I think we all have an opportunity, with every meeting of every person we meet, to impact them. It's our choice if we decide to be a positive influence on their day. 

As I look back on my life, I know that every experience I have had in my 35 years has shaped who I am in some way. As I think back about my experiences with direct sales, my first one was very positive, and I like to think that had an impact on how I view what direct selling can be, and how it can positively impact someone's life. I use my business as an opportunity to positively impact everyone I meet by spreading happiness and joy and light heartedness in our heavy, busy world.

As a graduate student I was a personal care attendant for a family in St Paul who have a son with autism. I love that kid. I spent most of my evenings after class at their home, until he went to bed, then I would take off and study the rest of the night. They treated me like I was a member of their family, which meant the world; they fed me home cooked suppers.. and man could she could cook. I always admired how she would find a recipe in her cookbooks and then serve that to her family. I ate food I never had before, delicious salads, seasoned and grilled meats, spices and veggies. After watching her cook, and enjoying her meals, I secretly made it my mission to learn how to cook. I wanted so badly to know what certain spices tasted like, and how to use each one to really increase the flavor of the dishes I was making. I wanted to cook vegetables and healthy food that tasted good. All of these experiences ignited this passion for good food. 

But, this post isn't about food, its actually about jewelry. K (the mom) was part of a book club, and once a month she gathered with her girlfriends in the evening, snacking and chatting and sipping on wine. One night as I was watching their son, K hosted a Silpada party. I didn’t know what that was, but I caught glimpses of them setting up the tables of beautiful silver jewelry and I was intrigued. I admired the necklaces and dangly earrings as we walked by, but knew they were out of my price range. I got the little man to bed that night and came downstairs, ready to leave for the night to go study. As I was getting ready, K asked if I wanted to stay. I felt so out of place. An overweight graduate student from small town Iowa who was living on student loans and driving a ford focus her mom gave her.  I was just getting by. But despite being out of place, I stayed. I admired the jewelry. I loved it all. But there was one necklace, a small delicate silver necklace with a plus sign. It was one of the least expensive items there, and I still could not afford it. I kept going back to it, trying it on, taking it off, debating if I could actually afford it (I couldn't). I decided it was best that I didn't buy it. 

But guess what? K was watching me. She saw how much I liked it. And she bought it for me. This was one of the nicest things someone has ever done for me. Something so simple, yet very significant. I wore that necklace every day. I loved it. 

So let this be a lesson: The positive impact doesn't have to cost you money. It can be a smile, a hug, a text, saying "Hey thinking about you!" or a card in the mail. It doesn’t matter what it is, or how you do it, just go make a positive impact in someone’s life today.