"There are no Excuses on the road to Success" by: Toni Thomas

From Nepal an American Success Story

Talking about successful women made me realize I didn't have to look very far to find one in my own circle of friends. Her name is Sweta and she is just a girl from Nepal who has become an American Success Story.

Sweta Lamichhane

Although I have a plethora of acquaintances I have but a handful of very close friends. They come in a wide range of ages and they vary in professional passions but I can tell you one thing they all have in common, they are compassionate, hard working and honest.
One of those friends is a young woman who has achieved much and overcome even more in her life. She is an entrepreneur, an actor, a musician, a philanthropist, a survivor of teenage bullying and a woman of great compassion and accomplishment.
Where do I begin? How about at the beginning?
Coming from the small country of Nepal and the city of Kathmandu she moved to the United States at a very young age living on the East Coast with her loving family living what everyone thought was the "American Dream" but after years of being bullied by her classmates in high school this adventurous young girl decided to enter the United States Marine Corp.
Trying to escape the harsh reality of teenage life in the US she entered what would be the toughest job of her life. This seemed like the perfect place to rebuild her strength and her courage and to overcome the pain she had suffered during what should have been her wonder years. And she would tell you it did just that, "in the Marines we are all equal, eveyone is just trying to survive and come out on the other side."
What would become one of the most defining moments in her life came when it was discovered in her home country that she had entered the US Marine Corp.
You see she was the very first woman in her country to ever enter the military, the very first. Imagine the buzz created when it was discovered she had entered one of the toughest Military sectors in the world. She has become something of a National Treasure in her home country of Nepal and it is easy to see why.
After time spent building her self esteem in the Marines this charming young woman ventured out to the Gold Coast of California, the acting bug had caught her and as it turned out she was pretty good at it, getting many side roles on TV shows and even on set for a few big screen movies. She had overcome so much in her life and it appeared she was living the life we all dream of, yet still her passions were not ignited.
What was she looking for? What was her true calling? Where did she belong?
When she started to look at her life it looked like she belonged back home with her family on the East Coast and this would be where her true story of success and love was about to unfold.
She entered the world of beauty, going back to school and getting her education in skincare. She had no idea she would enjoy this field of study so much as it happens she not only loved it but she was very good at it. Five years later she is now a Master Esthetician, a Permanent Makeup Artist, a Master Level Makeup Artist and an Instructor for all of these professions. She now teaches at a very successful post secondary skincare institute and shares her love of beauty with her students.
She started the Care for Karnali foundation giving back to the children of Nepal by providing the children of Karnali the opportunity to receive an education through scholarships, and in turn, empowering them to better their future and all aspects of their lives. http://www.careforkarnali.com/
She started her own skincare and cosmetic business where she shares skincare products and the business opportunity with other women who have a passion for skincare and beauty. She empowers other women and gives back some of what was taken away from her as a teenage girl. You can visit her company website here www.bomblashes.com
She fell in love with a wonderful man who is her biggest supporter and they are engaged to be married in the fall.
Semper fi is exactly who this woman is, always faithful to those she cares for and those she wants to empower.
She is a woman to love and a woman to admire and I am blessed to call her a friend.

Peace

Toni

Is there really work from home success?

