Negative nancy gone! Happiness!

Happiness things from yesterday

1. I got to feed and rock a 3 month to sleep during an appointment.
2. The negative nancy in our office is finally GONE! 
3. One of my trainees made his first sale, he's one step closer to being out on his own
4. Got kissed multiple times by a 2 year old.  Played a LOT of peekaboo.
5. Smiled almost the whole day

Happiness challenge: 10-27-14

Things I am happy for today:
1. I am NOT the sick one today. My bf had food poisoning(maybe now he will believe me about Kroger lunch meat).  And one of the managers has bronchitis.  For once, it isn't me.
2. I got to the office and had 10 minutes to chill out and listen to a book before anyone else arrived.
3. I get to go home in between shift 1 and 2. Maybe I'll even take a nap or do yoga or both.

Busy busy bee

Today my schedule is crazy. Office 8-10. Pick up my car at 10:30. Pick up my trainee at 10:45.  Drive to Alamosa 11-1:45. Appointments 2-7 pm.  Drive back from Alamosa 8:30-11pm. Eat something and go to bed.


My happy things from yesterday:
1. The trainee I had running with me is so sweet
2. Got to show her success
3. My car got fixed.
4. We ordered pizza for dinner so I didn't have to cook.
5.  I got lots of kisses from my guy.

of all things great and good

On Friday night a razor blade shredded my tire. On Monday my brakes started grinding as if there was gravel in them. This morning my boss gives me 24 hours to learn a group interview that took her two weeks.

Therefore I'm thankful for:
1. having a good head on my shoulders
2. knowing how to change a tire
3. having the money to fix the car immediately
4. great theater training which makes memorization pretty simple
5. a great family at work and home
6. getting a good nights sleep


Happy Tuesday Everyone!

B

Happy things day 1

So yesterday was a rough day to find happy things.  Here are my 3.

1. David made all of my meals for me.
2. My bosses left me alone for the most part
3. I got a good nights sleep

happiness project

I've decided to start a happiness project.  It's not for anyone else but for me. I've been really struggling with being happy recently.  I'm so busy most of the time, that being happy doesn't occur to me. So I'm going to try to devote a little bit of time each day to just being happy.  At the end of the day I'm going to pick out 3 things that made me really happy that day and write them down in an adorable little journal I'll purchase at some point today. Maybe I'll even post a picture of it tomorrow. I tell my team to always be present and in the moment, but I'm having trouble practicing what I preach recently.  My team is doing well, and through my mini seminars, the other teams in the office have seen improved performance as well, which is pretty cool. The only person not seeing performance improvement seems to be me.  That's not really true to be honest. My sales have gone up and my health is getting better. I am just worn out. I need something happy each day to keep me motivated and right now, my motivation is lower than low.  I need a getaway.  So on Friday, I'm getting a 90 minute hot stone massage and then going down to Alamosa for a night with David. Yes it's a work trip, but to be honest, we are getting out of our apartment for a night and can just enjoy each other's company.

Those things, make me happy.

Work smart,not just hard

Sometimes working harder doesn't mean working smarter.  I have found that out A LOT this week. I can work really hard and make tons of money, but it doesn't mean that I'm working smart. If I'm working hard, I'm forgetting things or letting other things go. This job is a huge balancing act.  Working smart has meant hiring a recruiter to take some of my recruiting tasks off my hands. Best $30 a week I spend. It has taken a huge weight off of me and enabled me to focus on other parts of my job that need more personal time.

BRRR...it might be fall

It was 31 degrees when I woke up this morning.  Last week we had sunshine and 80 degree weather, now it suddenly has decided it might be fall.  So I drove to work in a heavy coat with gloves on. I am wearing pants and a sweater instead of the dress and open toed heels I was planning on wearing.  Oh well, I guess in October it can be fall. My manager is sick today.  I'm sick today. And our other female manager is sick as well.  The only one not in the office though, is my manager. Which is ok, but is going to put a lot of extra work on the rest of us.

