I'm Baaack! Return to "work" post surgery

Dear Friends and Followers -

Thank you! Thank you for emails and cards sent the last couple months as I recovered from an upper and lower jaw surgery. It was a schedule surgery, but it has taken a long time to heal, including talking and eating. I still am on a limited diet, but trying to increase my ability to open mouth and strength to chew.

As I thank you my followers for your concern and well wishes, I need to also extend a huge amount of gratitude and appreciation to our team (downlines), but also to cross-line members who helped us with our business and customer needs while I couldn't talk.  WOW is all I can say. I always knew SendOutCards was top-notch for customer care and our training, but the willingness of this SOC FAMILY is amazing. I had cross-lines making follow-up phone calls, personal step by step walk throughs for holiday cards and just going above & beyond.  And do you know how much of my commission these cross-lines made for their effort? None... immediately. There is no compensation for/to them as we are not in the same line; however, these SOC rockstarts extended their time and insight.... which helped us, our customers, and the reputation of SOC.

To my family, I couldn't have made it this long without you. My husband did everything, my in-laws were here for a week when he couldn't be and my children were well behaved allowing Mom to heal. I am grateful for SendOutCards and the time and money freedoms. I would never have been able to take 10-12 weeks off from a j-o-b and still make an income. I would be lucky to return to a job...

We are blessed and have already started to return the favors. I am back to doing webinars, gift account walk-thrus, training and more! Slow and steady has always won the race for us and it feels good to be back. Y'all were missed.

April is just around the corner. Let's make the next month your best yet... no fooling.

Hugs,
Danielle

Chip at It - One Day, One Goal at a Time

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”  That is the sound surrounding me today as floor tile is replaced in our kitchen.  And the banging and chipping of the tile sent my mind wandering about “chipping” at things in your life.  How a little effort goes a long way… the little chip to remove the grout between two tiles eventually leads to the entire floor being removed – and replaced.  If our contractor did not attempt the “little chip” (no matter how minor it appeared), the floor would never be complete.

 

What is the dream or goal you are striving for? While it may seem like a huge, over-whelming feat or unattainable goal… it isn’t. It might have been, if you did it all at once; however, what if you did it “step by step” and chipped off the little goals on your way to the final prize. It’s an analogy question used often when teaching project management, “How do you eat an elephant?” Yep – one bite at a time.

As stated, often the elephant analogy might be used in regards to a project or task – goals to have the person break down their task into smaller increments… and you can use the same thought with your business goals.

Almost everyone I meet in network marketing is striving to be a leader in their company. Unless they are a hobbyist, the consultant of a company wants more.  Well, none of us can be the top level consultant in our business without climbing the steps in rank and advancing step by step.

Look at your company’s plan for advancement and make smaller goals… smaller bites that you can achieve now.  If you are on our CardsAndMohr SendOutCards team, connect with us for your individual next step and/or goal.  If you want details of our compensation or rank advancement plan, click on Proven Plan of Action to give you details. And if you want my story of the difference SOC has made in our family after 2.5 years, please ask. I spent almost 8 years with another company and never had the team or the success that we have now... and it our goal to mentor and provide you (and your family) the same too. 

All my best! --Danielle

 

WANTED: 4 Aces

Dear Friends and Fans -

We are searching for FOUR ACEDS and need your help. This isn't necessarily a post aimed at you (our friends), but we are looking for four "aces" and need your help.

Who do you know who would like to earn some extra money? 

Who dislikes his job?

Who dislikes his boss?

Who do you know that would like to have a part-time income while still keeping his present job?

Who would like to move from an apartment to a home? Who do you know who enjoys traveling?

Who wants to save up for college? Do any of your friends want to own their own business?

Pssst! Now is the time for them to get in the game....
They can't win if they aren't in the game. The longer they wait and see others succeed the longer it will take you to catch up. Here is a link to testimonials of SOC distributors - click to hear their stories.

