Live a Healthier Life

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.

FOR MY DAUGHTER
My mum is a huge inspiration to me and has been a single mum since I was two years old. She had to work three-to-four jobs just to get by, but somehow, with the help of my grandparents, she still managed to send me to a private secondary school.

Private education helped me massively since I have bad dyslexia, but despite the decent education, I knew I didn’t want to go to university. Mum suggested I become a beauty therapist so I did, and I loved it! I got my dream job in January 2008 at Gleneagles and I completed everything that job had to offer. Then I had Ava.

When Ava started school in August 2016, I wasn't sure what to do. Childcare was too expensive and her dad and I are not together, so I decided to set up my own business as I figured I could work it around Ava. I called it JAJ Beauty and mum helped by investing her retirement money into setting it up. Sadly, there were beauticians out there I couldn't compete with and it wasn’t long before JAJ Beauty failed.

One day, Anna Mair, a good friend of mine from beauty school, invited me over for our usual monthly sleepover, but this time the evening had a slightly different set up. Anna shared the Forever Business Presentation, and although I thought it was a scam, I kept thinking about the opportunity. The next day I was scrolling through Facebook when I came across Kat Crawford. She did the Forever thing Anna was talking about so I decided to invite her round and ask her questions. I wasn’t as close to Kat as I was Anna so I knew there would be no hard feelings if I decided it was a load of rubbish. I signed up two days later with Kat, that was in March 2015.

A few days later I was introduced to Kat’s team and I set myself the goal of earning £2,000 a month. This was how much my mum earned and she managed to give me a fabulous life – I wanted to do the same for my daughter! Shortly after this I came across Emma Cooper and I found her incredibly inspiring. I watched her carefully and took on everything she said to do, I listened to all the trainings and I went to my first Success Express event in June 2015. I worked hard, making my way through the Marketing Plan and incentives, and by the October I had climbed my way to Senior Manager.

I have had a huge amount of fun over the years and I’ve built some amazing memories. Thanks to Forever I now work flexibly for my daughter, and I’m able to give her the life she deserves.

"I worked hard, making my way through the Marketing Plan and incentives, and by the October I had climbed my way to Senior Manager."

FOUND THROUGH FATE

Amy is mum to two amazing children and has an eighteen-year-old stepdaughter who has joined her team. Working the business hasn’t always been easy, but Amy truly believes that Forever is her calling…

When I was first introduced to Forever I was asked to look at the business opportunity many times over the course of about nine months, but it was never something that interested me. Then in January 2015 my sister, Emma Rees, joined Forever. She asked if I wanted to join her team but I still didn't think that it was the right fit for me so she introduced me to the products instead. I started drinking Forever Aloe Vera Gel and I was amazed by the results, but I still wasn't sure whether I wanted to join the business. One day my sister decided to make a wager with me and said, "If you win over £200 at bingo when you take mum tonight, then it's fate and you have to join!" That night, both me and my mother won £1,000! I had never won bingo before and I haven't won since so perhaps it was indeed fate that led me to join Forever. Either way, I'm so glad I joined!

I have worked in the NHS as a dental nurse for thirteen years but the idea of gaining an extra income that could be spent on activities for the children, days out, weekends away and holidays abroad began to appeal to me. The additional income would also help towards putting the children through university and I have dreams of saving up and building my dream home! I joined Forever in February 2015 and had the most amazing few weeks after joining. I had no team but I hit Supervisor in just forty days with help from my amazing upline – Melissa Buckley and Tracey Munro were my rocks – but then I missed Assistant Manager by just seven case credit in the July. This caused me to doubt myself and Forever so I packed the family's cases and went to Spain. Taking a break with my family at our second home helped me to realise why I was doing Forever, and I returned from our break more determined than ever – I hit Assistant Manager in the November because I realised that if it’s meant to be, it is up to me!

This year I am focusing on rebuilding my team, and my goal is to hit Manager by June. I have achieved many of the company incentives and I even accompanied Melissa to Eagle Managers’ Retreat in 2016. I have never missed my monthly 4CC target since joining the company and I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of 2017 brings.

"I hit Assistant Manager in the November because I realised that if it’s meant to be, it is up to me!"

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."

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."

Sapphire Manager Natalie Heeley continues to take the Forever world by storm as she secures the number one spot in the UK for the third year running.

