Hi there, ntwrkrs! I’m excited that you’ve chosen to pick up this book and have found your way to my chapter! I’m so eager to share my extensive experience in this profession with you. I’ve had the incredible privilege of being a part of the Network Marketing world for over eighteen years. During this time, I’ve been through it all—from building in the field, to working in corporate positions, and even having the chance to be an owner. So, when I say I know what it takes to survive and succeed in this profession, it comes from firsthand experience!

Within the following pages, I’m going to delve deep into the subject of “Becoming Brave.” While Network Marketing is my passion, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. I’ve encountered my fair share of challenges and had to muster the courage to overcome them! Together, we’ll explore what it truly means to become brave, to make decisions that require unrelenting courage, and how these pivotal moments will shape your journey if you embrace them.

We’ll start with brave beginnings. Then, we’ll get into brave commitment and what that looks like day in and day out. We’ll talk about brave relationships and how they differ from regular relationships, explore the concept of brave faith and the importance of believing before seeing results, and finally, we’ll tackle the topic of brave perseverance, where we’ll walk through the ways we can weather the storms of pain and discomfort.

So, are you ready to go on this journey with me? Let’s jump in!

Brave Beginnings

Choosing a brave beginning is about more than just summoning the courage to take that first step. It’s about taking one bold step after the other that can lead you into new and often intimidating territories! These are the kinds of beginnings that require sustained courage—the kind that makes your heart race and your palms sweat but also leads to amazing change and growth.

Brave beginnings are about saying ‘yes’ to opportunities that push you beyond your comfort zone to the very edge of your fears. But be prepared—it’s not simply saying ‘yes’ to “Can you put away the dishes?” or “Should we have pizza tonight for dinner?” This is the yes that reshapes your life—the yes that stands between you and your dreams. 

I faced this challenge in my Network Marketing career, after years of being a distributor in the field. I had the opportunity to move into a corporate position in field development, which was an entirely new side of the profession for me, but there was one catch: I’d have to fly all over the country over a dozen times per month.

Now, this may not sound like a huge demand for some of you, but for me, it meant staring my greatest fear in the face! This was not merely a little phobia, a bit of nervousness, or simply just not liking it. This was a real issue for me. I missed my sister’s wedding because of it, as I was living in Nebraska with four small children and the event was in California. It just wasn’t feasible to drive there with the kids. In another situation, at seven months pregnant, I drove twenty-four hours to attend an eight-hour meeting just so I didn’t have to fly. As you can see, I wasn’t just avoiding mere discomfort: my fear of flying was truly debilitating. 

So, when I was presented with this opportunity to move into a corporate position, I had a big decision to make. Either I would have to let my dream job and the chance to advance in my career slip away, or I’d have to face my biggest fear.

Brave beginnings often involve confronting your own personal ‘fear-of-flying’ moments. These are the moments that define us, that shape our futures, and that prove to ourselves what we’re truly capable of achieving. My journey from a high school teacher to a Network Marketer who flies all over the country was filled with anxiety, but it was also exhilarating and transformative.

Your brave beginning might look different from mine, but the essence is the same. It’s about identifying what you truly want, acknowledging the fears and obstacles that stand in your way, and deciding to face them head-on. It’s about taking inventory of your goals and aspirations, and then consciously choosing paths that lead you closer to them, even when those paths are lined with fear. To discover your brave beginning, here are three action steps:

1. Define your dream. If you’re going to face your fears, you’ll want to have an amazing dream that makes the challenge worthwhile! Understanding what your biggest goals are, and why you have them in the first place, is the first and most critical step in your brave beginning.

2. Identify the fears that keep you stuck. Reflect on what stands in the way of you taking that leap toward your dream. Can you see it clearly? It’s important to know exactly what you’re afraid of so that you can practice facing it in the next step.

3. Practice the ‘yes’ and boldly take action. Bravery isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the decision to move forward despite the fear. So, practice saying ‘yes’ to your dream, and sit with the fear that comes with that. Do this until you can say ‘yes’ for real!

Brave beginnings are your moments of truth, where you decide whether to stay in the comfort of the known or venture into the vast potential of the unknown. Each brave ‘yes’ is a step towards a more empowered and fulfilling life. They are the moments where you truly start to live, grow, and thrive.

