“Sponsor with integrity, be persistent and focus your thoughts on what you want… Be positive all the time and take action!”
My story with Arbonne starts in May 2005, when a friend of mine, ENVP Roberta Santos, invited my husband and me over to her house for a dinner. I knew Roberta’s husband for about 20 years, as we are from the same hometown in Brazil. By inviting us to dinner, Roberta was trying to strengthening the relationship between us, taking advantage of the fact that we had recently moved to my parents’ house in Coral Springs, Florida, about 15 minutes from their house. As it happened, without knowing she was strengthening more than just our relationship, and in a time of turbulence in my life.
With a background of 17 years in corporate America’s airline industry, I earned lots of experience and worldwide travel opportunities. However, I had never gotten the things that were most important: Employment security and financial freedom.
September 11 caused a lot of downsizing, especially within the airline industry. I lost my job in 2005, a loss I was unprepared for but, having faith that God is always in charge of my destiny, I trusted that everything was going to be all right. After every storm there must be sunshine. When I received the wonderful gift called Arbonne, I had spent exactly a year under that storm of unemployment.
That stage of our life has inspired my husband and me to learn a lot of things. One of the most important is understanding how critical it is to have a plan B, at any and for any circumstances. We were going through a very difficult financial situation at that time, as all the money we had, we had used towards a very expensive medical treatment so that we could become parents. A baby was our dream, and we were blessed when I became pregnant with our girl, Victoria Louise!
I was exactly seven months pregnant when that dinner at Roberta’s brought Arbonne into my life. Though I loved the NutriMinC® RE9® products Roberta gave me to try, I told her that was unable to afford the products or starting costs of the business given that my husband and I almost lost our apartment due Hurricane Katrina. Because of that disaster, we were living with my parents, a favor I am forever grateful to them for. But Roberta’s excitement was contagious, and I offered to at least help her with referrals. Her kind reply was to present me with the ABC Arbonne Baby Care™ set along with my registration as an Arbonne Independent Consultant and the “Welcome to Business” kit as Victoria Louise’s baby shower gift. I clearly remember the day she said that this was the perfect opportunity for me to start building a financial life that would allow me to care for Victoria while still making a strong income. How right she was.
Five months later, I promoted to RVP while recovering from a C-section, and the brand new baby was riding in a brand new white Mercedes-Benz. With that momentum, the vehicle of Arbonne led us to success no matter what the obstacle — four-hour drives with a three-month-old baby, the shaky market of my husband’s real estate business, and constant dreamstealers. I would not give up!
Do not ever give up! With that extra stream of income, our life started to get back together financially speaking, and were able to move to our new home. Challenges were constantly there, but I kept focused on what was ahead, not glancing right or left at the doubts and difficulties. In the end, that effort allowed the great factor in Arbonne to prevail — the support. Because of the most awesome team I have, I was able to reach NVP in 12 months. I owe that surpassed standard to my wonderful team.
Born and raised in Brazil, but living in the USA for about 22 years, I was able to establish friendships within different heritages — including my wonderful Brazilian team. My gratitude goes out to all whose support gave strength to my focus and wings to my success.
The support of my family was very important, I cannot thank my parents enough; my mom RVP Luzenita Lopes got so inspired that she decided she would be no longer just a Client, and soon became one of my RVPs. Very special thanks to you, mom and daddy; I love you both so much. Thanks for watching Victoria during my trips, and thanks for having us in your house during those rainy days of our life.
My best friend, ERVP Juliana Oliveira, thank you for believing and trusting in me and, most importantly, for believing in yourself. You were and always will be my first business builder; we started this together, and we will enjoy it together.
To ERVP Regina Gusmao, the entire dictionary would not be enough to describe your attitude, bravery, determination and commitment. Your RVP was well deserved, along with that of your sister, RVP Renata Fonseca. What can I say about Renata? You are one of a kind; you were born to make a difference in peoples’ lives. Thank you so much for all your support and prayers; without you and your team, it would not be possible for us to be here today.
To my dear niece, RVP Milena dos Santos, you and I both know how much this journey meant to us in all aspects. I will never forget the day that you and your husband, AM Oscar Jibaja, opened your hearts to understanding this gift called Arbonne. We both know that there was a most important reason we love this journey; not only because of the financial potential nor because of the white Mercedes-Benz. Working together as a family has maximized the opportunity for us to be together. My heart felt so happy during some business trips we had done together. I could recall those days when you were just a little girl and now I am so proud of you; you only 22 and showed you could do it too. We laugh together, we cry sometimes; the bumps on the road make us stronger, Thank you for your incredible support. I love you so much and always will. Our team would not be the same without you! NVP is waiting for you …
My dear friend, EAM Cristina Nascimento, thank you for challenging me with the Rejuvenating Cream; you are the best! Your enthusiasm, determination, commitment and product knowledge were good examples for all of us. Thank you, and I will see you on the top, no matter how long it will take — I know that! Love ya!
