Desires of the Heart

Soooooo, I used to have time to blog regularly. Then I started a business. Then I had a baby. Then I went back to work. Then business started picking up. Life became crazy but the whole time, I was working on myself. Not just growing my business but growing as a person. Improving how I manage my time. Improving my relationships. Loving myself more. Not being so hard on myself. Reading more. Meditating. Eating better. I also began to grow out of things. Outgrow relationships. Outgrow activities. You get the point.

Fast forward to today. I have finally fully retired from healthcare to pursue my passion. And, also, allowing what has been chasing me my entire life to catch up to me. You see, I grew up in a salon. I feel like every woman in my family has a cosmetology license, including my mother. I even worked in a salon while in grad school and apprenticed under my mother but never took the exam. What some may see is a woman who started small, business picked up, opportunities are presenting, so I decided to go for it. What people don't know is that this was written. Business is picking up, so I need more space to manufacture. What will that space look like? Eventually, it will be a beauty salon. That's the 2 year plan. All that running from cosmetology has come full circle. LOL!

In college, even though my career path was not clear, I knew I did not want to work beyond the age of 35. At the time, I thought I would work a little bit and then my husband would take care of me. LOL! I mean, my mother is a stay at home mom, why can't I be one too? No one knew this. I never shared it with my husband. Why? Well, life happens. Reality hits you. I assumed that we could not sustain our lifestyle on one salary, so my intention was to stay in healthcare until I was retirement age. While I had reached my career goals by the age of 30, I thought I'd develop new ones for healthcare related advancement in my career. Nope. That's not what happened. Once I mastered my job function, I was looking for a new challenge. This was right around the time when I began my journey in multilevel marketing.

Say what you want about multilevel marketing, but for me, it was an eye opener. I was open minded
and I realized how powerful I really am. I learned about myself. I realized that sitting in a windowless office, tucked away in the corner of a blood bank was not what Jehovah intended for me. I thought that multilevel marketing would be my ticket to a Fancy Free life but it didn't work out that way. Turned out that Fancy Free was my ticket. It had been right under my nose for about 2 years. I started selling the hair product. More and more women were scheduling natural hair consults. Fancy Free business was picking up. 500% growth in my second year of business. Those numbers happened during a year where I was working on a HUGE project at work, pregnant, oh yeah, and had a baby. This all got me thinking. If I grew this much with wishy washy, inconsistent marketing, imagine what I could do if I focused all of my energy on Fancy Free. Endless possibilities. No limits.

So there it was, staring me in my face, my destiny. But how was I going to transition? Our household

budget included my, now half time, salary. Simple. Get out of debt. If we paid off all of our credit cards, we could afford to live off of my husband's salary. Simple. Not easy though. LOL! So we got to work. Scaled back on splurging. We were chopping that debt down, big time. The whole time, my work environment was becoming more miserable. Once my focus shifted from being a Specialist in Blood Bank to growing as a CEO, I no longer wanted to spend time blood banking. I wanted to be building Fancy Free. So EVERYTHING irritated me. It was time to go.

Once we set a date, that's when the magic began. You see, when you begin to walk in your purpose,
the flood gates open and everything works toward helping you receive the desires of your heart. Things lined up in a way that I couldn't have even imagined for myself. I never told my husband I wanted to retire by 35. I kept it close to my heart. Between Jehovah and I. But I was open and flexible. The silence while meditating let Him speak to me. I just listened. Now, here I am at 36 years old and retired. Only one year behind schedule. I mean, the Jews wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, so 1 year isn't so bad.

No, all of our debt isn't completely paid off but we're on our way. No, I don't have a building yet. But the reality is, all of your ducks are never going to line up the way you want them to before you take the "jump". Jehovah wants you to rely on Him and not your own understanding. When we humble ourselves, accept that there a lot of things that we just don't know, and actively seek guidance, things happen, BIG things happen.

What are the desires of your heart? Go after them with all you've got. There is nothing you can't do once you've made up your mind.

