The Giveaway is now Closed. What a great group of entries!
Sandi Sullivan, AKA Mom CEO, helps mothers start their own home businesses in the natural household products industry. One of my readers, Danielle Ray, took a risk, clicked on the square button ad and sent Sandi an email. Now she is head of the fastest growing team in the company!
Intrigued? Me too! Let’s ask Daneille a few questions:
Q. Tell us about your family.
I have been married for 13 years. My husband is a high school student pastor so our lives revolve around teenagers! We have 4 kids: Bronson 11, Cohen 9, Lanna 7 and Gavin 5. We raise chickens for eggs, take care of a garden and we always have a project going! Right now we are adding on a covered porch to the back of the house. We also home school so we can have the flexibility to take trips and vacations when we want. I think my goals for my children are like most people, I want them to be independent adults who make wise choices and learn from their failures. I want them to be confident enough to do something different if what they are doing is not working. I want them to be able to set goals and pursue them. I want them to be able to get their groove on on the dance floor. I want them to do hard things. I want to be a good example to them.
Q. What was your career before starting your home business?
A. Up until last month, I worked as a nurse on weekends in Labor and Delivery helping new people come into the world. While my job was very rewarding it also required me to be away from my family for 12 hour shifts. Our hospital is requiring more and more classes, certifications, and in-service hours in order to keep working. I realized no matter how much I worked my income potential was not going to change without sacrificing more time. The month I decided to resign, my check from M* was $11,580. I figured that I would have had to work at the hospital everyday, 12 hour shifts for an entire month to make that much money. The difference is that I had only worked about 30 hours total for the whole month in my M* business!
Q. How did you first find out about MomCEO?
A. I have been following The Grocery Shrink blog since the summer of 2010. I was looking for ways to stretch our dollars with 4 kids! I love the advice, stories, and encouragement Angela offered. One story was about a lady, Sandi Sullivan. She talked about how she was able to be at home with her family but still have an income working her business in her spare time. I sent her a message through the MomCEO button and she called me the next day.
Q. What made you take the leap and join Sandi’s team?
A. After talking with Sandi I decided her company really met a need we had in our own family. Not only did she offer an alternative to conventional products, but they were focused on wellness and better health. That really sparked my interest because I have been a nurse for 15 years. I know it is better to prevent health problems than to treat them after they have already started! From the products to the business concept, it really made sense.\
Q. How has starting your own business changed your life
A. I would say my life has been “enhanced”. We have always managed our money well. We have a budget. We enjoy “re-purposing” things, growing a garden and raising chickens. The difference is that now, we have the time to do more. The things that we dreamed of doing one day, we are getting to do now. We have been able to save enough money for our whole family to visit my sister in South Africa. The best part is, I don’t have to get permission for extended time off! I have been able to set a schedule, and work as much or as little as I wanted. Time is a freedom that you do not have working a normal 9-5 job (well, for a nurse a 7-7 job). I am able to stay home with my kids, but still have a full-time income
Q. Your personal team is now the fastest growing division in the nation. What things did you do that were so successful
A. Our success comes from working together! It really is about being a team and helping others reach their goals. Some people are just looking to supplement their income, some want to replace their income. Sandi has coached my team and helped us every step of the way. It helps that she was there to guide us to avoid the trial and error that comes with starting something new. She helped us do well from the start. Some people can set high goals and get there, but for me, it was all about baby steps. The best part of setting little goals is reaching them, celebrating, and setting the next goal. This is what made it fun for the whole family. We made goal charts that my kids filled in so they felt like they were a part of the business too. I don’t know how it happened that we became the fastest growing, I just know it has been fun. So, I guess fast is fun
Q. How does your family feel about your home business?
A.It really has been a blessing for our family in more ways than just making money, we are also saving money. By learning about a new way to shop, and planning what we need for the month, it has kept me from running to the store every week to pick up a few things and leave having spent $75 each time. After 5 months of shopping with M* my husband called me in a panic because he thought I forgot to make the house payment. He said we had more money than usual in our checking account. I assured him I had made the house payment and it was because I was not going to the store every week now. The savings are continuing to accumulate. We still shop primarily the perimeter of the store, cook and eat at home, and wait for things to go on sale. For all those little things that seemed to rob our budget before, we are getting better quality products that we use delivered right to our door.My kids appreciate our home based business too. We went to the beach last week. We stayed in a very nice beach house, went to meet “Winter” from the movie Dolphin Tales, took an ocean safari boat ride and played on the beach. Bronson, my oldest said, “We never took vacations like this before. It must be because of M*.” We are getting to do more. We have more time, more money, and more dreams to fulfill. It has become our motto to save more, give more, and do more. I remember the way I thought it was going to be when I became an adult and had a family of my own… now I feel like I am doing life the way I had always imagined.
