Change always starts with our willingness to tell the truth to ourselves. At times it feels easier and safer to live in denial of the truth, hide it or keep it a secret from ourselves and from others. We do this because of fear of what other people will think, fear of rejection, fear of being vulnerable or fear of failure. However, hiding and keeping secrets only leads to greater suffering or worse…. a nervous breakdown. However, when we choose to OWN our weaknesses and OWN our mistakes and have the courage to tell the truth that’s how we take our power back and healing begins. This is true in our personal lives and business lives.
Here’s my truth…
After two years of soul searching, I realized that the real purpose of my Express Effects business had nothing to do with earning a million dollars. The real purpose of that business was to teach me several life changing lesson’s that have significantly changed my life for the better and prepared me for the next chapter of my life.
From July 2009 to July 2010, I documented my journey to earning one million dollars in my Express Effects business in one year on Youtube. During the journey, I experiences some huge challenges and I also experienced miracles. My product won an award. It was sold in stores across America and abroad. I was featured on ABC Shark Tank, L A Times, FOX News, NBC Daytime, Indianapolis star, and many others. The biggest challenge was finding an investor to pay for the clinical trials for THINgloss. Most of them just didn’t want to take the risk. However, in March 2010 I signed a licensing contract for my product to be on an infomercial. I was so excited and created a Youtube video with the exciting news that I would have a national infomercial for Thingloss and that it was very likely that I would make my million dollar goal soon after my deadline. In August 2010, I received a call from the production company that the whole project was cancelled. I was devistated and back at square one. But I kept going for nearly two more years hoping for another opportunity but nothing big seemed to pan out.
After four years in business, I had not made my million dollar sales goal yet and I was sold out of Thingloss. I was at a decision point. I could choose to keep going and expand the line of cosmetic products or doing something different.
I took a six month sabbatical to get clear. I realized I had slipped off my path towards my destiny and my true calling is teaching, inspiring and creating. I closed my Express Effects business and moved on to the next chapter of my life.
One huge lesson I’ve learned is this…
Choosing to start a business for the money leads to struggle and eventually failure. However, choosing to start a business out of true passion and love leads to prosperity. My product Thingloss was created to help curb appetite. However, I wasn’t really that passionate about teaching others weight loss or appetite management. I had a hard enough time managing that myself. That topic wasn’t my best talent/skill like it is for many fitness experts and nutritionists. That’s part of why business felt so hard at times. I had slipped off my path for what God made me naturally good at. I’m back on track now. And I own who I am.
We are all born with unique talents and abilities. When we slip off our path for what God has planned for our life, it feels like we are swimming up stream rather than swimming with the current. That’s when life is hard and business is hard. Finding your unique talents and surrendering to “God’s will” for your life is the path to happiness, fulfillment and prosperity.
In friendship,
April Yvette
www.aprilyvette.com
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