1st Real Party

On Saturday, I finally had my first real party.  I was more nervous than when I did my launch party mostly because the contents of my kit were new and I did not had as much time to practice.  I was also planning on trying some new games and was not sure how they were going to work.  One of the most important things to me is that all my guests have a good time, so I am trying to determine the best games and activities to have at my parties.

For my ice breaker, I had planned on doing a candy bar exchange.  I had the hostess call everyone and ask them to bring a candy bar to the party.  Only about 4 people actually brought candy bars, so it was good thing that I had plan B.  I had brought a package of Hersey Kisses just in case.  I passed around the kisses and let everyone enjoy chocolate and introduce themselves.

For my presentation and activity, I tried to do a white elephant exchange - did not work very well.  Important lesson learned, prepare the activity for the audience.  My audience's average age was over 60 and a nice game of Bingo would have worked well.  Second important lesson learned - have a back-up plan.  I did not have a game of bingo to pull out of my supplies.  I had brought my purse game outline, but only a few people had brought purses, so I did not think that would work well either.  I ended up doing the white elephant exchange and it overall it did not seem to flow very well.  I am going to re-think this game.

Overall the party was successful.  My hostess got all the items on her wishlist for $17 and got to buy 2 of the hostess exclusive items.  I am now only dollars away from earning my swell start kit and with one catalog party yet to close, I am hopeful I will achieve my target.  I also booked a new party for September.  That brings me to 4 home parties and 1 catalog party for September.  Yeah.  Hope everyone has a great week.  ~Sylvia

Featured Product: Flat Iron Case

The flat iron case offers both function and style for storing and traveling with your flat iron or curling iron.  It is available 6 different prints to match almost every style and is thermal lined, so you can insert your iron while it is still warm.

Store and Travel with Flat Iron or Curling Iron

What are some other uses for a flat iron case?  Use your flat iron case to store your lighter and cake server for a birthday party.  Keeps them both together and keeps them away from little fingers.  The circle spirals prints is great for parties.

Flat Iron Case Circle Spirals

Store Lighter and Cake Server

What about all those upcoming family gatherings, pot lucks and holiday parties.  Use your flat iron case to store your serving utensils.  Helps you stay organized and keep everything together.  You could also use it to store your serving knives, just be sure to wrap the blades so they do not poke holes in your thermal lining.

Flat Iron Case Circle Spirals

Store Serving Utensils

Who knew a flat iron could be so versatile?  Hope you got some great ideas.  ~Sylvia

A Paycheck and Challenge!!!!

Wow, today I got my first paycheck in over 4 years.  It is great feeling.  With my first party, I was able to make enough to pay for my enrollment kit and my add on kit.  I am super excited.  

On the down side, I will not get a check on the next pay day because I dont have any parties scheduled.  I knew that scheduling parties as I was starting up was going to be the hard part.  I just have to find a way to get it done.

I was listening to an audio call today by Belinda Elsworth.  She stressed that the most important thing a person could do when starting out was to book 6 parties in the first 2 weeks to build momentum.  She said that people who only booked one or two parties initially had a much lower chance as success.  I am taking notes and beginning to panic.  Oh no, I am already beyond 2 weeks and havent even managed to have a second party.  I have 3 booked, but as she was saying I have no momentum.  My parties arent close enough together to build off one another.  I have approached everyone I am comfortable approaching and nothing is happening.  How do I build that momentum?  She suggested to jump start your business try to have 3 parties in 3 days.  You can build confidence in yourself and will see improvement in your presentation and your excitement with you business.  All makes sense to me.

Ok that is it.  I challenge myself to find a way to host 3 parties in 3 days.  Wish me luck.  ~Sylvia   

Ruffled Mini Zipper Pouch

I thought I would start a feature to highlight some of my favorite products.  We have some many new items for fall that I can't wait to share.  First on my list is the new Ruffled Mini Zipper Pouch.  Look how cute and don't forget versatile. 

 

Use it in your purse to keep all the essentials in easy reach.  You won't be digging to the bottom of your purse for your lip stick and powder.  Going out and don't feel like taking your whole purse?  Attached a wristlet strap to the d-ring and you have a cute going out bag.  Enough room to tuck the essentials, a small wallet and your car keys.  It is available in sassy looking pink and glamorous black.  Have a wonderful week.  ~Sylvia     

Learning Something New

Someone once said you learn something new every day.  I went to a networking event recently and learned something I wished I had learned years ago especially before I got laid-off.  I was talking to a young lady who had recently finished her MBA, she said wanted to share with me the most important thing she had learned as a MBA student.


Her profound moment came when a professor was lecturing and made the statement the most important thing you can do to protect yourself financially is to have multiple streams of income.  She was a single mom raising a teenage daughter and the message really struck a chord with her.  She made a decision to start her own business.  Her primary focus was still her corporate career, but she was investing a little time each week in her own business.

I thought in awe, I wish someone had told me this years ago and I would have been smart enough to listen.  How much better would I be financially, if instead of focusing myself 110% in my corporate career, I had invested that extra 10% in my own business.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, I get a text message from a great friend -FYI I am seriously considering becoming a 31 consultant.  Follow up by are you surprised?  My answer - Yes and No.  No you love the product and I think you would be awesome.  Yes, you are so busy I am really surprised that you want to take on anything else.  I really want to know your why.

After having lunch and discussing the opportunity, it came down to being at least partially in control of her own financial destiny. The conversation from a few weeks earlier came back, the best way to protect yourself financially is to have multiple streams of income.


Wow, I am truly blessed to have an avenue that I can help her do just that for a minimal investment.  If she choose to pursue 31, she can work a few hours a week and do a party a month to build a customer base or she can invest a lot more.  It is hard to put in words the ability to be able to share with others the opportunity to start that extra stream of income for themselves.

From now on when I do parties, I am going to plant that recruiting seed to help others think about starting that second stream on income or maybe it is a primary - it is for me.  ~Sylvia   

 

Catalogs, C&C Meeting and Newsletter

Wow, it has been a busy couple of days.  This weekend I delivered a few more orders and yesterday was a great day - I got my catalogs, went to a C&C meeting and my first newsletter ran.  

I was excited to come home after my workout to find new catalogs waiting for me.  I spent a good part of the afternoon printing and attaching labels, organizing catalogs to mail, and making hostess packages.  It was great to be able to take catalogs to the mail today to send them to everyone who had made requests.  I hope they are as excited to get them as I was to mail them.  We have so many beautiful new things and great prints in the new catalog.  I am so excited to be able to share.

Last night was my first Celebrate and Connect (C&C) meeting as a consultant.  I have been to several meetings and I am getting to know people which is fun.  It was also nice to be recognized as a new consultant and to be able to say I had a successful party in the month of July.  By the next meeting, I hope to have more successful parties and can be recognized as a qualified consultant and maybe I can say I earned my Girl on the Go kit (I have my fingers crossed).  We went through a mock party, I picked up a few things that I can work into my presentation to strengthen it.  As an added bonus, we got a freebie for coming.  This is our new pinch top glasses case.  This was on my wish list, so I am glad I went to the meeting.  I already have it in my purse with my sunglasses.

Thoughts, Talks and Trends, our monthly newsletter, runs on the first of each month.  This is the first newsletter that has published since I joined 31.  It was awesome to see a newsletter with content that I had written.  After looking at several newsletter by other consultants, I really need to work on my content.  In addition to my thanks, I should be including information such as August party dates still available, hostesses can earn the new five pocket clutch for free, and some other information.  I am just learning, I am sure it will improve with time.  You can see my newsletter here,

Thoughts, Talk and Trends    

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and have a great week. ~Sylvia