We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dana Collins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dana below.

Dana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

As an independent contractor, there was a point where I didn’t think I could make the business work. I had built two teams that quit; they believed the business was just too hard. I called my mentor and told her I was quitting. Fortunately she didn’t react and had the good sense to call the president of the company for whom I was contracting. The president, Rita Davenport, called me and she said, “I heard you were going to quit you heifer.” I kid you not, the president called me a heifer – 3 times. Imagine being called a heifer by a company president? The thing was, I deserved it. During the course of our conversation I realized I was focused on all the wrong things – the numbers, the quitters, the no’s and I was starting to define myself by the things that weren’t working. Of course as Rita said to me, “What you think about, you bring about.” Rita also asked me what I was reading. I told her about the novel I was reading. She laughed (and called me a heifer) and said, “What are you reading to grow personally.” I started in business thinking, I was fine; I just needed to make money. Little did I understand that your business grows as fast as you do. There was a lot of growing I needed to do; especially in the area of leadership. Thankfully, Rita opened my eyes for me to see some of my blind spots. Through this interchange I became a student of my profession and leadership. Being called a heifer was the best thing she could have said to me.

Dana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started out in the Fashion industry, graduating from FIT. It was clear after a short stint in fashion, it was not a fit. What does one do with a degree in fashion and marketing? Corporate sales. I went to work for a Fortune 500 in sales. After being transferred to a failing West Coast branch, reviving that branch to become the top producing branch in the company; my boss called me into his office for a chat. Behind closed doors he told me privately he would give me complete credit for the branch’s turn around, but he would never do that publicly. He went on to say he didn’t like to work with women and would never promote me no matter how well I performed. As a self respecting 26 year old, I said a few choice words and quit.
Making the decision to move back home, I took a leap of faith that I would quickly find a job. After 6 months of intense interviews with one company, I finally got an offer. The stress of the process caused my skin to respond with eczema. My good friend and I were scheduled to go out and either celebrate or commiserate. Taking one look at my skin, she tactfully suggested we go to the esthetics conference in the city convention center. It was there that I met a woman named Phoebe Fournier who introduced me to Arbonne products. I immediately connected to the brand’s mission and value proposition. When she gave me the opportunity to experience the products, I had to make a purchase even though money was tight after 6 months without income. Phoebe also opened my eyes to the possibilities inherent in a network marketing business. Until that moment I thought these were businesses that woman did who wanted to make guilt free shopping money around raising their kids. I realized Phoebe had put 5 kids through expensive private schools and had traveled extensively with her family. However, I needed an immediate income. Two evenings later, I had dinner with my mother who looked like she was biting a lemon when I told her about the amazing job offer I received. Her response was unexpected. She asked me, “Where do you want to be in 5 years and if you take this job will it get you there?” That question was like a gut punch because I realized I had been climbing a ladder leaning against the wrong building. More than anything I wanted the flexibility to one day raise children AND have a great income. Until I met Phoebe, I didn’t think having both was an option. I then reached out to Phoebe and became an Arbonne independent consultant giving up a guaranteed income to pursue the life I wanted to live. I am grateful that I took this leap of faith and was willing to deal with the doubters, the naysayers, and everyone who. told me “those things never work”. In my career I have had the honor of helping other people build Arbonne businesses and chase their dreams. I have helped many mothers and fathers to build substantial business in their crazy busy lives so they could step away from long hours and commutes. I have helped more people than I can count take control of their diet, health, and skin. My business has allowed me to help woman across the globe because my success has given me an international speaking platform and the opportunity to write a best selling book on Network Marketing. Of all that I have accomplished, I am most proud of the 3 children I was able to raise and be present for at home and to this day.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Building a strong team takes time, but there are a few key things that are essential for team building. What I share is based on building a volunteer army. As Rita Davenport helped me understand, leadership is essential to building strong teams with high morale. A great leader has less to manage because people are inspired to do their absolute best for someone they respect. Managers major in minutia while leaders help the team see how each member fits within the greater vision. Leaders pursue excellence in themselves and set a high bar knowing their team is watching them and following their example. Leaders have a bias for productive action realizing they will make mistakes. Leaders know if they don’t make mistakes they won’t make anything. Leaders work habitually on their communication skills because clear communication is at the core of successful execution. Leaders understand they bring the energy to the team and this is what deterines. the team’s energy. Leaders don’t always feel excited – but a great leader understands a great attitude, belief in the team and its goals are choices. Leaders put on belief like they put on their pants. Leaders are readers and always working to improve themselves. Lastly leaders are trustworthy and have integrity to do the right thing even when its not easy or convenient. Trustworthy leaders give teams the ability to be able to be candid with the leader about why they are struggling, for example. A team member will open up for constructive feedback from someone they respect and trust. Lastly, leaders have to learn to live with being misunderstood and disliked. Respect is the greater goal. When your team respects you because you help them become their best, they don’t just like you – they love you.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The same things that create a strong leader are the same things that build a great reputation in the market.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dana-collins.com
• Instagram: dana_grace_collins
• Facebook: Dana Collins