“If you are willing to invest your time and energy, regardless of your education and financial situation, then you can be successful.”
Let me paint a picture for you. Eight years ago I was only 22 years old, had very oily skin and had battled cystic acne since I was 12 years old. I had just been laid off from a “cubicle prison” (also known as a corporate job) and I was cleaning offices at night and babysitting during the day. Do you have the image in your head? I was a toilet scrubbing, diaper changing, 22-year-old kid with acne … and I was going to start a business? With a skin care company, no less?! All of my circumstances added up to very low self-esteem and no belief system.
I love to share my true Cinderella story. When I left my first opportunity meeting (where Arbonne President Rita Davenport had spoken) my main concern was how to tell my future mother-in-law and host that I was not interested in her business. At the same time something I heard that night kept ringing in my ears: “With the direction your life is going now, if you don't do anything differently where will you be in five years?” It was my fiancé (now husband) Aaron who pointed out, “What have you got to lose?” I had no idea what the future would hold but thankfully God was in complete control.
No matter how hard I worked at any corporate job I would never have been promoted to president or owner of that company. Yet in network marketing, I am the owner and CEO of my own company. It didn't matter that I didn't have a college degree, any experience or any idea how to run a business. It also didn't matter that I was broke and in debt. You come to this playing field called network marketing and you work hard! That's all there is to it! If you are willing to invest your time and energy, regardless of your education and financial situation, then you can be successful! That is just one of the many aspects I love about this business.
I also love that I have been exposed to the best personal development training and coaching. I have learned that I am in complete control of only one thing ... my attitude! I have learned the importance of being a “people builder”. Everyone you meet in your life you give a gift to. You either leave them wanting to be more like you or you show them a person they never want to be. I've learned to give up the right to be in a bad mood. I am so blessed and nothing and no one, unless I allow it, can take that attitude away from me! I encourage you to create a new attitude within yourself and you will greatly enrich every area of your life and influence greatness in the lives around you!
When I first became a Consultant, I thought I would just get a discount on the products and that would be it! It didn't take me long to figure out that there was something to this “Arbonne thing”. I attended several training meetings and realized that the ladies I met had what I wanted. Not necessarily monetary things (although they did have those!) ... I was attracted to their attitude! Once I made the decision to work this business like a business, I was determined to be successful even though I had taken another corporate J.O.B. (Just Over Broke). In October of 1996, my Arbonne income had surpassed my monthly salary from that corporate job. As fate would have it, that was also the month Arbonne was taking Aaron and me on a seven day Caribbean Cruise. So I said “Bye, bye corporate!”
While earning that first trip, I learned all about “dream stealers.” I was a fairly new Consultant when the qualification period began, but I was very excited because it was going to take place right after my wedding. This trip would be the honeymoon we never could have afforded. Yet so many people, even those close to me said, “You've never sold that much before ... you're just a Consultant, you can't earn this trip.” Well, not only did I earn my place on that cruise, I earned three spots! Let me encourage you to start your, “I'll show you” list today. Who goes on the list? Anyone who ever intimidates you or who questions your ability to succeed. Every name added will make you work harder to reach your goals!
I love the freedom and flexibility of having a home-based business. Now, most of my days are spent working at home with my boys: Cade, three, and my six-month-old, Cole. With Aaron's busy schedule as a fireman and cattle rancher, I am able to set my schedule so that our family time is my number one priority. Yes, I've worked hard and there have been some tough times but the lifestyle we have is worth every sacrifice we've made along the way.
This is a family affair. I asked Aaron to speak to the husbands out there and he says, “Guys, be patient! I know that sometimes it seems like this is all about them but it's about you too! Because of Arbonne, my kids are home instead of in daycare and our life is not about the 8-5 rat race. I am so grateful for Arbonne because I was able to invest in starting my own business and we just started building our mountain cabin near Telluride, Colorado. It's a family dream getaway (and hunting) spot. So, the next time there is a meeting or class, remember what's in it for you too. How will your life be different if you help her be successful? It will be worth it!”
