Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK AND SUCCESSFUL MONTH END!! Love, Pam Shaw

Yesterday----(Sunday) afternoon I took a little trip to my favorite local supermarket with a well organized two page list of goodies (and baddies) to purchase for the next eight days. Often, I delegate shopping but this time, it HAD to be me because not only is my 'ravenous' eighteen year old, 6'2" son, Jeff, who is 'starving to death' in his fraternity at UF.....coming home for Thanksgiving....and bringing his best friend from all through high school, Enrique....who must have a tape worm...but my in-laws are flying in from Philadelphia also and my oldest daughter Ali (24) and her fiancée are coming for Thanksgiving dinner and my younger daughter, Melissa (21) may bring her latest love interest too (whom ever that is this week) ....and who knows...there may be 'add ons.' Now you may be thinking..."why would she go 5 days before Thanksgiving? Wouldn't the menu call for the freshest of everything? I'll bet she will have to make 1-2 trips back there by that time." NO I WON'T!!!! You don't understand.....It's dangerous out there now.....it's THE tourist season in south Florida....shopping carts are pushed over your heels....there are hit and runs in the supermarket isles....fender benders in the parking lots....people holding up the lines with 3 items they forgot to put in their basket. I arrived there at 2:30 p.m. and crawled back to my car (but I survived) at 4:30 p.m. I spent close to $400. It's a jungle out there! There are several reasons why I am sharing this with you:

#1- I have big goals in Mary Kay this month AND I want to enjoy this special family time. I have set it up to be able to do BOTH. So should YOU. Mary Kay set it up for consultants who bother to plan to have their turkey and eat it too!! Why will it work? Because it was premeditated. I know that the only way I could preserve precious fragments of time this week is to be organized in personal and business. I invested one and a half hours on my grocery list and created a menu that will be delectable but can be partially prepared ahead and the ingredients are not the kind that have to be gotten in the eleventh hour. As a result, I will save myself about 20 hours this week and I will use them to finish off November and set up December and the family WILL NOT SUFFER A BIT! Nor will my pocketbook. I wish some consultants would quit SHUTTING DOWN completely in anticipation for a holiday and then complaining about how they lost their focus a week later....can't they be adult about it and 'balance' both?

#2- While I was in the supermarket, I couldn't help but notice the fabulous selection of treats and staples....the abundant way they set it out in front of ME! The extra staff they had working to assist customers with harder to find items, the complimentary recipes they had sitting out next to whatever they were promoting. The extra check out people....the relaxing music for Sunday afternoon spending. The seasonal trim adorning EVERYTHING! Absolutely every isle screamed 'abundance and prosperity', which is what Thanksgiving is really about, right! So let me ask YOU, is that what YOUR Mary Kay business is about? Does your shelf of products ooze abundance or scarcity? If you held 3 makeover clinics ( skin care classes) this next week, could your shelf support 5 Perfect 10's and 3 basics going out without having to impose the amateurish (Oh, I don't have that in stock but I can get it for you in a week when you no longer need it or want it) business practice? What about the I DESERVE IT ALL COLLECTION that also has color cosmetics and Satin Hands and body parts! Do you have EVERYTHING her little impulsive heart desires not only for herself but for those she is giving gifts to? Or do you have 'scarcity mentality also known as "let me wait and see how I do' attitude? If you have THAT stinkin' thinkin', then you don't even have to wait........I can already tell you how you will do in your business......and that is NOT SO SWIFT! Quit worrying about getting a few too many of an item.....don't you realize that one of your sister consultants will kill to get it from you for one of her clients in a year when it's no longer available? (By the way, if you don't show up at meetings....no one will even know you are still in Mary Kay and they won't help you unload overstock!) I am not saying to use the meeting as the Swap shop---no--no ! I am only talking about discontinued items! Are you subliminally hoping that customers will only want select items at your appointments.....you know....the few ones YOU DO HAVE? Have you ever considered that in order for a turtle to get where she is going, she has to 'stick her neck out?' If you are overprotecting your pennies...your focus will be directed toward PENNIES and that is what you will get.... PENNIES out of your Mary Kay while others are getting dollars and lots of them! That supermarket set itself up for dollars and boy did they get a lot of mine. Even with the list...I still walked out with $100 more than I expected to purchase. So what! I'm happy....my family will be delighted......Enrique will be in hog heaven....and because I am finished with the shopping and planning, I'll have time now to do my holiday shopping out of catalogues to save even more time......time to play....time to achieve my Mary Kay goals and time to get some of that money back from that supermarket!!!!!! Hit it girls...get your own orders in .....are YOUR new team members' orders in yet for the month.....are you helping them get in ? are they set up ? Seize the moment...God Bless you and I wish ABUNDANCE for you and yours.....Linda Toupin

from Kathy Goff (on being thankful)........." I must have the same vision Mary Kay had as I build my own organizations. I must have her work ethic, her courage, her values. And, I must do something consistently on a daily basis to build my business. I must interact with customers and yes, I must offer them this opportunity as it was offered to me. This week, as you reflect your blessings, spend time also clarifying your vision and adjusting your work ethic to show Mary Kay your appreciation for a life changing opportunity - so much more than a financial change, a literal life change. Why not call your customers and offer them a free manicure today, tomorrow, or Weds. as they get ready for Thanksgiving. Of course, have the hand bag displayed along with gift ideas and stocking stuffer ideas. Remember, to take your showcase as you share the holiday this week - as the men are hunting or watching football, why not treat all the ladies to manicures and facials. Remember, to take a few 12 Days of Christmas in the trunk and take the guys shopping at your Thanksgiving Trunk Sale."

Have a great week - it will be as great as you plan it to be!!!!!!!!!! Make a big plan!!!!!!!