A global company, a global business opportunity

Kyra was working as a Deputy Director at a Women’s and Children’s Charity…
I had worked in this career to a high position after twenty years of investment and study when I was introduced to the opportunity. My job role took up fifty-to-sixty hours a week and by the time I got home to my beautiful daughters and husband I was exhausted.
I was passionate about the work I did and wasn’t looking for another option, but I knew my life wasn’t in balance and the mounting debts we had indicated that the job wasn’t financially or emotionally meeting our family’s needs.
With great trepidation I took a look at the business and saw a way of earning an additional £300 that could ease the pressure. I took a chance and got started in August 2015.
What happened next still feels surreal; I was able to get the financial return on my investment of starting the business within ten days and by the end of the month I could see the profit in my purse.
As a family we began to breathe. Working in the pockets of time around my demanding job I was able to build my business from home and within six months matched my corporate income. Ten months later I had cleared any debt we had. I was in a position to leave my job, be a mum at home and have an income where we didn’t have to reduce our family requirements.
Almost four years on, I am still a mum working from home. I am there for my children every day, I never miss an Irish dance competition, a school event, or have to leave them when they are unwell.
I have the privilege to work in the leadership team in Ireland, but my business now spans the globe. World travel is part of my year as Forever provides incredible opportunities to those who work hard in their businesses. My family and I were gifted with a Mediterranean cruise, my husband joined me on a trip to America and I have travelled to the Middle East, Europe and the USA numerous times as a thank you from the company.
The positivity and the integrity of this business is refreshing. I have made lifelong friends and supported others to bring another income stream into their homes. It offers you an opportunity to create a life that you deserve. I am thankful every day for the TIME it has given me for my family. I am Forever Proud.

Claire started her business in January 2014 whilst on maternity leave from a career in education…
I had been searching for a way for me to be a full-time mum but not have to compromise on lifestyle. I suppose when I look back, I also knew I craved success, financial independence and that I wanted to set a great example for my children.
Very quickly I had developed an income that gave me the confidence in myself and belief in the company that I could develop a serious career with Forever and I made the decision not to return to work at the end of my maternity leave in June 2014. In fact, six months in and I was earning more than my full-time monthly wage, working part time around my daughter.
This wasn’t without a very sceptical start. Network marketing was new to me and seeing for myself that I could, in fact, develop a serious career, as well as feeling fulfilled as a mum, made me feel both excited and sceptical. I could see others developing successful businesses so I developed the attitude that if they can, maybe with some work on myself then I could too!
I came with a huge desire to change my life and a great work ethic. This saw me quickly progress through the marketing plan and go on to qualify for the car, travel and chairman’s bonus programmes. My income allowed us to get a mortgage on a house we wouldn’t have been able to previously, which was a huge goal for us and our growing family.
I now continue to develop my business as a full-time mum to three young daughters; Bella, 5, Sadie, 3 and Minnie 1. We have enjoyed not only a dramatic change in lifestyle that the income from my business has given us but also the time it has given us as a family.
I feel free, that’s the best way to describe it. I won’t miss a thing with my children because I’m in charge of my diary. I’m not aware of another opportunity that would enable us the same work life balance, lifestyle and financial security we have currently.
Forever is a way of living for us, not just a job that I pick up for an hour or two at a time and because of this I’m able to show the girls that by working hard and smart, anything is possible if you’re bold enough to chase after your dreams. I use the nooks and crannies of the day to work my business, and the beauty of it for me is that many of the business-building activities are incorporated into life as a busy mum, perfect!
Our girls are growing up in a positive environment, with people with great attitudes, and around other children that we meet on the trips away with Forever. The travel incentives have been really special to us. I’ve used them as a way to enable the girls to see parts of the world that we wouldn’t have been able to prior to me starting my business. I feel privileged that the company has invested in me, as the training and the people we have met as part of those trips have been incredible.
I’m driven by being able to show others that you can absolutely have both! You can have the time with your children whilst they’re young without having to sacrifice income, career satisfaction and personal development.
My passion is to help others to see the potential in the marketing plan and help them to learn the skills necessary to make the changes they’re looking to make to their lives. I’m a very proud Network Marketing Professional and am really excited about the future not only for our family but for the people we work alongside and the industry as a whole.

Millicent joined Forever in August 2003 and was very enthusiastic about the dream of becoming successful and financially free, but she didn’t know that Forever had more in store for her...
I was a law administrator with four children, so travelling was restricted but I wanted to see the world. Then, in February 2004, Forever gave me the opportunity to go for a month’s holiday in Kenya, and this is where my travelling dream began to become reality. The opportunities opened when I started sharing Forever with all my friends and relatives, and I could see that the business offered exponential growth. I qualified for the Manager position but my husband Jasper, who was an accountant, was still sceptical. The marketing plan was too good to be true, but he was willing to learn and got to work.
Back in the UK I had also qualified for an incentive that took me to Athens, Greece. Whilst there, we requested the help of Rex Maughan, Forever’s founder and CEO, to see if we could get Forever into East Africa. On a mountain with the breath-taking view of the Acropolis, Jasper and I had the chance to talk to Rex about the East African distributorship, and we were amazed when he gave us the go ahead.
Jasper had clearly caught the vision as well and we left the UK for Kenya in 2005. Whilst there, we worked with a team of other Forever Business Owners and Kenya had its grand office opening in Nairobi in August 2005. This later expanded to both Uganda and Rwanda which contributed to the success of Forever East Africa.
Our hard work had paid off and in 2006 we qualified for an exclusive training event in Stockholm, and by the end of that same year we had qualified for the 2008 World Rally Tour! Our travelling adventures didn’t stop there, and to date Forever has also awarded us with gifts of travel to Phoenix Arizona, Las Vegas, Cottonwood Cove on Lake Mohave in Nevada, Colorado, Texas, the Grand Canyon, Dallas, South Africa, Zanzibar, South Sudan, Washington DC, Bahamas, Hawaii, Singapore and many other Forever resorts.
I’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of Forever as a company and in recent years we have even received bonus cheques of over £174,000! It’s a great comfort to know that we are not alone – we are supported by a great team of achievers – and we truly believe in the business opportunity and how it’s changing lives.