I am so thankful for my incredibly supportive upline: ENVP Cindy Pipkin, my mentor and dear friend; ENVP Joyce Owens, ERVP Kathe Rush and ENVP Neta Irwin. Also, my crosslines ENVP Martha McIntyre, ENVP Cecilia Stoll, NVP Carol Egleston, ERVP Meloni Barkley and NVP Stacy Thorn, who are all great leaders and I feel like I've learned from the best! These ladies believed in me from the beginning and for a long time I had to “borrow” from their belief system until I was confident in my own. I attended every meeting and did exactly what they said to do (there is some powerful training in that sentence!) It doesn't matter if you believe today that you will be a National Vice President in the future. It matters today if you're willing to work like a National Vice President for your future.
I want to thank my incredible management team and wonderful friends: RVP Robyn Brady from Oklahoma who has growing teams in Minnesota and Florida; DMs Jill Rogge, Michele Rogers, Kirsten Komarek, Kendra Wright and Sheila Boutwell. New RVP Charity Schlabaugh from Virginia and her awesome team: AM Mary Dachtler and DMs Bert DeHerrera, Dana Holstrom and Cindy Miller ... out on their own in the middle of Iowa. AM Liz McKinney and DMs Darla Jarvis, Christine Keller and Cheri Threatt who are building in South Carolina.
Thank you to EAM Jennifer Combs and her incredible Georgia and Florida teams: AM Robbin Mooney and DMs Mandy Bennett, Holly Perkins, Jennifer Millican, Mindy Persinger, Kari Rousaki and Christie Herrmann. EAM Crystal Ferguson (my sister) and your exploding team in Oklahoma City: AM Wendy Vermillion and DM Shannon Brown.
Thank you to AM Rita Goad who moved across the country and is building now in Washington state with DM Wendy Dawkins but who left an incredible group of leaders in Oklahoma: DMs Cathy Rott, Donna Smith and Becky Maddox. To AM Janice Steinkirchner and DMs Robin Landsaw, Paulette Smith and Angie Jones who all drive more than two hours to attend our meetings ... it's paying off for you guys!
Thank you to AM Rhonda Cole and DMs Renee Barber and Susan Crosby who are building incredible businesses inside and outside of their small towns. AM Lois Bava and DMs Kathy Freund and Gloria Vigil have businesses booming in Colorado. I am also privileged to work here in Oklahoma City with AMs Cheryl Lipscomb and Lisa Hamilton (salon owners), AM Heather Cook and DMs Arnie Frazee, Elizabeth Corona, Melanie Plunkett, Rejena Brown and Charlotte Crum. I know there are many more of you who are in qualification all over the country and I am so excited for your futures with Arbonne and I feel blessed that you are part of the Whitfield Nation.
Thank you to: Every Consultant in Whitfield and Company; Petter for his vision, Stian, Rita and Candee for their leadership. Stacy, James, Melissa, Matthew, Christie, Franny and everyone at the Home Office for working so hard and caring so much.
Thank you to my dad and mom (Dan and Jo Grounds) for your great example of faith and guidance throughout my life. My dad has always said, “Work hard and make me proud.” I hope I have dad! To John and Sheila Whitfield (Aaron's parents), thank you for your support and for raising the best husband any woman could ask for! I could not do what I do without your help!
Thank you Aaron for believing in me, encouraging me and being my best friend. To my boys, Cade and Cole you mean the world to me. Most importantly, I want to thank God for bringing Arbonne into my life. I don't believe in chance. I believe that I am exactly where God planned for me to be. I love to say that I am a better person than I was eight years ago before I joined Arbonne ... not better than anyone else ... just better than I used to be.
How seriously would you have taken me ... a 22-year-old kid with acne, who scrubbed toilets at night and changed diapers all day ... if I had approached you about a product or business opportunity? That was just one of the many obstacles I've encountered and overcome during my Arbonne career that I could have let stop me from building this business. I had to decide that my reasons for making this work were far more important than anyone else's ideas or even my own excuses.
What or who will you let steal your dreams? Whose opinion of what you are doing is more important than your financial security and future? In the hope of inspiring women all over the country who may be reading this piece right now, I'll leave you with the same question that was posed to me eight years ago that change my family's future: If you don't do anything differently in your life, where will you be in five years?
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.
