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| The Tuesday flight crew from The Simpson Region |
Vegas! Ever been? Every time I mentioned where I was due to spend my annual leave, people would generally leap out of their seats with excitement. Everyone it seems, has a great time in Vegas, or they would really (really) love to go. Of course, when I threw into conversation that I was actually attending a conference for my part time business, then confusion would tend to kick in, possibly also mixed with a little awe. Conference? Not a hen do? Not a holiday? Spending annual leave from a full time job.....at work?! People leaving behind kids and husbands/wives to go to Vegas for an actual conference? Really?
Really. This is Arbonne's Global Training Conference 2013, it's held in Vegas every year, and I was there! And - picture this - it wasn't just me. 14,000 people from the UK, States, Canada and Oz were doing the same.
Attending the conference is voluntary as an Independent Arbonne Consultant. I chose to attend and frankly - it blew my mind. Now, I have been on company conferences before - Cannes, Dublin, Bournemouth, Brighton - they were typically great fun but one long drunken event, with a bit of obligatory training thrown in. The difference with this conference, was that whilst I enjoyed my fair share of tipples in Vegas, I was actually more excited about the conference - I was there to learn as much as possible and it didn't disappoint.
Sometimes people don't understand why I am "doing" Arbonne. It's a bit of a puzzle. Health and Wellness products versus my property background? Why don't I start my own lettings firm, like some of my peers have? But, I don't believe that is the route for me. I enjoy my job and this pays my immediate bills, but my Arbonne business is a part time opportunity to build a future, a plan b or pension and all for low start up without having to give everything up or completely start over. The company is ethical, warm, fun, young, but with a solid 33 year history (the son and widow of the founder Petter Morck were actually AT the conference) and the concept is simple. Recommendation. Something we all do, every single day, but most people don't get paid for the pleasure. Recommend a product and business, and find a few others who want to do the to do the same. The cherry on the top with Arbonne (aside from the global conference being in Vegas) is that the products are outstanding. Genuinely. Outstanding.*
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| Kay Napier CEO with picture of Petter Morck founder (top), new product training (left), conference registration (bottom right) |
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| MGM Grand Garden Arena (Top) filled with 14,000 Arbonne consultants. Illuminated signs throughtpot the MGM Grand Casino welcoming Arbonne(bottom left), opening ceremony (bottom right) |
People have changed their lives by building a business with Arbonne and going to Vegas really opened my eyes to the possibilities. Let me put this into context - think staying at home with your kids rather than returning to office hours, think Million Dollar Club, think giving up work, think retiring at 30, think putting buses on the road for a charity, think people with illnesses who need something flexible and home based, think business owners who were seeking other income streams to give them more time..... Let's just say.....it really hit home rubbing shoulders with 13,999 other consultants. There is a reason we have all started this business.
The training and product launches were fascinating, fun, informative and at times hilarious - 14,000 people literally swooning over the new mascara was just brilliant! (By the way, the mascara is magnificent!) The conference was made up of product seminars, Arbonne cafe, product counters, Arbonne shop in the MGM Grand's ballrooms, and then the main conference was held in the Garden Arena. It commenced with an opening ceremony and product launches** on Thursday night where we donned red white and blue (the Brits section might still be small - 850 from the UK attended - but we looked great and we shouted the loudest!!) followed by a full day training on Friday and Saturday, and ending with "Arbonne's got Talent" on the closing evening.
Let me summarise what my trip (of work) involved (in no particular order).....
Bucks fizz breakfast, going to Paris, Cosmopolitans in the Cosmopolitan, Eating sushi, two limo trips and one party bus trip, seeing Stomp, meeting Peter Matravars (beauty scientist superstar), collecting free products, meeting people in the million dollar club, sharing the best steak I have ever eaten (like..ever!), having Starbucks on the ground floor of the hotel, inspirational training, cocktails in the sun, chatting to anyone and everyone.....
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| Paris (top left), Bellagio fountains (right) and Charlotte Emerywinning on the one armed bandits (bottom left) |
.....sunbathing at lunchtime, whooping at the Bellagio fountains, indoor skies, receiving amazing training, gambling precisely $2.70, Matt Goss walking past us, seeing much loved friends "walk the Vegas stage" in the Garden Arena, Bellagio brunch, pizza and champagne, people watching, comparing business notes, laughing, watching movies together on the plane and generally having the time of our life......
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| MGM pool (top), Drinks at the Cosmopolitan (bottom left), Jennie Fojtik, Jane Simpson & Maggie Sarfo at conference (bottom right) |
Aside from the conference, we were in Vegas baby - and in conclusion - I loved it! I couldn't stop exclaiming "it's like a feast for the eyes"! Everything is big, bold, classy, cheesy, magnificent, chintzy....the weather is amazing, the service is excellent, people are friendly (and obsessed by your "cute accent"), the shopping is great, food fabulous. Oh...and you get free drinks whilst you gamble....
And you know the other great bit? Sharing all this with friends. Friends who I knew before Arbonne, friends who I have made because of Arbonne. It was just so much fun.
I loved every single minute.
* To learn more on the Arbonne products or how to start your own Arbonne business, contact myself or the consultant who shared this blog with you
** To learn more about the new product lines contact myself or the consultant who shared this blog with you
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