When I first joined Forever, I thought I would be able to operate it through a beauty blog I had and almost be ‘faceless’ to it. The first few weeks I read and watched as many of the trainings as I could. This quickly gave me a realisation that I wouldn’t have a successful business being faceless. By the end of that first month I majorly stepped out of my comfort zone to become the face of my business.
As a manager within an HR department I was a little fearful over how people might react to my new business. I was SO relieved to actually experience positivity and excitement - so many work friends came to my launch! I hadn’t needed to be scared at all. The negative comments I did get made no impact as I was just so engrossed in getting into a rhythm with business, that I had no time to care about negativity.
After a series of launches and a huge burst of energy, I hit the supervisor position and truly felt like I was capable of reaching further promotions. I remember a training event focusing us on Eagle Manager and seeing the reward was a 5* trip to Cancun at the Moon Palace, I was determined to achieve it. Working towards that was fast, tough, exciting and rewarding. I will never forget that Christmas Eve when I hit the incentive. The best Christmas present ever.
Behind the fast pace of my business at the beginning was a vision to create space in my life to have children. I knew that I would need IVF but what I didn’t want was to have to talk to anyone about it, least of all my boss. I didn’t want to be putting in time off requests and I wanted to limit the impact stress would have on me. On my one-year anniversary with Forever I left my job and hit the Senior Manager position.
Success kept coming, I felt unstoppable at one point and was so happy to be coaching and leading teams of amazing women and men who wanted to achieve for themselves. I haven’t been a perfect leader, I have been a learning leader, learning from my mistakes, growing and adapting and also letting go when I have needed to.
By the time I had my daughter Ivy, I was a two-time Global Rally qualifier, a two-time Chairman’s Bonus achiever and two-time Eagle Manager. I was insanely proud of that, but most of all I was proud of my team for being self-starters, self-motivated and determined to enable me to be fulfilled as a new mother. I was able take time off and, on my return, dramatically reduce my working hours with my team. This did mean a drop in income, like anyone reducing their hours would expect. At first this was uncomfortable until I reached a new level of stability in my business.
My desire to achieve goals didn’t disappear and when I realised my volume was close to achieving Global Rally, I increased my working hours so that I didn’t miss out. I also kept focus on my New Zealand team to see them make history as the first Manager business over there. I feel so grateful for my experiences and I know that my connection with Forever will be lifelong. This is the only business I know of where you adapt your work around your needs, ramping up and quieting down when you need it. What I have massively appreciated in the last two years is the global scope of my business and what it has taught me in terms of being more efficient and focused. The way I run my overseas business is different to how I have run my UK one, and I am excited about the change in my UK business to align these. It’s going to take time, but I am in no rush!

Network marketing was not a new concept to Annie as her parents had started their network marketing business alongside another company when she was six years old…
A few years in, my parents were both able to leave their jobs and work their business really flexibly from home around myself and my two sisters. This gave us an amazing upbringing with unlimited time and lots of memories as a family, so I have a lot to thank the industry for!
It never crossed my mind that it could be something that I could do also, as my experience of network marketing stopped at their company and that just wasn’t for me.
After studying fashion design at university, I landed what I thought was my dream job as a designer in London. At first this was a whirlwind of excitement, however, as the time went on, I started to feel less and less enthusiastic. I didn’t feel fulfilled, I worked really long hours, had a long commute, and I hated that I was constantly wishing time away until home time or the weekend. From this job I realised a few things - I didn’t want to have a boss, I didn’t want someone to be in control of my time, and I wanted the freedom to not be tied down to one place.
It was finally a phone call with my mum and me voicing this when she said, ‘Annie, why don’t you take a proper look into network marketing and find a company that’s right for you that you can get really passionate about…’ So that night I did some real research and it finally clicked! I realised that network marketing was exactly the answer. I researched companies and when I found Forever I knew it was right for me. I searched on the Forever events Facebook page for an upline and got started the next day in October 2016.
When I started, although I had full belief in the industry and the company, my belief in myself took a while to build. However, the incredible training and support I received helped me grow and develop. I attended every event, read every book I was recommended, and my business started to grow. Early in 2018, I hit the position of Manager giving me so many more choices. I was able to leave my full-time job and also move to and explore a new city altogether!
It’s creating that time freedom I’ve witnessed first-hand that drives me. Building my business has been an absolute rollercoaster ride and really hard work, but I wouldn’t change any of it! I’m completely obsessed with what I do now, I have met the most incredible people, love working with my team, and I am so excited for my future with Forever.

JAYNE’S JOURNEY WITH FOREVER
Diamond Managers and Executive Global Leadership Team founder members Jayne Leach and John Curtis, started their Forever business over twenty years ago in the summer of ’93. They have since achieved consistent and phenomenal success over the past two decades, including receiving the top UK Chairman’s Bonus cheque this year. They’ve witnessed incredible change and growth in Forever, both globally and here in the UK.

Forever Business Owners today can thank Jayne, John and their leaders for sustained major input into some of the core literature and training materials used globally, and the couple continue to inspire and motivate generations of FBOs across the world. In this intimate interview, Forever’s Editor Kate Hodge asks Jayne to reflect on her Forever journey and to share her accumulated wisdom with other FBOs who aspire to build life-changing Forever businesses.

KH: What was life like for you when you began your business?

JL: I was a single mum, and whilst I had loved and was good at working in farming, after eighteen years of hard work, working with livestock and show-jumping horses, I still didn’t make any real money. Finances were a ‘challenge’ and we were literally surviving from day-to-day. Then I met John, also a single parent experiencing doubtful financial prospects. Together we realised that we couldn’t carry on doing work that didn’t give us what our now combined family needed. Friends in America advised us to find a really good network marketing company, and that if we did, and worked hard, we could build a strong long-term business and income of our dreams. I clearly remember not understanding what they meant by network marketing, but we did as suggested and looked at companies in the UK. Having given it much thought and discussion, we decided to look for a company that had consumable, benefit driven products; a marketing or compensation plan that would outlive us to leave a legacy income to our four children; preferably a private company with proven management, and international possibilities; but almost above all else, to be associated with an honest opportunity we could be proud of. A lot to ask? Of course, but remember, we were looking to get it right first time.

So, we looked at every single network marketing company we could find in the UK, but didn’t particularly like any of them. After attending their meetings, we couldn’t relate to either the distributors, their products, the management, or their ‘style’, so we almost gave up the search. This changed with a phone call from a friend, telling us about a company called Forever Living. Intrigued, we got together and he showed us everything he had on the company, literally a few pieces of paper, a few pictures, and a couple of products. Cautiously excited, we didn’t want that excitement to cloud our judgement, so ‘due diligence’ led to meeting with the then UK Country Manager Dusty Green. Very open and direct, he answered all our questions, so we registered, got some products, and got started – that was the beginning of our long-term ‘love affair’ with Forever.

KH: Why were you determined to succeed?