Off to make that money!
B

A drop of water in the ocean

Every day is a new challenge and a new step. Today's challenge: Get through today. I have 7 appointments.  I leave directly from recruiting to go to appointments. Which means I left the house at 7: 30 this morning and will probably get home around 10 pm this evening.  I love my job but the long hours can be hazardous to our health. So I am taking all of the multivitamins that my amazing aunt sent me so that I can stay healthy.  She sent me a vitamin care package. It was so sweet and unexpected!  I literally cried when I saw it. To have her thinking about me and my health when she is so busy, it was so sweet.  Love you Auntie Cathy!

So using my Aunt's advice...Take your Vitamins!!!!

feeling a little better

I'm finally feeling a little better today. Work wasn't too bad. I love the dress my female boss got me for my 1 yr anniversary with AIL.  I wore it today.  It's so floaty and beautiful. And very very me.  I need more sleep and to eat healthy in order to help myself stay healthy.  Ive also added a multivitamin.  Happy Hump Day everyone!

1 yr with AIL

Today marks my 1 year anniversary with American Income Life.  It's crazy to look back on the last year and see how far I have come. I have had my trials and struggles, but they have made me a better agent and a better manager.  I've had clients of mine pass away. I've had other people's clients pass away and deliver the benefit for them. I've driven thousands of miles and seen parts of Colorado and Kansas that I never would have seen otherwise.  I've marveled at the beauty that is here in Colorado. I have resuscitated a client.  I have had a crazy year.  Here is to another fantastic year here at AIL.

A non love letter to the CO weather

Dear Colorado Weather,
      I know you may be confused by all of the Ohio people who are moving to Colorado, but you do not need to adopt the weather patterns of our former state.

Sincerely,
BD

It continues to rain here in Colorado Springs.  We are having really weird weather.  We had 2 days of 60 degree weather,  then it was 80 degrees yesterday, today the high is 60 and the high for Friday is going to be 48 degrees.  The following week will be back in the 80's. I feel like I am still living in Ohio.  I can't wait for it to be next week already. I need my vitamin D fix ASAP.

Bs'ing with trainees

Now that I actually have a team, hanging out with them is a lot of fun.  We are currently sitting in my itty bitty office bs'ing and it is really nice.  It's like mini training time but with laughter.  It makes me really happy. People have been coming by to see what is so funny in my office

. Also I have a candle burning now, and it makes it feel more homey in here. Now time to stock up on fall smells.

When I should be recruiting...

When I should be recruiting, since our RMS sheets came out 3 days late this week and we are still expected to have 30 people scheduled to interview(I have 11 so far, so I'm not that far off), I'm sitting here and writing this.  Why do you ask?  Because my brain is fried and I need a break fro

m having tight deadlines to complete tasks that I would otherwise have a LOT more time to do.  Most people have a 4 day week this week.  Lucky them. This business never stops.  We work weekends, weeknights, weekend nights, and every time in between.  It's hard to always have a smile on and a kind word for everyone.  Sometimes I just want to be left alone to deal with my thoughts and my own demons.

This is the first time this morning that I have had 2 minutes to myself.  Since coming in, I've fixed two crisis's, completely rebooted our software system for our agents, did 2 hiring interviews, redid my craigslist ads, answered 25+ questions from people studying for their tests, and made a list of supplies we are out of for our boss.  Needless to say it has been a busy morning. All I want to do is shut my door for 10 minutes and take a nap. Sadly that is not the case. I have an open door policy- which is great and is very helpful for new agents- but it gives me very little time alone to accomplish tasks.

This morning I read a great, brief, article on Levo League.  It is a site for business women to connect and expand their horizons professionally and socially.  I have greatly enjoyed everything I have participated in so far. Anyhow- the article was titled: You Will Never Have Enough Time.  The article was spot on.  The reality is that the article was about prioritizing and not apologizing for it.   Do as much as you can and leave the rest.   Invest your time into things that are important to you.

