A Balanced Life.....

Before I attended Team Builders, each attendee was asked to fill out a questionnaire about our CTMH business.  One of the things we were asked to talk about was our strengths and weaknesses.  My number one weakness is finding the balance between my work and personal life.  The past couple of weeks have been a case in point.  I think this happens to many in this business, especially after returning with a "high" from attending corporate event.  We get so jazzed up that we go home and work ourselves on overdrive, get burned out, take a break and don't get back to it until the next event.  I have been so excited about all the new papers, stamps and accessories in the new Idea Book as well as reaching for my new goals I have spent 60+ hours per week in my office working since returning from Team Builders.  This week, I need to try to find that elusive "balanced state".   If any of you know a good way to create balance, I'd appreciate it if you could share it with me :o)  Any ideas you send me, I'll be sure to share.

Here are some to start with:
1. Create office set hours - mine are Tues and Thursday's from 8 am-1pm but I work much more that just these hours.
2. Prioritize daily and weekly tasks - I need to add in time with my husband and to do my cardio and move those up the priority list.
3. Schedule work tasks - I need to sit down and do this!  At lease my blog is scheduled for Tuesdays

Help me add to this list........


Shout-outs: 2011 has started out with a BANG!!!

Top 5 All levels for Personal Sales for January:

3rd Downline Director - Lynn Como had AMAZING sales of $8590.01!
4th Downline Ex Manager - Helen Onulak $6158.58
2nd Downline Director - Susan Tomaino $3282.90
1st Downline Director - Christina Eisenhour $2889.23
3rd Downline Supervisor - Debi Squires  $2620.25

Top 1st Downline Recruiters in January 1 - February 8th: Congratulations and welcome to the team!

Ginni Candelaria  recruited Renea Oravetz
Jackie Bluhm recruited Melissa Kubitz
Kathy Markloff recruited Angel Villers
Linda Sturdivant recruited Liza Garibaldi
Peggy Rhone recruited Debbi Bussell
Wanda Riley recruited Mary Ritter

Top Studio J Layouts Purchased so far:

2nd Downline Noreen Petty has made and purchased and incredible 169 layouts!
4th Downline Lorraine McKinney - 141 layouts
1st downline Linda Caler - 120 layouts

I love how you have embraced Studio J!  It's definitely beautiful scrapbooking made Faster, Simpler and Easier.

Team Meeting News:
The Washington team meeting is coming up on February 26th here at my home.  10 Am - 1 PM.  Those who live in Washington, watch your inbox for the details.  The swap will be anything NEW, new stamps and papers.  Make 6.  Everyone is invited to participate.  You can mail them to me with a SASE and I'll mail back to you.

Art Inspired: Here is a great example of how you can find inspiration in everyday things.  Be on the the lookout for patterns or color combinations that can help you when you find yourself creatively challenged.

I took my color combo and circular design cue from this mailer

Here is the finished "gift box" gift card holder 

This was my swap for my LeaderShare with the theme of "back to basics" just cardstock, inks and accessories - no B&T

 Quote of the week:

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you."

William James

Creativity calling!

This is what happens to my work space when I'm creating!  What a mess!

Today has been a day for creating.  I am so excited!  I have the opportunity to teach a class of 16 ladies for the Boeing Employees Rubber Stamp Artist Group here in my workshop.   I think I have every block, tool and accessory out on my table.   I am a bit intimidated to teach this group since this club has been around for more that 20 years, even before the old D.O.T.S. days.  I have wanted to tap into this group for years.  Many of the original members are coming and I feel the need to impress them.   I will be teaching 5 projects - 4 cards and a box.  My thought process is to be sure to use the Stamp of the Month and feature 1 Paper Packet.  Since it is February I have chosen Sweetheart.  I love the pink and black color combination.

Here is the box and 1 of the cards with the SOTM - I stamped the words in
Tulip first, then embossed the Damask design with clearand sponged over the
 top in a circular motion to reveal the design then added red sparkles.  Simple!

