I’m currently a Star Consultant for Paparazzi Jewelry. I wish I’d taken my business a lot more seriously a long time ago. Now, however, I’ve hit the ground running with no intentions of looking back. If you are a person looking for a source of income, whether it be primary or secondary, I would encourage you to consider direct sales as an income source option.
I will be honest and say that there was a time when I thought that direct sales were no more than a scam by the very rich to maintain their personal level of income. It is a fact that there are some companies who operate as more of a ponzi scheme than a reputable business. But, there are many businesses around the globe that are creating wealth for thousands of people. There are many reasons to consider direct sales, but I will share the three that have been the most convincing for me, especially if you’re seeking a full time opportunity.
Flexibility: I love having the option of setting my own hours and working as little or as much as I choose to. If there’s an event or unforeseen circumstance that arises, I don’t have to go through the process of requesting time off.
No salary cap: I can make as much money as I want to. Now, the REAL key to that statement has to do with what you’re selling and how you’re selling it. Minimal effort yields minimal results. If you’re putting a lot of effort into it and not seeing the results you need to see, then you need to take a step back and do some self and product reflection. That’s a completely different post for another time. The point of this bullet is to simply point out that while many companies have a glass ceiling for growth, direct sales provides an avenue for you to potentially make millions of dollars without considering age and number of years on the job.
Love helping people: As an advocate for those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault, I love helping people feel holistically good about themselves. Having a sustainable income is a very important part of the healing process. I sell the jewelry because it makes me feel and look pretty on the outside, provides steady income and shows others that they can have the same. It provides a sense of ownership. It gives me something different and fun to do. It allows me to meet new people from all walks of life.
I’m on my way to director and beyond! Want to come with me? Click here or reach out to me in a message for more information.
What an honor is was to share the stage with an amazing list of men and women who came together in support of bringing awareness about several community issues plaguing Shelby Co, TN. The event was called “Takin’ it to the Streets”, featuring information on domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, bullying, gang involvement, gun violence and overall crime. It was held at the Raleigh Community Center during Shelby County School’s Spring Break.
The purpose was to make sure that children were off the streets and engaged in positive activities. The youth summit was a day long event filled with activities for the youth. What I appreciated most about this event was seeing community leaders coming together and being adamant about reaching our youth where they are, showing them that we care, willing to talk to them, listen to them and want to help them. I believe that as a society, we must go back to the idea of ‘it takes a village’ and be willing to go into the village, town, community, etc. and serve in a meaningful and genuine way. Our youth recognize when people are in attendance for photo ops vs being there when there are no cameras around.
I’m honored to have been asked to participate, and I encourage everyone to please reach out to their respective community leaders and ask how collaborative efforts can be made possible to reduce crime and lack of education and replace it with an increase of love, support, awareness and change.
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention month. It is the time that we, as a society, should be making a conscience effort to educate and inform our teens about the importance of establishing healthy relationships, setting boundaries, knowing the signs of abuse and what to do if you find yourself in an abusive situation.
The problem is, in my opinion, we still have too many adults who are not aware that this month has been set aside for such a purpose. We still have too many adults who don’t quite understand abuse themselves, and therefore, simply cannot educate young people about it. There are too many adults that are still living in their own fear of their abuser, what people will think of them if they tell anyone about being abused (past or present) or struggling with their own lack of self esteem and self worth. I was one of those adults. I always knew that I didn’t want my children to be in unhealthy relationships, but I wasn’t providing them with a positive role models. Nor did I spend as much time as I should have in seeking them out. Although we’ve worked through a lot of our individual and collective hurts regarding the aftermath of abuse, it is still something that I regret.
Thankfully, I am a different person, and I have been able to speak to teens and tweens about abuse and reassure them that it’s not their fault, talk to someone they trust and that help/resources are available. What I enjoy most is talking with the parents and the children at the same time. It gives me the opportunity to in turn, tell the parents to BE the person that their child CAN talk to and trust, face their own fears, leave the unhealthy relationship and know that help and resources are available for them as well as their children. I also like to remind people that they are talking to young people, so if it’s difficult for you to know what direction to take, consider that it’s that much more difficult for a child.
Be sure to search for programs that mentor teens and find out if domestic violence/teen dating violence is covered in their programs. If not, then make the suggestion to have it included. I welcome the opportunity to provide insights that will assist in making our young people feel safe and educated.