As a leader admired by many across the world, a devoted mother to two wonderful children (plus one on the way), and a business-builder whose success continues to surpass expectations, Natalie carries with her an air of professionalism, power and self-confidence that many would envy. Forever’s Editor, Kate Hodge, caught up with Natalie at her beautiful country home to talk business, mindset, and why she’s Forever Proud…

KH: WHAT DID LIFE LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED FOREVER?
NH: I’ve been in Forever about ten years now but my background is in marketing. I was made redundant twice and the second time I was pregnant with my son Will. I therefore became a mum at home, which was great because it was what I always wanted anyway, and Rosie came along pretty quickly after, but money was a struggle. For ten years prior to this, my mum Jan Whittaker had been asking me to look at Forever, but I’d never been interested before. However, things changed when I had both children and I found myself wanting something that was going to be flexible, something that was going to be challenging, and something that was going to give me loads of support because I didn’t have much confidence or belief in myself at the time. Will was two and Rosie was five months old when I started my Forever business.

KH: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THOSE EARLY DAYS?
NH: If I were to start the business again, I would tell myself to never compare myself to other people. It’s so easy to do, but we need to remember that we are all on our own journey and we all come into it with different challenges, different goals and different skills. Every Forever Business Owner needs to realise that they are individuals who are able to make it happen. In fact, the only way you can fail is by quitting, so you need to make sure you are getting up each day with that positive mindset, getting out of your comfort zone, and working on challenges to ensure you overcome them. Self-belief also plays a crucial role. It took me two years to get to Manager because I didn’t believe that I could do it, and it took me a long time to learn that you have to work on your mindset daily.

KH: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SECURE THE TOP SPOT AGAIN?
NH: It’s pretty amazing to be recognised as the number one FBO for the third year running, but it’s not just down to me – my team is just incredible and I want to say a big thank you to them all. This achievement is also a testament to hard work. When I started my Forever business I worked literally every moment I could around the children, and it just shows that if you put that hard work in, it will pay off in the long term.

KH: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO FBOS WHO ASPIRE TO BE LEADERS IN THE FIELD?
NH: Firstly, it’s important that you do your research and make sure you are clear on what tools, events and trainings are available to you. You should then access these tools and trainings yourself before sharing them with your team. I think the company trainings and events that I’ve benefited from the most are the Success Express events. They are so important as they keep you motivated, they help to build team spirit, and the trainings are absolutely incredible. The Advisory Board product trainings are also essential as they will help to build your confidence when it comes to retailing the products and they will also help you to coach your team. Using the tools on foreverknowledge.info has also been beneficial to my business because everything is at your fingertips and you can access it from home in those little spaces throughout your day.

As well as promoting the company trainings and events, being a leader requires teaching others the basics of the business. It’s teaching people how to retail the products, how to do a great product launch, how to make a phone call, how to do a one-to-one and how to run a Business Presentation, whether that’s a home BP or over a coffee. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel as it’s worked for forty years; you just have to be persistent and teach others. For me, a massive part has been teaching others about mindset. I believe that 80% of our success is down to what we are telling ourselves so I constantly remind my team to work on their mindset daily.

KH: HAVE YOU ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THEIR BUSINESS HAS SLOWED?
NH: Remember not to compare yourself to other people – running a business is not a race and it is perfectly normal to go through stages where business remains at a steady pace. However, if you are keen to see growth, it may be worth looking back in your diary to remind yourself what activity you’ve been doing. Look at the past three months, how many one-to-ones have you had? How many guests have you taken to the Business Presentation? Ideally these are face-to-face activities but they could be online, and although you will probably find that you’ve done a bit, it’s likely you have room to do a lot more. Just try increasing your activity and you’ll soon see the results you crave. What I do, and what I tell my team to do, is to try and do a minimum of three to five one-to-ones per week, and attend a Business Presentation, with a guest, on a weekly basis.

By doing this amount of activity, you are likely to recruit one to three people each month. If you aren’t going to the BP, a big part of the jigsaw is missing – the BP will give you the motivation and encouragement you need to confidently talk about the business; make sure it plays a key role in the diary, but most importantly, don’t give up and know that you can do it.

