“This works! If it’s not working... it’s not this business.”
It was July 2003 when I signed up with Arbonne, a date that will be remembered, like my wedding and the birth of our two daughters, Mollie and Sophie, as one of the best days of my life. Unlike your wedding day and the births of your children though, when you sign up with Arbonne you have no idea how important it will become. In the beginning, you need to proceed on faith and trust your sponsor. At first, what opened my eyes, what I saw clearly, were paychecks; however, until I began making these paychecks, I had faith in my sponsors, and faith in Arbonne.
My husband, Anders, had a heavy equipment leasing and repair business. We had a lot of overhead, employees, insurance, responsibility, stress and spent a lot of hours working the business. When I was on maternity leave with Sophie, I prayed Anders would find something he loved to do, and be able to make a lot of money at the same time. Then, we found Arbonne.
We visited my cousin, ENVP (then AM) Wendi Skinner in December, and she told us she was getting her Mercedes-Benz in August by participating in the Mercedes-Benz Cash Bonus Program. I said, “That’s awesome, you’re doing great!” While we were staying in their driveway in our motor home (not the one in the picture), we ran out of soap, so Wendi gave us one of hers. I had to call her when we got home to tell her that I liked it, loved it and wanted more of it! Little did I know, seven months later I would be the one saying, “Here, take my soap.”
My sister and sponsor, ENVP Donna Jones had signed up in April 2003. My mother looked as though she had a facelift after using the NutriMinC® RE9® line, so everyone wanted to order what she was using. I told everyone they needed to try it. I also told my friend, RVP Kelly Woodring, to call Donna and get in this business. Initially, she chose to sell jewelry instead. Because she also waited, we ended up starting the business around the same time.
Meanwhile, my husband often said, “You need to take a look at what Wendi is doing. She’s a no-nonsense person, and if she says it’s a good thing, we need to get involved!” I was still hesitant, so I said, “You take a look at what Wendi’s doing. I’ve just had a baby and was hoping that you would find something, not me.” In July, Donna was finishing DM and asked me to go to a Presentation. ENVP Susan Hutton did a small Presentation in her aunt’s home. I saw the paychecks she and ENVP Shannon Johnson were making after only 10 months in the business, and the paychecks ENVP Donna Johnson was making after 15 years in the business.
I went home and told my husband I was going to do this business. We talked about the paychecks I saw, and he asked me how long Donna had been doing the business. When I told him, he said, “Well, there you go.” Then, I explained the checks I had seen were based on an accumulation of months, not years, of work. That is when he said, “Oh! You need to do this business.” We had nothing to lose by taking a chance.
Thankfully we did! I decided to give it all I had for one year, and see what happened. I called all my friends and asked, “Hey, you want to go on vacation? You want to earn a free trip? Come over to my house and I’ll tell you how!” We made it to RVP in five months, without really knowing how. Now as an NVP, I realize I know what I need to know. You just have to create enough activity and something will begin to grow; in that activity you get better at it. I did not have to know everything about “how,” I just had to know Why.
When I joined Arbonne, I already knew my Why because I already had big dreams and high expectations. I was merely searching for the right vehicle. I was tired of going to work and making money to buy the bread, only to eat the bread. We were blessed in life, but it was taking all our time and everything we could make to live the way we wanted. Following a short career in dental hygiene, I worked in real estate and spent a lot of money to make a lot of money. I came to realize, “It is not what you make, but what you keep.” I was under so much stress, being on the phone or in the car 60-plus hours a week, working on once-in-a-lifetime choices with people, and if they did not like the house after closing, we had a problem. Working with Arbonne, should you not like the color of a lipstick, no problem, we just send it back.
I did not wake up one day and say, “It is my dream to sell makeup,” but today selling makeup is making our dreams come true. Dreams of financial freedom, dreams of staying at home with my children and making money at the same time, dreams of a husband who is excited about the future and not frustrated with his business, dreams of my friends’ and their family’s lives being changed, dreams of having the freedom to travel around the country with my husband and children in our bus, and dreams of having enough money to put fuel in it. Thanks to Arbonne, we are "batting nearly 1,000" on everything.
I am grateful to Arbonne and its leadership for creating a company that I am proud to be a part of. It is an organization that is generous, fair, genuine and ethical, that honors all who buy and sell their products. I love being involved with a company whose president says, “Never say ‘I’ or ‘me’ and you will always succeed!” In just one phone call, President Rita Davenport can make you feel like you are the most valuable person at Arbonne. Thank you, Rita!
My husband says after 15 years and four career changes, this business suits me the best. This is the easiest thing I have ever done. If you think otherwise, look at your options and compare the money you are making and the time you are working at your Arbonne business. For me, being dressed up, eating chocolate covered strawberries, meeting new friends — that is easy. Is it work? Yes. Is it hard work? No! Keep everything in perspective. Keep everything simple, talk to everyone, and tell them how they too can have a new life. Arbonne is for everyone.
Making NVP is not about me. To my team: I am so thankful and proud of everyone. I know all of you were meant for Arbonne and I can imagine the special plans and purposes for your lives. To all our Clients and customers: Thank you for your loyalty to Arbonne.
To all our DMs: Thank you. Just keep on keeping on. To AM-in-qualification, Jackie Best and AMs, Tammy Cook, Hollie Gillis, Teresa Ryan, Dori Donaldson, Mandy Floyd, Darla LaRue, Stephanie Ledford, Lori Stephenson, Tamara Starz, Jackie Walls, Crystal Terry and Jennifer Ray: None of you will be AMs for long. To the woman who has been my best friend since the first grade, RVP Kelly Woodring: Thanks for not listening to me and signing up under my sister. A special thanks to our Ace in Alabama, RVP-in-qualification, Jan Briley. To RVP Dee Tidwell: You light up any room. I am so blessed to be able to call my business partners my best friends. I love you all!
To my mother and daddy, who are so supportive and encouraging: Thank you for instilling in me the concept that anything worthwhile is worth working at, that nothing is free and you make your own destiny. To my sister, ENVP Donna Jones: Thank you for giving me the gift of Arbonne. I love our new life together. I am so proud of you and thankful to be in business with you. To my cousin, ENVP Wendi Skinner: Thank you for your accountability, availability, advice and for being my friend.
Saving the best for last, to Mollie and Sophie: Thank you for being so good and understanding the nights mommy was gone, the time on the phone, and knowing it is all for you and that it is just for a season. To Anders: Thank you for making your schedule flexible and being available — we make a pretty good team. I love you!
To those on a similar path: Decide you want to become an NVP. Commit to doing whatever it takes, and throw your hat over the fence — you will have to go and get it. Remember, it is a temporary sacrifice for a lifelong gain. For a season, give up whatever is keeping you from NVP, and then live like you have never lived before.
The testimonials on this Web site reflect the actual experience of each individual, are anecdotal only, and may be atypical. The testimonials are not based upon any clinical study.