Want more info? Here are details on the business opportunity. "The Future is Now" was not just a catch phrase at our convention earlier this summer, it truely is a prophesy coming true for so many.  Why not someone new?


Shoot for the moon!
Danielle

Work Hard - Play Hard

Hi Friends,

Just a quick note to check in. I can't believe it's been six weeks since my last entry... but I have a good excuse. We have been blessed with our business and set goals for our family... and in achieving them, we celebrated together too. We took a four-week vacation and celebrate us - we went to Disney World parks, Legoland, Florida beaches and got to visit both sets of grandparents. Literally, we were home a couple days (2!) in four weeks - just enough time to do laundry and jet set again.

Here are just a couple photos:



When you wish upon a star...

The Tree of Life is amazing!

Every boys dream! And it was a total surprise -

Everything was unbelievable - Dream & Achieve

As if the parks at Disney (we did Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot) and Legoland were not enough, we have one last surprise for the boys.  We stayed at a resort in Ft. Walton, Florida and one morning decided to take kayaks out in the Gulf of Mexico. Take a peek at our video - THIS topped all our memories for me and was a moment for all five of us to take in the beauty of the animals in their natural habitat while listening to their breathing and chatter.

 

Well... vacation is over, school has resumed and so has my appointments to aid others in their personal and business relationships - all with the power of a greeting card. Check out our cards and gifts at by clicking here. May this tool and service allow you to work smarter and not harder - but if you do work hard, remember to take time (especially with your family) to PLAY HARD too.

 

And as always, thanks for following us. We appreciate you!

 

In gratitude,

Danielle



Why SendOutCards?!?

Hi Friends - It's Danielle! In  a discussion with a friend looking to use SendOutCards this morning, I thought I would share my thoughts on "why SendOutCards is a great business" to you too. While the meeting was initially to introduce this friend to SOC to use for his current business, this guy is smart enough to consider the Opportunity presented by SendOutCards and the second avenue of income for his family.

1. It actually does cost less to use our SOC system then to buy a card from a store. You cannot go to any store and buy a card like we have for 62 cents as a preferred customer... or 98 cents a a customer... and even at the Pay As You Go rate, SOC challenges the competition.

2. The best way to to tell people about this service is to demonstrate and set up a sample account for them. Anyone can do this with about 10 minutes of training, and is an easy NON-pressure sales way of telling others. I love allowing people the chance to "test drive" with no strings attached. 

3. It is then when people have had a chance to use the system a few times, that they ask you additional questions.  My favorite question being "how do I sign up?" I love that I have shared a system, tool and product and others ask us how to get started. We are not 'chasing a sale' or losing friends.. we simply shared SOC.

4. For a company to send personal greeting cards for less than a dollar including postage is unbelievable. You name the profession - and this product can help them do better and more business. Take time to ask those around you if they have  "Follow-Up System" for their current clients and customers. A huge percentage won't. In the two years we've been part of SOC, we have tons of thank yous for the introduction to the tools/system. Businesses are no longer looking for new clients! Now, businesses are taking time to express gratitude for their current client and while feeling appreciated, the current client sends sales and referrals to the Business because of the kindness.

5. The time factor is unbelievable! Most businesses are shocked to be able to send 10,000 cards as quickly as one could send an email and have them be personalized to each card. Businesses found they save a lot of time in one click of a button... this click also saves money in the hourly rate they would have paid their assistant to write, address, stamp and send the same cards.

6. The possibilities are endless. If you need leads open the yellow pages and start dialing. Just ask the sales manager to send a few cards for free. We do a lot of businesses we already have relationships with... real estate agents, lawyers, car dealerships, doctors, dentists, etc.  We have also found that simply by being a "product of the product" and sending true cards (no solicitation) that new business is finding us!

You've heard our story before and we can only begin to tell you how excited we are about SOC.  And since returning from Convention in Las Vegas, "The Future is NOW!" 

