Family Business

Family business

    
      Every year when my husband and I are ready to go out for our summer, I get asked by multiple people, “Are you going with him?” When I first heard this I thought it was the craziest question ever. When we signed up for this job I believed “we” signed up for it, not just him. 

    
     Some of you may not be able to come out at the first of the summer, stay until the end, or even come out at all. That doesn’t mean you can’t be the biggest cheerleader for your business with your husband/ significant other.  You have the potential and opportunity, no matter where you are, to become a huge support in making your family business successful.

Here are some ideas to making your summer career more of a “family business.” What are some of your ideas?

- Get involved

·               If you make an incentive board for your significant other, throw in some incentives for you. A new shirt, or twenty bucks for each of you when he hits a certain level.

·      Bake for the team

·      Clean the office

·      Cut some fruit for the team to before/after the meeting

- Stay Positive

·       Keep busy and positive. Positive attitude will always have a great influence on your business, come what may.

·       Encourage your other half to keep working hard even though you may secretly want them to come home a half an hour earlier. 

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

― Helen Keller

Local Eats

Traveling and living all over the US is a great way to try all sorts of different foods. I LOVE FOOD. period. One of my favorite things ever is to try different dishes and local restaurants wherever we live and visit. This year we were lucky enough (again) to get to live in the big state of Texas and not only do we get to have BBQ here, but we are on the coast as well and get to have seafood too! Best of both worlds right?! My recent favs have been Rudy's Famous Creamed Corn, Shrimp Po' Boys, and Cobbler!

I'm all about easy when we are out for the summers especially since the hubs gets home so late I want to have dinner nice and warm when he gets home. So me and my crock pot are best of friends. The first weekend we got out here we had Rudy's cater a BBQ for us and I fell in love with their creamed corn and even told my mom it was better then hers (oops). So I just had to find their recipe and share it with you all.

Rudy's Famous Creamed Corn

2 lb corn kernels, frozen

1 - 8oz cream cheese - cut into chunks

1/2 stick butter

1 Tbsp sugar

1/4 c  whipping cream

salt and pepper to taste

 Mix all ingredients and put in a crock pot and cook on low till the cream cheese and butter are melted. Stir occasionally.

This next recipe is for Shrimp Po' Boys (courtesy of Emeril Lagasse) and it would be so fun eating these bad boys around a fire at the beach or just picnicking it with your husband late at night on the living room floor. (hey, it's hard to get out with kids, so you just have to improvise for date nights).

Shrimp Po' Boys

Vegetable oil, for frying

1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

3 tablespoons Essence, recipe follows

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3/4 teaspoon cayenne

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal

2 small French bread loaves, each about 10-inches long

4 tablespoons melted butter

1/4 cup mayonnaise, or more to taste

Red pepper sauce

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 large ripe beefsteak tomato, thinly sliced

Sliced dill pickles, optional

Hot sauce, for serving, optional

Potato chips, for serving, optional

Directions

Heat the oil in a large sauce pan or preheat a deep fryer to 360 degrees F. Season the shrimp with 1 tablespoon of the Essence, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the cayenne. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour and cornmeal and season with the remaining 2 tablespoons of the Essence, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne. Dredge the shrimp in the seasoned flour mixture, coating the shrimp completely. Fry the shrimp in the hot oil, in batches if necessary, until golden brown, stirring constantly, about 4 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on a paper-lined plate. Season with salt and hot sauce. Split the French bread loaves in half and brush both cut sides of the bread with some of the melted butter. Using a spatula, spread the mayonnaise on both sides of the bread, then sprinkle with hot sauce. Divide the shrimp evenly between the 2 sandwiches and garnish with the lettuce, tomato slices, sliced pickles and hot sauce, if desired. Serve with potato chips.

Emeril's ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast):

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried thyme

Did I say I love dessert? I usually have to end each meal with something sweet to keep me happy.  My husband hates most sweet things but the one thing he can't get enough of is Peach Cobbler! So, it's definitely a staple in our house and I usually have to make two of these, one for sharing and one for just him! It's THAT good!

Southern Peach Cobbler

 8 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges

 1/4 cup white sugar

 1/4 cup brown sugar

 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

 2 teaspoons cornstarch

 1 cup all-purpose flour

 1/4 cup white sugar

 1/4 cup brown sugar

 1 teaspoon baking powder

 1/2 teaspoon salt

 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

 1/4 cup boiling water

MIX TOGETHER:

 3 tablespoons white sugar

 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.

Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.