JL: We didn’t join just to ‘give it a go’; we joined to be successful. We felt that network marketing was the way of the future, and possibly the only way open for us to build a big life and achieve big goals and dreams whilst helping other people. We were ready to be successful; mentally we wanted success. It was never, ‘we’ll see if this works’, even in the early days when there was nothing in place in the UK – no meetings, trainings, Success Express events, Advisory Board, Head Office of substance, literature, manuals, brochures, internet – there was nothing. But we were committed to Forever’s founder Rex Maughan’s vision, philosophy and mission statement, and reassured that although it was brand new to the UK, it already had a sixteen-year track record and the company was enjoying success in the USA, Japan and a host of other countries. If it was working out there, it could work in the UK as well!

However, in the early days of our business, network marketing did not have a great name. It was almost seen as the thing you did when you had exhausted all other options, but because this company was built on values, integrity and ethics, John and I had decided that we were going to help make it the best network marketing company in the UK. We knew that if we worked with quality people, we could make it the best, so that became our vision and mantra.

We also listened to Dusty: he always advised us to do the right thing, go the extra mile, and remember that when you help someone else, you create a ripple effect. He also talked often about the need to remain modest in the face of increasing success, and to accept responsibility for being role models that others want to follow.

KH: What was Forever like in the beginning?

JL: When we first started, John and I sat down and had a planning meeting, deciding that if we were going to build a business, we had to implement a system. So, we got a Forever flipchart and drew out a very basic Business Presentation (BP) – this has since been developed by the leaders into the BP that everybody enjoys today. We started having BP meetings in our home every Wednesday night and Saturday morning so we started inviting people along. Most didn’t come, but the common reaction amongst those that did was that we were somehow crazy; they would tell us not to waste their or our time, to get a ‘proper job’, or worse, but we just knew that it would work, so we kept on asking.

Alongside asking people to look at the business, we also began to use these times as opportunities to sell products. We had no success stories to share, and almost nobody had even heard of aloe, so we simply shared our personal experiences. However, in the first two weeks, we developed a retail base of over 8CC. The first six months of our business continued in much the same way: John, our box of products, a Forever flipchart, and me! We then started training on Saturday mornings after the BP, and the First Steps to Manager Planning Manual that you use today began to develop from one we made twenty-three years ago!

We achieved Manager in fourteen weeks, but every single night I was either doing a launch, one-to-one, or BP. At that time, Head Office was based in a tiny office in Selly Oak, Birmingham. We drove there to get products, and the paperwork for orders had carbon copies. The only way we could work out our case credits was to gather the carbon copies from the orders, add them together manually, and constantly check them at the all-important month end. But it was such fun – we would all get together and often stay up really late counting and checking case credits on those pink slips. There was a lot of team spirit and I loved that we all came together – there was a real closeness.

KH: What are some of your fondest memories?

JL: I remember qualifying for our first Rally. Dusty spoke so fondly of the American Rallies and even though we had only been in the business for nine months, I was already a bit obsessed with wanting to go there – I had never travelled further than Europe at the time.

One day we received a phone call from Dusty, but he sounded quite stern. He said, “Jayne, I need to come and see you immediately.” When I asked why, he replied, “I’m not prepared to discuss it over the phone, but it’s very important.”

I honestly thought I had done something wrong so cancelled the following day’s appointments. The next day, after dropping the kids off at their schools, we went to the office and turned the phones off in anticipation of some unforeseen ‘bomb shell’. Dusty duly arrived on time, but still with a somber demeanor. I’d lain awake worrying all night and couldn’t cope any longer, and half expecting termination for something, I asked him to be straight and tell me what the problem was. He looked at me for a few seconds, but then he couldn’t contain himself any longer and burst out laughing. He opened his briefcase and pulled out two tickets for America before running around the room whooping.

That was to be our first ever trip to the States, and I will never, ever, forget it. We actually had no idea that we had qualified – keeping on top of case credits when it was all done on paper was quite difficult, and unbeknown to us, we had achieved 1,500CCs. The Rally was in San Francisco and we came back as changed people. Meeting Rex and the Vice Presidents, and seeing the enormity of the company; the values, the ethics, the vision, the people, it was all ‘mind-blowing’. Back then, Forever had an American Rally as well as a World Rally, but the only people open to qualification for World Rally were the country’s top distributor and the Country Manager – fast forward to 1995 and we achieved just that and another long-term ambition, to go to Peru and Machu Pichu.

Another outstanding and fond memory of the early days involves Rex. He was due to come to the UK and there was an incentive whereby you could have aloe ‘mocktails’ with him. It was a recruitment incentive, and if you won, you also got a television and VIP access to this exclusive ‘mocktail’ event. I knew I wanted to be at that party. The week before, a Head Office meeting declared the qualifiers and winners, and when Dusty called out the qualifiers, then third and second places, I was becoming despondent at the thought that we hadn’t managed it. But when he called out our names for first place, my jaw dropped open and I thought two things: firstly, that the kids were going to love the new TV, but more importantly, that we were going to meet Rex.

Yet another striking memory was when Dusty phoned to tell us that Rex was coming to the UK with Rjay Lloyd (a long -term friend of Rex and the Executive Senior Vice President), together with Dusty’s dad, Harold. Rex was touring the UK and wanted to come to our (tiny) office, and he wanted us to hold a Business Presentation. When I heard this, I said, “Dusty, our office is minuscule, and so is our training room, what am I going to do?” He just said that we’d work something out, so we did – I remember going to the local junior school and borrowing small children’s chairs so that we could get more seating in the room, and on the night, we filled sixty chairs with overspill guests in the hallway and down the stairs. Rex spoke and signed a book for me, which I still have, and the whole thing was just incredible.

KH: Why did you decide to go global with your business?

JL: Travel is a major passion for both of us, and we felt that it would be brilliant to go to countries where Forever had, or was planning, a presence. For us, it made sense to go there, do some work, and then enjoy different cultures and experiences. It was also obvious to me that building a multiple income stream with a global-based business meant taking advantage of everything Forever offers.

Our first ever global business foray was Italy: one of my dearest and best friends, Maria-Louisa Di-Pinto, asked if she could build a business even though Forever was not yet in Italy. Dusty advised us to consider whether we could personally send the products to Italy, but he backed our decision and told us to go for it. So, every month, we arranged for a freight company to collect a shipment for delivery to Maria-Louisa in Milan; she then distributed the products to her customers. After six months, we learnt that someone based in Spain was doing much the same thing, and eventually, between us, there was enough business being conducted for the company to officially open in Italy. We were already in pre-launch overdrive, and literally every five or six weeks, John, me, or both of us would be over there, without mobile phones, but in a car driving to do endless one-to-ones! When the company finally had their great big grand opening, we had about 200 people in attendance and business in Italy boomed! From that modest success, we focused on Africa and went into Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, East Africa and many other English-speaking areas. We also started an African BP every week in London, with average attendance of around 400 people!

