Hello friends!
Remember the early days of the internet? I sure do. The beeps and chirps associated with “logging on” through a phone line will be forever ingrained in my memory. I recall the amazement, and also the confusion, as I tried to navigate the world wide web for the first time during my freshman year of college.
I also recall the realization that I was participating in something that would change…everything. The frustrations of slow connection speeds and rudimentary browsing options were balanced by the excitement of being able to glimpse the vast potential for this new technology.
Hello friends,
I hope that everyone is having a great start to 2023! How are we doing on our resolutions? This seems to be the time of year that our improved habits either begin to take hold or fall by the wayside. I have been thinking about my own resolutions lately, both personal and professional, and challenging myself to not only improve in certain areas but also think about the reasons why some improvements are easier to maintain than others.
I recently came across an interview in Scientific American with some fascinating insights into why we stick to some resolutions but not others. The author, a professor who studies behavioral change, interviewed a social psychologist about setting and meeting goals to make it to the “finish line,” whether that be hitting goals or completing large projects.
Hello friends and Happy Thanksgiving!
I am very happy to share with you our second annual Philanthropy Issue. This is my favorite issue of the year, as we get the privilege of speaking to so many of you—both direct sellers and suppliers—about the life-changing projects, donations, volunteering, and foundation work all over the world that you and your teams have accomplished over the past year.
In times of economic uncertainty, volatility or recession, there is one thing that remains constant—and that is your commitment and dedication to giving back. Whether it be the humanitarian disaster in war-torn Ukraine, the constant fight against hunger and malnutrition or environmental and conservation efforts, the causes supported by the direct selling channel are as diverse as the companies working all year long to make a difference.
Like many of you, I was amazed and inspired by last month’s release of the first images from the James Webb Telescope. The vivid and colorful snapshots of deep space reveal countless galaxies, each one containing hundreds of billions of stars and planets.
For me, personally, viewing these images is a humbling experience—not only because of the incredible genius of the telescope’s designers and engineers, but also because these views of the incomprehensibly vast and inhospitable expanse of space are a stark reminder of the fragility of life on Earth and the environment that sustains us.
As people across the world endure yet another record-breaking heat wave, and as many regions suffer from devastating droughts, water shortages, and wildfires, we simply must redouble our efforts to, as astronomer Carl Sagan put it, “preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”
Hello direct sellers! I hope that everyone is having a great summer, staying safe and making wonderful memories with your family and friends. It is hard to believe that the year is now half over, but time flies when you are gathering the news and trends for this energetic and dynamic business channel.
It was a thrill to see so many of you last month in Boca Raton, Florida, at DSA Engage 2022. The time I spent conversing with executives, suppliers and representatives of direct selling was truly invaluable to me. And for those that I did not get a chance to visit with, I look forward to catching up and learning about your endeavors at the next event.