Look Good. Feel Better.

JAYNE’S JOURNEY WITH FOREVER
Diamond Managers and Executive Global Leadership Team founder members Jayne Leach and John Curtis, started their Forever business over twenty years ago in the summer of ’93. They have since achieved consistent and phenomenal success over the past two decades, including receiving the top UK Chairman’s Bonus cheque this year. They’ve witnessed incredible change and growth in Forever, both globally and here in the UK.

Forever Business Owners today can thank Jayne, John and their leaders for sustained major input into some of the core literature and training materials used globally, and the couple continue to inspire and motivate generations of FBOs across the world. In this intimate interview, Forever’s Editor Kate Hodge asks Jayne to reflect on her Forever journey and to share her accumulated wisdom with other FBOs who aspire to build life-changing Forever businesses.

KH: What was life like for you when you began your business?

JL: I was a single mum, and whilst I had loved and was good at working in farming, after eighteen years of hard work, working with livestock and show-jumping horses, I still didn’t make any real money. Finances were a ‘challenge’ and we were literally surviving from day-to-day. Then I met John, also a single parent experiencing doubtful financial prospects. Together we realised that we couldn’t carry on doing work that didn’t give us what our now combined family needed. Friends in America advised us to find a really good network marketing company, and that if we did, and worked hard, we could build a strong long-term business and income of our dreams. I clearly remember not understanding what they meant by network marketing, but we did as suggested and looked at companies in the UK. Having given it much thought and discussion, we decided to look for a company that had consumable, benefit driven products; a marketing or compensation plan that would outlive us to leave a legacy income to our four children; preferably a private company with proven management, and international possibilities; but almost above all else, to be associated with an honest opportunity we could be proud of. A lot to ask? Of course, but remember, we were looking to get it right first time.

So, we looked at every single network marketing company we could find in the UK, but didn’t particularly like any of them. After attending their meetings, we couldn’t relate to either the distributors, their products, the management, or their ‘style’, so we almost gave up the search. This changed with a phone call from a friend, telling us about a company called Forever Living. Intrigued, we got together and he showed us everything he had on the company, literally a few pieces of paper, a few pictures, and a couple of products. Cautiously excited, we didn’t want that excitement to cloud our judgement, so ‘due diligence’ led to meeting with the then UK Country Manager Dusty Green. Very open and direct, he answered all our questions, so we registered, got some products, and got started – that was the beginning of our long-term ‘love affair’ with Forever.

KH: Why were you determined to succeed?

JL: We didn’t join just to ‘give it a go’; we joined to be successful. We felt that network marketing was the way of the future, and possibly the only way open for us to build a big life and achieve big goals and dreams whilst helping other people. We were ready to be successful; mentally we wanted success. It was never, ‘we’ll see if this works’, even in the early days when there was nothing in place in the UK – no meetings, trainings, Success Express events, Advisory Board, Head Office of substance, literature, manuals, brochures, internet – there was nothing. But we were committed to Forever’s founder Rex Maughan’s vision, philosophy and mission statement, and reassured that although it was brand new to the UK, it already had a sixteen-year track record and the company was enjoying success in the USA, Japan and a host of other countries. If it was working out there, it could work in the UK as well!

However, in the early days of our business, network marketing did not have a great name. It was almost seen as the thing you did when you had exhausted all other options, but because this company was built on values, integrity and ethics, John and I had decided that we were going to help make it the best network marketing company in the UK. We knew that if we worked with quality people, we could make it the best, so that became our vision and mantra.

We also listened to Dusty: he always advised us to do the right thing, go the extra mile, and remember that when you help someone else, you create a ripple effect. He also talked often about the need to remain modest in the face of increasing success, and to accept responsibility for being role models that others want to follow.

KH: What was Forever like in the beginning?

JL: When we first started, John and I sat down and had a planning meeting, deciding that if we were going to build a business, we had to implement a system. So, we got a Forever flipchart and drew out a very basic Business Presentation (BP) – this has since been developed by the leaders into the BP that everybody enjoys today. We started having BP meetings in our home every Wednesday night and Saturday morning so we started inviting people along. Most didn’t come, but the common reaction amongst those that did was that we were somehow crazy; they would tell us not to waste their or our time, to get a ‘proper job’, or worse, but we just knew that it would work, so we kept on asking.

Alongside asking people to look at the business, we also began to use these times as opportunities to sell products. We had no success stories to share, and almost nobody had even heard of aloe, so we simply shared our personal experiences. However, in the first two weeks, we developed a retail base of over 8CC. The first six months of our business continued in much the same way: John, our box of products, a Forever flipchart, and me! We then started training on Saturday mornings after the BP, and the First Steps to Manager Planning Manual that you use today began to develop from one we made twenty-three years ago!

We achieved Manager in fourteen weeks, but every single night I was either doing a launch, one-to-one, or BP. At that time, Head Office was based in a tiny office in Selly Oak, Birmingham. We drove there to get products, and the paperwork for orders had carbon copies. The only way we could work out our case credits was to gather the carbon copies from the orders, add them together manually, and constantly check them at the all-important month end. But it was such fun – we would all get together and often stay up really late counting and checking case credits on those pink slips. There was a lot of team spirit and I loved that we all came together – there was a real closeness.