What I have rediscovered since returning from Team Builders is my passion and excitement for my CTMH business.  I have noticed that my excitement is reflected back to me in my business.  This past week, I have sold my first Studio J 1 year membership (the customer has already purchased 5 layouts), booked the Boeing group, have a recruiting prospect and held an awesome team meeting.  This is more than I accomplished all of December!

If your business is lacking, check your own enthusiasm.....are you excited to create and share CTMH with others?

Oregon Team Meeting:

Last Saturday was our 1st quarter 2011 meeting.  It was the best attended meeting in a long time with 26 members.  We welcomed our first CTMH brother, Bob Teske to the group!   One of the goals for the LeaderShare pilot program is to help increase interest and attendance at team meetings and it seems it has worked!  We may outgrow the meeting space. 

For the business portion, we reviewed the proposed changes to the compensation plan.  The biggest change that takes affect April 1st is that JC's need to submit at least $100 in sales each quarter to stay in CTMH.   Please take time to listen to the presentation on the CTMH website as well as all of the Marquee Messages for the latest news!

For the Create and Take segment, Kathy Smelcer taught a wonderful and unique Triangle Box that can easily showcase many of our stamp designs and embellishments.  Chris Green followed with a My Creations 6x6 Memory Showcase featuring Sophia Level 1 kit, Level 2 My Stickease and Clear buttons.  If you'd like the directions, please email me and I'd be happy to send it them you.

 

The lower left card by Debbie Poland was the 1st Place
The top right is one of my class cards - it's an envelope card
that holds a "neverending"card.

We had a great art contest and swap.  Here are photos including the winning cards:  

Top right card by Sharlee Stokes was the 2nd place entry



 

  

Quote of the week:

  "Try a thing you haven't done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time, to figure out whether you like it or not."

Virgil Garnett Thomson

CTMH Studio J Tutorial #8 (Mat to Your Heart's Content)

Blogging under the influence.....

It's blog time.....

I want to start with a slight confession about my post this evening.  I am a bit loopy as I type this.  I went to the orthodontist this afternoon ....a great fear of mine since I have issues with my jaw.  I'm under the influence of a muscle relaxer, so please bear with me.  It's Tuesday and I must blog!

A message especially for my 1st Downline:

I hope by now you have had a chance to listen to Kristine's Instant Info on the CTMH website regarding the proposed compensation plan enhancements.  If any of my 1st DL would like a "Personal Business Review" to see how the new plan affects you, please contact me and I can arrange it.  At Team Builders, each attendee had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with one of the CTMH VP's for a 25 minute review of our business.  It was an eye opener for those who had never really "run the numbers" on what they have accomplished thus far and what we could do to reach the next level. 

As a result of my "PBR" my goal is to attain the level of Presidential Director by convention.  With the new changes, I know it's within my reach.  What I want to do is to work with at least 2 of you who want to really grow your team and reach Director level with 1 Manager and 3 Supervisors.  Please let me know if this is you!  For the rest of you, I'd LOVE to help you build your teams as well.  CTMH is offering an incredible Constant Campaign in February just for new recruits.  CTMH announced that 2011 is the year for recruiting and it is reflected in the cruise points offered just for bringing new members to your teams and getting the Straight to the Top!

Team Meeting News:

Registration is now open for Karen Morris's Leadershare in Las Vegas, NV  April 19th.  It's open to all of her 1-5th DL first, that means most of you!  I plan on being there to soak up some much needed sunshine and bask in the warmth of being with my CTMH friends.

This weekend is our Oregon team meeting.  I am excited to report that attendance is WAY up!!!!  This was one of the goals of the Leadershare program.  We will be covering the Team Builders meeting and the new compensation plan.  We will also be creating some incredible artwork using Sophia that you can share with your customers.  I will be posting photos next Tuesday.

