It's not a job... it's my home and family!

I wrote the letter below to my triathlon coach who has since become my business coach and my performance nutrition coach but more importantly, one of my closest friends I am privileged to know. I'll leave the rest for you to read...

I need to thank you Steve for something even greater than introducing me to the most amazing super nutrition in the world. I’ve experienced great results using it but I’ve experienced something even greater that I never expected.

You introduced me by way of the products to the people, the culture that make up this company. It’s a community of people I get to call my friends whom I love tremendously. They make me smile and laugh, they elevate and inspire me, they challenge me to dream even bigger than I risk dreaming, and they want to help me turn my dreams into reality.

I spent quite a number of years working for big corporations and I always dreaded the performance reviews. No matter what I did through the periods leading up to it, no matter how many extra unpaid hours, the personal training that I paid for out of pocket, and no matter how much I bent over backwards, fault was always found by my superiors. The focus was never on my strengths or what I did to help make an impact. I dreaded being asked to identify my year and beyond goals because whenever I spoke from the heart that I wanted to be in upper management or even the CEO, I was told “perhaps you should rethink that goal. A better goal for you would be to learn a new skill using Excel.” I gave up on sharing my goals; I gave up on myself and believed that I would never amount to very much. I was told that I should be grateful just to have a job.

But at a recent company event that I attended, I was asked by several people- some of them not even on the team I belong to who have no financial ties to me whatsoever- to share my 30, 60, and 90 day goals along with my 1 year and 5 year goals. Each time I heard back the same remark: “is that all? How much bigger can you dream and set your goals?” Then they genuinely told me: “I’m here whenever you need me. Let me know how I can help you get there.” Seriously? People who care about me and my dreams? People who believe and see so much more than I can see because I gave up on myself years ago? From them it was genuine, from the heart, nothing for them to gain, and in pure unselfish servanthood- the heart of what this company is.

I will have wall-kicking moments but I can never leave this. I simply won’t. I waited and prayed for so long and practically gave up on ever finding a place where I am valued for who I am and where my gifts are nurtured to be used so that I can shine as I head towards and reach my goals of health and financial freedom and security. I’ve dreamt of a place where I can stop looking over my shoulder or guarding my back from all the backstabbing or flying daggers as people do everything to destroy me so that they could rise above. I dreamt of a place where people genuinely care about each other and care about what they do. Utopia? That’s what I thought until you gifted me with sharing the products and as a result the community surrounding it.

You lead by example Steve and I appreciate how much time and energy you keep investing in me. I will pay it forward. You and so many others have shown me that there are people out there- and they are in the company that we are part of- who genuinely believe and elevate one another. No one’s goals or dreams are too grandiose. If anything, they’re not big enough.

You opened me up to a radically different life trajectory and I am forever grateful. I’m finally home.

Valerie

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