KH: What are some of your fondest memories?

JL: I remember qualifying for our first Rally. Dusty spoke so fondly of the American Rallies and even though we had only been in the business for nine months, I was already a bit obsessed with wanting to go there – I had never travelled further than Europe at the time.

One day we received a phone call from Dusty, but he sounded quite stern. He said, “Jayne, I need to come and see you immediately.” When I asked why, he replied, “I’m not prepared to discuss it over the phone, but it’s very important.”

I honestly thought I had done something wrong so cancelled the following day’s appointments. The next day, after dropping the kids off at their schools, we went to the office and turned the phones off in anticipation of some unforeseen ‘bomb shell’. Dusty duly arrived on time, but still with a somber demeanor. I’d lain awake worrying all night and couldn’t cope any longer, and half expecting termination for something, I asked him to be straight and tell me what the problem was. He looked at me for a few seconds, but then he couldn’t contain himself any longer and burst out laughing. He opened his briefcase and pulled out two tickets for America before running around the room whooping.

That was to be our first ever trip to the States, and I will never, ever, forget it. We actually had no idea that we had qualified – keeping on top of case credits when it was all done on paper was quite difficult, and unbeknown to us, we had achieved 1,500CCs. The Rally was in San Francisco and we came back as changed people. Meeting Rex and the Vice Presidents, and seeing the enormity of the company; the values, the ethics, the vision, the people, it was all ‘mind-blowing’. Back then, Forever had an American Rally as well as a World Rally, but the only people open to qualification for World Rally were the country’s top distributor and the Country Manager – fast forward to 1995 and we achieved just that and another long-term ambition, to go to Peru and Machu Pichu.

Another outstanding and fond memory of the early days involves Rex. He was due to come to the UK and there was an incentive whereby you could have aloe ‘mocktails’ with him. It was a recruitment incentive, and if you won, you also got a television and VIP access to this exclusive ‘mocktail’ event. I knew I wanted to be at that party. The week before, a Head Office meeting declared the qualifiers and winners, and when Dusty called out the qualifiers, then third and second places, I was becoming despondent at the thought that we hadn’t managed it. But when he called out our names for first place, my jaw dropped open and I thought two things: firstly, that the kids were going to love the new TV, but more importantly, that we were going to meet Rex.

Yet another striking memory was when Dusty phoned to tell us that Rex was coming to the UK with Rjay Lloyd (a long -term friend of Rex and the Executive Senior Vice President), together with Dusty’s dad, Harold. Rex was touring the UK and wanted to come to our (tiny) office, and he wanted us to hold a Business Presentation. When I heard this, I said, “Dusty, our office is minuscule, and so is our training room, what am I going to do?” He just said that we’d work something out, so we did – I remember going to the local junior school and borrowing small children’s chairs so that we could get more seating in the room, and on the night, we filled sixty chairs with overspill guests in the hallway and down the stairs. Rex spoke and signed a book for me, which I still have, and the whole thing was just incredible.

KH: Why did you decide to go global with your business?

JL: Travel is a major passion for both of us, and we felt that it would be brilliant to go to countries where Forever had, or was planning, a presence. For us, it made sense to go there, do some work, and then enjoy different cultures and experiences. It was also obvious to me that building a multiple income stream with a global-based business meant taking advantage of everything Forever offers.

Our first ever global business foray was Italy: one of my dearest and best friends, Maria-Louisa Di-Pinto, asked if she could build a business even though Forever was not yet in Italy. Dusty advised us to consider whether we could personally send the products to Italy, but he backed our decision and told us to go for it. So, every month, we arranged for a freight company to collect a shipment for delivery to Maria-Louisa in Milan; she then distributed the products to her customers. After six months, we learnt that someone based in Spain was doing much the same thing, and eventually, between us, there was enough business being conducted for the company to officially open in Italy. We were already in pre-launch overdrive, and literally every five or six weeks, John, me, or both of us would be over there, without mobile phones, but in a car driving to do endless one-to-ones! When the company finally had their great big grand opening, we had about 200 people in attendance and business in Italy boomed! From that modest success, we focused on Africa and went into Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, East Africa and many other English-speaking areas. We also started an African BP every week in London, with average attendance of around 400 people!

However, at the time, although we had a global business, it wasn’t global as it is today. Case credits didn’t count towards Chairman’s Bonus or anything else other than local income, but we didn’t do it for any of this, we just wanted to build a legacy in other countries.

In those days, if you wanted to work with somebody, you got in your car and drove – we regularly did 60,000 miles per year between us, literally driving all over the country to work with teams. These days we can do webinars, Skype calls, deliver online training, group meetings, and Business Presentations – this change has been fundamental in allowing people to build a global business. Now you can do a lot of ‘groundwork’ before even stepping on a plane, but, as good as it is, technology can never replace a good old-fashioned ‘heart-to-heart’. When you get together with people who share your passion, when you feel the emotion in the room, that’s when things change.

