Missed Opportunities

I can't believe it. I am always ready to talk about Heritage Makers but this time I had an opportunity and I missed it. I am still kicking myself for it and this was Monday! On one hand, every time I go to this place there is hardly anyone else waiting and the few who are, are glued to their computers or books. They look as though they really don't want to engage. So when I jumped out the car with my son and without my bag, I decided that I wouldn't go back for it because there wouldn't be anyone to share HM with anyway.

Low and behold...I walked in and soon there were 3 women there and then there were 4 women!! They were in two separate groups, chit-chatting amongst themselves, engaged and appearing to enjoy one another's company. If I had a catalog, business cards, or sample, this would have been a great opportunity to share my business and invite them to a class. But I didn't have anything. I was unprepared.

Lesson learned. How many of us run out the door to dash into the grocery store in sweats, a pony tail and no make up and realize we could have had an opportunity to talk with someone but didn't approach them because we looked like we just stepped off the treadmill? Maybe they would have been interested, maybe not~but Wayne Gretsky said, "you'll miss 100% of the shots that you never take." Always, always, be prepared to share what you do.

Accept the Things We Cannot Change

I had an epiphany. I have been trying to force a square peg into a round hole. When you keep trying to fight a battle, uphill, that you know you really can't win, I think it's called insanity. I've been trying to arrange my life around my business instead of fitting my business into my lifestyle, which is not the reason I was drawn to this industry!

I think many of us stuggle with this same thing. We decide we want to work our business "this much" because we want to achieve "this title, rank, income or whatever" and then when it gets tough, we throw in the towel because we just "don't have time." Well we all have the same amount of hours each day and while we all have different responsibilities and/or obligations, most of us do have them. My kids have activities, we have our family time and events; I work a full time job and my husband works a completely different schedule AND I'm building business. I spend more time coordinating babysitting, pick ups and drop offs and trying to fit in the income producing activities than I do actually working my business. Many times after dinner, homework, and the bedtime routine, I am wiped out myself. Then I feel defeated because I didn't have time to make all my calls before it got to late. Well...this just isn't working for me, but I refuse to give up on my dreams.

Then I was reminded of the Serenity Prayer. " God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference." I can't change the way things are right now. I know it won't always be this way. I know that there are sacrifices that need to be made during this stage of business building. I don't have a problem making sacrifices when necessary, that isn't my issue. The lesson I am learning right now is that I have to fit my business activity into my current lifestyle AND not feel bad about it. I may not advance as quickly as others, but the growth and success of my business isn't measured on someone else's yard stick. You can't compare yourself to someone else.



This is a race everyone can win. It's not about being the first to cross the finish line. It's just important to cross it.

Top 10 Reasons to Join Club HM

If you haven't heard by now, there's a new club in town. It's Club HM; the absolute best thing that Heritage Makers has done for it's storybookers! It's such an exciting change for clients and consultants that I had to blog about it. If you aren't yet a member of club, let me tell you why you need to join:

10.  FREE PREMIER! 

  9.  With free premier, you get unlimited photo storage for all your high resolution photos.

  8.  With free premier, you can upload and store both jpeg and png files.

  7.  With free premier, you have access to over 4500 professionally designed, customizable templates to create beautiful gifts and keepsakes of your favorite photos.

  6.  With free premier, you have your very own digital art premium outlet. That's over 50,000 pieces of art!

  5.  You have the option to purchase 100 points at 50% off when you sign up for Club HM.

  4.  Receive publishing discounts every month.

  3.  Enjoy a massive discount...up to 35% off your point purchases each month!

  2.  Community fun! Get deas and tips from our national Facebook HM Club Community.

AND ...

While there are many great reasons to join club. The most aggressive change that HM has made for our clients, is the ability to play while you play! Your club membership allows you to purchase a small amount of points each month (that you can bank for up to 2 years) while you work on your projects with full access to all templates and artwork. Then when you are ready to publish, you simply use the points in your account.

Still want more? Enjoy your local club community laptop/digi crops. These crops are a great way to spend time with friends, make new ones and get projects completed. There are door prizes, refreshments, and fun games for everyone. So...talk to your consultant and get signed up for club! Don't miss out...membership really does have it's benefits!

  

I'm Back!

Photo Courtesy of Belle-Luce Photography

 I know, I know...it's been quite some time since my last post, but I have good reasons. Here's the reader's digest version:  Within two weeks of my last post, prince charming proposed. We got married in October. Shortly thereafter, I found out I had gall stones and had surgery to have them removed. Of course, at that point we were right in the middle of the holiday selling season for Heritage Makers. Then Christmas. So all of that is wrapped up and I am getting back to business as usual, slowly but surely. Heritage Makers has some great things rolling out to kick off the new year. More on those things later. Now for the good stuff!

