Anyone Else Have These Issues ??

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Discussion Overview

The thread explores personal experiences and challenges faced by participants in balancing their Pampered Chef business with personal life, particularly in the context of relationships and financial pressures. Participants share their feelings about time commitments, financial struggles, and the emotional toll of pursuing business goals.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses frustration about the time spent on Pampered Chef affecting their relationship with their spouse, who is concerned about the stress of pursuing a director position.
  • Another participant shares their experience of feeling torn between personal commitments and business aspirations, highlighting the impact of financial discussions on their relationship.
  • Several users mention the challenges of managing commissions and fundraising efforts, with one participant noting they give away most of their commission due to a thin program.
  • One participant discusses their enjoyment of both their part-time job and Pampered Chef, contrasting it with previous negative work experiences.
  • Another participant reflects on their desire to explore additional business opportunities while managing their current commitments, indicating a need for personal fulfillment.
  • One participant shares their experience of starting Pampered Chef to raise money for a family health issue, expressing challenges in covering costs and managing time effectively.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ among participants regarding the balance between personal life and business commitments, with some expressing similar struggles while others offer differing perspectives on managing financial pressures and time constraints.

Contextual Notes

Participants are primarily consultants navigating the complexities of running a Pampered Chef business while managing personal relationships and financial responsibilities. The discussions reflect a range of emotional responses to these challenges.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants facing similar challenges in balancing their business with personal life may find the shared experiences relatable and insightful.

Kathytnt
Messages
2,616
I love PC but we are still newlyweds and my hubby hates the time it keeps us apart. I furgure I have to makes some money somehow. I do have a PT job which he doesn't seem to mind. I got started doing fundraisers and have been giving away most of my commision since our program is a bit thin in comparison to there's out there. Kind of wish they would have a return to the cookbook fundraiser or something.

Anyway - I have recruited a few but he doesn't like the time I spend there and worries that I will get stressed out tyring to become and stay a director. I get gung ho on something then I fee l like he is pulling me back at times. I feel like a yo-yo sometimes. I love him dearly - I do have a competitive streak but no where to pursue that part of me. It is hard to do things half-way for me. I will probably sign #5 next month but my third person will go inactive so I will maintain FD I hope.

I love spending time with my hubby but I am also tiredof hearing about how tight the budget is all the time - He allowed me to go to a PT job because my other job was so stressful. Well honestly hearing about the budget all the time is just as stressful because part of the reason the budget is tight is we are paying off old debts of mine. We are not broke - we are just not putting as much in savings as he would like.

We probably will not go on a vacation this year because I went to conference.

Anyway - I just don't know if anyone else is facing some of these things - It's just hard to talk to my director about a goal when I don't really know what to do. I feel very torn
 
Kathytnt said:
He allowed me to go to a PT job because my other job was so stressful.


It seems that there may be issues that go deeper than whether or not you continue doing PC. I hope everything works out for you.:)
 
Kathytnt said:
I love PC but we are still newlyweds and my hubby hates the time it keeps us apart. I furgure I have to makes some money somehow. I do have a PT job which he doesn't seem to mind. I got started doing fundraisers and have been giving away most of my commision since our program is a bit thin in comparison to there's out there. Kind of wish they would have a return to the cookbook fundraiser or something.

Anyway - I have recruited a few but he doesn't like the time I spend there and worries that I will get stressed out tyring to become and stay a director. I get gung ho on something then I fee l like he is pulling me back at times. I feel like a yo-yo sometimes. I love him dearly - I do have a competitive streak but no where to pursue that part of me. It is hard to do things half-way for me. I will probably sign #5 next month but my third person will go inactive so I will maintain FD I hope.

I love spending time with my hubby but I am also tiredof hearing about how tight the budget is all the time - He allowed me to go to a PT job because my other job was so stressful. Well honestly hearing about the budget all the time is just as stressful because part of the reason the budget is tight is we are paying off old debts of mine. We are not broke - we are just not putting as much in savings as he would like.

