Welcome

Nothing to Say, But Can't Shut Up - haha! That's what I thought I should call my blog! What I write here might not mean a thing to you and I'm pretty o.k. with that. However, I have an active mind and like to sort things out out loud, so to speak. I also like to have deep conversations so feel free to jump in and comment. I'm glad you showed up and took the time to read. Welcome!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Cycling and LIFE

Because I know you want to know.... These are more lessons learned while biking on some trippy hills that I think apply to (at least my) life. 



  1. Don't wait too long to get back on the bike. The longer you put off doing the thing you don't want to do, the harder it is to do when you finally decide to do it. Got it?
  2. Sometimes you don't know you're climbing a hill until you turn around. You know it's hard. You know you need more steam. But, sometimes you just don't realize what's really going on. You think YOU'RE the problem when actually it's just the way the ride is. Then you turn around and discover it's easier. TA-DA.
  3. If a slope is too steep, you can reduce the climb by going across the hill. Kind of like, "How do you eat an elephant? Bite by bite.". Taking a major challenge and breaking it down into manageable chunks makes it.. well, manageable. Ponder, friends, ponder.
  4. The longer you coast, the harder the hill when it comes... Be mindful of letting things be too easy for too long. Keep some challenge going.
  5. Get the hard stuff done first. Saving those big hills to the very end only make it more difficult cause you're already tired. Get 'em done and feel good about it.
  6. Sometimes it's better/easier to go ahead and push harder a few times than go round and round a ton of times in a low gear. I get the temptation but you can wear out your mental muscle and physical muscles w/ lots of repetitions that don't offer much progress. Push a little harder and get there!
  7. Don't go near the house until you're ready to quit. Do I need to elaborate here?
  8. Get your ride done and coast the downhill home. No shame. Work hard in the beginning and enjoy the fruit of your labor. I am learning more and more about this.
  9. The lake is waiting to cool you off. It's really #8 again!
  10. Do it again soon! If you wait too long, you're likely to forget you can even do it. Get back on that horse...er, bike... and ride it like a champion!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM (All About Pink)



I'm going to lay out the basic facts, plain and simple, for those of you who are curious about how to begin your own Mary Kay business and perhaps a little leery of making that known. I know how you feel. I felt that way, too, once. 

First of all, I'd like you to know, it's a trustworthy company. We have a lot of rah-rah-rah and a lot of fun, but that's for motivation and inspiration ... and FUN! Who couldn't use more of that?! LOL

  1. Money - Everyone I know can use a little more $$$. There are no promises as to how much more you can make. That's up to you.
  2. Recognition - Some people just need to hear a "Well Done!" now and then - wear a sash, a crown, jewelry. Our prizes include all sorts of things, including diamonds!
  3. Self-confidence - How wonderful to hear and begin to believe that YOU CAN DO IT! Even very shy people grow and develop in this area.
  4. Flexibility - Few jobs are out there that will allow you to work on YOUR schedule. In this economy, most of us need more money but have little extra time. This home business is the answer.
  5. Car - High achiever? Earn the use of a car paid for by the company and 85% of your insurance. Why not?! Current cars: Malibu, Equinox, Camry, Mustang, PINK Cadillac
  6. Achievement - The company does not set limits on how far you can go. You meet the requirements, you advance. Period.
  7. Be your own boss - No one is "in charge" of you - it's YOUR business. Directors are there to guide, encourage and challenge you as you learn the ropes, but no one calls the shots except you.
Starting a Mary Kay business of your own requires the purchase of a Starter Kit ($100). You are recruited by another consultant and become part of her team and her director's unit. 

Step 2 is deciding how much $ you're going to try to make and how much time you are willing to invest. This will help you decide how much inventory to purchase. The more $ you want to make, the more you'll benefit from a large inventory. Your recruiter's director can help advise you here depending on your desires and financial ability. No large inventory purchase is required. 

You earn 50% commission on each sale. Active consultants purchase product from the company at a 50% discount and then sell at retail price. Simple.

There are no territory limits except what is governed by international agreements and regulations. You can establish customers all over the U.S. regardless of where you live. 

There are no party quotas or sales quotas. The more parties you hold the more money you are likely to make but parties are not required to be able to order from the company nor are you required to report parties (except for prizes and contests). 

Risk is limited! The company has a 90% buyback policy for your first year of business. This is why many take out a small loan, purchase a large inventory and set themselves up for great success... they know that if they change their mind, the company will buy back the unused product. Awesome.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1) If failure was not an option, what would I do?
2) What personality traits do I possess that will make me successful?
3) Where do I see myself in 5 years if I do nothing?
4) Where will I be in 5 years when I succeed at this?
5) What do I have to lose by trying?

THAT'S THE BASICS!  I'll be happy to answer any individual questions. Email me at sredmond2@marykay.com . You can check out individual stories on my website www.marykay.com/sredmond2 . Check out my blog on my recent decision to go all pink (give up my other job!). If you schedule a personal interview with me (phone, skype, in person), you will get one item from the catalog 40% off and go into a drawing for a designer handbag. Is there any reason you can't spend 20 minutes with me and get something great for yourself at an awesome discount? 


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

I Don't Wanna!

Wow. It is absolutely one of those days. Not the everything-is-going-wrong kind of days. That might've been the day when my daughter was driving in 100+ degree weather on a very long trip and her A/C went out triggering the idea that we might have to buy a "new" car AND my son was in VA trying to get to Army camp in WA in the same 100+ degree weather and virtually the whole city was out of power... for a week... AND soon after our A/C in the house went kaput (and still isn't right) triggering the idea that we might have to pay more $ for the cool air than we paid last week. No, it's not that kind of day. 


It's the I-can't-seem-to-get-my-buttarski-in-gear kind of day. These frustrate me to no end. I know what I need to do and just can't seem to get myself to do it (just thought of Paul in Romans 7 and am a little comforted). Oh my goodness, I can think of a million things not to do while I'm not doing what I need to do!


ugh. I have done some important things - like my Bible reading and my Bible study - but yeah that's really it. I know. I know. We're not supposed to admit things like this. I just feel like if I don't come clean I'm going to sit around the rest of the day! And here's the thing, the more I sit around the more blah I get! It irritates the heck out of me!!


I've also been to the Storage Unit and found the flowers I needed and put together the centerpieces for tonight. BUT what I NEED to do is exercise! There it is. Right there. I need to exercise. It's not that I don't like to exercise; I do. I love rising to the challenge and conquering it. So what's the problem? I DON'T KNOW.


Is it having 2 kids, both adults, home today and hanging around? Maybe. Is it a feeling of being overwhelmed? Maybe. All I know is once this starts it doesn't get better until I do what I'm putting off. SO, I don't want to do it - but I don't want to do what I'm doing either. I want to finish my day feeling good about what I've done so I WILL get up and do the right thing. I know it will get everything else going and I'll end up being much more productive in general. So there you have it. I've procrastinated by writing this blog long enough.