Its been so fun trying the local Texan foods while living here. We would LOVE to know where you are living and what new exciting foods you have tried and share with us your recipes!!

Elevate Wife Highlight!

Megan, tony, and Rocky Lee

This is my 4th year doing summer sales!! I've been an office assistant twice, had a summer with no wives and no car, and last summer I only got to see my husband for 3 weeks because I had a baby and he was traveling, living in hotels. Each of those summers we were with 3 other companies. I can honestly say that it is a relief and blessing to be with Vivint. No other company has given our family this amount of support, let alone any support to the wives.  I love all of the competitions and activities that we do with ELEVATE! It makes the summer go by faster and makes for fun memories! :)
 What I have learned and what helps me be the best wife during the summer is just going with the flow.  As women, it is very hard to accept change. -Especially without notice... And that is what summers are all about :) It's hard not to freak out when you find out you have to move, or that your beds aren't there yet, or your husband has to go stay in a hotel away from you. DEAL WITH IT! I say that in the nicest way possible. I've come to realize that the summers are about the husbands, (the rest of the year we can be more selfish haha). If an area will make them sell better, then go there. The more willing we are to roll with the punches and smile when it's not something we want to do, the better. I know my husband has told me multiple times how much he appreciates me being so easy going about everything, (in my head I am not so easy going...) but in all reality it's only a few months!! I love traveling around and being a tourist!! Take advantage of not having yard work!  I love being a Vivint wife :) xoxo Megan

Mid-Summer Move

Are you about to make a mid-summer move -- or did you just finish making the trek to your new area?  Maybe you are bouncing around a few times this summer.  Regardless of how, when, or why - a move in the summer represents both a challenge and an opportunity! (Doesn't it feel like that is the way it is with a lot of things in this job??)

I've had two different experiences with the mid-summer moves, and we will be coming up on another one in the next month.  They were pretty opposite experiences - one planned and expected, the other not planned and a little more hectic.  The important thing to keep in mind is that everything is an opportunity and our attitude makes all the difference in what is created from any situation.  Knowing beforehand that you will be moving helps you to pack light and be prepared to go to a new city...hopefully one with new and fun experiences!  But if you find yourself in a position of unexpected traveling, or heading somewhere else when you'd rather stay where you are...try to remember it will all be over in a few months and to make the most of now.

Here are a few pro's that I have noticed in moving throughout the summer:

-It breaks up the four months of summer into shorter segments. When we have had one half of our summer in an area, and then we move to a new one end of June, we all know that we are at the halfway mark, and it seems like things really start to fly by.  Sooner than I expect it, we are packing up and heading home!

-Gives everyone a good "reset".  The team seems to be more focused, and the short time left to reach goals seems to be an exciting challenge.  It gives that fresh start that some people are looking for, and provides lots of opportunity for the team to bond and push forward to have the strongest finish possible!

-New places to see and things to do!  Even though it can be hard to leave the newfound comforts and favorites of your current city, it is a rare opportunity to get to know so many places like we do in summer sales!  Pushing yourself to find the new restaurant, shop, park, walk, museum, or bakery makes the most of it!

How do YOU make the most of your mid-summer moving?  Share your fun ideas and tips to make the most of this summer experience!  

Summer Reading

The first thing we do each summer is find the local library and get a card.  You normally have to show proof of address which can be hard if you don't get mail.  I usually use my Netflix dvds as proof.  It is a great place to go to get out of the heat too.  Depending on your area, most libraries have great summer reading and other programs for kids too!  Don't forget you can check out movies too.

I love to read!  The slow paced life of the summer allows me to read lots of books.  The summers can sometimes be stressful, and for me, reading is the perfect escape.  I love being in another world while I am reading.  It allows me to forget about any frustrations I may have for a few hours.  As soon as my kids are in bed, most nights I pull out my books and read until my husband comes home.

 

End of summer tip: Every summer before we leave for our long drive home, I go to the library and check out a few audio books.  I put them on my itunes and have great books to listen to on the way home.  I usually delete them when I am done.  Then I don't feel guilty about having them on my computer!

Here are two series of books I have read recently and am reading right now.  They are easy reads that I loved!

Have you read any good books lately!?  

Please leave a comment and share your good reads with everyone!

Appreciation Day

My husband has enjoyed Appreciation Day for the past 9 years. The idea came to me our first summer selling as a newlywed. It happened to be a good one... so it quickly became a tradition! It's not his birthday.  It's not a holiday, or an anniversary. It comes randomly as a surprise during the summer every year and lasts from the moment he wakes up to the minute he falls asleep. The whole day is about making sure he knows I value all his hard work and appreciate his sacrifices. I am always looking to find new and creative ways to celebrate every year...so if you have any fun ideas, send them my way!