This is an 87 Billion dollar market and ran by 2 major greeting card companies until now. SOC is #3.  SOC now has it's own first-class stamp and is working closely with the post-office for tracking each card sent, etc. There is so much more... this is only the beginning. But don't take my word! Her are the details regarding the business opportunity.  There is no way you can fail to make money with it unless you just do nothing.

This is the right company and the right time and new technology that is wonderful - SendOutCards' tag line is "Changing Lives.... One Card at a Time."  We recommend you start with your life first!

Let us know how we can help you!
Sincerely, Danielle & Tim Mohr
Send us an Email 

Duplication of Penny and Team

From time to time I'm asked about team building and the power of duplication in team building. To answer the question, we share the story of multiplying a penny. It is amazing what you can achieve with consistency and duplication... With a new person in your team I recommend you share your story, the 'recipe' to success and help the new rep succeed.  Use the training the company has given you, keep it simple and don't change the 'recipe.' What I love about SendOutCards is that there is 'recipe' we use and the Basic Training each new rep goes thru is the same no matter where they are trained. Our Basic Training maual gives us the first steps to succeed... the only difference between a new rep and some of our leaders is time! 

Penny Analogy - Doubling penny each day!

The same can be demonstrated with Team Building.

What is neat about the above is if you look at the ideal team building and the financial success with a perfect formula, it an unbelieveable number... What I love is the realistic view with a 10% success rate and it is still A LOT of money. Don't take my word - look at the business opportunity for SendOutCards - better yet, look at the vision!  I believe we're in a business bigger than we are, who is more than 'just cards.' I feel like we are the start of a positive movement; one of gratitude... one to make us all pause, reflect and appreciate all life's blessings to our familes.

If SendOutCards appeals to you, but you wonder about statistics in Network Marketing - here is a great slide with details. The attrition rate of other network marketing companies is: 61%  For SendOutCards: it was a third of that (I'll check my notes for specifics).  We have approximately 150,000 distributors world-wide.  Are you still afraid that SendOutCards is saturated? No. Message me and I'll give you detail for your area, but there is a lot of room for lots and lots of people to be success.

Shoot for the moon! I will always be here for you. If you are on our CardsAndMohr SOC team and committed, we are committed to you and will take you to the next levels!

Sincerely,

Danielle

Consistency is the Key!

I just had a great discussion with a new distributor on our team that set goals for the first month and has hit a home run.  They finally understood all my tips and subtle hints from the past.  They now understand our love for the network marketing industry.

Network Markeing (SendOutCards for us) is the only business we know where an average every day person like us, can build a solid business without having to invest a huge amount of money with risk.  Network Marketing is NOT a get rich quick business, but it is one that you can reach your dreams, if you do 3 things:

1. GET STARTED

2. NEVER QUIT

3. KEEP WORKING YOUR BUSINESS DAILY

Pretty simple, but consistency is the key. We have a plan that we share with each new member of our team. We look at their goals and we shoot for the stars. This week, we're off to Las Vegas for our SOC Convention and will miss you!  Consider joining us... and that way you can be with us in Vegas, the next cruise, and VIP trip.

We are cheering you on!
--Danielle

PS: I attached this photo floating around the internet/Facebook and I love it.  Everything we know in the world is set up in a 'pyramid.' The one thing that always has attracted me to Network Marketing is I'm on my own... our success is due to our efforts and we can promote before the guy 'ahead' of us.  In the corporation we'd have to wait for others to be promoted (move or die) in order move up.... In Network Marketing, we are in charge of our success and promotions. WHOO HOO!

Want details on OUR business opp with SendOutCards? Click here!

No More Calling in Sick

YEAH - so thankful for a business I can run from my laptop... anywhere. Give me a computer and a telephone and I'm in business. What a week of illness at my house - last week, my little one was sick and today/tomorrow, my middle kiddo is out of school. I have wrote my appreciation in my Gratitude Journal that I am thankful that I didn't have to call anyone and 'ask for a sick day.' I am able to be mommy and business owner... I am in charge of my life...