However, at the time, although we had a global business, it wasn’t global as it is today. Case credits didn’t count towards Chairman’s Bonus or anything else other than local income, but we didn’t do it for any of this, we just wanted to build a legacy in other countries.

In those days, if you wanted to work with somebody, you got in your car and drove – we regularly did 60,000 miles per year between us, literally driving all over the country to work with teams. These days we can do webinars, Skype calls, deliver online training, group meetings, and Business Presentations – this change has been fundamental in allowing people to build a global business. Now you can do a lot of ‘groundwork’ before even stepping on a plane, but, as good as it is, technology can never replace a good old-fashioned ‘heart-to-heart’. When you get together with people who share your passion, when you feel the emotion in the room, that’s when things change.

KH: What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt as an FBO?

JL: If John or I could ‘turn back the clock’, we would not have spent so much time with ‘time-wasters’ – people who talk the talk but do very little, who have great intentions but never make a call, who hardly ever show up at BP, training or Success Express event. They give you every excuse in the book as to why they can’t do something, but still insist that they are going to be successful. When you spend time with people like this and they don’t perform, all it does is bring you down, rob someone else deserving of your time, and make you question their lack of success as down to you, but it’s not, it’s down to them.

To be successful, you must do more than you think you have got to do, and you must be absolutely 100% consistent every single day, even when you’re not getting results. Always be the student, and always stay humble. Even today, I still learn off others – I want to constantly bring my best game to the table, but I can’t do that if I stop being the student.

KH: You are a founder and trustee for the DABW Foundation charity – how did that begin?

JL: My mum and dad (Dorothy and Bill Wood) joined the business shortly after us, and within a few years had climbed to second position in the UK. By this time, the UK was doing over 10,000CC and this meant the top two Forever Business Owners were to be invited to World Rally – my mum’s goal and dream was for us to attend together, but then she got sick – a little mark on her leg turned out to be aggressive skin cancer.

She was admitted to hospital on a day when the usual nurse was on leave, so a different one turned up. Nurse Otilia was from Malawi, from a little village called Kanyenda which was in the middle of nowhere with no main roads nearby. Otilia told mum that her family was still in the village, but she had come to the UK to make money to send home. The biggest challenge there was a lack of clean water, with the local small river serving as the only source of washing and drinking water for the animals and villagers. When mum heard about the number of children dying from cholera, and that the village had been saving for twelve years to try and raise the £2,500 needed to install a borehole pump, she decided to raise the money from her hospital bed. Sadly, mum died before it was commissioned, but just before she passed away, she asked me to carry on the work in the village. John and I flew out to Malawi and officially opened the well – that’s when we realised that there was a lot more work to do – kids were going hungry and the school was falling down, so our next project was to rebuild the school and kindergarten, and to put in place a feeding programme.

The villagers’ staple diet is maize, but with no means to grind it, the maize had to be carried by village women and children who would walk ten kilometres to the nearest corn mill, have the corn ground, and then they’d walk back. It was just too much, particularly with little kids, so once the school project was complete, we built a corn mill. But there was still one thing missing…

When John and I go to Malawi, we live amongst the villagers in a mud hut and local children always want to come and sit with us. We were sitting outside in the dust one evening, surrounded by over twenty kids, when I noticed one little boy, aged about two, sitting in the corner all by himself. He had a runny nose and looked so unhappy. It turned out he had malaria, but two days later when I asked after him, I was shocked to learn that he had passed away. I felt so angry at the thought that a little boy could die for the sake of a £2 injection, so I decided, there and then, that our next project was to build a medical centre.

The medical centre now treats about 100 kids daily, with families walking many miles to come to it. We have an inoculation programme, two doctors, a pharmacist, a receptionist and a nurse.

"I get excited about the thought of helping someone achieve their potential, and I am excited about seeing where Forever is going and who the next generation of Forever leaders will turn out to be."

I wanted to create something of beauty, because life is really harsh in Malawi, often just day-to-day grind. We built the centre with a terrace and veranda, with a garden fronting filled with roses and plants – roses because of my mum’s love for them, and plants and other pretty things because when a woman has walked for miles carrying a sick child, sometimes she just needs to sit and breathe.

That whole village is now self-sufficient and supported, with kids rarely dying of cholera or malaria, and instead receiving a good basic education. We’ve also taught the villagers how to grow their own micro-vegetables and they’ve started to grow things like tomatoes, onions, cabbages and green beans. We donate the seeds and have shown them how to grow their own gardens. Some of the money raised for the charity now goes towards maintaining these projects and ensuring they remain at a certain standard.

KH: You’re an inspiration to many for various reasons, and one thing I love is your generous spirit. Why do you think it’s important to give back?

JL: Right from when I was a kid, I was brought up to understand that you can never truly receive until you have learnt to give, but I was also taught to get as much happiness out of giving, as from receiving. Forever gave us the opportunity to build phenomenal personal lives, and it would be wrong not to share that with others.

You also never know what impact kind acts may have on someone else. When we were first starting out, a casual friend of ours owned a shop with a room above it, and he said we could use this as our office and training space. He knew we had no money so he let us have that building at minimal rent for one year. Someone’s kindness is sometimes what gives you a leg up in life, and I don’t know how we would have got started in our business without his kindness – I’ll never forget him. I also strongly believe that you should always come from a place of contribution – that’s who Rex and the Maughan family are in their actions, and that’s how I’ve been brought up.

KH: What makes you excited about the business all these years later?

JL: I am just as excited today about recruiting a phenomenal young couple or individual who wants to change their life, as I was the day I started. I get excited about the thought of helping someone achieve their potential, and I am excited about seeing where Forever is going and who the next generation of Forever leaders will turn out to be. It’s quite inspiring and motivating to be in that environment, although nowadays I try to be more prudent with my time as I also still like travelling and being with my family.

When you join Forever, and you develop a Forever mentality, you’ll find that there will be many people who try to tear you down, but I promise you that Forever will never let you down. You can build a legacy for your family like no other, so don’t listen to the opinions of other people, just do what you’ve got to do. Put a plan in place, and continue to work at it until you have achieved the goal that is important to you. Make sure you have a well-rounded approach to marketing and don’t just sit behind a computer. Build relationships, nurture others and be the kind of leader that others want to follow. Understand that you will have tough days, but it is what you learn in those moments that shape you into the person you will become, and that is the person who has the power to define your future.