A special thanks to Chris Green and Kathy Smelcer who will be leading our create and take.

Creative Bits:
I love the new paper packets in the Spring/Summer Idea Book!  Each person who attended Team Builders won one of 4 new stamp sets.  Here is some art using the new products that were done by the CTMH Art Department to inspire us to go home and start creating with the newest designs:

Team Builders

Greetings from sunny LasVegas!

I'm sitting here at my wonderful upline, Karen Morris's computer, trying to figure out how I can possibly tell you about the amazing time we have had at Team Builders!  I told Jeanette that of all the CTMH events I have attended over the past 20 years, this was my favorite!  Although the huge mega event that our National Convention has become, is wonderful, I loved the intimacy of this special meeting.  I got to spend time reconnecting with the many friends that I have come to know throughout the years that lately have only chatted with in passing.  We began with a "brainshare" which was kind of like speed dating.  We started sitting across from another consultant and had 5 minutes to talk about a business question.  It was a great jumping off point, but it seemed that most of us used the time to reconnect with each other.  I'll post some photos when I get back home on Thursday.  On Saturday, the corporate staff unveiled the updated and enhanced compensation plan.  I have been through 2 of these before, and this is by far the best thought through plan we have ever had.  Kristine explained the strategy and reasons behind each change.  Watch for the full information later this week on the CTMH website.  I hope you will be as excited as I am.  If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me........

4 hours later: 
I took a break and got back from watching Donny and Marie here in Vegas!  I need to get this posted to make it under the Tuesday at midnight deadline!

I'll do another post and finish this post when I get home on Thursday.  Gotta publish this now before the stroke of midnight!

Whew!  I just made it so I have not "broken the chain"  I'm home now (it's Thursday)  I hope you all read today's update from CTMH and will read the compensation plan update that will be posted tomorrow - Friday.


Shout-Outs:  Congratulations to the following team members for adding to their teams!  And welcome to their newest members!!!! 
 3rd DL - Lynn Como - recruited Carol Anne Mullaly and Tammy Cooper
4th DL - Karen Bittinger - recruited Ashley Dawson-Bottorff
3rd DL - Barbara Kubiak- recruited Cindy Ring
1st DL - Jackie Bluhm - recruited Melissa Kubitz
3rd DL Darlene Rosson - recruited Dian Katz

Quote of the week:
Success seems to be connected to action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.
Conrad Hilton

---

Close To My Heart - Always on Trend



Card has damask, chair a fancy border and black brads

 Today, while I was in the grocery store, I did something I haven't done in a long while - I paused and picked up a paper crafting magazine.  I used to subscribe to a number of magazines, but between running out of room in my office and our CTMH Idea books and Teaching programs being so amazing, I found I really didn't need them anymore for ideas.  Like most consultants, I have spent the last few days pouring over the new Spring/Summer Idea Book.  One thing I puzzled about were a couple of the Stamp of the Month's, particularly February and May.  I thought, what's up with all the chairs???? and do we really need more damask stamps and fancy borders? more pennants?



Well....when I opened a couple of the magazines that showcase products from many companies, low and behold it was full of chairs, damask, fancy borders, pennants, dress forms, butterflies and ribbon flowers, just like our Spring/Summer Idea book!  SO - the first lesson learned is I really should at least peek every now and then at the trade magazines to see what the trends are, but also, I know I can trust CTMH to keep track of them and always bring us products that are on trend and up to date!



Top left - pennants, Bottom center - damask



Shout Outs:

Congratulations to 3rd Downline, Krista Hershberger for her promotion in December, from  Ex. Manager to Sr. Ex Manager!  Director is just a little stretch more!