KH: WHAT HAS THIS PAST YEAR (2016) LOOKED LIKE FOR YOU?
NH: This past year has been pretty magical: I turned forty when we were out in South Africa at Global Rally and this was followed by the most amazing family holiday. My kids, my mum, my brother and sister, we all went on safari and we really just spent loads of time together making memories. I had a big party with my team out in Johannesburg, and I also picked up a million dollar cheque which made it a pretty spectacular birthday. When we came home we had a few more parties, so it’s literally been a year of celebration and having fun. Amongst all this I also met my partner, we’ve renovated our beautiful farm house which has always been a dream come true, and then to finish the year off I found out that we are expecting a baby!

KH: WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2017?
NH: This year my focus is being a mummy again. Rosie is now eleven, Will is twelve, but this time it’s going to be so, so different. All those years ago I didn’t have much money or time, I was a single parent and there were lots of challenges that we had to face; this little girl is going to grow up in an entirely different environment. Our house is nearly finished so we are going to be living in our dream home and we can’t wait to introduce our baby girl into the family. It’s going to be pretty scary going back to babies but we are all so excited. I’m also looking forward to working with my team, watching them achieve Chairman’s Bonus and Eagle Manager, and obviously I am going to have the opportunity to meet lots of new mums which means conversations that could lead to them changing their future. All in all, 2017 is going to be a great year.

KH: WHY ARE YOU FOREVER PROUD?
NH: Forever has provided me with financial freedom and for me that means choices; choices to do whatever we want, when we want, without having to think about whether we can afford it. That’s been pretty life-changing for us. I’m also able to work closely with my mum and sister, and together we’ve been able to change our family’s lives. It’s humbling to know that by simply sharing the opportunity, we’ve changed hundreds of lives around the world as well. I love meeting so many different types of people and to work in such a positive and motivating environment is rare these days. That’s why I’m Forever Proud.

"Remember not to compare yourself to other people – running a business is not a race and it is perfectly normal to go through stages where business remains at a steady pace. However, if you are keen to see growth, it may be worth looking back in your diary to remind yourself what activity you’ve been doing."

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."

Forever found me at a time in my life when I truly believe I needed it the most. At the time, I had three young kids, all below the age of five, with the two youngest only thirteen months apart. My kids and my husband Ross are my rocks, my inspiration, and the ones who drive me to be the best I can be…

Before Forever I was a bank branch manager and I’d worked in the same corporate organisation for fifteen years. I had a great salary, a great team and it was my dream job. Life was good but when I fell pregnant with Poppy (our third), things started to change.

One month before Poppy was born my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My whole world fell apart. She underwent a life-threatening operation the day before Poppy was born and I suddenly realised that this ‘dream job’ I thought I had wasn’t going to work anymore. It was missing something crucial – work-life balance. It was clear that juggling three young kids, a corporate career and mum’s illness just wasn’t possible. I had no time, and sadly time was running out for mum faster than we thought.

After I had Poppy, I was desperate to lose some ‘baby weight’, so I decided to try the C9. Afterwards I looked great and felt amazing, and the lady I bought it from suggested I take a look at the business opportunity. I took one look at the Marketing Plan and knew straight away that I was in.

Suddenly I had found a business that I could work around nap times, mum’s treatments, feeds, hospital visits, school, kids’ clubs, etc. I had found my way out, and a way to create the work-life balance I craved.

Forever has given us so much. Fast-forward to 2017, and we have an extended family home, we have managed to take the kids to Disney and I have travelled to places I could only dream of before. With our first Chairman’s Bonus cheque we were able to replace our old car, and the remainder went to Strathcarron Hospice where my mum spent her last ten days (she sadly passed away in January 2016).

The most important thing that this business has given us is memories and the time to create them; memories with Ross and the kids, and memories with mum. We were able to take her on trips, and I was able to be by her bedside twenty-four hours a day when she was in the hospice. This was the moment I realised that the business opportunity has the potential to change lives – it had certainly changed mine!

"I took one look at the Marketing Plan and knew straight away that I was in. Suddenly I had found a business that I could work around nap times, mum’s treatments, feeds, hospital visits, school, kids’ clubs, etc."

Angelina and her husband Marlon both work crazy hours but this led to them looking into the Forever opportunity. Angelina realised that working the business would soon give her the time freedom she craved…

My journey with Forever started when a friend of mine contacted me to highlight the fabulous opportunity. It took a couple of attempts of contact, but once we met, I signed on the spot – I was so excited about starting a new journey and I felt it would really benefit my family.

