At 56 years old, I now have the most profitable and rewarding business I could ever imagine!
I was 29 years old with two small children when the first symptoms of fibromyalgia began to ravage my body. The disease has no cure, but I began my own campaign to find the right doctors and the right combination of medicines, vitamins, and diet to cope with this debilitating muscle disorder. But I didn't get to where I am overnight; nor did I accomplish what I've accomplished without the help of others.
It was while battling fibromyalgia that I began to use and develop my God-given talents. I quickly discovered my real skill, and future, lay in creating uniquely lovely wreaths and other florals. That boosted my confidence and gave me the determination to try other venues.
In 1990, I took a big leap and bought an upscale silk florist in my hometown. I worked hard, but loved it.
After years of ups and downs, and several business downsizing, my body just could not do it any more. It seemed as though I had no other choice but to close my business. Roadblocks were at every turn, and my muscles got so bad that for about three years I could not stand at my counter to make even one wreath.
About that time, we were building a new home. My husband and I agreed that having a nice sized shop right across the breezeway would enable me to do those things that I love most in this world. I could not give in to this awful disease.
Throughout all of this, I felt God was leading me on His path, not mine. I began to know in my heart that His plan for me was definitely, positively much better than any plan that I could come up with for myself.
Closing my store was in this plan, although I didn't give in easily. My illness was His will directing me to what I needed to do with my life. My talent came directly from God, but I had to learn what to do with it.
All this while, my Chiropractor and friend, Harvey Garcia, whom I see three days a week, really encouraged me to try selling outside of Anderson - on eBay, and on the Internet. Getting pep talks when I was down and lots of encouragement, I began designing again. He had to do a lot of talking to convince me that this was something I should try.
About this same time, I found out that I had Celiac disease, an allergy to gluten and wheat products. I began to believe I had other food allergies that I never knew about. As I weaned myself off wheat, soy, sugar, dairy products, and canned/processed foods, I replaced those with an enormous appetite for eBay.
I don't know which was harder - beginning a very strict diet and leaving off foods I've eaten my whole life, or dusting off my computer skills and jumping into eBay and the Internet with both feet! But with the Lord's help, I did it. Each day that passed, I was a little stronger, and could now stand in my shop and maybe make one wreath a day. When I wasn't in my shop, I was sitting at my computer reading, and I read more, and more, and more.
I read one particular e-book by Jim Cockrum,"The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay" over and over. As I read these terms, sentences, and pages over again and again, it started to make sense. I KNEW, I just absolutely KNEW that this was where God was leading me and this was what he was leading me to do.
As the diet began working more, so did my mind, and my body, and my hands. I lost seventy pounds and counting! Now making wreaths again, I could list them on eBay. I could learn these new computer programs and I could grow. br />
I became a powerseller on eBay in just a few short months making more than I ever did at my old business. I now have four employees who work with me in my shop at home - two of these being my special daughers-in-law, Sara & Stephanie, along with a dear friend Shirley, along with her daughter, Elizabeth.
My computer expert, John, is here quite often working to keep all of my computers running at full speed ahead!
I now offer 4 e-books on wreath design and 10 videos on floral design. We have had so much filming these new videos...they are on subjects such as bow making, wreath making, centerpieces for fall and Christmas, and a two foot Table Decorated Table Christmas Tree! The feedback on these videos has been absolutely astounding!
I am using Jim Cockrum's marketing strategies to sell these on the Internet, and am now introducing them into a totally new area for me, and that is retail stores. I can really use your good thoughts and prayers as we go through the proposal processes. As you can imagine, this is lots of work, but I am thrilled beyond words to even be abele to travel on this path. There are many new videos excerpts and samples on YouTube under the name of LadybugWreaths.
I have a new and improved website which is growing daily with many new friends and customers!
My website is http://www.ladybugwreaths.com
Wishing you wonderful days filled with many blossoms! Smiles.... Nancy
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This member's top-ranked page is "I Have Very Popular Wreath Designs and a Very Distinctive Style: With My Best Selling E-books and My New Wreath Making Video, Let Me Teach you The Art of Wreath Design! Or You Can Purchase One of My Custom Wreaths Made Just For You!".
