It's Not The Critic Who Counts

Hey you guys!! It's been a while and once again, I have been busy with school and coaching other people in their online endeavors which I am absolutely loving. I really enjoy helping other people achieve their dreams and I have undergone soooo much training to be able to do this. One thing about network marketing is that most people try to recruit as many people into their business as possible. This can work but if you look at the numbers for top earners in the industry, some have teams of less than 50 and some have teams of more than 200! The thing that both of them have in common is that both of these have around 10 people on their team that are responsible for helping them succeed. The other people are part-time network marketers who have smaller goals for their business and a few of them have given up on their business-- which is not a problem at all. Network marketing isn't for everyone. It takes a special kind of person who is willing to believe in themselves no matter what obstacles or negativity step into their path. You have to be highly self motivated and have an unwavering desire to succeed. I truly believe that everyone has this quality somewhere inside them but all too often, we decided to take the easier route instead of facing the fear of failure. But do you want to know a secret? As long as you keep moving forward and taking small steps each day, you honestly cannot fail. Let me say that again so it has a chance to really sink in. You have to do something each and every day that's going to get you closer to achieving your goal.Whether it's business or personal, we ALL have goals and dreams. It saddens me when I see other people giving up on their dreams when they are so much closer than they would ever realize.

I did that once.... gave up on my dream. I was in college to get my degree in biochemistry. Ever since I was 16 years old, that had been my dream. College was a major shock for me. My chemistry professor didn't go over any of the material and the full time class load with a double major in psychology was too much for me especially as I had been going through some medical issues. I was not doing well at all in chemistry. In fact, I was failing. This was a new experience for me and taking on a lot wasn't anything new in my life. I was the kind of student that everyone loves to hate. Overachiever, often the teacher's pet, quiet, focused on learning, not many friends, shy, and determined. My senior year, I found out that many of my peers thought I was completely stuck up since I rarely talked to anyone. That couldn't have been further than the truth! I had debilitating social anxiety and didn't even know how to strike up a conversation with another human being. I would talk to you if you talked to me first, but no one wants to get to know someone like that and I can't say that I can blame them. My home life wasn't the best so overloading my schedule and keeping myself too busy to think kept me occupied and out of the house. I played the piano in zero hour jazz band (did you know that there were classes that started before school officially started for the day?!), I was in the concert band, pep band, played piano for the choir and drama club when they needed someone, I was a junior varsity cheerleader (I thought it would help me make friends and it kind of did), I had piano lessons after school once a week, and I was in horse 4-H (it's a horse club where you learn about horses and ride them etc). Not only was I in 4-H, I was in several groups within 4-H! Trail, jumping, horsebowl (like a quiz team but for horse topics haha), and I did lots of horse shows. Looking back I do not know how I even lived through all of that!!

I sound like the least likely person to succeed in a business that requires me being out of my comfort zone and striking up conversations with new people every single day, don't I?! And I am telling you now that every single day, I overcome anxiety and not only speak to complete strangers but do youtube videos and speak with people on the phone to help them get over their obstacles. You see, this is more than a job until I graduate with my degree in 2 years! That's right, I did go back to school-- online. Full time. While being a full time mommy and working basically 2 online businesses. I am still that insufferable overachiever and I can't help it. I do now know when to stop pushing myself though and when to not be too hard on myself. If I (and millions of other people) can succeed in living their dreams then what's stopping you? You can do anything that millions of other people can do. No one has special advantages and secrets that you don't have. Some people are further in their journey and have more knowledge and contacts but that's an advantage for YOU! Why? Because when you're the first person to ever do something, there's no one to go to for help or advice. There are no success stories to keep you motivated. It just you. You and your belief that things will work out with no facts or statistics to back it up. Going against all odds and having people laugh in your face when you fail. Yes, you may experience some of this but start surrounding yourself with like-minded people and the words of critics won't reach your ears. You are enough. Believe it. Live it. Know it. And the world will too.  

Today, I leave you with this excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt's 1910 speech given in Paris called "Citizenship In A Republic" (excerpt entitled "The Man in the Arena"). It's one of my favorites. and gives me strength when I'm wavering:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. 




As always, if you found value in this post drop me a comment below or connect with me on Younique by Jenneal Facebook Page!

