Social Media Archives - Blue Bottle Passion

May 14, 2021 by Sue Leave a Comment

United in Freedom We Stand

Our freedom is under attack. Current issues are seriously dividing us when we should be pulling together. Issues that concern all of us, whether Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. Issues that should unite us as we find lots of common ground to build on.

Censorship

Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of all our freedoms. How do you have a healthy debate, when only one narrative is allowed? You may think this is okay, if your side isn’t censored. Whether you agree or disagree with those who are being censored, you have a right to all of the information.

Important issues including Hydroxychloroquine, mask wearing, vaccines, Hunter’s laptop, where the Covid virus started, and potential election fraud are being censored. Numerous conservatives, doctors and holistic medicine providers, religious organizations, conservative news organizations, the New York Post and President Trump have all been censored, banned or had accounts suspended from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google searches. You may think that’s only because they are spreading disinformation, right? Who’s deciding what constitutes disinformation and should be censored? Doctor Seuss is bad, but pedophilia is fine. Terrorists are allowed to post and plan on Twitter. Shouldn’t you have the right to decide for yourself? Censorship on social media leads to censoring books, publishing, television, radio, and on and on.

Facebook and Twitter are currently censoring what they consider disinformation regarding vaccines. The problem is, they are spreading misinformation themselves. Facebook’s community guidelines assert that its users may not state “that COVID-19 vaccines have not been approved.” However, it is accurate to state that there is no approved COVID-19 vaccine. During a public health emergency, the FDA can use its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority to allow the use of unapproved medical products, or unapproved uses of approved medical products, to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases when certain criteria are met, including that there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives. The FDA’s emergency use authorizations (EUA) for the COVID-19 vaccines states that: “This product has not been approved or licensed by FDA, but has been authorized for emergency use by FDA.” It is, in fact, a violation of federal law to claim that any COVID-19 vaccine is approved, yet Facebook’s guidelines permit claiming it is approved (which is false) and prohibit claiming it is not approved (which is true).

That is what happens when an unknown entity, which may or may not have a conflict of interests, is allowed to arbitrarily censor. It’s your decision whether you choose to vaccinate or not, but it’s just plain wrong to not have access to accurate and complete information regarding the risks vs. benefits.

Medical Freedom

Censorship leads us to the issue of vaccines, and in particular the Covid-19 injection, a gene therapy which delivers a synthetic, inorganic molecule that programs your immune system to synthesize spike proteins. It’s technically not a vaccine. The issue of whether one chooses to get this injection is hugely personal. The current Covid-19 injections were developed with cells originally obtained from aborted fetuses. Clinical trials for the Covid-19 injection won’t be completed until 2023, yet there is pressure to administer this to everyone, even children, pregnant women, and those with medical and autoimmune conditions that could likely be harmed by it.

Some colleges are mandating this in order to attend in the fall. Think of it. How can you mandate something that hasn’t even completed clinical trials? The manufacturers have no liability for potential harm the injections cause. Have you listened to the possible side effects for other prescription drugs on TV?

But what about herd immunity and the greater good? Before clinical trials are completed, do we really know whether the greater good is served by getting or refusing the injection? If this experimental jab becomes required, what about variants, and boosters next year? Do you really want to be a human guinea pig every year? What about other potential forced procedures for you and your children? I feel nothing is more important than freedom over our own bodies. When there hasn’t been long term testing, you don’t have informed consent. We do not want to mandate experimental procedures.

Election Integrity

Fundamental to all of our rights is election integrity. When people start getting banned from social media for questioning the integrity of our elections, it’s a huge red flag. Think about it. No one was banned after the 2016 election for questioning the results. Seems like that went on for years. 2020 comes along, and all of a sudden the same people that questioned the voting machines in 2016 tell us there has never been a more secure election. Why isn’t it possible to bring members of both parties together to examine the results, once and for all? If your favorite candidate won, great! But have you ever wondered how some of these politicians keep getting re-elected, year after year, for over 40 years?

Unbiased News

I’m so old, I remember when we had no idea whether the news anchor was more conservative or liberal, or who they might vote for. When both sides of an issue were presented equally. When newspapers kept their opinions to the editorial pages. Anonymous sources were verified. In recent years our news has turned into something that is no longer recognizable as news. Fear-mongering, divisiveness, rumor spreading, lies – that’s not news. We deserve to have facts presented to us in an unbiased manner. We don’t deserve to have propagandists masquerading as journalists intentionally inciting hate and divisiveness, and we don’t deserve news controlled by advertisers and sponsors. If it is, it needs to be disclosed.