Have you ever wondered if you really could work from home?
If so, what could you do to make a decent living and earn enough to be successful?
Here is what I tell friends when they want to know more about direct sales, multi-level marketing and work from home opportunitites and is it possible to be successful in these jobs?
I share a story about an amazing young woman.
From Shy to Success:
She joined her Direct Sales company because she was looking for a "work from home opportunity". What could this art student and stay at home Mom do that could get her a small income so she could have some spending money and get her involved socially with others? She decided she wanted to share the products that she had used that had cleared up her Adult Acne. She already knew they worked and that they were quality products plus she hadher own personal testimonial to share.
She is a "Stay at Home Mom" and she was living in a new town with no close friends living near by. She had less than 100 friends on her Facebook page and she had never even heard of Direct Sales.
When she started to discuss her desire to join a direct sales business she was discouraged by many who said those companies are just scams. Yet, she decided to take a Leap of Faith on herself and give it a try. She spent every day reading every piece of information her sponsor sent to her. She did her research and learned everything she could about the company. She started following others in the company who were successful and inspirational. She slowly began to gain courage in herself and began reaching out to meet new people. In her own quiet way she had become a networker.
She began to make 100's of new friends online and in person and showed strong signs of leadership. She made videos showing others her beautiful skin and the fun she was having working from home while meeting new people. She was talking to people all over the US, Europe and even New Zealand. Four months into her new business she was making so many new friends she could barely keep up.
She was teaching her sponsor new ways to network and make friends. She never hesitated to share all she was learning with others and taught most of her sponsors team how to do some of the things she was doing to be successful.
Six months after starting her new business venture, her company and her team sold over $10,000 in products. In month seven she made enough money to purchase her very first new car.
You never need to ask me if Direct Sales work?
I am watching it work and it is changing lives everyday "one in particular" and I am so happy to call her a friend and I am so proud of the leader she has become.
She made me a promise last week at her company convention, a promise that still brings tears to my eyes, "I will walk across that stage as one of the highest ranking people in this company next year and I will be taking you with me" Yes!!! She will be leading the way.
I love you for your courage and your passion. You are a true hero to me.
You are "A SUCCESS STORY".


Brittany @miss_brittie
www.moremascara.com

5 Traits of a Successful Entrepeneur

By: Toni Thomas

Many of you know I started my life as a business entrepreneur at the very young age of 29 when I opened my first store front business.  Although I was likely an entrepreneur long before I opened my first business, I just had a way of sharing my passions with others and getting people to share my enthusiasm.  To me the word entrepreneur has always been closely related to sharing our passions with others successfully.

I have now been an entrepreneur for the past 20 years and although not always on the upside of money I was always on the up side of life and everything I learned about the world of business I learned on my own. I spent many years watching others in business and trying to understand why some are successful and why others seem to struggle. Here is what I have observed about those we find to be successful entrepreneurs.

1.       No Shame

Successful entrepreneurs have no shame. No shame in who they are and no shame in what they do. They move forward with complete confidence that everyone they meet wants to know who they are and what they do. They know that what they do and what they have to offer is the best and that everyone should have the opportunity to share in their products or services. They tell everyone they know and everyone they meet exactly what they do and how they do it. They never let a single opportunity pass by without sharing their ideas with others.

2.       Complete Confidence

Every successful entrepreneur I know has an aura about them that is so hard to describe. Although I’m going to call it confidence I’m not sure that word does them justice. They have confidence but so much more. They have a complete understanding of who they are, what they want and where they are going. To be next to a successful entrepreneur is like getting struck by lightning and enjoying it. The electricity is so powerful you are unable to pull away and yet you know you don’t want to be anywhere else. These folks have a hard time leaving a room, no one wants the energy to be gone, and the letdown is just too great.

3.       Assertiveness

Have you ever wanted to say something so bad but you hold back and let the moment pass. Well a successful entrepreneur never lets the moment pass. They speak in truths all the time. They say exactly what’s on their mind and never do it in a way that makes us feel uncomfortable. They point out issues the moment they see them and have no fear of repercussion because for them there are none. They know they owe their successes only to their abilities and they have no patience for wasteful conversation and unacceptable behavior. They never mince words and always put it all on the line.

4.       Focus

All successful entrepreneurs live in their passions and their ability to see the future. Successful entrepreneurs never waiver from where they are going and always focus on completing the task, their ability to create the future is how they define their successes. There is no compromise for them. The outcome is well defined and their focus is always on the mark.

5.       Plan

No successful entrepreneur goes into any project without a well thought out plan that has been put to paper. They strategize followed quickly by implementation. They never let ideas sit on the sidelines. Even a bad idea has to be explored just in case it leads to a better idea. They always follow through and never fail to follow up. Every successful entrepreneur I know would say the fortune is in the follow up.

