THIRTIES- "Southern Living At Home" And Network Marketing

“If you believe in failure, know this:

Failure is not about falling down a thousand times; it’s refusing to get up.” 

     Like many people, I would do the inner eye roll when I would see an independent consultant coming my way, selling me on their latest and greatest lipstick or kitchen appliance. I was yet to become aware of the fortitude it takes to take on such an opportunity and venture. Although I did my very controlling best, my thirties had not quite manifested as planned. I was married and lonely. My group of single friends began to do their own thing, probably “thinking” that I was loving married life out in the rolling hills of San Elijo. I so wanted them to be a part of my new experience in Stepfordville, “trying” to tell them that marriage did not equate to life on The Blue Lagoon. I missed our walks and time together. Like most addictive demands, it didn’t work. I felt like I was failing at life; so when I was invited to a a Southern Living At Home (SLAH) party from a patient of mine, I jumped at the chance. Within one week, I became a consultant. The Kaptain was by my side all the way, and we threw a successful startup party at our home. 

      My initial thought was that it would give me an opportunity to meet people and even make new friends. I would lug my basket of household decor from small apartments in San Marcos to one of the richest towns in America, Rancho Santa Fe. My dear bestie from Laguna Niguel would help me obtain parties in Laguna, often becoming my sidekick. I also became Tanja’s upline, and she successfully sold the decor up in SLO town. As my business began to grow, I created a confidence that I did not know I had. I began each party by telling the story of my lazy eye, using it as an opportunity to go through my insecurities and become strong. I remember standing in front of a group in someone’s living room, talking to strangers and telling them how being a consultant inspired me to break through my old pattern of hiding behind sunglasses. Many people would approach me afterwards, thanking me for my vulnerability while urging me to be a motivational speaker. I felt their sincerity and knew that I was on the right track. Little did I know how long that track would be. 

    Unlike the praise that I was receiving from strangers and earning a free trip to Florida, my father wouldn’t acknowledge my success. I  continued to create addiction to his good opinion. My mother told me that he threw a fit when finding out that I was doing something other than what he wanted me to be, a dental hygienist. Despite his lack of support, therapy had helped me see that I needed to let go of his desires. I also had a new precarious lesion in the back of my eye, and I needed to take care of myself. 

     The oncologist didn’t know whether it was cancer or not. Not wanting to take any chances, Dr Char lasered it. To this day, I still don’t know if it was or wasn’t. After the in office surgery, I was in extreme pain, but living in the “unknown,” has always been my greatest challenge. The best part about the whole experience was that I now had a husband to go through it with. I created the illusion that I was safe and secure because of the Kaptain. Again, addictively depending on the outside to be my ONLY source of comfort rather than trusting love. Sure, I prayed and thought about God, but trusting in my life’s contract was still not a part of my consciousness. Refusing to let the cancer scare have the best of me, I continued to market SLAH’s products. But after acquiring one too many Jamestown Trays, I began to daydream about having children. Or, maybe even a dog. It was time for a change, and I moved on. Thank you Cindy, where ever you are, for being the best sponsor a girl could have, you truly were a life savor.    

    Becoming an Independent Consultant for Southern Living At Home was a pivotal moment in my thirties. I humbly acknowledge that I was ignorant to the wide range of gifts that network marketing can bring. It has often had a negative stigma attached to it that could be replaced with passion and courage. Besides decorating my entire new home with gorgeous products which I continue to use to this day, I got to experience that I actually could make money without cleaning teeth. Being that I had often bought into my father’s misogynistic behaviors and had adopted his lack of abundance programming, this epiphany was HUGE for me. It also helped me to see that people valued my strengths despite the appearance of my lazy eye. To always get up, hold my head up high, and be me.