United in Freedom

My hope is we can get to the point where we are united in freedom once again, but we have to be able to have discussions and listen to each other. We don’t have to agree on everything. We do need to protect our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We have to be able to question everything. We have to follow the money. Covid-19 restrictions and censorship on social media has made having those discussions difficult. We all want the same things. Freedom to live, work, worship, raise our families in safety and the way we choose. I pray we find a way to unite once again.

Thinking about downsizing your home? Read about our journey here.

September 30, 2020 by Sue 4 Comments

Are You the Target Audience?

Social media is something I look forward to spending a bit of time with (well too much, actually) every day. During divisive times, social media changes and instead of being fun can cause anger, hurt, and worse.

Sometimes I post something, and I know not every one of my friends or followers will agree. I understand we support different causes, or candidates or whatever. If you post something about a candidate and I support the other candidate, that is absolutely fine. If I post something about the candidate I support know that my post was intended for anyone still on the fence. As a conservative leaning person, I see everyday how those types of posts are censored and shadow-banned on social media, and my hope by sharing is to help make additional information available.

Sometimes I see things that I think might give hope. I recently came across some figures about surviving coronavirus. I took a screen shot and shared it, thinking this was really good news

What I didn’t expect was to be jumped on and told this chart was bull and wishful thinking. I didn’t expect my post would cause anger and hurt. The reactions left me upset, so I deleted my post, and yet I feel I need to respond. I’m sure I’m not the only one this is happening to.

First of all the post is not bogus. The chart is on the CDC website and you can find the information here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/planning-scenarios.html If you don’t want to wade through the entire article, here is a screen shot of the portion these figures came from.

Now I realize survival ratios are not the entire coronavirus story. Over 200,000 deaths is horrible, yet even that is not the whole story.

After I posted a friend reached out to me privately and shared how devastating her experience with contracting coronavirus has been. I realize there is more to it than just surviving, and of course surviving does not mean it isn’t a serious disease with serious ramifications. But these figures above do not reflect the fear mongering we hear on the news every night, or the continuing restrictions on everyone’s lives and businesses.

I have had similar experiences when I shared optimistic information about hydroxychloroquine. Followers jumped on my post pointing out how ridiculous it was to think this could help with coronavirus, or how bogus my sources were. Hydroxychloroquine is another subject being censored on social media. Even doctors are not allowed to share experiences without being censored.

Now we are a month away from an extremely divisive election. People will be posting things you may not agree with. If your first instinct is to comment bull sh*t or add something nasty and hurtful to that post, or to criticize the source of their information, ask yourself, Am I the target audience for this post? Is my comment helpful? If every time you read someone’s posts it makes your blood boil, maybe you aren’t the target audience, and maybe it’s time to “Snooze” that person for 30 days. Facebook has a wonderful feature where all you do is look for the 3 dots in the upper right hand corner of their post and choose “Snooze for 30 days.” If you snooze someone soon, you won’t have to look at their posts practically until after the election.

Another thing to try is scroll by. We can ignore many things if we try. Posts that are a nasty attack on the candidate you support can be difficult to get past. That’s where Snoozing, and limiting social media time might help.

I will be giving more thought to what I share in the next month in particular. But keep in mind I use my social media for business as well as personal, and you may not be my target audience. Another great feature on Facebook, is the “like” button. If none of my social media audience click the “like” button, I get a clear message about my post. I even enjoy the occasional respectful debate of issues, but lately that doesn’t seem to happen.

The world would be a boring place if we all agreed on everything. Know that if you and I differ on important issues, I can respect you and love you, while disagreeing with you. We can agree we are blessed to live in a country where we are free to speak our mind, even if it means criticizing our leaders. We can agree on all the important things, like wanting the best for our families and our country. If we disagree on how to go about getting that, we can pray God helps us in the end. God bless America.

July 25, 2017 by Sue 1 Comment

What I Learned at the Neal’s Yard Remedies Conference

I love attending the Neal’s Yard Remedies Summer Conference. This year the conference was at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Hotel. Right off the bat I learned Orlando, Florida in July is hot, humid, and can downpour at any moment. So it follows if you go to Orlando in July, bring a flat iron and an umbrella.

It’s not possible to cover everything we learned that was packed into the Friday evening through Sunday early afternoon, but these were the highlights.

I already knew Neal’s Yard Remedies is an amazing family-owned business making products with natural and organic ingredients, free from harmful chemicals. I knew they never test on animals. I knew they trade ethically with their suppliers, protect the environment and wildlife. What I did learn was Neal’s Yard Remedies has partnered with Made Safe to certify these products are free of carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, GMOs, pesticides, harmful solvents, and toxic volatile organic compounds. There are plenty of products on the shelves calling themselves natural and organic, yet hiding ingredients behind trade secrets and fragrance. Third party certification is the only real test of how safe products are, and Made Safe is providing it.

