What a difference 'belief in yourself' makes!

I can't believe it is now nearly 5 months since I made my life-changing decision to join the world of Forever and what a whirlwind journey it has been so far!

I can't believe how much I have managed to push myself, way beyond my 'comfort zone!' So I just wanted to share a few of the things that I have managed to do - not all of them are 'work' related either! Some of these things would have been absolutely impossible for me to do back in November 2017!

I have driven to Eastleigh on my own (about an hours drive!)
I have travelled to London on the train and managed to navigate the underground without having a panic attack!
I have driven to Southampton on my own!
I have driven to Milton Keynes on my own!
I have attended training events, with others and on my own!
I have spoken to people on skype and video calls!! That one was HUGE!!
I have started up conversations with complete strangers!
I have asked friends questions and extra questions, even when every fibre of my body was screaming at me that 'this really isn't a good idea' and that 'people will get annoyed at you! You're being bothersome!'
I have started learning again and I'm loving it!
I have set myself MASSIVE GOALS, which I WILL achieve!
I have decided to stop listening to the people at Universal Credits when they tell me that my little business isn't 'gainful employment' and basically that I am going to fail!
I have been strong for my family when all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry my eyes out!
I have had lots of fun and so many laughs!
I have met some truly AMAZING and inspirational people, whose passion for health and wellness is just infectious!
I have started back on my 'day zero project' which has been a lot of fun!
I finally feel like a 'real' mum!
I took care of my kids and my dad for a whole week while my mum was on a carers break (no one got food poisoning either!!)
I have found my purpose in life!
I have begun the process of re-connecting with people
I am working on a good work-life balance
I have had fun times with my kids - mini holidays, swimming fun, mammoth games of monopoly, trips to the lakes and sooo much more!
I even occasionally answer the house phone when it rings!
I have stayed strong when my Little Man has been on an emotional roller-coaster!
I even managed a few morning school runs!
I have started drinking aloe vera gel!
I have made contact with a personal trainer
I have booked a style 'make over' session, to learn how to dress for my shape and proportions - as I am totally clueless!
I have started making jewellery again!
I have found new friends through the League of Extraordinary Penpals!
I have prioritised things in my life - and watching TV has taken a back-seat a lot of the time!
I have found 'myself' again, after 5 long years of struggling and feeling lost!

I can't believe the difference a little self-belief with a smidgen of self-worth thrown in, has made!

My new BIG GOAL!

Hello little blog!

I am sooo excited about my latest challenge I decided to set myself, that I just had to share with you all!

One of the things that I have been encouraged to do since joining the Forever family is to set myself some goals!
To start off with I set myself the challenge to earn £200 in profits a month. I created a lovely dream-board so that I could have a visual reminder of what I am working for. It had things like new clothes (some of mine are older than Little Man and he'll be 9 in July!) new trainers and boots, plus things like family fun days out and saving up for our first family pet - a rescue dog or puppy! 😄

Although the motivation was sort of there, after a flying start in December, I had quite a quiet January and February. I didn't really have that burning desire to achieve those targets. It didn't really matter enough whether I hit them or not.

Well, over the course of one weekend back in February, all of that changed!
I went to a networking breakfast with my sponsor on the Friday at the Madejski Stadium in Reading. It was my first ever 'event' and I got talking to lots of different people, plus ran into a friend who I hadn't seen in ages (small world!!) it was really good fun!

One of the guest speakers was absolutely AMAZING! He spoke about how he set out to run a marathon to honour his father who had sadly passed away. He was just so inspirational and down to earth! I just got one of his books through the post today 'The Unnatural Networker' by Charlie Lawson - can't wait to start reading it!!

The very next day my sponsor and I headed off to a Success Event at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry! I HAD THE BEST DAY EVER!!!
Throughout the day we were given top tips and ideas to help us run our businesses, but by far the best bits of the day were getting to see the FBOs (Forever Business Owners) walking across the stage to receive their awards for all their hard work! There were people who had made it to Manager Level; there were people who were being recognised for their recruitment achievements; our top manager of the team I am part of was the number 8 business there!! Amazing day!
I also loved to hear the stories and journeys of some of the top FBOs in the UK - every story was unique, but all showed that with hard work and consistency, EVERYTHING is possible!

Well when I got home and started to process some of the information I had experienced over those two events, I suddenly realised what my WHY was! The reason WHY I needed to get up and do some work every single day! I couldn't believe that I hadn't thought of it before! My WHY was my DAD!!

For those of you who don't know, my dad has MS. He was diagnosed when I was around 16 years old (I just turned 36 😉) and he has been extremely lucky in that his MS has been very slow progressing.
The last few years has seen a dramatic change though; he's now wheelchair bound completely, is hoisted in and out of bed and has carers to help him morning and night.

