Chris Cicchinelli's Blog, page 3

Living With Change: Envisioning a More Inclusive, Equitable Community

Life is full of surprises. Some good, some bad, some in between. I learned it’s how you react to these unexpected changes that makes you grow into a better person. When our child came out as transgender, my wife, Jessica and I experienced a lot of uncertainty as we embraced our new reality. As we found happiness for our child, we realized that there were tens of thousands of other children that could not find the same happiness. They were hiding, afraid to live their lives as their true, authentic selves. We couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. That just wasn’t right.

In 2018, we founded Living With Change, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting transgender youth and their families. We vowed to not only fight for our transgender child, but for all transgender children.

Trans youth need a safe place to find a supportive network. We discovered the Transgender Clinic at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. It was run by amazing people, who donated their time. While they were beyond passionate about the work, we knew the clinic and the families it serves needs more. They needed full-time staff to attend to their full-time needs. We wanted a staff of navigators able to help trans youth and their families.

When you see an opportunity to drive change, take it. We saw this obstacle as an opportunity to help in a significant way, which is why we made a donation of $2 million to create the Living With Change Center for Gender Health. We fueled the change from a clinic to a center. And then that center hired more qualified staff, started more critical programming, and had more room to support trans youth and their families. There is still work ahead.

The LWC Center for Gender Health currently serves children and families that are coming from places like West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, and more. My family is lucky to have a best-in-class center at Cincinnati Children’s right in our backyard. But for other families, the distance, time, and cost to travel is simply too far. We’re expanding to support the growing needs of the youth we serve. We need your help.

This past weekend, Jessica and I hosted the 2nd Annual Every Journey Matters Living With Change Gala to raise money for the LWC Center for Gender Health at Children’s Hospital, the Living With Change scholarship programs, and our future goals of expansion. Every year, I am surrounded by friends and family who show up for my child. My cup is overflowing from the love they share and the commitment they make to Living With Change. With that, I am proud to say we raised $301,000!

But it’s not just about the money. It’s also about key to continue the conversations. With conversation and a willingness to listen and learn, comes change and understanding.  And that, to me, is the biggest key to a successful journey: that we can have a conversation. We don’t all have to agree, but if we lead with love and acceptance, we can find ourselves in a better world, not just for transgender kids but for all.

And so, my request to you is this: keep the conversation going however you can. Everyone has a microphone. Thanks to social media, you can reach hundreds if not thousands of people with one post, one story, one comment. Word of mouth is an amazingly helpful tool – many families with gender non-conforming children aren’t aware of Living With Change or the LWC Center for Gender Health. Get the word out! The more educated our community is, the better.

I’m glad that we have some amazing people support us on this journey. Nobody wants to see a child that’s not included. Let’s make sure our kids stand up for doing the right thing, which is making sure that people are safe, protected, loved, and feel included.

To support Living With Change, visit https://livingwithchange.org/ and be sure to follow us on social media: Instagram @LWC_Organization, Facebook @LWCOrganization, Twitter @Living_W_Change

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5 Important Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur

Whether you’re sitting in a coffee shop with laptop open, shopping for shoes or attending a friend’s birthday party, if you’re an entrepreneur, you are always “working.” For an entrepreneur, “work” is anything from answering emails to meeting new people and converting them to clients. If you’re always “on” then you need to be always aware of your attitude, appearance, and demeanor. Let’s go over some qualities that successful entrepreneurs need to embody so that you can minimize challenges and maximize success:

Always have a positive attitude

As an entrepreneur, you need to wake up ready to tackle the day with positivity. You should always be excited about your business and the opportunity to help others. Share your excitement with everyone you meet. That also means not letting negative situations bother you. Look on the bright side of things and focus instead on what you can learn from every experience. It helps to talk in positives. For example: “when,” you land a client or “when” you sell your first unit, not “if.”

It helps to have a supportive tribe so be sure to surround yourself with positive people. Create a safe place with them where you can share both wins and challenges. Just be careful not to bring the group down with too many trials and tribulations in the circle of positivity. And remember that confiding in a negative person can often bring you down further.

Always have a smile on your face and be approachable.

Always look professional

People want to do business with small businesses, but what does your small business look like? You are your business! Make sure your appearance is always professional and nice, because first impressions are lasting impressions — BE SURE IT’S A GOOD ONE!

Always look professional whether you’re going to the grocery store or a business meeting. Throw in some branded apparel when appropriate, maybe your business t-shirt under a blazer?  Be the person everyone wants to do business with because you look organized and professional.

