Happy New Year 2016!

Happy New Year! I can't believe it's 2016 already! 2015 was a blur, but so many amazing things happened! I gained a new family/business, my cousin survived a vicious put bull attack, my son turned 4, and I am becoming more and more the woman that I was designed to be!

This journey has not been without its lessons, so I want to share three important lessons that I am taking into 2016:

1) there are no shorcuts to success

• consistency and persistency are key
• plan, try, fail, repeat, SUCCESS

2) it's ok if people say "no"; everyone isn't meant to be a part of your business or our message

• know your target audience and market to them
• brand your business and stick to it
• you have to sell yourself on your vision everyday; stay motivated so the rejections can be fuel

3) self-development is business management; you need to constantly improve for your business to improve

• my challenge this year is to read 1 book per month (not very high, but last year...)
• do a self inventory at least once a quarter to measure your growth
• the better you develop and manage yourself, the easier it is to do it for your business

What are some lessons that you learned in 2015 that will make you even better in 2016?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Available now! Only $25.

Exactly one week from today, people across America will be celebrating Mother's Day! For most people, this means a card, some candy, and a basket with a teddy bear in it. While this is a perfectly fine option, each of our mothers is unique. Sometimes you should think outside the basket for mom!

I am blessed to have an amazing mother who not only loves me, but is willing to help me push forward with all of my goals and dreams! Without her, I highly doubt that this business would be where it is today! From babysitting to product testing to brainstorming to letting me brood in the lab, she has been a great silent partner over the last 3+ years!

That alone makes me want to give her a unique, thoughtful gift. Whether you are buying a gift for your own mother or for a mother figure in your life, you should consider how much we give as mothers and try to capture a little bit of that love for your mother or mother figure. Feel free to give it back not just on mother's day but EVERY DAY! Moms deserve it!

This year we are celebrating Mother's Day with a special treat: Lavender Love Boxes. These boxes feature 3 handcrafted goodies for mom to pamper herself for weeks to come! It includes one Lavender & Bentonite soap, one Lavender Bath Salt (6 oz), and one Lavender Love Body Butter (5 oz). You can place your order online between now and May 6th for delivery by Mother's Day. This price includes shipping to one address!! Also anything else that you order with your basket will be shipped with no additional shipping charges! Give mom the gift of handmade, and never forget to show her that you love her!

~Shanta

GOOD BYE TAX SEASON: An Ode to Entrepreneurship

GOOD BYE TAX SEASON

An Ode to Entrepreneurship

 

Every year, millions of Americans file their taxes. This year and last year I spent some time in the offices of H&R Block as an income tax professional, and I must say that it is very educational. I learn so much every year and discover exactly how much variation there is in this country.

 

Normally, I have W-2 income and rarely any schedule C income (self employment) unless I am doing my own. There is a HUGE lack of entrepreneurship where I currently live and at times it makes me feel out of place, but the interaction is what keeps me going back! Truck drivers, school teacher, security guards, and all the rest all have a very interesting story to tell, and taxes tells it all.

 

These people work hard for every dime that they receive from their wages, but many of them are living below their potential. There are so many people that I meet who are "just getting by" and ready for a change. They want to experience the thrill of being their own boss, but the fear of change holds so many people in place.

 

We are taught, trained, & conditioned to get an education and join the workforce. We are taught that when we work hard for others, it will pay off with a large paycheck, a big house, new car, and the perfect environment to raise our families, but today I challenge that thought! We are not meant to work all day every day until we die. Other nations have a much better view of work than we do (think siestas)! What if you could live the American dream on your own terms? I'M TELLING YOU THAT IT'S POSSIBLE!

 

This new opportunity that I have discovered has truly opened my eyes to the reality that I can live the life that I want without breaking my back on someone else's behalf. It has also taught me that I did not need to go to college, and if I had listened to my mother in high school, I would be $90,000+ lighter in the debt department! Network marketing companies are a great option for those seeking to make a change but are not sure how to start. I know when you hear "network marketing" you may automatically be turned off, but let me explain.

 

Anytime you make a major purchase, you verify it with others. That means you look at reviews, you ask the people currently in the neighborhood, or you may even consult your parents or other trusted advisors for their opinion. We do it daily, for free! There exist in this world a number of companies that utilize this network marketing framework to build relationships and income for the dedicated individuals who can see the vision and bring it to life.