So, as you turn the pages of your life and your career, look for those moments that call for bravery. Lean into them, embrace them, and let them transform you. These brave beginnings are not just steps toward achieving your goals; they are defining milestones of your journey.


Brave Commitments

Brave commitment is a fundamental ingredient in the recipe for success, not only in the world of Network Marketing but in any endeavor. It’s all about unwavering dedication to your goals, regardless of the sacrifices required or obstacles you face. This kind of commitment isn’t just about showing up; it’s about showing up with purpose, resilience, and determination to succeed.

I remember when Network Marketing was a different ball game. Eighteen years ago, we didn’t have social media at our fingertips—we relied on sheer grit and face-to-face interactions! I once drove through a blizzard from Nebraska to Colorado for a home event, only to sell a single lipstick. My earnings from that effort didn’t even cover the gas money! I felt so defeated. On that long drive back home, with my thoughts and the radio as my companions, I grappled with doubts and fears. Was this path truly meant for me? Was it worth it?

However, this turned out to be a pivotal moment in my career. In that whirlwind of uncertainty, a realization dawned on me: true success isn’t measured by the outcome of one event or one sale! It’s measured by the courage to stay committed to your vision, regardless of the immediate results. That long drive back home wasn’t just a physical journey; rather, it was a mental and emotional journey toward understanding the essence of brave commitment.

Brave commitment involves adjusting your expectations when it comes to efforts and results. It’s recognizing that sometimes, the most time-consuming activities might not yield immediate results, while a casual conversation could open doors to incredible opportunities. It’s about learning to detach from the highs and lows of the business, to fall in love with the process rather than the potential or the setbacks. Here are some practical ways to cultivate brave commitment in your life and business:

1. Detach from immediate outcomes and manage expectations. Understand that not every effort will lead to immediate success. Appreciate the journey, and trust that consistent effort will eventually pay off! Learning to navigate the ups and downs of this field without letting them dictate your self-worth or commitment will help you remain steadfast.

2. Embrace consistent effort and find joy in the process. Recognize that consistency is key, and wholeheartedly engage into those daily activities! Whether it’s a good day or a challenging one, your commitment to keep going is what will, ultimately, lead to success. With this understanding, you will find joy, even in the mundane tasks.

Remember, brave commitment doesn’t mean avoiding doubts or challenges; it means choosing to persevere despite them. It’s about making the conscious decision to stay the course, even when the path is unclear or fraught with obstacles. It’s this kind of bravery and commitment that transforms aspirations into achievements and dreams into realities.

Brave Relationships

Brave relationships are the lifeblood of success in Network Marketing. This profession is fundamentally about connecting with people on a deeper level and prioritizing their well-being and personal lives over sales figures. It’s about building genuine, honest connections that go beyond the transactional nature of business. As we often say, ‘people buy people, not products.’ And once they buy, they stay for relationships built on authentic care and mutual respect.

Early in my Network Marketing career, brave relationships were everything. This was the time before social media, where building strong connections with people meant phone calls and in-person meetings. One of the most memorable interactions I had was with a woman I met at the gym, who I now lovingly refer to as the ‘pink heart rate monitor girl.’ I wore a similar heart rate monitor, and I figured our matching accessories were a sign that I should start a conversation with her. This casual conversation led to her joining my team!

After she joined, I asked her, “Who do you know who might also be interested in this business?” She thought for a moment and said, “There’s a woman at the hospital I used to work with, she might want to join.” So, we went and talked to her. And she signed up, too! Then, I asked this new woman from the hospital, “Who do you know who might be interested in this business?” And she said she had a neighbor who ran a daycare in her home, so we went and talked to her. And—you guessed it—she signed up as well!

So now we had the ‘pink heart rate monitor girl,’ the hospital co-worker, and the neighbor with the daycare, all from one conversation at the gym! I kept asking my “who do you know” question, this time to the neighbor with the daycare. She admitted that she didn’t know anyone in Nebraska, where we lived, but she mentioned a friend in New York who would get on a call with us.

