2017 Conference Reflection
CONFERENCE REFLECTION BY CANDICE PEARSON.
Well it’ s safe to say that there is no way on Gods green Earth that I will be able to finish this years ' Conference Reflection tear free. I feel like I have done nothing but cry since 12:24pm on Saturday. Yep, that’ s right, I can pin point the exact moment that my big, brave shell cracked and crumbled to the ground, leaving a very raw and naked me, standing exposed with no where to look but straight at the truth.
You see Conference is bigger than business development, product knowledge and party advice. It’ s not just looking at stats and comparing notes and prodding you to make Customer care calls. It’ s also about YOU. It’ s about what makes you tick and what stops you from ticking, whether you know it or not.
This was my third National Conference and although I’ ve cried at all of them, this one cracked me. This one has totally reset my game plan and given me a hope that I have never had in my Norwex business. I had a blocker that I was telling myself every year and although I heard myself saying it in my head and even out aloud, I never realised just how much it was stopping me from flying high. To be brutally honest, I was actually at Conference with‘ this is my last one’ in my head. My beautiful friends knew this and were determined to make sure that we absorbed every minute together and we were ready to rock it out as a last hurrah. Then this happened …
See that seemingly innocent line‘ Hahahahaha yes please. I love babies’, that cracked me!!! That one little line threw me into depths that I had been ignoring deep within my myself. You see, as a mum of two boys, I am so grateful to be blessed with them, but I can’ t help but yearn for one more. I’ ve always wanted 3 kids but due to unforeseen health issues, it’ s been a struggle.
So for the past 2 years, every time the Go For The Goal trip has been announced, the first thing we all do is turn to our neighbours at the table and say‘ so you going for it?’. I clearly remember saying to Tracey Shelden at Movie World in 2015‘ No, I can’ t go to Hawaii because I’ ll have a baby by then’( always trying to stay optimistic). Then last year I said to Tania Heyblom as she encouraged me to dream big and reach for South Africa,‘ What will I do if I have a baby by then?!’ Her response seemed so easy for her‘ take it with you’. To me that just didn’ t seem possible. So when
I achieved my Najo Necklace at the end of December, and already having my 2 qualifieds, this left only 25 000 points in 6 months to achieve South Africa. I threw my brakes on hard and aborted the mission. It seemed way too easy and almost possible.
‘ But what if I had a baby by then! I can’ t go to South Africa with a baby.’ That was my dialogue, that’ s what I was saying everyday to myself but the deeper side to that, which I didn’ t realise until Saturday at 12:24pm, was that my true dialogue behind this was this …
‘ No one will want to share a room or spend time with someone who has a baby in tow.’
So for the the past 2 + years I have felt like I needed to choose between a flourishing Norwex business or having my hearts desire. Then I received that text, and that horrid little voice in my head that was telling me to choose was all of a sudden silent. I no longer had anything to hide behind and no reason as to why I must pick only one. I was finally able to see that with Norwex I don’ t need to choose. I can have both.
We have such an amazing culture; a culture that supports and encourages and most importantly, includes everyone, even those with babies. We are a community of people that are so open and giving and willing to help each other where we can. If I had not gone to National Conference this year, which was a very real possibility, I never would have shifted that blocker and my business would be stagnant for another year, all because I never would have given anyone the chance to challenge my thinking. I would be sitting here doing what I have done after the past two Conferences I’ ve attended; staring at the GFTG flyer wishing I could go on the trip but thinking‘ there’ s no point, I’ ll have a baby by then( fingers crossed) and no one wants that near them while they’ re on a trip that they’ ve worked hard for.’
So National Conference 2017 has given me more than just business points, it’ s left me with more than just a suitcase of dirty laundry and a phone full of crazy, fun loving selfies with my amazing colleagues. I left with something that I didn’ t even realise I needed. Something that the sender of this text didn’ t even know the power of her words when she hit send.
I’ m so grateful for all that my Norwex business offers me and my family, all the opportunities that I have had placed in front of me, all the friendships that I have formed, the income making potential provided and now this, the ability to dream big and grab that bull by the horns and ride it all the way to the Mediterranean.
So, if you are as scared as me to dream big and say aloud that you want to be on that cruise, and you are hanging on to blockers that seem too personal or silly to share, just know you are with people that care, people that support each other and most importantly people that are more than friends, they are family. Don’ t wait to start your Norwex journey tomorrow, because that’ s a day wasted and don’ t hesitate to attend National Conference, you just never know what you will get from it. I know I have left the 2017 Conference with more than I ever realised I could leave with.