Have you ever been asked to tell your story? In my direct sales company, “telling your story” is part of our “catch phrase” and what we aim to help our customers do with jewelry. However, the “telling of my perfect story” has come to mean much more over the last four years as I have lived and grown through my first direct sales experience.
In all honesty, if you had told me just a few years ago that my story would include anything remotely related to direct sales, I would have said you were crazy! I don’t like “selling” of any kind. My introvert personality does not lend itself to wearing out my friends and family with constant offers of deals, hostess rewards, and more life-changing stuff. However, that is exactly where my story was to lead.
I vividly remember walking into a local charity auction with friends and seeing this company’s simple one-page flyer (“catalog”) for the first time. Upon further inspection, I realized this direct sales company wasn’t about paper folding as the name implied, but about creating memories that last and speak to your heart. For me, my first random glance drew me to the pink ribbon (in memory of my mom) and the purple pancreatic cancer ribbon (in honor of my dad). I had lost both of these amazing people in my life at the young ages of 56 and 61, respectively. Those losses left an eternal hole in my heart that no one can fill. However, as I have found on this grief journey, it is sometimes the little things that bring the most comfort.
One of my friends at the table quickly announced in glancing through the brochure that she was going to order a locket for her daughter. Another friend offered up that she might host a party. Most surprisingly, suddenly from somewhere came my voice saying “Wait! I think I’m going to sell this!” Thinking it was probably just a passing impulse due to the emotion it stirred in me, I headed home. However, sleep would not come that night. I kept thinking about the blessing of sharing this “storytelling” opportunity with others.
After a few more sleepless nights and countless second thoughts, I decided to bounce this “crazy” direct sales idea off of my solid “voice of reason”—aka, my husband. His quick response surprised me! “If you are as passionate about it as you seem, go for it!” (Just fyi, my “voice of reason” has continued since that time to be my biggest cheerleader on this journey. You have to love a man who is willing to work beside you at a bridal expo, explaining to young girls how they can tell their story on their special day.)
So began the journey…….
So began a direct sales journey that has provided me the opportunity to help so many, like me, tell their stories in a unique and personal way, whether in the midst of joy or deep sorrow. While it has indeed provided financial blessings in financing my daughter’s college education as well as two “trips of a lifetime” for my “voice of reason” and myself to Cabo and Maui, it has brought much more. It has brought renewed self-confident, joy, and many, many friendships which I would have not otherwise enjoyed. It has brought opportunities for donations to organizations I support with my whole heart, but more importantly, opportunities to bless individuals one-on-one who are grieving, just need a little encouragement, or are celebrating special milestones in their life.
So while I’ve been blessed by God to share with so many in helping to tell their personal stories of grief or joy, I’ve also been personally afforded the opportunity to mold my own “perfect” story along the way. No, I don’t claim to live a “perfect” life, only our Lord and Savior, did that. However, I have learned to try and live and work each day with purpose. I’ve slowly learned to take the time for the little things because those things often mean the most. Now THAT, I would say is the ending (and daily beginning) of a perfect story!
Want to hear more about my journey? Contact me here!
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