Sharing Dreams is My Dream Come True

One day I was sitting down watching my son Kaala play baseball listening to my iPod and an inspiring program with Marcia Wieder regarding Dreams came on. Marcia was talking about how important dreams are. My 6 year old daughter Kahea came and sat next to me and asked me if she could listen too. So she had one ear phone and I had the other. As our children get older it seems like we get to cuddle less. So I was just enjoying this moment of holding my daughter and the opportunity we were having to learn something new together. As the program played my daughter stopped and said – “Mom, I have dreams too. I have my dream board and I can make all my dreams come true.”

I have carried that day with me in my mind and thought about it over and over again. When I was a little girl, my mom and dad would play motivational programs like Napoleon Hill, John Maxwell, and so much more. I would beg my mother to play some music – anything but the motivational programs. What is so funny about this now, is my children asked me if I have any music on my iPod and the answer was no. It is all inspiring and educational programs. Even though I did not know that information was serving me at the time and actually resisted it, some how it landed in my heart and now I have the opportunity to share that experience and early learning with my children. It is such a gift to be involved in a profession that is so intertwined with education and personal development.


This wonderful learning experience has opened my eyes to more possibilities. Including my children in the listening and learning programs that I enjoy hearing, reading books out loud in a way that appeals to them, yet applies to rewarding relationships, improving communication, leadership, growing a thriving business, and so much more. Then we discuss what we heard or learned in that experience and how we can apply that information to our lives, school, and our family business.

We're Celebrating the Life of Direct Selling!

We are so excited to celebrate the 2nd Annual "Party with Your Kids" event this year that celebrates entrepreneurship through home-based businesses! What does "home-based" mean to you? It means more than an office in the spare bedroom or the kitchen table. It means a schedule that allows you rock your child as they sleep, to wipe a tear when a game has gone array, helping your teen through the rollercoaster years or taking an ailing parent to the doctor. It is the empowerment of taking control of your life, of living on your terms and moving from ordinary to extraordinary!

The greatest gift we can provide our children is the gift of hope. Hope that dreams do come true, that hard work is rewarded and, yes, they too can have a happy, healthy life. Our profession is built upon the understanding that it is not only okay to dream, it is encouraged for success!! Each of us in the direct selling profession can serve as the catalyst to build our business into a family business!

I often take time to reflect on the many blessings that the direct selling profession has brought into my life. With a background in teaching, I always believed I was called to a certain vocation. To teach, share and make a difference in the lives of children. I followed the traditional path of a teacher for several years. A woman who had invited me to look at starting a part-time direct selling business asked me 5 times. The 6th time I was ready to listen – I was going to have a baby, my daughter, Grace. I wanted to be home to raise my children and thought if I started by teaching 2 ½ days a week I could test the waters and see if I could make a go of it. I not only surpassed my teaching salary, I loved what I was doing. I also realized that by making a difference for these parents, they would do the same for their children.

I can't begin to tell you the happiness I experienced when I was able to build my life in such a way that I could enjoy my profession and my home life. Saf, my husband of 34 years, and I have many memories of creating dream boards, planning vacations, and working trade show booths with our son Dane and daughter Grace. They learned about goal setting, planning, and positive communication from a very early age.

Now, so many years later, my children are grown and I couldn't be more proud of the people they have become. Throughout the years, I noticed the values we instilled in our home were now being shared by my children with our grandchildren, friends and others they came in contact with. Most importantly, I'm thrilled that they have embraced the values that so many in the direct selling profession have come to love. The value that each day is a new beginning. The value that the power of positive thinking can change lives. The value of knowing that anything you dream, you can achieve if you are willing to do what it takes.

As a mother with grown children I can attest to the power of our profession and the impact it has on our society. Share the gift of this powerful opportunity with someone today? They are waiting for you to ask.

Living the Values Everyday!

I was watching a cartoon with my child the other day and noticed the character jetted from one scene to the next and then settled comfortable in an overstuffed couch reading a paper like nothing had ever garnered the cartoon characters attention. The exhilaration of the character as it darted seamlessly from scene to scene made me wonder, is he on to something?

No matter what your profession, as a parent you will always be pulled in multiple directions. That's just the way it is. Where we run into trouble is when we can't address our priorities and live our values. Thankfully, the direct selling profession is all about that!

As a mother of four children, I am blessed to live my values everyday due to the many benefits of the direct selling profession. I've found that children are so influenced by their surroundings and thanks to our profession, we are able to overcome the other influences. When they hear questionable music on the radio, I can sit with them and share an inspiring story or something that I recently learned that can offer them a more positive perspective. When they watch something on T.V. that offers no hope, I can not only show them that hope exists, but share it with them when we watch a direct selling leader's video or see someone succeed. The messages are true. The messages throughout are, dream, believe, be honest and kind. Love your way to success. Imagine, if more people came into the direct selling profession and shared these amazing values with their children! We would have a whole new world! In closing, celebrate, rejoice and be proud. The direct selling profession is alive and well and reaching more people everyday!

My New Business Partner...

This past Friday was the first time in seven months that my baby would not accompany me to a business event... It was now time to take on a new business partner! My 5 year old son, Ryan, has been asking to join me on one of my direct sales parties this past few months. So, this past Friday the perfect opportunity popped up. I decided to bring him with me as my helper and see if I could really teach my child about my business like I hear so many other direct sales people have done before me.

I could tell Ryan felt special as we planned a secret mission to "sneak" out of the house so his younger brother wouldn't be upset that he couldn't come with us. We were on our way to a themed Halloween party with my best customers, so he was especially concerned that I had his Darth Vader costume packed away in the car. Once buckled in, I could tell Ryan was excited because he started firing away at so many important questions: How big was the room we were going to? Were the lights in the room big? Did I remember his Darth Vader belt? Were we going to work on the ceiling? I'm not sure where that question came from, but am sure it made perfect sense to this 5-year old!