If you are not in charge of your life, what can you do differently? What would a side business in network marketing provide you? Do your homework - there are so many companies. Find one that fits your personality and family needs.... Research the investment, the return, and the competition...  Find out: What is the commission rate? Can you earn a residual income with *just* customers? Do you need to team build to be successful?

I LOVE that our SendOutCards team gets that choice. Some of our SOC family are working "part-time" while still having an outside j-o-b.  I'm excited to see their progress.... For those who are just gathering customers, they are on their way to earning $2000/mo in residual income in a year. What would you do with $2000 a month?

And those that take their business to the next level and show others how to do the same thing are creating a legacy and a residual income for years and years to come. "The Future is Now" is our theme for convention - and I can't wait for the trip to Las Vegas, but I can't wait to see our team experience the trip. Amazing memories are waiting!!!

If SendOutCards has ever interest you for a business, take a look at the specifics on the business site.  Or if you want to try the sytem for a month or so, create an account thru this link.  With either option, you'll see what a difference you'll have in all your relationships!

If you are ready to join our SOC Family and Team, then message or call me. I will always be your biggest cheerleader.

Hugs,

Danielle

Unplug - 24 Hour Challenge

It’s Easter and our family has talked a lot about sacrifice with our preparation for Lent. As it comes to a close, I want you to consider all that has been sacrificed for you – in a deep, spiritual way and maybe in another manner. 

So as I challenge our family, I challenge you – For the next 24 hours to go UNPLUGGED.  Gasp!  I heard my husband too; he probably thinks I can’t do it.  Our family is unplugging today today, April 7^th  at 6pm to Sunday, April 8^th at 6 pm as our twenty-four hour period… decide what is best for you and what your limits will be.  We are unplugging everything – except for the phone. (We want to be able to talk to family for the holiday.)

Yep, to put it in writing, we are giving our family a break from all technology… the computer, iPad, smart phones (no cheating) to also avoid emails, Facebook, Twitter and some apps. In addition to these items, the kids are also unplugging and taking a 24 hour break from the Wii and Nintendo DS. This is about the part I start praying for good weather. J

And if for some reason you don’t think you can do 24 hours, then shoot for 12 – but make it meaningful for some daytime hours so you can change your focus and not run to your phone each time the text chime goes off or an email gets pushed.

Don’t think I don’t understand the torture of being without connection to the email and FB, but our family has always been my priority with my business and this is my 24 hours to prove to them that they will always be first – and for the kids to know they can ‘survive’ without their technology too.

In closing as you reflect on the sacrifices in religious or familiar stories, take this challenge. I’m going to bet you find the quality of time you have with your family heighten and the stress of feeling like you need to respond to the electronic world lessen.

From our family to you, Happy Easter!
Hugs, Danielle

Living Life Now

Thanks for the compliments on the photos. I got a couple emails asking for the Video - so others could feel the moment and be there.... So click here and you'll see the video footage from my Skydive.

What I love the best from the experience was having my kids there - and in the video. I am blessed with an amazing husband who supports me in all my decisions and our children who inspire me as much as I inspire them.

Know your WHYs in life and you'll find a HOW. I will always share my gratitude to SendOutCards & Kody Bateman for what our 'little card busines' has afforded our family to do... the memories and legacy we are making compare to no other.

Always here to help you create your own SOC-cess and make a diffference in someone's life -starting with your own.

Hugs,
Danielle

2011 Milestones

What an amazing year! Don't take my word. Look at the stats provided by Jordan.

--Introduction of 'Big Cards'
--Introduction of 'Business Cards'
--Introduction of 'Video Cards'
--Introduction of Photo Store: photo books, calendars, canvas prints, posters, etc
--Introduction of 'Live Chat'
--Introduction of a massive customer acquisition program that has allowed us to collect double the number of customers in the last 6 months of 2011 than we had in the collective 7 year history of the company.

--Surpassed the 5 million card barrier for Dec alone!

