Show Transcription: 

Jo

Welcome to the Business and Sequins podcast. I'm your host, Jo Blowfield. This podcast is for any woman who wants inspiration, practical help, and a big load of sparkle and the three areas of business, health or wealth. I have real life conversations with women who share their journey, their ups, downs, wins and challenges. If you want a bit of sparkle in your life through these great woman stories, then thank you so much for joining the business and sequence podcasts. Okay, well, 

 

Jo

Welcome to the Business and Sequins podcast. Today we've got a fantastic guest, we've got Julie Wilkes, who has worked extensively and travel specifically in the cruise sector, and thought the industry would be around forever. And she didn't quite factor in the global pandemic into her future. So she took the plunge and decided to try her hand at network marketing. And she has fallen head over heels in love with the industry and everything that comes along with it. She loves the close knit team environment, the huge personal development and the flexibility to create wealth around her family instead of the other way around. Now, she couldn't pay her to get a job. She just loves it that much. Jules was an inspiration in her network marketing business. She's paving a way for a global team. She certainly walks the walk and talks the talk and she's consistently ranking top for Australasia. She recently won an all expenses paid trip to Hamilton Island in Australia for her and her husband, and Jules has the ability to have big vision, while also nailing the small details that has put her in good state to be a game changer in the industry. I am so excited to have you on the show. Welcome, Jules.

 

Julie

Thank you so much, Jo. It's so good to be here. I feel really honored to be asked our 

 

Jo

Thank you so much.Um, you know, I am a huge fan of what you do in your business. I think that you know, you're just one of these. I think in a multi level marketing industry people call them Blue m&ms. And I yes, I think you are just a rainbow colored m&ms. That is just a beacon of inspiration. There's so many people Jules and I'm just so thankful that you're here. For those people that are listening and not saying I saw on live at Julie’s has got this amazing cap on at the moment that says Mrs. Activation. She looks absolutely fantastic. So Julie, tell us a bit about you know, I'll give me your bio. But tell us a bit about you and a bit about how you've gotten into this business.

 

Julie

Okay, yes. So no, as you'd said, I'd been in travel for this long. And I had to take a step back when the pandemic hit and thought, and I would ask, could I do What can I do that's going to create an income to be able to contribute towards our houses? Financial Stability? Yeah. And so what we did was we sat back and thought, What would we do, I can't get a job, a nine to five job, I have a child who is autistic and has ADHD. And I do get calls from the school from time to time. And not so much these days. Thankfully, I also have a little girl who was having epileptic seizures on a daily basis. So it was really important to me to be able to be home, in case anything were to happen when she was at kindy. And I'd need to just be able to drop everything and go running off which of course, hammer the nine to five and the city wasn't necessarily going to work. So I got introduced to this amazing product by a friend of mine, and just took it from there. I picked it up and I ran with it and discontinued my last job, my contract, and I decided I was just going to be all in and stay home and be a full time network marketer.

 

Jo

Wow. And did you look at other businesses before you decided on this one? Or was it just something that, you know, came along at just the right time? You know, obviously, it was the right time for you. But did you look at other businesses as well? 

 

Julie

No, actually, I had never really heard of the business. I'd never heard of the industry. I had heard of Avon and Tupperware and all different types of other products in the past. And I had no idea that this actually even existed. So no, I wasn't necessarily looking for this opportunity. This opportunity basically just found me.

 

Jo

So you come into sort of multi level marketing or network marketing as some people know it without knowing the industry and things like that. Because you know, network marketing has had quite a bad rip. You know, for some people out there even though network marketing is made more millionaires than any other industry out there. And so how have you gotten around that whole? Because I'm sure that some of these listeners probably think network marketing or you do as you know, you hound your friends and family to purchase off you and stuff like that. How have you got, you know, your head around that whole business of being a network marketing?

