Finally....my first Cherish Bound video is done! This video is a little glimpse into my Cherish Bound world...What it is, the process, and how you start! It's my first video EVER so don't laugh! Stay tuned for the next video where I show you my favorite books and what the final product looks like!!!
Also, Click here to go to my new Cherish Bound Story Store!!!
Well, after 80+ entries the winner of the Cherish Bound Business Kit giveaway was selected by random draw....and the winner is....
Congrats Lolli girl!!! So excited for you....I was crossing my fingers for ALL of you. I'm so excited to work with ALL of you. Remember, everyone wins in this giveaway. If you entered the original giveaway please contact me at tarabrown at cherishbound dot com. I'm also going to be contacting everyone as well via email and blogs tonight and tomorrow so I can get you the updated information about starting your new Cherish Bound business because EVERYONE wins in this giveaway!!!
For those of you who entered the giveaway, please email me your contact info ASAP so I can get your starter kits in the mail by the end of the week first of next week. I want to start a series of conference calls by next week so we can "meet" and get all 50 of you on your way to Cherish Bound success! I'm so excited about what is in store for you and can't wait to share everything with you.
Thank you everyone!
Many of you have entered HERE to win a Business...a Cherish Bound Business! Well, ladies today is Your LUCKY DAY!!!! Wanna know why???
Our president and Co-founder, Carol Rice, read through your comments and realized that every single one of you would make our company better, and you all deserve the chance to have the Cherish Bound opportunity and make your life better!!!! Somebody Pinch me! I'm Serious!
So....Even if you don't win the $99 Kit, everyone who comments by March 20, 2009 @ 11:59 pm will become Honorary Cherish Bound consultants FOR FREE with the same benefits and rewards as all consultants...just as if you signed up the traditional way with a purchase of a kit!! Instead of having to buy a kit, you'll receive one Story Starter of your choice, a Cherish Bound DVD, a catalog, business materials, and ME.... FOR FREE!!!!
I'm so excited!!! I'm so happy for every single one of you who has poured your heart out to me!!! You have no idea what is about to happen and how this opportunity will change your life! So please go...
and enter if you haven't....if you already can you please leave me another comment with your email or email me tarabrown at cherishbound dot come and let me know you saw this update and you're ready to join me!
UPDATED 3-17-09!!!!!!
BREAKING NEWS!
I'm giving away a business! Who wants it?
Many of you know I have a business that has something to do something with books... and stories...and memories...
I'm a National Founding Leader for Cherish Bound. An amazing direct sales company founded 5 years ago by 2 amazing people with a vision for traditions, stories, and families. Outside of my family, Cherish Bound is my passion and my life. I've been waking up for four and a half years thanking God for this amazing opportunity. I find myself thinking, "Is this for real? Can I really be so lucky...so blessed to have this opportunity?" Yep! It's for real.
I want to share this opportunity with all of you....So here's the scoop!
Basically, we know we have a good thing going here at CherishBound and would love for more people to know about us. We receive great feedback from our customers about how preserving memories and paying attention to the story has changed their lives and improved family communications. We want to help more people, especially during these hard times... so we are looking to add 400 people to our team in the next couple of months.
Won't you join us?
I'll tell you a few of the reasons why I decided to join Cherish Bound:
Take 4 minutes...okay 5 minutes and watch this YouTube video of our I'm An Author Program.
IAA is a children's writing and publishing class that was created and put together by an amazing team of teachers, storytellers and Cherish Bound. The IAA program gives children confidence through written and oral storytelling as well as a creative artistic outlet. The class is beautifully simple and so rewarding for children and the Cherish Bound consultant.
At the end of the session, children receive their books and put on a wonderful and exciting culminating event we call "The Author's Fair". You'll see it in the video!
IAA has been taught in schools, after-school enrichment programs, homeschooling programs (co-ops and in-home), summer camps, weekend retreats, gifted and talented programs, etc. If you're interested in learning more about the I'm An Author program please let me know. All active Cherish Bound consultants can teach this class, which is a great source of income for anyone looking for some extra cash flow. Please let me know if you're interested in getting it started in your area by emailing me or commenting.
Okay...watch the video! And then check out the giveaway below...
GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!
