Beyond My Dreams: The Avon Opportunity by: Lisa Wilber When I joined Avon in 1981 at age 18, I was living on Guam, newly married to a Navy sailor and struggling to be a grown up on foreign soil. I couldn’t have imagined how important Avon would become in my life. That marriage didn’t last, nor did living on Guam or Mississippi or South Carolina or my second marriage. What did last was my love of Avon and my ability to use my Avon business to see me through personal challenges. When I first joined Avon, I needed to earn income on an island where I had no family or friends, and where I was the only American wife in my husband’s unit. I had no skills and there was a lot of competition from other military wives for the few cashier and waitress jobs available. I did waitress and cashier, but I also wrote to Avon and purchased my starter kit. I did fairly well at first, but what I remember most from the early days was how it felt like Christmas whenever my order arrived. When I read about the company and traditions, I wanted to be part of the “Avon Family.” While still on Guam, I earned my first Mrs. Albee figurine, a sales achievement award named for the first “Avon Lady.” I was a success! However, my prized “Mrs. Albee” had to be sold along with most of my possessions when I moved to Mississippi after my marriage ended. Once again, I was somewhere I had never been – no family, no friends – but I had Avon. My Avon sales helped me through tough years, including my lowest point in Charleston, SC when I had to save three months wages working at a convenience store from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. in order to have my electricity turned on. It wasn’t until I moved to New Hampshire that I found a job as a secretary that would pay the rent and utilities, plus medical, dental and a 401K. I continued my Avon business on the side, but never thought of it as a career. Then came the recession in 1987, and my department was laid off. When I couldn’t find another secretarial job, I focused on Avon more seriously –out of desperation, not inspiration. Earning my first incentive trip with Avon changed the course of my business and ultimately my life. When I met the other Avon Sales Representatives, I realized a full-time Avon business was possible and possible for ME – because the people I met on the trip were regular folks, just like me. That changed everything. I’ve been working on my Avon business fulltime for 25 years, with earnings since 1993 through the “Avon Leadership” program that I could never have dreamed of and earning so many fabulous trips I have lost count! I have been a Senior Executive Unit Leader almost the entire time, and I currently have 1,877 active representatives in 36 states on my team. I am famous for my “Avonized” Dodge Caliber, and I built my dream home – a big step for someone who once lived in a trailer. My earnings and flexibility allowed me to adopt an infant daughter as a single mom, now my beautiful 7-year old Lydia. And I have grown confident, strong and happy – traits I am proud to teach my daughter. I share my experience with others as a professional speaker and author, and even have my own radio show called “Net-Work$ with Lisa Wilber.” If you had told my 18-year-old self back on Guam that I would be doing this, I would have laughed. But I also feel like my journey in many ways has just begun. I may be one of the most recognized Avon Sales Representatives, but I am on a mission to prove that every woman can succeed as long as they believe in themselves and believe their circumstances don’t determine their future: they do. Editor’s Note: The Avon Sales Representative is the heart and soul of our business – the “flywheel” that makes the engine run. In short, the Sales Representative IS the company. We are proud to share the personal stories of some of these 6 million inspirational women – and men – in more than 100 countries who every day make a difference to the company and in their own lives.
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 06:45:56 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015