count the many blessings we have in this

business.

**************

Lately, I have heard so many people say how difficult direct sales is.

"Its hard." "I can't get bookings." "This just isn't for me." "I didn't

know how difficult it would be."

Well, I am a single mom of three who, before joining the direct sales

family, held down two jobs. I would get up at 4:00 in the morning and not

get to bed until midnight most nights, after returning from my part-time

retail job, packing lunches, checking homework and relieving my mother,

who helped out with the kids.

That, my friends, is difficult.

It is difficult always having to lower your dreams to meet your means. It

is difficult to miss your son's football game because you have to work. It

is difficult knowing the rust bucket you call a car is eating you alive in

maintenance, but you can't afford a new one. It is difficult to realize

that someone else is going to watch your daughter take her first step or

have your son say mama to the preschool teacher.

It is difficult knowing that you have spent 40 years of your life working

for someone else, only to realize that you will be retiring on one-third

of what you can live on today. Or, worse yet, it is difficult knowing that

you have diligently worked all your life, only to be given an early

retirement and replaced by someone younger, more capable.

I will tell you what is difficult. It is difficult waking up one morning

and realizing that your children, the most precious things imaginable, no

longer need bottles, diapers, have tea parties, or are shorter than the

baseball bat they are trying to swing. It is difficult realizing it is too

late and that the time frittered away can never be retrieved. It slips

through our fingers one second at a time.

It is also difficult watching the spark in your partner's eyes fade

because both of you realize the house you have been wanting is just a

dream because someone else is controlling your finances.

We have nasty habits about rationalizing, procrastination and skirting

important things, rather than facing the issues. Too often we allow others

who do not pay our bills, who do not share our dreams, to direct our futures.

As children we have absolutely no freedom; we rebel in our teens and

scream for freedom. We reach adulthood and are finally free, only to

relinquish that freedom because we think it is too difficult. We do not

want to take responsibility. We do not want to make a wrong decision, so

we obligingly give that awesome power to someone else. We wake up too

late. We hear ourselves uttering phrases like: "I wish I had only . . ."

and "If I could do it over again."

You have no one but yourself to blame. You had the chance. Perhaps the

opportunity was presented many times and each time you elevated the

trivial to a higher priority than yourself.

Let me ask you: Is direct sales really difficult?

Is it so traumatic to show someone an exciting product or idea? Is it so

difficult to understand that if you work this marketing idea for three to

five years, you just might finally be able to send your children to a

college chosen by excellence, rather than one chosen by price? That you

could finally put your family in the home of their dreams?

Would you work really hard for eight to ten years, so you could mold a

lifestyle of your choosing, so your family could live a lifestyle of their

dreams, rather than trying to live how someone else thinks you should live?

How difficult is it to pick up the phone and call your hostess? How

difficult is it to pack up your kit and meet some new friends? How

difficult is it, really, to share what you love with others? Think about it.

Realize the awesome power you have in your hands with direct sales. There

are people out there working three jobs. There are people drowning in

debt; or agonizing through bankruptcy, realizing they only needed a couple

hundred more dollars per month. That is difficult!

This business you have chosen has the ability to change lives. Direct

sales cannot do anything. But YOU can change lives with it. You are the

one with the life-changing ability. What are you waiting for?

There is difficulty and pain in success, and there is difficulty and pain

in failure. Difficulty and pain in success will last a short period of

time; but pain in failure lasts a lifetime. Which one is really more difficult?

You will pay a price for your actions, and your choices.

Which choice will you make?

Do you have the right tools?

I decided this morning that I was going to start getting up at 5am to run.  I know...5 am!  Running is something I love to do, but have struggled to fit it in with kids.  So this morning my husband woke me up at 5am when he was getting up for work to go run.  In my half stupor, I couldn't find my running watch.  My husband leaves for work at 5:40am on the dot.  I knew I could not be even a minute late or he would miss his vanpool, and I decided I was just going to guess how long I had been running for.  I'm usually pretty good about guessing my pace and distance, so I didn't think it would be an issue.  Until I started running.  At 5am.  I realized my brain & body weren't ready to be up that early.  I'm pretty sure the first mile I was in a daze.  And I had no clue what pace I was going.  I started to panic, thinking "what if I'm late".  I didn't want to take the chance, so I came home only to find out I still had plenty of time I could have kept running.  And my watch was sitting right there on the table!

As I sat on the couch, tired & frustrated, I realized I didn't set myself up for success.  I always struggle to find my watch, so I should have looked for it the night before.  Without the proper tools, my attempt to do a great early morning run turned into a short & non-enjoyable run. 

I find that we can do this in our own businesses.  We have great tools at our finger tips, but we don't use them.  Maybe it's because we didn't plan for success, or maybe it's because you don't think they're important.  But I want to reassure you that they are important!  I realized that later in the day today when I was at the post office mailing out lots of packages.  One of the packages was filled with Look Books to a consultant and it happened to pop open while my packages were being weighed.  About 30 seconds later a lady walked in and saw my Mary Kay bag.  She asked me if I did Mary Kay, and when I replied I did, she immediately asked if I had a catalog.  I replied "not with me right now," but told her that I do have a business card & can get you a catalog.  The smart thinking postmaster replied "why don't you take one from this package that just popped open".  Thank goodness I didn't seal that envelope correctly before I left home:)  Was I set up for success?  Partly:)  I had my business cards, but not the one thing most new people we meet want- a catalog. 

So what are the tools you need to have ready?  Well, learn from me and always have business cards & catalogs on you at all times.  You never know when you'll run into someone looking for a beauty consultant!  Do you have hostess packets ready to go when someone calls you to book a party?  Is your datebook ready with the times you are available to work?  Are your skin care class bags ready so when a customer wants an impromptu facial you're not scrambling to get ready? 

Let's make sure we are prepared for success!  Get your tools ready.  They will make your journey so much easier!

Living with a grateful heart

I woke up this morning with a huge appreciation for life.  Lately I have often been consumed with the frustrating things in life- my business sometimes not going exactly as I want, time away from my husband, crazy schedules, kids throwing tantrums, etc.  I was reminded today that although these things are frustrating, they don't define my life.  And there are many who were taken from this earth today who won't get to experience these things anymore.  Yes, life can be frustrating.  But I also have to remind myself that life is a gift.  

A friend lost her 5 year old son over Labor Day weekend when he drowned during what was supposed to be a relaxing family weekend.  I am daily reminded to enjoy the little things in life that we tend to look over.  As she shared today on Facebook that she misses seeing him wave goodbye as the bus drives away every morning, it hit me to enjoy those small things.  Can it be frustrating trying to get out the door on time to the bus stop every day?  Yes:)  But I'm learning to see those moments as a gift.  

Let's try to not allow those frustrating, small things to consume our lives.  Be thankful for what you do have.  And be thankful for every breath you take, because every breath is a gift from God.  Tomorrow is not promised.  Relish this moment.  Craziness and all:)

See how you can "Go Out & Be Great" in honor of Nathan Baker!  Visit http://nathanchrisbaker.wordpress.com for more info!