This great little Author's Gift Pack is sure to bring out the storyteller in any child! You can see a sample of one of my little author's books (not included). Your children will love the fun little compact art set, deck of Child Chat Cards and a "My Adventures" Story Starter. $35+ Value!
To enter giveaway....
1. Leave a comment on a story your child, niece, nephew, grandchild, etc....would love to write... and/or leave a comment letting me know if you'd like to learn more about the program and receive info to start the program or have your children be apart of IAA.
2. Tweet about it! of Course! Come back and leave a Separate Entry!!
3. Blog about it on your blog for 10 extra entries! Come back and leave the link in a separate comment.
Of course always make sure I can contact you via email or through your blog bio. US residence only. Giveaway will end on Sunday, March 8th 9pm EST.
WoW! I've missed my blog like a...like a bad habit! These past few days have been so exciting, busy, and 110% exhausting. I attended the Southern Women's Show in Orlando as vendor with Cherish Bound. What an amazing 4 days!! I can't stop smiling!
It was incredible to see how many people connect with Cherish Bound. I met some of the most amazing women. Women who love story, who adore their families, who support WAHM's, women who want to make a difference, women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds....it was a melting pot estrogen...but in a very good way.
It never ceases to amaze me how exhilarating sharing Cherish Bound's message is. I guess because I live in it from the second I wake up to the second I go to bed. I take it for granted. I guess it's because I think everyone knows how they change their lives and families and I forget that nope, not everybody does. Not everyone knows about Cherish Bound...in fact most don't! So when I'm standing in my 10x10 space, with rows of books and a display that stops everyone for just a split second to catch the beautiful pictures I get to see time and time again the "First Impression" of Cherish Bound. It gives me chills to think that 1000's and 1000's of people, unsuspecting women, found Cherish Bound for the first time in the last 4 days. For some it was an answer to prayers, for others it was a relief that there really is an easier way to "scrapbook" and for most they were so taken back by the concept of actually finding and sharing their family's stories.
If I think I'm exhausted now...huh! Just wait for the next few days. The hard work begins now. The follow-up process of re-connecting with all these ladies again starts now. I'm excited to call them and chat with them and for those that are joining our Cherish Bound family, I can't wait to help you get started with a business that will change your life!
I just want to shout out I "HEART" Cherish Bound! I really do! For all that it is in my life, for how it's changed me and so many other women. I'm so blessed to be able to share something so special and I love that I get to meet so many amazing beautiful women and help them find a way to change their families and communities!
I'm saving the storytelling for the next post. It deserves it's own....I'm still amazed at the power this beautiful art has over the mind.
Day two of convention was just as good as the first. This day was designed around the five national leaders. We've had our hands full this past year and have really gotten some serious OTJ training! I'm not an expert in direct sales, but this past year has definitely given me my share of opportunities. Truly a remarkable year for growth in all areas. Because of this experiences we have encountered this year, we were given the opportunity to instruct the consultants about the foundation of our businesses. Each one of us took a half hour to coach and train and then we did a Q & A panel.
The first half hour was presented by my SIL, Christa. She started the morning off with incredible passion, but also a setting the tone of the entire day of presentations. When talking direct sales and the basics of business anyone who plans on having success must know that the "home party" is the foundation behind the success. Here at Cherish Bound, we call them Gatherings. She talked about "Why the Gathering?" She did such an amazing job! I love learning from my peers and she nailed her presentation.
We understand here at Cherish Bound, that our services and products CANNOT be sold on a shelf or on a website with no face. As consultants we are the warmth and support that helps families become successful. No better place to do it than in the home. She gave great examples of her personal experiences with home gatherings, but also gave a PERFECT analogy of who we really are.....here's her story.
She told us how her toilet had broke and just to give you a background on her....she's determined, motivated, independent and can pretty much do EVERYTHING! So of course she was going to fix her toilet herself. No plumber is need at this house...matter of fact, one time I called her and she was busy fixing her sprinkler system! Anyway, she took a trip to Lowe's and made her way to the plumbing area to find her part. She had a description of what it looked like, didn't really know the name of it, but was determined to find her toilet part. She looked and looked and knew what she needed, but couldn't find it. She found the "call button" that is placed in the departments and pressed it hoping to find some assistance. She waited for a few minutes and kept with her search. Assuming that help would be on the way she patiently waited a few more minutes. This is a huge store, lots of employees, how could it take this long? She waited for almost 25-30 minutes and NO ONE CAME TO ASSIST HER! So she left....no, she didn't give up. That is NOT her vocabulary. She went somewhere else...