To EAM Aline Souza, thank for your support, I know that, no matter how long it will take, you belong on top. I believe in you and your team and always will, especially EDM Ivette Young, a wonderful example to others.
EAM Viviane Azevedo, your support and commitment is just indescribably good. We learn a lot from each other; we worked, we travel, we had lots of no shows — big one’s — we sang Minh. With your good sense of humor we became good friends, and I cannot thank you enough for all your support, nor can I see my team without you. See you at the top, my friend, my future NVP of many.
To my sister-in-law, EAM Carolina Lopes, thank you for your support, thank you for believing in me, and, most importantly, believing in yourself. With the beautiful voice that God gave you to sing with, along with other talents within you, just believe that you can do it and you can! I am eager to see you write your history of success. Love you!
EAM Andrea Martins, your determination and commitment are standards for us all. Thank you and all your team in Atlanta. You guys are the best! DM Sabrina Maya, DM Rubia Batista, DM Jovania Lopes and AM Tania Faustino — NTC 2008 in Atlanta is all yours!
AM Andrea Moreira, your effort is one of a kind. You already requested your visa to go to Australia and share this wonderful gift with your contacts over there — your bravery means results will come. I wish you a blessed, happy and productive trip! Hope Next time I go with you My special thanks to: Dear EAM Veronica Amorin , AM Kenia Antunes, DM Leonardo Barroso, Simone Barroso, AM Karla Ribas, AM Mary Mates, DMs Denise and Ricardo Bauducci, DM Marilia Moraes, DM Ivanilde Souza, DM Clo Santos, DM Rocio, DM Debora Canhedo, DM Debora Armitage and DM Edilson Braz, and to my dear friends, DMs Dr. Olinda Silva, Frances Franca and Miriam Amado.
Very special thanks to my sponsor, ENVP Roberta Santos! You are a milestone! Thank you for your incredible support, especially during my recovery after I delivered my baby girl. I will never forget what you have done to make it possible for us to get in to this opportunity; may God bless you and your family always. Your passion was contagious and important for all of us, as was your leadership!
ENVP Lucy de Paula, it was a plus to know you through Arbonne. Thank you for your kindness, prayers, and teamwork spirit.
ENVP Shannon Johnson, what a blessing to know people like you; thank you for believing in us, and thank you for your support!
My dear EDM and wonderful husband, Fernando Alves: Babe, you know that I would not be here today if was not for your incredible support by all means. Thank you for your shoulder on the rainy days, thank your for your prayers and your encouraging words to me, thank you for showing me the real me and thank you for been a super daddy to Victoria while I was holding Presentations locally and out of state those many times. Your Web trainings, your business knowledge, and much more helped all of us to maximize our professionalism. Many sacrifices we have made, but we both know our big Why is our baby, Victoria. We are doing this to offer her a better future. I love you, and Hawaii is waiting for us.
Many thanks to my in-laws, Ercilia and Antonio, who came from Brazil especially to help us with the baby on the month I was going to reach my NVP. Thank you so much.
To my daughter, Victoria Louise: Mom and daddy are doing this for you. When you become big enough to understand, mom will tell you details of how far we walk in faith for you to be here, and now that you are here, we are working our best to offer you a wonderful future and leave you a legacy of integrity and attitude. Mom loves you more you can imagine; you are our big Why!
Special thanks to all my Clients and Consultants, who purchase product at a discount and share your love of Arbonne with everyone. For each of you that took the time to read my story and have not experienced Arbonne yet, my most important message to you is, “It does not hurt to give it a try.”
Last but not least, to our President Rita Davenport, thank you for understanding our needs so that we can perform this journey in the best way possible … I felt so proud when you called to congratulate me for my promotion to NVP. You took the time to do it! Wow!
Our Chairman & CEO Bob Henry, we are very proud to have leaders like you. I look forward to seeing you and Rita during the NVP retreat in Hawaii. You inspire us to keep moving forward and never give up.
Our VP Support, you guys are the best!
The most important thanks to God, who gave me the strength and wisdom to be here today. I do believe that with Him, all things are possible.
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.