Here's the link to the article: http://www.levo.com/articles/skills/you-will-never-have-enough-time



Here's to doing as much as I can and leaving the rest.


B

the everyday mundane...what leadership is

You never know when your life is going to change. A drop of water in the ocean on the other side of the world, could change everything. You also never know when you are doing something mundane if something extraordinary is happening somewhere else. That was what I really got out of a TED talk that I watched today. 

http://www.ted.com/talks/stanley_mcchrystal?awesm=on.ted.com_McChrystal&utm_content=awesm-bookmarklet&utm_medium=on.ted.com-static&utm_source=l.facebook.com


You should watch it too.  It may not be the most earth shattering video you have ever watched, but the end is really important for being a good leader

Goals- it only works if you write them down

It really is true: If you don't write down your goals it is very hard to achieve them.  You don't see them every day, so you don't have a reminder.  So instead of just keeping them in an app on my phone, I am going to write them here and then blow it up and post it in my office. Yes I have an office and I'm pretty fond of it. It still needs some color, but I'm working on it- one step at a time.

So here we go:

1.      Get my MGA during my 25th birthday year-before March 14,2016
1. Get my GA in the next 4 months
1. Code 2+ agents per month
2. Submit 20,000 alp in a 4 week rolling average
3. Promote an SA
4. 30+ scheduled interviews
5. 3+ hires per week
6. Have 6+ agents submitting per week
2. MGA numbers
1. Code 6 agents per month from my team
1. 2 per SA
2. Have 15 agents coded to me directly
3. Have 3 SA's coded to me
4. Have at least 1 person ready to promote to GA
5. Submit 40,000
6. Hire a recruiter/personal assistant
7. 60+ scheduled interviews for me
8. 30+ scheduled interviews for SA's
9. 10+ hires per week
2. Work out at least 2x per week for 30 minutes
1. Pick 2 days per week and stick to it
2. Find ones I can do at home in the mornings before work
3. Take healthy snacks on road trips
1. Nuts
2. Fresh/dried fruit
3. Meat sticks
4. Protein bars
4. Do the best I can and leave the rest(this will be hardest for me)
1. Stop trying to control the uncontrollable(your masters is in this you strong confident woman)  Follow your own advice
5. Write 10 minutes per day on the training manual for AIL
1. Get a chapter list going
2. Write during group interviews
3. Which means- bring your other laptop to work or get a notebook to write in
6. Have more frequent check ins with my agents
1. Make them feel valued and that I appreciate them
2. Check in 3x daily- morning, afternoon, end of the night

So those are my current goals:  I really hope that by writing these down and also sticking them to my board/walls I can make them happen. Time to get my get up and go started.  I'm hitting the gas pedal and never looking back.

What a week!

What a crazy week this has been. I finally got my groove back.  I wrote more ALP this week than I ever have.  And it's coming with a nice paycheck too.  I missed getting the 20th Supervising agent in the company by 300 ALP.  I'm not too upset about it. It was a rocking week!

 I coded a new agent, took care of my own alp as well, and spent a lot of time driving and training.  This week is going to be a lot of the same. I have 2 trainees in my car- one who should be ready to code this week.

Next week is our world series competition, but although I'll be participating- I'm not going for the win.  I'm just going to do my best and help my agents.   My team is my top priority right now. And getting my license for health so that my team can write health products as well.  It will be extra money for me and for them, so that's a plus.  Downside- I need to be completely ready to take the test a week from now. All while writing business, coding agents, and driving the three hours away that my appointments are this coming week. I'm going to be VERY tired.  I already am sadly.

I decided to run locally the next two days in order to give myself time to study and get some rest before I pretty much run 14 days straight.

Here's to another record setting week.