We probably will not go on a vacation this year because I went to conference.

Anyway - I just don't know if anyone else is facing some of these things - It's just hard to talk to my director about a goal when I don't really know what to do. I feel very torn

LOL!! Wait til FED EX comes with my kit and my live in boyfriend has no idea its coming because I got the eye roll when I wanted to do it LAST summer.

I still havent told him, was going to tell him this weekend on vacation but it just never came up. he call me his little PC girl but lordy, he has NO idea....Im right next to you but in a slightly different boat!

I need something. Im a single mom. I've been with John now for almost 4 years. My son and I have lived with him for over 2 and everything awesome. I just need a PT gig and I dont have the option for someone to tell me when I can work. I need to tell them and its my adult time with the "girls" while making money. See? I can tell YOU but Icant tell him b/c Im so darn insecure......I tried Avon last year (NOV) and quit it when I signed with PC. Avon was TONS of work for menial profits, and I couldnt do it anymore...

Should be interesting....I think we owe ourselves do something that makes us happy and helps out our home life in more than one way. When it takes a way from a happy home, something has to be reconfigured. Im hoping to one or 2 cooking shows a month and however many catalog shows I can physically handle! LOL....

Tell me when you have the answer, ma'am!

D
 
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Well he wanted me to find a job I enjoyed - I enjoy both my PT job and PC about 95% of the time

At my old job I was getting treated rudely by people because our system was designed poorly (where do they get these project managers?) and I was one of the lucky application security people that got dumped on but had no control over the sitation. That kind of lovely job I can do without.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #5
Then I was at the women's expo over the weekend and saw another cool product and now he is even more worried. But honey - It's compeltely different from PC and I really like the products and could make a few $$$$

It will probably be a thing that I do for the discount and sell to a few friends
 
Kathytnt said:
Then I was at the women's expo over the weekend and saw another cool product and now he is even more worried. But honey - It's compeltely different from PC and I really like the products and could make a few $$$$

It will probably be a thing that I do for the discount and sell to a few friends


YOUUUU have my attentionnnnnnnn:love:
 
Kathy,

I can understand where you are coming from. My DH doesn't understand that we have more bills than money and me not getting the shows I need (I am working the 3-2-1 but will snail results) that puts a damper in our situation. Then he wants me to stay home with DD and I said no way, she is going to school (PRE-K) even if I have to get shows out of thin air!

Why are you giving away your commission? I know our FR program is not the best, but that is what we have. Please, don't give away what you cannot afford to give. This is your job.

Emphasize the host benefits when you are booking your cooking shows. Don't offer more. Then they will see how generous the company really is. If you are confident in the host benefits they will see it too.

Just a suggestion, have you gotten the book Come to the basement? It is about Jay Christopher, if I am not mistaken. Have your DH read it and see what he thinks.

I am sorry you are going through this and I hope things will turn around. Best wishes to you!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #8
I don't know if I am allowed to talk about it - It's not technically self-promoting if I haven't signed up yet is it??? It is hse thinkgs called Power Pops - They have other products too but I am of course interested in weight loss and energy. I tried my second one today and had to make sure I ate something because I was forgetting to eat. I am a person that forever has an appetite. It's Hoodia, Guarana, L-Tyrosine (amino acids) , B-6, B-12, Citirmax etc. They taste yummy and boy did they have an affect on my appetite. I bought about 6 now I am worried about running out.
Not sure what I will do but I may sign up for the discount and sell a few to friends -
Looked at their business cards and banners - The banner prices will have you thinking Merrill is inexpensive LOL!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #9
OK - The commision thing When I got started my mom was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma so I started PC to help raise money for the LLS. Unfortuantely I didn't realize how busy I was going to be and I am also not covering my costs on shows. I am revamping my program for the fall.
 