Always be prepared to do business

In order to provide excellent service to your customers, it helps to have ample inventory to provide. With 2-day shipping available on millions of items online, waiting days or weeks to get their order will discourage some customers. Try to stock up on the products you are selling to be able to give instant gratification to both new and existing customers.

Keep your life organized by having business cards, catalogs, samples, and anything else that you can easily carry with you at all times. The first step is getting the product in your customers hands. Make sure you have your name, website, or phone number stamped on applicable paperwork because any new person you run into could be your next customer, next referral, or next team member. Be sure to value every contact, even when somebody says “no”. Often “no” actually means not right now. The leads of today will likely be the buyer or recruit of tomorrow. Remember, it takes at least seven touches with customers before they make a purchase.

Always learn and grow

Stay a student. Go to trainings, listen to applicable podcasts and read books – as many as you can! Anything you can do to continue learning – do it! That also means listening more than you talk. Don’t just hear what your clients are telling you, listen to their needs and wants and try to deliver them. If you’re looking for book recommendations, some of my favorites are “Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers” by Timothy Ferriss, “Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul” by Howard Schultz and my book, “The Secret is YOU”.

Always know where you are going and why

Know what you want from your business every month. Set goals. Know how much money you want to earn each month and what milestones you want to reach. Set your goals for six months from now, a year from now, five years from now, and beyond. Put good processes in place now to be successful later. Track your goals and compare your progress to the month before, the year before. Do NOT get discouraged – keep going until you reach your goals.

 

If you make an effort to adopt these qualities every day, you’ll be ready for business any day, anytime. Being always on has its benefits, one being a business that never stops.

 

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Live Life by Design, Not Default

“Live your life by design, not default” is one of my favorite mantras. But what does it look like to live life by design as a leader and an entrepreneur?

Living life by design simply means this: you are the architect of your life and your business. You are not following a blueprint drawn up by anyone else—not by your peers, your coworkers, or your boss. No one has defined the path for you. We design our bedrooms, our kitchens, and our bathrooms. Shouldn’t our lives be the same way?

That is not to say that you can’t take inspiration from other people. You can always find good mentors, co-workers, and friends with advice you can use to your benefit. It’s always good to add people to your circle who can motivate and inspire you. But don’t let them over-influence you. Make your own decisions. Make sure you’re living the way you want to live because it’s up to you to define how you want your life to look in the future. It’s up to you to define how you want your business to look. Then it’s your job to put the work in to get there.

Think of it like Pinterest: design the life you want one pin at a time. Find inspiration through other examples. Inspiration leads to dreams and dreams lead to a better future.

But be careful not to fall into the “default” trap. Plenty of people have made goals similar to yours but they are not you. We all have different paths, different lives so our goals might look similar, but they are not all the same.

To start, define what your ideal life looks like. Write it down, make a vision board, do something tangible so that you can see the plan. Then make actionable steps towards achieving the goal. Is your goal being debt-free? Start by consolidating debt or paying down one of your high interest credit cards. When things get tough, look at your plan and re-center yourself on your goal.

The road to designing your life can be challenging. You will need to embrace being uncomfortable. It’s when you feel safe and comfortable that you start to get complacent. Instead, dig deeper. Always strive to perform at your highest level.

You likely don’t even know what is possible until you start trying. Some goals seem so lofty they don’t feel worth it to say out loud. But I’ll remind you of this: once upon a time, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos made it a goal to go to space. Although that goal seemed completely out of this world (excuse the pun), this year, he achieved that goal. How did he do that? He didn’t let doubt stop him. He made a design for his life, he set a clear goal and worked hard to achieve it.

I’m not suggesting we all make it a goal to become astronauts. But going to space for one person might be as scary and unattainable as owning your own home to someone else. But you will 100% fail to achieve goals you don’t set.

Take this as the hint to get started. What is your design for your life?

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10 Tips for Motivating Teams

Leaders come in all forms. You could be a business leader, the leader of a volunteer group or the leader of your household. Regardless of your industry and responsibilities, the role is essentially the same: lead the “team” to be the best they can be.

To reach greatness, your team has to be motivated. As a good leader, it’s your job to energize and encourage your teams. Here are some tips to keep your team on track toward attaining their goals:

 

Give your team members ownership

Let someone else take on some responsibility. Have them lead some projects or meetings. Assign a task and keep them accountable. Ask them to share their ideas and interests to help find places they can provide value.