We were married at All Saint's Chapel on October 17th. Since I had been married before and we were blending our families we wanted to make are ceremony really special. So for starters, we didn't have a bridal or wedding party in the traditional sense. My father was my Man of Honor. My daughter and my step daughter were junior brides and my 4 year old son walked my down the aisle and gave me away. I walked down the aisle to Have You Ever Been in Love by Celine Dion. He was so handsome and it was absolutely adorable when the minister asked "who gives this woman to be married to this man?" and he responded "I do." Talk about melting one's heart. I can't be sure, but I think I heard some awes from the guests.

To further personalize the ceremony, we incorporated the Infinity Hand Blessing Ceremony, wrote our own vows to each other and the children, tied God's Knot instead a unity candle and we closed the wedding ceremony with a Bouquet of Love and Support. So, many people write their own vows these days so that's nothing new, but we wrote our vows based on the biblical principles of marriage and the roles and responsibilities of husbands and wives that we have learned from our Marriage and Family Bible Study that we have been attending for the last two and half years. We were getting down to the nitty gritty of the covenant and it was emotional. We also made vows to each other's biological child(ren) and exchanged family medallions with them. It was important to us that they really felt part of the ceremony and the union. The girls received actual rings from us and Zach received a lapel pin symbolizing the establishment of our new family. The music was carefully selected although not necessarily the typical wedding music. As I said, I walked down the aisle to Have You Ever Been In Love. The Prayer by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion was played during the knot tying ceremony and the recessional music was Lucy and Linus-Peanuts theme song. It was great!

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Record Your Stories

Inside us, we all have a story to share, a story of triumph, a story of healing, a story of blessing or a dear memory that we don't want forgotten.  The most ordinary of lives can yield the most extraordinary of stories.  No one wants to read your stories, you say? Don't believe that hype! I read a book put together by a woman I've never met, about her grandparents, whom I've also never met and was moved to tears! She put together one of the most beautiful books of her grandparent's love story and it was entitled The Dress.  It wasn't fancy or heavily embellished but it's my most favorite Heritage Makers book to date.

My children read look at their books over and over again. I've found it to be a great way to encourage reading when my daughter was first learning to read. We would read about Grandpa and Gigi and her birth story. What child doesn't want to read a book that features them (or some one they know) as the main character? And even better...what better way to share the stories of our family heritage and keep the loved one that they don't see often visible in our daily lives? Yes, the photos and the stories behind them are an important part of who we are and yes, they need to be written down. So here are the top 10 reasons you should record your stories:

10.  The world will be a richer place for your having written your stories.

  9.   In telling how you survived painful times in your past, you teach useful coping skills to your descendants and come to a greater understanding and peace.
  8.  The things you did when you were young are as remote from children today as the Earth is from Mars.
  7.  You are part of the history of your city, state and country.
  6.  There are many pieces of information nobody else knows about you.
  5.  The stories you heard from your grandparents will die without you.
  4.  Let your descendants know that you were a real person and not just a name on a tree.
  3.  You owe it to yourself and to your family.
  2.  No one else knows the stories of your life quite like you do.

AND...the #1 reason you should record your stories is...
  1. No one has a better perspective of you than YOU!

It's Christmas in July!!

We have an amazing deal going on now through the end of this month that I just had to share! I know for many out there, Christmas has the tendency to sneak up on you. Then you find yourself scrambling for the perfect gift.  For the past several years, I have had my Christmas shopping done, gifts wrapped and under the tree by Thanksgiving! It's such a great feeling too. Then I don't get caught in the holiday rush and the long lines and the perfect item being out of stock. I remember one year calling every Toys R Us in the state looking for a particular doll house that was...you guessed it, on back order! Often times, I am just as surprised as the recipient when they open the gift because it's been wrapped and waiting for so long. At any rate, if you want to give something really special this season or have some other gift giving to do over the next few months, you will definitely want to take advantage of this special. Cards, invitations and all canvas sizes are at the lowest price of the season! And stay tuned for more exciting deals as the gift giving season draws near and new products are launched in the fall. This year give memories instead of gifts.

What is a Crop?

A CROP is a planned quality time to work on your album or project without the interruptions of the phone ringing, the kids or husband calling, the housework or the other 19 other projects beckoning around the house! It is a time for exchanging ideas, learning new techniques and tricks, meeting new people who share your passion for preserving memories, laughter, stories and sometimes even tears! CROPS are a great deal of fun and wonderful for catching up on your pages and projects.

What do I bring?
All you really need to bring to a laptop crop is your laptop. However, if you have photos that you want to have digitized or traditional scrapbooks that you would like to have digitized, you may bring those to be scanned while you crop.

May I shop during the crop?
Absolutely! There are great specials available at crops, so by all means take advantage of the sales!


Can I bring a friend?
Absolutely! Seating is limited at crops, so make sure you call ahead to see if there is ample space.


Can I bring my children?
No. If for some reason your sitter falls through, we do ask that you reschedule. This is a time for you and the other ladies to get away from your children and responsibilities. However, storybookers in training that are over the age of 12 are welcome along and nursing moms may bring quiet infants.


Where can I find the crop schedule?
Join our fan page The Storybook Life to receive crop calendar notifications and view the schedule. If the crop schedule does not fit your needs, call or email us. We are happy to plan an unscheduled crop for you and 4 friends.