We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Judi Griffin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Judi, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In order to be successful I feel you have to want to do for others and not for yourself. You have to think what others need or want and not about yourself. You do have to have goals but in order to reach those goals it becomes more about serving others. If I focus on a sale amount then it takes away from how I can serve someone else and then I don’t believe God blesses my business. When you genuinely focus on what others need, or how to put a smile on their face, or how to make a difference for them, then your business becomes blessed by God. It’s truly being genuine to others.

Judi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

To start I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 36 years and he is my rock. I have three incredible boys, 33, 31 and 27 and two daughters in loves. In order to explain how I got into the jewelry industry, you need to know the journey and my “why.” Tiny background. My mom was one of my everythings, and my best friend. I learned what unconditional love was from her. My dad was a very angry, mean, controlling man. I grew up with little confidence in myself due to what my dad did to me and what my mom did not. I knew I loved to love big because that made me feel good, but I didn’t realize that would make the hurt big too. I always wanted to make everyone happy I was the peace maker (which I think is the third child syndrome) which was always good for others but could be a nightmare for myself.

My mom got early on set-Alzheimer’s, and I spent every waking moment that I could with her and fighting for her because it turned out my dad was being abusive. It was a tough road. In 2008 we lost her and a part of me went with her. The boys were older and I was doing life on auto pilot. In 2016 the two older boys decided to move out as they were approaching adult life after college. From the above you can see I saw my purpose as being a caretaker and when life happened, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

That December before the boys moved out, God placed me where I needed to be and presented me with something that I would have never ever have chosen for myself. I walked into a coffee shop and there was jewelry everywhere. What is funny about this is I used to ask my friends to help me be a girl because with three boys and a husband, I wasn’t the jewelry type. While I was getting jewelry the gal asked if I wanted to have a party. My first thought was no but again God had different plans for me. At my show, I heard how much I could make and a lightbulb came on. Everything about this business was not me because I felt you needed confidence, you needed to speak in front of people and did I say you needed confidence haha. Well it turns out God didn’t have me in that coffee shop for jewelry, God had me there to find out who I was and that I’m not anything that my Dad told me I was but that I was more than enough. I found out really fast I am not a sales person but I do love to help others and make them smile. I have used this jewelry business to serve others. I’ve used it to help facilitate a reason for friends to get together, I used it to give people confidence in how they look. Let’s face it when we like how we look then we have confidence in ourselves. I’ve used the business to help others give gifts and the other thing that I love so much with this business, is I’ve used it to give to charities that people are so passionate about.

The line of jewelry I represent is called Park Lane. It is a family business and has been around since 1955. What they give to the hostesses and customers is who I am and 95% of the reason I joined. By being able to give this beautiful jewelry is exactly who I am and my need to serve.

I realize that God put me in that coffee shop to see the beautiful bling but he kept me there to find out who I was and to show me who I need to continue to be and with all that said, he has blessed me with this business.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

With our world being all about social media, I use that alot to keep in touch. The key I believe is to be invested. People post all the time and I take the time to comment and be engaged. If people like what you sell and they like you, they want to support you as much as you want to support them. Staying in front of them helps them to remember you and what you do. When new items come out, I know what people have purchased in the past so I let them know that the certain items remind me of them. When there are specials, I always let them know whether via text, email or social media. People appreciate being thought of and if they are in need, they will make that purchase with you.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I endured so much abuse growing up and that leaves you with little confidence as you grow up. I learned I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become. Through my business I learned everything I felt I was, was a lie and because I love to focus on others, it has helped me to see who I truly am in God’s eyes and I use that in my business every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: judisbling.com
• Instagram: judis_bling
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/judisblingVIP
• Other: https://linktr.ee/judisbling