My husband and I both work long shifts which means we’re constantly juggling childcare for our two children Paige and Dylan. I work for the emergency services, which means a varied shift pattern often at unsociable times, and my husband's job is of a similar ilk. Fitting in quality family time is a nightmare so one of the main reasons for starting the business was so that I could earn enough to free up time, time that could be spent together as a family.

My Business Owner Box arrived and I got to work. I made sure I started by familiarising myself with the products and I quickly saw the benefits which helped to fuel my enthusiasm. I also knew early on that I wanted to build a team; I wanted to help others like me achieve their goals and dreams, and I loved the idea of giving them an opportunity which could lead to a better future and lifestyle.

Forever has helped me to become more confident by taking me out of my comfort zone. I’ve met so many new and different people – my normal daily routine wouldn't allow this – and this has helped me immensely. I have travelled to many cities thanks to building my business, and I’m consistently broadening my knowledge. I'm excited about our future and it’s now looking even brighter; the prospect of dropping my hours at work is looking more likely and this means I’ll be able to spend more quality time with my family whilst I continue to grow my business.

"Forever has helped me to become more confident by taking me out of my comfort zone."

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 BUSINESS THAT’S MORE THAN MONEY...

Mohammed and Shomirun have been Forever Business Owners for many years and they have recently achieved the coveted position of Sapphire Manager. Sapphire Managers have at least nine personally-sponsored Managers in their downline and are able to earn an additional 1% on their income. This percentage may sound small, but it can actually make a significant difference to an income!

Forever’s Editor, Kate Hodge, caught up more about his journey to Sapphire…

KH: WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE BEFORE FOREVER?

MA: My sponsor and I were in another network marketing company for about a year before we found Forever, and although we were excited about the business opportunity, the products weren’t consumable. We therefore decided not to continue and instead I used my time to focus on my traditional businesses; this included running a transport company.

KH: HOW DID YOU DISCOVER FOREVER?

MA: After a few years, in 1997, Shareef called me to say he had found another exciting company which was well established. We arranged to meet and I joined Forever immediately after listening to his one-to-one presentation. However, I started to lose interest in the idea after talking to my friends and family as their reaction was fairly negative. Despite this, my sponsor had recommended several products to me so I gave them a try anyway and, in a short period of time, I was surprised to find good results. I was so impressed that I sat down for a planning meeting with my sponsor, made some serious commitments, set goals and became Manager within two months! That’s when I decided to give up on all the other businesses I had so that I could focus purely on Forever.

KH: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

MA: Over the course of the last nineteen years I have been approached by many people from other MLM companies, but none ever captured my interest as they were all just about the money. I feel extremely lucky to be a Forever Business Owner because I am not only receiving an income, but I am also blessed to have access to products that benefit my wellbeing. Today I drive the car of my choice, I can earn a slice of the company’s profit, I have travelled the world, and I have an income that I can save for my pension. The business really is so simple, and the best advice I could give new Forever Business Owners is to use all the products, attend all the meetings, and share the products and opportunity with absolutely everyone you meet.

KH: HOW HAS FOREVER YOUR LIFE?

MA: Forever has given me back time with my family, and it’s given me stability – before I was finding it hard to make ends meet! I want to thank Shareef for giving me courage, making me believe that I can be successful, showing me the light when I couldn’t see, and for travelling with me everywhere just to make me successful. We will certainly be friends FOREVER! I want to tell everyone in my team that I love them so much; without them I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I would like to thank Rex for creating a profitable environment where individuals like myself, can become, with dignity, what they want to become – thank you!

"I feel extremely lucky to be a Forever Business Owner because I am not only receiving an income, but I am also blessed to have access to products that benefit my wellbeing."

FUELLED BY FITNESS

I joined the business through my love of the products and at that time I was also training to be a personal trainer, a job which I thought would fit around the children and mean I didn't have to give up my passion – fitness! I'd been a stay-at-home mum for six years at this point; I was lucky as I didn’t have to work, but I really missed my financial independence and that sense of providing for the family.

I spent the first year retailing, mainly the sports and weight management products, and I built a great retail business, but I was petrified when it came to building a team. I had little belief that anyone would listen to me and I worried about their opinions, so I sat happily at Supervisor for about ten months. Then, in February 2014, my third child was born and everything changed.