KH: What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt as an FBO?

JL: If John or I could ‘turn back the clock’, we would not have spent so much time with ‘time-wasters’ – people who talk the talk but do very little, who have great intentions but never make a call, who hardly ever show up at BP, training or Success Express event. They give you every excuse in the book as to why they can’t do something, but still insist that they are going to be successful. When you spend time with people like this and they don’t perform, all it does is bring you down, rob someone else deserving of your time, and make you question their lack of success as down to you, but it’s not, it’s down to them.

To be successful, you must do more than you think you have got to do, and you must be absolutely 100% consistent every single day, even when you’re not getting results. Always be the student, and always stay humble. Even today, I still learn off others – I want to constantly bring my best game to the table, but I can’t do that if I stop being the student.

KH: You are a founder and trustee for the DABW Foundation charity – how did that begin?

JL: My mum and dad (Dorothy and Bill Wood) joined the business shortly after us, and within a few years had climbed to second position in the UK. By this time, the UK was doing over 10,000CC and this meant the top two Forever Business Owners were to be invited to World Rally – my mum’s goal and dream was for us to attend together, but then she got sick – a little mark on her leg turned out to be aggressive skin cancer.

She was admitted to hospital on a day when the usual nurse was on leave, so a different one turned up. Nurse Otilia was from Malawi, from a little village called Kanyenda which was in the middle of nowhere with no main roads nearby. Otilia told mum that her family was still in the village, but she had come to the UK to make money to send home. The biggest challenge there was a lack of clean water, with the local small river serving as the only source of washing and drinking water for the animals and villagers. When mum heard about the number of children dying from cholera, and that the village had been saving for twelve years to try and raise the £2,500 needed to install a borehole pump, she decided to raise the money from her hospital bed. Sadly, mum died before it was commissioned, but just before she passed away, she asked me to carry on the work in the village. John and I flew out to Malawi and officially opened the well – that’s when we realised that there was a lot more work to do – kids were going hungry and the school was falling down, so our next project was to rebuild the school and kindergarten, and to put in place a feeding programme.

The villagers’ staple diet is maize, but with no means to grind it, the maize had to be carried by village women and children who would walk ten kilometres to the nearest corn mill, have the corn ground, and then they’d walk back. It was just too much, particularly with little kids, so once the school project was complete, we built a corn mill. But there was still one thing missing…

When John and I go to Malawi, we live amongst the villagers in a mud hut and local children always want to come and sit with us. We were sitting outside in the dust one evening, surrounded by over twenty kids, when I noticed one little boy, aged about two, sitting in the corner all by himself. He had a runny nose and looked so unhappy. It turned out he had malaria, but two days later when I asked after him, I was shocked to learn that he had passed away. I felt so angry at the thought that a little boy could die for the sake of a £2 injection, so I decided, there and then, that our next project was to build a medical centre.

The medical centre now treats about 100 kids daily, with families walking many miles to come to it. We have an inoculation programme, two doctors, a pharmacist, a receptionist and a nurse.

"I get excited about the thought of helping someone achieve their potential, and I am excited about seeing where Forever is going and who the next generation of Forever leaders will turn out to be."

I wanted to create something of beauty, because life is really harsh in Malawi, often just day-to-day grind. We built the centre with a terrace and veranda, with a garden fronting filled with roses and plants – roses because of my mum’s love for them, and plants and other pretty things because when a woman has walked for miles carrying a sick child, sometimes she just needs to sit and breathe.

That whole village is now self-sufficient and supported, with kids rarely dying of cholera or malaria, and instead receiving a good basic education. We’ve also taught the villagers how to grow their own micro-vegetables and they’ve started to grow things like tomatoes, onions, cabbages and green beans. We donate the seeds and have shown them how to grow their own gardens. Some of the money raised for the charity now goes towards maintaining these projects and ensuring they remain at a certain standard.

KH: You’re an inspiration to many for various reasons, and one thing I love is your generous spirit. Why do you think it’s important to give back?

JL: Right from when I was a kid, I was brought up to understand that you can never truly receive until you have learnt to give, but I was also taught to get as much happiness out of giving, as from receiving. Forever gave us the opportunity to build phenomenal personal lives, and it would be wrong not to share that with others.

You also never know what impact kind acts may have on someone else. When we were first starting out, a casual friend of ours owned a shop with a room above it, and he said we could use this as our office and training space. He knew we had no money so he let us have that building at minimal rent for one year. Someone’s kindness is sometimes what gives you a leg up in life, and I don’t know how we would have got started in our business without his kindness – I’ll never forget him. I also strongly believe that you should always come from a place of contribution – that’s who Rex and the Maughan family are in their actions, and that’s how I’ve been brought up.

KH: What makes you excited about the business all these years later?

JL: I am just as excited today about recruiting a phenomenal young couple or individual who wants to change their life, as I was the day I started. I get excited about the thought of helping someone achieve their potential, and I am excited about seeing where Forever is going and who the next generation of Forever leaders will turn out to be. It’s quite inspiring and motivating to be in that environment, although nowadays I try to be more prudent with my time as I also still like travelling and being with my family.

