I feel so invigorated, refueled, and grateful I just have to share it with you! Last Saturday evening, we concluded one of the best events Close To My Heart has ever hosted: our 2009 Leadership Conference. There were a number of things that made this conference extraordinary. First, I absolutely love the opportunity to spend time with Consultants. I FEEL your love, your joy and optimism every moment we are together. Thank you for embracing the new products and programs we introduced, and thank you for sharing your stories and your successes. It is an honor for me!
Next, have you heard the news about Studio J? It’s our 100% exclusive, completely proprietary online design software that is going to take scrapbooking places it’s never been before! I had the privilege of introducing Studio J in our Friday morning general session. The session had already been packed with great new product unveilings, from our new Snapease album system to our beautifully updated organizational pieces. As I began to talk about Studio J, I could see each attendee’s face focused on the stage. My heart began beating faster. My palms got a little sweaty. I was SO excited, I was struggling just to stay vertical! There was a moment there when I thought I was going to pass out with sheer enthusiasm! I couldn’t get the word out fast enough. (My unending thanks to a Consultant on the front row who jumped up and switched on a fan—finally, some air!) 
By the end of the conference, each Consultant knew what I was so eager to share: Studio J is free online design software that helps you preserve your favorite photos and memories in minutes—delivered in custom-printed two-page layouts ready for your cherished album. Layouts are very competitively priced, and best of all, they use our exclusive patterns from Cherish and Imagine, our fabulous My Reflections kit designs, and our exclusive 60-color palette, for easy coordination. I can’t wait for you all to experience Studio J as I have; you’re going to love it! (this is a sample page from Studio J)
And just in case you’re wondering: I will forever be a “classic” scrapbooker, working with our beautiful papers, embellishments, and amazing stamps. I often say that as long as people are born with hands, they will use them to create. I BELIEVE that completely and I’m so excited for the future of Close To My Heart, which now offers the best of both worlds, “classic” and “studio” scrapbooks so we can all preserve our memories faster, simpler, and easier!
The event was jam-packed with business classes on everything from how to leverage our awesome compensation plan to learning how to use Studio J—so fun and easy! (If you’re a Consultant, I invite you to log in to the corporate site to read all the Leadership recaps and learn more about Studio J. And whether you’re a Consultant or a customer—or hope to be!—visit www.studioj.com today to get a taste of what’s coming!) Friday evening, our Directors enjoyed an escape to the happiest place on earth: dinner at Disney, with a Twilight pass included so they could stay and savor the park.
The culminating highlight of the event for me was our awards ceremony. I always love this annual event, because it gives us an opportunity to truly celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of people across the company who work hard, love what they do, and genuinely support each other. I clapped until my hands hurt and cheered until my voice was gravelly. The end of the evening is when we award our Rising Star and Spirit of Close To My Heart awards. This year’s Rising Star winners are Barbara Otten, Linda Haapala, and Lori Leng—each one of them has been with Close To My Heart only a short time, but they’ve already made a big impact. Cheers to the three of you, and congratulations on your well-deserved award!
It was my exceptional privilege to present the Spirit of Close To My Heart award to long-time leader and forever friend Bren Yule. This amazing Director has been with the company for more than 18 years and touches, inspires, and remembers each person she meets.
As I was introducing the award from stage, I saw Bren’s face in the audience. I felt my throat tighten with love and gratitude and could barely speak. When we announced her as the winner, the look of surprise she wore was priceless: she had been eager to cheer and support the winner… clearly never imagining that it would be her! Tears sprang to my eyes as Bren’s family took the stage and her daughter Danielle spoke with gratitude for her mother’s constant presence while they were kids, and how happy she was for the blessings Close To My Heart had provided. It was a moment of pure joy—it’s the wish I have for every Consultant at Close To My Heart: friendship, support, creativity, financial freedom, all while preserving family time and building the relationships most important to them.
It was an amazing weekend and I’m already looking forward to our next annual event: Convention in Washington D.C., July 8-10. I hope to see YOU there!
Stay tuned for more great photos from Leadership 2009!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Here’s To Learning, Life, and a Fabulous Leadership Experience!
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Oh, how I wish I was there. I will be in D.C.! Thanks for an awesome blog!
ReplyDeleteJeanette...Wow!!! All I can say is just fantabulous for posting this. Not only could I not contain myself regarding Studio J, I came back home and contacted every in-active consultant I had, along with those that are active. What a welcoming and overwhelming positive feedback I received. It just wasn't Studio J, it was Dollars to DC, the improved delightful enhancements made to our "Basic" Kits for the GWOTG, AMP, & so much more that has everyone jumping up & down.
ReplyDeleteEven the consultant JTD'ers posted on the feed from the bulletin about the Dollars to DC. Filling up so fast!!! Coupled with your blog sharing about Leadership...this excitement is contagious and long lasting. I don't know if I can wait that long but I do know this is motivation for all of us that is just...WOW!!!
Having that said I know we were going to wait to share Studio J until September 1st for the preview to customers for updates. So when I saw that you could not contain your excitement in posting such an incredible addition to our "Classic" line with the new upcoming "Studio" line I just have to go back and blog about it myself this morning.
The Leadership conference has truly touched my heart. You & our wonderful team of many consultants, corporate members in attendance and those who manned the home office for those who were unable to attend. I just can't thank everyone enough!!!
When you posted the pictures of Bren...my heart jumped once again as tears swell up, since my eyes were so swollen of JOY for her much deserved Spirit of Close To My Heart award even that night, still evokes the same emotion of gratitude and deep appreciation towards her at this moment.
My newsletter that I had written and sent yesterday to my team and my customers was launched prior to you're post. I dedicated a section within it for what your exact words and hope for all of us, I wrote without even knowing what you were going to put onto your blog. Just because I listened so intently when I had time with you and felt your love, compassion, future dreams for our company and what we have to offer. Just amazing how you eloquently expressed it in this post.
I want you to know that being able to bring my husband with me at this first ever event for him, was something that was just priceless in every way imaginable. He has supported my attendance to every event which this was my 6th CTMH event since becoming a consultant in 2007! He has stood by me so supportively no matter what choices I made with my business.
From the moment I walked away each day from Leadership and even today he stands by me and is encouraging me on my journey. In fact, he said to me yesturday "Honey it is hard enough for you to recruit but even harder to create excitement and bring up those that dropped on you're team. That is even harder to do and I'm proud of you." Then he proceeded with a barrage of questions asking: Did you contact you're customers about the Operation Smiles Open House yet? Did you take time for a power hour today? Did you go to training academy to redo the classes? How are you going to market this during these next couple of weeks before launch? How can I help YOU? This last question brought tears in my eyes as I jumped up into his arms and all I could say is "I love you and I can't thank you enough for being in my life."
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! No words can describe what going to this Leadership conference has done for US, in so many ways. He felt the love, adoration, you're heartfelt support and realized I was not just a consultant for a big company that you get to take a photo with the CEO and that is it (like many out there) but that YOU truly do care! I'm not sure exactly what it was that you said to him...as I was caught up in the moment, but whatever you said I know you spoke from your heart and you also touched his.
From Our Family and the depths of our hearts...Thank You!!!
Just love to read your blog and this posting about the event and Bren with her award is beyond smiles and joy.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could join you all there. Now just looking forward the 2010 DC event!
Best of wishes!
I cant wait to try Studio J! I was sitting on the fence about ProPay and know am very glad I went ahead with it. Phew! Now all my customers can get Studio J with me!
ReplyDeletethanks Jeannette