I'm not sure where to begin...the 2011 Stampin' Up! Convention was an overwhelming week of inspiration, surprises, happy tears, joyous news, meeting friends face to face, reconnecting with "old" friends and more!
As you know from my previous post, I did make 2011 Founder's Circle (top 100 Stampin' Up! demonstrators). Yes - I had a very good Stampin' Up! year, thanks to my loyal customers and club members, as well as my awesome downline. I can't say THANK YOU enough!! I'm ever so grateful!
This year I placed at #25. My highest achievement in the four years I've been in Founder's Circle. Admittedly - the number itself doesn't matter, as it's a HUGE acheivement no matter the number.
But the best news of all is, I was selected to serve on the Stampin' Up! Advisory Board. This is a huge honor. I'm humbled to be selected for this position.
I was overwhelmed with congratulatory hugs and well wishes from hundreds of fellow demonstrators. So many kind words that touched my heart. Thank you everyone!
This convention makes me think of my very first Stampin' Up! convention 8 years ago in Orlando (I had only been a demonstrator for one year). As it was my first, I didn't know many people. I was rooming with people I had never met before, but had found through Stampin' Discuss. I attended classes by myself, but was never alone, as demonstrators who found out I was by myself, befriended me in each class. This first convention sealed the deal for me. Meaning - my life changed that week. I saw average, ordinary, but extraordinary women receive recognition after recogniton as they crossed the stage. These women looked like me. If they could do it - I could do it!
In addition, Shelli Gardner's (CEO and Co-Founder of Stampin' Up!) wrap up speech was exactly what I needed to hear at that time of my life. At the time, I was a Controller for a small company and was struggling with my personal ideals and the ideals of the owners of this company. It just wasn't working. Then I hear Shelli talk about how future conventions would take place in Salt Lake City and why. I know many demonstrators were disappointed with the news at the time, but I hung on her every word as she explained her reasoning for the decision. She was saying what I wanted the owner of a company to say. What did she say? In a nutshell, that she valued her employees and their families! Here was someone who walked the talked. Wow - can you imagine that? Not too many people do that. It was what I was searching for and I found it in Stampin' Up!
I returned home and immediately set a goal to turn this "disount saving" demonstrator into a business demonstrator. I set my sights on earning the incentive trip and to walk across the stage the following year (which I did!). I'll be honest, if I hadn't experienced the magic of a Stampin' Up! convention, I don't know where I'd be today. But even back farther...if I hadn't said "yes, what the heck, I'll be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator", I know that I'd probably still be unhappy in that job. So take that leap of faith - you never know where it will lead you. What do you have to lose?
Maybe the real question to ask yourself is, "What do you have to gain?"
Thanks for indulging me~Dawn O
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Dawn's Reminders: