I’m a business-at-home mom of four and I love teaching and training people to be their best in business. I’ve been a lot of things in life—designer, illustrator, restaurant critic, product developer, seamstress, caterer, copywriter, network marketer, sales trainer, speaker, coach, business strategist (and more!)— but the common thread throughout my whole blessed career is helping people be better at what they do best.
I consider myself a professional amplifier of people, a “dharma specialist”, if you will. In today’s world of home business in social media, that means I’m all about helping people understand what they were meant to do in life, what excites them most, and help them translate that into an actionable business plan and a personal brand that effectively shows the world what they can offer in the marketplace.
Recently I was at an MLM training event and the speaker said, “Now I know most of you never woke up one day and said, ‘Hey, today I want to be a network marketer’, but here you are.” He was explaining how network marketing and direct sales are a good platform for other things we want to be doing in life. Well, inside I was doing jumping jacks because I was that person who did wake up at a tender age and actually think that!
See, back when I was twelve years old, I started babysitting and cleaning house for a family friend and single mom who was a rep for Mary Kay Cosmetics. I came from a divorced home myself and I loved her influence in my life. Sometimes she would hire me to help her clean house and set up for her home parties. I loved all the demo tools, the calculator and sales slips, her bountiful inventory. She was in business…at home! And, it was glamorous!
When I would take care of her kids, my favorite time was after they were sleeping when I could read in the late night quiet from her bookshelf; it was just filled with personal development authors and inspirational material. I would read and read, and look forward to the next time I got her call.
Watching her run a successful home business clear back in the 80s as a single mom spoke belief and inspiration into me, and I determined that as soon as I was of legal age I would join the ranks of women charting their own course in life. Until that time, I became as enterprising as I knew to be by cleaning houses, yards, babysitting, and sewing professionally. I loved making my own money, and it was because of her example and writers like Leo Buscaglia, Dale Carnegie, Og Mandino, Wayne Dyer, Mary Kay Ash, George Clason, and on and on…because of them, I was able to shape a picture of my future and get a glimpse of what I could become. And more, that it was possible for anyone who had a burning desire to find out that truth for themselves.
Well, fast-forward, and last 25 years of my life have been filled with many successes, failures, and important lessons about myself and how to bring out the best in others. In my early 20s, I took on a traditional education and career in graphic design, editorial illustration, branding, product development and writing. These skills were the critical piece that helped me marry my gift for seeing others clearly with helping them communicate to the world accurately and powerfully their mission, vision, products and enterprise. To be an entrepreneur, you have to have both parts!
As if the professional skills were enough to help people get into successful, meaningful business, I’ve found it takes a lot of heart skills, too. And that means the humility to change, grow, and change more. For those of you who see my picture and maybe assume success has come easily for me, I am just like you. I’ve worked diligently to overcome shame and shyness, serious trauma, abuse, deep grief, and circumstances that definitely had the potential to shut me down for good if I’d let them.
Through surrender and gratitude for the painful lessons, somehow I’ve trusted a spark inside, leaned on those who love me without fail, and allowed illusions to give way, letting a deeply happy person show up more and more. That is my real destiny, and if you’ve stayed a rocky course in your life and are still kicking strong, hopefully you can relate to that.
To be a fulfilled entrepreneur with staying power and a loyal following usually also means a person has put their ego on the line over and over and let life’s lessons shape them, often through pain (because we can be so stubborn!).
These days, I’ve crossed over from traditional offline methods to the powerful world of social media and internet marketing. My love for powerful, effective personal brands is stronger than ever. And, in my opinion, nowhere is it more possible to get into a home business and market yourself effectively on a shoestring, with relatively little experience, than social media. Whether you run a niche site, an MLM or direct sales team, or another home-based enterprise, it’s the ultimate platform for sharing who you are and attracting like minds to you.
Data and information is now speeding into our lives like white lightning; it’s never been more important to match all our high tech gadgetry with high touch, good manners, real language, and a beating heart. You can do it. I know you can. I’ve seen it done over and over. Keep going. Dig deep. Invest as much as you can of your time and awareness to grow your home business right, and for the long haul, in profit. If you need help, take a look at what I offer.
I hope we can work together or connect in some way. But if you are just passing through for now, I hope that my story has inspired you to “do your thing”, live your dharma, and pursue the possibilities of your destiny.
All my best,
Stephanie
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