When you join Forever, and you develop a Forever mentality, you’ll find that there will be many people who try to tear you down, but I promise you that Forever will never let you down. You can build a legacy for your family like no other, so don’t listen to the opinions of other people, just do what you’ve got to do. Put a plan in place, and continue to work at it until you have achieved the goal that is important to you. Make sure you have a well-rounded approach to marketing and don’t just sit behind a computer. Build relationships, nurture others and be the kind of leader that others want to follow. Understand that you will have tough days, but it is what you learn in those moments that shape you into the person you will become, and that is the person who has the power to define your future.

"I get excited about the thought of helping someone achieve their potential, and I am excited about seeing where Forever is going and who the next generation of Forever leaders will turn out to be."

Don't miss Jayne's exciting new training at June's Success Express event. 17th-18th June at Genting Arena, Birmingham. Book your tickets today at foreveruktickets.co.uk.

FOR MY DAUGHTER
My mum is a huge inspiration to me and has been a single mum since I was two years old. She had to work three-to-four jobs just to get by, but somehow, with the help of my grandparents, she still managed to send me to a private secondary school.

Private education helped me massively since I have bad dyslexia, but despite the decent education, I knew I didn’t want to go to university. Mum suggested I become a beauty therapist so I did, and I loved it! I got my dream job in January 2008 at Gleneagles and I completed everything that job had to offer. Then I had Ava.

When Ava started school in August 2016, I wasn't sure what to do. Childcare was too expensive and her dad and I are not together, so I decided to set up my own business as I figured I could work it around Ava. I called it JAJ Beauty and mum helped by investing her retirement money into setting it up. Sadly, there were beauticians out there I couldn't compete with and it wasn’t long before JAJ Beauty failed.

One day, Anna Mair, a good friend of mine from beauty school, invited me over for our usual monthly sleepover, but this time the evening had a slightly different set up. Anna shared the Forever Business Presentation, and although I thought it was a scam, I kept thinking about the opportunity. The next day I was scrolling through Facebook when I came across Kat Crawford. She did the Forever thing Anna was talking about so I decided to invite her round and ask her questions. I wasn’t as close to Kat as I was Anna so I knew there would be no hard feelings if I decided it was a load of rubbish. I signed up two days later with Kat, that was in March 2015.

A few days later I was introduced to Kat’s team and I set myself the goal of earning £2,000 a month. This was how much my mum earned and she managed to give me a fabulous life – I wanted to do the same for my daughter! Shortly after this I came across Emma Cooper and I found her incredibly inspiring. I watched her carefully and took on everything she said to do, I listened to all the trainings and I went to my first Success Express event in June 2015. I worked hard, making my way through the Marketing Plan and incentives, and by the October I had climbed my way to Senior Manager.

I have had a huge amount of fun over the years and I’ve built some amazing memories. Thanks to Forever I now work flexibly for my daughter, and I’m able to give her the life she deserves.

"I worked hard, making my way through the Marketing Plan and incentives, and by the October I had climbed my way to Senior Manager."

Sapphire Manager Natalie Heeley continues to take the Forever world by storm as she secures the number one spot in the UK for the third year running.

As a leader admired by many across the world, a devoted mother to two wonderful children (plus one on the way), and a business-builder whose success continues to surpass expectations, Natalie carries with her an air of professionalism, power and self-confidence that many would envy. Forever’s Editor, Kate Hodge, caught up with Natalie at her beautiful country home to talk business, mindset, and why she’s Forever Proud…

KH: WHAT DID LIFE LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED FOREVER?
NH: I’ve been in Forever about ten years now but my background is in marketing. I was made redundant twice and the second time I was pregnant with my son Will. I therefore became a mum at home, which was great because it was what I always wanted anyway, and Rosie came along pretty quickly after, but money was a struggle. For ten years prior to this, my mum Jan Whittaker had been asking me to look at Forever, but I’d never been interested before. However, things changed when I had both children and I found myself wanting something that was going to be flexible, something that was going to be challenging, and something that was going to give me loads of support because I didn’t have much confidence or belief in myself at the time. Will was two and Rosie was five months old when I started my Forever business.

KH: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THOSE EARLY DAYS?
NH: If I were to start the business again, I would tell myself to never compare myself to other people. It’s so easy to do, but we need to remember that we are all on our own journey and we all come into it with different challenges, different goals and different skills. Every Forever Business Owner needs to realise that they are individuals who are able to make it happen. In fact, the only way you can fail is by quitting, so you need to make sure you are getting up each day with that positive mindset, getting out of your comfort zone, and working on challenges to ensure you overcome them. Self-belief also plays a crucial role. It took me two years to get to Manager because I didn’t believe that I could do it, and it took me a long time to learn that you have to work on your mindset daily.

KH: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SECURE THE TOP SPOT AGAIN?
NH: It’s pretty amazing to be recognised as the number one FBO for the third year running, but it’s not just down to me – my team is just incredible and I want to say a big thank you to them all. This achievement is also a testament to hard work. When I started my Forever business I worked literally every moment I could around the children, and it just shows that if you put that hard work in, it will pay off in the long term.