Little did I know, the friend in New York had been part of a Network Marketing business in the past, and it hadn’t gone well. She was incredibly skeptical about our opportunity, and she wrote in big letters at the top of her notebook “RED FLAGS.” She planned to capture all the negative parts of my story and company overview and then tell her friend how silly she was being, how too-good-to-be-true it all was. However, once I connected with her and really got to know her, she set aside those feelings and signed up right then and there! She could tell right away that we were different from the people she had worked with before.

What happened next was truly magical. When I asked her, “Who do you know?” she mentioned that she had family in Michigan who she thought might be interested. And before she had even made a single sale, I showed up for her in the best way I could: I set up an in-home party for her family members and drove eleven hours with my kids to Michigan.

I continued to pour into her after that, and we became the best of friends. This is a relationship that genuinely changed both our lives. She went on to find incredible success in the profession and change the lives of others who joined our organization. And to think, if I hadn’t asked, “Who do you know” so many times after I’d met the woman in the gym, I wouldn’t have known her!

It’s remarkable what can happen when you genuinely care for people. Whether it’s showing up for them, coaching them, praying for them, or going out of your way to do something special for them, this level of care will bring you an abundance of amazing relationships. Here are some ways you can build brave relationships in your Network Marketing journey:

1. Give the gift of your time. Invest time in getting to know your team members. Go beyond business discussions and show genuine interest in their lives. Showing that you value their stories, dreams, and challenges by actively listening is a key component of building trust and understanding. 

2. Celebrate them in small ways. Whether it’s finding a few minutes at a conference to take them aside and congratulate them, or sending a handwritten note telling them you were thinking of them, these small gestures let people know that you care about them. 

As you continue on your Network Marketing journey, remember the power of brave relationships. Invest in them, cherish them, and watch as they transform not just your business, but also the lives of those around you. Brave relationships are your truest asset in this journey, one that yields immeasurable rewards, both professionally and personally.

Brave Faith

Brave faith is a profound concept, especially in the world of Network Marketing. It’s about trusting that we are on the right path, even when the destination is not fully visible or when the journey seems uncertain. As highlighted in the Bible, faith is likened to a lamp unto our feet, not a spotlight revealing every twist and turn of the path ahead! This metaphor beautifully encapsulates the essence of brave faith—it’s about illuminating the next step, not the entire journey.

I’ve experienced the power of brave faith myself on a journey that intertwined my professional and personal life. Several years ago, my husband and I, along with our five children, faced a life-changing decision: whether or not to move from Nebraska to Florida, a place we had only ever vacationed in, for a new professional opportunity. This move was more than a geographical change; it was a leap of faith into the unknown, driven by a deep-seated belief that there was something greater waiting for us there. Ultimately, we took that leap.

However, in the initial period following our move, the challenges were tangible. We walked away from the business opportunity that had been the original catalyst for the move. The joy of living in a vacation destination was peppered with struggles, including missing family, watching our children adapt to their new environment, and realizing that the easy thing to do would be to leave and go back to the life we knew. Yet, amidst these challenges, a quiet voice of faith whispered reassurance to us that this move was part of a larger plan—a plan that wasn’t fully revealed to us yet.

It would have been easy during those challenging times to shrug and say, “Well, we tried.” There were plenty of moments when moving back to Nebraska felt like the right and obvious thing to do. But we trusted God and held tight to our faith. And because we weathered the storms of uncertainty and doubt, we experienced tremendous growth in every aspect of our lives. Our children blossomed as they found new opportunities to learn, develop, deepen their faith, serve in ministry, and meet new people. Our marriage thrived on a new foundation of steadfastness and with even more quality time to be together unconsumed with the things that demanded our attention back home. We then started a new business that continues to soar to new heights day after day and year after year—a business where we are truly making the impact we have always dreamed of.

Brave faith is about surrendering to this process, not in a passive way but with an active trust. It’s about believing that each step, even when shrouded in uncertainty, is leading you to where you need to be. This type of faith requires bravery because it often means walking through doors without knowing what lies on the other side and trusting that the journey itself has a purpose.

