Today is Emily’s first day of school. Next week is Michael’s first day of kindergarten. Emotions are a mixture of excitement and trepidations. Excitement to meet new friends and be reunited with old friends…trepidations about this year’s teacher and how tough the homework will be!
Our lives are filled with firsts and as I walked into work today thinking of my grandchildren’s first days of school, it reminded me of how many firsts I have had and thousands of others at Signature HomeStyles. We can all recall the excitement and trepidation of that very first Show. We were all excited about the launch of our new business, yet nervous to stand up and talk about our company, our products and our opportunity.
My first Show was with my friend Emmie. We met in college, stood up in each other’s weddings and had both started our families. I knew most of her friends and family and they were all there at her house for my first Show. I’m not sure if that made it easier or harder to do the Show! As my eyes scanned the room, I knew I had to avoid looking at her mother-in-law but settle on eye contact with her sister! To my surprise, during my presentation they were all smiling and nodding their heads as I gave them ideas on how to organize their homes with my baskets. The Show turned out to be a great Show and I continued to see all of them at many Shows after that…even her mother-in-law who turned out to be one of my best customers!
What I learned that night is that one of the best parts of doing a Show are the connections that happen. They had a great time looking at the baskets, handing them to each other, and telling each other what they should buy to organize their home! They started teasing each other about the messy spots in each others’ homes, joking and laughing together and truly enjoying being together. It felt so good to see all of them enjoying the evening and connecting with each other and I knew that my company was the vehicle that facilitated these wonderful connections.
And they all took me into their circle as well, considering me the expert in organization, giving them advice on which basket would work best. By the time I had done a few more Shows with them, I felt like a member of the family! Every Show was an update on who just had a baby, or who was getting married. I shared in their joys, and also their challenges. The connections were far more than just a business relationship…they were personal. And as my business grew, they grew with me, helping me to build my Team in those beginning years.
Now I look back at that first Show and have to think of where it led me and so many others. So often I’m asked if I ever dreamed that the business would become what it is today. Frankly, the day of that first Show I was so nervous that I knew I had to do my best just to make sure that I would get bookings to be able to keep my business going! The day after the Show, I knew that, if I worked really hard, this could be the best thing that ever happened for my family. I was launched…I was excited…and I became unstoppable!
I will be forever grateful for my first Show…how they connected with me and how I connected with them…how their jovial embrace of my company, my products and my opportunity gave me the confidence to begin a journey of a lifetime.
My first Show was with my friend Emmie. We met in college, stood up in each other’s weddings and had both started our families. I knew most of her friends and family and they were all there at her house for my first Show. I’m not sure if that made it easier or harder to do the Show! As my eyes scanned the room, I knew I had to avoid looking at her mother-in-law but settle on eye contact with her sister! To my surprise, during my presentation they were all smiling and nodding their heads as I gave them ideas on how to organize their homes with my baskets. The Show turned out to be a great Show and I continued to see all of them at many Shows after that…even her mother-in-law who turned out to be one of my best customers!
What I learned that night is that one of the best parts of doing a Show are the connections that happen. They had a great time looking at the baskets, handing them to each other, and telling each other what they should buy to organize their home! They started teasing each other about the messy spots in each others’ homes, joking and laughing together and truly enjoying being together. It felt so good to see all of them enjoying the evening and connecting with each other and I knew that my company was the vehicle that facilitated these wonderful connections.
And they all took me into their circle as well, considering me the expert in organization, giving them advice on which basket would work best. By the time I had done a few more Shows with them, I felt like a member of the family! Every Show was an update on who just had a baby, or who was getting married. I shared in their joys, and also their challenges. The connections were far more than just a business relationship…they were personal. And as my business grew, they grew with me, helping me to build my Team in those beginning years.
Now I look back at that first Show and have to think of where it led me and so many others. So often I’m asked if I ever dreamed that the business would become what it is today. Frankly, the day of that first Show I was so nervous that I knew I had to do my best just to make sure that I would get bookings to be able to keep my business going! The day after the Show, I knew that, if I worked really hard, this could be the best thing that ever happened for my family. I was launched…I was excited…and I became unstoppable!
I will be forever grateful for my first Show…how they connected with me and how I connected with them…how their jovial embrace of my company, my products and my opportunity gave me the confidence to begin a journey of a lifetime.
1 comment:
The First Day of School was the very first Blog I've ever read...
but it won't be the last!! You have such a way of telling a story!
You transport me right to the place of the story....
I can actually visualize it all happening as you describe it...
what a gifted woman you are!!
You took me right back to my beginnings....of my Hostess's...
of my Guests....thank you for that visit!!
Eileen Kropf
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