KH: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO FBOS WHO ASPIRE TO BE LEADERS IN THE FIELD?
NH: Firstly, it’s important that you do your research and make sure you are clear on what tools, events and trainings are available to you. You should then access these tools and trainings yourself before sharing them with your team. I think the company trainings and events that I’ve benefited from the most are the Success Express events. They are so important as they keep you motivated, they help to build team spirit, and the trainings are absolutely incredible. The Advisory Board product trainings are also essential as they will help to build your confidence when it comes to retailing the products and they will also help you to coach your team. Using the tools on foreverknowledge.info has also been beneficial to my business because everything is at your fingertips and you can access it from home in those little spaces throughout your day.

As well as promoting the company trainings and events, being a leader requires teaching others the basics of the business. It’s teaching people how to retail the products, how to do a great product launch, how to make a phone call, how to do a one-to-one and how to run a Business Presentation, whether that’s a home BP or over a coffee. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel as it’s worked for forty years; you just have to be persistent and teach others. For me, a massive part has been teaching others about mindset. I believe that 80% of our success is down to what we are telling ourselves so I constantly remind my team to work on their mindset daily.

KH: HAVE YOU ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THEIR BUSINESS HAS SLOWED?
NH: Remember not to compare yourself to other people – running a business is not a race and it is perfectly normal to go through stages where business remains at a steady pace. However, if you are keen to see growth, it may be worth looking back in your diary to remind yourself what activity you’ve been doing. Look at the past three months, how many one-to-ones have you had? How many guests have you taken to the Business Presentation? Ideally these are face-to-face activities but they could be online, and although you will probably find that you’ve done a bit, it’s likely you have room to do a lot more. Just try increasing your activity and you’ll soon see the results you crave. What I do, and what I tell my team to do, is to try and do a minimum of three to five one-to-ones per week, and attend a Business Presentation, with a guest, on a weekly basis.

By doing this amount of activity, you are likely to recruit one to three people each month. If you aren’t going to the BP, a big part of the jigsaw is missing – the BP will give you the motivation and encouragement you need to confidently talk about the business; make sure it plays a key role in the diary, but most importantly, don’t give up and know that you can do it.

KH: WHAT HAS THIS PAST YEAR (2016) LOOKED LIKE FOR YOU?
NH: This past year has been pretty magical: I turned forty when we were out in South Africa at Global Rally and this was followed by the most amazing family holiday. My kids, my mum, my brother and sister, we all went on safari and we really just spent loads of time together making memories. I had a big party with my team out in Johannesburg, and I also picked up a million dollar cheque which made it a pretty spectacular birthday. When we came home we had a few more parties, so it’s literally been a year of celebration and having fun. Amongst all this I also met my partner, we’ve renovated our beautiful farm house which has always been a dream come true, and then to finish the year off I found out that we are expecting a baby!

KH: WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2017?
NH: This year my focus is being a mummy again. Rosie is now eleven, Will is twelve, but this time it’s going to be so, so different. All those years ago I didn’t have much money or time, I was a single parent and there were lots of challenges that we had to face; this little girl is going to grow up in an entirely different environment. Our house is nearly finished so we are going to be living in our dream home and we can’t wait to introduce our baby girl into the family. It’s going to be pretty scary going back to babies but we are all so excited. I’m also looking forward to working with my team, watching them achieve Chairman’s Bonus and Eagle Manager, and obviously I am going to have the opportunity to meet lots of new mums which means conversations that could lead to them changing their future. All in all, 2017 is going to be a great year.

KH: WHY ARE YOU FOREVER PROUD?
NH: Forever has provided me with financial freedom and for me that means choices; choices to do whatever we want, when we want, without having to think about whether we can afford it. That’s been pretty life-changing for us. I’m also able to work closely with my mum and sister, and together we’ve been able to change our family’s lives. It’s humbling to know that by simply sharing the opportunity, we’ve changed hundreds of lives around the world as well. I love meeting so many different types of people and to work in such a positive and motivating environment is rare these days. That’s why I’m Forever Proud.

"Remember not to compare yourself to other people – running a business is not a race and it is perfectly normal to go through stages where business remains at a steady pace. However, if you are keen to see growth, it may be worth looking back in your diary to remind yourself what activity you’ve been doing."

Forever found me at a time in my life when I truly believe I needed it the most. At the time, I had three young kids, all below the age of five, with the two youngest only thirteen months apart. My kids and my husband Ross are my rocks, my inspiration, and the ones who drive me to be the best I can be…

Before Forever I was a bank branch manager and I’d worked in the same corporate organisation for fifteen years. I had a great salary, a great team and it was my dream job. Life was good but when I fell pregnant with Poppy (our third), things started to change.

One month before Poppy was born my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My whole world fell apart. She underwent a life-threatening operation the day before Poppy was born and I suddenly realised that this ‘dream job’ I thought I had wasn’t going to work anymore. It was missing something crucial – work-life balance. It was clear that juggling three young kids, a corporate career and mum’s illness just wasn’t possible. I had no time, and sadly time was running out for mum faster than we thought.