"I get excited about the thought of helping someone achieve their potential, and I am excited about seeing where Forever is going and who the next generation of Forever leaders will turn out to be."

Don't miss Jayne's exciting new training at June's Success Express event. 17th-18th June at Genting Arena, Birmingham. Book your tickets today at foreveruktickets.co.uk.

FOREVER BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER
Samantha and John have been Forever Business Owners for over ten years and they have had the privilege of watching the company grow along with their own business over this time. For them the business has always fit in the nooks and crannies of their life and they are looking forward to seeing how it unfolds over the coming years…

My older sister and I grew up in a loving home, but in my eyes, my sister has always been the ‘successful one’. She was a talented athlete and swam on the GB Swim Team from a young age! The feelings of inferiority I developed affected the way I saw myself as an adult, and as I started to build my Forever business I was faced with the challenge of overcoming that belief I had of not being good enough. We started Forever in September 2006 so last year we celebrated our tenth year of working with Forever. Over the years I’ve realised how important it is to work on self-development, and through the people and training Forever’s offered, I’m finally beginning to realise my worth! During our first year as FBOs, we immersed ourselves in the company. I literally worked the business in the pockets of time around my full-time job, and then again around my babies. We achieved Manager in 2010 and although we don't have a huge business with a life-changing income, we do have an income that allows me to be a stay-at-home mum to Henry, five, and Jasmine, four.

Our first exposure to Rex Maughan was at the Stockholm European Rally and Profit Share event in 2007. After this we committed to attend these events every year and we have since travelled all over Europe. When the events went global, my very best friend Toni Hall asked me to join her as her Global Rally guest and I accompanied her to Johannesburg. It was a complete privilege and an awesome event, and I’m so thankful and amazed at how Forever brings people together.

When the children start going to school full-time I intend to use my spare time to focus more on my Forever business, but having the opportunity to increase my income whenever I choose is truly humbling. The ability to make a difference in people’s lives every day is also a fantastic feeling and I thank Rex for this amazing opportunity.

"I’ve realised how important it is to work on self-development, and through the people and training Forever’s offered, I’m finally beginning to realise my worth!"

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

After a heart-breaking time, Melanie decided that she wanted to spend her future with her family rather than pursuing a corporate career…

My journey started in August 2014 when we called around to our friends’ home. Martine (my now sponsor) was excited about this new business she was starting. I didn’t hear much through her excitement but I did hear ‘sacked the boss’, ‘dream car’ and ‘holidays’, so whilst I was excited for her I was completely sceptical. I was in a successful corporate role and there was no way someone could earn the kind of salary that it had taken me many years to achieve doing what she was talking about. I decided to go along to a Business Presentation as I wanted to make sure she wasn’t involved in a scam, but I returned home the proud owner of a Business Owner Box! What won me over was the idea of time freedom and that you could be successful whilst working at home. I was working forty plus hours, my emails would buzz all night, and I had a family to care for, but I just knew I had to make time for Forever.

I loved my twenty-year career in the buying industry but when I gave birth to my son Oscar everything started to change. Then, in 2009 our lives were turned upside down when we lost our twin baby boys shortly after they were born. I didn’t cope and wouldn’t accept what had happened; I blamed myself and was living in a dark tunnel. My husband then lost his job as his company went into liquidation; we had no money and no fight, but it was Oscar that kept us going.

The journey to living our lives again started when I started my Forever business. I hit Manager in less than two months and although I was initially sceptical, my disbelief faded when I took the time to research the business model. Building a business requires hard work but I knew I could do it, and it wasn’t the money that drove me, but the time I could have with my children. We wanted another baby and I no longer wanted to rush back to work so instead I focused on my Forever business.

Fast forward two years and I’m a Senior Manager, Global Rally and Chairman’s Bonus qualifier, and I have also achieved many other incentives on the Marketing Plan. I now feel able to create a future which isn’t filled with sadness, and I’m learning to enjoy the journey and accept challenges. I have complete time freedom and we’ve since had a baby girl which is the icing on the cake.

"I hit Manager in less than two months and although I was initially sceptical, my disbelief faded when I took the time to research the business model."

A HEART TO HELP OTHERS

Claire has always had a passion and heart to help others which is why she qualified in childcare and secured a post as a nanny. However, soon afterwards she was made redundant and faced with having to decide what to do next…

I’m a Christian and after going to a young people's camp with church I was introduced to the idea of mission work. When I was nineteen I decided to move to Brazil and volunteer with an organisation called YWAM. I helped in a refuge home for children with HIV and it was there I met my husband. Together we continued with mission work which included working in a home for young single mums, a home for young pregnant girls, and in the Cafezal Slums in Belo Horizonte. We also took some time out to study counselling so that we could learn how to further help families and children. We continued working in Brazil after the birth of our daughter Sophie and our son Samuel, but in December 2014 we decided we needed to return to the UK; Sophie was four and Samuel was two.

Once back in the UK I had to find work to support my family as it would take a while before my husband secured his visa. I was grateful to find a hotel cleaning job that let me work during school hours, but it was hard work and it didn’t pay well. I eventually found another job as a nanny that I thought would give us the flexibility my family needed. My husband got his visa and although I really enjoyed my job, the long days were exhausting and I had to let my employer down several times to work around my own kids. It was time to find something different. I wanted work that would fit around my children, but also something that would allow me to help others and bring in a good income.

My friend introduced me to Forever and I could see it was the solution. My whole family now benefit from the products and we are all so much healthier and happier for finding Forever. I've loved every minute of it, I've grown in myself and I work the business part-time. I have an international business, a friend from Brazil has joined my team, and I can enjoy spending the summer holidays with my children. I’m dyslexic but I’ve found Forever to be very welcoming, the training is outstanding and I’ve received so much support. Our ultimate dream is for Forever to be our sole income so that we can both go back to serving on mission projects and helping others in need.

"My whole family now benefit from the products and we are all so much healthier and happier for finding Forever."

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Caroline first came across Forever in 2000 when a friend turned up at her office with a basket of products. The friend spoke of the opportunity but Caroline wasn’t interested at that time; she did however fall in love with the products…

In 2014 my middle daughter called me to tell me she’d found her ticket out of the bank job she hated and was starting a business. It wasn’t until her Business Owner Box arrived that we realised it was linked to the Forever Aloe Vera Gel I’d been drinking all those years! I was delighted but bemused at the thought that this side line could replace her salary.

I quietly watched her build a successful business for eight months when I decided I also wanted to take on a new challenge. I’d been working a job I loved in the voluntary sector for fifteen years but I felt as if I’d taken it as far as I could. Redundancies were also being discussed so I started a Forever business as a safety net. I joined my daughter’s team and successfully built a large retail base of lovely customers, and I even started to grow a team. After six months I decided to take voluntary redundancy and I was able to focus on Forever full-time in January 2016.