Kathytnt said:
I don't know if I am allowed to talk about it - It's not technically self-promoting if I haven't signed up yet is it??? It is hse thinkgs called Power Pops - They have other products too but I am of course interested in weight loss and energy. I tried my second one today and had to make sure I ate something because I was forgetting to eat. I am a person that forever has an appetite. It's Hoodia, Guarana, L-Tyrosine (amino acids) , B-6, B-12, Citirmax etc. They taste yummy and boy did they have an affect on my appetite. I bought about 6 now I am worried about running out.
Not sure what I will do but I may sign up for the discount and sell a few to friends -
Looked at their business cards and banners - The banner prices will have you thinking Merrill is inexpensive LOL!


WOW! I LOVE food so much and if somethings going to make me forget about it, Im all for it! I quit smoking last July (06) cold turkey and on came the weight.....that good eh?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #11
I work in a vitamin dept so I know these ingredients - I also know that not everythings wroks on everyone. If I decide to sign up I will send you a sample to see if you find them effective for you.

I talk to the lady tomorrow morning
 
Kathytnt said:
I work in a vitamin dept so I know these ingredients - I also know that not everythings wroks on everyone. If I decide to sign up I will send you a sample to see if you find them effective for you.

I talk to the lady tomorrow morning


Awww..thanks...this no smoking thing will kill me first before the nicotine did! lol...dont miss it at all though!! (LYIIIINNNGGGGGG!)
 
Kathytnt said:
OK - The commision thing When I got started my mom was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma so I started PC to help raise money for the LLS. Unfortuantely I didn't realize how busy I was going to be and I am also not covering my costs on shows. I am revamping my program for the fall.


I can understand that too. Wow you have had a lot to handle and I give you credit. Keep us posted on how things go. Sometimes it feels better to get it all out. How is you mom doing?

I too have revamped and set new goals. I just keep praying everyday that I will get that magic show to get me off and running.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #14
It has been crazy - We got married Nov 05 Mom was diagnosed 3 weeks later. I started PC in late Feb - She passed in June 06. Left the IT job in August 06.
We thought mom was going better and then it flared up in her spinal fluid and she was to weak to handle radiation after the extensive rounds of chemo. It was stage IV by the time she was diagnosed.
 
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  • #15
Well if I could just stop eating cold turkey I would have not problem losing weight
 
Kathytnt said:
It has been crazy - We got married Nov 05 Mom was diagnosed 3 weeks later. I started PC in late Feb - She passed in June 06. Left the IT job in August 06.
We thought mom was going better and then it flared up in her spinal fluid and she was to weak to handle radiation after the extensive rounds of chemo. It was stage IV by the time she was diagnosed.


OH! I am so sorry about your mom!
 
Kathy
I work in a high stress job in a trauma hospital and do PC for fun and for all the fabulous products. My husband and son are very supportive and remember it is the quality of time spend with them not the quantity.
I plan to do 3-5 shows a month (if possible) LOL
Cathy
 
  • Thread starter
  • #18
Thank you Rebecca - Ironically Mom really didn't want me doing PC I raise money for LLS and other cancer reaearch because it makes me feel like I am helping. You feel so helpless when a loved one is ill and you can't do anything to make them betther
 
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  • #19
My hubby is a very laidback kind of guy - Doesn't like a busy lifestyle. I love spending time with him. It's just that the PT job is always a consistent steady income stream where PC because of the fundraiser program I chose to do can get a little frustating when you put in a lot of time, make no money and your know there are those occasionlly frustrating hosts LOL! I laugh now but we have all had them
 
Kathytnt said:
Thank you Rebecca - Ironically Mom really didn't want me doing PC I raise money for LLS and other cancer reaearch because it makes me feel like I am helping. You feel so helpless when a loved one is ill and you can't do anything to make them betther

That is so true. I just had my first fundraiser in July (back in San Diego on vacation). I flubbed the whole explanation and finally just said here's the flyer and you get 15% when the show is over $600. Their brother died of cancer of the liver and they have been my hosts for 3 years. Thank goodness they were all for it because I couldn't give away my commission no matter how much I wanted to. They are such a nice family and I consider the host a friend. The show was almost $700.
 