 

I've been an entrepreneur since 2013, and there was no system in place when I started. However, with my current opportunity, there is a system in place, there is no monthly purchase requirement, and I can get the experience and education that I thought college would give me for a much lower cost!! The company I am referring to is People Helping People. This opportunity is exciting because I have a team, I have a system, and my team is AWESOME!! They are there when I need them, and I believe in the vision of the company! If you are interested in making a change, let me know. PHO may not be the change for you, but you can find the company that provides you just the change that you are looking for! I'M TELLING YOU THAT IT'S POSSIBLE!

~Shanta

Prosperity Legacy,LLC on the Arise Network: Certifications, Clients & SOWs

Prosperity Legacy,LLC on the Arise Network: Certifications, Clients & SOWs

Congratulations! You have successful created your profile, passed the voice assessment & background check, completed your interview, and CSP 101! Now what? Now that you are certified, you can select a client opportunity. Opportunities will be listed on the portal. Once a class is filled, it will be removed from the portal. If you'd like to know how much an opportunity pays, contact your IBO and they will give you the information based on their revenue structure. For Prosperity Legacy, LLC, CSPs receive all bonuses offered by client and all wages minus the Prosperity Legacy fee of $10 or 5% each invoice period, whichever is higher as payment for our services to you. This amount is also subject to change without notice. This blog will be updated if that amount changes. Arise also charges a fee of $19.75 per invoice period once you are certified in a client course as payment for tech support services.

Certification courses are usually 4 weeks (some are longer/shorter based on client needs) and run 4 hrs per day Monday through Friday. There is usually a morning course (9-1 EST), an evening class (7-10 EST), and occasionally an afternoon class (2-6 EST). Select the course that fits your schedule best. Please be advised that all courses have a no absence policy. If you must miss a class for any reason, please contact your instructor first! Depending on your participation in the course and your progress on self-paced work, your instructor may be able to discuss waiving the missed course with the client. We all have emergencies, and they don't announce themselves! After contacting your instructor, please contact Prosperity Legacy for documentation purposes. Most certification courses are similar: instructor led portion, self paced homework, mock calls for certification, and a nesting period for call taking.

Once you complete your certification course and pass your certification and nesting phase, you will be awarded an initial Statement of Work (SOW) with the client that outlines your rights, responsibilities, and revenue. The initial SOW is usually 2-3 months, and clients are generally a little more forgiving during this time; however, once your contract is renewed, you will be held to the same standards as seasoned CSPs. Your SOW will outline how many hours the client expects you to work weekly and any weekend work requirements that they may have. For example, you may be required to work 20 hours a week including two hours on Saturday or Sunday. You can schedule those 20 hours however you'd like as long as you service 20 hours and two hours are on the weekend.

Each client also has other performance metrics that are tracked and your performance will be reviewed. While you are working from home and are in charge of your schedule, you are still a contractor for whichever client you select and of Prosperity Legacy, LLC. These metrics are discussed in your certification course as well as your Statement of Work (SOW) contract. Be sure to read and review your SOW once received as this is only a small portion of the information contained in your SOW. Have questions? Please e-mail your questions to shanta@prosperitylegacyllc.com with subject "More Info-Arise Blog."

Shanta

Education: MBA Entrepreneurship and Managing Innovation

On March 4th, I started my MBA program with Benedictine University online. There were several reasons that I chose this concentration, but most importantly I chose this option because I want a formal education on entrepreneurship. I started with the basics, of course, but I was finally able to take one of my concentration courses in entrepreneurship. I am very excited! The course sessions are 8 weeks long and run consecutively minus a short break for winter and summer.

Here's an excerpt from the Entrepreneurship course syllabus:

Course Description

This course deals with new venture management, examining entrepreneurial personalities, managing creativity, and establishing a successful enterprise.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, each student will be able to:

• Develop an understanding of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial process.
• Assess the feasibility of new business concepts and ideas.
• Explain and analyze new business venture management principles including opportunity recognition, market assessment, and financial planning.
• Formulate a plan to identify resources and skills needed to grow a new venture business.
• Analyze various exit strategies for new business ventures.
• Create business plans for development and financing of new business ventures.