I’m now fully immersed in the network marketing industry and I’m very passionate about Forever, but it’s not always been plain sailing. I’ve had little dips when it comes to mindset and I’ve needed to dig deep to get back out there and share the opportunity. Although it wasn’t always easy, I have still built a growing UK team and I also have team members in Canada and New Zealand. My plan is to continue expanding globally as travel is a huge passion of mine – I’m determined to help as many people as I can.

I am surrounded by dynamic team members that inspire me daily, but I’ve realised that everyone is different.

My journey is mine only and I am achieving success at the right pace for me. Forever has given me time to see my family, especially my grandson Noah who lives six hours away and my daughter who lives in Australia. In three years’ time, my husband Glenn and I are planning to live in Spain and I’m really looking forward to taking my business with me. My particular passion is helping women aged over fifty, as often, like me, people in this age group feel like they’ve missed their chance. I love the idea of showing them that anything is possible with Forever.

"My journey is mine only and I am achieving success at the right pace for me"

FROM ARMY ANXIETY TO FULL-TIME FOREVER FAMILY

Ashley was an army wife who was trying to juggle childcare around photography and the worry of her husband being miles away from home…

Two years ago a friend offered us the opportunity to take a look at a business that was helping to top up her maternity pay. As a photographer with my own studio and an extremely busy mum of three, (Charlie, eight, Isabella, five and Tyler, three) it hit me that this opportunity could be the vehicle that would enable me to take a step back and be a mum. I've always wanted to be the best mum I can by giving my family the most magical childhood, but I’ve also had the desire to prove those people wrong who believed being a teen mum would stop me from being successful. Forever has given me the luxury of both!

My husband Thomas was in the army and for nine years travelling the world to some pretty scary places. We would just wait at home but our eldest children began to suffer from separation anxiety. Time became incredibly important and we learnt to make the most of every moment, but when our children were also diagnosed with learning disabilities we decided to spend two years dedicated to our Forever business. We wanted to double our army wage so that Tom could sign off and be a dad at home too. Much to our surprise, one year in and we had achieved our dream!

Tom is now officially a civilian enrolled at university, and he now has time to be a daddy during the week. We are so fortunate to be home with our children every day and that freedom has given us complete peace of mind. Last summer was absolutely incredible and to celebrate we hired a villa in Portugal so we could spend six weeks in the sun and explore some beautiful places. Our children no longer have separation anxiety because we are together more than we are not, and for us being as a family is a dream come true. We are so thankful to Forever and for how it has changed our life; it's now hard to imagine our life without this incredible business!

"We wanted to double our army wage so that Tom could sign off and be a dad at home too. Much to our surprise, one year in and we had achieved our dream!"

Rupy has had to fight for her rights all her life, but Forever has given her the potential to take a new path…

When I was young, I was taken under the care of my aunt and uncle. It was hard because I wasn't your typical child, I was disabled. They took me in and brought me up alongside their own three children, and they never gave up on me. They gave me so much love and that made me the person I am today.

With their support, I gained my GCSEs and three A-grades at A-level, despite ‘professionals’ telling me that I’d never be able to achieve that. Even after I achieved these results I was told by social services not to go to university; they would not fund my support so we fought them so that I could go. Even at university it was a continuous battle to try and get the correct support.

With a lot of hard effort, I left university with a 2:1 and I am now training to be a doctor of health psychology. I still frequently worry that my support will be cut and I constantly have to plead, beg and fight with social services to ensure that I receive the support I need in order to live my life as a human being should do.

A few years ago, I became obsessed with playing the lottery; I’d pray that I’d win the Euro millions so that I didn’t have to worry about relying on social services. But in August 2016, I met my old school friend Lucy. She offered me hope when she introduced me to Forever and when I saw the potential of the business opportunity, I grabbed it. I saw a light at the end of the tunnel which would lead to a place where I wouldn’t have to degrade myself every few years to prove to social services what I can't do, just for them to give me the support I require. Instead I've joined a team that praises me for my abilities and what I CAN do. I'm no longer a victim, I can start dreaming again, and I no longer play the lottery!

The Forever opportunity is not really about the money, but rather the choices it offers. It gives people hope, and I want to offer hope to other people too; to those who, for whatever reason, feel as if their life is not in their own control. I'm going to ensure I work and achieve everything I can in Forever. I have so many aims and dreams now, and I'm looking forward to the day I write a letter to social services telling them that they can no longer rain on my parade!

"I've joined a team that praises me for my abilities and what I CAN do. I'm no longer a victim, I can start dreaming again."

Based in south-west London, Matt enjoyed a successful career working for a major brand. He was focused, passionate and hardworking, but the long hours and lack of time began to tarnish the corporate dream…

I started my Forever journey back in February 2015 whilst working for a large well-known soft drinks brand. I headed up their national sales team which consisted of over 130 managers, and while some may say I had the perfect career, I always believed there was more to life than working a sixty-hour week and having no time to yourself.

Fortunately, I saw the Forever opportunity as my way out of the corporate rat race. I set a goal to get to a place where I’d be able to quit my job within five months, and exactly five months later I resigned. I knew that working alongside such an incredible company with amazing products would work, so I began building a business by following everything that my upline told me to do. Kyle Burrows and Emma Cooper were outstanding mentors!

I achieved Manager in three months by working my business around my job, and alongside managing my own personal £multi-million international property portfolio. I was also having my house extended and I was in the middle of buying a new three-bed London apartment to rent out. I may have been busy, but I made time for my Forever business; it was going to set me up for the future and once there I would never have to look back!

I now have four amazing Managers based in Scotland, and a team of over 300 people – we are like one big happy family! The friendships you make in Forever are incredible; these people are going to be in my life for the rest of my days, and the journey we are going to walk together makes me ‘smile’. When I was at Global Rally in South Africa, I looked around and, whilst holding back emotion, I knew I was working for something special when I saw such inspirational and highly motivational people.

I am more committed than ever to carry on building my business with Forever, and Senior Manager is firmly set on the horizon, but I have also had the time to retrain in something I’ve always been passionate about – property. I have now qualified as a self-employed mortgage and insurance advisor and I intend to work this role alongside my Forever business. Forever has given me options; options to have more time, freedom, and the ability to do what I want, when I want, and with whom I want. That is priceless! I would like to thank everyone who is playing a key part in my journey and I am super-excited for the years ahead.

"The friendships you make in Forever are incredible; these people are going to be in my life for the rest of my days."