Successful entrepreneurs have proven that their best traits have allowed them to be dynamic in a world which is ever changing. I for one want to be on the other side of success and know that each of you have the ability to be there as well.

Cheers

Toni



15 Awesome Jobs that Actually Exist by Jessica Solomon www.chegg.com

15 Awesome Jobs that Actually Exist

by Jessica Solomon www.chegg.com

 

Forget settling, forget traditional. Turn the office into your playground with out-of-the-box careers.
The only question you’ll ask is where to start.
1. Beer Tester
Sample a variety of brews to pinpoint defining characteristics and tastes. Malt or hops? Thin or thick? Let’s hope your pallet has developed enough to determine the differences – and to know if they were intentional. One last thing, you better love the taste of beer or else this job could be miserable.
2. Ski Patroller
Shred the ski mountain while ensuring both tourists and locals stay on the safe side. You’ll never miss fresh tracks on a powder day or be limited by the ski area boundaries. Don’t get me wrong, the 9-hour ski days can be tough on the legs. Bonuses include (but are not limited to): jumping to the front of the lift line, getting awesome free ski gear, and rocking a goggle tan year round.
3. Mobile Application Developer
Rewind five years: neither Instagram, SnapChat, nor Angry Birds even existed. Fast-forward to today and anything we can think of doing is now at our disposal in the palm of our hands. Popularity and importance of cell phones has reached an outstanding level, and the consumer demand to keep up with the latest trends is endless. As an app developer, you would be responsible for creating, writing, and implementing innovative applications to be used on mobile devices, ultimately revolutionizing the future of communication and instant access.
4. Fortune Cookie Writer
Ever felt you have some sixth sense you’re just itching to share? Or started a book to realize you only had the first sentence? In two sentences you possess the power to change the course of someone’s day, if not their life. Share your imaginative side in the luxury of your own home, but don’t be fooled: you’ll need to come up with endless fortunes to keep up with the 6+ million cookies consumed daily.
5. Toy Tester
Here, work and play are synonymous. Channel your inner kid by testing products that have yet to hit the consumer market. In addition to ensuring these toys are fun and visually appealing, you will gauge their profitability and safety.
6. Special Effects Crew
As a Special Effects Crew member you work in what is called the Prop Shop where you build and rig the equipment needed to pull off stunts and gags. This may include mechanized props, scale models, pyrotechnics, make-up prosthetics, or simulated weather conditions like fog, rain, and wind. If you spent your childhood building things just to knock them down, the Prop Shop will seem like the ultimate adult playground.
7. Ice Cream Taster
Yes, this is as great as it sounds: ice cream for breakfast and lunch. Your days may consist of tasting 30 samples before noon (sorry mom), or imagining new flavor combinations that could be the next mint chocolate chip.
8. Mattress Jumper
For all those times your parents told you to quit jumping on the bed, you can now argue it was practice – for work! High-end mattress companies actually require a human to jump on their products multiple times, compressing the cotton interior and creating the perfect density. This is real physical labor; you must eliminate all lumps and pay attention to details because just a few too many jumps can throw off the comfort level. I know this seems like a job fit for a restless child, but it really takes work!
9. Academic Interventionist
You’re like a safety net for kids who are unable to keep up in class. Each state has a set of learning standards used to determine who moves on to the next grade. But kids can fall below state standards for a number of reasons: speech impediments, emotional problems, physical disabilities, or serious illnesses that keep them out of school. So the work of an Academic Interventionist begins with identifying the kids who are in danger of falling below these standards, and then help them catch up.
10. Body Part Model
Top agencies are looking for people who have exceptional features to showcase certain products. Your flawless wrists don’t have to go unnoticed, your shiny hair can be appreciated, and your great fingernail beds will finally get some credit. Unlike regular models, body part models are anonymous, come in all shapes and sizes, and can showcase many different types of products.
11. Feng Shui Consultant
Help others improve productivity, opportunity, and peace of mind by taking interior design one step further. Feng Shui relies on ancient Chinese art and science to create a positive atmosphere, which will then impact ones life. You will be tasked with arranging the energy flow of an area to ensure health, good fortune, and success.
12. Linguist
How did words get their meaning? Theoretical linguists explore this through grammar, syntax, semantics, etymology, and phonetics (the sound of language), while practical linguists focus on the use and application of language. Because you understand language, you understand communication, which means you’ve got many employment options, including software development, teaching, or analytics.
13. Cruise Ship Entertainer
This job rocks for a number of reasons. For one, you will have the opportunity to travel around the world to some of the most memorable and geographically beautiful countries. Two, cruises are awesome. You’ll get to interact with happy vacationers, and your sole purpose will be to make their trip even better. Explore the open waters, visit ancient sites, and visit unheard of islands, all while giving others an unforgettable (and amusing) performance – it doesn’t get much better than this.
14. Private Island Caretaker
Notorious as “the best job in the world,” life in an island paradise seems too good to be true. Take advantage of a near permanent and rent-free vacation by simply keeping someone else’s property in top condition. Spend endless sunny days enjoying an array of watersports and an independent lifestyle. You will need to possess the skills and knowledge to tackle island life, but this minimalistic and carefree career could one day be yours.
15. Zoologist
If you ask white-collar workers what it’s like in corporate America, many will tell you, “It’s a jungle out there.” Incidentally, Zoologists will say the same thing about their workplace. You’re a scientist who watches, researches, and cares for wildlife. Often employed by universities — and sometimes by zoos, aquariums, museums, and wildlife reserves — you’re a permanent guest of the animal kingdom.