At first I worried he'd get bored quickly. Thankfully, he was quick to help unpack the car, set up the chairs, pass out folders and orders as everyone arrived, and eagerly pick up doorprize tickets from all the ladies. Once everyone was settled, I set him up with some food from our potluck where he happily occupied himself. He even asked permission to have some candy and then 2 broccoli's, 2 carrots and 2 tomatoes. A mother couldn't be more proud! After drawing a treasure map, Ryan had a quick lesson on time telling because he wanted to know what time we would have to leave. I discovered he's a lot like his father... he does not like to be late. At 9pm he promptly ushered me out the door.

Ryan could barely keep himself awake on the way home he was so tired. To keep him up, I asked him what his favorite part of the night was. He smiled and said, "Eating"! OK, maybe he hasn't quite caught my passion for the business just yet, but it was a precious "first" experience to share with my son that I will never forget. In retrospect, I realized that I am teaching my son more than the business, rather he's learning some important life lessons like how to be inquisitive, how to be a good helper, how to work and still have fun, how to tell time with a clock that has hands, and that veggies are yummy!

As I lay him down to sleep that night, he had one more question for me. "Can I come help you at your next Halloween party?". Of course! It would be one of my greatest pleasures.
Teri Baxter
Direct Selling Women's Alliance
www.mydswa.org

From a different perspective-having really worked the 9-5 "American Dream" job...

I have spent my morning working on the final touches of the Party with Your Kids promotion and one of my last to-do’s for the campaign today is to post my blog. I approach writing my online journal entry tentatively because I am not a direct seller, nor claim to have the drive and determination it takes to work at a home-based business that so many members of the DSWA pride themselves in and are so good at.

There are many commonalities between the direct sellers I have connected with since joining the DSWA as their online Marketing Director…one of the most noticeable has been this: the passion for your families; especially your children is evident. That is where I believe I can share my story and connect with those work at home entrepreneurs that I have met both offline and online since joining the DSWA. My passion and number one priority is my family.

I’m sorry to say that over the years that the priority for my family was not where it needed to be. I struggled with balancing work and my personal life and making time for what is the most important, my family. I had spent over 20 years in corporate America, living what I thought at the time was the “American Dream”. I was on the fast-track in my career; but something was always missing. I was missing time with my family; most importantly my daughter, who was quickly becoming a teenager.

I fast forward my story to February, 2007. I had decided to leave my job in corporate America, not sure what I was going to do next. I had connected with Jane Deuber in a previous company I worked at and after leaving my job, emailed her and let her know my personal email address. She responded with some life-changing news. The DSWA was in need of a Marketing Director and she wanted to know if I would be interested. I was ecstatic. The ability to work from home and still work in marketing; something I am truly passionate about, was the gift I was looking for.

And now I fast forward my story to today. I had the freedom this morning to start working at 6:30 a.m. with the ability to attend my daughter’s final Junior Varsity volleyball game of the season this afternoon and take her and her teammates out for a celebratory pizza party afterwards.

In looking over the last 6 months of working in a home-based business, doing what I love and spending time with those I love…I would say I now am truly living the real “American Dream”.

Lisa Zetah, Online Marketing Director

Direct Selling Women's Alliance

www.mydswa.org

The many facets of working from home and the benefits our children reap...

It’s been another extremely productive day in my home office and as the clock creeps slowly toward the 3:00 hour and I find myself finishing up my last to-do’s, I realize I have 30 minutes to complete some important projects before the clock strikes 3 and I get to put on my other hat – my MOM hat.

The truth is there is nothing like the joy of creating a life that allows for our many passions: our family, our business and ourselves – all woven together to create a more compelling life.

I pull up to third level where the 5^th graders meet their parents after school. I end my call on my cell phone just in time to see my son Alex coming around the corner, back pack slung on his shoulder and huge smile on his face. He doesn’t let on that he is happy I’m there to pick him up – he’s in fifth grade you know – but I know he is.

We head home for what is one of my favorite times of the day – homework time. I know, some moms think I am crazy, but to me it’s a chance to marvel in the person he has become and the way he approaches the task at hand.

Sitting in my kitchen I see him work through reading, writing, spelling, history and more with an impressive determination. His attitude remains positive, his mindset focused as he works toward his goal of completing 3 exercises per night so he has Thursday night off.

“How did I get so lucky?” I ask myself.

I am blessed with a kid who loves learning and already understand the importance of using his thoughts, attitudes and words to further his success - a gift that will serve him for the rest of his life. So how did this happen? How is it that a 10 year old boy has more of a grasp on time-tested success principles than many adults?

While my husband Mario and I strive to be great parents, we recognize that we are still novices, despite the fact that this is our second time around. (We raised Mario’s daughter who is now 28 and the proud mom of two incredibly cute babies.) The truth is that Alex has gained these essential life skills not from long winded lectures, but from him watching his parents live the life of the home-based entrepreneur.

A thought of Alex’s future comes to mind…and what hits me suddenly is that we have given him the tools necessary to be successful in whatever endeavor he chooses. It’s our actions, not our words that have inspired Alex to take on the “life skills” we are seeing come to the surface. One of the most important lessons Mario and I have taught him is that he can do anything in his life-he doesn’t have to be stuck in a 9-5 job; the world truly is his oyster. And…the best part is that we didn’t “teach” him with words, but by the example of creating our own dream of working from home…doing what we love and reaping the many benefits – including being there to watch our son grow up.

Jane Deuber, Co-Founder

Direct Selling Women's Alliance

www.mydswa.org