F*%@ Yes

Pardon my French. I mean, to lead with that is bold, right? I’m not the kind of person to throw around a sentence enhancer like that in this kind of forum, you know, public… perhaps on a somewhat professional platform. But today, I say F-Yes. Let me explain.

Have you read that article called F--- Yes or No? It’s written about relationships, like, you better be saying F--- yes to the person you’re in a relationship with or you might as well just end it. Totally makes sense to me. Like, why would you date someone who you’re just moderately excited about? For some, this is easy. For my ex-boyfriend, he didn’t get it. He dated me for over three years but I was never an F-Yes to him. Took me awhile to figure that out and move on, but now I know. And to be on that side of the equation sucks, royally. But I digress.

I think this F-Yes mentality can be applied to anything in life we spend our time on. Our time is precious! Once it's gone, we can never get it back! One of my best friends, Anita, tells me all the time, “Michelle, can you believe it’s already September?” Like seriously, she tells me this, like her mind is blown each time. And then she smiles, because I smile and kinda laugh at her, because she always says it. Because it's true, time is just slipping away.

So I ask you, what are you spending your time on? Are they things you're super excited about or just a little bit excited about... or, not excited about at all? I’m sure all of us have things in our days that we don’t feel that strongly about, but it’s my mission make the most of my time with the things I choose to spend it on.

Friends and family. I love them, so if I'm with them, know it's an F-Yes for me.

Teaching. I love kids. Seriously love, even on days like last Thursday when I'm sure the kids could see the metaphorical smoke coming from my ears.

Social events. If I'm there, it's an F-Yes for me, because I'm always at an F-Yes for quiet time home by myself, reading or writing.

Which brings me to Arbonne. Most certainly, today it's an F-Yes.

I had no idea what I was signing up for when I said yes to Mary and Arbonne. I had no idea I'd make this many new friends:

I had no idea they'd refer me to books that make me better, like You are a Badass, The Slight Edge, and two I'm really excited to read next, On Fire and Dare to Dream and Work to Win.

I had no idea that they would invite me to their homes and tell me that I'm amazing and that they are lucky to have me around. And that they'd brag about my blog. (!!)

I had no idea they would teach me a way to do a bunch of work now to create a future of possibilities, one where I can show up to weddings across the country or be at a family members side if (heaven forbid) they became sick and needed me, without having to worry about being away from a job and a paycheck because of time missed.

I had no idea the training I would receive from Arbonne would leave me with things like this swimming in my head:

• Mind your mind.
• What we focus on grows.
• We live the life we're willing to tolerate.
• See what can be, not what is.
• We attract what we put forward.
• Live in gratitude.

All of this - I had no idea I'd have all of this in my life. It's so much more than I thought. I thought I was saying yes to personal care products that are safer and cleaner than those on the shelves in Target and Nordstrom. I thought I was just switching my breakfast to a vegan protein shake. I thought I was just saying yes to a new skin care routine.

But I was really saying yes to so much more.

And today? Today it's a F*%@ yes.

What are you saying F-Yes to?

MLM Misconceptions

I've been consulting with Arbonne for four months now and it's going so well and amazing and way more than I could have ever imagined. What I've realized now that I'm in an Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) company is that people who are not in it have a lot of misconceptions about what it actually is all about. As someone who spent the majority of her life outside of MLM, I get why people have these misunderstandings, and today, I'd like to dispel some of those.

Here are some common comments I've heard from friends and family. Following each comment, you have a response from someone who is in the arena and doing this kind of work on a consistent basis.

Concern #1: How come you want to do all this work for other people who will then profit from your efforts?

I hear what you're saying, well, I used to get it. But now that I'm in, frankly, this comment is insulting. Why do I want to work with my upline? Well, they are coaching and mentoring me to create a future of financial and time freedom. I get texts, messages, and calls on a daily basis that are positive, uplifting, that help me set goals and make them a reality. My Upline says things to me like, "Michelle, there's room for all of us up here at the top, we are standing at your side, locked arm and arm, creating a future that prior to Arbonne, you could hardly imagine."

And now that I've been in 4 months, I can see this future they are talking about. Our leader is Lisa, and you know what? I want her to hit her next promotion and make it to Nation because she is amazing. She's got the biggest heart and is the most down to Earth and authentic person you'll ever meet. She inspires us all with each message and text and quote she shares.