--2012 numbers for January and February alone are already FAR exceeding numbers for 2011.
--Residual Checks are up 22% (Year over Year) and we are experiencing customer gathering numbers 5 times greater than the same time frame last year.
--Our distributor counts for January and February are also up almost 30%!

By the way, 15 million people are currently active in network marketing in the US alone. That means there are 320 million that are not . . . guess where the biggest opportunity lies? Oh . . . did I forget to tell you that plans are in the works to open 132 countries over the next few years?

Supporting our team has been exciting this year. Allow us to help you write your own story part-time with SOC while you have another j-o-b. You know our story, now write your own. Don't let another day go by - Shoot for the Moon!

Sincerely, Danielle & Tim

#3 and Free!

Where does your home based business rank? SendOutCards is number 3 with over a 47% popularity growth...

Why? Because it's a feel good service that can change someones life...Won't you join us today in changing peoples life. Check out the opportunity and our story. Cheering you on to a new level of success this year.

Ascend to New Heights

Happy New Year!  Sure, I've said that before - but for our family and our SendOutCards business and team, it is a new year.  "WHY?" You might be asking.  Oh, so much to tell you.... I don't even know where to start.
First, to our CardsAndMohr (SendOutCards) Team, we apreciate you.  You have worked so hard in your business and now the fruits of your effort will be seen this year.  Take a peek at your January check (from December sales) and know that is your smallest check of 2012.  And here is why....

• SendOutCards has lowered the starting entrepreneur price to start business. It is only $295!
• There are Basic & Certified Training offered everywhere so you know how to work your biz - and it is the same training in Alaska as it is in Florida, Hawaii and Maine and all states in between.
• No more upfront cost for your customers to use SOC - make immediate commissions. Customers can start for $10 or $30/month depending on their needs.
• Leadership bonuses for all!  Even as a new rep, you earn $ - however, these leadership bonuses are not paid until you teach/train your new rep.  There is a lot more responsibility and committment from your Sponsor.

A lot of this needs to be in discussion.  I will plan to do a conference call after a live-streaming event on Thursday. Look for those details - or call/message me before then.

The last news to share is that SOC has published a new magazine called ASEND.  There is so much in this magazine. I LOVE the title - granted there is a play on spelling, but I looked up the definition of "ascend."  as·cend (verb) 1. to move, climb, or go upward; mount; rise 2. to slant upward 3. to rise to a higher point, rank, or degree; proceed from an inferior to a superior degree or level.

There has never been a better time to be in SendOutCards. Our CEO told us that these last six years have been our "prelaunch" stage and now we have a chance to share the two missions of our company in 2012....

• Allow people to act on their promptings (follow that voice & send card/gift to let someone know you are thinking of them
• Provide a vehicle for financial freedoms*

*I'd like to add that our success this year has not been all about the money. ;o) Of course it is, but it isn't the dollar amount - it is what those paychecks have allowed our family in time and family freedoms.  From a house cleaner now and then, Club Sports for our oldest, charity and vacation & family trips.  We are blessed - we know that, we appreciate that and never take our responsibilty and committment to our CardsAndMohr team (read family) for granted. We are here to see them... and maybe you succeed. Want to know about the business, click here for some videos or email me.

You know how I'll close this blog... SHOOT FOR THE MOON! 2012 is your's - to quote the event from this weekend, "get up and get busy."  All my best! Big Hugs - Danielle

Today I am sharing this entry from our friend and supportive SendOutCards' husband, Stuart Snook.  He wrote it this past weekend in regards to his wife, Lori starting on our team.  He writes to all our friends and about missing this opportunity to be in a "young" company that is going places.  If you had known about Netflix ten years ago, would you would have done it... well, here is SendOut Cards.  For the friends who are on this journey, we are thrilled - we didn't want to leave you behind.  We'll always be here for you. --Tim & Danielle

 

"What is your excuse?

I have spent the past twelve years in sales. I have heard every reason to buy or not to buy. I have heard every excuse. Sometimes these people have made mistakes, sometimes not. What is your excuse?

