Glue

I realize that me being up at two in the morning is not going to pay off tomorrow. But how do you sleep when you have so much on your mind?

My life goes by in months. I focus on a month at a time and I try to make each one better than the last. I want this month to be amazing, but I'm allowing other things to hold me back. I thought I was busy when I was in school. Then I thought my life was more busy when I had a "real" job and was married. Now I have a baby in the mix and it's even more so. It makes me giggle inside when I hear college students tell me they have no time. Man, if I could only go back and have that much free time again!

This month, I challenged myself to make sure I pray and read my scriptures each day. I used to do it consistently. I never missed a day all the way from high school up until about 6 months after I got married (at the age of 27). I feel like that will make a difference in how things are going. I almost forgot today, but I remembered eventually and made time for it. It's only day 3! Why is this such a struggle?

Struggles always happen, but there are always certain things you can count on and one of those things is yourself. You can be the glue that holds things together. You can be the one to never let yourself off the hook. You can be the inspiration to yourself and make sure you show up when you need to. You are the person you can always count on to be consistent when everything else feels chaotic. If you really believe in yourself that much and hold yourself to a higher standard, you can make yourself whole. 

Beliefs

I've learned that beliefs change big time throughout life. I know that some of my beliefs will change or be altered again from what I think now, but here are some of the things I truly believe at this moment that I didn't always believe.

1. People are genuinely good. I never used to think that before Mary Kay. But what I've been taught and shown is that the majority of people really want and strive for good in the world.

2. Taking God on as your partner in life is refreshing. When you know that things will work out in the end, it makes your hard days easier and good days extraordinary.

3. Having faith in anything takes work. I used to think I was blessed with strong faith and no matter what happened, I would be okay. In a sense that's true, but I've realized that my faith is a lot weaker when I don't work at it. But when it's strong, I feel like I can conquer the world. So, no matter what anyone believes or has faith in, I feel it's important for your soul.

4. Being a mom is strange. I used to have this free life with only me, my dogs, and my husband to worry about daily. It was great. But I did feel like there was something missing. I don't feel like anything is missing now, but sometimes I feel it's too much. There is so much NOT missing that my life feels too full at times. But I believe it only gets better. And I can't understand why I hated babies so much before. They are innocent. They don't understand pain. They can only communicate through crying. And my heart fills when Emerson maintains eye contact for a long period of time. I feel like he knows more than he lets on. ;)

5. Passion isn't what you do, it's about who you are becoming. I've recently thought long and hard about why I'm so passionate about what I do. But I've come to realize that's not even the question at hand. What I do helps me have the opportunity to be passionate about life in general. Never before have I loved my life so much. A few years ago, there is no way I could even comprehend what I feel now. I'm passionate about life. And I'm passionate about helping others be able to feel as good as I do.

6. Many things in life have come to be because of divine inspiration. I see good things every where I go. Businesses that stand for good and giving back. Truly giving back and not just marketing it that way to build themselves; ideas, inventions, media, social connections, ect. And most importantly, the things I allow in my life I feel are divinely inspired. For example, people look at me weird when I say things like, "I truly believe Mary Kay Ash was inspired by God to create this company." It's my belief, and it's what I feel on the inside that counts and it gets confirmed to me over and over again the longer I am a part of this company. So, I allow things in my life because I believe are truly inspired. Why would I let anything else in unless it was going to lead me to a higher place? If I am spending time with you, just know that it's because you add good to my life or else I wouldn't be doing it.

Women Have Power

I recently found my passion. I knew I had one, but I didn't know what it was or how to find it. To really be influential you need something to drive you. You need a reason.

Reasons change throughout your life. Reasons can change in a month, a few years, or a decade. To live with a passion and a drive is to give yourself joy and a sense of self actualization. Self actualization is when you realize the full potential that you have and who you can be in this world. Most people never get to that point in life. I have been blessed to find a way to reach that consistently, but am striving to feel it EVERY DAY!

I know who I am, and I truly know my full potential of what I can create in this world and the IMPACT I clearly have on society. I know that being a woman means that we are able to be influential to our families and that can create an impact in society through our children, ect. But I'm talking about an impact right here, right now. Doing something that seriously will change the world. This is my dream, this is my goal. And I know exactly how to do it.

Too many women in this world do not have high confidence or self-esteem. TOO MANY women do not know their full potential. They do not know that by being who they were meant to be that they can have an impact on so many others. These women have been beaten down by peers, society, relationships, finances, and more importantly, themselves.