I met up with my upline who gave me a small nudge and I left that meeting with self-belief, a fire in my belly and a huge desire to have something more. I spent a lot of time working with my team, working on my self-development and learning to get better in all areas of the business, and I’ve developed a passion for helping others and seeing in them something they don't. I have recently separated from my husband and it’s been incredibly challenging, but Forever has given me the financial stability to start my life again. I now work Forever around three beautiful children and I've still not had to give up on my fitness passion. In fact, Forever has enabled me to achieve more. The products have changed my performance in the gym – I use Forever Aloe Vera Gel, Forever Arctic Sea and Argi+ daily, and Forever Pro X2 bars and Forever Lite Ultra are also staple snacks in my life.

I use my attitude to training in the gym to benefit my mindset in the business. When you want to achieve a goal in the gym you have to dedicate time to learning how that’s done, you have to be passionate and fired up enough so that the goal is tunnel vision, and you have to take daily consistent action! There will be tough days where you feel it’s not possible, but you just support yourself with a good coach who encourages you, and when you are training in the gym at times when others are out socialising, you hear things like 'lighten up' or 'you're crazy', but you go even on the days you don't want to because the goal is that important to you – my success in Forever has been down to applying this exact mindset to my business!

FITNESS, FREEDOM AND FOREVER

After seventeen years in the military, Dewi Winkle from Ripon, North Yorkshire, took the decision to embark on a career in sport and event management. It was a difficult decision but, alongside working as a triathlon coach, he wanted to be involved in creating events that challenged people.

The last eleven years have seen him working in a variety of posts including roles at the Asian Games in Doha, working for British Triathlon, operating as an open water swim coach in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, and co-ordinating challenge events for a military charity. Eventually Dewi settled down in North Yorkshire with his partner Dawn where he manages The Wattbike Studio, trains triathletes and organises the annual iconic Scilly Swim Challenge on the Isles of Scilly. With a passion for motivating others and guiding people into a healthier lifestyle, it was perfect timing when he met Global F.I.T. Ambassador Mike Butterworth and his partner Lindsey Jackson…

Dewi says:

I recall Mike saying, “You come across as a personable and enthusiastic coach, might you be interested to learn about a business that might suit you?” Obviously I answered yes. I was really intrigued and excited; the business model, products and team-building hit a chord with me as I wanted to sell products that tied into my work at the studio. Forever’s products were perfect for my varied customers and the more I learned the better the opportunity seemed.

I’ve been in the business eighteen months now and I still ensure I achieve my 4CCs every month. I want to continue building my retail business and team, and I’ve recognised that the only barriers are the ones that I put up myself. I am really appreciative of having an opportunity that allows me to work when and where I want, at the pace I decide. Stepping out of my comfort zone has been essential, and I’ve come to realise that this will be a business that continues to educate me.

Living in the Yorkshire Dales, being surrounded by loyal people and deciding how I choose to work really suits me; having a job that allows me to improve people’s fitness, self-esteem and wellbeing has made me very grateful. There aren’t many jobs that allow you to give people a business, and that’s a real privilege – thank you Forever!

FLEXIBLE FUN

Yvette has always been a firm believer in fate, and although she never understood the laws of attraction, she always felt that things happened for a reason…

I originally wanted to be a physiotherapist but when I was on a year out I decided to start a career in marketing. I eventually moved into B2B marketing for some of the top marketing agencies serving the technology industry. I enjoyed the casual, creative and fun environment of working for an agency, and I was running some of the world’s largest technology accounts, such as Microsoft. It was more than 9-5, and I was fine with that until I had my family. After having my daughters I decided to work for myself, part time and freelance so that I could choose my hours and work flexibly around the family. But when my son was five months old, out of nowhere I came down with severe pneumonia. It was so bad I had to have my husband write my will. It took me two years to properly get back on my feet and the result left me with a heart condition.

When Jack turned four and started school, I was deciding whether or not to take on more freelance work. That’s when I wondered whether there was ‘profit’ to be made from the Forever products. One of my best friends told me about the C9 six months earlier and after completing the programme I felt incredible. The products had won me over, but I didn’t know anything about the business side or even that there was one. I decided to approach a lady who had a stall at a local village carnival to find out more. We met for coffee and she presented the business to me. I sat there quietly and I was surprised to learn that there was a whole marketing plan behind the products. The opportunity ticked a lot of boxes for me in terms of flexible working, and in all honesty, I thought it was too good to be true.