Sometimes, our goals are just too broad. Who wouldn’t enjoy a six figure income, great home, multiple cars, fabulous clothes, exotic vacations, a happy relationship with family, friends, husbands, wives, etc.? While having faith is important, it’s honestly just not enough. You’ve got to put in the work. But, what exactly are you working on? What does work actually look like in terms of your needs, wants and desires in your personal and professional life? Work consists of planning your work and working your plan. Be prepared to work mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Be prepared for some long, disheartening and disappointing days and nights. You will question yourself. You will question others. Set some goals for your day, week, month and year. And, yes, set some goals by the hour.
I believe that the more you micro-manage your goals by the hour, the more clarity it will provide you with what needs to be tweaked as you strive towards your longer ranged goals. In fact, if you truly practice discipline and consistency, what goals could you set for yourself in 30 minute increments? Think about it. If we can find ways to cook meals in 30 minutes or less, why can’t we find ways to plan daily activities/routines that will holistically change our lives at 30 minutes at a time? I have some great strategies on accomplishing this, and if you’re reading this and want to learn more, I’m more than happy to help you put this strategy in motion.
In terms of domestic violence, those who are being victimized tend to think broadly. They are thinking about the leaving part. Those that love them are thinking about the leaving part. Oftentimes, just leaving is too broad of a concept to grasp. Or, it may not be feasible to do so for any number of reasons from financial to safety concerns. Again, there are a number of strategies that can and should be put in place to ensure that the holistic outcome is safe, realistic and tangible. Acknowledge that you need help and support with your personal and professional aspirations and be open to the suggestions you receive. Take each day as it comes with the belief that goals serve as a blueprint to achieving holistic success.
When we were in grammar school, we were taught the concept of stop, drop and roll in case of a fire. I have found this approach to be useful in my personal and professional journey of growth.
STOP: Sometime, we have to place ourselves Under Construction. If you broke your foot, you would wear a medical boot. People will see it, recognize that you’re not matching, but they will understand. When you’ve healed and you’re ready, you will remove the boot and the world will see your new and improved look. The same is true with your website or any other social media presence. It’s ok to put up an “Under Construction” page for awhile. People will see that you’ve shut down, but they will understand that you’re going through a transformation process to improve. For those who feel like they must leave it up because they’re going to miss out on something or someone, ask yourself what type of people are you attracting with misinformation, misspelled words or outdated content. Anyone who’s looking to take your brand seriously will not give you the time of day if what you have to offer isn’t a clean, clear and functional representation of your brand.
When we get dressed, we always check the mirror to make sure our makeup is on point, our shoes, dress, purse, tie, pocket square, etc… is a good coordinated compliment to our overall appearance and presentation. People notice if you are wearing one red shoe and one black shoe. They notice if your pants are too long, your dress is too tight or if your perfume is too loud. People will look at you strange and talk about you. You will end up being somebody’s meme. The same is true for whatever business you’re in. Just as we go back to the mirror to double check our appearance, we also have to go back from time to time to make sure that our cyber world hasn’t been hacked and that it’s working properly.
Drop: It’s all about proximity. I was watching an episode of Shark Tank and Damon John was offering advice to a contestant. His paraphrased statement: “It’s all about proximity. If you hang out with four broke people, guess what? You’ll be number five.” Steve Harvey says that his dad told him that the best thing he could do for broke people is not to be one of them. As I work to grow and establish myself holistically, I often reflect on these two statements. Who am I hanging around? Are these people adding value to my life? Am I adding value to theirs? Broke isn’t always in finances, as I’ve dealt with a number of people who were also broken in spirit and time. They have of time for drama, gossip, pity parties, Real Housewives of whomever and yet, they have legitimate issues that are legitimately affecting their overall quality of life. However, you have to be willing to put yourself in a position of prosperity. You have to be open for change. And, most of all, you have to put in the work. Sometimes, you have to be creative in your creativity and ask for help. Put yourself in a position to receive the things you say you want and need. You have to do it mentally AND physically.
Roll: Move your brand in the intended direction. People will treat you and your brand in accordance to what you’re showing them. I remember having this great video made of me to promote my new business and the videographer thought it would be good to incorporate my ‘why’ for the business. The result? People who saw it viewed me as an abuse survivor who became an entrepreneur rather than an entrepreneur who is also a survivor. I found myself being sought after for my advocacy, and my business became secondary. It took me nearly two years before I realized that I’d inadvertently misdirected potential business in a different direction. I branded myself the wrong way. Since that time, I’ve removed the video altogether from my site. I use the video for advocacy speaking and training purposes.
Remember to stop, drop and roll when considering which direction to go in and eliminate the potential fires that could result in moving by the wrong direction.