 

Julie

Well, it's really funny you say that because I because I'd never heard of the business before, I had no idea what sort of a rapid head. So it's not really until I started actually looking into it and doing it that I realized that there was this real negative view of the industry. And I do honestly feel it's down to the way that it's done by a lot of people. So they have created a disservice to the industry in terms of how they are salesy and just out to make a buck and try and build their teams, but I just think that they'd go about it in the wrong way. I think the internet's just saturated with products that are available at the moment, revolutionary products found a deep in the Amazon jungle, you know, everybody thinks that, you know, their eyelashes, or their makeup, or what have you are all you know, amazing and unique, which is great, but it's constantly being bombarded by so much information. And sometimes I feel that the word MLM, as soon as people find out that it is an MLM company distribution model, that it's a convenient excuse, just back out, nope, don't want to do it. It's MLM, which is such a shame, because what we have to offer us is phenomenal. But it's getting people to look at it. The way I see it, as the world is a multi level pyramid, which is that another word that we all like, you know, you the world as a pyramid, your CEO is at the top, and then you go down, down down to the very bottom. So there is no difference in terms of the pyramid model to a corporate structure. Now, I actually recently heard that your school, if your school teacher earned a percentage of every cent you would ever make in the future, do you think your education would have been different? And I think absolutely. So you put in what you get out, and you give what you get. So the growth and self development for me has been huge.

 

Jo

Yeah, I absolutely, totally agree with you. And I think also too, that you know, even just retail, it still has a structure of you know, that multi level marketing where, you know, the person who was the retailer, is the distributor selling on to the end user. And you know, you've got that CEO that sits at the top. So it's all, you know, formed on that pyramid anyway, and but tell us, what does your business actually do? What is it that you do?

 

Julie

So what our business does is we what I'm doing in the process at the moment is that we are trying to build our team. So we're trying to expand into different countries. And personally, I'm trying to target New Zealand at the moment and really try and get New Zealand up and running. And the majority of what we do there was is that we promote, I don't like to sell because I don't sell anything, because I don't have it. But what I do is I promote a natural product that's 100% unique and has changed hundreds of 1000s if not more than that, of lives, including my self, my family, my children, my parents, my in laws are offering incredible health benefits. So for me, it's it's easy. I'm not selling, I'm promoting, and I'm sharing my story. Wow. So you're really looking at it more as sort of that relationship building rather than just being sell, sell, sell? Yes, absolutely. Because they do say that. If you've got a passion for what you're doing and a passion for your product, then all you need to do is share that information and the growth, and the wealth will follow it and so far enhance. So I'm really happy with how things are going right now.

 

Jo

Wow. That's amazing. So you said that, you know you're looking at New Zealand at the moment. So does that mean then that you do have other people in your business and other countries? You know, to do?

 

Julie

Yes, absolutely. I have started to grow. When I started a few months back, I started to grow out of the US. So I did find that it was easier to approach people from the US and gain a conversation and go back and forth because they tend to be a little bit more open about different products. I think that the New Zealand markets there are there was that element of suspiciousness if that's a word with being introduced to anything new So, at the moment, what I'm doing is I'm trying to focus on building a team in New Zealand. We've recently welcomed our new New Zealand team member and just this week, actually a couple days ago who is up and running already, which is really exciting. Yeah. So what New Zealand, I think there's just massive potential. And it's just a matter of explaining to people how the business model works, the huge amount of potential the income that can be grown from out into New Zealand's just such an untapped market. So it's, it's really about being a pioneer and getting in early and then starting to build your team from there.

 

Jo

And so do you work solo as a team? Or do you? Are you part of like another team? Or how does things work for you in regards to, you know, if you've got people in the America? How does that work for you and regards to being able to support them?

 

Julie

Oh, yes, absolutely. So what we do is we have a global team. And the way that it will work is that if I were to, for example, if I were to introduce a member into my business from Ireland, we have a team on the ground in Ireland, who will introduce them into their circle, be able to do training with them and their time zone, along with the personal development as well. So it works out really well. We do everything online, most of it's through zoom. And one day, when the world opens up again, we'll all be able to get together and have a good, a good natter in person,

 

Jo

That's quite incredible that you are able to, you know, support a team all the way over in Ireland, because you've already got you know, you're part of a bigger team that's already there. You know, that is quite incredible to think that your ability to grow is, you know, there's no ceiling.