New Product Introductions

New product introductions and a new catalog are always exciting. Coming soon is an addition to the ever popular Bee Lovely line, as well as bee-utiful new packaging. There are some very special essential oils coming, including organic immortelle, neroli, and rose absolute. The Deliciously Ella products will include a limited edition body lotion and body wash. The skincare kits have been re-introduced with new packaging including a gorgeous, organic cotton bag. The holiday collection which will be available in October will include bath salts in three soothing and uplifting fragrances.

I was excited to hear about a partnership beginning with Credo Beauty. Neal’s Yard Remedies will have a limited range of products available in the Credo stores. Credo’s mission aligns very much with Neal’s Yard Remedies. How cool to be able to see these amazing products on their store shelves, and increase the brand recognition!

Karen Clark was a keynote speaker on social media. There is a ton of opportunity to get our personal brand as well as the Neal’s Yard Remedies brand out there. She stressed the importance of building relationships and serving. In other words, connecting with followers rather than collecting them.

Finally, Marianne Friedlund was introduced as Vice President of Sales and Training. Marianne has a background in direct sales and leadership that makes her a perfect fit for Neal’s Yard Remedies. She announced a future leader program that has had a 90% success rate for promoting leaders. Seriously! Count me in. Who wants to join me?

For more information about beginning your own organic business with Neal’s Yard Remedies check out this blog post. Continue the discussion on Facebook.

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May 30, 2017 by Sue Leave a Comment

Direct Sales is the Perfect Retirement Job

Direct sales or network marketing truly is the perfect job for retirement. Think about all the reasons for retiring. Working. Every. Single. Day. No control over what you do and when you do it, limited vacations, long commutes, driving to work in snow storms. You get the idea.

How about a job with complete control over what you do and when you do it? I’ve done direct sales off and on over the years starting back when I was a young mother. Direct sales fits so many situations well, but I think it is absolutely perfect for the retiree and soon to be retiree.

The first reason it’s an ideal job is the flexibility. You can truly work when you want, and as much or as little as you want. Full-time, part-time, you’re the boss of you! Heading to Arizona for a month? No problem! You can work your business from where you are, or put it on the back burner.

The second reason is the money. It’s true. Once you’re on a fixed income, you don’t feel as comfortable spending money as you once did. Bringing in some extra money lets you plan that winter vacation, look at replacing the car, take the grandkids to Yellowstone National Park, or even splurge on that designer bag without feeling guilty. When you choose to represent a company with products you love and use, you save money by getting it at a discount.

The third reason is incentives. Not everyone is money motivated, but dangle an awesome free product for hitting a sales goal, or even an incentive trip, and I’m in! Most direct sales companies have a “Success Start” plan for your first three months, and not only does it help get you off and running, but you begin to FEEL like a success!

Reason four is the social aspect. From my very first summer conference I’ve connected with fellow Neal’s Yard Remedies consultants and continued wonderful relationships through Facebook, texting and phone. This year I’m looking forward to meeting my “accountability partner” in person. (She ended up being more accountable than me, but that’s a different story.) I’ve met some wonderful women through local networking events, vendor events, even online direct sales Facebook groups. Just ask me if I can steer you to a Lularoe, Norwex or Stampin’ Up consultant, and I’ll point you in the right direction.

The last reason is mental health. Working my business gives me a reason to get going in the morning. I would rather write a blog post than clean out a closet, or clean anything for that matter. If you choose well, you are passionate about your products and/or business. I enjoy learning new ways of promoting my business on social media and creating graphics to share my message. I love learning new aspects of marketing my business.

There are many other reasons to consider retirement direct sales jobs. If you have a hobby or cause that’s near and dear to your heart, you can probably find a company that will align with your beliefs. For more information about choosing a company read my POST about what to ask before choosing a company. For a list of direct sales companies, check out the members of the Direct Sales Association.

What do you plan to do in retirement? Let’s continue the conversation on FACEBOOK. I would love to answer any questions you have about the direct sales business in general, or Neal’s Yard Remedies in particular. Click on the SUE graphic below and let’s connect!

May 4, 2017 by Sue Leave a Comment

IF YOU ARE IN DIRECT SALES, WHY AREN’T YOU BLOGGING?

Have you ever thought about blogging? What is holding you back? Maybe you are wondering why anyone would read your blog, or do you really know enough about anything anyway. Several years ago I started blogging over on one of the free platforms. I’m pretty sure no one ever read those pearls of wisdom I put out there-even my mother. I soon lost interest because what’s the point of blogging if you don’t have any readers? It’s kind of like putting on a play without an audience.