Hi Kathy!

SOrry to hear that your DH isn't supportive. Mine isn't really, either. There are days, like today, when I really think that I should just quit PC, because: #1 - I get bummed when people say no, and #2 - my show schedule pretty much bites. #3 - I don't really enjoy doing shows anyway (my hosts and guest really don't know that, though!). Then I think about all the free stuff I get, and the discounted stuff I get, and the fun I have as part of the cluster, and I think that I should stick with it. I have my good days and my bad days. However, I make at least my minimum every month, and I do talk to people about PC. The biggest thing for me is the flexibility I have with MY OWN BUSINESS. That's why I stick with it.
Is there a way you can have you DH help you, or get involved in some way so he feels like you are spending time together, even though you're doing PC?
Just a thought....

Hope things work out for you!! ;)
 
Kathy, have you had any luck creating a schedule so that you are limiting how much time you are putting into PC?

You might also suggest that DH start doing a night out with the boys or maybe a movie night at the house. Get him to find some hobbies that he can do when you are out/making calls so that he is not sitting at home alone thinking aobut how you are not available.
 
ljeffries said:
It seems that there may be issues that go deeper than whether or not you continue doing PC. I hope everything works out for you.:)
I agree! Sometimes "laid back" is another way of saying "controlling". I'm not trying to dog your DH, but my husband is "laid back" too. What that really means is he wants his life and everything in and around it to be "laid back". In other words, don't inconvenience DH. We've done a lot of compromising in our 15 years, and one compromise is DH had to learn to GET OVER IT! And I had to learn to "chill out" by not doing too much and unnecessarily inconveniencing him and ignoring him because I was/am too busy.
 
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I have to set aside family time every month on my calendar and NOT compromise it at all. My family needs to know that THEY are priority over PC. Now, with that said, as long as there is family time on my calendar ahead of time, they can't whine and complain when I need to make my calls and do shows.

My DH does get tired of PC but he also knows how much I love it. When I was able to sit with him and find a compromise that would prevent me from having to quit altogether things have been much better.
 
Denarella said:
LOL!! Wait til FED EX comes with my kit and my live in boyfriend has no idea its coming because I got the eye roll when I wanted to do it LAST summer.

I still havent told him, was going to tell him this weekend on vacation but it just never came up. he call me his little PC girl but lordy, he has NO idea....Im right next to you but in a slightly different boat!

I need something. Im a single mom. I've been with John now for almost 4 years. My son and I have lived with him for over 2 and everything awesome. I just need a PT gig and I dont have the option for someone to tell me when I can work. I need to tell them and its my adult time with the "girls" while making money. See? I can tell YOU but Icant tell him b/c Im so darn insecure......I tried Avon last year (NOV) and quit it when I signed with PC. Avon was TONS of work for menial profits, and I couldnt do it anymore...

Should be interesting....I think we owe ourselves do something that makes us happy and helps out our home life in more than one way. When it takes a way from a happy home, something has to be reconfigured. Im hoping to one or 2 cooking shows a month and however many catalog shows I can physically handle! LOL....

Tell me when you have the answer, ma'am!

D
D,
What in the world? Is this a joke? Are you seriously hiding this from him because you think he's going to be upset? OR are you just kidding, and he won't really care? Please, don't take this the wrong way. I'm not judging you. I really am concerned about you, because you are living with a boyfriend rather than a committed husband, and you are too insecure to tell your 4 year boyfriend, 2 year live in boyfriend, that you're going to be a PC consultant. That is why I'm asking if you're joking that he will care. I hope you can work this out.
 
