A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.

Things have started to go incredibly right for me. And although I have said I'm lucky, we all know that none of it is "luck." There's no fairy sprinkling special dust on me that allows everything to go right. Instead there's a 27-year-old woman with a drive to succeed, a hunger to build an empire, and an urge to make everyone around her amazed and proud. I've always been a go-getter, but now I'm the extreme version. I'm a business builder.

I'm using this term "business-builder" because it's loosely describes both my day job and my night job. By day (well, this job often involves staying at work until 9pm, but for all intensive purposes we'll call it a day job) I am the Business Development Center Manager for a large automotive group. I built the department, hand picked my 15 staff members, and continue to grow daily. The job of my department is to grow new business, retain current business, offer excellent customer service...ultimately make more money for the organization. I've spent hours researching, consulting with peers, sitting through webinars...all to learn how to run an effective Business Development Center. I've done it and it's rewarding. The hard work doesn't stop there, however. The market is constantly changing and therefore so must we. We're always looking for ways to better ourselves and will consistently be doing it bigger and better than our competitors.

Again, none of this happened because of luck. It all took a focused team, a supportive CEO, and a lot of hard work.

By night I'm an Arbonne Independent Consultant. In this world I am also a "business-builder." You see, if you can grow your network in Arbonne and set up a successful team that helps to train other women while still redirecting household spending you are golden. There are only 4 management levels in Arbonne and all are clearly defined. All you need to do is meet that goal in that time frame and you're making thousands a month. Once you hit Regional VP you get a free white Mercedes Benz. No strings, nothing crazy....just a free car.

Needless to stay I am working on building my network. The tricky thing is that there are too many people out there that don't see any value in hard work. They'd rather be handed mediocre things than work hard and get the big pay-off. NOT THIS GIRL. I've now seen the fruits of my labor in my full-time job and am applying those exact same principals to my part-time job. I'm going all the way and making it to the top. From an entry level job to a department head in a very successful department. From a consultant to a National VP.

Who doesn't dream about a beautiful home, a gorgeous luxury vehicle, the extra income to not have to pinch pennies?  A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.

If you'd like to hear more about this exciting opportunity to succeed, make real money, and set yourself up for a prosperous future, please reach out to me. Arbonne can be as big or as small as you need it to be. Full-time, part-time...but I promise you that they will take care of you and offer you a chance to sell quality products and potentially change the lives of yourself and others. Be a go-getter!

"What is the vision you have for your life? What are the dreams and goals you have for yourself or your family? Do you have a plan to attain them or, have you forgotten how to dream because you are mired in the reality of daily life? Arbonne has allowed me to reshape the vision I have for my family and myself, and to dream bigger than ever before. The same is happening for many others who are joining me on my Arbonne journey."

Read Barbara's Arbonne Story

Click Here for a Call Recording from one National VP of Arbonne International

There will be a brief information sessions (with drinks and snacks of course) at my home this coming Monday evening. If you're interested in attending (whether to learn about the products or the business), please RSVP by email (a.byelich@gmail.com) or on our facebook event page.

Who Doesn't Like a Good Parable?

In my attempts to step up my frugality a notch, I visited a thrift shop in search of a few items I needed. I'd much rather re-use something than waste the resources on producing a new, more expensive one. In reality I probably spent more money that day than if I hadn't walked through the door of Off Island Thrift because I probably wouldn't have shopped anywhere else. Still, there's something exciting about circling the crowded shelves of a second-hand shop, weaving through the retirees and looking for that diamond in the rough. We all dream of finding that one item, unique and exactly what we needed, skipping up to the counter and happily paying a few bucks for it. I had no such luck.

The furniture selection was dismal (I was looking for a bookshelf), the bedding and mattress area is still giving me nightmares, and one can only have so many chachkis. So I spent the majority of my time perusing the book section. Used books are an absolute favorite of mine! After purchasing almost all of my books second-hand in college I've made it a habit. They're cheaper, sometimes you find interesting or insightful notes, and there's something nostalgic about reading a book with ruffled pages that has obviously been enjoyed time and time again.

One of the books I came home with is a parable about coping with change. Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson, is an adorable tale about two mice and two humans living in a maze searching for cheese. Occasionally their cheese supply gets moved and they must search all corners of the maze (even the dark and scary ones) to find the new supply. They must adapt and use their instincts.

At only 96 pages (several with illustrations), the book is a quick read with an easy message: In order to reach you goals (cheese), you have to be willing to change. You have to go out and search for it, put forth some effort and run through the maze. You can't be afraid of trying different things and leaving your comfortable little corner. Only then will you be able to reap the benefits.

With such an easy message I feel frustrated that I regularly encounter people who simply can't adopt this philosophy. They like the way they do things, they have a routine, they've been doing it for twenty years...blah, blah, blah. It's impossible to grow while resisting change and new ideas. Becoming complacent with your dated ways can be very destructive.

Try something new. If it doesn't workout and you find yourself falling, pick yourself up, dust off your knees and keep going. Isn't this something we all learned as children? Applying it to our professional and personal lives is just as simple. It just takes an open mind.

As you can see, I found this book very relatable to my life. And in several ways: professionally, personally, even physically. I definitely recommend it. I found mine for just $3. Click Here to find it on Amazon.com.

Although I also walked away from the thrift store with a Nicholas Sparks novel, I'm suddenly in search for other books that will help me professionally. On my Amazon wish list: The One Minute Manager, The Go-Giver, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Coaching Sales People into Sales Champions.

One last note: the mice have jogging suits and running shoes. It's adorable.