I got the call while I was making jam with my husband. While it is not hard to make jam there are a lot of steps that require specific timing on things and you have to be attentive to the process. When I received this woman's call asking about the business I tried to answer her questions, but I got distracted with all I was doing. I said let's sit down and meet next week and I'll be happy to share this opportunity with you then. She then offered to take me out to lunch so we could talk and asked if she could share about the company she was currently associated with. I thought it was a little unusual, but I agreed. The free lunch started as the two of us & turned into the two of us having lunch at her good friends house and then turned into her good friend taking us out to lunch 30 minutes away. The more this plan changed the more I became uneasy, but she said she was interested in my business so I kept the date because I am a woman of integrity. If I say I will be there I will do my best to make it happen.
Well the short version of the story is that I got to lunch with two women who were there to talk about their business. Apparently all they cared to know about my business plan was how they could blow holes in it and let me know why their plan was superior and how it would make far more financial wealth for me than my business ever could. It was actually quite an insult to me & all that my business has done for me. Am I a rich woman from my business? Absolutely not, I am not going to lie. Am I passionate about what I do? You bet ya! Do I love the company I am with even with their imperfections? Absolutely! Did you ask me ONCE what draws me to that company and what I want from life? Not once! I was amazed at how they would get lost in talking about all the amazing "miracles" that were occurring for those people who were using their products while I sat and watched their engaged conversation with one another like an outsider. I was SO glad I had my 2-year-old son with me so I had a polite reason to be distracted. They hardly even talked to the servers when they came to take care of us because they were so busy talking about their business.
On my way home I called my DT leader Leslie and discussed the who scenario with her. Interestingly enough the woman who called me had contacted Discovery Toys with interest in the business. Discovery Toys sent her information to my leader and she called to follow up. Leslie asked her about her interest & she asked if Leslie was the lady she was meeting for lunch on Thursday. When Leslie tried to get more information about her interest this woman told her she was not interesting in signing up with Discovery Toys she was interested in signing Leslie up with her company. Well at least she was honest with her. Had I honestly known that was her intention I don't know if I would have gone.
Even though the interaction was not a good one for me I wanted to turn it into a good interaction & be open & honest with her. Here's my personal growth. Years ago I would have avoided that woman's phone calls & her emails because of fear of offending her. This time I decided to look at this event as an opportunity to grow for myself. I had seen how important it is to make this kind of meeting about those I am recruiting & their opportunity. However, I also decided to share with her my experience in order to assist her in her personal growth. I sent an email outlining my perspective & feelings followed with an invitation for her to examine her approach.
This is the closing of her response I received tonight, "I have an immense amount to learn. I appreciate the time you put into writing your letter, and your very gentle but stern and timely rebuke. I was way out of line. I shall endeavor to never treat another person that way again. Thank you for being the kind of person you are, for teaching me, for making a difference in my life, and for helping me to get back on track."
It's experiences like these & how I am learning to turn them around & make good out of them that lead me to believe I am being prepared for leadership. These kinds of learning opportunities are how I know I will make it to leadership. I have so much to offer this world that is good. I'm going to get there and when I do I will enjoy looking back at my writings of my personal journey & reliving my personal story.
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