My passion is to inspire women, ordinary women, to be extraordinary. My desire is that I can help women find who they were truly meant to be, and help them be that. Women are powerful. Women are courageous. Women are what this world needs. REAL feminism which includes being strong and lady-like. Women are CARING and sensitive, but they have the capability to lift others, inspire others, and build each other. There is so much power in a woman to make great decisions and amazing legacies.

There is no need for women to feel down about themselves, EVER. There is no need for them to not be confident and in love with who they are. I found my passion through what my business teaches because that is their focus as well. It finally went deep. I finally figured out how much this really can change the world. You cannot teach or give something you don't have. I finally love who I am. I finally love my life. The anxiety problems I used to have don't bother me anymore. I feel free, and I feel capable to build others up and help them find their potential.

I will change the world. Just watch...

Pink Caddy

As a lot of you know, I am earning my Pink Cadillac with Mary Kay!! I've earned 2 cars already, but an upgrade also comes with a pay raise. YAY!
In order to do this, I'm looking for more women who have thought of direct sales as a source of income. My job is to help you become successful. 

The things that set Mary Kay apart from other direct sales is...
#1 - 50% commission rate (Highest in US)
#2 - We actually get free cars and ANYONE with a consistent working pattern can earn one. (other programs give you money to go and get your own car, but ours is MADE FOR US. They start making it as soon as we earn it and it arrives a few weeks later. They pay for taxes, licensing, and up to 84% of the insurance.)
#3 - Consumable product. It is not only something most women use already (mascara, face wash, foundation), it is something people come back and buy time over time. I'm still earning money from work that I did when I first started 4 years ago. 
#4 - You can just sell and make a good income or you can team build also and replace your income. It's not ALL focused on recruiting. (also not multi-level which I love!)
#5 - We have the #1 training in the country and an adoptee program. If you choose to move, you can plug in with a local director (who helps train you) and you also still have your family. 
#6 - Faith really does come first, family really does come second, and we really do encourage you to place your business THIRD. 

In the end, this is a long standing company - #1 direct sales company in the US. We are recession proof and we make women feel beautiful. We focus on improving YOUR confidence and your growth as a person which helps you to be as successful as you want in any field you're in.   

I have talked to A LOT of you about this business and would like to get you started NOW. I will offer you a special incentive if you start between now and the end of the month. 

Seriously this is the time to do this! We are on the rise and I'm taking people with me! I am passionate, and my heart belongs to this company - not because it started there but because of what I found after I started. They give us MOST of their profit. No company in the whole world give as much percentage, incentives, trips, and income as this one does - I PROMISE YOU THAT. 

Here is a video of a REAL person in this company who started out small and is now so successful and so admired. 

I'm not here to try and convince anyone to do anything. I'm here to answer questions and see if this is something you'd like to try or not, after you have all the facts. 

We all have dreams in our lives, I'm making mine come true already. Money doesn't buy happiness, but it does buy you choices. And CHOICES are so much fun to have. 

Things I've learned working my Mary Kay business

Confidence and humility go hand in hand and lead you to success. Confidence without humility is arrogance and humility without confidence is timidity which is also selfishness - you're so worried about what people are thinking that you're only focused on yourself.

Being a people person is more than just having people like you. It's about liking people and understanding who they are. It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

True success is built when God comes first, family comes second, and career comes third. And a strong family is built when the people around you can see you set goals, achieve them and miss them, and witness your work ethic. Children learn more from watching than telling.

Believing in people comes from believing in yourself. When you believe in others they can achieve anything. But accepting what they choose to do or not do is a form of maturity and love.

Friendship can be powerful. It can be so strong that you'll put forth any effort to stay close to the people who lift you up and help you be who you want to be. So powerful that it can lead you to your deepest dreams and desires without you knowing it's happening. True friendship is not sitting around talking about random stuff, but constantly encouraging others and lifting them up so they can be their best selves.

So many more things can be said, but if you didn't know me before Mary Kay, I will tell you I was a lot more selfish than I am now (is this even possible???), I was super negative about everything, I judged people a lot, and I did not care very much about other people's feelings. This business is so much more than skin care and makeup. Although those things are fun, we truly and honestly focus on improving who a person is on the inside. When people talk to me about Mary Kay and all they do is talk about the products, I feel so weird about it because the products are not what I think about at all. I think about the women that want to change their lives and their situation. If you don't believe me, that's fine, but that's how it is.


I love sharing the products with people because they literally are the best out there, but more so I love talking about enhancing myself through keeping a positive attitude, loving my life, and doing things that I love to do. This business allows me to do so much not just because of the money and the choices it provides, but because I am an independent women who has goals, success, quality friendships and joy all around me. I seriously could not ask for more, except I do. I want more from this business because I know I can help others achieve what I have achieved and feel how I feel.