Shameless plug alert:
Fancy Free, LLC. is the manufacturer of quality products for hair and skin. Our motto is "Keeping you chemical free." Visit our website, www.fancyfreellc.com, to see a full range of our products and services. Sine up for our mailing list to receive natural hair tips and stay up to date on sales and the latest happenings with Fancy Free.

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That "Ah Ha!" Moment

My life has become so jam packed that I no longer have time to sit down and read. So I consolidate activities. I listen to books while I'm doing activities that I'd normally require music. Exercising, folding laundry, whipping shea, etc. Right now, I'm listening to Russell Simmon's book, Super Rich. He talks about meditation and becoming a business yogi and it has me doing some serious self evaluation. Yes, I am "Fancy". How'd I get that name anyway? To me, I'm just a hippie who is very particular about some things and does not care about most other things. LOL! Where am I going with my business ventures? What direction am I taking my professional life? I do what I do because I'm good at it, not necessarily because I have a burning passion for it.

At 21 years old, I decided that I'd be a blood bank boss. I did the training, got the certifications and BOOM! By 29 years old, I had accomplished that goal. I perfected blood bank bossing by the age of 32 and was ready to move on to another challenge.What's next?

Direct sales. Direct sales is AWESOME SAUCE!!! But only if you're up for a challenge. It requires a hell of a lot of personal growth. Only the strong make it to the other side. The other side being residual income. You also have to inspire that in other people who may not be ready in order to maintain and grow your team, which also maintains and grows your income. What I got out of it? I learned that I am an entrepreneur at heart. I am a creative. As an employee, I need flexibility in order to flourish. I learned that I will see exponential growth and feel success beyond my wildest imagination if I put the same passion and consistency that I put into managing a blood bank behind my own product. My imagination does not have any limitations. EYE have the power to make what I visualize in my head into a reality. The personal development required to be successful in direct sales helps you see that if you can believe it, it can be yours. I visualized my successes in my career. Direct sales got me visualizing what success as "Fancy Free" looks like and it looks like a lot of time in the pool or a beach. Nothing too fancy but definitely free.

The words of "Super Rich" made me realize that I already have it all. I already have it all. I am enjoying the process of becoming. In becoming a business yogi. In becoming a mother. In becoming a wife. Just becoming better all around. I have material success and titles but I know that titles do not define me. As a matter of fact, whenever I'm engaged in a conversation that starts with "So, what do you do?", I usually say I'm a stripper or wet nurse. In my mind, if the first thing you're asking me when we meet is about my line of work and we're not in a work environment, I don't necessarily want to talk to you anyway. In my mind, we ain't got nothing in common. LOL! Now I'm ready to take this life to another level by being even more focused and operating on an even higher level of consciousness.

With that being said, I did a self check. I looked at my proverbial stove. All of the burners are going. I'm turning the heat down on 3 of the 4 burners and turning it up on just one. Everything else will have to blend in with that thing. If it doesn't mesh with my vision, I ain't doing it. I'm sooooo excited about this new clarity. I wasn't sure what was holding me back from going all in. Now I realize it was because I was unsure about something. Now that I'm sure, I'm going for it. Full steam ahead.

It's so amazing what reflection and self correction can do for your life. The day that I had this moment, I had an opportunity waiting  for me in my inbox. If this is not affirmation, I don't know what is. When you chase something, it will run away. When embrace your purpose and your passion, you will attract your heart's desires.

The Fancy Life just keeps getting better.

What's your number?

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In 2013, I started my first home based business. I started it fort he tax benefits only. I really wasn't looking to
be a full on entrepreneur. Let's face it. I have a cushy job as a supervisor. That comes easy to me. I re-direct, delegate, and solve problems. I get paid for what I know, not what I do. I take that back. I get paid to accomplish goals and meet deadlines, not to cover a work area for an allotted time. Which was all fine and dandy to me until I started hanging around people who were making monthly what I make yearly. I say, in the most humble way possible, I do well for myself. So, to see that kind of money in someone's income statements really got me thinking about my real "worth".