Here are some ways to cultivate brave faith in your Network Marketing journey and life:

1. Listen to your instincts. Pay attention to that inner voice or gut feeling guiding you. It often holds more wisdom than we give it credit for.
   
2. Trust the process and embrace flexibility. Even when discomfort arises or things don’t immediately make sense to you, believe that each step is part of your growth and journey. Understand that this new path may not look exactly as you envisioned, so stay open to detours and new directions.
3. Find strength in the challenges and learn patience. Use difficult moments as opportunities to reinforce your faith and commitment to your goals. This commitment often requires patience, as it entails trusting that the results you seek are forming even when they’re not yet visible.

Our journey in Florida, filled with its trials and triumphs, became a testament to brave faith. It transformed our lives, our children’s lives, and the very essence of our marriage and business. The decision to stay, fueled by this unwavering faith, led to incredible growth and opportunities that we couldn’t have foreseen.

Brave Perseverance 

Brave perseverance is the culmination of all the elements of bravery we’ve discussed. It’s the inner strength and resolve to stay the course, even in the face of the most challenging circumstances. In Network Marketing, as in life, we often encounter situations that put us to the test—losing a significant part of our business, facing doubts and skepticism from others, or embarking on new ventures in seemingly impossible conditions. Brave perseverance is about unwaveringly holding onto our vision and purpose, even when the path ahead is rocky.

In the last section on brave faith, I mentioned that our move to Florida resulted in my husband and I starting a new business, which is now wildly successful. Starting a new venture is always challenging, even in favorable economic times. However, we faced enormous uncertainty because we were launching a business during the pandemic. 

Our closest friends and family expressed concern—not because they didn’t believe in us but because the timing seemed not just wrong, but foolish! Yet, we moved forward on the foundation of everything we’d done up to that point. After all, we had embodied brave beginnings by moving in the first place, we stayed committed when the opportunity that brought us there was no longer an option, we fostered brave relationships far from everyone we knew, and above all, we relied on brave faith to guide us through the challenging times. However, what truly anchored us through this tumultuous period was our brave perseverance.

I often say, “Perseverance is commitment on steroids.” It represents a whole different level of commitment, and it allowed us to stand in our conviction that, even if everyone who said they would support us in the business walked away all at once, we would still keep going. Perseverance is what will set you apart. It will make you a difference-maker and a world-changer. Whether you apply it in your marriage, your business, or your health journey, it is the thing that will make or break all the action you’ve taken so far. Here are some key ways to cultivate brave perseverance in your life’s journey.

1. Get clear on your calling. This is your life’s purpose—the passion that ignites you. Knowing this will give you the strength to persevere through even the greatest challenges.

2. Find strength in your story. Your journey, including the struggles, is what makes your story compelling, relatable, and inspirational. It’s the fuel for your growth and influence in this life, so embrace the challenging points and remind yourself that you’re a survivor!

3. Know that God isn’t finished with you yet. No matter where you are in your journey, there’s always room for growth. You are a work in progress, continually evolving and reaching new heights.

Brave perseverance is about understanding that your dreams, your vision, and your ‘why’ are worth every effort. It’s recognizing that you’re not at the end of your journey—there’s much more ahead! Yes, there will be trials. Yes, you’ll have to dig deep and find your grit, and you must remove from yourself the option to quit. Brave perseverance will ultimately lead you to success.

As our time on these pages comes to an end, I want to challenge you to ask yourself where your next brave beginning lies. Say ‘yes’ to it, and then stick with it through brave commitment. Find your community, your inner circle, the people who are going to go on this journey with you, and foster brave relationships with them. When the storms come (and yes, they’re coming), stay the course by relying on your brave faith. And when the path is at its highest, rockiest, most narrow point, keep going with brave perseverance.

If you’re wondering if you can be this brave, if you can find it in yourself to take these actions and change your life, well, it’s clear to me that you can. You’ve taken the first step to great success and great leadership just by picking up this book. Start small, flex the ‘bravery muscle’ each day, and soon, the woman staring back at you in the mirror will be the courageous and fierce leader who was there all along, just waiting to emerge!

I hope this chapter has inspired you to take action, and I can’t wait to see you out there on social media, changing your life. Here’s to your newfound bravery, ntwrkrs!