Set a communication plan

Miscommunication breeds failure. Make sure you’re communicating with your team members and asking them for input in return. Set up recurring meetings to make sure you’re staying in touch.

Know your team members’ strengths and weaknesses

We all have hidden talents, and we all have opportunity areas. Encourage discussion with your team to understand what they can bring to the team. Ask if they have areas where they are less confident and offer coaching to help them learn and grow.

Team building exercise

A great way to break the ice with new team members is to do team building exercises. This is where you should thrive – you are already experts at establishing trust quickly, use some of your relationship-building tools to engage your team.

Positive work environment

Always be positive! Celebrate wins and don’t fixate on setbacks. Repeat positive, and realistic affirmations to drown out the negative thoughts that can hold you back.

Incentives

Who doesn’t love to be rewarded? Set goals for the team with rewards at the end. Rewards could be physical products, special offers, or unique experiences. Get creative with it – incentives don’t have to be gifts or money.

Don’t be a roadblock

Does a team member have an idea they want to try? Are they exceling quickly, and performing at a high level? Be supportive. Their success equals your success. Listen, offer coaching and encouragement.

Praise your team

Words of affirmation is one of the love languages for a reason. Give your team members positive and specific feedback. Again, celebrate wins big or small!

Give feedback

Feedback is an essential part of learning. If you don’t give feedback to your teams, they won’t learn essential skills. Be sure to balance positive feedback with negative so that you are not being overly discouraging.

Be humble!

Your character helps you perform your role as leader. Good character builds trust. Trust is needed for success. Share your knowledge and expertise without being overbearing.

There are, of course, more than ten ways to be effective in leadership, but these are the principles which have helped me the most as a CEO and leader. Anyone can be an effective leader with some effort. Just remember to stay self-aware and be a role-model for the people on your team.

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Labor Day: A Day to Celebrate YOU, Our Pure Romance Partners

Labor Day is traditionally a time to take the day off and honor the hard-working men and women in our country. Picnics, parties, and red, white, and blue bunting mark the unofficial end of summer and the start of a busy fall season.

When Labor Day comes around each year, I like to take time to celebrate and honor YOU, our innovative, driven Partners. You were met with many challenges in 2020 and 2021 but you didn’t give up! You shifted your businesses, you rose to the challenge and created opportunity where others might have simply thrown in the towel.

When it comes to pay in the workforce, we all know that women are still trying to catch up to men. In 2020, I shared that woman made only about 81 cents for every dollar men made, according to a PayScale report. In 2021, the gap closed by a mere one cent: women this year made $0.82 for every dollar a man made. The gap has only shrunk seven cents in the last 5 years and is clearly very slow to improve. At Pure Romance, we are continuing the fight for women’s equal pay; we do our best to provide YOU the support you need to be successful in your business and achieve your goals.

In business and in life, you get out of it what you put into it. These last two years have proved that Pure Romance Partners know all about putting in the work. From upping your social sales game and embracing Zoom and other virtual technologies to finding your own brand and voice, you have taken all the roadblocks that have been thrown in front of you and knocked them down flat! And in the process, you are constructing the life you always envisioned for you and your family.

Pure Romance Partner, Nikki Hughes, knows that the path to success has its setbacks, saying: “It’s true, 2020 came with challenges. It also came with a ton of growth. Pure Romance gave us a path to pivot while keeping us focused and motivated. Daily I am grateful, thankful, fueled, honored and blessed.”

It’s comments like this that remind me and all of the members of the Corporate Staff, why we are devoted to making Pure Romance the best it can be.

Thanks to Nikki and all of our Partners who put the work in each and every day. We’ll have many more opportunities this year for you to boost your business levels higher than ever. Keep up the good work!

But for one day, Labor Day, I want to stop and congratulate you for upping your game, overcoming obstacles, and making opportunities. For being there for your families and for your customers.

Cheers to you!

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Warren Buffett’s Lessons for Entrepreneurs on his 91st Birthday

Warren Buffett quotes are about as numerous as his years on Earth. From his belief in simple and direct forms of communication, “You can have all the brainpower in the world, but you have to be able to transmit it,” to his affinity to act on gut-feelings, “Trust is like the air we breathe – when it’s present, nobody really notices; when it’s absent, everybody notices.” If you’re in business, any business, chances are you’ve heard at least one or two Buffett quotes. And most likely, you can benefit from his wisdom.

