Two Decades As A Mom Boss

Today I celebrate 20 years of launching a business in Direct Sales. It was 20 years ago that I got completely uncomfortable and reluctantly started a business in Direct Sales. This was not part of the plan, in fact, I did not even like Direct Sales, I was not one of those people nor did I have interest in becoming one. I had just completed my Master Degree the year prior, I had a great career in Training & Development but the demands of work and family became too much for me. There had to be a better way...

This corporate girl turned stay at home Mom was desperate for something.

I had a strong desire to to create an income working from home with a flexible schedule, it was that desire that helped me open my mind to the possibility as opposed to my fear of “what will other people think”. In March of 2002, I was 7 months pregnant, had a 1 year old and a 2 year old in tow and launched my business in Direct Sales—I was not convinced this would be the right choice for me, but I jumped in anyway. No experience, no time, so much resistance, but a curious mind and a strong desire for change. Fast forward, my husband was laid off from his hot start up, the technology & telecom industry tanked, and our dreams of what that could be fell apart. We went from having it all, to realizing we did not have a Plan B, and that feeling fired me up to make this business work. I saw women across the country that were making a 6 figure income, and I declared “if they can do it, I can do it too”. I worked my business part time but incredibly focused and consistent, within a few years I promoted to the top of that company.

In that time, I realized I had stumbled upon a great opportunity.

While on the outside it looked like sales, and that I was selling lipstick and eye cream (oh the stories I could tell you of the passive aggressive women and the comments along the way). While others thought what they thought (blinders on), I was building a multi-million dollar business from my home office, from my kitchen table, and in living rooms and kitchens all over New England. I will never forget earning my car with this company, it felt like such a big deal as it was a trophy in some ways. I felt a bit embarrassed and also proud, a combination of feelings as I on the outside was a overwhelmed mom of 3 little kids, and the truth is that I was building a wildly successful business which would surpass both mine and my husband’s combined corporate income. My girlfriend and neighbor loves to talk about the first time I backed out of my garage with the car (she was in the culdesac talking with other moms), and she said jaws dropped when I back out in my car, and waved hello (which was one of those eye of the tiger moments, sometimes we just need to show them).

I loved the dichotomy of being me, a mom first and to most, I had a small business I worked from home.

The reality was that I was building this incredible team, and we experienced incredible growth and success, it became my platform to use my skills of speaking, teaching and motivating others, I had a sense of purpose, and I was building an incredible business which resulted in residual income, and so much leadership training and growth. Cocktail parties were fun in my affluent community when some husbands would ask me what I did, I was under the radar socially with my business, but I was holding a truth that I was one of the most successful people in the room. That was exciting, strange, and something I was not prepared for, nor was I prepared for the ups and downs of business, and the down economy in 2008. In my business I was a stand out and this company it was more like a celebrity, and at home in my community I was a Mom, and without social media these worlds did not co-exist publicly. I would experience both success and failure over the years, and would grow from a young mom to a women with grown children (how did we get here)? The time after this was a time of transformation, personal growth and I discovered my work hard/play hard mentality needed to shift, and in that time I became less about hustle and more about heart, yoga became my platform to uncover parts of me that had been wanting to be heard.

I had built a long term sustainable & residual income.

I worked so hard for years that I built an “annuity” that paid no matter how much or little I worked. The plan was never to leave, but God had other plans for me. It was 7 years ago in March that I left my first company that I loved so much to become part of Beautycounter. I loved the mission, brand, CEO and the opportunity, I knew I could help so many more women and I was drawn to this company. This one decision led to so many people joining over the years, I knew this opportunity was something special and I am so proud of the fair compensation plan, and the important work we were doing. Life hit hard, losing my Mom to Cancer was something I was not prepared for, and after her short illness my walls and world came crumbling down, I would experience some depression and every vulnerability in me was exposed, I had to deal with parts of me that felt the opposite of success, and these dark places felt like failure. What I know to be true is that we all have our light and dark, they are gifts in some way. We just need to shine the light on the dark, and learn self acceptance, compassion, empathy and vulnerability. I continue to grow in this area (even thou I fall and flounder at times).

A highlight in this time was that all 3 of those babies graduated high school and were off to college.

Charlie and I achieved our dream of living by the beach by building a home in a quint village on Boston’s North Shore. This was part of our vision for years, and to be in it now, and in a new stage of empty nesters is just wild and weird. I have learned that life is all about balance, the ying and the yang, the dreams and the discontents, the light and the dark, it is not all magical, it is both the wonder of magical and the reality of messy. Life is both….

I pinch myself thinking 20 years, I have done this work from home, virtual & now digital business for 20 years.

I started out as the young mom, passionate, driven, motivated and on purpose (even thou deep down I had fear and doubts). I watched women succeeding, speaking and leading others, in my mind, I wanted to do that and be that. These women became my circle, mentors and while I was appearing to be the Mom w/a side business, I was actually a Mom with a multi-million dollar business, speaking, inspiring and motivating others to find their yes and their moment. Today, I am the seasoned one (okay older one) with hard earned experience both in business and life. I love nothing more than encouraging a Mom in business, and supporting her as she casts a vision for here life, and tries to balance the demands of work and family. It is not easy, but it is so worth it! I made the mistakes, I have reached the other side and I have a viewpoint like no other, as I have raised the babies, did so in a dedication to family living and created a home and family that makes my spirit soar!

As I celebrate this milestone, I am grateful for the people that supported me and came into my life over the past 20 years.

Some of the greatest mentors, some of the greatest of friends—and my friends and family that always believed in me and encouraged me (even when they thought I was crazy). It was never about the eye cream or lipstick for me, it was always about my Vision and sharing it with others and inspiring others to create their own vision. It was always about using my voice as a force for good, teaching and developing leaders, growing a dynamic team, establishing a spirit of team work, and building a sense of purpose in my life and in the lives of others. The best part of this business has been the personal growth, some of which I embraced and mastered, and also the lessons I did not plan for, but came in the way of obstacles and failure. I am not done. I don’t know what the next decade will bring and at this point in my life I am not worried about that. I am able to prioritize myself and undo all of the “shoulds” I thought I needed to do. With age comes wisdom, and it is from that lense that I both practice, learn and teach.

While financial success was the focus in the beginning, it is so much more than that to me.

I never would have started in this industry if I had not been a Mom that was desperate to find a way to balance work and family from the comfort of my home. That one decision led to many opportunities, and looking back, what I am most proud of is that “we” did it! My vision was to raise a beautiful family, well rounded children and great human beings. I could not be more proud of my kids, they are by far my best work (and guess what, it was not just me, it was the community we built and became part of).

I have a soft spot for Moms because for me, that was always the driver.

It was what led me down this path. What gets me out of bed in the morning is not product ingredients or the amazing lotions and potions I love, what gets me out of bed is helping women and moms create their best life, and using a business like this (or their own brand) as a vehicle for positive change in themselves, in their lives, in their families and in the world! My purpose is to inspire women and Moms to design a life and vision based on their desires (and perhaps discontents), and with a positive mindset, spirit of belief and hard work, it is possible for everyone.