Christa went to her neighborhood Ace Hardware. Yes, the personal, intimate choice that resides among the home improvement giants....smaller yes, but let me continue her story. She walked up to the doors and standing there waiting were 4 employees welcoming her into the store, greeting her with smiles. One asked her if there was any thing that she needed. She smiled and explained to him that she was looking for this plumbing part that went like this and then like that and kind of like this....he listened and knew exactly what she needed. He led her to the exact area and showed her what part she was looking for. He also told her exactly how to install this plumbing part into her toilet step by step and sent her on her way with total confidence and a guaranteed result of success.
WE ARE ACE HARDWARE! She showed us that we are the "Ace Hardware" of the memory keeping, story telling, photo book, history recording world. But more than that, we are the leader in customer service, product knowledge, workshop and instructions, and we not only offer just one "part" or "department"...we offer just about everything a family could need to connect and re-connect with each other, a legitimate business opportunity, programs for ALL ages including the I'm An Author for children...and the list goes on. We were once again reminded of the amazing opportunity we have to share person-to-person, home-to-home. (I know...she rocks)
Next was Vicky...Vicky is our fellow leader that was in the accident. Unfortunately she was not physically there to present, but her topic was "Finding Your Hostess". We call her the queen of warm chatter. Her beautiful smile and warm presence attracts hostess from every nook and cranny! She'll be giving her presentation at a later date via conference call. Can't wait to hear what she has to say!!
Then it was my turn. My topic was "Coaching Your Hostess/Success Before You Arrive". I find it a blessing that I've had my share of Hostess Coaching opportunities. That's a good thing in this business. I started out with a great quote from the book "Build It Big". "Deepening your relationship with your hostess can literally transform how you do business and at the same time improve the results you enjoy."
I had 5 areas of coaching that I talked about: What is a hostess?, 24-48-72, Motivation & Appreciation, Coaching Tips, and Communication & Creativity. I personally feel that each of these areas are key to successful gatherings and a successful business. If you'd like to see my handout feel free to leave a comment and I'd love to share it with you!!
Kelly was next and her expertise is sells. She has a vision of the entire sells concept and lots of experience and education. Her specific topic was "Selling: That's What You're There For". So many people have this misconception about working their business and "selling"...like it's a sin or down right rude to run your own business and SELL! DRIVES ME CRAZY! Sorry....
Kelly had fantastic interactive handout that helped us see where our fears or confidence in sells comes from. She helped us remember what has turned us into Cherish Bound sales "Warriors". I love that word, warrior! Yes, I am a Cherish Bound warrior! Woo-hoo! Okay, back on track. She reminded us that sales is an honorable profession, and passed on this great quote, "If you have nothing to sell, you'd better check your pulse...you're probably dead!" (not sure who said it, but it's great) She also helped us see the difference between Cherish Bound's features and benefits. Having a clearer understanding of those two really helped me see the bigger picture and will help me "sell" better and be more productive. She had so many amazing tips, obviously I can't post it all.
Last but not the least was Teresa. Teresa is simply a breath of fresh air. Beautiful inside and out...everyone wants to be her when they grow up! She's a professional storyteller by trade, but has become one Cherish Bound's top consultants as well. She closed up the leader presentations by touching on the importance of "Follow Through - Don't Lose It Now".
The first thing she said was "a lack of follow-up is a form of deception". OH! I never-ever thought of it that way. By selling products and services to people we are obligated to follow-up and make sure they get the most out of what they invested in. She also had a great outline revolving around "See It-Plan It-Do It": Visualize each step, Micro Goals, Give yourself credit, Ambitious goals, Failure is not an option, Have fun! Relax, and Be Confident!
She ended with my favorite quote which will wrap up this post....and don't worry I think I have at least 5 more posts to go. This quote is posted to my desk and reminds me to stay focused and believe...
