There are things I wish everyone knew about love.

Today, I was listening to a training call, checking my email, writing, and all of the things that a woman with ADHD does in one moment, and I was stopped in my tracks.

That doesn't happen very often.

There are some things I wish that all humans could learn about love.  I know that is a lot to ask,  but imagine the world if everyone loved deeply.

This is how I live, it's the example I want to be for my children, and it's how I want them to grow up living.  As the tears welled from my eyes while this video played, I knew I had to share that moment with all of you.

I know too many people who are so stuck in their own beliefs that they would rather remove themselves from their loved ones than learn to love past themselves.  I know too many people who believe they are so right, whether it's in their faith, their life journey, or their political party who would rather snub everyone who doesn't agree exactly with them, judge them, and cut them out of their lives than learn to understand.

Today, remove one of your hatreds.

How to have a successful event-5 things that can help

Events can be many things.  They can be a booth at a fair, a local Christmas Bazaar, or even an open house that you invite a few other vendors to.  They are all different, but in order to be successful, there are several things that have to stay the same.  Here are 5 very important things to think about before your event:

A very small open house requires a smaller display than a fair.

1. Know your event-Make sure you read the vendor rules for your event and pack for the size of event you're doing.  For instance, a fair requires a larger display, more product on hand, and possibly a canopy, while a small open house might require you to bring your own table and you would want your display to stay very simple.  Make sure you read the rules about what you can bring and what they require as well as what they provide.  Some events won't let you use your own table cloth, some require a canopy, and some limit the products you can demonstrate.  
2. Generate leads-It's best to have a give-away to generate leads for your business.  Make sure you have a raffle box to put them in.  I picked up a wooden box from the craft store, cut a hole in the top, and blinged it up with paint and glitter.  I always give away a gift certificate to generate a sale, but you can give away product, a basket of goodies like samples from other direct sales people in your network, or cash.  That's the cool thing about running your own business, it's up to you.
3. Product on hand-Make sure you have something to sell.  Most people at an event want to leave with something.  Be aware of how much product to take.  You would take much more to a fair than you would an open house.  A bazaar would be somewhere in between.  
4. Be able to make sales.  Find out if you can use your square or other card reader.  In the event that there is no wifi, do you have a hot spot?  Take cash to make change.  You want sales to go seamlessly, and people will walk away if it takes you too long to figure out the wifi password and get your square set up and ready to go.  
5. Talk to the people-If you sit and wait for the people to come to you, you will not have a successful event.  Try to engage everyone in a conversation that doesn't begin with a yes or no question.  I begin with asking how they are doing today.  Often times the automatic response is for them to ask how you're doing, even if they don't want to.  Once this happens, they feel obligated to listen to your response, at which time you can ask another question that is not a yes or now answer.  You have the power to lead them into a dialogue, but don't be hurt if someone walks by and ignores your attempt.  Keep at it, and always speak with a smile.  Not only can everyone see it, they can hear it too.  

These are just a few simple tips to make your event fantastic!

How is your weekend shaping up?

One of my part time jobs is as a photographer.  I fell into it by accident, I'm not even really sure how.  People liked my photographs, and wanted me to do them, then they wanted to pay me for them and wouldn't accept no as an answer.  I did not go to school to be a photographer, I have very minimal formal training, but still, five years later, I'm doing senior portraits, school photos, weddings, retirement parties, business development packages, and families.  I even do zombie family photos and cosplay events.

Today was school photo day.  From 11-3 I was shooting school photos one adorable kiddo after another.  That was the easy part, next comes editing and sending the order to the printer, but even then, I can crank the music, pour the coffee, and rock out all night.

At the same time, I began the training for my newest Damsel in Defense team member.  That is one of the funnest things I get to do.

Having my own businesses means that I can budget my time the way I need to in order to get the job done and still have time for date night with my amazingly supportive husband.

How is your weekend shaping up?  Are you tired of being an employee?  Let's talk!  Sunshine@yourdamseldiva.com.

Friday Funny-Network Marketing

Happy Friday everyone!!!  Here's to the weekend!!!
Cheers from Your Damsel Diva!!

Wonder Woman Wednesday-A life worth living

We always hear about the horrors of the world around us.  People do terrible things to each other.  Not a day goes by that I don’t get a story about something tragic that happened to a good person, and most of those stories never hit the media.  When people tell me, “The media blows things out of proportion” or, “the media creates a fear based society,” I just want to show them the email bank of stories I have that proves the problem is larger than the media.

Sometimes it seems too big.

Then you read about somebody like Rebecca Bender.  She spent six horrific years of her life trapped and sold into sex trafficking.  Things that happened to her would make you lose sleep at night.  Many people believe that she would be a broken and tortured soul forever, just another victim in the dark people of the world, but not Rebecca. 

Rebecca is a survivor.  She met her trafficker near a college campus in Oregon, she became a victim of abuse, and eventually he trafficked her.  She was sold nationwide for six years, tried to escape many times, was branded twice, and had to endure several traffickers before the FBI raided her home and gave her the means to escape.

Healing was not easy.  It took faith in God and the help of a local church to restore her.  She realized through her process that she could use her life to help others overcome as well.  She grew into her faith, started a ministry, wrote the Roadmap to Redemption, and now she is a renowned consultant and public speaker.   She is also married with children and living a beautiful life.

If you don’t believe you’re worth it, if the darkness in your life is still holding you back, Rebecca is proof that anyone can be an overcomer, no matter what trauma you have experienced. She is now a public speaker, virtual mentor, and consultant for everything from television to investigations.  

Rebecca Bender receives the Wonder Woman Wednesday spotlight this week because of her work in helping the broken heal, her willingness to hold a torch in the darkness, and her bravery to be a transparent window to the path of healing.

To learn more about Rebecca Bender, you can find her on the web at rebeccabender.org.

If you have been a victim of sex trafficking, sexual assault, abuse, or domestic violence, you are not alone.  Brave women have walked the same path before you, and have chosen to live a life that matters so that you may find peace and healing in their story.  We can help connect you with local resources in your community that can lead you to a life worth living.  If you or someone you know has a story about #fightingback please email me at Sunshine@YourDamselDiva.com and you may find yourself as a featured Wonder Woman Wednesday spotlight.