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Life’s like an hourglass glued to the table . . . that is a line from a song I have probably heard a hundred times, yet it never rang more true than right at this moment. I just learned that one of my best friends has breast cancer. And, while I have absolutely no doubt that she will come through this just fine, a stronger person than she already is, it brings home the fact that we are all here for a finite amount of time and we had better make the most of it. So here I sit, on the beach, headphones on, soaking up rays and watching my family hunt for seashells, and it finally hits me: This, right here, right now, is my Why. And while I do not want this moment to end, I know it will and I will want more. With Arbonne, I can have more. I began my Arbonne journey in February of 2006 and promoted to Regional Vice President in November. It has taken me almost eight months to write my story. I’ve been procrastinating, using time as an excuse. And, although that is partially true, I think the bigger reason is that I just could not zero in on why I got into this business to begin with, and why I continued when it would so many times have been easier to quit, say I gave it a shot and move on. You see, when I was first introduced to Arbonne, I was fortunate enough to already have a very nice life – an incredibly successful, loving husband, three of the greatest kids I could have dreamed of, a nice home and a thriving business of my own. What more could I ask for? Well, how about fewer wrinkles? Yep, that’s what started it all. I was introduced to NutriMinC® RE9® and absolutely fell in love. My skin had never felt so good. But I still had not considered the business side of Arbonne for one second for so many reasons. To name a couple:
Barb with sons, Scotty and Jon. Barb’s children, Grace and Jon.
barb patterson
Independent Consultant, Regional Vice President Barb Patterson Region; Libertyville, IL
Way too busy and way, way too skeptical! So, how did I end up as a Regional Vice President instead of just a Client? I suppose there are a couple reasons. I watched my father play it “safe” in corporate America, where he planned to finish out his career. Surprise! After 30 years, he was laid off. He was too old to get a new job and too young to retire. The only option was to start a business. And, while I did not realize it at the time,
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Barb and her husband, Mike.
success strategy:
Search for your Why. REGIONAL VICE PRESID ENT
it taught me an invaluable life lesson: There are no guarantees, but you can improve your odds by putting yourself in the driver’s seat. After spending ten years in marketing for a major corporation myself, I decided to take a chance and do just that. I quit my job and started my own marketing business. That was 12 years ago and I have never regretted it. So, I have the whole entrepreneurial thing going for me, but that alone was not what made me take the Arbonne plunge. In fact, that is almost what stopped me from taking a closer look at the business. The idea that a person could potentially earn such an incredible income while working part time was foreign to me. I was used to working really hard so this seemed too good to be true. Enter NVP Lori Lubben. She took every bit of skepticism away, as she is such an incredibly genuine person. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Her belief, unwavering. When she spoke to me about Arbonne and where it was going, I knew it was something I had to do. I saw this as an opportunity to build a financial wall around my family that nothing could touch and as a way to get my husband out of the corporate world so he could experience what I have enjoyed for the last 12 years – freedom! I am so grateful that I did not let this opportunity slip by out of ignorance. And, if you are reading this, then you too must be open-minded enough to just take a look. Now pat yourself on the back, and know that if you choose to join this business, you will have made a very wise decision. Arbonne has more to offer you and the people around you than you can possibly imagine right now. So, jump in, do not look back and believe that you can have everything you want out of life! There is absolutely no way I could have succeeded in this business without the unconditional love and support I get from my family. To my husband, Mike: I so appreciate how you respect my decisions and trust my judgment – even when it may seem a little crazy. I love you and please always keep making me laugh. To my amazing children, Grace, Jonathan and Scotty: You have no idea how much I love and treasure each of you. Thank you for your patience as I continue to grow this business. The world is yours – dream big!
Barb with ENVP Lori Lubben and DMs Sherry Parker, Debbie Arana, Dorothy Rosen and Carolyn Roock at NTC 2007 Las Vegas. Barb with President Rita Davenport and Chairman & CEO Bob Henry in the Parade of Champions at NTC 2007 Las Vegas. Barb with ENVPs Lynn Hagedorn, Lori Lubben, Pam Jensen and Natalie Jensen.
To my mom: Thank you for your continued support and unconditional love. You have taught me more than you’ll ever know. To my dad: I miss you every day but I thank you for showing me how to enjoy life and not take myself too seriously. To my dear friend, Hélène: Thank you for showing me how to be strong in such difficult times. With all you have been through, there is no way you are not going to the top of this company with me. To my NVP and, more importantly, friend, Lori Lubben: Thanks for showing me the way and always believing in me, even when I wasn’t so sure myself. And, last but definitely not least, to my incredible team: Thank you! We did this together. Thank you for trusting in me, even when it is sometimes hard to see what I see. Stick with me and I won’t let you down!
The testimonials in this story reflect the actual experience of an individual, are anecdotal only, and may be atypical.
Barb with Consultant Kelley Pillizzi at her car presentation.
E Y E O N A R B O N N E | OCTOBER 2007