After I had Poppy, I was desperate to lose some ‘baby weight’, so I decided to try the C9. Afterwards I looked great and felt amazing, and the lady I bought it from suggested I take a look at the business opportunity. I took one look at the Marketing Plan and knew straight away that I was in.

Suddenly I had found a business that I could work around nap times, mum’s treatments, feeds, hospital visits, school, kids’ clubs, etc. I had found my way out, and a way to create the work-life balance I craved.

Forever has given us so much. Fast-forward to 2017, and we have an extended family home, we have managed to take the kids to Disney and I have travelled to places I could only dream of before. With our first Chairman’s Bonus cheque we were able to replace our old car, and the remainder went to Strathcarron Hospice where my mum spent her last ten days (she sadly passed away in January 2016).

The most important thing that this business has given us is memories and the time to create them; memories with Ross and the kids, and memories with mum. We were able to take her on trips, and I was able to be by her bedside twenty-four hours a day when she was in the hospice. This was the moment I realised that the business opportunity has the potential to change lives – it had certainly changed mine!

"I took one look at the Marketing Plan and knew straight away that I was in. Suddenly I had found a business that I could work around nap times, mum’s treatments, feeds, hospital visits, school, kids’ clubs, etc."

Ex-professional footballer Darren was on top of his game having played for premiership and championship team Blackburn Rovers (and other clubs) from the age of fourteen. However, when he was in his mid-twenties, an injury caused everything to change. His partner, Charlotte Hawes, shares his story…

Darren’s life was football, football, football. Every day was about working on his fitness, training and being healthy, and if he wasn’t on a football pitch or in the gym, he was on the golf course! Darren played with and against top players and he would visit and play in various countries – he was ‘living the dream’. But, in 2008, Darren suffered a snapped cruciate and problems with his knees, and although he is still playing local football, his professional career had to come to an end.

Darren was devastated as football was all he knew from such a young age. He had to have four knee operations and it was becoming a daily struggle for him to work and walk, never mind trying to play football!

Darren discovered Forever whilst working at a client’s house and soon realised, without knowing the details, that there was a very good opportunity available. Darren recommended the business to me as he knew I was at a crossroads – I had very little spare time and no work-life balance, and we instantly saw an opportunity to earn (in time) a substantial income alongside a flexible lifestyle.

We signed up and I currently play the lead role whilst Darren shares his product experiences and the opportunity to everyone he meets. So far the business has given us amazing friendships, it’s allowed us to set goals and get excited, and we can now start to build a career together and plan for a future we didn’t think was possible.

Darren and Charlotte on F15…

Darren found Forever's products to be of great benefit to him and he is now keen to use the products to help him get back to the level of fitness he was pre-injury. Darren and Charlotte are currently part-way through the F15 programme. Here is what they have to say:

“F15 is fantastic and having a programme to follow for diet and exercise is giving me the best chance to get in shape and stay in shape. My motivation to be at a high level of fitness is back and I will reach the goals I’ve set. Since starting the programme, I’ve started to see definition and I’ve lost some weight in the process. If you’re doing F15, don’t give up, dig in and get it done – the end goal is always worth it.” – Darren Dunning

“Being a keen sportsperson myself but having struggled to get back into a regular fitness regime, the structure of F15, along with the brilliant workout videos that Forever produced, has given me the kick and the support I needed to get back on track.” – Charlotte Hawes

Bethan wanted more from her working life but as a young mum she found it difficult to progress. Then she discovered Forever…

In 2011, at the age of twenty-one, I was a single mum to my little boy Tyler who was two years old, and I was working full-time for a large retail chain. I dropped out of college at nineteen when I became pregnant and two years later I was feeling like I hadn’t fulfilled my potential. Retail became something I was good at and even though I adored being a mum, I didn’t want to be just another young mum in the system.

There was never anything wrong with my life; I had great friends and family, and a job that paid a wage that paid my bills, but there was always something missing – I just didn’t know what! My bosses were amazing but working full-time had no flexibility for me as a mum with a young child, and I really struggled to pay for childcare costs. I was working for the pride of being able to say I was, but I had no money once everything was paid. I had no qualifications other than my GCSEs, and no real life experiences. Even if I did want to do something else, I didn’t know where to start, but that’s when Forever found me. I saw a chance to shineand earn a corporate income with full training and support, so I jumped.

For the past six years I have built a global business and a corporate income that surpasses anything I could have ever imagined. My Forever income has allowed me to privately educate my eldest, travel the world, drive dream cars, have our dream wedding, and it’s given us time to have two more children: Miles, one, and we have another on the way! I love being a stay-at-home mum, but I also love that I don't have to sacrifice a career to do that.

I have spent the last few years building myself up, something I know is invaluable, and although I have a lot of friends who are sceptical, once I talk people through the Marketing Plan and the stability of the company, even if it isn’t right for them, they seem to come around.