Top Personal Sales for December:



Lynn Como - 3rd Downline  NJ

Debra Courtney - 2nd Downline  VA

Debi Squires - 3rd Downline  CO

Top Team Sales for December:

Kathy Markloff - 1st Downline  PA

Wendy Vogel-Vineis - 2nd Downline  PA

Susan Tomaino - 2nd Downline  FL

Top Recruiter for December:

Sherri Tozzi - 3rd Downline  FL

Business Tip:

It's the start of a new year, take a moment and log on to the CTMH website and click on Personal Business Assistant.  Check all your information under each tab for accuracy, update information especially the expiration date of the credit card you have on file for auto-ships, your MyCTMH website and your Studio J account.

Quote of the Week:

Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.
Stephen R. Covey

My first post of 2011 and Oregon Team meeting details

Happy 2011!

 I will be sure to post while I'm away!

I am so excited to be heading off to Salt Lake City (by way of Las Vegas to visit my upline, Karen Morris) for Team Builders with 60 other top Directors and the Close To My Heart corporate leaders.  I will be away from my office from January 10th - 20th. 

I'd like to start the year off with a Shout-out to:

Wanda Riley, who has added Mary Ritter to her team!  Congratulations to both of you and welcome Mary!  I hope you will be able to attend one of our team meetings in Salem.

Speaking of team meetings, below is the information for our upcoming 1st Quarter Oregon meeting.  The art swap is open to anyone regardless if you attend.  If you'd like to participate, simply mail me your  cards with a self addressed stamped envelope and I'll mail your swaps back to you.

1^ST QUARTER OREGON TEAM MEETING:

Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, January 29th

Time:   10:30 - 3:30 or whenever we get done! - Bring a lunch or snack 

Place: Call the hotel if you need directions. 

Phoenix Inn Salem North location  

The address is off I-5 at Market St NE

1590 Weston Ct NE 

Salem OR  97301 

Phone # 1-888-239-9593

ALL 1^ST-5^TH  DOWNLINE ARE INVITED  First come first served so RSVP to reserve your place today!

RSVP by Tuesday, January 25th - Watch for future updates to the "Bring List"

The art swap theme will be anything NEW – Make 6.  Use any product from the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book marked “NEW” as well as our core product line of Inks and Cardstocks to create a card (minimum size 4x4), layout or other project.

So far for the Create and Takes you will need to order:

X7131A Sophia Level 1 kit

X7131C Sophia Level 2 My Stickease

Z1310 My Creations Board Book

Please bring:

Adhesive

Paper Trimmer

For the business portion, I will be covering the information from Business Builders

A special thank you to:

Lynn Christopher

Kari Palmer (something from Magic)

and Kathy Smelcer.  You have signed up to do a create and take projects.  Please let me know if you are still able to do this and email me a photo and bring list for your project as soon as possible.  If you are unable get the info out to me by Sunday when I leave, do a reply to all on this email so everyone gets the list.

 Creative Tidbit:

An update to the "recipe" for the spray pen is to use 70% rubbing alcohol instead of water.  It dries faster especially here in the Northwest with our high humidity.

Business Tip:

from Team member Lisa Sargent of Newcastle, Washington:

I thought, and thought, and wondered, what could I tell Naomi that she didn't already know?  Well, I can't say that you didn't already know this, but when I discovered it, I was excited.  GOAL: I wanted to improve my margins/keep more of my money.

I used to take credit cards regularly, even from my club members.  Now I reward them for "good behavior"...paying by check or cash.  Once I discovered that, I thought, I should expand that to reward other desirable behaviors.  I give little door prize tickets to everyone for doing certain things:

-Pay by check or cash (improves my margins by 3.5%!!!!!!!)
-Bring a friend/be the friend
-Bring your own adhesive (I was getting complaints about the glue stick/Tombows.  I still have glue sticks available, just don't go through them as quickly)
-Carpool
-Round Up and donate to Operation Smile
-Bring something for show-n-tell that you made with your CTMH goodies

During the holidays I also added "bring something for the food bank."

Prizes are sometimes a pack of handmade cards, Club Connections Rewards, little things I've made, extra supplies...
Quote of the week:

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you."

William James