Honestly Speaking (Part 2)

Whew! That was a lot of information hurled at you in Part 1. (You can read that HERE!) Can you believe I have a few more things to say?? I do. without further adieu...

1) Network marketing takes time and effort. What? You thought it was all beaches and vacations? Sure, it's attainable, but nothing in life comes free, even in network marketing. As I said in part 1, the work isn't hard, nor is it easy, but it is simple when you follow the steps that are laid out before you. Even if you're just starting out as one of the first consultants in a brand new company, there are still steps and systems in place that other companies have successfully used. The amount of time you commit to working at your business will determine how successful you'll be. You can download podcasts and other audio tools to listen to on your way to work. Turn your vehicle into "Drive Time University." Instead of watching TV, use that time to read something about your company that you can use when you're talking to people about your business. During commercials, if you must watch TV, send a text, private message on social media, or email to at least 5 people. When you're on social media during your lunch break at work, do the same thing! You have more time than you may think-- especially when you think about the fact that most (if not all) of the "work" can be done on your phone!

Photo Credit: QuotesGram.com

2) You're going to feel like you're riding a roller coaster. There are ups, downs, corkscrew twists, sharp turns, violent drops, and sudden surges to the top. Some days are going to boost your confidence because you got a "yes" when you asked someone to try what you had to offer; other days are going to make you feel like throwing in the towel, changing your name, and moving to a foreign country because someone said you're wasting everyone's time and money. I have a little glimmer of hope, though, if you keep putting in consistent time and effort, and you're always learning, those dips and flips become less harsh and less frequent, the ups are going to go higher and higher, and you'll be helping so many other people that you will be the expert in their eyes!

Photo Credit: CoasterGallery.com

And my final thought about network marketing...
3) You're going to build some amazing relationships! When you're in network marketing, you meet a lot of new people. A lot! I emphasize this because you're always talking to people. Open mouth, open business. Closed mouth, closed business. Not every person you meet is going to want your product or service, but they may know someone who does. You can't just walk up to them and say, "Hey! You're [enter compliment here], join my business/buy my product/pay for my services!" You need to build relationships. Get to know the people you meet. Show genuine interest in them. The relationships you forge will sometimes come from the most unlikely of places! The best relationships I've forged in my time of network marketing have happened when I'm out running errands. My pharmacist and I talk once a week because there is always a prescription for one of my family members to be picked up. I talk to her! I also talk to the dog groomer, my hair stylist, my hair stylist's waiting clients, every cashier, every person in the bank that asks me what I do (While it's illegal to solicit on federal property-- including banks, it's technically not soliciting if they ask you, therefore not illegal.) I don't believe in coincidences. I believe God puts people and things in our path for a reason, whether that reason is to help us get to the next leg of our journeys, or for us to help others. So, talk to people! You never know who is secretly wishing for what you have to offer. And you may need their services or products! Life is more fun with friends anyways. Who knows, you may not have made any business contacts, but you may have made some new karaoke pals!

Photo Credit: Aquila-Style.com

Honestly Speaking (Part 1)

You know, I have always thought I wasn't cut out for network marketing, but in reality, we're all network marketers.

Think about it. What do you do when you find a recipe you love? You post about it on social media, call your mom, sister, and best friend, and then tell everyone at church about it. What do you do when you hate something? Same thing. What are you doing? You're marketing for someone else! If you love Kraft's new flavor of marshmallow, you're giving them free marketing! (I must note, I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with Kraft Foods, Inc.) Point made. But are you getting paid to market those products or services? Unless you signed up for a business kit and got a website, no.

Some think I'm crazy for giving network marketing yet another chance. I've tried several. All of them with the same basic skeleton of how the company works. The muscles, joints, and tendons may be a bit different, but most of them all follow the same big names, use the same basic scripts, and provide the same basic concept. The difference? The products or services being offered, sometimes the way you're paid, how much you're paid, and how often you receive your cut for your hard work. If you're like me, you like a lot of different products. But there's always one that you are in l.o.v.e. with. My passion is makeup. (Duh, right?) So when I had a chance to jump on board a newly launched company (ok, it's 4 years old now...), I took the chance. I sold my most favorite crafting tool, my Cricut Expressions Machine (again, no affiliation whatsoever), and used that money as my start-up capitol investment. I took a shot.