Q. What advice would you give to someone considering their own homebased business?
A. The best advice I can give to anyone trying to start a home-based business is to team up! It is hard to stay motivated and do well without other people doing it with you. It also helps when you are doing something that whole family can appreciate… getting your children involved helps them understand that the time you are not at home with them is being spent reaching your goal. We always celebrate check day and do something special… the great thing about kids is that getting go to Waffle House is a treat!
Q. You have generously offered a giveaway of some of your favorite products. Tell us about them.
A. I love our laundry soap. It sounds funny to say you love a cleaning product but I really do! I also love the Sol-U-Mel. It has so many uses but my favorite is as an air freshener. The best part about all our products is that there is nothing harmful in them. When I am done cleaning my house does not smell like chemicals, just clean
Thank you for your blog and the time you take to encourage others. I hope this in some way encourages your readers too. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share.
Now for the giveaway: You can win a sparkling home cleaning pack including:Laundry 4-Pack with 96-load MelaPower 6x and MelaBrite 6x Plus DiamondBrite Dishwasher Detergent and Sol-U-Mel all purpose cleaner
$75.00 Value!
To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below and be sure to include your email address. The winner will be chosen this Friday, May 4th a noon–right after I send out the new menus :).
I love Melaleuca and would be so excited to win the products! They are simply the best!
~Julia
I am into “Green” an would love to win this giveaway!
I have been trying to “clean up” what I am using in our household. My son has PDD and has allergies, etc, and I try to use as few unnatural chemicals as possible due to sensitivities which cause behavioral problems with his condition. What I dislike is spending money to try new products and finding out they are ineffective. I would love the opportunity to try these and see the benefits!
It would be interesting to try these products. The price sounds awfully high – I’d be intrigued to see how they actually work.
Thank you for all you do!
Angela, I’m sure you intend to help your readers with this offer, you’ve always been kind. But I want to caution you and them, and offer the “other side of the story”. I too saw your link, and clicked it, and contacted sandi, and signed up. I had been making my own cleaners for several years, but was getting overwhelmed with the job . So I considered this a step up and a step forward, no doubt being dazzled with the hope of more money coming in. At first sandi called me frequently, we had a lot in common, talked a lot, like old friends, then it dwindled. What changed? Well perhaps the fact that I was not bringing in the clients. And to date have not brought in ANY- I’m not a “target on your head” sales man. I have a small circle of family and friends who dodge as soon as they hear anything that might sound like a sales pitch. So without an ever growing “pool” of possible customers I was useless to sandi and spending more money on products I didn’t really need. And for the doubters who might think I wasn’t working hard enough- I was putting in a minimum of 20 hours a week, every week for at least 2 months, and never had any interest. It just wasn’t the right fit for me. SO- I don’t hate Melaleuca co. In fact they’ve been very nice on the phone, and very helpful with my orders. BUT – the products do not save you money, most of them cost more. (unless you are already purchasing name brand products every month) My recommendation is this, number one, if you are interested in the company call them and ask for a LOCAL rep. to work with. And number two- most important- LOOK OVER YOUR BUDGET AND SEE IF YOU CAN AFFORD A MINIMUM ORDER OF $70 EVERY MONTH FOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. If not then melaleuca is not for you. Thanks for letting me share, and my only hope is that the ladies who are not a good fit will the avoid heart ache.
I’ve never heard of Melaleuca, but I’m interested in checking them out! Thanks!
Your story was very interesting and it is nice nowadays to hear positive things to do with families. Good Luck in continuing to make a difference in not only your own life but others that you help educate in using less harmful to the environment and humanity products.
I’d love to try these. Thank you.
These cleaning products look great!
Thanks for the opportunity to try to win these products.
I much prefer using natural products, not as much problems with all the chemicals and
allergies.
