Just An Ordinary Person

I know you hear all the time about an ordinary, everyday people making it big time with their mlm business. Let me give you a little bit of my background and let you determine if I am your everyday person.

In 1992 graduated from high school in Comfort, TX. Soon after, I joined the military where I served 11 years. While in the service I began taking college courses in hopes of a better education. This was a major disappointment as I really wanted to further my education. Instead of spinning my wheels and going nowhere I decided to stop taking courses. I don't know. I think I just could not find my niche. No matter how hard I tried it really was not working out for me.

For a while I held odd, dead-end jobs. Soon after the recession hit in 2002 I was laid off. Soon after being laid off I began looking for work. I could not find anything. A few places even told me that they were afraid to hire me because I was a recently separated veteran and was afraid that I would be deployed again. This really upset me as I served my country on the home front and through deployments. Anyway, I found work at Whataburger. It was not much but it was something. I was staying with a friend of mine as we decided to pool our resources together during these tough times. Eventually my friend lost his home. We were lucky we found an apartment. I continued to look for more work and finally found something as a security officer. It was better income but sometimes I still had to hold a second job just to pay the bills and the unexpected. I always took the overtime when offered no matter the shift. By this time my wheels were spinning. I felt like a hamster in one of those spinning wheels going nowhere.

One day, I was doing some research online and came across a candle business. They were talking about making huge money and how easy it was. To be honest the first thing I thought was, what a scam. I can't believe people actually fall for this. I felt the only way to make money was to wake up with an alarm clock and go to work. I also felt that only the elite or special people owned a business, brick and mortar style.

The home based business site I came across was a scented candle company. Even though I always have loved scented candles I was convinced that it was a scam so I disregarded it. About 6 months later I came across the same site. I don't know why but I decided to Google complaints and reviews about the company. I couldn't find anything. After discovering that there was only a low cost initial product purchase (under $50) which is used for resale to get your business off the ground, a provided website with my information, no term contracts, and no minimal sales I decided to try it.

What has happened since then? First I would like to note that I have since returned to school and am about a year from my bachelors. Second, I learned that I was wrong about how people can make money. Dead wrong! I am doing something that I want to do, something that I am happy with. Yes, my business is turning my financial life around. More importantly, how can you put a dollar value on something that you are truly happy with?

www.candlesandsome.webs.com

Have You Tapped Into Your Natural Resources?

All of us are born with natural talent. For some people this natural talent is discovered and for others it is not. Yet others may know their talent but have not reached their full potential. These natural talents are our own personal natural resource. It makes us who we are. Best of all, our natural talent is unlimited! Why am I telling you this? Because I have talked to many people, who say time after time “I wish I could…” or “I want to but…” In several conversations, I heard the blanks filled in with “I have kids.” Again, I ask what is holding them back. The response I get is a shrug of their shoulders. It kills me each time I talk to them. I look at them and see them in the same vicious circle I once was in. You see, for a long time I was in a rat race. I had to go to work to pay my bills to go to work again at the same dead end job. I was going nowhere.

What changed for me? I discovered two things. First I discovered my own natural talent then I discovered a way to work around what was holding me back. So what are my talents? My talents include listening to people, providing them with alternatives using my life’s experience, and tons of persistence. I enjoy listening to other people’s problems and providing them with an alternative. Sometimes it takes an outsider looking in to see a solution. Other times they already know the problem they just need to hear it from someone else.

What were my problems? My problems were that I wanted to get out of my dead end job. I was stuck because I did not have an education. I also wanted to start my own side business but I did not have the time. The rat race came in because I had to work to get the money to go to school and to get the money to pay for the start up business expense. I had to go to work to get what I want but my hours kept changing preventing me from attending classes and doing any sort of work on my business. So, I looked for alternatives. I took my problems and incorporated into what I wanted. Currently I am going to an online school so my hours are flexible. As of June 2010 I am about a year from my bachelor’s in accounting and I have started an online scented candles and mineral cosmetic business. If you have read any of my other articles or my blog, you will know that I love scented candles!

I encourage you to find your hidden/undiscovered talents and use it to your advantage. Sit down, evaluate your situation, and be honest about the excuses you may have about not fulfilling them. If you have excuses, why do you have them? Be honest. Explore alternatives and ideas. I know I mentioned before that several people I talked to have kids and that was their reason for not going to school or for tapping into their talents. I would think that being a parent would be even more reason to discover hidden talents and fulfill dreams. Why? You are being a roll model for them and showing them that you are never too old for an education, that there are alternatives, and the sense of fulfillment and personal growth will bring a sense of happiness and success. What are your talents?

http://www.candlesandsome.webs.com/

Who Am I?

I am a daughter, a sister, a pet owner, a veteran, a neighbor, a friend, and an accounting student. I enjoy many things in life. I love traveling and seeing new places. I like experiencing new foods and different cultures. I enjoy boating, scuba diving, swimming, and horseback riding. I also enjoy reading a good book while lounging on a hammock, soaking up the warm sun on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I have accomplished a lot in my life. I have been scuba diving in Grand Cayman and in Cozumel. I served 11 years in the Army as a mechanic. I have packed my share of bearing, changed glow plugs, replaced fly-wheels, fuel tanks, and injector pumps. I have done my fair share of brake jobs both disk and drum, hydraulic and air. Oh, did I mention I am a woman? Anyway, in 1997 I deployed as a mechanic for the Bosnia mission. We supported the Marines, the Navy, the military postal service, and we had 68 of our own vehicles that we never fell below 97% mission capable. Another words, I am a go-getter.

