“When we are little we dream big and when we get big we dream little — let this empower you to dream again.”
This has been the hardest story to start writing. How can you sum up so many abundant blessings into a few words? This thing called Arbonne has changed my life, the lives of my family and the lives of the wonderful people I am privileged to call my team. I was not looking for a life-changing event ... perhaps it was looking for me.
I moved back to Texas as an aesthetician, working in a salon with a facial room stocked with Arbonne products. In my 15 years in the salon industry I had never been “sold” on any product, so I decided to give Arbonne a try. The products produced amazing results on my Clients’ skin. Up until that point, my facials were about relaxation and de-stressing, not results. Thanks to Arbonne, I could offer my Clients immediate and beneficial skin effects. Clients left my salon with Arbonne skin care sets, makeup, supplements, hair care products and the list goes on. My income grew with each appointment and I was working fewer hours while making more money. Then I was told, “When you sell and sponsor enough in Arbonne you can earn a white Mercedes-Benz car bonus.” And since I had stocked thousands of products in my different salons and never received a key chain, no matter how much I sold — this made sense to me. If you are a salon owner, stylist, nail technician or massage therapist and you are not selling products to your Clients whom you care about — you are missing it! They are getting it somewhere. My Clients loved the one-stop shopping. Why should they leave you and go to the mall when they have you to recommend the correct products for their skin, beautiful makeup colors and the best products at the best price? Then, they get their own account with Arbonne and benefit from the discount and you can benefit for the rest of your life.
Here is what I woke up one day and realized: To get a paycheck I had to service the same Client over and over again. With Arbonne, I could teach, train and encourage my Clients to have their own home-based business and get paid a residual income. After being number one in sales for years, I finally “got it.”
I am glad Arbonne found me when it did. As a salon owner/stylist/aesthetician I had no retirement or benefits. When I went snow skiing on my vacation I worried about breaking a limb and losing my only source of income. If I was not working, I did not get paid. Today I am in Cancún and I told my husband, “This is great. We are getting paid while we sit on the beach!” I am living a life with time and financial freedom. Time freedom means you choose when you want to work. Sometimes you work hard and sometimes you do not. If it is a sunny day, you can take the day off. For once I was getting paid to go on vacation thanks to my residual income. I have worked hard and now I am reaping a lifetime of rewards.
And even though I was in my 30s, I worried about retirement. I have always had a love of the water and it was my dream to retire by a lake. Well, guess what? I am retired at the age of 38 and I live on a lake. Every day I wake up when I want to, I have breakfast with my husband, I work in my pajamas and set my own schedule. Now that is retirement. My time freedom allows me to volunteer for causes I am passionate about and I am privileged financially to give to others.
When I decided to go for National Vice President, I really searched inside and prayed because I already had a white Mercedes-Benz, a job that I loved and I lived in my dream home. Was I being greedy? Then I had a wonderful realization that going Nation had nothing to do with me. The only way you get Nation is by helping others realize their dreams. And I needed to get finished with this last promotion so that I could achieve my dream and vision of building the Difference Makers Center for hurting and abused women and children. I needed a huge team to be able to fulfill this plan. My mission statement is: I am a Godly and outgoing woman surrendering my life to teach, encourage and demonstrate hope to hurting and abused women and children.
Before we did first step qualification for Nation ($160,000 minimum) the highest retail volume my team had achieved was $96,000. You just have to go for it. What is the worst thing that can happen? You will achieve more than ever before. The only way you fail is to never try. To NVP Carol Egleston: Thank you for being the first one to write NVP by my name. It scared me to death and I could not see it. Sometimes it is about borrowing other people’s belief in you until you can believe it yourself, right Kay? To ENVP Cecilia Stoll: Thank you and your wonderful team who gave me all the great ideas in Cancún. To NVP Donna Kopepasah: Our one-hour phone call is still reaping rewards for my team. To ENVP Ann Wandishin: You taught me how to do a “Discover Arbonne” from the heart. You are both true role models of Cecilia. To ENVP Meloni Barkley: Girl, you are brilliant. Your ideas put me over the top. It was so fun to go Nation with you and Jackie Mammen; I know we are soul sisters for life now.
One of the dearest things to my heart are the friendships I have made with Arbonne, for I never had many true friends. My mom and sister were my best friends and I did not think I needed more than that. More friends meant more opportunity for someone to hurt you, or so I thought. But now with Arbonne, I have so many true friends all over the country. When you have tragedy in your life, who is the first person you call? That is your true friend. For me, that person was and is ENVP Jill Jones. We run every Arbonne and life situation by each other, she is someone who is always on my side, and I have no doubt that we will be dearest friends no matter what. To EAM Lynda Runnels: Your phone calls, letters, books and encouragement always keep me going, and I am proud to have you as my “mom” in Arbonne. To ENVP Tina Prow–Angus: You are the example of a true leader and survivor and most of all, my dear friend.
To my mom: My very first sign up and five years later my very first RVP. I would be nothing without you. You are why I am an NVP. You exemplify the saying, “There is nothing I cannot do!” You sacrificed so much for us girls growing up; I am so proud to give you the gift of Arbonne and keys to your new white Mercedes-Benz. You deserve it. You are an awesome trainer and teacher; I can just retire and let you lead. You care so much for your team. That is why you are a winner.
To RVP Jodie Johnson: I am so glad I sat next to your mom three years ago while getting a pedicure. You are one of my best friends, and who would have believed we went to the same summer church school growing up and did not know it. Now our paths crossed 30 years later, I love you, Paul and those darling kids that I would love to keep for my own. What a great mom you are!
To my newest RVP, Kay Weedn: Oh, I have waited so many years to write RVP before your name. I am glad you wanted some new friends and went out of town with me on an Arbonne trip. Knowing you has blessed my life in so many ways. You did it girl. To ERVP Rene Sorenson: You are a class act. I am proud to have you on my team, and your RVP Stephanie Marchbanks (who went RVP in four months) and her team of leaders. You have all blessed me by showing the true Arbonne spirit. You help each other no matter if you are an upline, downline or crossline. You pray for everyone in our Nation just like you do your own team. It is obvious why Stephanie was number one in the whole Nation in February. You make me proud. To AM April Behan: You are next. I was so proud to be in your wedding. I have many wonderful AMs and DMs. You teach me more than I will ever teach you.
To my dad: Thank you for being the rock that keeps us three girls grounded. I cannot believe you tried to sponsor the mechanic working on mom’s Mercedes-Benz. Wow. You are really coming out of your shell from someone who would only use a bar of soap and never took a vitamin. I love you dad. I was blessed to have two wonderful parents growing up. I see now how lucky I was and still am.
To my sister: You are a great mom. I am so proud of you. Thanks for sharing your special princess, Madison, with us. To Madison: Your Aunt Sissy loves you so much. You will always be my special little princess.
To my prince, Michael: I saved the best for last. I prayed for you for years and I got absolutely everything I wished for. You are the poster child for an Arbonne husband. The roles you played made me soar. You cleaned the house for every meeting and there were a lot. Never, not once, did you ever complain that I was gone too much or spending too much time doing Arbonne. Actually, the last months of qualification, it made you nervous if I was not in my office every minute. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. But hard is what makes it great, right Stephanie?
I love my life. Can you honestly say that? Many people I meet think: That is great for you, but it will never happen to me. Why not? Why is it when we are little we dream big and when we get big, we dream little? Let Arbonne empower you to dream again.
The testimonials on this Web site reflect the actual experience of each individual, are anecdotal only, and may be atypical. The testimonials are not based upon any clinical study.
