Redefined

I have been a bit preoccupied lately with something new.  I know, don't I have enough plates spinning at once?  You know I can't help it.

Deciding to go to work part time {for the school district I used to work for as a full-time teacher} has been great for me and my family.  I can get my kids on the bus everyday, and I'm home way before the school bus brings them home.  I can't ask for more {except a bigger paycheck but that won't happen in a part time position, let's be honest}. So I heard from a friend about how she started her own business through Rodan + Fields Dermatologists, and it made me curious.  Another avenue to possibly make money that would still allow me to work around my children's schedules.  Hmmm.

But I have never been in sales before...and I never worked in the beauty business before....and what the heck was I thinking?  But after hearing about the business, and how much the company supports it's business owners, it was almost silly to pass up being a part of this growing, billion dollar industry.  I figured why not give it a try.  I'd go all in.  Give it solid commitment, and if I was able to maintain a positive cash flow, then I would have a new career in the works...and still be able to be 'home' for my girls. 

It would even offer me a way to make money during the summer, when my school district job would not be sending me paychecks.  And the best perk?  Amazing skin care products for myself~everyday~not just once in awhile.

Before I signed on to become my own boss, I 'googled' the company like crazy.  I watched every YouTube video on R+F that there was.  I tried to find reasons not to go through with it...like is it a pyramid scheme?  {No, it's not...}  I could not find anything negative~other than if it failed, it would only be because I didn't put any effort into it.  This is a business, I'd have to treat it as such.  I could do that. 
I'm either going to do this, or I'm not.  What did I have to lose?  I kept hearing that favorite MLK quote in my mind (paraphrased):

"You do not have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step".

So I started to think of the positives...I have been a teacher my entire adult life, clearly I can convey information, and I love learning new things.  My friend just died of skin cancer~clearly I had a vested interest in helping women {including myself} protect their skin {R+F product regimens always end with a sunscreen component}.  And I am motivated by helping contribute more for my family and our household expenses.  Turns out this looked like it could work for me.

So, I did it. I took the next step...I'd never know if I didn't even try, right?  How many times have I encouraged my kids to try something new? 

That's what I'm doing now.  I am an Independent Consultant for Rodan + Fields, and guess what?  I'm doing really well, just 4 weeks into my new endeavour.  It's something brand new, fun, and it's really the first time I have stepped out of my comfort zone of something 'school-related' as a job.  Sure, I still work in my part time job, but this new position is offering me a new confidence in myself I didn't know I had.

 Will I do it forever?  I don't know.  I'm taking it one month at a time.  I'm focusing on building my own team, and sharing with other moms what this opportunty is doing for me.  I'm trying to 'let go' of the outcome, and just put in the effort, and see where it takes me {this is very NOT like me...letting go of 'control' in a work opportunity}.  But I am moving forward, and it's a nice feeling.

Regardless of what you're thinking of doing, go ahead, try it.  Step into that uncomfortable space.  You will never know what you'll find until you try...

Have a great day!

{Jenn}

*Picture credits from here and here.

Remembering

Happy Valentine's Day!  Last night I stood in the kitchen, feverishly cutting out paper hearts.  Before the kids went up to bed, my youngest daughter said, "Hey Mom, I can't wait to wake up and follow that trail of hearts you make for us every year!  You know, the path that leads us to our special treats?  Yeah, that".

"Sure, of course I will do that for you again!".  Oh crap.  I forgot to cut out the hearts.  I bought the little gifts, got the cards and the chocolate...but the path!  How could I forget about the path?

You can guess I didn't have the hearts cut out before bedtime...so I went through every scrap of scrapbook and construction paper, even finding some pink paint sample cards in the mix, and started cutting...  I got the path set up, staged their little gifts on the table (which included new toothbrushes for the amount of sugar that would be rotting their teeth) and went to bed.

When I woke up, I found a path of my own to follow...of roses.  Looks like my husband was busy last night too~he left in the middle of the night for work to have a special date with a 'certain group', to give some lucky criminal a Valentine's wake up call {side note: if you don't want 'special' wake up call, don't do really bad things, or hurt people...it's easy~be nice to people, that's it}.  My path led me to treats of my own~chocolate and wine.  As a mom, I really don't want anything else.

So it turns out that the little things, the hearts on the floor, and the surprise path of roses meant something to me too.  It's just knowing that you were remembered.  And that someone took the time to show you that they remembered.  It's no wonder that it stuck in my little ones brain, those hearts on the floor from years past.  Even something little can mean alot, even to a grown-up like me :)

Have a great day!

{Jenn}