I love anything natural. I make as many products for my family as I can from natural ingredients. I have never used these products but I would live to win and have the opportunity to give them a try. I love using things that are made from what God has given us.
Wow, sounds like a great business opportunity. I would be interested in trying these products and learning the cost comparison with other “clean” products and well as the comparison to “dirty/conventional” products. Very interesting!!!
I was recently diagnosed with cancer and am trying to rid my house of toxins. I would love to try the Melaleuca cleaning products. They seem to be amazing!
This would be a step-up from my clean-everything-with-vinegar-and-water routine. I would be interested in seeing what these products are like…
Hmm…cleaning empowerment is always a necessity. I haven’t found products I like just yet
I absolutely love green products and am always looking for new healthy ideas on how to clean!
I’d love to try these products!!!!
I would love to try Melaleuca products. I know a lot of people swear by them.
With three kiddos and pregnant with number four, I really try to use natural cleaning solutions as much as I can. We all struggle with allergies & skin problems. Our daughter and I have asthma too, so I would LOVE the opportunity to try these products. Money is very tight, so I often use vinegar or what I can find that fits into our budget. Thank you for doing this give away!
I am doing my own cleaning products now, but read a lot of great things about this products, would love to try them.
I would love to try your products.
We are always looking for ways to supplement our income! We love, love, love green products!!
Hello, I would like to try these green products as well!
I have never heard of this but it sounds so nice. thank you for hosting the giveaway.
I would love to try this product, my sister in law swears by it. but i have never tryed it, thank you for the chace to try
I’ve never used any Melaleuca products but I would like to give them a try!
Ooooh, I really want to try these 🙂
I have used meleuca products and actually made some money. However, it was not the right fit for me and my family. I would love to have their detergent again.
I would love to try these products!
I have also used some of the products before and loved them. I hope to win the contest.
I’d like to try the products. (Well, Not the dishwasher stuff I do mine by hand. But, I could give those items to friends.)
I am not interested in selling though. I can’t even do fund raisers for church events. But, I did try looking at the link.
Safe products … I love. I am just not one to spend on something new if I can’t try it first. (I see enough door to door sales people. Last one was Mrs. Clean)
I have heard about Melaleuca products for years, but have never tried them. I would love to get a chance! Thanks for the opportunity!
I have never used Melaleuca products, but I have been wanting to have more natural cleaning products. I would like to give them a try.
I have never heard of meleuca! I’m intrigued and would live to try them!
Sounds like these would be products worth trying. I would love to win!
I love Melaleuca ! My mother in law was the one who introduced me to these products!
Thanks for the great article & chance to win these products. I have allergies and asthma & have been looking for some good, safe cleaning products to try. These look great!
My father loved Melaleuca. Haven’t thought of the company since he passed away, nearly 19 years ago.
I’d love to try these products!
Congratulations on your growing business, Danielle! I loved reading your story – it’s so encouraging. Melaleuca is a great company with great products! Here’s to another great year for your business!
I have never heard of these products and would love to try them at our little homestead.
I have never tried these products so I would love to win them! I have no idea if I am missing anything! Glad Danielle gets to spend more time with her family.
I love using natural products and I can’t wait to research these a little more.
I am always looking for eco-friendly ways to clean my house that won’t be toxic for my 15 month old daughter. I would love to win this giveaway and be able to clean with a “clean” conscience.
I would love to win. Melaleuca has GREAT products! I also love the laundry soap. It does seem relatively expensive, but it is very concentrated and lasts a long time. I had “sour” smelling towels for a while and Melaleuca laundry soap leaves them smelling so good. I do not have a Melaleuca business, but have bought from them for over 5 years now and can’t give it up. Their products are just too good. The vitamins help me fill my obligation every month 🙂
Oh, pick me! Pick me! I would LOVE to give these products a try .. natural is ALWAYS the best way to go!!!! We are in the natural healthcare business, and this might be a great way to supplement income as a side business for our growing family!
It would be nice to win something after all the craziness we’ve been through. I lost my job first followed by my husband getting laid off 2 months ago. I know God is in control and we will trust HIm. I would like to start a home based business someday. Natural products sound great especially when there are allergy sufferers at home. God Bless
Always interested in trying products that are not only effective but safe to use around small children.