Ex-professional footballer Darren was on top of his game having played for premiership and championship team Blackburn Rovers (and other clubs) from the age of fourteen. However, when he was in his mid-twenties, an injury caused everything to change. His partner, Charlotte Hawes, shares his story…

Darren’s life was football, football, football. Every day was about working on his fitness, training and being healthy, and if he wasn’t on a football pitch or in the gym, he was on the golf course! Darren played with and against top players and he would visit and play in various countries – he was ‘living the dream’. But, in 2008, Darren suffered a snapped cruciate and problems with his knees, and although he is still playing local football, his professional career had to come to an end.

Darren was devastated as football was all he knew from such a young age. He had to have four knee operations and it was becoming a daily struggle for him to work and walk, never mind trying to play football!

Darren discovered Forever whilst working at a client’s house and soon realised, without knowing the details, that there was a very good opportunity available. Darren recommended the business to me as he knew I was at a crossroads – I had very little spare time and no work-life balance, and we instantly saw an opportunity to earn (in time) a substantial income alongside a flexible lifestyle.

We signed up and I currently play the lead role whilst Darren shares his product experiences and the opportunity to everyone he meets. So far the business has given us amazing friendships, it’s allowed us to set goals and get excited, and we can now start to build a career together and plan for a future we didn’t think was possible.

Darren and Charlotte on F15…

Darren found Forever's products to be of great benefit to him and he is now keen to use the products to help him get back to the level of fitness he was pre-injury. Darren and Charlotte are currently part-way through the F15 programme. Here is what they have to say:

“F15 is fantastic and having a programme to follow for diet and exercise is giving me the best chance to get in shape and stay in shape. My motivation to be at a high level of fitness is back and I will reach the goals I’ve set. Since starting the programme, I’ve started to see definition and I’ve lost some weight in the process. If you’re doing F15, don’t give up, dig in and get it done – the end goal is always worth it.” – Darren Dunning

“Being a keen sportsperson myself but having struggled to get back into a regular fitness regime, the structure of F15, along with the brilliant workout videos that Forever produced, has given me the kick and the support I needed to get back on track.” – Charlotte Hawes

Bethan wanted more from her working life but as a young mum she found it difficult to progress. Then she discovered Forever…

In 2011, at the age of twenty-one, I was a single mum to my little boy Tyler who was two years old, and I was working full-time for a large retail chain. I dropped out of college at nineteen when I became pregnant and two years later I was feeling like I hadn’t fulfilled my potential. Retail became something I was good at and even though I adored being a mum, I didn’t want to be just another young mum in the system.

There was never anything wrong with my life; I had great friends and family, and a job that paid a wage that paid my bills, but there was always something missing – I just didn’t know what! My bosses were amazing but working full-time had no flexibility for me as a mum with a young child, and I really struggled to pay for childcare costs. I was working for the pride of being able to say I was, but I had no money once everything was paid. I had no qualifications other than my GCSEs, and no real life experiences. Even if I did want to do something else, I didn’t know where to start, but that’s when Forever found me. I saw a chance to shineand earn a corporate income with full training and support, so I jumped.

For the past six years I have built a global business and a corporate income that surpasses anything I could have ever imagined. My Forever income has allowed me to privately educate my eldest, travel the world, drive dream cars, have our dream wedding, and it’s given us time to have two more children: Miles, one, and we have another on the way! I love being a stay-at-home mum, but I also love that I don't have to sacrifice a career to do that.

I have spent the last few years building myself up, something I know is invaluable, and although I have a lot of friends who are sceptical, once I talk people through the Marketing Plan and the stability of the company, even if it isn’t right for them, they seem to come around.

I started this business as a baby and have become someone I’m truly proud of. Forever will never just be a job for me, and the people I work with will never just be people I work with; Forever is my life, and I will always be passionate about sharing this opportunity.

"For the past six years I have built a global business and a corporate income that surpasses anything I could have ever imagined."

I came out of school with a D as my highest GCSE and I was incapable of committing to even one year of college. At sixteen I went straight into an office administration role, but I only lasted a week! I picked myself up and tried again and landed a customer service role. This time six months went by, but then I was in the same situation, booted out for the better of the company! This pattern lasted for the years that followed.

I have dyslexia, ADHD and I’ve suffered with depression for a number of years. I can articulate and hold a good conversation so I don’t often come across like someone diagnosed with dyslexia, but I've always struggled to stay on task. I get distracted easily and time slips through my fingers. Writing is difficult and takes me a long time, and to concentrate on something is really hard work for me. These things, along with terrible time-keeping and a worse attitude, put a strain on me progressing in life.

When I was twenty-two I decided I was better suited to self-employment. I entered a modelling competition and for the first time I knew what I wanted. I moved to London to pursue it properly and through the jobs I received I met some incredible people, gained great experience and it was something I could pick up when I wanted. Unfortunately I just didn’t have the drive to push myself so I ended up returning to the office. After a year and a half I had had enough; I was tired and underpaid and I was also slipping into deeper depression.

I went to Bethan as a shell of my former self. For the first time in three years I was ready to listen to her. I had no idea if I could do it and I lacked self-belief, but I had nothing to lose. I wanted to learn and see if the business could do all the things it promised.

The more I worked the business and developed myself as a person, the more obvious it became that I had to make some serious life choices. In the space of a week I left my relationship, my home, a mortgage, the city, attended a funeral, and I helped my Nan through depression. Forever became a focus away from everything else, and I put all my efforts into helping, advising and guiding my team. My upline’s advice and dedication to me and my team kept me strong and excited, and I absolutely adore where my life is headed. I chose to believe the impossible was possible and now I’m proud to say I’ve found something I can, and will, commit to.

A NEW FOUND FREEDOM
Natasha Dykes found herself in a demanding career with no further progression before her mind was opened to an opportunity that changed her life…
I graduated in 2009 and took off around the world for eight months with my partner, which was a lifetime experience. My working life started on my return and I found myself in the financial industry. Although it wasn’t the industry I wanted to be in for life, I was given the opportunity to effectively double my income by obtaining qualifications. Within two years I achieved these qualifications but discovered my earning potential was capped. Being somewhat ambitious, I continued to work towards chartered status, but I vividly remember feeling quite disheartened when I realised there was no more personal or financial recognition. I knew there had to be more to life than being stuck in a rut with no opportunities for progression.

Fortunately, Forever found me in February 2014. My mum had recently started Forever and, as you can imagine, I was fairly negative and sceptical. This was due to being fully immersed in the rat race. However, after taking a look at the business opportunity I could immediately see the huge potential and the time and freedom it would give me.