 

Julie

No, that's right. Absolutely. The beauty of being global was that it doesn't matter where in the world, you're where we can, we can accommodate you with our being part of our business. So and we are opening up in more and more countries is as the time goes by. So very soon we'll we'll be able to take over the entire world, so just half of it.

 

Jo

Wow. And I guess was something like this, you have to be really passionate about the product?

 

Julie

Yeah, I do. I do think that that is one of the most important things I personally don't think I could sell, or promote in a garden gates or artificial lawns, because I personally don't have a particular interest in that. And health and wellness is a massive, massive industry. And particularly, in this current climate, there are so many people who are concerned about their health, and also about their immunity and just keeping their bodies as strong as possible. So this particular product that I promote, has just been amazing for anti aging, longevity, immunity, and energy. So who doesn't like that? 

 

Jo

What is that Jules? Is it? You know, what is it? Is it a drink? is this? What actually is it?

 

Julie

What it is, it's a herbal supplement. And it is made up of five different Herbs, which you could have heard of before, and they have been used commonly in Chinese medicine. And are you Vedic medicine. So we have milk thistle, ashwagandha, bacopa, green tea and tumeric. And together, those five ingredients have actually shown to be at 100% more effective in this patient and formula than it would be then taking each individual herb. It's incredible life changing for so many people.

 

Jo

Wow, it must just feel so good to be helping people. You know, as you said, life changing, it must feel so good to be able to do that.

 

Julie

It is, it's and that for me is the best part just to get. I had a lady who had said to me recently, her husband had a stroke. And they've been taking their products for some time. And she just said to me, she sent me a message a couple weeks ago and said, I just felt like I've got my husband back. And without a word of a lie. I just burst into tears. And it was so amazing to be able to get that sort of feedback to know that you were responsible for promoting this one product for her who she had originally was a little bit skeptical about but she was amazed at the results. So for me, it's just it was all worth it that day in particular.

 

Jo

Wow, that is incredible. That gave me goosebumps that is. So you mentioned you know that you wanted to be able to earn money for your family. And so going What does it mean to have that extra money coming into your household that you have earned by yourself as a businesswoman? What does that mean for you and your family?

 

Julie

Oh my goodness, it means everything. I love being able to contribute financially. And we were in a position where we were quite fortunate that I didn't have to go to work. And so I was really lucky to be able to step be a stay at home mom and raise my babies. And that was just incredible. And now my last baby has just started school this year, which actually is amazing. I've got a nice quiet house all day and I get to do my work and everything's all very tidy and it's really wonderful for to be able to know that I'm contributing towards the family. And not just the family, but the future, and I'm creating a legacy business for my children. So long after I'm gone, it's still gonna be there ticking away. So I love that so much.

 

Jo

What do you mean by a legacy business?

 

Julie

Yeah, so what happens is, with this particular business, there are a number of different types of income. So what we do is we have residual and leveraged income. So the residual is, basically, it's when you do the work now, but you continue to get paid for it over and over in the future. So it comes down to product retention for our particular company, we sit on around 80% retention, as opposed to a lot of others who are around 10 to 12%. So that means 80% of my client base will be on this product for life. I know I will be. And I know my family will be and it's wonderful to know that in 50 years time, people are still taking the product, and my children potentially will still be earning that residual income from that.

 

Jo

And, you know, I have to say it, it is an amazing product. Really amazing product. And so, you know, I'm sure that we might have some listeners who have been thinking about multi level marketing or thinking about, you know, that word side hustle. I don't know if I like that word side hustle.

 

Julie

I don't like it has so to me stands in junior disingenuous. And it sounds like you're, you're like a pool shark. And you're just trying to take people's money. I don't like that side hustle.

