Leap of faith

Some of the sacrifices in this business are some that you have to learn on your own. We have made so many changes mentally, that helps this process easier.

Budgeting

We sat down after counseling with Dennis and Barb. For the first time in our marriage we pulled the numbers together without bickering or fighting. Knowing we couldn't be free until we had these numbers out in the open. We realized that pulling our credit was a must. We did that, and we learned that we have about $23k of debt to pay off. I thought it was so much more than that. But how relieving. One of the bonus checks that are given in this business is $15k. To think that could nearly pay our debt feels so relieving. To be plugging away at this debt and knowing there's a way out is also relieving. Dennis and Barb had said something that was very profound for me, they said, "if you don't pay your tithing, none of this will work" We have collected and payed our tithing ever since that comment. We have been able to pay our bills and know that we won't be having anything turned off. We have made an order. We plan to make a few more orders by the end of November. We will have our PV puchased before the 15th of the month in Janurary. It's a slow going process, but one that had to be made so that we can properly build our business.

Sacrificing to be first dayers

I had posted this couch a few months ago, hoping it would sale, so we could get our tickets for Dream Night, in Boise, Idaho. It didn't finally sell until the day before tickets went on sale. We took a lot less than what we wanted, but we did it so we could get our tickets. As I was sprawled out on it for one last time, Jake asked if I wanted to changed my mind about selling my couch and I said, "no, it's not a couch, it's our tickets" I ran to the bank the next morning and put the money into our account, ran home, then bought our tickets. We were first dayers :) We have never been first dayers before, it felt great!

Portland FREE ENTERPRISE

Every quarter we have the chance to go to a function. January is Dream night. We like to go to Boise for ours so we can be with Jerry. In April we have Spring Leadership. We have gone to Las Vegas in the past, but we will be going to Spokane, WA this coming year. Then we have Family Reunion in July. We go to Portland, OR for that. It depends on your line of sponsorship that determines where you go. Then the last function of the year is in October. It's called Free Enterprise or FED. It's based around Freedom. So inspiring. At these functions we get to hear from others that have built the business, we get to see families hit their goals and we get to rub shoulders with our team. Association is everything, you are who you associate with. Driving from Pocatello, we picked up our business partner Jerry, and his guy KC in Boise. On the way there they zonked. It was amazing that they could sleep so hard, I couldn't help myself, but take a picture of the moment. This is what freedom looks like folks.

Friday afternoon we arrived in Porland, OR. We got our tickets, got checked into our hotel rooms, and headed for the first session of our conference. The opening ceremony was very overwhelming. The flag is something that isn't respected in America anymore. What it represents is bigger than most even realize. How blessed we were to be part of this. My emotions ruled during this entire weekend.
When they played the music for each branch of the military, they asked all those who participated in that branch to stand. When they did, Jerry got up and shook their hands. It was amazing to watch the respect from one man to another. From one devotion to another. He later told us that he does it to say thank you, but also to receive a gift from them. A gift of gratitude. Pretty awesome thing to witness.
We had the privilege to hear from Rick Green and his boys. His boys pointed out very important parts of the Constitution. He is very knowledgeable about this country, and the history of our nation. He said, that the colors of this nation are Red, White, Blue, and Green. I never thought about it before really, until he said that. He also talked about being Extra ordinary. He called it, Exceptional-ism. The way to become is to have a recipe or a strategy. The goal is to find men that will fear God, not men as they lead. He talked about having a pursuit of happiness in this free nation. This business model is the perfect ticket. He talked about how Socialism is Bad. Putting all your hard work into a pot to share with others that won't work shouldn't be forced upon us. Freedom is all about earning what we desire and to keep your hard earned money. He mentioned Thomas Edison and his 1,093 patents. He compared N. Korea (who is ran through tyranny, and socialism. The satellite comparison shows there is no lights on at night.) and South Korea, who is ran with freedom and prosperity. The lights were bright in the satellite pictures. You could see that it was a much better location. He said, to communicate your belief of freedom. To be Passionate.

The beautiful Leslie Wolgamott spoke, she spoke about doing something Great, and living with purpose. She said something that was very powerful for me. She said, God makes a hero out of no bodies, Be a HERO!

Bill Curry  who was a football player, and coach he seemed to speak all over the place, but he pulled it in at the end. He talked about Alligators being vices in our lives that keep us from hitting our goals. This is when I decided to shut off my Facebook account. He taught us a word that means Greatness of Spirit, the word is MOGNANIMTAS. The idea is to develop this. He reminded us that we all are unique and each of us brings something different to the table. To be relentless, not persistent. He also pointed out that we can't be inspired until we are ready to be inspired. He reminded us to avoid the FOTM=fellowship of the miserable aka negative people. We can love them, pray for them, but avoid them because they are contagious! He also reminded me of the options I have, I could have pain of discipline or of regret. I have to reshape a habit to win. Once we make one bad choice it's easier to do it next time. When we are a team, it doesn't matter the color, religion, sex, or any other excuse that might tear us apart, we are a team, huddle together! He closed with reminding me that Christ is my center. He said, "LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE! Be the best coach eternally. He rocked my core.
We then got to hear from Greg and Laurie Duncan. They informed us that World Wide Dream Builders have grown %15 more than any other Amway group. Then they reminded us that we could help the economy by donating our jobs to someone that needs it.