In my experience, this is not only something that my husband LOVES, but it's a day that I love. Taking the time to be grateful, to pay attention to the wonderful person he is, to plan and prepare surprises and gifts for him -- it all makes me love him even more. It makes me realize how lucky I truly am! 

I always encourage friends, family, and women in my office to do the same for their husbands!

Now that you know the 'why'... here is an excerpt from the manual on the "how":

Appreciation Day

"Every summer, choose one random day to surprise your husband with, "(His Name) Appreciation Day".  This is a tried and true favorite, and an idea every wife in summer sales could definitely do!  It is so fun for both of you.  This is a nine year tradition for Andrea Taylor, and her husband, BJ Taylor.  She still finds ways each year to make it fun and unique.  
Ideas include starting off with breakfast in bed, and a few small gifts.  You could create a video montage of all the reasons why he is appreciated, or writing an article about his work with Vivint and submitting it to Insider.  Spend the morning together doing something he loves, and when he leaves for his meeting, get busy making a treat for the whole office.  You can take them to the office at the end of correlation and let everyone know how lucky they are to work with such a great guy.  You could hide other gifts in his car or trunk, or even little notes in his binder!  Another great idea is leaving treats for his entire car group.  Each of these treats and gifts includes heartfelt sentiment for why he is appreciated and loved.  Other ideas are having friends text bomb him about how amazing he is, or doing the same idea of Facebook.  Wives who are holding down the fort at home could send a package with different little packages or cards inside for him to open at various points throughout the day!  
The working day is left undisturbed, but as soon as he comes home, you can whisk him away for a late dinner and movie, or be waiting with other fun surprises and a date night at home.  One of the best parts of this is to be reminded of all the things your husband works so hard to provide, and to totally surprise him.  The possibilities to this are endless!
It does take some planning and effort, but it doesn't have to be expensive, and the rewards far exceed what it takes to make the day happen.  Imagine how much harder your husband will work when he knows that his efforts are truly appreciated!"

There is no right or wrong way when you are letting someone know you appreciate what they do for you.  Find a way to make this idea work for you!  
Dani found a blog that details a 30-day Husband Appreciation Challenge, which is a fun variation on the idea:

http://theeverydayjoys.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-day-husband-appreciation-challenge.html

Brittany and her team in Texas are planning a Rep Appreciation Week in July.  She will post details of that event in the coming weeks!

Any of these are fun, creative ways to let your husband know you love him and notice how hard he works for you.  I promise the expression of appreciation will be reciprocated...maybe not in the same thoughtful, thorough, grandiose manner -- but he will certainly love feeling loved.

What are some ways YOU show your appreciation?  What are some of YOUR best practices and traditions?  We want to hear!  Keep the conversation going! 

INTRODUCTIONS

Elevate hosted a May Raffle that 47 teams and 550+ women participated in! We LOVED getting to know everyone better. 

The Vivint Wives Committee will be contributing to this blog as authors and we would like to introduce you to our team! We also want to introduce you to the format and goal of this blog so that you can better utilize it as a resource! 

Who we are...

• Stacy Hansen
• Lauren Schreiner
• Dani Stoneman
• Christina Harrison
• Brittany Durfey 
• Shannon Brown
• Kristy Nukaya
• Andrea Taylor

Our goal...

• Help unify and support the wives and families working with the summer program
• Join the conversation by emailing us or commenting below posts. 

Meet our team

Andrea Taylor

I'm the director of Elevate and am passionate about this program. I've been overwhelmed by the amount of gratitude and praise the women of Elevate (you) have given me. THANK YOU for your support, confidence and encouragement. 

This week the Elevate team has been collaborating about how to make this blog  a useful resource for you. I've been contacted by so many of you about ways we can share ideas, have real conversations, and better support one another. We hope this blog will be a step in the right direction. 

Please know you are encouraged to contact us with questions, comments, and suggestions.  

Christina Harrison
This is my 5th summer on the technician side of the summer program. My husband is a lead technician and we often joke that we are "lifers" with this company. We love the summer program and the opportunities that it has given our little family. My husband and I will celebrate our 4th anniversary in September and welcome our first baby.
I am excited about Elevate and its ability to unify and support. This blog is another way we hope to reach out to the families of summer sales.
This summer my goals are to: learn how to quilt, crochet, and coupon. In past summers, I have learned cake decorating, sewing basics, jewelry making, cooking techniques, and other random crafty projects. I end the summers feeling equally relaxed (from long pool days) and accomplished from the skills I have picked up.