March Madness (Younique Style)

Hey! March has been another busy month for me and the company! We had an amazing product launch on the first of the month and the internet went completely insane. We added self tanner (FINALLY), tinted lip balm, a new foundation brush, lash curler, liquid eyeliner to the line up. When Younique first started out, it was easy to see who the all star was (clearly the 3D Fiber Lashes because that's where it all began!) But now there are so many other fantastic players on the team that it's hard to make a firm decision on who the MVP is anymore! You see what I've done there? Yeah I totally ran with the whole 'March Madness' thing but I have to stop myself here or it'll get a bit tedious!

As for myself,  I have gone from 150 followers on Twitter to 400 in a week and a half which I honestly can't believe! I remember when I hit 75 followers two months ago and I was crazy excited. I never thought this whole online marketing thing would go so well or be so fun! I have put a lot of time into it because, after all, it is my very own business and I want to do well but I really have enjoyed every moment of it and the success that has come along for the ride. If you would have asked me a year ago when I first tried the Younique 3D Fiber Lashes if I would ever become a presenter, I would have said no. My previous venture in the world of direct sales was quite traumatizing but this has been the exact opposite.

It's still such a strange feeling when people I don't know come up to me and compliment me on my makeup. My makeup wasn't bad looking before but I think it's the change in self confidence along with even better makeup skills. That's what doing YouTube videos and taking selfies for a living does for you! And I can actually have full on conversations with these people and not feel like I want to be swallowed into the floor. So, where are my sales at? I am so glad you asked! As you know, the month of February didn't exist on my Younique radar because of university classes being insane! As of 6pm today I am only $95 away from hitting yellow. I'm 90% of the way there. And it was so random as well. Here I was hosting a facbook party and no one had messaged me about placing an order or anything. I just randomly went onto my website to look up some products for my mom and there it was. Just sitting in my orders list, all neat and tidy. That feeling definitely does not get old! It's surprisingly addictive, I must add. If you haven't had that feeling yet you are definitely missing out. It goes a little something like this, "oh yeah just minding my own business having dinner and I got PAID." That pretty much sums it up.

Now for everything else, I still love my team. They are literally the most phenomenal women and they're all together in one group, rocking their business and supporting one another. And I have yet to see any drama which is unheard of and very refreshing. So that covers the money, team..... hmmmmmm what else is there? Oh yes, the haters. I am pleased to say that I haven't come across any so far. I think people expect you to act a certain way-- spamming, being unbearably sales-y, etc--- and when you aren't like that they don't really know what to do with themselves. I'm still, as ever, on the hunt for cons but I've only come up with pros so far. I will keep you updated though! Ok well maybe one minor con, I want the makeup. All. Of. It. But I did before anyway so it's not really a huge change, only now I have a legitimate business reason to treat myself!

February Reset!

Hi everyone! February is upon us and all the tickers have been reset to 0! I've already set my goals for the month and am super excited to get the ball rolling. I also have been doing loads of research into how I can help The Younique Foundation which is the pioneer of Defend Innocence. It's a charity who's mission is to educate parents and prevent child sexual abuse. Having 2 children of my own, this cause is very dear to my heart so I have set up a direct debit from my paychecks to donate to the charity. I am also looking at volunteer opportunities within the charity, and am making my pledge to #DefendInnocence. Some people may look at me and think I'm 'just selling makeup' but it's much more than that. Aside from donating to DefendInnocence, I am also doing everything in my power to uphold the Younique values to "uplift, empower, validate, and ultimately build self-esteem in women around the world". Just typing that brings me so much joy because I really want to help everyone! That's why I'm doing full time online university to get my biochemistry degree. Yes, I love science but ever since I can remember, I have had the strongest feeling that helping people is what I'm meant to do--and I love it! So, in 2.5 years when I graduate, I am going to either go into disease research or genetics to do just that. And I don't see myself giving up Younique because it has just been amazing.

In my last post, I wrote that I was half way to my goal and I am so pleased to announce that not two days later, I am now 60% there! I have made even more friends with new team members which on it's own is fantastic! I've only ever had guy friends and, to be honest, feel a bit uncomfortable around women which is probably down to my own silliness and not knowing what to talk about! You'd never think something as small as 'just selling makeup' could do all that.

As ever, here's the link to my site so you can see what I'm talking about! See you soon! Younique by Jenneal