We had so many speakers that I took notes on. It was an amazing experience. Whenever you have a millionaire that will teach you specifically what to do, grab at the chance. The opportunity doesn't come to you for no reason. I believe with all my heart that if it's placed before you, it's a blessing given to you by God, don't ignore the opportunity. Don't say know until you have applied yourself and truly given it all you've got. So many people we meet that will say no, before they even know what they're saying no to. So unfortunate.

 

Ty and Vanessa Crandall went diamond this weekend. They gave it their all. They did sacrifice and now they don't have to, they're families will be set for life. They are teaching others to do the same thing. They aren't walking around with the rich's and not sharing their knowledge, in fact it's the complete opposite. In this picture they were at a night owl (the meeting after the meeting) sharing the tricks he used to grow in this business. He said something very profound to me. He said, "if someone were to hold a gun against your head and told you to share this business, you would do it" Why aren't we doing it on our own without fear. When we don't share this opportunity we are taking away blessings from them. 

We had our hotel by the airport and we had the chance to drive by this river on our way to meetings. I was blown away by it's glass appearance. What a neat city Portland, OR is. I would love to live closer to Portland.

Dennis and Barb Kendall are some of my favorite people in this business. They fill our cups often. Teaching and guiding us through the steps into becoming free.

This is the red carpet that Ty and Vanessa Crandall walked down. I can't post videos, because I don't have rights to the music that was being played, but it was a neat experience to see all the people loving on them as they walked down the aisle of freedom. Once they got on stage they hugged each of the diamonds. Brad and Julie Duncan raised their hands to the song of Rocky. Ty got a ring that was made by the same people that makes the super bowl rings. Vanessa will be able to choose a beautiful ring later. They put their names on the monument. It had a spinning diamond the size of my head. What an awesome experience for them. She had on the most beautiful dress. They worked so hard to become diamond. 

When GeorgiaLee Puryear got up to speak the crowd went crazy for a good 10 minutes. Everyone turned on their flashlights on their phones and lit up the room in honor of our appreciation to her. What an amazing couple. Ron and GeorgiaLee and Theron and Darlene Nelson started World Wide Dream Builders. Till Dream Night, here is a taste of being around successful people!

Dream building

For FHE, we decided that the kids needed to dream Build. They needed their own boards to get excited about. As we build our Amway business they need to help motivate.

Theron's exciting dreams start out with a huge playground, a boat house for the ground to play in, He wants a room that is themed like the ocean, it has to have sharks. He's got some fun dreams.

EmberLee wants to get a poofy dress, a shed that is made to look like a real house. She wants a pool that is under ground with a spa that is in our house too. She wants to have a mermaid tail.

Bridgerwants a lot of nerf guns. Specifically one that is pretty spendy. He wants a boat bed, He wants to go to Disney Land and to Hawaii. 

The kids dreams are great ones. I'm excited to see these come true. I am excited for them to expand these dreams into more than just pictures. 

Having dreams help motivate us. Something so exciting to do as a family.

Making an important change

I have learned a few things in this life, and one of them is to be comfortable. To live life how I'm told and to be OK just being. To find a career and to do my best at what I learn. I've always been patted on the back for having a life plan. What I wasn't taught was how to think outside the box. How to get uncomfortable. How to attract positive people that will speak good into my life. As my life moves on and things change in the world I realize that being comfortable will only make me the robot that the government wants me to be. I tend to have a defiant personality, some people call me stubborn. With that stubbornness, I've learned that pushing past comfortable is key to my success. I have learned the reading is a must after high-school. Not to use it on useless novels that I will never learn anything from, but to use that must-read attitude on books that will change my life. In the last 6 months or more I have picked up books that have changed my life. In these books there are tools that teach me how to become a better person. How to out think my peers. How to motivate and love who I am. To grow and think outside the box.
One of the first books that I picked up was, The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson. I learned in that book that it's the tiny things done daily that will make big changes overall. It taught me to not look at the whole picture, but to only see a little at a time until the whole pictures is in complete view. I have struggled with reading my whole life. I have felt very overwhelmed with extra schooling and the thought of reading books scare me. So with the principles that I have learned in, The Slight Edge, I have learned that simply reading 15 minutes a day will help me accomplish my goals of reading a big book.
The 2nd book that I have read is, How To Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnagie. It is an older book. But for me it was a book I could relate to. It took me a while to finish it. I simply read 15 minutes a day. I refused to look forward to the next chapter like I had done in the past with books that I put down and never picked back up. I used the principles of The Slight Edge to finish a book that seemed overwhelming. A book that I had picked up for years and put back on the shelf because I felt overwhelmed. But this book taught me ways to befriend people that I would normally never have in my life. It taught me tricks on dealing with people.
The 3rd book I have started is, The Greatest Secret In the World, by Og Mandino. It is based on the Ten Scrolls. It's not your normal book. It has you set goals before you get started. It takes a scroll and has you repeating it 3 times a day for 5 weeks. I'm only on the 3rd scroll. I have learned a few tricks. Recording myself reading on my phone and setting an alarm is important. When it goes off, I take 5 minutes to listen to it. I do that 3 times which equals 15 minutes in the day. This is a book that will take over 45 weeks. The idea is that the goal you set in the beginning, you will have met that goal by the time 45 weeks have come.
I have read other books also, but they were short and related to our business that we have begun.
Reading self help books has never been on a priority list in my life until now. I am destined for greatness. It won't happen unless I do it on purpose.
This blog will be my journey on that path. If I can do it so can you!