 

Jo

I don't either I think new term. Yeah, no passion business or something like that. Or, you know, I don't know. But I don't like the sound of you know, side hustle either. And so there are some people, you know, who might be listening who might be thinking about, you know, starting up that getting the extra income into family, because I think I read somewhere something like, you know, an extra $500 a month and to some into families could save something like 75, 70% of divorces? I mean, that is huge. And how many hours a week do you think that you spend in your business Jules?

 

Julie

That's a very good question. At the moment, maybe 30 of I actually probably do a little bit more time, I put a lot more time and by business than a lot of others, mainly because I can now my children at school. And because we're still up and running and getting moving. And to be honest with you, I just love it. I love it. I have time for my children. I have time for my husband, but put the kids to bed. And then my husband and I who's my husband's actually recently started in the business as well, which is really exciting. And, and we we do our work from the couch. And it's amazing. It's nice to be able to do that together.

 

Jo

Wow. And so is that your hat? Because I think your head for those that? Yeah, as I mentioned earlier on in the show, Jules is wearing a hat. Because we've talking over zoom while we're recording this and she's got Mrs. Activation on her head. And she's just showing me a hat now that her husband has got a hat that says Mr. Activation.

 

Julie

He actually got these made for when we were supposed to be going on our trip to wanderlust, which has been canceled. Thank you COVID. And so I will wear it today instead.

 

Jo

Well, yeah, cuz you won that trip to to Hamilton Island. Yeah, I mean, that is incredible. So that opportunity came to you just through working hard?

 

Julie

Well, basically, it was for doing nothing extra than I already do. You know, it's kind of like you're doing what you love to do. And then all of a sudden, your company starts throwing things at you, free trips, and then I qualified also for my husband to come. So that was all paid for him as well. And there was bonuses. And so there's so many different ways that our particular company takes care of us. So well. The supports amazing. I just can't talk enough about it. I just I love it. I love it. And anybody that I ever talked to that asked me about it, that's exactly what I say. And it's just something I want for everybody.

 

Jo

So obviously, you're quite new to business and sort of, you know, business for yourself, especially, you know, what has been one of the probably the hardest things that you've found since jumping into business by yourself?

 

Julie

Oh, good question. Yeah. And I think that for me, because I'm so used to being the one that constantly just works, you know, trading time for dollars. So X amount of my life, I'll give this company for a few dollars. And it's really nice to know that the harder you work, the more you can get out of it. And that sort of massive incentive to be able to do as much as you can. Because it's all for you. It's not like I'm constantly going to work every day and busting my guts to try and fill up some corporates pocket. I mean, it's all going contributing directly back to my family. So for me, I think that's, that was just amazing.

 

Jo

That is really exciting that you're able to do that for your family. So as I said, you know if you've got if there are people who are thinking about you know, an extra business? Do you have three tips that you could give them? And just in regards to your own car thinking of getting involved? What do you have three tips that you think that you might be able to share?

 

Julie

Yeah, absolutely. And actually, to be honest, I wish if I hadn't been looking into it myself, instead of diving headfirst into this the day, I fell in love with it, and I didn't actually look into it like I should have, but I was very lucky that I got exactly what I would have locked for now. So my first tip would be to be looking, you look to find a company with credibility. So the company that I'm aligned with is publicly traded, it's debt free, it's listed on the NASDAQ. So I know it's a stable company, that's not going to collapse. Next year. The second, I've been looking for something that has got a unique product. So again, with ours, we've spoken about the product, absolutely insane, every single human being on this planet needs to be on this product. And the third thing would be the support team. And it's really important I, when I first started, I said to my husband, I don't know how people do this business, by themselves. I just, I'd have no idea. I make comp phone phone calls every single day to people and I get phone calls from people all day, asking me things. And then I get to garner somebody. So it's like a chain of everybody's there to help each other. There's so much wraparound support, and I just love it.

 

Jo

Great. And anything else to add to this? 

 

Julie

No.