I have a relative that tells a story about a missed opportunity. He was talking to a friend that was trying to sell a new business idea. He believed that one day you would be able to call your wife as she was shopping at the mall, on a wireless phone. This business man was looking for investors for his new company. My relative’s comments: “That is Star Trek type stuff. It will never happen.” Needless to say, he did not invest in this company. This company now has $19 billion dollars in revenue. What is your excuse?

We have all heard the stories about Fred Smith and his term paper that started Fed Ex. He thinks he got his usual “C” on the paper. At one point, he even took some money to Vegas. His winnings went to the company just to make payroll. Can you imagine a world without overnight delivery? What is your excuse?
Two years ago I got laid off. I could not find a job. My brother was in the same boat. We decided to start a company. This was originally just to keep up our skill set so we could find a “real” job. Eighteen months later, we have one million dollars in sales and some long term agreements with a Fortune 50 company. This is no longer a hobby. What is your excuse?

My wife joined an organization known as Send Out Cards approximately 3 months ago. It is a network marketing company. I am not a fan of network marketing. I hate having to buy inventory. I hate being invited to parties where you are pressured to buy crap you will never use, need, or seek out in normal life. This is different. This does not have inventory or parties. I do not have a lifetime supply of toothpaste, or laundry detergent. She has taken her distributorship and really kicked into overdrive. To say that her success has been extraordinary is an understatement. I almost told her not to join. What would have been my excuse?

This company is experiencing tremendous growth. What is your excuse? Contact us and find out what this company is all about. DO NOT LET THIS BE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU LET SLIP AWAY! Not enough time? Too expensive? Not sure I know how to do this? What is your excuse?"

How Hard is it to Have a SOC Business?

Hi Friends,

I am sharing a question I received in an message today: "How hard is it to have a SendOutCards business?"

While "Easy" may have been simple enough, click here for my answer.

Shoot for the moon,

Danielle

My Gratitude Journal - shared entries

Do you have a Gratitude Journal? If not, I encourage you to get one. You can see details in an earlier blog post, but it doesn't have to be fancy.  Just get a notebook and give yourself 5 minutes when you start your day to reflect on all your blessings... big or small.  Click here to see my journal as I read some entries, but you can create a list or write in a narrative. In these simple five minutes, watch how your day will change... your outlook... the way you appreciate what you have.  There is nothing fancy to my journal (seen here or on the video), but a place for me to write my thought & appreciate all that we have.

Thinking of you. I am GRATEFUL for you - your friendship, your following and your support!  Thank you for you!  Hugs, Danielle

Wow - Exciting Stats

During the first 143 days of 2011 Send Out Cards averaged 31 new customers a day.  During the last two weeks we averaged 446 new customers a day! If my math is right, our customer base is growing 1450% faster since the new retail changes! From Jan. 1 - May 23rd of 2011 Send Out Cards added 4383 customers. In the last 2 weeks we have added 6238 new customers! That's more new customers in 2 weeks than the previous 20 weeks!

The summer is one of our slowest times of year for growth! Imagine what November and December will look like.  If you want to more know about the Retail Options or how to start a SOC business of your own, check out our Send Out Cards page.  Your time is now - shoot for the moon!  <3 Danielle

Just Keep Swimming

Today at our son’s swimming lessons, I heard myself tell the big boys to “just keep swimming.” Of course, that quote ties us back to the movie Finding Nemo from 2003.  Find the video on You-Tube or follow along the script below – and I’m going to bet you hear yourself singing.  J

Dory: Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down do you wanna know what you've gotta do?
Marlin: No I don't wanna know.
Dory: [singing] Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
Marlin: Dory, no singing.
Dory: [continuing] Ha, ha, ha, ha, ho. I love to swim. When you want to swim you want to swim.