Most home based businesses are considered "direct sales". What is direct sales? The principal behind it is, the individual markets a product or service for an established company. As an individual, you get paid a commission for the sales you make and then you build a team to do the same thing. The company compensates you for adding member to your team. You help the people on your team sell the product and/or services and receive a portion of the commissions from your team's efforts as well. The great thing about this model is that it encourages team work. As a team leader, I want to sell and make money and I want my team to sell.

Not only do you get to help a gang of people earn the kind of income they dream of, you also open your mind. Prior to opening my mind to direct sales, I thought I would be set with a salary anywhere between $80,000-$100,000 per year. I'd earn that going into an office, working about 40-50 hours per week. I'd have to be on call, since I'm in the healthcare field, which meant my phone may ring in the evenings after I already left the office for the day, on the weekend, in the middle of the night, or even while I'm on vacation. I was fine with that until I saw that there were other ways to earn money, help people, like I enjoy doing in healthcare, and feel like I'm being compensated properly for the time that I spend "working".

I LOVE the technical aspect of my healthcare profession. The patient testing. Process improvement. Buying new equipment. Validating a new test method that will save my staff time and frustration. It's awesome. I don't like the managerial aspect of it. Personal issues. Disciplining staff. Terminating staff who don't correct their mistakes. It can be really stressful at times. Late nights. Coming in early to catch up with night shift staff. Staying late to be prepared for an early morning meeting. The thought often passed through my mind..."I don't get paid enough for this." I know I am not the only one who has had these thoughts.

What is enough though? Like, if they suggested they'd double your salary, would you still feel like you didn't get paid enough? Maybe I would take double to deal with the same stress. Maybe. But eventually, the feeling would come back. "I don't get paid enough for this crap."

What's your number? How much money will it take for you to deal with the "crap" of your job on a daily basis where you would feel like you get paid enough to deal with it? Everyone has a number. I'm curious. Being around entrepreneurs in all fields, not just direct sales, I've become more comfortable in naming my number with confidence. I am fine with walking away from the table if the numbers and conditions aren't satisfactory to me. Why? Because I know my number. I know what I bring to the table and the value I add. Truth is, the people I end up negotiating with know it too.

Remember, know your worth. When negotiating a salary, a recording contract, or a distribution deal, you have to know your worth and stand behind it. Otherwise, the person whom you're negotiating with is going to try to  low ball you. Nothing personal, it's just in their best interest to get the most value for the least amount of money.

Although I wholeheartedly believe in the power of direct sales and the benefits of a home based business, but I love my career. Direct sales has given me the confidence to venture out in to some other things while I build my team. It also gave me the confidence to negotiate terms with my employer that give me the flexibility to grow my own businesses and also continue to grow in my career. Those negotiations took over 3 months but I knew my number and I knew what I had to offer so I could advocate for myself.

If you don't know your number, figure it out. If you don't love your situation at work or in life, fight for change. You add value. It's highly likely that the people you are working with know that and will give you everything you want. That's how you live the "Fancy Life".

The Definition of Leadership

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The dictionary defines leadership as a person who guides or directs a group. A true leader has a way
of motivating people to move and work toward a common goal with enthusiasm with or without a title of authority. How can you recognize a leader in your life? How can you recognize the leader in yourself?

Leaders Listen More Than They Talk
Listening doesn't always mean hearing what people are saying or complaining about. You can listen with your eyes. Observing people work. Watching when people aren't working. Taking note tasks that stress people out. Usually, when someone is coming to leadership with an idea for improvement, it's a good idea. Why? It's coming from the people who are doing the work. They know what they are talking about because they are doing the work. Leaders will make changes according to suggestions from the team to help improve production. A leader will pay attention to signs of stress and step in to help without being asked. People are more willing to work with or for someone who values their advice.

Acknowledging The Team
One of the benefits of being the leader of a team is that when the team is successful, the leader gets most of the credit. However, it's the team that does most, if not, all the work. The leader is there to give structure, help with trouble shooting, and offer encouragement along the way. It is important to give credit where credit is due. A team is more willing to continue to work and follow your instruction when the leader is able to make to show appreciation. A coach instructs his team on what plays to run and when to run them. The players actually run the play to win the game.

