Build a Ladder to the Stars

I'm staring at a blank screen. Blink - blink - blink goes the cursor. How do you begin to find the words? When something just doesn't make sense, how do you then attempt to explain it?

Well, that's just it. It can't be explained. Another leaf has fallen from our family tree. Another life cut short.

Tuck, you really showed me the meaning of joy in adversity. Despite everything that was happening on the inside, you kept your head up high. You kept us laughing and you showed such strength of character. You were a fighter to the end. Those who were closest to you were upheld by your determination and your resilience.

For me, I think about the paradox that my children face right now. We have talked to them about death and it feels so contrary. When they ask if they are going to die or if we, their parents, are going to die, the answer always assures them that we will all be here for a long time.

However, of the 3 funerals they have attended, Tuck, at 28, will be the oldest. I have trouble wrapping my head around that and trying to realize that I won't be able to make sense of it. My mind wants to have an answer for everything, to be able to assure them of how things will unfold.

But all I know is this: this is today. The importance of living in this moment is clear. Much as I want to control everything, there comes a point where I have to realize that control is an illusion. I can only do so much and at some point, I have to release the reins.

Tuck, we love you and miss you already. Your memory will always bring a smile and a laugh. Rest now. The pain is over.

A Year of Potential

The beginning of a new year! This naturally leans itself towards reflection. It is a time to look back at how far we've come and areas we want to improve in.
 
I have a new workout DVD that I've been using by Jillian Michaels. One of the things she talks about at the end of the workout is how important it is to reflect on our accomplishments. So often we are just racing through life and don't take the time to stop and say, "Hey, I'm pretty awesome!"
 
Well I hope each of you know that you are awesome. We all have things we have done to be proud of. Our tendency is, of course, to look at all the things we didn't accomplish and focus on those. 
 
This quote from Ellen Goodman sums it up: "We spend most of January walking through our lives room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives, not looking for flaws, but potential."
 
That is my wish for each of you as you reflect on the past year and the year ahead. Focus on the positive - on all those things you accomplished. Use your strengths to help you set goals and resolutions that you will be able to achieve and be proud of.

A Matter of Lifestyle

Today is a perfect example of the lifestyle I have been able to build with my business. Why? Because my daughter is home sick. She is also supposed to go to the dentist this afternoon.
 
Freckles has had a few health issues over the last year that have caused her to miss a handful of school days (today it's just a fever and a cold). I have had the ability to go into her room in the morning and realize that she needs to stay home and just let her stay home. I then come into my office and work - just like I would if she was at school. 

The point is this: I don't lose income when this happens. I can still go to work. I don't have a boss I have to call to get time off. I don't have to miss out on my wage because I had to stay home. It's not a big deal with a bunch of red tape.

Even if she wasn't sick today, I would have had to pick her up to take her to the dentist. If I had a traditional job, this would have meant getting permission to leave early and, most likely a loss in pay for those hours that I was away. Maybe it would have meant working through my lunch hour so that I could leave an hour early.

I often have the opportunity to go for coffee or lunch with a friend during the day. I can make my own appointments during the day instead of evenings and weekends. I can decide to take a day off if I've done a trade show over the weekend. I can plan my schedule around my family.
 
That's the key: I plan my schedule around my family. I look at our family calendar and our commitments that are already in place and I tell people the dates I am available for parties. I control my schedule. It means I ultimately decide how much time I will put into my business and when that will be.
 
This truly is a lifestyle business. I can go and earn a paycheque anywhere. But I choose to earn it from home. I love the freedom and the flexibility to be here when my kids are home sick. I love being the first face they see when they get off the bus. I love going on field trips and taking cookies into the classroom to surprise them.
 
When our children are young, they are very dependent on us. As they grow, they need us even more - just in different ways. For those of you with little ones, this is the perfect time to build a business from home so that as they grow, you too have the freedom and flexibility to choose how you fill your calendar!

Time to Dream Bigger!

On Friday, my kids were off school and we were driving in the car when Frogurt said, "You know what I would wish for if I had 3 wishes? I'd wish for the biggest Lego set ever, (some special Pokemon card) and $1000!"
 
It is interesting how our perspective of what is possible changes. If I had 3 wishes, I'd be wishing for a lot more than $1000. But for a 7-year old boy, that's a big dream. As our experiences expand, so should our dreams.
 
I am a big promoter of dreaming big. There is a great commercial on right now for one of the lotteries that says that we wake up every morning not remembering our dreams - maybe it's because we just aren't dreaming big enough.
 
So what is your biggest dream? If there were no obstacles to stop you, what would you do? Where would you be? Who would you be with?
 
I think that as moms, especially, we learn how to "settle", to put our dreams on hold. I don't think this needs to be the case, however. I think that in pursuing our dreams, we become stronger - as women, as wives and as mothers. We set an example for our families of what it means to pursue something - and achieve it!
 
When we look longingly at what other people are doing and think "if only" or "someday" or even "must be nice....". we are short-changing ourselves. It takes no more effort to think about big dreams than it does to think about small dreams.
 
The pursuit is where the effort comes in. But, like all things, by moving in small steps each day, we get closer to achieving it. I have had the pleasure of achieving so many of my dreams. Have I reached all of them? No. Some I missed and some I am still working towards (we always need something to be working towards). But even when I have missed, I have grown as a person and stretched myself so that the next time, I am closer and it is, perhaps, a bit easier to begin.
 