I feel like I'm bouncing all over the place....I realized that one of the most important parts of the entire experience was having the opportunity to spend time with other consultants, friends and family. We really have become a "family" in every sense of the word. Every time we all get together it reconfirms my thoughts that we are all supposed to be in this exact moment together. We are all where we're supposed to be. A bonus for me is that I get to spend time with my dearest friend and SIL. As a fellow consultant and national leader we have much to talk about when it comes to Cherish Bound, but even better we get a reason to spend time together and chat about our families and all the crazy things going on in life. It was so much fun to fly in a day early and just spend some "mommy" time together, chatting and laughing over an enormous amount of food!
As a "family" we experienced some highs and lows together in those few days. When one of our own is up we're all up, but when one of us is down, we feel it too. Wednesday, the day I flew to SLC, I had just got off my connecting flight in Atlanta when I received a phone call from a fellow consultant and very good friend that one of our consultants/friend/leader had just been involved in a very, very serious car accident and wouldn't be making convention. When I heard the news I stopped dead in my tracks. After getting all the details and feeling completely sick to my stomach and called my SIL and told her of the horrible news. We talked about how sad we were for our friend and couldn't believe that this happened to her...they day before she was to leave for convention!! If you could get a glimpse into this consultants heart you would understand why we were so sad for her. She's the warmest and friendliest person I have ever met. We would most certainly feel her void.
I had a long flight to SLC and had a few hours to digest the news. I saw the big picture of how our little network of consultants has created a powerful bond. We are not only financially invested in each other, but more importantly we're emotionally and spiritually invested in each other's lives. These women are people that will be in my life FOREVER! Had I not taken this opportunity when it was presented to me 4 years ago there's a chance that I would have never met any of these amazing people. And if that news wasn't horrible enough...there was more.
Us leaders were informed that one of our most important directors and corporate support had just found out she had breast cancer. Again, my little world stopped spinning and I seriously felt like a knife cut my heart. I sobbed inside. Why? I don't understand it all...It's not fair. But I watched her as she continued on with the events and details of the weekend and as crazy as it sounds, she gave ME strength. Her beautiful smile has made me want to work harder! For her, I will make sure Cherish Bound becomes the dream that is supposed to be.
The roller coaster of emotion that weighed on me was up and down, and up and down......No wonder I was completely exhausted when I got home. Again, another reason that home-based businesses for women are truly lifetime experiences. When you put your heart and soul into something you love you are forever changed....by the product and the people.
"If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive."
Our convention was held in the beautiful Mt. Timpanogos Park in Provo Canyon, Utah, among the beautiful white tents that housed 1000's of story lovers and tellers celebrating the 19th anniversary of the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. We had our own large tent nestled in the corner of the park where we met as consultants with our company's founders and corporate directors.
The theme of our convention this year was "This is the moment...a moment you won't forget." Those words have never been more true! I kept repeating them in my head over and over again. I knew the very second I walked up the path and into the park that this would be a moment I would never, ever forget.
away....I'll get into the storytelling more in a day or so. All I can say is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! We finished our night with a YUMMY dinner together and then celebrated our achievements and awards. I was quite surprised and pleased to find out that I was Top Recruiter, Had the most gatherings for the year and second in personal volume next to my wonderful, beautiful SIL (who is another one of my most favorite people in the world). It was an amazing year....but I think this year will be 100's better.....wish I could tell more.After reading Kelly McCausey's reasons about why she loves working from, I realized that I too not only love working from home, but have my reasons why I wouldn't trade it for the world. If you would have asked me 10 or even 15 years ago what I'd be doing now, I would have never said that I'd be a work at home mom. That thought would have never, ever crossed my mind.
But today, I am a work-at-home-mom; otherwise known as a WAHM. There reasons why I have to work, need to work, want to work, whatever you want to call it, but there are only a few reasons why I do it 
and who I do it for. It's for my five kids and my sweet husband. As much as I would fight tooth and nail to never-ever-ever work in some dreaded office, I could do if I had too, but only if I didn't have my five kiddos and hubby. Having them in my life, at the top of my list makes me want to be at home and take care of them first...while running a business from home.
I have children ranging in ages from 14 to 1-year-old twins and I don't want to miss anything. I don't want to miss their soccer games after school. I don't want to miss their sweet smiling faces when I pull up in the carpool line and their eyes pop with excitement and they run to greet me. I don't want to miss our few quite moments we spend together just before everybody makes their mad dashes out the door to the bus. I don't want to miss it....I want to be a part of every moment and live in it with them.