Bobbi is at Area Manager, and I so want for her to get in her Mercedes by the end of the year. So while she coaches me to hit my next goal of District Manager, I'm wanting to bust my @$$ to get her in that Mercedes, because you know what? That then reinforces to me that I, too, can reach that milestone. Bobbi is always there for me, answering every question, showing up to all my events, listening to my stories and being a great friend at my side. She wants me at the top with her!

Dana is almost to Area Manager, and she just hosted the most beautiful champagne brunch for our team last weekend. We were able to meet a few new team members and share this passion together with some new people who we want on our team. Dana made it so special, and shared about all the beautiful things she loves about each person in that room - these are the people I want in my life, women that lift me higher.

Mary introduced me to Arbonne and she's the District Manager direct to me. She gets that if you want something done, you ask a busy person - she's a middle school teacher just like me, and she has a passion for health and wellness just like I do. I'm lucky to have Mary at my side, and so thankful that I had an open mind and open heart when she invited to to learn what she knew about health and wellness and Arbonne. If it wasn't for Mary and a Valentine's Day lipstick, I would not be composing this blog right now, today. Mary, you have changed my life.

And Jess - Jess came on with me, and together we continue to learn this business we know that will offer opportunities to us in 4-5 years that others could only dream about. The initiative Jess takes on and the excitement for what we get to do is palpable. I'm so thankful that she said yes and is taking Arbonne along with her life, and with me.

So do I think I'm only working at Arbonne for others? Nope. I'm creating a future of financial and time freedom, and I'm helping the amazing women in my life who I care about reach their dreams in the process.

Concern #2: Do you only want me on your team to help you make money?

No. I actually want you on our team because I have an amazing opportunity to offer you - one that you probably can't see just yet. I have this opportunity that will free up your time and your finances so you can spend it on what's most important to you - whatever that might be. Want to stay home with your kids? Arbonne. Want to travel the world? Arbonne. Want more friends? Arbonne. Want to create a healthier lifestyle? Arbonne. Want to pay off all your student loans? Arbonne. Want to *not live paycheck to paycheck? Arbonne. Want to plan your dream wedding? Arbonne. Want to give back to your parents? Arbonne. Want to invest money into southside Chicago and help end violence? Arbonne. 

Also, I want you on our team because I see something in you. You are probably happy and upbeat and fun and a people person and engaging and bring joy to my life. I want those kinds of people in my life. All around me. Increasing the positivity exponentially. So if I'm asking, don't be mistaken. I want to spend time with you, I want to coach and mentor you, I want you to reach every dream you've ever had.

Concern #3: MLM consultants use their friends and family for financial gain.

Well, if you're my friend, I love you, and I'm guessing we talk on a pretty regular basis, and I probably hear things from you about a desire to become more fit or healthy, the fact that you got a terrible sunburn, that you have super bad acid reflux, that you're drinking more pop than you'd like to, that your eating habits are crappy because you're short on time, that you're not sleeping well and wish you could, that you have lines on your face you wish weren't there, or acne, or you kids have sensitive skin... and on, and on, and on.

I'm totally not complaining about these conversations, you're my friend or family member and I'm here to listen and I care about you. We're all impacted by things like I listed above. But Arbonne has solutions each. And it's all made with the best possible ingredients to be pure, safe, and beneficial. We're living in a time when everyone is being super conscious about what we're eating - trying to be Gluten and toxin free, but many people aren't paying attention to the other personal care products we absorb into our blood stream every day. If you're using Suave or Pond's or Biolage - how do you know what chemicals are in them and what they are doing to your health?

The reason I want to share about Arbonne is because it's another option. It's healthier. It's clean (we follow the European Union's standards for health, eliminating 1,400 chemicals. US eliminates 10-14.) It's also effective.

All that being said, I totally respect you wishes. If you are straight with me and tell me that you're not interested, I will drop it. But know that I have options for you that you're missing out on, that could potentially make your quality of life better.

In closing, I leave you with one of my favorite authors, Brené Brown. I choose courage - courage to do the thing that others make fun of and talk down on, courage to keep sharing it with people who I love, courage to show up to networking events and meet new people, because I have a lot to offer them.

I choose courage because I don't accept the fact that my life has to be a certain way because of the financial restraints I took on when I said yes to teaching.

I choose courage because I will create a future exactly how I want it. (It includes a Mercedes and a lot of travel, and a house in Chicago proper.)

Courage or comfort, what's your choice?

We only have one life, gotta make it count!