Again, another powerful lesson my kiddos (or at least their movie) seem to have taught us today.  And of course, I want to pass on these moments to our CardsAndMohr team and others reading who have their own businesses – especially other mompreneurs in direct sales.  The quote is simple, but by ‘just keep swimming’ you are ready for the entire race – not just the marathon.  We often need reminders of such in business.  I’ve seen so many friends and acquaintances start a direct sales business with a burst of energy… and then after exhausting their immediate circle of family and friends, they’ve run out of prospects. 

There are so many ways to continue this blog.  I could write about your target audience of customers – unlike those of us in Send Out Cards, perhaps your audience has been narrowed to one gender and even slimmer with or without children.  I could write about the “WHY” – Why or what is the reason you chose the business or want to have your own business?  When you know your WHY and if it’s strong, you will “just keep swimming” towards your goal because of your WHY. Despite all the challenges he faced during the course of the movie, Marlin kept swimming to find Nemo.  Finding Nemo was Marlin’s WHY – and he wasn’t going to stop until he was reunited with his son. 

When we ask our Send Out Cards team members for their WHY statement, often the first response is money (or time).  But we ask more questions and dig deeper and break it down– what will money or time bring you? Make $X a month… WHY? …to quit job… WHY? ...because I want to be home with my family (kiddos)… WHY? …because I want to enjoy all these family moments.  When you “just keep swimming,” you don’t lose track of your goal; you keep your focus just as Marlin did.  Sure, Dory got a little distracted – and so may you, your partner/spouse or even your downline, but tomorrow is another day and a chance to improved, refocus and recommit to your goal.  Use your Sponsor or Accountability Partner to help you stay on course for your goals. 

As someone who has been in the business for nine years, I would tell you to remember your goals and “just keep swimming.” It is not a race and really is about the law of averages. You need to give yourself at least six months to make your relationships strong; and really a year is a good ride.  And remember on days that you struggle, “just keep swimming” and you will pass the difficulty and be one step closer to your goal(s).  Always cheering you on - Danielle

Take the Chance... What If?

I find myself sitting here at 9:20 pm on Sunday night with the boys in the St. Louis/Lambert Airport with hopes of still making a flight home tonight.  You may be wondering how or why we are in St. Louis if we live in Dallas – it’s not a school holiday, it’s not summer break… nope, we acted on an idea… a prompting to join friends for a BBQ and a weekend of fun.

What is a prompting? A prompting is that ‘little voice’ you hear in your mind that says… “maybe I should” or “what if…” For us it was about taking a chance on the ‘what if’ this weekend.   Have you heard this voice? Have you listened to it? Ignored it? Questions like: “What if I ask her for a date?” What if I ask for a promotion? What if we moved? Have a baby? Start my own business?  If you have heard the ‘what if’ whisper, did you follow it?  If not, why? What do you have to lose? What is the risk?

What if that one girl says ‘no,’ and then you stop asking girls out – you might miss your soul mate.  If you don’t try to have a baby or adopt, you might regret it years from now. What if you wait to start your business and in a year see where you could have been if you had just followed that little voice… that little prompting.  The only difference between Tim & I with Jordan, Jules, Adam, DeMarr and others is time.  The only difference between you & I is time… but you’ll never be where we are if you don’t start.  Don’t stand back looking inward. Take an inventory, chat with your support network and take that chance – no matter what your passion or business.

Returning to our action on the prompting of going to St. Louis this weekend and the fact that we are still in the airport (going on 6 hours) with the boys by myself, I have no regrets.  Why?  I have no regrets because we had a great weekend BBQ with friends and the weekend ended up being more memorable than I could have imagined.  It started with a Facebook status entry about brisket smoking and my response/tease about crashing their BBQ.  It was followed by my BFF asking ‘what if you jumped on a plane and joined us…’  Hmmm – what if?  What if we did leave immediately and fly up Saturday, only to return on Sunday?  What did I have to lose?  And that’s the question and fear I want you to overcome when you face your what ‘ifs.’ 