Hold Yourself Just As Accountable As You Hold The Team
True leadership will not make any exceptions for himself. As a leader, you set the tone for how your team is functioning. When the leader does what they say they are going to do, the team follows suit. A leader publicly owns up to any mistakes and makes a plan to fix it. Leaders follow through with commitment, even when it is difficult. The team can count on their leader to keep their word, therefor the team keeps their word.

Telling vs. Showing
You ever notice that when there is an authority that start barks orders, no one listens? And if they do listen, it's begrudgingly? A great leader will show the group what to do. Leading by example creates team morale. A group is more enthusiastic about working along a great person than working for someone who does not show that they know what it takes to get the job done. Being in charge is not about pushing people around, it's about getting people to work toward a common goal.
The dictionary defines a leader as a person in charge of a group or team but we know that all people in charge are not leaders. Leaders listen to verbal and non-verbal communications and make improvements for the better of the team. Leaders acknowledge the team's efforts when there are successes. Leaders are hold themselves accountable by follow through with commitments. Leaders will join the team and show them how to get the work done instead of just giving orders.

Fancy Free, LLC. helps everyday people reach their financial and personal goals through personal growth and leadership training. Call us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

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Finding Happiness - Tips For Being Happy With Your Life

What is happiness? Happiness is satisfaction. There are no words that can accurately describe the feeling of
being happy with life just like there are no words to describe the smell of coffee. You just feel it. Just like you know that a pot of coffee is brewing. Being depressed is often considered the opposite of being happy. A chemical imbalance causes depression. Those suffering from depression take prescription drugs to help control it. However, people who have their depression under control wouldn't say they are happy.
Happiness is an inner peace and it is work to get there. Take the first steps toward finding your own happiness.

1. You are good enough just the way you are.
If you have to act in a way that makes you feel unnatural to support a relationship, any kind of relationship, that relationship is unhealthy and not for you. Be around people who love you as you are. There is a difference between a loved one encouraging or inspiring you to do better and a loved one influencing you to change who you are as a person. Eliminate these kinds of situations from your life and you will find happiness. Undergoing extensive plastic surgery is not going to make you perfect or happy with yourself. Embrace the person you are with all of your personality quirks and physical imperfections. We are all different. How boring would this world be if we were all the same?

2. Your path is your path.
Because humans are so unique, we all process things differently, learn differently, move at different paces, and like different things. Constantly comparing where you are in life to someone else's progress is a sure way to drive yourself crazy. Life takes us on roundabout paths to teach us lessons that we can apply to the next phase. Try your best to make good decisions and if things don't turn out the way you planned, it's not the end of the world. Certainly there was a chance to learn a lesson from that situation. If your plan is behind schedule a year or two or ten, that is fine too. Delaying your plan for two years is not earth shattering in the grand scheme of life.

3. Appreciate where you are in life even if you are striving for more.
There was a time when you were breaking your back to get where you are now. You went back to school to get your graduate degree so that you would qualify to get that promotion. The promotion came with an increase in salary that allowed you to buy your dream home or take that dream vacation. There is nothing wrong with wanting more but appreciate what you have now. Appreciative people are generally happy people. If you are constantly looking for the next best thing, you will never be satisfied with anything even after you get it. Be happy with what you have and you will be even more satisfied when you meet your next goal.

Being happy is a matter of being satisfied with yourself and all things about you. The feeling of satisfaction is indescribable. Be comfortable with who you are as a person. Improve yourself, but don't change your core values. Your journey is for you, enjoy it and learn the lessons it has to teach. Appreciate what you've accomplished and what you have now. The greater things to come will mean even more to you.

Fancy Free, LLC. is a lifestyle company. We specialize in finding vehicles for people to pursue their passion. These vehicles help with personal development while earning residual income. Contact us at (410)929-0302 for your complimentary consultation.