Why Not You?

For years I would find myself at the casino at the beginning of the night thinking maybe, just maybe I would win big. After all, the last 20 times I went to a casino, I didn't win....something had to give and I was for sure going to win this time. Weird....I never won big. That really sucks! I wonder how much money I've thrown into machines at casinos and got nothing in return? Actually, I would rather never know that number to refrain from being physically sick.

I'm typically a very optimistic person. I am more of a glass half full instead of half empty kind of person and I always look on the bright side. Life is far too short to be anything but optimistic and positive. When I joined It Works in January 2014, I went into it with a positive outlook. I really just wanted to make a little money back on what I was already spending as customer. Maybe make enough to cover the cost of daycare, but that was it. And besides, if I tried it and failed- who cares?! I had just gotten a nice promotion at work a few months earlier so I was happy with that and while I knew the extra money would be helpful and make me feel more at ease, it wasn't that necessary. I remember the day that Beth text me and said, "hey, you have three months to get diamond and you earn $10,000!" You would think that amount of money would excite me a little...but it didn't because like the casino, I didn't think I would get it anyways. That is where I was wrong.

Earning that $10,000 wasn't a gamble. It wasn't by luck. It wasn't because I was at the right place at the right time. Earning that $10,000 was totally and completely because I made it happen. Not only did I make that happen, but I made it happen again two months later by promoting to double diamond and earning another $15,000.

So here is my question to you....why not you?  Why couldn't you be the next person to earn that same bonus as I did? I assure you that I am a real person. I have a job. I have a family. I have a house and a dog. I do not have a degree in multi-level marketing, sales, or entrepreneurship. I am not an expert and I would never claim to be. But that's the thing....you don't have to be an expert. All you need is a goal, a vision, and a path on how you want to get there and it's yours.

So who is next? Who is going to step out of their comfort zone and have their picture here by mine? Don't let your fears hold you back.  After all, the only thing stopping you, is you.

Follow your dreams, 

April

Thoughts From Cruising Altitude

Whenever I fly, I look forward to the time away from real life; to being thousands of miles in the sky with no communication to the hustle of everyday life on the ground.  There is something so exhilarating about being in the sky amongst the clouds and what feels like so close to the sun.  As children we are taught that heaven can be found in the sky way above the clouds, so being above those clouds naturally makes me feel close to those who have gone before me and that alone gives me a feeling of peace.

Flying to San Diego last week was no different but the clouds that we passed through triggered me into a deep thought about being content.  For the past few months I have felt so content in life. I feel like I am doing what I was meant to do on this Earth and I am trusting God's plan for me. I have found a dream that I am pursing and will continue to pursue, because it just feels right. That doesn’t mean, however, that those dreams will come easy and without resistance. These are the thoughts that went through my mind when we were passing through these clouds on my way out west. Though these clouds were obstacles in the path of this flight and the turbulence disturbed its journey, there was still beauty in resistance and everything came out alright. This analogy aligns perfectly with the experiences I am running into while chasing my dreams.

"There is no telling how many miles you’ll run while chasing your dreams…just keep running. - April Larson, Double Diamond- It Works Global

“All our Dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

Peace and Love,

April

Flashbacks to Last October

Did you know that last year at this time Josh and I were facing a harsh reality that I wish no one would ever have to face? Not many people know this because we didn't talk about it, but now that it is all in the past, I don't mind sharing.

Mid-August of last year, Josh, Bray, and I had just moved into a brand new house that we custom built. Our first mortgage payment wasn't due until October 1 so we had almost 6 weeks of no mortgage. I was thankful for that because we had to furnish what we had just built! But get this, just two weeks before that first payment was due, Josh called me in the middle of  a work day and said he no longer had a job. The company he was with for four years shut their doors and he was out a job. Are you kidding me?! Shock. That was all I could feel. How were we going to pay for this house, and afford all of our bills, and daycare, and everything else that is necessary to live and take care of a two year old?! After a few weeks of trying to come up with a plan, he was able to start working for a few months before he returned to school to get another degree. He had GI Bill money left from being in the military so he wanted to use it and further his education so we would not be in this situation ever again.

The reason I tell this story now is because last October, It Works Global was a foreign name to me. I had never even heard of the company and had no interest in MLM companies anyways.  Little did I know that in just one year the name It Works Global would be something so dear to my heart. A year ago was tough and I never want to experience something like that again. So when this company was presented to me in January, I kept thinking back to that time where we felt so vulnerable and helpless. The final push I needed to say 'yes' to this company was Josh telling me, "go for it, what do you have to lose?" Those words have stuck with me. He was right, what did I have to lose? Nothing. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain and had I not gone forward with that mindset, I would not be where I am today.

Time keeps ticking and it's now October once again, one year after this horrible experience. I am so incredibly grateful for what I have achieved this past year. I said yes to something that I was terrified of and actually intimidated by. Last October I was making $0 a month with this company, and would have been thrilled with just a couple hundred extra dollars each month to help pay my bills. This October I am sitting at Double Diamond rank with this company making an average of $6,000 each month and pushing full-force to promote to Triple Diamond. Guess what guys....I am a real person. I have a full time job that I am at 5 days a week. I have a 3 year old, a husband, a house, a family, friends, co-workers, good times, and bad times....just like you. I am no different than anyone else so when people say "I'm not good at things like that" my response is, "says who?" YOU can be good at whatever YOU set your heart to.

Moral of the story. Never settle for less. Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. Taking our experience last fall and knowing that I do not fear for the future like I did back then is reason enough for me to put my heart and soul into this company. We have come so far in just one year....imagine what one more year will bring.

Peace and Love,

April