I started this business as a baby and have become someone I’m truly proud of. Forever will never just be a job for me, and the people I work with will never just be people I work with; Forever is my life, and I will always be passionate about sharing this opportunity.

"For the past six years I have built a global business and a corporate income that surpasses anything I could have ever imagined."

I came out of school with a D as my highest GCSE and I was incapable of committing to even one year of college. At sixteen I went straight into an office administration role, but I only lasted a week! I picked myself up and tried again and landed a customer service role. This time six months went by, but then I was in the same situation, booted out for the better of the company! This pattern lasted for the years that followed.

I have dyslexia, ADHD and I’ve suffered with depression for a number of years. I can articulate and hold a good conversation so I don’t often come across like someone diagnosed with dyslexia, but I've always struggled to stay on task. I get distracted easily and time slips through my fingers. Writing is difficult and takes me a long time, and to concentrate on something is really hard work for me. These things, along with terrible time-keeping and a worse attitude, put a strain on me progressing in life.

When I was twenty-two I decided I was better suited to self-employment. I entered a modelling competition and for the first time I knew what I wanted. I moved to London to pursue it properly and through the jobs I received I met some incredible people, gained great experience and it was something I could pick up when I wanted. Unfortunately I just didn’t have the drive to push myself so I ended up returning to the office. After a year and a half I had had enough; I was tired and underpaid and I was also slipping into deeper depression.

I went to Bethan as a shell of my former self. For the first time in three years I was ready to listen to her. I had no idea if I could do it and I lacked self-belief, but I had nothing to lose. I wanted to learn and see if the business could do all the things it promised.

The more I worked the business and developed myself as a person, the more obvious it became that I had to make some serious life choices. In the space of a week I left my relationship, my home, a mortgage, the city, attended a funeral, and I helped my Nan through depression. Forever became a focus away from everything else, and I put all my efforts into helping, advising and guiding my team. My upline’s advice and dedication to me and my team kept me strong and excited, and I absolutely adore where my life is headed. I chose to believe the impossible was possible and now I’m proud to say I’ve found something I can, and will, commit to.

FUELLED BY FITNESS

I joined the business through my love of the products and at that time I was also training to be a personal trainer, a job which I thought would fit around the children and mean I didn't have to give up my passion – fitness! I'd been a stay-at-home mum for six years at this point; I was lucky as I didn’t have to work, but I really missed my financial independence and that sense of providing for the family.

I spent the first year retailing, mainly the sports and weight management products, and I built a great retail business, but I was petrified when it came to building a team. I had little belief that anyone would listen to me and I worried about their opinions, so I sat happily at Supervisor for about ten months. Then, in February 2014, my third child was born and everything changed.

I met up with my upline who gave me a small nudge and I left that meeting with self-belief, a fire in my belly and a huge desire to have something more. I spent a lot of time working with my team, working on my self-development and learning to get better in all areas of the business, and I’ve developed a passion for helping others and seeing in them something they don't. I have recently separated from my husband and it’s been incredibly challenging, but Forever has given me the financial stability to start my life again. I now work Forever around three beautiful children and I've still not had to give up on my fitness passion. In fact, Forever has enabled me to achieve more. The products have changed my performance in the gym – I use Forever Aloe Vera Gel, Forever Arctic Sea and Argi+ daily, and Forever Pro X2 bars and Forever Lite Ultra are also staple snacks in my life.

I use my attitude to training in the gym to benefit my mindset in the business. When you want to achieve a goal in the gym you have to dedicate time to learning how that’s done, you have to be passionate and fired up enough so that the goal is tunnel vision, and you have to take daily consistent action! There will be tough days where you feel it’s not possible, but you just support yourself with a good coach who encourages you, and when you are training in the gym at times when others are out socialising, you hear things like 'lighten up' or 'you're crazy', but you go even on the days you don't want to because the goal is that important to you – my success in Forever has been down to applying this exact mindset to my business!

PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF

I have been a multisport athlete for a number of years but in 2015 I suffered a serious injury that set me back by nearly eight months. During this time I had an operation that forced me into a sedentary lifestyle. I lost all fitness, put on over two stone in weight, and I was seriously unhealthy when Forever found me in June 2015…

Whilst in recovery I began to slowly build my business, develop relationships and learn more about the opportunity, but I was still in no position to drive or do anything active. I found myself in a serious rut: I had been made redundant from my job as a teacher, I was unable to do any serious manual work, and I was slowly drifting into depression. I had to do something so in October I set myself the challenge to get back to peak fitness within five months – I wanted to be ready in time for the Great British European Duathlon Championships in Kalkar, Germany. I threw myself into a rigorous regime of training and daily supplementation. I started with the C9 and then built on my fitness and weight loss by integrating products such as Forever Aloe Vera Gel, Argi+, Forever Lite Ultra and Forever Therm into my exercise schedule. As each month passed my fitness, strength and speed improved, my resting heart rate dropped, and my threshold capabilities developed. By the time the Team GB European Championships were in sight, I had increased my power averages on my bike by 30% and my average run paces were at a point I had never
reached before – even pre-injury! I went into the competition with less than six months’ training and I managed to come out with a bronze medal. When I arrived back in the UK I decided to give the National Standard Distance Duathlon Championship a go. I didn’t have long to train but I had Argi+, Forever Freedom and Forever Lite Ultra on my side and I managed to leave with a silver medal!