The weekly discussion posts were a great way to help me see other opinions and expand my thinking on the various subjects while the written assignments gave great opportunities for constructive feedback to help me improve my thoughts and processes. We also had a group project in this course. We chose to focus on developing a mobile app to search for lowest price textbooks and supplemental materials for graduate and undergraduate students. That was a challenge for me as I have no experience in mobile app development. However, it was a challenge that I now appreciate. We were also encouraged to create a business plan of our own or tweak an existing business plan, and this is what I will be working on continuously.

My next course started today, and I am very excited! This new course focuses on technology and innovation in business!! I am enjoying the learning platform and my instructors & classmates are amazing! Education is power!

Stumompreneurs Unite Part 2

Stumompreneurs (student, mother, entrepreneurs) are individuals who attend higher education institutions, run businesses, and raise a child or children simultaneously! We are a group of active and highly motivated individuals! As a stumompreneur time management is of the utmost importance (I know because I still struggle with it!!). We have to multitask and be able to do at least 3 things at once, but how can we manage to do all this highly important, life altering, necessary... STUFF! We must PRIORITIZE!

Yesterday we discussed the most important job of the stumompreneur, MOM. Today we will address the other two important facets of ourselves.

ENTREPRENEUR: Your business is your baby, and if it's a start-up... it's a newborn and requires constant care! Like a child, it takes several years to be able to stand up and pee on it's own and remember to lift the seat or wipe it off as it were. You have to be consistent here as well. Know your industry. Know who's prominent in your industry. Read about your industry. Talk about your industry. If you are a product creator, make some great products and market your products. If you offer services, tell the world and market you! Don't be cheap! You're in business to make an impact on the world and make money. This effort keeps you away from your family. That time can't be recovered, and it's expensive! Charge what you're worth and charge for your time. Knowing your industry will be a HUGE help here!

STUDENT: As a student striving for a post secondary or post baccalaureate degree, you have to be motivated and passionate about what you're studying! If you are studying an area that is directly related to your business or business goals, you are in the money! You can multitask and complete business and student assignments at the same time! Know your course schedule. I am attending Benedictine University online, and I know that the week begins on Monday. Initial discussion posts are due Wednesday. Written assignments are due on Sunday along with discussion responses. I also know at the beginning of each week how much reading, research, and studying that I need to do so that I can budget that time in as well.

Stumompreneurs Unite Part 1

Stumompreneurs (student, mother, entrepreneurs) are individuals who attend higher education institutions, run businesses, and raise a child or children simultaneously! We are a group of active and highly motivated individuals! As a stumompreneur time management is of the utmost importance (I know because I still struggle with it!!). We have to multitask and be able to do at least 3 things at once, but how can we manage to do all this highly important, life altering, necessary... STUFF! We must PRIORITIZE!

MOM: Our first priority is to family: our children, our spouses, and ourselves! Individuals outside of your household are not included into this category for consideration. Set a schedule. I know, it is so cliche and darn near impossible, but it will save you a lot of time and tension! I have a three-year-old son and a four-year-old niece. They are both currently home-schooled, so scheduling is of the essence! Be consistent with your schedule. Know what activities are coming up and make them a regular part of your week/month so that your schedule is not derailed. This includes Barnes & Noble story time, library outings, days at the park/zoo/gardens, whatever you want to do with your children.

Do not neglect spending quality time with your husband/wife!! This is not just about sex, although in marriage this area should not be left unattended without cause. Do things with your spouse: talk to each other with everything turned off, hold hands, kiss, do things that remind you why you fell in love with each other (especially if that includes watching anime and playing Sonic on Sega Genesis!!). Set a schedule for this. Scheduling does not make you a bad mother/wife! It makes you a superhero!

Spend time with your entire family as well. Children need to see mom and dad interacting happily with love and care! Again, turn off the world and enjoy each other. Most importantly, DO NOT NEGLECT YOURSELF! Self-care is the only way to stay sane and keep moving! Soak in the tub while your husband watches the kids, read a book, paint your nails, eat snacks ALONE, exercise, play music and dance around (my favorite), do absolutely nothing while the house is quiet at nap time, and most importantly CLEANING UP DOES NOT COUNT AS SELF-CARE! Do something exclusively for you!

Friends and other relatives are very important, but not more important than your family. After all, they are the reason you have this title and chose to do the work that you do. Stay tuned for part 2 where discuss our titles of student and entrepreneur.