My timing couldn’t have been worse. We’d just moved out of our house for renovation and I was working every day. We had children at three different schools and we were living at my parents. I was going to put it off until the new year, but my husband encouraged me to give it a go. I spent a month using the products and learning the business, and I started to qualify for incentives. I achieved Supervisor over the following two months and that’s when I became serious; within six months I was promoted to Manager! I absolutely love my team and who I’ve met along the way – Forever has given me a sense of purpose, but more importantly, flexible fun and an opportunity not to be missed.

"The opportunity ticked a lot of boxes for me in terms of flexible working, and in all honesty, I thought it was too good to be true. "

REBUILDING A FUTURE
You never know what life is going to throw at you and when something affects your health it can be difficult to see a way out. Supervisor Mike Fielder eventually found the light at the end of his tunnel, but the journey getting there was far from a smooth ride.
I suffered a herniated disc when I was eighteen years old and I’ve lived with pain ever since. When I was twenty-one I had an operation but they made a real mess of it and refused to believe me when I told them the pain was worse.

It wasn’t until eight years later, when MRI scans were available, that the doctors realised I had three prolapsed discs and a compressed spinal canal. The situation was pretty serious and I had to re-mortgage my house to pay for a private operation the following month. Fortunately the surgery was successful.

Everything was fine for ten years and I was even able to start my own construction business. My business was a success and everything was going well until one morning, whilst rushing around getting ready for work, I tripped and fell down the stairs.

I undid all the good work the surgeon had done and I was eventually told that a further operation would do more harm than good. My body was starting to fuse the vertebrae on its own and the pain was unbearable. I did try to live a normal life but the pain was making me lose all concentration and common sense.

It was during this time that I noticed an old friend posting on Facebook about a company called Forever. At first I took no notice, but after a few months I decided to find out more and I was invited along to a Business Presentation.

I spent the whole hour trying to find fault with the business, and when I couldn't I jumped on board. I needed a new future, but what I found was nothing short of a miracle.

The products have been amazing, I'm now building a fantastic business with my own team, and I can't wait to qualify for the incentives in the future. Forever has been the physical and
mental vehicle I needed to get my life back on track, and I can't recommend the opportunity highly enough.

"I needed a new future, but what I found was nothing short of a miracle."

BELIEVE AND ACHIEVE
When I was a little girl I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, and every time I was asked my answer would change. I always knew I was good with people and wanted to make a difference, but I guess I didn’t have clear goals…

Eventually the career I fell into was in learning and development; I was helping people and I felt proud, and I assumed I’d carry on until I was ready to retire. However, things changed in 2011 when I injured my spine and couldn't work for months. In the end they made my role redundant and I spent my days alone, unable to move without medication, and with the knowledge that I had no job to go to. I sunk into depression but instead of seeking counselling, I just got on with it. Life carried on, I had surgery, got a new job, and got together with my best friend Ricky. I was happy again and we
discovered we were expecting a baby; Jack was born and things were perfect!

I was made redundant again whilst on maternity leave, and, out of desperation, I took on a fixed-term contract and forfeited some maternity leave and pay.

This is when I met my sponsor. I decided to start a Forever business as I was nervous about the corporate world and felt insecure with having a child. I saw the potential instantly and knew that I was where I needed to be. I could genuinely help people to change their lives. It fit, it felt right and I was excited.

I got to work, absorbed everything, attended every training and Success Express, and I stalked the leaders to see what they were doing. I hit two promotions straight away but that didn’t mean things were perfect. I had given myself some massive goals and got frustrated when I didn’t hit them. I had to have an honest conversation with myself and that’s when I identified that my mindset wasn’t right. I had let my past experiences affect my confidence
and deep down I didn’t believe I was capable of success. I started to work on my mindset and already I’ve noticed a change in my motivation. I have some amazing goals that I know are realistic and achievable, I believe in myself again and I know Forever believes in me and
has given me all the tools required to succeed.

"I could genuinely help people to change their lives.
It fit, it felt right and I was excited."

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."