How cool is this?

Happy Job Hunting!

Cheers,

Toni

My 7 Secrets to Direct Sales Success

Inspiration+Motivation=Realization

 

 

1.    Each day I spend 30 minutes doing something related to my personal development. Personal empowerment brings about self-confidence. When we feel good it shows.     

      

         Walk, Bike, Hike, Run, Meditate, Swim, Stretch, Yoga:
         Simply move...

2.    I spend 10 to 15 minutes each working day with someone who inspires and guides me. Yes, I spend each day talking to that one person who can give me the motivation to stay focused.

 

We talk on the phone or in person…

 

3.    I found someone to be accountable too. I have a relationship with someone in my industry who keeps me on me on track. We discuss strategies and what my plans are for the day, the week and sometimes the month.

 

            I do the same for her…

 

4.    I joined many networking groups (online and in person). You may feel compelled to just join MLM or Direct Sales groups but spread your wings and join groups that interest you. Ask questions make new friends and eventually they will ask what you do and you can share your passion with them.

 

Find what truly interests you and gain the knowledge to share it fully….

 

5.    I plan each and every day, I know well in advance what my calendar will look like for the day and I design my strategy to accomplish each and every item on my plan.

 

3 to 4 strategies per day, try not to get overwhelmed, be persistent and consistent…

 

6.    I spend my scheduled working hours in my Direct Sales Business doing only revenue generating tasks. I do not let anyone or anything distract me from my goals during those hours.

Find your focus and stay the course…

7.    I take my work seriously but I never take myself seriously. I laugh all the time at myself and some of the crazy things I do or attempt to do. It really is amazing how much fun your business can be when you let yourself enjoy every minute of it.

 

Share your strategies with your team and have lots of fun with them. I inspire through laughter, my passion and the crazy stuff I do… Just have fun…

Cheers

 

Toni

 

Why is her business doing so well?

Why do some people seem so successful and others just don’t have the knack?  Why do some businesses fail in the first three years while others have been around for generations?  What makes us go back to one business time and time again, even if the location is inconvenient or there are other impediments?  
It is one simple element:  "It not about the service they provide it’s about the person who has provided the service"

I genuinely love my hair stylist she is funny and talented and always on the mark when it comes to my color.  She has humor, great stories and has more confidence in her talents than seems possible.  She is busy but never lets me see just how busy she is and her salon is one of the hottest places in DC.  She is damn good at her job but not just because she makes me look great but because she makes me feel great. When I arrive for my appointment I’m greeted by name by her receptionist, in a place so busy and large this always amazes me and yet the friendliness makes me feel calm and welcomed. 