This week the entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist celebrates his 91st birthday. You’ve heard me quote Buffett during Rise and Grind and at events like World Conference and National Training. There’s a reason! As the current chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett has learned what it means to invest wisely, but also what it means to be a good leader and entrepreneur.

Winning Resides in Repetition

One thing that makes a good leader is keeping a normal routine. In my book, The Secret is YOU, I featured some of my favorite and most inspiring leaders and how they maintain their routines.  For Buffett, he hasn’t swayed from his routine for decades. And even during the pandemic, Buffett stuck with a similar schedule to maintain a sense of normalcy.

Warren Buffett

Net worth: $103.9 billion (as of 8/30/21)

Sleeps for eight hours, gets up at 6:45 a.m. dailyBreakfast and coffee at his local McDonald’s (yes, McDonald’s)At the office, a good part of the day is spent in meetings and readingAfter work, plays a vigorous game of bridge and practices the ukulele

 

The bottom line here is that successful leaders have routines that they rarely vary from, and it’s that repetition that keeps them in tip-top shape for the grind ahead.

Stick with what you know

When thinking about companies to invest in or stocks to purchase, Warren Buffett is attracted first to the companies and industries he knows. He calls it the “Circle of Competence.” Inside your Circle is where you’ll find the skills and knowledge you’ve obtained over the course of your career; the stuff you really know. Just outside that circle is anything you think you know but are not an expert in. Buffett encourages us to know our Circle of Competence and its boundaries. Be confident in what you know and be humble enough to admit what you don’t.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t strive to learn new things or try to expand your business into new products or services. Mr. Buffett just starts with what he knows and grows his knowledge from there.

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Proactive entrepreneurs don’t merely follow trends and fill niches. They also visualize and innovate and are careful not to simply copy what everyone else is doing.

It was Warren Buffett who came up with the idea of “the three I’s.” First come the innovators, who see opportunities that others don’t. Maybe it’s a product they’ve developed or a clever marketing campaign. The innovators are at the beginning of the success journey but depending on their next move will determine their longevity and success.

After the innovators, you find the imitators. Those who capitalize on success by duplicating what the innovators have done. Perhaps they change packaging or trade out a word or two in their messaging. The imitators sometimes find more success than the innovator simply because they observe what worked and what didn’t.

Finally, come the idiots, whose greed undoes the very innovations they are trying to use to get rich. Be fearful of people who are greedy. Don’t be the idiot. Don’t simply take someone else’s idea and knock it off; come up with your own innovation, your own insights and invest in yourself.

—

Warren Buffett’s principles have directly impacted the choices I’ve made in growing the Pure Romance business. I stick with a routine as best I can. I try to be self-aware and own what I know and embrace what I don’t. And I strive to be at the forefront of innovation, not the idiot who drags behind it. But the single most important lesson I’ve learned from Mr. Buffett, which I’ll also impart to you, is that “The most important investment you can make is in yourself.”

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4 Ways to Celebrate Women’s Equality Day

CHRIS
CICCHINELLI

My StoryBlogPodcastRise & GrindIn The NewsContactStoreThe Secret Is YOU Book Menu My StoryBlogPodcastRise & GrindIn The NewsContactStoreThe Secret Is YOU Book Facebook-f Twitter Youtube Linkedin Itunes-note Instagram 4 Ways to Celebrate Women’s Equality Day 1. Lead by Example! Become a mentor to someone who could benefit from your guidance and expertise.

As a successful entrepreneur there are many other women who can benefit from your knowledge. Own your role as a leader and make yourself available for those who are still seeking success and help them along their journey. Do you need advice and coaching? Reach out to someone you respect and admire and ask for mentorship. In the words of Patty, “you might be in business for yourself, but never by yourself.”

2. Celebrate your wins and the wins of the women around you.

Life is significantly more meaningful when you put time aside to celebrate your accomplishments and victories. It enhances your mental stability and makes achieving future goals much more satisfying. And when you recognize others, you are giving them a boost in self-confidence. Sometimes, a small gesture, like a shout out on social media, can go a long way for someone struggling. Today, remind a friend, relative, mentor how much they mean to you.

3. Be a part of the conversation, but don’t forget to listen.

Bring attention to Women’s Equality Day by talking about it in your conversations, social media posts, or other communications. Let’s extend this past just a day, it needs to be a constant conversation. Remind everyone what the day stands for and encourage others to share their stories. Do you know women who have struggled with feeling seen? Listen to their experiences and offer an empathetic ear.