But honestly speaking, after making my initial investment back, which was easy when so many people in my warm market were willing to help me, I had to get down to brass tacks. I had to start putting my nose to the grindstone and start really marketing. It's not hard, and it's not easy, either. But it is simple. Following the plan, putting my emotions aside (my biggest problem), and building my business is taking more time than I had initially thought. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not quitting anytime soon. I just want to be honest with you. Here are some facts about network marketing that not many people are going to share with you:

1) It is NOT a pyramid scheme. A pyramid scheme would have you starting at the bottom and working your way up, but in the meantime, offering no product or service in exchange for money. Pyramid schemes are illegal!! In network marketing, you start at the top and build your business with others who are like-minded, driven, and just as passionate. They become part of your team while building their team as the CEO! All the while, you're offering quality products or services. (Really, working your way up a corporate ladder seems like more of a scam to me!)

Now research "Corporate Pyramid" and see who's really being scammed. Photo Credit: BrilliantExchange.com

2) Network marketing isn't about money. Well, not your money. Strange, right? It's about helping others build their networks and markets. Teaching, coaching, mentoring, and leading are the tools to greatness. Learn what others need and fill the need. Have you seen the movie Robots? The CEO of the biggest and brightest invention company in the world, Mr. Bigweld, has a saying, "See a need, fill a need." I truly believe in this motto and have adopted it for myself when it comes to my business. Help others looking for an opportunity to stay at home with their babies, or supplement their income. Show them the ropes. Tell them that while it's not about the money, the money will eventually come.

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

And that leads me to my next point...
3) You're not going to get rich quick. No network marketer got rich quick. Some of them may have shot to success quickly, but they didn't make six-figures overnight. They followed the steps laid out before them or blazed a new trail to get to that mark. Some of them took weeks to get to that point, but most of them took months or years. Any network marketing company will tell you to give it at least a year to make back your initial investment and three to five to get to the six-figure income. But you must put in the work. (I swear I just heard some of you sigh in anguish.)

Photo Credit: BarbAvery.com

To Be Continued...

Now Featuring...

See that?! I want to make every Friday a post about a different business outside of my own. It could be another blog, a local, regional, or global business, a project, a product or service-- Whatever it is! The only thing I want to maintain is the integrity of my posts and keeping each product or service family-friendly. Here's how it's going to work:

Every Friday, I'll feature someone or something new. I'll ask the owner a series of questions in an interview-type form, and then I'll share the link so that you can take a look at their product or services!

I was planning on making TODAY the first of the series, but I procrastinated. So, I kept it short and sweet!

Do you have a product/service/blog/project/business, etc. that you'd like to feature? Drop it in the comments! (Be sure to leave your email so that we can set up an interview!)

Your Mama Taught You Wrong!

Oh my lanta!!! Did you see that Younique just sold 6.8 MILLION dollars worth of cosmetics yesterday?! Not too shabby for a 3 year old company that's still expanding and growing globally! I'm proud to say, a portion of that came from my sales.

But sales isn't everything. You know what I like more than sales? Showing women how to use their cosmetics to make them feel beautiful while still looking natural. I'm reminded of the Full House episode where DJ and Kimmy try applying makeup and go overboard.

"Assume the position!"

Becky comes in to help DJ fix her face and says, "...The secret to wearing makeup is to look like you're not wearing any." Truth!

While it's fun to add color to your eyelids and lips to make your features stand out, let's not look like clowns, shall we? (For the sake of heart and nerve health everywhere, I shall refrain from using a clown image.)

Right now, to get the basics down, let's talk about what your Mama probably taught you about foundation and concealer. You probably learned that concealer goes on FIRST, and foundation goes on top. WRONG!! I'll have posts about each of these products (Find them all HERE!) later on in the series, but here are a few things you need to get a flawless, natural-looking complexion:

1) A clean face. A pea-sized amount of Younique's Illuminate in Clean (Normal/Dry Skin) or Clear (Oily Skin) will get the job done!