This too is my life, right now, and I'm so blessed to have it! I'm blessed to be able to run kids to a
bus stop and then run back into my office to answer emails, jump on a conference call, and help my customers write their stories. Take a break to grab a bag of Cheerios and a sippy cup of apple juice and change a few diapers....and then run back in the office during nap time and jump back into business mode. Another break to turn on the crock pot so my hubby can have a warm dinner and few other phone calls with adorable twins causing a ruckus in my office. Thank goodness for mute! How exciting is that? Some might call it crazy, hectic, insane, but I call it life. It's my amazing life and I love WORKING FROM HOME! Cherish Bound offers me the freedom to be a mom and wife first and then run a successful business.
So why do you love working at home? Grab this meme image, write a post to share your why (with pics of your who!) on your blog and link back to this post. Don't forget to share your link in the comment section.
Cherish Bound offers an amazing business opportunity for all consultants. The benefits of owning your own business from home are endless. Personal benefits, family benefits and practical benefits are just a few of the great rewards Cherish Bound consultants reap. The opportunity to teach families about traditions, memories and preserving their stories and photos is a blessing in its self. But going beyond the obvious, the business side of it all, gives me the strength I need everyday to wake up and be the best mom, wife, and business owner I can possibly be.
I personal have grown mentally, physically and spiritually since I started my business. I've improved many personal skills. For example my leadership abilities have been strengthened as I manage and train a very large team of successful consultants. And I'm learning to perfect my organizational skills along the way. I've learned the art of delegation and have realized I'm very capable of living two lives, one as a mommy and wife and the other as a professional business women. I personally have created friendships that will last a lifetime and have strengthened my family bonds. I love waking up and actually "getting ready" for the day....getting out of the sweats and into nice clothes, hair done, make-up on, and even shaved legs.
My Family has benefited from my Cherish Bound business as well. With mommy working from home, I'm allowed to be there for my kids everyday. I'm home when they get out of school, I can take them to the doctors, volunteer at their schools...and the list goes on. My children and husband have seen that I have skills and qualities that are important outside of family life. My children are involved in helping me with my business, from filing to message taking and helping with siblings.
The practical benefits of owning your own business are endless. Not only does it provide a "Second income", but the tax benefits are always a plus. My technology and life skills are constantly sharpened and put to good use. I continue with educating myself and keeping up to date on the latest trends and ideas in my industry. I have found that my home is kept tidy and clean when I host my own gatherings and you never know when a customer will need to "Drop by".
Cherish Bound allows everyone the opportunity to stay at home while growing a successful business. I love that I can be a mommy and wife one day and a Leader of an amazing company the next. I love that I'm writing my own story of success!
I've been blessed to have the company of Carol Rice, co-found of Cherish Bound, here with me and my team, in my town, motivating, coaching, educating and teaching my team and me! What an honor it is to have someone like Carol spend hours with us. We have been lifted and motivated and taught her tradition of success. Whether we use her example in our business or home and family, she's a leader! She is creating a dream company that will change people, communities and our world. I love that I'm apart of it! I love that I get to part of a movement of tradition in people's homes. The world of memory keeping, scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking, story telling, photography and so on will be changed as we blaze new trails in the world of memory preservation. We are not only teaching people how to preserve, but we're teaching people how to connect through story, conversation and written expression. It's truly AMAZING!
Some of the benefits of becoming a CherishBound consultant are:
• Earn extra income or replace an income.
• Receive discounts on your own products and publishing.
• Spend time doing what you want.
• Create friendships to last a lifetime.
• Own your own business and be your own boss.
• Join a new, fun and exciting opportunity.
• Impact generations.
• Grow with a fresh, innovative company as part of an exciting new industry.
• Earn commissions on your team’s product and publishing sales.
• Receive an immediate income every time you help someone get started in their business. Fast start bonuses are a great way to provide immediate income for yourself as you help others get started quickly in their businesses.
Join NOW and get FREE registration to Convention!
Join all of your Cherish Bound friends for a Rewards Convention at the Four Corners Storytelling Festival in New Mexico filled with inspiring stories by master storytellers like Syd Lieberman, hear motivating speakers, participate in custom built workshops by storytelling and business experts, enjoy networking breakouts, receive training, some well-earned pampering and take home the latest product, news and tools!