The one place he still struggles the most is having to  transfer using a plastic 'banana board' so that he can get in and out of the car. Then either I or my mum have to get his heavy wheelchair into the boot of the car (he's 6ft 4, so has an extra large wheelchair to accommodate his long legs, bless him!)
It's not the easiest task - much harder for mum who has mobility issues of her own and I worry a lot about her struggling with dad's wheelchair when I'm not there.

So, inspired by Charlie Lawson's story, I decided that I was going to raise money to buy my dad a WAC (Wheelchair Accessible Car) From all of the amazing people I had heard from that weekend, I knew that I was going to have to do something BIG if I was going to achieve this! So, I have set myself the challenge of running in a MARATHON in 2020!! Not only that, but I am going to run in the Reading Half Marathon in 2019!

This may not seem like a big deal to lots of you, but what you have to bear in mind is that currently I am a couch potato! I am 19stone 10 (horrifying to actually admit that!!) and wear size 24 clothes!
I like to see this as another step in my 'get fitter and feel better' challenge that I have embarked upon this year. Also if I don't reach my goal amount (around £22K - I'm not doing anything by halves me heehee!) at least I will be a damn sight fitter than I am now! 😄

I have already taken steps to get me going!
I have started making healthier choices in my food intake - I figure good 'fuel' will help me more than just eating whatever - celery and carrots are now my new 'best friends!' 😉
I have also booked myself an appointment to see a personal trainer, as with the spinal injury I got a few years back, I know I need to be careful with what training I do!

So, if you're local to me, don't be surprised to see me puffing (and probably sweating - sorry if TMI!!) to the lakes and back - prob 2-3 times a week!

Wish me luck! Hugs xxx

My new self-employed life!

Hello little blog, sorry I have been neglecting you again!
So much has been going on lately!

I made a huge decision at the end of November 2017 - I decided to take a leap of faith and stated running my own business in the Health and Wellbeing industry and I am LOVING it!!

I found the company because a family friend had encouraged my mum to start using one of the supplements and he came to do a products party at our house - I loved it so much and thought that I could do that, so I asked him to sign me up the very next day!! I think I gave him a bit of a shock to be honest, as I didn't even want to see the business plan or how it all worked (I know, I never do things like 'normal' people, heehee!)

I had my first planning meeting with my up-line manager at the beginning of December and then she helped my launch my business on the 8th December with my first products party!!

Since then I have been on a roller-coaster ride of highs, lows, huge learning curves and soooo much fun! I am most happy that I am finally earning my own money again!
The last 5 years have been really hard for me, having to rely on benefits! I have been in paid employment since the age of 16 and have absolutely HATED relying on 'hand outs!' it's made me feel like such a failure! I have to remind myself that I didn't plan on getting a divorce, plus the moment I felt well enough I found myself voluntary work - so it wasn't like I've sat on my bum doing nothing for the last 3 years!

I'm also enjoying learning again! As I've only ever been employed in jobs where you get handed a payslip at the end of the month, having to sort out all of my finances myself has been quite a challenge ;-) I am working on my 'love-hate' relationship that I have with Microsoft Excel - for the first 2 months, I was sat working out my calculations using the calculator on my mobile phone!! haha! I'm now onto simple equations ;-)
I'm also learning about Network Marketing - not something I ever thought I would be doing if I'm honest, but soooo much fun!
Lastly, I am learning about the wonderful world of Aloe Vera! My new love!

I am blessed to be working with the most amazing, supportive team you could ever wish for! Plus the love and support of my friends and family has seen me through the tougher times, when I was convinced I had made a big mistake taking on this new challenge!

What I'm loving the most is being my own boss!!
I choose when I work and what I'm going to read, watch and listen to each day to help me grow both my knowledge and skills, but also personal goals like working on my confidence and self-belief!
I can still do my voluntary work at the soup kitchen for the homeless and the session each week at my local library - not many paid jobs would be flexible enough for that to happen and there was no way I was going to stop doing them ;-)

I still need to work a little on getting a good work-life balance, but it is already so much better than when I first started back in December!
I try to work when the kids are at school and then again in the evenings when they have gone to bed. Then it leaves me time for them! I have managed to do the school runs AND even some morning ones!! (big achievement that one!)
I have time to meet friends for coffee! I could never do that back when I was a teacher!

All in all, I have to say, becoming self-employed really was the best decision I ever made!

If you want to find out more about what I do, please check out my website:
http://melissa-alwaysandforever.flp.com

Hope you're all enjoying the glorious sunshine we've been having lately - I think Spring has finally sprung now :-D

Hugs to all xxx