When you decide to start the business, you’re asked to write out your why - "why did you start the business?" For some people, it’s automatic – my kids, being debt-free, more vacation, more money! And when I started this business, I felt like I had a pretty great why.For those that know me, I was another graduate that was not able to enter her field. I graduated with a major in Political Science and I focused on international development. Here I thought that I would take on the world and make such a difference in the lives of so many people. The market, however, was unforgiving to recent graduates and unless you had a pretty sweet connection or you had a stellar resume, good luck. So, I ended up taking a job for the mere fact that I needed money.
When Kimberley (my upline) told me that I should start the business, I thought “are you kidding me?! I’m not selling products. I’m just here to buy them!” But, after going to a Discover Arbonne meeting and bombarding Kimberley with so many questions, I decided to start the business and be a rockstar at it! My “why” was that I wanted to eventually get into my field, either on a voluntary basis or by creating my own organization, and Arbonne was going to give me the opportunity to do that.
At the time, I thought my why was good enough. But even in the first couple of months, I never dedicated myself to growing my business and doing the necessary activity. I couldn’t understand why I didn’t put in the effort that I needed to. Something was missing, but I couldn’t place a finger on it.
For the past couple of weeks, my mind has been going non-stop, thinking and thinking and thinking of why I wasn’t happy, why I couldn’t get my life figured out. What the heck is going on, I thought?
I’ve done a superb job listening to what everyone else wants from me – their expectations, their requests, their goals, etc. I forgot what I wanted, what I expected of myself, what I dreamt for myself. So many years ago, I used to play music and I loved it and I was great at it. My dream was to go to school for music and play in an orchestra and teach. Nobody believed in that dream and instead I followed someone else’s dream.
My biggest mistake and my biggest regret was to not stand up for myself and do what I loved to do. I hated that part of myself, the part that just gave up and said “whatever. Not everybody gets to live their dream. Be satisfied that you at least get to go to university for free.” However, that thought has changed and I firmly believe that if you put in the effort, if you make it work, if you sacrifice whatever it is you need to sacrifice, you’ll live your dream.
I’m taking the step to go back into music. For now, it’ll be lessons, but the goal is to teach and who knows, I might even get the chance to perform with a symphony. This is my life and I only get once shot at it and I refuse to let someone else criticize me, judge me, ridicule me, etc. because I’m doing something that I love! I’m not here anymore to explain why I’m doing something and I’m not here anymore to justify myself. I’m here for a purpose and that purpose is to be happy, to live my life the way it’s meant to be lived and to play music.
This has become my “why” with my business. I started this business because I want to do what I love the most and that’s to play music. No, it’s not feasible to go head first into music, but it will be because my business will allow me the freedom and flexibility that I need to play and teach and perform. My business will provide me with the income I need to still live comfortably and start a new career. This is why Arbonne is so amazing!
Some might wonder if I’m having a mid-life crisis and you’re welcome to think that. But I’m looking outside of the “9am-5pm, Monday to Friday” box and realizing that network marketing is about to become the new way of doing business (now pair that with the Health & Wellness industry that’s about to become the next trillion dollar industry!) Heck, if Warren Buffet is the owner of Pampered Chef and has his hands in 8 different network marketing companies, then I must be doing something right!
- Lady S.