 

Jo

I think those are amazing tips for people that anyone out there that is thinking about it, especially you know, in the multilevel marketing industry, because there are so many companies out there. So I guess just making sure and I guess coming back to what you said before to making sure that you've got a passion for the products that you're selling. And especially I guess if you can see that it's having an impact on so many people in so many different people's lives as well, I guess that does kind of fill up your tank to, to know that you're doing something positive.

 

Julie

Absolutely. And actually, if I were to think of a fourth thing, which has just come to mind now, which actually, for a lot of people as the most important, and if you have a knowledge of network marketing companies, and if you do find ones that are publicly available, check the compensation plan. Because at the end of the day, that's going to be your bread and butter. So we have had people from so many different network marketing companies come over to us, just because ours is so incredible. So definitely keep an eye on that as well.

 

Jo

Wow Julie, you know, I'm sure that you've shed a light on multi level marketing for lots of our listeners. I'm a big fan of the industry, I think that the industry is, you know, is is a great industry. So now I'm just gonna, we're going to finish off closing, but I've got a couple of questions just to ask you before we do it, because the show is Business and Sequins. If you could choose a color of sequence that best represented your personality, what color would it be? 

 

Julie

Hands down. dusty pink, dusty pink is my favorite color. It's it's neutral. It's feminine, and it's not out there. 

 

Jo

Yeah, I love that color. So I'm at the end of all of this, I'm gonna do a whole tally up and see I think the pink will come in quite high actually with sequins. Also, too, on a scale of one to 10. You know, one being I'm struggling to get out of beads, and every you know, every morning and tin sequence being that you're flying high and leaving glitter everywhere. Where do you think your life is right now?

 

Julie

I would like to say ten. But I do like to stay up late. I don't go to bed early. So I would say nine. Because when I get out of bed, I'm ready to go. I'm excited about the day. I've got boatloads of energy, and I'm going to sparkle glitter everywhere. From maybe an hour after most people get up.

 

Jo

You're an hour after dropping the kids. Yeah. So Jules, how can people get in touch with you? You know if we've got anyone on here that is listening that might want to, you know, just have a general chat to you whether it's about your business or how they can be involved, whether it's about network marketing, or anything that you've talked about today. How can people get in touch with you?

 

Julie

Yeah, best way would be by email. My email address is [email protected]. But in our F two for life.com or my mobile number Oh 272286564 and I'd love to have a chat with somebody interested either in the product or the business opportunity.

 

Jo

Brilliant. I will put all of those all of your contact details into the show notes as well for the show. So anyone that's listening if you do want to get in contact with Josie didn't quite catch her number or her email. It will be in the show notes before but yeah, Jules, what is your big What is your goal for your business moving next moving Get into the future, what is your goal,

 

Julie

but I'd really love to have for the future is I'd love to retire my husband. So he has, as I said previously, he was introduced to the business about two months ago. And I would love if we could work together side by side full time. net, for me would be amazing.

 

Jo

Wow, that is an incredible goal. 

 

Julie

And it's doable. 

 

Jo

Absolutely. I love it. I love that it is doable. It's so exciting. Jules, I can't wait to watch all of your goals come true. And all of your dreams come true. And Jules, thanks so much for sharing on the show. I know that I want to have you on at another stage as well just to dig deeper into what your product actually is and what it can do for people. But I just want to say thanks so much for coming on and sharing your business wisdom and sharing your passion for what you do. And yeah, I'm hoping at the events, somebody who's listening but be able to resonate with what you've been saying.

 

Julie

Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me. That was so fun. Thank you, Jo.

 

Jo

Thank you so much for joining me on this episode of business and sequence. Thank you so much for letting me be the voice in your ear or the noise in your ear for this last little bit. I hope that you've managed to find some form of inspiration or motivation, or even that that spark or that you're looking for in the stories and conversations that you've just heard. Don't forget, if you're wanting a bit of help, and business, health or wealth, then don't forget that we've got our business and sequence membership. So thanks again for joining me, and I look forward to having you join me on the next episode.