I have always loved scented candles. During my deployment, I received a care package, which contained a couple of votive scented candles. I was so excited. We could not burn them but it was like having a little bit of home with me so far away. At the end of a long and trying day, I would get one of my scented candles out and would let the scent carry and my imagination carry me away like I use to when I was a child. You see, as a child I would always have to go to the candle section and smell every candle they had. I really like the ocean breeze ones. I would imagine diving into the ocean, feeling light and free. During troubled times during the deployment these memories and the scents of a candles were comforting.

Hi. My name is Sarah Marks. I decided to combine my ambition and my love for scented candles and start my own business. This was one of the best choices I ever made! By having my own business I have felt more freedom than I have in a long time, and have met wonderful and interesting people.

http://www.candlesandsome.webs.com/

Thought About Starting A Home Based Candle Business?

I have talked to a lot of people who have always wanted their own business. They have dreams of being their own boss, setting their own hours, and running things how they see fit. I discovered that a lot of these people felt that owning their own business was out of reach or exclusively for others but not them. They went on saying that it was meant for the already privileged and not for the everyday person.

I listened to what they had to say. After a while I broke in and asked “How come everyday people can’t start their own home business? What is holding them back?” I began describing myself as a student, an Army veteran, and had worked as a security officer. I described myself as the everyday person doing normal, everyday that most middle class people do. Then, I added that I have my own business.

I began explaining why I joined the home based candle business. Ever since I was a child I always loved the way candles smelled. Whenever I went to the store I had to smell every candle they had. I was always amazed at how the same looking candle could have such a variety of scents. I simply loved the smells.

After a few minutes I had their interest. I explained that I had done some research and found a few interesting facts about scented candles that I wanted to share.

Did you know that:

• 80% of homes burn candles?
• the candle business is a $3 billion a year industry?
• scented candles rank in the top 5 gift choices?
• men burn scented candles just as much as women?

Then I asked these same people what this information meant to them.

This means that:

• there is a large number of people buying candles.
• the candles is a stable and growing industry.
• candles are often thought of in gift giving.
• prospects are not limited to a single group of people.

I explained that home based candle business is a growing industry done by everyday people. With the increase costs of gas, the stress of fighting traffic to and from work, and the increased demands of workers it is no wonder more and more people are seeking home based candle businesses.

www.candlesandsome.webs.com

Scented Candles and Wonderful Memories

Hi, I'm Sarah, owner of Candles And Some. No, this is not one of those "how much I make stories" stories. This is more of wonderful childhood memories. Anyway, every time I go to the store I head straight for the candle section. I always did this, especially as a child. It took my parents some doings for them to pry me away from the rain and ocean scents. I always liked finding my favorite scents, closing my eyes, and letting the wonderful scent fill my senses.

I use to watch nature shows like Mutual of Omaha. Ever since I first saw an underwater show I wanted to scuba dive. My parents and grandparents told me I was too young, maybe when I get older. Every time I found a candle that smelled like the ocean air I would close my eyes and just imagine swimming deeper and deeper, satisfying my curiosity; letting the water surround me, feeling free and light. I would imagine the beauty of the different fish and how they gracefully flowed through the water.

Scents can also flood your senses with long lost memories. Just a couple a weeks ago I walked into a leather shop. The smell of the leather brought back a flood of wonderful memories. As a child growing up my father had his own veterinarian business. He had a spare room which he rented to a saddle maker. I use to love going in the back and watch him hand make saddles. I enjoyed watching how he pains taking formed, shaped, and tooled the leather. I enjoyed watching something that laid out in pieces slowly and surely form into something recognizable.

The scents of orange remind me of when my mother and I would sit on the porch and enjoy an orange Popsicle. I remember how cool it felt and how wonderful it tasted on a hot summer day. I also remember when we would lay on our backs watching the clouds form. I could remember how big and tall the clouds were and the different and sometimes funny shapes they took. I could feel the coolness of the grass on my back with the warm sun on my face and smelling the fresh cut grass and flowers.

I still enjoy doing this today. There is something about how pleasing and wonder full feeling the right scent can make you feel. The wonderful scent can make you feel happy and joyful to sensual and romantic. It can take you take you from a freshly cleaned home to a tropical paradise. For me it took me to the depths of the ocean and sometimes high into the clouds; places that I would not reach. Sometimes scents makes me feel like a kid again.

www.candlesandsome.webs.com

In December of 2009 I graduate from Virginia College Online with my associates degree in accounting. The following semester I enrolled in their Private Sector Accounting program. I expect the be graduating in about a year. Afterwords, I am considering transferring the A&M at Texarkana for graduate school.

www.candlesandsome.webs.com

Today marks a 1 year anniversary of a side business that I had started. Everyone tells me that the 1 year mark is a measure if you will make it or not. I made it! I never dreamed that I would do something like this. I guess one of the most rewarding things is self fulfilment. Pat myself on the back lol. Another thing that I have enjoyed is all of the wonderful people I have met.

www.candlesandsome.webs.com