I grabbed the opportunity and ran with it despite being struck by negativity from people, and I hit my first promotion in seven weeks – I felt as if I needed to prove to friends and family that the business worked. Despite this, my journey to Senior Manager was not the fastest; it took me sixteen months to get here but I learnt a lot about myself along the way. I came across challenges and obstacles and I realised that not everyone will immediately see what I saw.

My ultimate goal was to ‘sack the boss’, and in January 2015 I wrote this goal down and noted that I wanted to handmy notice in by September 2015 – and that’s exactly what I did! Goal-setting is a very powerful thing and it’s incredible to think I am now a free lady. Forever has enabled me to travel more and it enabled me to purchase my dream car outright – I don’t say this to impress anyone, but to impress upon the power of Forever. I am only just beginning, and now my mission is to serve and help many others create the life of their dreams as well.

"I knew there had to be more to life than being stuck in a rut with no opportunities for progression."

FOREVER FITS AROUND YOU
Forever found Danielle Downey at a time when she was struggling financially. Her best friend gently spoke about it and left the Business Brochure on her table, and that's when Danielle began to wonder if it really was possible to earn extra around a busy job and six children...

The price of the Business Owner Box was a massive stumbling block for me, we just
didn't have the money. However, I decided I wanted to give it a go so I saved for two
months and, on payday (28th September 2014), I chose to buy the box rather than
some much needed tyres! I made my money back in the first month, plus an extra £150, and from that moment I never looked back.

Before Forever I was working as a domestic abuse advocate. I loved the job but the pay was not that good and I struggled to work it around six children and a husband who was often away on business.

I loved that I could fit my new Forever business into the nooks and crannies of my life. I’d listen to training in the car on my drive to work, and I’d start Forever-work every night once the children were settled in bed. It grew slowly, but as my business and income grew so did my confidence. I began to put myself forward to speak on webinars, and I studied hard to be the best mentor I could possibly be to my ever-growing team. I realised that the more I invested in others by helping them to achieve their goals, the more we all gained.

Ten months after starting my journey I waved goodbye to my job and started to work my Forever business full time.

Two months later I became a Manager and I’ve also been able to help many of my team reach their goals. I have made lifelong friends along the way and I love the
comradery and support given by everyone I meet. I take my children to school and
I’m usually the only crazy person shouting from the side-lines when my children play
sports on weekday afternoons. My son started private school in September, paid
for by my income, and I have been able to shed two stone through a weekly personal
training session. Forever has benefitted my family, my mindset, my health, my
confidence, my finances and my team, and I will remain forever grateful to Rex for
devising such a phenomenal opportunity.

"I loved that I could fit my new Forever business into the nooks and crannies of my life."

AN INSPIRING SUCCESS

Emma’s background is in holistic therapy and nutrition, and she even runs a successful spray tan business. She started her Forever business three years ago but didn’t take it seriously until 2015...

In 2010 my husband and I were in a car accident which resulted in me having major health problems. For three years I endured tests, MRI scans, and my health was under constant investigation. I was on morphine and a concoction of various drugs before they found I had osteoarthritis, facet joint disease and, after two years, they finally diagnosed me with ME. I spent most of my time in bed, pumped with pills and I thought I would never get better – it was an awful way to exist. Three years later, in September 2013, I started my Forever journey. I did the C9 and although I had great results I thought no more of it until April 2015. I had just returned from Thailand and I was sifting through holiday pictures when I realised I had seriously let myself go. My health was a mess, my life was a mess, and my mindset was horrendous. I am a mum of six beautiful kids – Cherry-Blossom, Sally-Cinnamon, Travis, Flower-Joan, River-Lennon Leaf and Thai-Star – so I knew I had to do something, and I knew I had to do it for my children.
I decided to do another C9 and the results were amazing. Camilla, my sponsor, encouraged me to share my results with the world and from this I sold many more C9. I felt amazing and I loved every minute of my journey; no-one could walk past me without knowing about aloe – I really was a walking product of the product. In March 2015 I attended a QLS weekend and I was so inspired that I walked away knowing I was going to get to Manager, and in the May, with help from my amazing team, I achieved that promotion. It’s not been easy and it’s a constant commitment, but I want to encourage those who are struggling to just keep going. Sometimes you have to look to those who believe in you and shadow
their belief – I couldn't have done it without the support I received from Ange Loughran and Camilla!
I am aiming to give my family a bigger home, but I also want to enjoy more free time with them to make up for those three years I lost. I’m deaf, have ADHD and I’m number dyslexic so it takes me ages to learn anything, but today I’m a true retailer and I’m proud to tell people that I love Forever.

"no-one could walk past me without knowing about aloe – I really was a walking product of the product."

TAKE BACK CONTROL

At twenty-four years old I was fresh out of police training and fully expecting to work as a police officer for the rest of my working life. I thoroughly enjoyed my job and was willing to work the long shifts, but after the birth of my daughter my priorities changed…

I became a single parent when my daughter was three and I really struggled
with shift work. The long hours and overwhelming feeling of guilt was too much and I realised I needed something else. In 2013 my friend introduced me to Forever and although I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about, I trusted her. I had a good feeling about Forever and I liked the idea of earning an extra few hundred pounds so that I could reduce my police hours.

When I achieved Supervisor I was able to reduce my hours, but then I was told I couldn’t have time off over Christmas, including Christmas day. That’s when I decided to take back control and I made plans to take a five-year career break starting in August 2015. After making this decision, people would comment how it was a good idea just taking a break in case Forever didn’t work out, but the thought of going back really scared me. It still felt like the police controlled me and I was already dreading going back.
It took me a few months to adjust – I had spent eleven years as a police officer – but I really struggled to find a daily routine, let alone work a business from home. Over the months my business fell away, but I never lost sight of what I wanted from Forever, it was just taking me a lot longer than expected. In May 2016 I decided enough was enough; I resigned from the police and suddenly a weight was lifted.

I am now rebuilding my business whilst working part-time in an office, which I really enjoy. I feel in complete control of my life and I am doing things that I was never able to commit to before. I play and coach football, I’ve achieved my FA Level 1 Coaching Award, I’ve become a school governor for my daughter’s school, I’ve taken up running and I also completed the Paris marathon in April 2016 – this was a huge achievement for me.
Forever opened up my eyes to what is possible, it made me see that there are other options. I now have time; time to spend with my daughter, time to take her to school and pick her up again, and that is absolutely invaluable.
My advice to anyone who is feeling like their business isn’t progressing is to take some time and invest in yourself, but most importantly you should never give up on your dream, despite how rocky the journey is.

"I feel in complete control of my life and I am doing things that I was never able to commit to before."