Hi Kathy. I live in Allen, TX. So close. I am frustrated too. I try but there is so much unpredictability with hostesses even when you put in a lot of time. Today my favorite hostess cancelled her Sept 22 party. She had contacted me asking for a meeting Aug 22 to plan a show for Sept 22. She had had a $1272 show back in March and had been thinking about signing on as my recruit. She did a 180 on that and now she has just backed out of her Sept. 22nd show. I just got 4 parties lined up for Sept. and was feeling like a might come out of my Aug slump and now I am back down to 3. This kind of thing is part of why I have been feeling depressed. I don't know how many hours and calls it would take to fill that date. I honestly just don't get paid that much. Sorry for the negativity.
 
I feel that way sometimes, too, especially when I'm PMS'ing. Today, I was very down because it was looking like only 3 or 4 people were going to come to my show tonight. I have to stop the negative self talk and think positive when that happens. I ended up having five people, one who was unexpected. One peron didn't come who was supposed to come, so I'll call her later. Tomorrow is a new day. Keep working the 3-2-1 plan and give yourself a raise. I know I'll have to work even harder at the beginning of my business because I don't have as many people in front of me. But if I keep working my plan to reach my goals it will get easier. For example, I was so bummed about having a barely $300 show in June. I added a $100 order to make it a $300 show. My "only" booking was a catalog show. It ended up being $400+ with another catalog booking for August, which ended up being a $500 show. That $500 catalog host booked her own February show. Keep looking back at the good and what you did to get there. Keep doing it. When you have a solid show schedule a cancellation here and there won't be too big of a deal. Even though I've sold PC for over 6 years, I've only been recently selling for 4 months. It's been 5 1/2 years since I was selling before, so I'm starting over from scratch. I feel like I'm working my butt off, but I know at times I could be working harder by making more phone calls.
You may get down. Don't stay down!
 
Kathy,

A supportive spouse is very important. If you schedule "office hours" for yourself, this may help him see that this is a real business for you. Stick with PC, not adding additional companies. You need him to see that you are committed to PC. When you start bringing in that extra money, he is sure to see your commitment. My husband now ask me after each show how many bookings I got, how much are my sales? Even when I have had a low show $250, he was excited to hear I had booked 3 shows from it. I book around my family firstmost. Clients see my highlighted areas on my calendar. When a Saturday is not highlighted I can proudly say that my daughter has soccer and this is not an available date.

My September commissions I'm proud to say are going to be our earnest money for a new home. My husband is very excited. I have a full-time job as a teacher, but my paycheck always went to other things. My "hobby" he now is seeing is becoming more. But my husband has been a support the whole way through. Have you thought about doing a couples show? My husband has joined me on a few and I actually had bookings that said they would only book if he came back!

A consultant (Now on the way to Advanced Director) I know, has spent two years with a non-supportive spouse. She has only been with the business for two years and has made remarkable strides. She continues by letting her husband know this business is important to her. Keep up the good work Kathy!!

Julie
 
I agree, skip the other job opportunity and do PC with all your heart. Work office hours and when he's home be with him. With the little $$ you are making treat him.
when I started Pc 13 years ago it paid fo Friday night pizza and a movie for us, (not that our budget didn't allow for it, but that was out family treat with mommy's $$)
Then it paid for the furniture I wanted but didn't need, we've taken our family of 5 to Hawaii for 9 days last year on my PC earnings.
Yuo can do it set some personal boundaries (no more giving away that commision, I know cancer research is important to you, but let PC award them)
 
Wow, reading this makes me realize how truly blessed I am. My DH supports me all the way. I can't even imagine why any husband wouldn't support it to be honest. I know my DH loves the extra money and loves the fact that I can get out of the house and be around other adults and enjoy myself at the same time. Sometimes I think some men need to find "hobbies" themselves, because they attach themselves too much on their wives. It's much healthier relationship when you have some separate activities. I know I would need a break from my DH if I wasn't doing PC. So sorry about your situation, and I hope you can work it out soon. Talk it over with him that way you can put this behind you and move forward.Good luck.
 

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