B

Making steps in the right direction

I finally feel like I am making steps in the right direction.  My recruiting is going well.  My training is going well.  I coded another agent.  I have two brand new trainees in my car and many more coming through on my pipeline.  The next six months are going to be VERY busy.  I need to push really hard for another six months which is kind of daunting to look at, but in 6 months if I keep this pace- I will be out of the field( which is the whole goal).

 I want the flexibility and the lifestyle that my boss currently has and I can do that.  I hope that by my birthday I will be one of newest MGA's. But it means I REALLY cannot let my foot off the gas between now and then.  It's going to be hard and I know that already.  It already has been hard.  This job is NEVER easy.  Anyone who tells you it is- is lying out their ears. Some days it is easier than others, but it is never easy. I'm exhausted when I get home at night. I barely see my boyfriend.  But I sacrifice now so that in 6-9 months I can be done at 2 pm-my only job being to answer the phone and help agents. That's the goal.

 That's the dream and that's what I'm going to make happen.  Screw anyone who wants to tell me that I can't.  This is my world now.  Get in my way and I will run you over.  I'm sick of being the nice one.  It just means I get taken advantage of.  I'm not putting up with the BS and power games of other people in this office and this company.  I understand that it comes with the territory- especially in sales.  Everyone is competitive and out for blood.  I'm competitive and people are about to see how out for blood I am. No more nice Bethany. It's time to get this ball rolling and fast.  I'm sick of being stuck in the same position.  It's time to make the money I deserve, get the recognition I deserve, and get the heck out of the field.  I am highly respected both in my office and within the company- but now it's time to make my move and stop following in the footsteps of others. I'm paving my own path.  I'm doing this the right way instead of the way I've seen so many other people do it.

It's my time now- and I am making steps in the right direction.

B

Leaning on others

So Tuesday was a REALLY rough day.  By the middle of the day I was running a 102 degree fever and was pretty delusional.  Apparently I was speaking nonsense most of the day.  Yesterday was a little better, only a 100 degree fever- but I went to work anyways.  My trainee did the presentation 100% on his own and so I gave him the sale.  It wasn't a huge sale, but at least he will get a small paycheck to help with some bills.

It turns out I wasn't the only one dealing with an overabundance of irrational emotional depression.  My boss was too.  He told me yesterday and it made me feel a little bit better that I was not the only person going through it. 

Today is a much better day.  I am taking antibiotics, drinking lots of water, and getting plenty of sleep to help myself heal faster.  I am only running a low grade fever today so that is a plus. My eyes are still hot and I feel crappy, but such are the joys of the flu.  Hopefully I can finish getting over this bug this weekend. It will require plenty of sleep, healthy food, and listening to what my body needs.

Our biggest support comes from those around us.   This week I had to do a lot of leaning on others to help while I was sick. I realized that I have to count on myself for a lot of stuff, but that I have people who I can count on to help me when times are harder and that I don't have to go it alone.

Hard not to be bitter

Some days it is really hard not to be bitter about your current situation. For me that is my main problem this morning.

 I'm very bitter about my current situation at work.  I finally got an office last night- for which I should be very grateful- but that's hard when it was supposed to be my office in May and someone who had been here much shorter than me took it while I was away on a work trip.  My boss let that person get away with it, since the person was the only other male manager.

 I really do like my job, but I like it a lot better when everything works out.  I'm having a hard time dealing with last minute stuff falling off the books or being trialed and me finding out about it on Wednesday night so there goes most of my check.  I need to pay my bills and I know that both of my bosses were in this situation once too.  I don't want to be in this situation anymore.  I am trying my damndest to be positive and sunny and cheery, but that's hard when I'm working 60+ hour weeks and not making any money.  Also I wasn't able to take a day off this weekend to spend time with my future father in law while he was in town.  Man did that steam me!  He drove from Colorado to spend time with me and his son and I got to spend maybe 20 hours with him. That's terrible.  I spent 90% of the time he was here working.  It's not fair when both my bosses took off last weekend and I handled doing their jobs but I couldn't take one day off to be with a family member. It's making it very hard to be grateful or even happy to be in the office and tell someone else that they want to make this a career. 

My future father in law left the same time I did this morning to go back to Ohio.  He took Gabby with him and it about broke my heart. She is such a sweetie.  I know she's going to a great life but it's still hard to say goodbye to both of them.

Today is going to be a rough day, I know that already.  Bitterness builds and makes everything tainted and I have to let it go.  I need to be grateful that I have a job and we are breaking even each month. We may not have a lot of money in the bank right now, but we will.  Most people start out scraping by when they start a new career in which they have no experience.  Time to make the best of today and show my trainees how great this career is- no matter how I currently feel about it.


So here is what is going to be good today: I get my guy back.  I have time in between work to take a nap. I finally got an office. I leave you with these adorable pictures of napping love.

A year in CO

DB and I have been living in Colorado for a year as of Saturday.  What a year it has been!  This year has been full of new experiences and things to adapt to.  I started my first full time career.  DB and I live so far away from our families that neither can drive to help us if anything goes wrong.  Our apartment has flooded twice.  We almost fell off a mountain during a snowstorm.  We have seen parts of Colorado we never thought possible.  We have met amazing people and have had many people touch our lives in ways we never imagined.

This weekend was a celebration.  It was all made possible by DB's dad who came in almost a week early to spend some time with us.  We spent the weekend cooking, moving our apartment around(aka throwing out stuff we don't use or need) , and relaxing with the puppies.  It is just the kind of recharge that I needed after a hectic few weeks at work.

Now I'm back to the weekly grind, but starting this week off with 24 people scheduled to come in for interviews and a sale under my belt for both this week and next week.  It's going to be a great week. I leave you with this quote for your Monday:

Migraines suck.

Yesterday was a rough day- I woke up at 5:30 am with a massive migraine. The kind where you can barely open your eyes because light hurts, the kind where any form of noise is too much noise, the kind where any touch somehow manages to hurt your head.  Thank goodness I have an awesome boss who gave me the day to recooperate.  I'd also like to give a special shoutout to my guy who gave me all the love and attention I could handle yesterday- all while respecting the fact that everything hurt. I actually got to go back to sleep for a few hours and finished the most recent season of NCIS.  I have to say, I'm very excited for the NCIS: New Orleans spinoff.  I think it will be much more to the taste of my guy.


I barely slept last night however, because instead of one fussy puppy- I had one fussy puppy who wouldn't stop sticking her nose in my armpit and one who just fussed at me all night. So today I am very tired and my migraine has barely lessened in intensity.

So for that- i put up this quote



have a great day y'all

B

Making it happen- a strategy change

This career isn't always easy.  In fact, we get kicked in the face a lot. But, we pick ourselves up and keep going because there is no other option.  Either you get up and get back on the proverbial horse or you shut down and let this career die.  I've had some struggles this week and after talking with my dad, I decided to change strategies.  Whenever you take someone's career into your hands, you become invested.  I just have to become invested at a smaller level.  I am a people person and I truly care about the people I bring into this company.  I want them to succeed and to have every opportunity to make this work.  Some people just aren't cut out for this though and I cannot make them be great at this.  I realized that there is alot of GRIT needed for this career path.  I've had it most of my life and it's part of the reason I'm successful here. Grit is either there inside of you or it's not.  It can't be trained.  I can train technique and a schedule but without grit, this career is a waste of time for most people.


So my new strategy is going to be: being more clear with people and giving a probationary period.  I will invest myself only as much as the other person is willing to invest in this career. In the long run, this will protect me and will protect them as well.  Only 10% of people have what it takes to make this career work.  Now I just have to find them.



Take a little time out of your busy schedule to think about whether what you are doing makes you happy, makes you productive, and makes the world a better place.  If it doesn't- it's time for a change.


Best wishes