chefjenibel
- 295
Hey ladies! My Advanced Director asked me to share what my last year has been like with PC because my career has changed drastically in the last 12 months. So, since I had to type it all out, I thought I would share it here, too, so we can all help encourage each other through the down times.....so here goes:
After having my third child in May of 2005 and spending the entire year only doing enough shows to keep my head above water, I was seriously considering quitting my Pampered Chef business by January 2006. The last Cooking Show I had done was in early November and I was able to scrape up a few orders to stay active through December. I had struggled the entire year. I attended Monthly Cluster meetings few and far between. I just felt that I didn't have the motivation to continue. I didn't have any show prospects and felt like my business was failing. As a final effort, I chose to attend the January Cluster meeting at Anne's house.
I was the only person from my immediate cluster that was able to attend that night, and, honestly can't recall actually knowing many people who were there seeing as it had been a while since I'd last attended. Something clicked that night. I still remember Anne talking about something she had just learned at Leadership....."What you do in the next 60 days will affect your business for the rest of the year". We also all brainstormed, talked about "lofty goals", and then actually sat down and broke down the numbers to see what each of us had to do to reach any of the incentive levels for Golden Treasures. That meeting became my inspiration. I felt like I actually had a chance to do this. To make this happen.
So I GOT ON THE PHONE!!!!!!! And guess what? I got bookings. Then I got bookings from bookings. My first show of 2006 was in February. It was my first $1000 show (I have had three more since). I had two shows in February, then one in March, three in both April and May, then six in June. Things have continued to progress since then. For the first time since I started this business (in July 2004), my month was full before it began! I attended monthly Cluster Meetings religiously. I hired a babysitter if I had to. The meetings are essential to my business. My main point in all of this is that it doesn't happen overnight. And what we've all been told from day one is 100% true: You get out of this business exactly what you put into it! I worked my business and my business worked for me. I was able to earn new fall products and new spring products, and I earned Level 1 of Golden Treasures. It has truly been an amazing year! And 2006 was so much EASIER than 2005. It was SO HARD to find shows to just reach that minimum every two months. But when I had a regular show schedule, I just kept booking more shows. And the more shows I did, the more comfortable I became. I love my business!
I am starting January with 7 shows on my calendar, and I know this year will be the best yet!
Side note - My business is nowhere near as successful as many others, but it's successful for me and that is what is most important!
After having my third child in May of 2005 and spending the entire year only doing enough shows to keep my head above water, I was seriously considering quitting my Pampered Chef business by January 2006. The last Cooking Show I had done was in early November and I was able to scrape up a few orders to stay active through December. I had struggled the entire year. I attended Monthly Cluster meetings few and far between. I just felt that I didn't have the motivation to continue. I didn't have any show prospects and felt like my business was failing. As a final effort, I chose to attend the January Cluster meeting at Anne's house.
I was the only person from my immediate cluster that was able to attend that night, and, honestly can't recall actually knowing many people who were there seeing as it had been a while since I'd last attended. Something clicked that night. I still remember Anne talking about something she had just learned at Leadership....."What you do in the next 60 days will affect your business for the rest of the year". We also all brainstormed, talked about "lofty goals", and then actually sat down and broke down the numbers to see what each of us had to do to reach any of the incentive levels for Golden Treasures. That meeting became my inspiration. I felt like I actually had a chance to do this. To make this happen.
So I GOT ON THE PHONE!!!!!!! And guess what? I got bookings. Then I got bookings from bookings. My first show of 2006 was in February. It was my first $1000 show (I have had three more since). I had two shows in February, then one in March, three in both April and May, then six in June. Things have continued to progress since then. For the first time since I started this business (in July 2004), my month was full before it began! I attended monthly Cluster Meetings religiously. I hired a babysitter if I had to. The meetings are essential to my business. My main point in all of this is that it doesn't happen overnight. And what we've all been told from day one is 100% true: You get out of this business exactly what you put into it! I worked my business and my business worked for me. I was able to earn new fall products and new spring products, and I earned Level 1 of Golden Treasures. It has truly been an amazing year! And 2006 was so much EASIER than 2005. It was SO HARD to find shows to just reach that minimum every two months. But when I had a regular show schedule, I just kept booking more shows. And the more shows I did, the more comfortable I became. I love my business!
I am starting January with 7 shows on my calendar, and I know this year will be the best yet!
Side note - My business is nowhere near as successful as many others, but it's successful for me and that is what is most important!
