The Saga of Begin Again Continues ~ Tales from a Work@Home Grandma
The Saga in Month 9
Yes it's me again. Checking in and sharing the things that I have learned. Wow! I feel like I have lived through 10 tornadoes and equally as many hurricanes. Life is not for the weak that's for sure!
So when I started my Avon business in 2008, I worked a full time job and had lived in the area for over 15 years. I had friends and peers. Places I went regularly and people I touched and who
touched me as I went about daily life. My business grew quickly and I worked all my spare time growing my business. And, then Amie joined me and we grew even faster. So when we found out we were moving to Pennsylvania, I thought it would be just as easy or even better because the population is much denser on the east side of the country. After all, we knew all sorts of things to do for prospecting for both customers and recruits. We even paid to move old books that we prepped in advance so we could hit the ground running and many of our old customers promised to keep ordering with us via our online store.
Fast forward to now. We have just 5 of our old customers who continue to order from us now and then but not regularly as they once did. My savings is gone so my investment capabilities have reached an all time low. Yes we have thrown books, gone door to door, visited businesses, done many events, visited several local colleges numerous times, sent out fundraising info and talked with everyone we meet. We volunteer for everything the district and division offer and we give it our all. And, as many of my Avon sisters will tell you, I am the queen of follow-up. And we now have about 15 customers here in our new home. Now I know I tend towards over-achiever but I really thought we would have much more by now. I know we lost prospecting time during the winter months of January and February as we all acclimated to the snow but still......
Now really this is not a complaint session! My point is that many reps if not all, feel this way sometimes. But what do we do about it? I reach out to my Avon mom and sister, who are also my 2 closest friends to feel a sense of belonging and get some good old motivation and maybe some sympathy. And then, I get back to work!
We have found that here in PA, folks are not as easy to get to know but when you finally get their approval, they welcome you with open arms. I know we have been laying a lot of bricks and that they will ultimately build a strong business. But this over-achiever needs a little gratification quicker! Not to mention some money to refill the empty chest! So here is what we are doing now. Finding Friends! Yep that is what I said! We have joined an adult coloring club at the library, A book club at another branch, and we are prepping to start the training to become volunteers at our church. Both Amie and I have looked into scholarships and grants to go back to school, if not this September than in 2017. And this summer my son and I will be bowling one night a week and trying an astronomy club out on another.
The difference between then and now is friendship and that is now what we seek. You could say we are using that to gain business but no. It is more about finding a home instead of a place to live. Avon is a part of us and we will share that but we will also share our home and our hearts and our stories and that is so much more.
Yes it's me again. Checking in and sharing the things that I have learned. Wow! I feel like I have lived through 10 tornadoes and equally as many hurricanes. Life is not for the weak that's for sure!
So when I started my Avon business in 2008, I worked a full time job and had lived in the area for over 15 years. I had friends and peers. Places I went regularly and people I touched and who
touched me as I went about daily life. My business grew quickly and I worked all my spare time growing my business. And, then Amie joined me and we grew even faster. So when we found out we were moving to Pennsylvania, I thought it would be just as easy or even better because the population is much denser on the east side of the country. After all, we knew all sorts of things to do for prospecting for both customers and recruits. We even paid to move old books that we prepped in advance so we could hit the ground running and many of our old customers promised to keep ordering with us via our online store.
Fast forward to now. We have just 5 of our old customers who continue to order from us now and then but not regularly as they once did. My savings is gone so my investment capabilities have reached an all time low. Yes we have thrown books, gone door to door, visited businesses, done many events, visited several local colleges numerous times, sent out fundraising info and talked with everyone we meet. We volunteer for everything the district and division offer and we give it our all. And, as many of my Avon sisters will tell you, I am the queen of follow-up. And we now have about 15 customers here in our new home. Now I know I tend towards over-achiever but I really thought we would have much more by now. I know we lost prospecting time during the winter months of January and February as we all acclimated to the snow but still......
Now really this is not a complaint session! My point is that many reps if not all, feel this way sometimes. But what do we do about it? I reach out to my Avon mom and sister, who are also my 2 closest friends to feel a sense of belonging and get some good old motivation and maybe some sympathy. And then, I get back to work!
We have found that here in PA, folks are not as easy to get to know but when you finally get their approval, they welcome you with open arms. I know we have been laying a lot of bricks and that they will ultimately build a strong business. But this over-achiever needs a little gratification quicker! Not to mention some money to refill the empty chest! So here is what we are doing now. Finding Friends! Yep that is what I said! We have joined an adult coloring club at the library, A book club at another branch, and we are prepping to start the training to become volunteers at our church. Both Amie and I have looked into scholarships and grants to go back to school, if not this September than in 2017. And this summer my son and I will be bowling one night a week and trying an astronomy club out on another.
The difference between then and now is friendship and that is now what we seek. You could say we are using that to gain business but no. It is more about finding a home instead of a place to live. Avon is a part of us and we will share that but we will also share our home and our hearts and our stories and that is so much more.
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