This complete and genuine customer service is given to me throughout my visit in her salon.  The reality is I hate going to have my hair done it is a chore of such magnitude I can barely tolerate the thought of it and yet I continue to go back.  Why?  It is definitely not about the service they provide, I can get that anywhere, it is however all about the people who provide me the service.

So the next time you are wondering why your business just doesn’t seem to have the customers you think it should have or you can’t seem to figure out the secret to success. Take the lead from my stylist and her team.  Genuine customer service is still the name of the game.  You are the brand of your business so be the top brand.

Ten steps to great customer service:

• Be Genuine

• Be Truthful

• Be Assertive

• Be Professional

• Be Attentive

• Be Helpful

• Be Useful

• Be Fair

• Be Compassionate

• Be Friendly

To learn more about taking your business to the next level of success. Feel free to connect with me.

Cheers,

Toni

How to Enrich Your Personal Life

No Business Today...

Most articles I write are all about the enrichment of your business or the enrichment of your professional life. Yes, those articles have a purpose and they are meant to be informative. They do not however give you any guidance on how to overcome the stresses of everyday living and the pressure that comes with our professional daily lives.
Today I want to talk a little bit about your self enrichment and some of the steps you can take to care for your inner being. You know that person behind the successful you.

10 ideas to enrich your personal life:

• Make time for yourself (10 minutes) to meditate or reflect on your life.
• Live in the now, living in the moment helps to ground your thoughts and calm the mind.
• Find a movement that you can do everyday, any physical activity that fits into your lifestyle (walk, run, yoga, stretching, lifting, jumping, biking, boxing, hiking, swimming etc...)
• Have lunch, dinner or drinks with a good friend.
• Enjoy laughter with people in your life who make you laugh out loud.
• Be fun and playful, do things that make you smile, with your spouse, your children or even your pets. This will in turn enrich all of your lives
• Make love to your partner or just make time for pleasurable moments.
• Give thanks and gratitude to those around you who make your life easier. 
• Make time for the special people in your life.
• Say "I love you!" These three words will give you peace and fill someone else with joy.

Cheers,

Toni

10 Tips to Start a New Business

In today's fast changing technology based and social media environment it is good to remember the basic fundamentals of a new business start-up.

1. Determine the type of business entity in which you will conduct business. Major choices are sole proprietor, partnership, limited liability (LLC), corporation, or non-profit.
2. Apply for you Federal Tax ID number. Here is the IRS URL to give you guidance. http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98350,00.html
3. Open a separate business bank account and apply for a business credit card. This will reduce the time and money you spend on bookkeeping, as well as giving you a good view of cash and funds coming in and cash and funds going out. Never mix business with pleasure, best tip of the day.
4. Set up an accounting system that matches your business needs. There are many flavors to chose from so check out the most popular as well as free software available on open source. Your choice all depends on how complicated your cash flow is.
5. Set up all the forms you will need to track transactions. This would mean templates for invoicing and receipts. You also may want to set up a system or template for purchase orders, estimates and statements. All of these forms can be found on Quickbooks and other accounting software or online at open space form links.
6. Make sure you have all of your federal and state business license requirements and any permits you may need. Go to www.business.gov to find out more and check your local state licensing board for local licenses.
7. Secure business insurance to protect your financial investment.
8. Create a realistic budget based on a cash flow template. Here is a great one from the SBA,archive.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/.../sba.../form_finasst_cshflstmt.xlt
9. Make estimated tax deposits every quarter, especially if your business is a sole proprietor, partnership or S-corp. Regular tax planning will prevent surprises when its time to prepare the income tax returns.
10. 10. Manage your time wisely. Outsource the items you are unable to manage such as accounting, taxes, legal work, marketing, business plan, financial plan and any other business areas that you do not feel confident to tackle. 

You are the soul of your business and it is your job to put out the best product or service you can. So leave the rest of the small stuff to the pros who do this for a living.


Cheers!

Toni

The Law of Attraction