4. Learn all you can about women’s issues and share your knowledge.

Becoming a student and staying a student is one of the most powerful tools in your kit. It’s also one of the best ways to stay relevant in timely conversations. Read books about women’s equality, women’s health, and other women’s issues. Learn about voter registration (and be sure you’re registered and actively participate in elections!). Listen to podcasts and ask others to share their knowledge. Gently teach and coach others on how they might be supportive.

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The Pumpkin Spice Latte – A Lesson in Exclusivity Marketing

On brew this week . . . the PSL. If you’re like me and Starbucks is part of your morning routine, you’ll know immediately that PSL stands for that coveted fall favorite, Pumpkin Spice Latte. That’s right, yesterday marked the autumnal return of Starbucks’ signature drink. It can be a polarizing flavor, but you cannot deny it still has popularity almost twenty years since its release date.

For inquiring minds, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is a coffee drink with warm flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and of course a hint of pumpkin. After finding success with other seasonal drinks like the Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog Latte, coffee giant Starbucks launched the drink in January of 2003. According to Wikipedia (yes, the PSL has its own Wikipedia page), “Starbucks sold more than 200 million Pumpkin Spice Lattes between its launch and 2013, generating revenue at a rate of at least $80 million a year in some seasons.” That’s a lot of coffee.

Perhaps the overnight success of the Pumpkin Spice Latte can be attributed to the LTO or Limited Time Offering of the drink. The scarcity of the PSL makes it that much more desired by fans once fall hits. After all, doesn’t absence make the heart grow fonder? By making the PSL available only in the fall months, Starbucks gives guests the feeling they’re attaining something exclusive and exciting when it finally hits the market.

Take McDonald’s McRib as another example. Using language like “Get a McRib before it’s too late,” the burger giant inconsistently and intermittently offers the McRib with the most recent national dry spell lasting from 2012 until 2020. Although McDonald’s has been tight lipped about their strategy, marketing experts theorize that the McRib comes and goes just like the consumer’s appeal for the sandwich wanes: sales diminish the longer the product stays on the menu. So, offering the McRib intermittently builds excitement for the fans and the sandwich disappears before it can become mundane again.

It all goes back to the consumer’s perception that if they don’t buy it now, they may not be able to buy it tomorrow. It builds an innate sense of urgency with consumers and because they are afraid to miss out, they buy.

When you build your own brand and feature your own products, building a sense of exclusivity is a strategic play. Think about what makes your product exclusive and highlight those aspects in your marketing.

At the end of the day, we need to figure out what makes these products so irresistible to consumers. Is it really the fact that they are only available for a limited time? Is it a need to have something now that might quickly disappear? I would suggest that these products and brands are coveted and consumed because of good marketing, not because they’re a trendy, timely or valuable purchase. Consumers encounter an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 ads every single day, so your marketing must be top-notch. Your challenge is to break through the noise of thousands of other commercials, social media posts, billboards and more. You have to think outside the box, get creative and come up with a message that resonates with your customers. Pay attention to what they pay attention to. Maybe you take a page from Starbucks and create a countdown to a product release. Maybe you imitate McDonald’s and bring back ‘retired’ items to delight loyal consumers. Your marketing plan must entice and excite your audience. Get them intrigued to see new products, impatient to wait and thirsty for more.

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Leaders as Learners

Recently, I started using a new wellness supplement. I was interested to try the product because of the benefits but more so because I want to be able to recommend this product to others. But before I can confidently recommend it, people need to be able to trust that I’ve tried it, too. A little thing called truth in marketing. Before I can teach others the benefits of a product, I first have to learn about it myself.

Being your own product tester goes back to the insight that people don’t buy products, they buy people. If you want people to buy products from you and become lifelong customers, you have to put the work in to build a relationship with them and gain their trust. If you haven’t personally tried the product you’re selling, your customers will hesitate to purchase from you. As an entrepreneur, you must be a pioneer and consumer of each product you sell. But, the work doesn’t stop there! It’s vital that you get the people in your inner circle on board. Encourage them to test out your products and to provide their honest opinions. These are the individuals that will serve as your walking and talking testimonials!

Product Intimidation

Something I often hear from entrepreneurs when presented with a new product is, “This product is outside of my wheelhouse! How am I supposed to sell this?” These are people who are afraid of failing, of being vulnerable, and frankly, they’re afraid of saying, “I don’t know.” Believe me – I get it. It can be challenging and time intensive to learn about new things, but it’s important to remain a constant student if you want to succeed. And remember, you will always have naysayers and people in the cheap seats ready to criticize your every move. Use that criticism as your fuel to keep going. After all, your decisions ultimately determine your destiny. You have one opportunity to make your business and reputation shine with each customer – don’t waste it.