Change

The hardest place I've ever had to move from was Arizona. I truly loved my life there and even with how hard it was, I knew there was more for me somewhere else.

Finishing my Bachelor's degree seemed a long road(9 years), but I did it and had dreams for my future (all of which involved traveling). I, however, felt that getting married would move me along a better path, so I chose that instead.

With both decisions I prayed. And both decisions I honestly felt that life would be great no matter what I chose which made them harder to actually go through with. Because of not just these choices but a lot of changes I've gone through, I've learned that change is always good. It has always helped me to be a better person and I love change now.

I could have never imagined having as great of life that I do. I have a husband who will literally do anything for me and strives every day to make me happy. I have 2 dogs that I adore (one more than the other though haha) and they make me happy. And I seriously have the best job in the world. It's my 18th try at a job. I've done so many different things and this blows them all out of the water. I get to make my own schedule, meet amazing people, have the best and most positive support group helping me, build women's confidence, and make more money than I ever thought was possible for myself.

And it will all change.

Very soon my life will be something I honestly and truly never wanted. People tell me it'll be the best thing ever. Do I believe them? Yes, I actually do. But does that make me want it? No, and I have no explanation.
I have no idea why I feel this way. I always have. With every congratulation, my heart wants to burst out with tears. I do have faith that it'll be okay. I do know that it will be great. But that doesn't in any way change how I'm feeling now. And I don't know how long I will feel this way. Nothing anyone says can help.

That is why I'm writing this. I don't want to explain this to everyone and I don't want anyone to think I dislike them or am upset with them for not responding the way "I should." I just need to do my thing... and I don't even know what that means.

Is she a Feminist or a Shrew?

Feminism is sweeping the nation and the world. It is a very popular topic. More and more women are striving to find their own place in this feminist movement. The definition of feminism INCLUDES having a feminine character. But is that what we are focusing on?

When you hear someone say "she's a feminist." The first impression that comes to mind is someone who stands up for her rights. Someone that wants equality between women and men. That is what it is supposed to be. That is the definition, but I think it's being taken a little too far. People feel the need to become more like a man to be equal with a man. What is so great about men anyway? If we want equal rights, does it make sense to completely change ourselves? That is not equal, that is conforming. Isn't it more about individuality and being more of what you actually are?

Feminism seems more of an excuse now; an excuse to be condescending. When did that become okay? I, for one, do not want to be thought of as malicious, criticizing, downgrading and vulgar. It might sound a little abrupt and generalizing, but most people would agree. There are the few people out there that are ruining this movement for all of us. Feminism should be a positive thing. It should be a term that shows we are focusing on becoming the best us and achieving amazing things. We should embrace our femininity to be proud of who we are, not strive to be something someone else is.

What is a feminine character? Yes, women have been described as having sensitivities and gentleness. This is NOT a bad thing! It is part of who we are and part of our hormones. Embrace ourselves and use our strengths to propel us to where we want to be. Women have such unique qualities that can be used to really make a difference in this world. But a rising number of women are throwing away who we are to replace it with harshness and abrasiveness. How shrew-like do we need to become before we will be satisfied with our achievements? I suspect it will never end. Women who have this mentality of what feminism is will never be satisfied with how they measure up. These women have great pride in what they do and who they are and that gives them satisfaction, but it will never replace their low self-esteem. They do not recognize themselves as special, beautiful, and lovable.

Real feminism is embracing who you are and rising up anyway! It's being who you are and focusing on being a better you. THIS will bring success, this will bring you equality, and this will bring you confidence that is mixed with joy. We do not need to be rude and demeaning. We do not have to be loud and disapproval. What we can be is influential, uplifting, powerful, and assertive. We do not have to take crap from people, but we should react with kindness. People all over the world respond to kindness much more than they respond to people who are argumentative. If there is anything I've learned in the last couple years of leadership it would be that I can do it successfully and well by being lady-like assertive. This is different than being pushy and it's definitely different than being coarse. It is doing what you need to do to get the job done and being a women while doing it. It's not being passive or aggressive. It's simply, assertive.

Who do you honestly want to be? How do you want people to view you? Do you want to be surrounded by people who love you and care for you, or would you rather have people be afraid of you and avoid talking to you? I know women. I know what is deep in their hearts. No matter what they say on the outside, I know that on the inside they would like to be the person they were honestly meant to be (which is influential). Sometimes they just don't know the right path to get there. Sometimes they think there is no other way and they become a shrew. I know this because this was the path I was going down until I realized there is a better way; a better way to advocate for women. And this way actually brings phenomenal results.