“I held my Why high and worked passionately and urgently.”
As you read my story, I encourage you to think about what is truly important to you and ask yourself, “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” I have been with Arbonne for three years, but my journey really began seven years ago when I decided to quit my teaching job. I saw teaching as my true calling and a way to serve others. I loved it. At first, teaching was never about the money, until my children came along. Then I felt that trading time and memories away from them was not worth the money I earned. After my husband and I did a cost-to-earnings ratio, we decided I would stay home with our children full-time. To be honest, I was thrilled with our decision. My goal in life had always been to stay at home with my children to pass down a legacy of delightful memories spent with their mother — the same legacy that my mother had given me.
Blink. It was that fast. In an instant, the purpose and power behind the legacy I was so eager to pass down to my children was now being challenged. Three years ago, I saw someone I love, in one night, lose what they had worked hard for their whole life. I watched from the sidelines, trying to make sense of it all. I searched for what I could do to help or change, as I thought about how to learn from it. Definitions of what motherhood meant raced through my mind. I experienced a paradigm shift about what “being there for your children” really meant. What was important to me was becoming clearer. I realized that if something were to happen to my husband, life as we knew it would drastically change. There was only one person who could prevent that, and that was me. This realization burdened me. I felt selfish, as I was not prepared to go back to work. I also felt guilty thinking daycare or someone else would raise my children. But, the phrase I heard over and over in my mind was, “I cannot let ‘fate’ be the mother of my children.” I knew that if I sat back and did nothing, this would weigh heavily on my mind and a life filled with worry is no life at all. Then I realized if I wanted to make certain my story ended differently, I needed to become the pen — not the part. Now was time for me to write my ending … and then the Arbonne opportunity presented itself. Not in a fancy way, it was more like a whisper that could have easily gone unheard. My sister, Holly, simply said, “Heather, I experienced something tonight I think you would be good at.” I was listening this time, as recent events made it clear what was important to me. Get clear with what is important to you, and whispers are no longer so hard to hear.
I chose to build a business with Arbonne, so that if something were to happen to my husband or me, the potential residual income created through this opportunity would take care of my children if we no longer could. Clearly, that was the end of the story I was looking for.
ERVP Chris Robinson said, “Carry your Why high. Life happens down here. When your Why is bigger than you and you hold it up, nothing can knock it or slow you down. Passion, purpose and urgency become your daily routine. Keep your eyes focused and your vision clear.” My Why for doing Arbonne was that I did not want my children’s financial future to be dependent on a single mother thrust back into the workforce, if anything were to happen to my husband; especially, if I really wanted to be home with my children. Thanks to Arbonne’s opportunity, the potential for my children’s financial future is no longer in a state of dependency. I am an Independent Consultant with Arbonne International — independent of other’s schedules, priorities and thoughts; independent of location, space constraints, seasons, age, race, religion, company cut-backs, lay-offs and closings, as well as other scripts society has created for us as traditional ways to be and to make money. The only dependency in Arbonne begins and ends with what you say between your ears.
Arbonne has given my family the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take control of our potential financial future in a unique way. I am at home with our children where my heart needs to be, and my income has exceeded our expectations. Arbonne is our family’s plan A. More important than the potential to earn money is the personal growth I have encountered through my Arbonne journey. I am a better wife, mother, and woman — and because of that, we are a better family. I am living a wonderful story now, my story, Arbonne’s story — where success begins and ends with you. It is as big or small, as fast or slow, as fun or serious as you want it to be.
If you are just starting your Arbonne journey, congratulations! In the beginning, it is like rubbing two sticks together to get a fire going. You keep rubbing and rubbing, and it takes work and determination. However, if you were to stop and take a break, what would happen? Nothing. You would have to start over, using the same amount of energy as before. But, if you just do not stop, and keep rubbing, until your flame takes over a life of its own, your team catches fire and success is yours! At times, when I thought things were upside down and I was putting in more work than what I was getting in return, I remembered a song that said although you can blow out a candle, you cannot blow out a fire because the wind will pull the flames higher and higher.
You need to know that the wind comes in and takes over for you — and seeing your team explode and grow is an awesome sight to see. The hard work subsides and the fun begins. Every explosion first begins with that initial spark. That spark is you! Your upline Managers are your support, inspiration and are there to guide and ignite you. They can help start the flame, but you have to build it.
Every day I read, if you knew you could not fail, what would you attempt? I encourage each of you to face your fears and do it anyway! It has been said that some of us fear our own success more than failure. A wonderful poem that inspired me to want to be successful, not for myself, but for others, said the thing we fear the most is not that we are inadequate, but instead, that we are powerful — it is not darkness that scares us, but our own light. We are always questioning our brilliance and talent. Why? Everyone is born to make a difference in the world. When you are free from your fears and let your light shine, you are inspiring others to do the same.
This has been a truly amazing, inspiring, life-transforming experience and I am so grateful to have shared it with people who mean the world to me. I became a National Vice President in April of 2005, so my thank you is long overdue!
To my wonderful husband, Sean: Thank you for your support and belief in Arbonne and me. Thank you for sharing yourself with our team; we are a better Nation because of you. To my beautiful children, Meredyth and Roderick: You are the inspiration I held high and never lost sight of. To my mom, dad and younger sister, Meredyth: Thank you for your support, belief and encouragement. I love you all!
To my incredible Nation, District Managers and Area Managers: You are next. Thank you and never give up on your dreams. Believe, and you will see! And, I will see each of you at the top!
A special thank you goes to my sister, AM Holly Monesmith: You are next and I am so proud! You introduced me to Arbonne and I cannot wait until it is your turn.
And to our Nation’s amazing leaders, NVP Michelle Peters; RVP Tiffany Panchula and her sister, Sabrina Jensen; ERVP Julie Francis; RVP Stephanie Engelman; ERVP Paige Miller; RVP Suzanne Mencias; RVP Carrie Carlson; RVP Natasha Young; RVP Lori Christy and RVPs-in-qualification Leah Wagner and Natalie Myre: You are the most giving, selfless, spirited, ethical and caring leaders I know. Words cannot express what you each have given me. I am forever grateful for your willingness to dream and for your courage to stick with it. On behalf of your individual Regions and myself, “Thank you!” We are honored to call you our teammates. When we are around you, we are better people.
To my uplines, ERVP Dana Huston, ENVP Janet Elliot, ERVP Chris Robinson, ENVP Nancy Wilcox, ERVP Sally Hallada, ENVP Donna Weiser and ENVP Sandra Tillinghast: You have touched our team in your own individual ways and have helped mold us into who we are today. We are a reflection of your leadership and I thank each of you for your unique gifts that you have given us!
To my crossline teammates, ERVP Lynda Thies, ERVP Beth Williams, ERVP Jeanine Montgomery and RVP Kirsten Berkhourt: Thank you for gracing us with your wisdom.
And lastly, to our leaders at the Arbonne Home Office, President Rita Davenport, Chairman & CEO Bob Henry, Executive Vice President Stian Mørck and Sr. VP of Product Development & Field Events, Candace Keefe: Thank you for providing the vision, tools and the amazing products behind this business so many of us have come to know as the gift.
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.