As a direct seller I was blessed to discover Brenda Ster’s Socialite Suite group on Facebook. I purchased a couple of trainings from Sassy Suite, and was quite impressed, so when Blogging Boot Camp 4 was announced late in 2016 I was intrigued. I loved the idea of personalizing my own WordPress blog, and having a platform to share my passion for Neal’s Yard Remedies products and holistic, organic wellness, not to mention having another social media funnel for my business. Installing my own WordPress blog was a bigger challenge than I could handle on my own. The price of the course right before Christmas was a little steep for me, so I put it off. Right before the Blogging Boot Camp was set to begin, I came across some funds I had forgotten about in the amount I needed for the training. I took it as a sign I was meant to enroll.

What to Expect

Blogging Boot Camp offers 2 levels of service and training. In full setup we had the choice of 4 Genesis Framework themes installed for you, and you learn to personalize it. With full setup and design, there were 6 themes to choose from and extra, personalized branding and design coaching. The course is self-paced, and there is a private Facebook group for asking questions, sharing and getting to know the other Boot Campers. Full Setup and Design was already full, and I didn’t know the difference between widget and a plugin, so I signed up for Full Setup.

The training is divided into technical setup, and design which are pretty much one time activities, and content and promotion. Most lessons have a video explaining exactly how to complete each task. I have to admit I watched some of the videos several (six or seven!) times, as I did not grow up with technology. It will take several weeks to complete. When I make changes, I can go back and review the steps. I will have access to the course forever.

The Rewards of Blogging

Blogging Boot Camp has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences I’ve done in many years. Now I know what a Pretty Link and SEO are. I have more ideas for future blog posts than I have time to write. I cheer when a fellow Boot Camper’s blog goes live or they share a new post. As a life-long learner, I love figuring out how to solve each puzzle of my blog. If the technology piece is holding you back from blogging, I recommend signing up for Blogging Boot Camp the next time it’s offered. I still can’t explain the difference between a plugin and a widget, but I know how to make them work for me!

Check out Sassy Suite for current trainings below. Yes, this is an affiliate link, but don’t worry. I would recommend Sassy Suite whether I was an affiliate or not. I will make a small commission to keep this blog afloat should you click through and decide to sign up (with no cost to you) for any Sassy Suite trainings.

With so many bloggers out there, it’s hard to stand out. By taking Blogging Bootcamp through the Sassy Suite, your blog will look professional, and you will be equipped to keep it that way.

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February 16, 2017 by Sue 2 Comments

10 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE CHOOSING A DIRECT SALES COMPANY

Over the years I’ve been involved with more than my share of direct sales companies. I am a believer in the business model. At various times in my life, direct sales helped both financially and by providing a discount on products I loved, and worked well while my children were young. Here’s what I believe you should find out before signing up.

What is the cost of joining, and what does that get you? A huge red flag would be an expensive kit with little or no value. Another would be a huge commission to your sponsor just for signing you up. Neal’s Yard Remedies business kit provides an assortment of full sized products worth much more than the price of the kit, and pays no commission to the sponsoring consultant.
Is there an ongoing monthly expense, such as website fees? Your website is free with Neal’s Yard Remedies.
Are there monthly minimums or autoships to stay active or receive commission? No monthly minimums with Neal’s Yard Remedies. Once every 12 months a $100 retail order is required to remain active.
Is an inventory required? Do you have to deliver products? Customers can order directly from your replicated website and have their order delivered direct with flat-rate shipping.
How long has the company been in business? Is the product likely to remain in demand, or is it possibly a short-lived fad? Neal’s Yard Remedies started over 35 years ago, and demand for healthy organic products is increasing.
Will you need to replace your sample products seasonally because of major changes in the product line? Is your product a “consumable?” A small number of new products come out a couple of times a year. No need to replace sample products until you run out from demonstrating. Neal’s Yard Remedies are consumables, encouraging repeat business.
Are you allowed to have a Facebook business page and market your business online? Neal’s Yard Remedies encourages having Facebook business pages, Twitter, etc.
What is your commission and how many levels are you paid on? Do you receive a discount on personal purchases? Neal’s Yard Remedies has a very generous commission plan, and you do receive a discount on personal purchases.
Are there hosting benefits, and who pays for them? The consultant pays about $6.50 for the initial “Thank you” and “Hostess Exclusive” gifts, and the company pays for the rest of a very generous hostess plan. Consultants may take advantage of the hostess plan when they’re ordering $200 or more.
Are there catalogs, supplies, and samples, and what is the cost and shipping expense? Catalogs and business supplies are reasonably priced and are available for flat-rate shipping.

Finally, investigate the reputation of the business you are looking at. What is being said about them and their products? Is it a company that cares about people, animals and the planet? Doing your homework before you sign on the dotted line will pay off.

Be sure to join my VIP Group for all the latest Neal’s Yard Remedies news and specials!

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