I've Committed the Cardinal Sin of Blogging

I've been MIA for awhile.

I doubt anyone would blame me, considering the chaos that is my life. I will say that I'm enjoying it more now that my family has settled into having three kids instead of two ... and no longer being pregnant means I can survive on much less sleep.

So, here are my updates in all areas of my life:

Network Marketing Niche

I remain on my quest to become a top earner with Rodan+Fields, though my strategy has changed to better fit my own personality and style. I'm definitely enjoying all of the success stories from customers as I'm embracing my inner saleswoman.

Body After Baby: Update

I'm still working on getting back into shape after having my third baby in five years. It's not as easy as I would have hoped. I tried the Dr. Phil 20/20 diet, but my milk supply tanked on the first day and I had to go back to eating regularly. The key for me is exercise, but I'm having a tough time motivating myself to do so every single night.

There is something about sitting on the couch and drinking wine with my husband that has a magnetic pull each and every night. I'm getting better, but I'm definitely not to where I need to be.

Kids: Two is Company, Three's a Crowd

I feel like Abby went through the hellion stage after Evie was born, incredibly clingy with me and throwing tantrums at every turn. Now it's as though she's passed the baton to Jack, who has taken up the role as resident jealous child.

Jack is an impressive tantrum-thrower, I must say. While Abby has the determination of a bull, Jack can throw a fit over the most random of things. One day while I was dropping him off at school, he fell to the floor in a fit of tears because Buzz Lightyear's arm wasn't in the proper position. If anything, I suppose he'll be the model student when "stop, drop, and roll" is the topic of the day.

He also has zero control over his body, which can effectively be used as a weapon. Because he feels the need to jump around every single second of the day, it isn't uncommon in our house to hear me or my husband sudden scream, "Ow! Jack, don't kick me in the face!"

Then, because of what I label as a need to showcase her status as the model child, Abby will emerge on the scene asking (loudly), "What happened? What did Jack do?" You can actually see the halo over her head while she's asking these questions. She might as ask, "What is it now that my heathen of a brother has gotten himself into?"

But, really, they all love each other. Moving on.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• Full House is creating a spinoff where DJ is a widowed mother of two with another baby on the way. This has the potential to be awesome. It also has the potential to be incredibly painful. Either way, I'm enjoying all of the Mary Kate and Ashley jokes that have emerged this week.
• Grey's Anatomy has killed off another main character. Many on Facebook are revolting after the difficult episode. I, personally, just can't believe that show is still on. I haven't watched it since Meredith had a near-death experience. It has taken on a soap opera type quality where everything that could ever go wrong to a person has gone wrong. If you've made it this far with the show, I'm not sure if I should congratulate you or dish out condolences. Then again, I'm excited for a Full House reunion.
• I will be participating in the Michigan Softball Academy for the second straight year next Thursday. Anyone who wants to donate can do so here. We are trying to raise the most money, specifically looking to take down the WTKA team. I am hoping I do much better than last year. While I'm a pretty good fielder, my hitting skills leave much to be desired. I can actually sense the looks of pity on me as a whiff swing after swing. Here's hoping I can make contact more often than not.

Business Chic: Trusting My Own Instincts

I am a classic Type A personality. I want to achieve. I want to thrive. I want to be right.

These attributes are both a blessing and a curse. While I am more determined than most (and stubborn as a bull), I sometimes set off on the wrong direction. Because my personality is how it is, however, I usually sprint in the wrong direction. That leaves me much further off course than the average person once I recognize I need to reroute.

This has happened to me with Rodan+Fields.

Rising Goals

I entered Rodan+Fields excited about making some extra money. Income is sporadic with my PR business because it is event-based and not month-to-month, so I was looking for some stability. My goals were reasonable: be able to pay my monthly bills. My lofty goal? Sending my baby to daycare in the fall.

I set out on my journey only to meet one of the power players in the business. She hosted my launch party and she inspired me. Her personality reminded me of my own and she was impressed with me. All of the sudden, I believed I could do it, too.

Following the Rules

My beautiful upline sponsor, Heidi.

I attended a Leslie Zann conference with my team, having just come off signing an insane number of regular customers up for products. After listening to Leslie, I was immediately inspired to push myself to greatness. She stressed the importance of balance: push products, but also push the business. Okay, I thought. I can do that.

So I did. I began reaching out to prospects I believed would do a great job selling. I found some interested folks, but nothing panned out. I started to get discouraged that I couldn't sign anyone to be part of my team. After all, I wasn't going to succeed unless I built my business and built it fast. That was what was being preached.

Through that discouragement, however, I continued to sell products. I held my second and third parties and got better and better at talking about the products. Because, the truth is, I love the products. They work and -- more importantly to me -- they help people.

One Step Too Far

I was met with an eye-opening experience with one of my prospects that changed my entire outlook on this business. Without getting into detail, this prospect perceived me as pushing too hard for her to sign on.

I then took a step back and looked at what I had been doing. The behavior wasn't me. Granted, I am admittedly an extremely pushy person. Extremely. But I'm pushy when I believe in something for someone. I'm not pushy in a way of trying to force something on someone. There is a difference.

In my first two months within the business, I haven't had enough experience to get to the point where I can believe in something for someone. I have, however, had enough experience with the products to where I believe in them for others, and I've sold a lot of them as a result. And the more I sell, the more stories I get back from happy customers. I love it.

But from a business standpoint, I can't talk the talk until I've walked the walk. It unfortunately took a tough situation for me to recognize that, but I've recognized it nonetheless. Now it's time to reroute.

Perfect Timing

I have a very black-and-white way of thinking, so I started believing that I couldn't do this business if I wasn't willing to be the pushy person I was being told to be. Then I talked to my awesome upline leader, though, and she expressed to me that she may not have had the fastest start, but she's stayed trust to herself.

I'm recognizing that I can still enjoy this business simply by being myself and selling products. If others want to join me along the way, I will happily welcome them, but I'm not going to push anyone into doing something they aren't ready or willing to do. No more.

As though the Rodan+Fields gods wanted to reinforce this way of thinking, I received an unexpected package in the mail yesterday. It consisted of thank you cards and a R+F pen -- my first reward for reaching a milestone with the company. That small token made me feel so much a part of the business and fueled my excitement for continuing along the path I'm on.

I'm now looking to achieve the second milestone with the company through selling these amazing products I believe in 100 percent. I truly can't wait for my first business partner to come along -- I know she will -- but I'm done trying to force it. Instead, I'm going to control what I can control, and kick ass doing it.

Nothing like an unexpected bonus from my company! Pleasant surprise! @rodanfields #leadtheway #businesswoman

A photo posted by Chrissie Wywrot PR & Social (@thebusinesschic) on Apr 23, 2015 at 5:10pm PDT

Where is the Easter Bunny From?

Getting ready to walk out the kids' room tonight and I reminded them that tomorrow is Easter. I know that the primary thing is the Easter Bunny ... because ... I have no idea.

So I made sure I said, "Do you know what Easter is for? Jesus rose from the dead."

Kids:

And, yes, I picked Jon Stewart on purpose.

I went on to explain, "Yes, Easter has the bunny ... not sure where that came from, but Easter is when Jesus rose from the dead."

That's when Abby injected a profound statement.

"Maybe the Easter Bunny is from Africa."

Hmm. Sure. Perhaps. I'll ask Ziggy Ansah if he's heard of this theory.