Embrace the Unknown

When I think about people embracing the unknown, the first person who comes to mind is Pure Romance Partner, Bethany Ott. You see, Bethany grew up in a conservative household. Her father was a preacher, and she had fears about attending her first Pure Romance party. After encouragement from her sister, she attended that party and realized that all of her fears and hesitations were unwarranted. While the party’s Partner used humor to market and sell products, Bethany started to see herself in her shoes. And where is Bethany now? Well, nine years later, she has used her own humor as a way to educate herself on Pure Romance and embrace the world of sexual wellness. She’s gone from living in a trailer to owning a house and a rental property. Best of all, she’s built lifelong and trustworthy relationships with her team and her customers. She’s found her version of physical wellness, losing 100 pounds since starting her business. She’s one of Pure Romance’s top Partners with a thriving and growing team. Bethany exemplifies what it means to embrace the unknown, learn new things, and become an expert.

Learning is an integral part of being a good leader. You have to be a role model for your team and show them you’re willing to learn so they’re inspired to follow your lead. Evolve so they’ll evolve. But, don’t just tell your team how to evolve – show them exactly how you’re evolving, and your success will encourage them to follow. At the end of the day, being the best entrepreneur is all about embracing being uncomfortable. You have to be willing to get in front of change, not behind it. Play to be revolutionary, not ordinary. Be mindful of the need for change and look for it as a way to rejuvenate your business.

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The Authority on Women’s Wellness

A Blog for Pure Romance Partners

This past weekend, Pure Romance successfully executed our first in-person, large-scale event in over two years. National Training is a time for our sales force to come together to learn new techniques, ask questions and most importantly, network with like-minded business owners.

We welcomed over 2,000 of our Partners to Cincinnati for an experience unlike any they’ve experienced in our two-decade history. Partners in attendance were given the first look of the NEW Pure Romance and got a glimpse of what our future will be.

Plotting our future was thanks, in part, to the global pandemic. In 2020, the world was forced to navigate the most profound disruption in modern history. It was in those initial days of uncertainty when we, at Pure Romance, were forced to stop. This pause allowed us to dive deeper than ever before, to question everything that we knew to be true, and to decide if the path we were on was the path that we wanted to pursue in the future.

Through this time of reflection and discovery, we did an in-depth assessment of all things Pure Romance. And on the other side, we discovered the reason for us — for what we do and why it matters. We discovered something we already knew to be true. That Pure Romance has become the authority for women’s wellness.

So, what makes us the authority? For more than two decades, women have shared their most intimate thoughts, secrets, and shortfalls with us. They’ve trusted us to assist them in finding their most liberated and best selves. So, at our core, we have always been the authority in women’s wellness.

As we recognized our title of authority for women’s wellness, we realized we need to support this all-encompassing role with a clear, concise directive, staying true to our mission to enhance women’s health, specifically sexual health, and never forgetting where we started. We worked with industry experts to elevate our brand to encompass our newly learned insights. At National Training, we shared more than just everyday business updates, we shared an entire new house of brands. And now that National Training has concluded, many Partners asking: where do I go from? With all of this newfound knowledge, new branding, new products, what on earth is my next step?

But here’s the secret: you’ve already been doing the work. Remember the most important motto in sales: people buy people. People buy stories. People buy you. How you present your knowledge of your products when trying to make the sale is as important as the quality of the goods being sold—because at every step of the sales journey, what you’re really selling is yourself.

So as a first, critical step, be sure you are exploring the new branding, the new products and offerings. Don’t just plan to sell the product, utilize it, too. Think about what wellness means to you and be prepared to share your personal experiences with your customers. Because the wellness journey has to start with you. By going through your own transformational journey, you’ll further prove yourself to be the authority on wellness and ensure customers will trust what you have to say.

Your typical tasks haven’t changed. Make sure you host parties, plan events and team meetings. Onboard your new team members and build their confidence.

When considering strategy for new the product launches, make sure you look at people who have bought in that category in the past. Consider, who will be your super users and testers?

But most importantly, don’t stop listening to her. Listen to your customers needs and wants and be there to provide the best products and services to fulfill her. You will be there to help women feel their most alive — from the moment they wake up to the moment they slip into their sheets at night.

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