Picture this. I’m a newish twin mom, struggling to afford double the diapers, childcare costs, and all the other expenses that go with home ownership and motherhood. The financial gap we have from me working part time instead of full time to ease childcare costs is starting to show in credit card balances, and emergency fund depletion. This is how children’s books changed my life……
A little over a year ago, as we were planning for Christmas, and working to avoid spending money on gifts (1 year olds don’t know if you got them presents), I found Usborne. It started at the library where we took out a copy of That’s Not My Owl, and my daughter had to read it 10 times a day and kiss the baby owls on the last page every time. There was something special about these books, so I set out to find someone to help me get some for free to avoid spending money on Christmas presents.
How Children’s Books Changed My Life
I want to share with you how I found something I didn’t know I was looking for. Before this, I never could have imagined myself in direct sales, or doing another profession besides my love for physical therapy. These books jumped into my life at a time where I needed them in more ways than one. I can honestly say that the path I’m on now is totally different than I expected, since I only thought I would try this gig for 6 months before giving up. I’m proud to say I’m now 15 months in, and not going anywhere.
Maybe you’re thinking about joining Usborne, but aren’t sure if you’ll see the benefit, maybe you want to know what the possibilities are, to clear your head before diving in. I think you’ll see that books really did change my life, and continue to do so. I’m confident that if you want them to change yours, you can make it happen too.
Free Books
Free Books was the biggest perk that drew me to UBAM. Money was tight for our twins’ first Christmas, and I knew they wouldn’t know what or how many presents we got them. We were planning to wrap up some necessities, like bowls and spoons, clothes, even a few toys we already had. I knew I really wanted a few new books, so I set off to find an Usborne consultant to throw me a party so I could earn some for free. During my party, I started thinking that maybe this was something I could do. I imagined all the free books I could earn with my new job.
Guess what? I earned over $700 in FREE books in my first 12 weeks with the company! Some I used right away, and some of my free book credit I saved for new titles, upcoming holidays (like Easter & birthdays). In fact, even being with the company for much longer now, I regularly earn hundreds of dollars in free books that I use to get new titles for my kids or for upcoming gifts for friends and family. The added bonus? My kids LOVE books. Like, want to read a million a day and get so excited every time I pull out a new title. Amazing.
Money
Once I had my kids, I left full time work, and in exchange picked up a few per diem, or as needed jobs. It’s awesome to have a profession where this is a possibility, but there is risk involved. When work is slow, I get cancelled, and then I don’t get paid. I love staying home part time with my kids, but some months our income was not where it needed to be. Finding UBAM was a way for me to bridge the gap. Paychecks come in weekly, and help cover our expenses like childcare and groceries when my physical therapy paychecks are small. Over time it has helped to pay for things like a girls trip away, a new fence for our backyard, our deposit on a family cruise vacation. Having another source of income I could count on has made a huge difference in our financial situation.
Friendships
Leaving full time work, also had me missing the fun & friendships I had with my coworkers! I still keep in touch with a few of them, but talking to toddlers all day, every day can leave a lot to be desired. There’s a lot to be said for working along side people with a common goal. The motivation, the encouragement, the feeling of belonging. I found friendships with a few girls on my team early on, but the game changer was attending our national convention last year. Meeting these girls in person was a huge part of bringing us closer together. I feel so thankful to have another set of friends who completely get the challenge, struggles, and successes of working a book business on top of other responsibilities. These ladies are my tribe, and I’m so grateful that I found them.
Accomplishment
I have always been motivated by success. I like awards. I like recognition. Over the years, I’ve had some jobs that have recognized my passion, drive & commitment. They all pale in comparison to UBAM. I get rewarded with cash bonuses & prizes for hitting monthly sales targets. I’ve earned a free vacation, get regular shout outs, and know that I am appreciated. My drive at the moment is working towards awards at convention this year. I want to be recognized on our stage with a small select group from our company. That feeling of pride & accomplishment are an awesome reward for all the hard work I put into my business.
Leadership Skills
Teaching and leading have always been an area I’ve felt passionate about. Since my days as a waterpark supervisor, to educating and leading physical therapy students, I love to lead. Over the years, my leadership skills have evolved. I’ve worked to become less like bosses I disliked and more like the ones I admired. UBAM has driven me to work more on developing these skills by attending trainings, reading business and leadership development books, and constantly learning from those around me.
I really can’t believe that finding the right company, the right team, and the right books have changed my life so drastically. Whether you might be looking for something part time, full time, or just a discount on some amazing books, I’d love to chat more about how I can help get you started making a difference in your life with books. You can contact me here or check out my frequently asked questions on book lady life life!
Happy Reading!
[…] years ago, I helped a friend with a Stella & Dot business for a short time period. Then I found Usborne. I LOVED these books. It started with only wanting a little extra money and some free books. Soon […]