This business has also benefited me as a sport and triathlon coach; it’s been helpful having a base of products that uphold the same values – ethical, natural, healthy – and Forever is now an intrinsic part of my life. My athletes, clients and community have seen first-hand the transformation in my own health and fitness, and many of them have had similar (and often better) results. Being able to discuss my experience of the C9 and F.I.T. programme has been essential in forming relationships and supporting clients on their own journeys, but this is all just the beginning! In July next year I plan to work with Global F.I.T. Ambassador Mike Butterworth and undertake seven ironman triathlons in seven days, and I'll be utilising a whole range of Forever products to ensure success.

"Forever is now an intrinsic part of my life."

Living the dream by Julianna Woods – Sapphire Manager

Julianna Woods has been involved in Forever since 2009, but in the beginning she had to overcome her self-doubt, and believe that her dreams really could become reality…

How has your life changed since becoming an FBO?
Before Forever I was working as a team leader for Lloyds TSB Insurance, but the role didn’t provide the security and flexibility I was looking for; ultimately I wanted to be my own boss. I honestly don’t know where I would be today if I was still working for Lloyds; my previous partner left me with £33,000 worth of debt and there is no way I would have been able to pay that off on my previous income. Plus the financial constraint would have meant I’d struggle to start a family. Now I’m about to get married, I’m completely debt-free, my monthly income is double what my annual salary used to be, and I am able to give my children everything, including being around for them at home.
Today my life is unrecognisable: I am living in my dream house, driving amazing cars, and I honestly don’t have a worry in the
world. Forever has given me complete peace of mind. Sometimes, when I think about my life, I think I’m dreaming; any minute I’ll wake up and be back in reality. So when I do actually digest that it is real, and it is happening to me – a little girl who now lives on the side of a mountain in Pontypool – I can’t help but burst into tears. It’s so overwhelming.

Was your progression to Sapphire an easy achievement?
It definitely took a lot of hard work and dedication. I had to work on myself – my mind-set and self-belief – but I think the activities surrounding recruitment are actually fairly simple. Working on my inner-self was certainly the hardest part for me to overcome since I grew up in a family that constantly struggled; I just couldn’t get used to the idea of having more than I’d always known. I learnt a lot from Dave O’Connor and Natalie Heeley; they helped me believe that it was within my grasp. I still have to work on my mind-set every day; I’m not the finished article (I doubt I ever will be), but I am more discerning about the way I think and the way I manage my time with people. I never ever thought that I’d have a life like I am living; I just didn’t think stuff like this would happen to people like me.How do you motivate your team?I don’t necessarily think you can motivate anyone; to be honest, to really succeed, I think they need to be willing and have that drive in them. But what I do think you can do is inspire someone. Encouraging others to find out what their goals and dreams are can really release someone into the business, and helping them to build up their mind-set, so that they believe in themselves, will enable them to realise that they can achieve anything if they put their mind to it.
What useful advice would you like to share?
My advice will always be to stay active:
continue to contact five brand new people a day, be persistent and consistent, and come from a place of contribution – I always try to take myself off the agenda so that others can reach their full potential. But most of all remember that your mind-set is the most important aspect; it is this thatcan have significant influence on you and your success.

Life can be unpredictable, unwelcome challenges can often be thrown our way, but it’s often how we choose to handle these situations that will then shape our future…

When we first started Forever in March 2013, our plan was to buy a home in the South of France. We had this set for August and Forever was going to help pay off our outstanding debt in order to get us there. However, unfortunately our situation changed when my dad was diagnosed with cancer in the June. Then, in July, I went for an early pregnancy scan which detected a sizeable tumor, and suddenly our South of France dream was going to have to stay exactly that; a dream.
Since signing up I had worked the business well and I hit Assistant Manager within three months. My sales were good and the money was welcomed from the team-leading bonuses, but these unfortunate circumstances sent me into a downward spiral; my focus shifted from the team to self-pity. The flights that were booked for our move turned into a holiday and once home I returned to work – a forty-hour week for no more than minimum wage! I was heavily pregnant, maternity leave was looming and we had no savings. A short while later I found myself watching Louise Perry tell her story at a Success Express event. As I listened I was an emotional wreck, but it hit home: if there is anything that will support my family should anything happen, it is Forever. I reconnected with my upline, Jaime Cayzer, and we set out a plan. I worked the business religiously knowing that whatever I put in I would get back tenfold. Fast forward twelve months and my health is good, our business has gone from strength to strength and, by working with the support of the team and by helping them achieve their goals, I progressed up the Marketing Plan and achieved several incentives along the way. What this business has offered us is life-changing and being able to share it with friends is an amazing feeling. Now we live in confidence, knowing that the South of France is no longer a dream – it’s a goal; a goal that we are back on track to achieve.