LOL!
I went to MANY of Jamie's workshops, and then started attending a monthly Stamp Camp at her upline's (Susie Reno's) house. Over the next TWO YEARS, Jamie and I talked about me joining. Of course, I wasn't really serious about it at that time, but it was an idea I tossed around in my head from time to time. After those two years of her saying I should join, and two years of ME saying I should join, in March 2008 I finally did it! But I soon felt like the timing was off...
I decided to join just weeks after she and her family moved an hour away! Oh boy! Silly me! I should have joined sooner!
I decided to join in the midst of a floor remodel in my home... In the midst of finding Subterranean termites under my kitchen island. In fact, Jamie came to visit me from an hour away and we sat at my dining room table, which was in the living room on the bare concrete floor, among all my homeschool books on bookshelves floating in the middle of the cramped room and everything was covered in dust. Definitely a memorable visit, I'd say.
I joined and shortly after I joined, my Father-In-Law became seriously ill. We found out that he had prostate cancer and within just a couple months, he lost his battle. I thought I joined at a seriously WRONG time.
So, I didn't do anything with my business for several months.
When I was ready to give this a go again, Jamie suggested to me that I should attend her upline's (Susie Reno's) monthly meetings and hook up with that group. So I did, and that fear of being alone in my business attempt quickly went away when I met with the wonderful ladies of Susie's group. They welcomed me with open arms, gave me a table at their stamp camps and from there, my customer base began to grow.
Near and far I had support that I had never expected. I did a Business Boot Camp in Jan 2009 and since then, I have been unstoppable! I LOVE my customers and many of them have now become close friends. Some of those close friends decided to join Stampin' Up! as Demonstrators themselves and I'm so happy to have such a wonderful downline!
I was able to attend the 2010 Leadership Conference this year and came home completely inspired! I will definitely be attending next year's Leadership Conference and I hope to earn the Incentive Trip for 2011. Very recently, we found out (like many Americans) that my husband's hours were being cut back. Taxes being raised, overtime non-existent, etc... So the income I am able to bring in from Stampin' Up! helps supplement my husband's income and I'm able to work as little or as much as I like. I homeschool my daughters, my husband has an odd schedule as a Deputy Sheriff and my whole family loves playing on the boat and going camping, so I'm able to be available to my family on THEIR time. I absolutely LOVE what I do; the freedom I have, the people I meet, the ladies (my upline) who I have joined and the ladies who have joined me as Demonstrators. I love the lasting friendships that have formed and look forward to helping other women discover their creative potential!
And by the way, that picture up top was made with the very first stamp set I ever purchased from Jamie... A stamp set that I will NEVER sell...
"Loads of Love"... :)
Sarah Smith
Stampin' Up! Demonstrator since March 2008