I don’t want it to seem like we chose to start our Send Out Cards with little decision, there was a decision.  We loved the concept, the philosophy and mission. Of course, after nine years in direct sales, I didn’t see a reason to start another business. Boy, am I glad I listened to my ‘what if’ voice. I was already going to purchase the Wholesale Package based on the number of cards our family sends and I wanted to save in the long-run despite the upfront (system cost).  I thought for $59 to become a business, ok… ‘what if’ I did make a little money from sending my own cards and gifts – not to mention the cards and gifts others would send….  Obviously, if you’ve followed us here on the blog or Facebook or we’ve had a chance to chat via email and phone calls, you know our history.

Just as listening to that ‘what if’ voice to start a business with Send Out Cards, brought about great lessons and opportunities for memory making, so did the ‘what if’ voice about going to St. Louis.  Our trip to St. Louis brought memories with the kids about Acts of Random Kindness, kickball, playing with dear friends and a lesson about a little baby lost to SIDS as we released balloons to Heaven one year after the Lord took her from her family. Our boys learned about Ellie and even though she is gone, she is not forgotten.  This memory and the pink & purple sunsets and double rainbow Ellie sends her family on Earth are so worth the ‘what if’ about going to St. Louis and the ‘what if’ we don’t get home because of the storms.  Don’t let the fear stop you from a memory, a milestone, a moment of success – take the risk. You don’t want to wonder ‘what if’ and have regrets. I promise the risk be worth the rewards.  I’m always cheering you on as an entrepreneur – no matter what your business may be.   --Danielle

Don't Forget to Follow-Up

I sit down to write today’s blog entry and I have so many ‘business strategies’ I want to share.  Why?  Because today, I was notified from Send Out Cards that one of our team members and friend, Ashley earned the Cruise Incentive and will she’ll be sailing three days from Long Beach, CA to Ensenada, Mexico.   Tim laughed at me (in a supportive way) as I was more excited to see Ashley succeed than I was when I heard I made the trip earlier in May.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to be on the cruise and will get my passport renewed ASAP; however, it was seeing someone on our team succeed to the next level.

I do feel like a big sister who supports those ‘younger’ than me in our business.  I don’t know all the answers, but I will share what works and what hasn’t. The biggest challenge for many is in goal setting – I’ll sit down and write the specific goal and then work backwards and make smaller steps. 

For example, Ashley knew her goal…. The Cruise – She knew what it took to earn the Cruise (She’d need to sign five new distributors) – And she knew the deadline (May 23).  And before Ashley would achieve signing five new distributors and earning the cruise, she needed to sign her first distributor.  Yep, that’s right – in a month’s time, Ashley signed five new people into the business.  A win-win for both the distributor and those she sponsored as they now have a tool for sending cards & gifts AND just found their own vehicle for financial freedom.

How did Ashley sign five new distributors?  It’s all in the relationships… and in the follow-up.  Just like our business, those on our team and others within the SOC family, we believe in the relationships and how can we help you utilize this tool… for personal or business needs.  The fortune is in the follow-up… you’ve heard this no matter what your business is and you’ve seen the outcome.  Using Send Out Cards for customer & client follow-up, as a warm marketing tool and for personal relationships will make an impact.  Ashley had made lot of connections and built relationships, she then tackled the fear of follow-up... and thank goodness she did.  She followed up with those who had expressed an interest - and tada.  Sometimes 'no,' just means 'not now;' however, what you are offering may fit at a later time. Do you see a similarity in your business?

Now that Ashley is headed to Mexico will she slow down? Highly doubt it – she’s got some great momentum and has a team of five… her next goal… Manager.   The one thing about our Send Out Cards business is that others can duplicate the same success. There are no area meetings, no inventory or parties.  Despite that, Tim & I are there to help Ashley with her new goal of Manager because at this new level she will see her income change; it is a great milestone and will really change her business. 

For those of you reading this – as our team or friends of our team, please know how important you are to us. It is a blessing to be part of your business and your families. I just wrote about that in my Gratitude Journal yesterday, but my heart is full this week. You guys are working so hard and making great changes for your family.  Keep shooting for the moon; we are here for you!  --Danielle