2) A great moisturizer! Divine Daily Moisturizer is great for all skin types, and you really don't need a whole lot. Apply a generous pea-sized amount to your face, avoiding your eye area. Before applying, feel for your zygomatic bone (the bone under your eye), and DO NOT apply above that. Your moisturizer will feather up as it dries and end up moisturizing there, too. You don't want moisturizer in the eye area for the obvious reason of getting it IN your eyes, but also so that your makeup won't smudge and smear. (Quick Tip!)

3) A good face primer! Glorious Face and Eye Primer is just that-- glorious! Most women don't think a primer is useful. Their moms didn't use a primer, so why should they? Well, let me share something with you. A primer smooths your skin and seals your pores to give you a porcelain-smooth appearance. When you're using liquid foundation, primer is your best friend! Primer also softens your skin, gives a more youthful appearance (who doesn't want that?!), makes pigments and colors brighter, and helps your makeup last longer than if you skipped this step. Unlike the moisturizer, use a pea-sized amount for your entire face. 

4) Foundation. Now we're getting down to business! Younique offers a several different options to choose from, but the #1 BEST SELLERS are the Touch Mineral Liquid Foundation (aka Liquid Gold), and Touch Mineral Cream Foundation. Touch Mineral Powder Foundation is best for oily skin or to use as a setting powder. I'll talk more about the others later, but for my video, I used the Liquid Foundation. Just five drops covers your whole face! 

5) Concealer. A good concealer is worth its weight in gold if it covers all of your blemishes and flaws. I'll be using Touch Mineral Skin Perfecting Concealer, but another option is Moodstruck Minerals Concealer, which is a powder. It's also great for setting your makeup.

 Now let's learn how to correctly apply your concealer!! Don't worry, I'll have a video showing you how to properly apply your liquid foundation another time. And, yes, I know I am a hot mess in this video. I don't mind. If it entertains you, it was worth it!

Next time you see someone applying concealer BEFORE foundation, be a friend and stop her! Her mama probably taught her wrong, too.

Smooches!
Amanda

Today is The Day!

Oh. My. Gosh!!!! Today is the day!!!

I was a little late getting this post out because it's Spring Break, two of my kids are at grandpa's, so the oldest kiddo and I made a trip to Tim Horton's for some mom/son time. Please forgive me. 

A few things you should know about me: 

1) I believe in God. I believe that Jesus died and rose again. And I believe that every person on earth is worthy of hearing the gospel. 

2) My family comes after my time with Jesus, but before everything else. No exceptions. 

3) I'm usually pretty calm and laid back, fun, and easy to get along with-- until my family is put into danger. Then I become a different animal. Which leads me to my next fact...

4) My nickname is QueenBee, or Queenie for short, thanks to my husband. He said I reign supreme over all other women in all facets (which is NOT entirely true), and that I'm a busy-bee-- always doing something social. I like to say that I'm a Queen for completely different reasons. 

Enough about me. Let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Let's talk about YOU! If you've been following me for any amount of time, you know that I love makeup. I not only love it, I also share my love for it. I know there are many of you out there that will say, "That's great, Amanda, but I don't wear makeup because [enter reasoning here]." Most of the time, it's because makeup seems intimidating or hard. Sometimes it's because the person objecting really doesn't like makeup. That's cool, too! But for those of you who are intimidated by the thought of stepping up your makeup game beyond mascara and eyeliner, or for those of you wanting to learn new tips and tricks, you're going to LOVE this announcement:

Starting this week, I'll be offering MAKEUP CLASSES!!! Live, virtual, and right here in my blog!! Yes, it's true!!! We'll start with the basics and work our way up to professional level work. I'll answer questions along the way that you send to my inbox or post below.

I'm so excited to be on this journey with all of you!!

--Amanda

P.S. What makeup tip do you most want to learn?