What is your dream? Make it a big one! Make it worthy of your effort and your longing! You deserve to achieve it and you can make it happen. Start with one small step today to move you in the right direction. Tomorrow you will be just that much closer.

The Pain of Discipline or the Pain of Regret?

According to Jim Rohn, a master speaker and author, there are 2 major pains in life: the pain of discipline and the pain of regret.
 
There have been many days where it is well past 9:00 in the evening by the time I get around to exercising. There was a time when by that hour of the day, I would just crash on the couch and say "Maybe tomorrow."
 
There are many mornings when the alarm goes off at 6AM and my bed feels so warm and cozy that the last thing I want to do is get up and read. 
 
There are times when the phone seems to weigh a ton and I am feeling tired or down or just plain lazy and it takes effort to pick it up anyways and make the calls I need to.
 
That is the pain of discipline. I have found over the years that the momentary pain of doing what I don't want to do far outweighs the pain of regret. Choosing to let myself off the hook in that moment ultimately leads to feelings of "I should have done this. I wish I'd just done that..."
 
Once you get through the initial pain of discipline, there is great joy that comes. As much as there are mornings that I would rather sleep for another hour, I know that when I get up and spend that time preparing for my day, it pays off in so many ways. As much as I'd rather just plop down on the couch and not exercise because I'm too tired, I know that pushing through that gives me more energy in the long run. And as much as I'd rather sit there watching Oprah everyday eating bonbons, I know that the effort put into picking up the phone will move me towards my goals and give me long-term fulfillment.
 
It is a decision that we can each make today. Right now. Don't worry about what you didn't accomplish yesterday. Don't worry about the regrets of the past. Move forward. Commit to the actions needed to get you where you want to be. Realize that ultimately the pain of discipline brings with it long-lasting happiness and fulfillment. The pain of regret just brings more regret.

Look at the day ahead of you and think of one thing that you will commit to doing - one thing that you will be disciplined about no matter what. You will find that by accomplishing that one task, you will gain inner strength to do it again and more!

Dream

"So many of our dreams seem impossible, then seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."
--Christopher Reeve

 
I don't know about you, but when I first had my babies, my life seemed to take a back seat. Everything I did was about them and for them. I was lucky if I managed to get in a shower. 
 
I have learned over the years, however, the importance of dreaming. No matter where you are at, I want to remind you to dream. When we dream, we look forward. We inspire ourselves. We continually realize our greatness. Yes, you are great! Everyone of us has something brilliant inside of us just waiting to get out.
 
But sometimes it seems easier just to let it go. Sometimes that voice inside tells us that those dreams are meant for someone else. Someone with more time, more talent, more drive and determination. Well, my friend, that is hogwash!
 
You are unique and wonderful and meant for greatness! You can pursue your dream. You can find that spark inside you and let it grow into a roaring flame!
 
It all starts with the little things. Start with a plan. Give that dream wings by figuring out what needs to happen to make it a reality. Break it down. Seek help and support. 
 
Most importantly, believe. Believe that you can achieve it and that you are worth it. Know that you are deserving and smart and resourceful.
 
Remember, that in this moment, all you have is this moment. Don't worry about yesterday - it's gone. Don't fret about tomorrow - you're not there yet. Focus on right now. What can you do in this moment to move you towards your dream? What can you do right now to help develop a plan? 
 
Take small steps. You can drive all the way across the country at night only seeing 200 meters ahead of you with your headlights. You don't need to see the end destination. Only the next step. Take that next step and each time you do, your dream will be closer and will become inevitably yours!

Leaving on a Jet Plane - How I Earn Incentive Trips

This morning I got to colour in another piece of my Costa Rica trip tracker (actually this is something I get to do on a regular basis). As of this morning, I am at 85%. That's pretty exciting for me as my goal this year is to earn Double President's Club (that means doing twice the requirements and earning an extra trip for 2).
 
As most of you know, I have been with DT for 7 years and Costa Rica will be our 6th incentive trip. I cannot stress enough how incredible these trips are. We are put up in the most incredible resorts and treated amazingly! If you want to get your husband/significant other on board, earn a trip!
 
There are a couple of keys to my success in this area. I want all of you who are reading this to realize that you can earn this trip. We have seen people join in the fall and go on to earn the trip in just a few short months. Anything is possible - which leads me to the first key to sucess:
 
1. Believe - this might sound like an oversimplification but there is a reason it is first on the list. If you look at the pictures and the emails that come out and just wish and dream and hope, you are selling yourself short. You need to believe that you can achieve it. You need to realize that you are just as deserving as anyone else to earn that trip.
 
2. Be consistent - When people ask me how I earn the trip every year, this is one of the things I always mention. I don't do anything magical; I just go to work every day. I am consistent in my efforts. 
 
3. Make it a goal - Do you have it written down? Are you tracking it? Do you know what the requirements are? If you answered "no" to any of these, I encourage you to take action. Know where you are at and where you need to be. 
 
4. Break it down - I like to equate everything into parties. Figure out what your party average is and then break it down. How many people will you sponsor each month? You can only do so much on your own but if you have 4 or 5 team members who are out doing the same thing, all of a sudden, that goal is much more attainable.
 
5.Believe again - Now that you have decided to put in the effort, written down your goal and figured out (in parties) how you're going to make it happen, take a deep breath and realize that you can do it! Make it real for yourself. When you look at the pictures, see yourself there. Hear the ocean and the music. Smell the sea air and the wonderful food. Feel the sand in your toes and the breeze in your hair. I don't know about you, but just simply typing that put a smile on my face!