Stacy Hansen

I have been in the summer sales industry with my husband for 9 years.  I have been in all the different wife roles.  From working full time in our summer area, to being the OA, to being a non-kid wife, to now being a mom summer wife.  Each of those different roles have helped me grow and appreciate everything we have and make the most out of our crazy summers!  I now look forward to our simple life we have during the summer and try to have as much fun as possible where ever we are.  Hopefully something I share will help all of you make the best of your summers too!



Kristy Nukaya
This is my 4th summer. My husband is an operations manager (lead tech) I often tell people that the work he does is not just a job, its a lifestyle. With my husband working for this company, it has given me many opportunities to choose how I want to spend my summers. I have been the full-time working wife, the single family wife without kids to being a full-time mom. They have all been completely different experiences so I feel like I have a lot to share and I have a good understanding of different ways to make the summers more enjoyable. I'm so thrilled to be apart of Elevate and this journey we are all taking together! The summer sales team I am a part of has such a strong, tight knit group of women and I love the relationships we have formed and the wonderful people I have met through this journey.  I hope the things I share on this blog will help you better unite in your offices and form stronger bonds as the women of Elevate!

Brittany Durfey
This is my 4th summer, but sometimes I say it is my 6th because I feel like the summers I dated and was engaged to my husband should count too, ha ha. My husband is a sales manager in the Houston South office and we are absolutely loving the summer so far. We are expecting our first baby August 2nd, and couldn't be more excited for her arrival. I never thought I would have a Texan baby :). I graduated with my bachelors this last semester in Speech, Communication from Utah Valley University. I love to cook, spend time outdoors, run, swim, sing, play games, and be with my family and friends. I absolutely LOVE the summers! I have had some of the most amazing and rewarding experiences from being a summer sales wife. I hope all of you women will also love your experience!  It is my hope that each of you will be able to learn and grow from the things we post on this blog and from the Elevate program as a whole. We care about each of you, and want success for everyone!

Lauren Schreiner
I am so excited about this blog, and getting to know more of you out there!  It has been really fun to start building relationships with other women in the company, and to see the amazing network of support we can be for each other.  A little about me...I married my favorite person six years ago - which is also when we started this job, back in the days of APX.  It has definitely been one of the biggest blessings in our life together, and has also provided countless growing opportunities for me.  It has helped me to learn and stretch myself in ways I probably wouldn't have in any other situation, and I am grateful for that.  We have two little boys who keep me busy and entertained.  A few of my favorite things are being able to spend time with my family, the outdoors, food, photography, travel, and good laughs.  I love being a part of the Elevate team, and hope these posts can help spark ideas, relate to your situation, and enhance your experience with this crazy wonderful summer sales ride we are all on!

Dani Stoneman
I love having this opportunity to share with you and learn from each of you about how to support ourselves and our families to excellence. Between my husband and I we have 13 years working for Vivint! We’ve loved watching the company grow. We’ve worked summers lead teching and being an OA, and have spent our off seasons working at corporate in NIS, licensing and Vivint Gives Back. Our first summer together was in Philadelphia, where I grew up. Since then we pray every year we’ll get to go back and relive our first summer together. We have a 2 year old daughter and a 6 month old son. They have definitely added some challenges and plenty of adventures to our summers, but it couldn’t be more rewarding! I love traveling with my family, cooking, scrapbooking and planning events and parties. I am so excited to work with Elevate and get to know each of you beautiful women! I hope that this blog and all that Elevate does can help support, motivate, and elevate each of you!

Shannon Brown

Even though I had lived thousands of miles from home before, when I first heard about this type of industry back in 2006 I couldn’t picture myself living my married life anywhere but in Idaho where my home and school were. I had no idea what to expect. This is now my 8th summer out as a “summer sales” gal. My husband has been a co- manager and manager for 6 of those summers. Stressful- yes! Rewarding- Absolutely! I have loved exploring the country. My favorite place so far has been St. Louis, Missouri. While I am out for the summers I like to run, swim, enter races, garage sales, shop, hang with the other wives, quilt, scrap book, and especially go hiking and to flee markets. This year I have tried crossfit and I am running my first Triathlon! My baby (17 months old) and I have also enjoyed finding lots of rocks on our walks and have enjoyed the beauty of the parks around us. I am excited to be a part of the Elevate team. We collaborate often to find ways to make the summer girls feel special, and help them to see that they are truly appreciated by this company. This blog is just one of the many avenues we have chosen give support.