My first try at blogging!!!

[arbonne_tonya]

ok so I started it yesterday and it is in the infancy stages, but I have started it. i want people to get to know me and to be able to relate to me. i was told that since the company i work for won't let me really advertise and say their name in a "ad", then I should start a blog, talk about me, the health and wellness aspect of it, and how the biz is changing my life. SO...i thought, WHAT THE HECK!

So...I'm attempting to write in it every day. i haven't yet today, but I will here after lunch...tell me what you think.

I am SUCH a newbie at blogging, any help would be graciously received!
http://livingforidentity.blogspot.com/

Have a fabulous day!
~Tonya

[Audrey]

Tonya,

Are you able to put a banner/button on your blog with a link to your site?

[tam2005]

Hey Tonya,

It's looking really good...you are off to a great start! I left you a comment. :)

[arbonne_tonya]

Audrey, No...:( I can't. But I will talk it up enough and I posted my email on there which has Arbonne in it! So, I hope people will put two and two together and if not, I think I am going to try and start a newsletter!! that is next on the agenda after I get this blogging thing down a little bit more!

Tammy...thanks so much! I really appreciate it.

I added another entry today, I just have to get into the habit of doing it everyday. 21 days to make a habit stick! hehe...it's important, so...I am doing it!

Thanks to you all for all of your support! This stay at home or wanting to stay at home and work thing is tough. I know it is, and it's because of all of you and your wonderful encouragement...that I and everyone else has enough sanity to keep going! Thanks!
:D

[Audrey]

Tonya,

I'm going to ask several questions...I believe there is almost always a way :)

1. can you sign your posts and add your email after your name?
2. can you sign your name and put your URL after your name?
3. can you put a button/banner on your blog but not link it?
4. can you do things like sign your name and then put:
Tonya
The Beauty Queen or

Tonya
The Makeup Expert

Or something along those lines?

[Dawn~AturService]

Tonya,
Bless you woman! It takes a lot of courage to be vulnurable and spill your guts to the ENTIRE world like that! I guess that's where I feel a little intimidated in creating my blog! I've been trying to get it going for months now. I even have the first blog entry written...hehehehe. I just don't have the time to commit to maintaining it right now between working a full time job, working for my clients, trying to market and running a family! I'm sure you can feel my pain.

But I think you are heading in the right direction. Your passion will draw people to you. You will make friends, and sooner then later your sales will increase. I'm sure the wonderful ladies here will guide you towards success!

Good luck! :colors:

[arbonne_tonya]

Audrey,
I went and reread the policy and as long as it's in a siggy, I am ok, so I added a siggy to every forum and email that I own! hehe Thanks so much for pushing me in the right direction!

Dawn,
Yes, I can COMPLETELY relate!! But my husband and I had a small sit down today and I decided that I am going to give this my all for the next 30 days. Not that it will quit after that, but I have to do whatever it takes, 3 hours sleep, not seeing the kids much. That is ok. I know it is short term sacrifice for long term success! I just have to keep telling myself that EVERY DAY! AND...i have to stop being afraid of ASKING. Just this morning, since I got to work...(shhhh....) I have talked to 2 people and schedule two classes that I could have asked them months ago, but I didn't because I didn't want to get rejected. Now, if I don't lay it all out there to show that i am vulnerable just like everyone else, I will never build a team! SO...that is my thinking anyway! My husband thinks I am a lunitic and doesn't think I can do this, so above everything else! I have to prove him wrong! LMAO ;)

Thanks to you all for your great support! You are all wonderful!

[Audrey]

When I first began in direct sales, I was working 18 hours a day, pretty much 7 days per week. It was worth it, but it was a ton of work.

I hope you'll give it more than 30 days at that pace :)

[Dawn~AturService]

Tonya,
One thing I have sacraficed big time while trying to establish my business is house chores (and free time goes without saying)! It stinks (literally....hehehehe:duh: ) but the way I look at it is, the house will be filthy again within 24hrs, but each step of progression in my business is one step closer to my goal.
I've also cut back BIG time on cooking dinner. I still make my family something to eat, but it's fish sticks and tater tots instead of herb crusted pork roast in a white wine glaze, garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus.
Time with my kids is something I can't get back, so I still try to keep it 1st on the priority list. I've just learned to alter the way we spend time. Instead of reading kids books to my baby girl, I read marketing secrets for success. :eek: We still play outside, but I answer e-mails from the Blackberry between blowing bubbles and throwing the ball. I just try to consolidate my work time into my family time. Perhaps it's not the most ideal situation but it's the only thing I can do to make this all work right now.

Sometimes I feel as though I'm not moving forward but I look back to where I was a month ago and it becomes more visible. Audrey's right about 30 days though. It's eay to get through the tough times if you focus on the light at the end of the tunnel (and with short term goals the light seems a lot brighter!) But from the research I've done and people I have met, it takes a good year to become somewhat established. I feel frustrated because I want Rome built in a day, but it just doesn't work like that. Don't get me wrong, I hope you're rolling in the dough and looking at blue prints for the apartment complex within 30 days. Just don't cut yourself so short on time. Maintain patience and perserverance and your dreams will come true!

[Audrey]

Dawn,

When I started in 1983, there were no computers or cell phones. Life was soooo different.

I put my daughter in a stroller and off we went on foot, DAILY.

As I began to earn money, I began to put money into paid advertising, so the phone did ring and it rang alot. I took it outside with me. I really did not want someone to hang up on my answering machine. As soon as I could afford it, I hired an answering service so that every single call was being answered by a life person. I made trips to the answering service twice a week with donuts, pizza etc.

This was all in the first year. By the 2nd year, yep I could breath just a bit :)

[arbonne_tonya]

Dawn, Well, I'm not going to be builing an apt complex in 30 days, lol...that is for sure, but...my biz will be on the way to do that by this time next year. I just have to be steady and work. My hubby is home in the evenings and has taken care of everything since the beginning of the summer. Which is why the time frame is so critical. School starts in a month and my husbands schedule gets hairy at that point too. Not that I will quit evrything that I am doing, but by then, it will be a little easier. I do not remember the last time I did the dishes! hehehe I'm been doing this for a year, but...I think I hobbied it too much! I have to make it work this time!

Audrey, wow! I think that us network marketers have it easy...that is for sure. The world is at our finger tips, we just have to find our niche to get people interested in US!

[Dawn~AturService]

Well Audrey, am I glad times have changed! LOL :hi:

Tonya, that's great that your husband is helping you out so you can work towards achieving your goals. My sweetie works ridiculously erratic hours and the only help he usually gives me is coming home from work slightly cleaner (weather permitting). He's temporarily laid off now though and it's been unbelievably wonderful having help with the kids. It's only for a few weeks so I will suck it up while I can!
All the while being super grateful for where technology has brought us! :work: