“You’re doing WHAT???”
Back in January 2017, I made a life changing decision that seemed uncharacteristically impulsive to many around me: I started an online skin care and cosmetics business.
I’m a planner. I make lists. I analyze until I go cross-eyed. So, if anyone truly knows me, they should know it wasn’t as impulsive as they thought. I did do my research… to a point. I weighed the pros and cons… to a point. My instincts took over, and I felt this was the right decision deep down. Something pulled me, even urged me, to take the leap of faith, and my life hasn’t been the same since……
When life happened
Let’s rewind to provide some background. At this point in my life, I had been unemployed for just over a year after getting severed (a.k.a. laid off) for the second time in less than two years. It can be a volatile world as an engineer in the oil and gas industry. Companies live by oil and gas prices, so when crashes happen, there are casualties, and I was one of the many.
The industry was in a dire state with limited jobs when I was released from work in December of 2015. It was a conscious decision to “passively” job hunt and take the opportunity to relax and recharge. I visited friends and family, traveled, made new friends, and enjoyed life. I had never been so relaxed in my adult life. I loved it.
Still, there were faint, critical voices popping in my head saying I should be looking for a job instead of playing. My guilt of doing minimal job-hunting activities 1-2 times a week was building. Besides, my savings wouldn’t last forever. In the fall of 2016, I decided it was time to get serious and buckle down. Four to five days a week were spent searching job boards, networking with people, contacting companies, going to conferences to learn and network, emailing contacts, editing my resume over and over, and waiting. Lots of waiting. There were a few phone calls and interviews as a result, but ultimately it all ended in rejection.
Friends and family would constantly ask how the search was going, if I’ve found a job, if I had any leads, etc. I would put on my brave, confident face and say, “not yet but there were some solid prospects”. It was usually a lie. I was ashamed. I felt like a failure. My personal self-worth was based on my career and its success. When I wasn’t working, I was lost.
Planting a seed
Meanwhile, in the summer of 2016, I had been added to a Facebook group that an old school friend set up. She was selling this “lip stuff” that seemed to magically stay put. The pretty color swatches would pop up on my timeline, but I wasn’t a lipstick wearer. Lipstick usually ended up everywhere but on my lips like my clothes, chin, by my ear (yes, I’m that talented). I just scrolled by.
In October, Christmas shopping began. I pride myself on unique and fun presents, so when one of my friend’s posts appeared, I thought that the magic lipstick might be a fun gift for the ladies on my list. My order was HUGE. It was packed with multiple items for 8-10 women plus some for me as a “pick-me-up” after the emotionally brutal job hunting the past few months.
The Christmas shopping list grew, so I placed another order and picked it up in-person from my friend when I went home for Thanksgiving. We chatted, and she mentioned how I should have just signed up for the company discount and paid half-price on all my orders. I blew it off by saying something like, “I don’t think that’s my thing. I have to focus on my job hunt.”
Christmas 2016 arrived, and the gifts were a hit! Everyone thought they were fun. I was excited that I finally had a success! One for the win column! Of course, I was still fielding the job hunt questions and advice from family and friends about how I should look into “this”, check about “that”, and the you-know-what-you-should-do?’s. I was still trying to be positive and confident, but deep down I was spiraling into a dark, self-loathing place. Depression had set in.
The leap
Right after the New Year, I went on a trip with my brother and his girlfriend, who had received one of my gifts. We talked about all the superior features the magic lip color had compared to regular, messy lipstick. I started talking about SeneGence and its other great products I had started to covet. Out of the blue, she asked me if I sold it. “What??? No. I don’t do stuff like that.” I’m an engineer, I don’t sell makeup……
Or do I? I began to think about the concept. There were so many different products. The vibrant eye shadow colors were so pretty. They were like an adult version of a box of crayons and even more amazing than the magic lipstick. They had science and studies backing their amazing skin care results. They were talking to me in my native language of geek-speak. Maybe signing up for the discount would be a good idea.
About this time SeneGence had their big January event where they release new products and colors. My friend/supplier posted in her group that the new products broke the internet, and the sales from one weekend were more than total sales from the previous TWO YEARS combined (or something like that)! What?!? How is that possible?? It’s lipstick! The excitement was addictive, and I wasn’t even part of the company. Yet.
I searched for information on the company and products, and then I emailed my friend asking for more information. I poured over all the documents she sent about commissions, discount structures, special programs for new distributors, etc., but the decision had already been made. Selling wasn’t my thing but signing up felt right.
On January 18, 2017, I became Distributor 263613! (que the confetti and balloons)
The overwhelming kindness of all of the distributors within the first three days filled my heart with something I didn’t know I was missing. My fear of a “mean-girl” atmosphere was completely unfounded. There wasn’t a feeling of judgement because I didn’t know anything about makeup or skin care. They didn’t care about my background, where I lived, or what my 5-year plan might be. They were just excited I joined them and gave me an unconditional welcoming to the SeneGence family. I immediately gained dozens of new friends and sisters. The SeneGence family was there to help me with anything and everything. With their support and guidance, I decided to take another leap of faith and try my hand at building my very own business.
The transformation
The job hunt continued, but I spent the remaining part of my days working and learning all things SeneGence. When I told my family and friends about my new endeavor, there were a mix of responses ranging from genuine support and encouragement to doubt and blatant judgment. These are all typical responses most people receive who sign up for Network Marketing/Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)/Direct Sales companies. I know because I’ve been guilty of doing it to others.
The negative vibes didn’t derail my newfound happiness. I now had a sense of purpose and a reason to get up in the mornings. I was being productive. I was learning new skills. I was growing. I was having fun. The loneliness was gone. The self-loathing was fading. I was rising out of the dark place I had been living and back into the light. SeneGence was the bright, loving spot in my life in a time that was tainted with rejection and indifference.
The business sustained me emotionally until I eventually got a great job a few months later. Even though I loved my “day” job, I continued to work the business in my spare time, not because I must, but because I enjoyed it. I love that I’m the CEO of my OWN company and can make my own hours! There’s nothing like helping a woman feel beautiful and confident in her own skin. I love helping and seeing other women build their businesses. We inspire each other to keep working toward our goals. We watch each other grow and build a level of confidence never experienced before. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that???
It’s certainly not “easy” money, but, to me, that makes earning it that much sweeter. Everything I’ve learned working the business has helped me grow as a person, build my confidence, and made me a better engineer and leader.
The Next Phase
SeneGence is not some scheme or gimmick. It’s not just makeup and skin care. I have found my tribe. The SeneFamily pulled me out of the darkness during an exceedingly difficult time. They will always be a part of my life because they were there when others weren’t. The opportunity opened the door, and my eyes, to entrepreneurship that has brought other amazing business opportunities along with a new dream of building an empire that helps people find their undiscovered potential.
There is overwhelming love and abundance waiting to be scooped up by the courageous.