{"id":148,"date":"2015-07-17T17:51:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-17T17:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creativememories.com/apps/thepages\/?p=148"},"modified":"2015-10-13T18:05:55","modified_gmt":"2015-10-13T18:05:55","slug":"your-biz-your-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creativememories.com/apps/thepages\/2015\/07\/17\/your-biz-your-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Biz, Your Way."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CreativeCM Advisor Stefani Jones did a little digging for us to find out exactly how other Advisors run their businesses. We love the variety, the flexibility and the opportunity to make this business fit into anyone’s lifestyle. If you’re interested in learning more about the opportunity, visit our website<\/a>. Thanks for such a great post, Stef!<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a Thursday afternoon. I\u2019m wrapping up at my full-time job and texting tonight\u2019s host to let her know how pumped I am to come teach a card class at her house in a few hours.<\/p>\n

After I tie up some loose ends and log off my work email account, I\u2019m looking through my card class checklist. I\u2019ll get the supplies and tools I need, pack them into my car, and head out soon so I can help my host and her four guests create the cards I\u2019ve designed using fantastic CM tools and papers.<\/p>\n

I think I\u2019ll make a few sales at this card class tonight, but I\u2019m not too worried about it. The fact that I don\u2019t have to meet a minimum sales requirement as a CM Independent Advisor takes a lot of the pressure off! I\u2019ve ordered what I need and what I know I\u2019ll sell (mostly the components for my card class) and then I\u2019ll share my website link so people can buy from me and have their items shipped straight to them.<\/p>\n

At the class, I\u2019m getting to know some new people and catching up with an old friend over scrapbook paper and a Corner Rounder. My chatty students will probably only finish half the cards tonight, but that\u2019s ok. I\u2019ve put together instructions that they can follow on their own if there are any cards they need to put together later, and they have my phone number in case they need to use one of my tools or ask a question.<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/p>\n

Even though I was initially drawn to CM because of the high quality of its albums and\u2014let\u2019s be honest, here\u2014the discount CM Independent Advisors get, teaching card classes has become one of my favorite ways to connect with people. I get to spend my free time researching (the CM blog or Pinterest boards are great resources) and experimenting and then putting together what I think are the best cards using my favorite CM products and tools. Later I share my designs with \u201cstudents\u201d who can chat, try out some CM tools, and assemble their cards in a low-key setting. I find that many people are less intimidated by card making than they are by scrapbooking, so it\u2019s a great way to introduce them to CM without making it overwhelming.<\/p>\n

Besides my own albums and other projects just for fun, I\u2019m \u201cworking\u201d with CM an average of about 5 hours a week. Sometimes I set up a booth at a local craft fair or boutique, and I do host a monthly crop in my home, but my main CM activity is the card class.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve made being an Independent CM Advisor into something that fits into my life and feels comfortable for me, and I\u2019m glad that CM doesn\u2019t push me to be something I\u2019m not or to drive a hard sale for products I don\u2019t love. (I really do love CM products, and that\u2019s why I\u2019ve been so loyal to the brand for so long, even when I wasn\u2019t an advisor!)<\/p>\n

I talked with a few other advisors recently to find out what they do, and I was happy to see that lots of very different people approach this in different but equally successful and fulfilling ways\u2014everything from personal use (just signing up to order your own stuff at a discount and get access to the great support that\u2019s available for advisors) to full-time work. Some advisors told me about their weekly summer kids\u2019 camps and semester-long classes they teach as continuing education, and others told me they really just like being able to order first and play with all the new tools as they become available. Lots of them host crops and other scrapbooking events where crafters can gather and work on their projects together.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a \u201csnapshot\u201d of some different approaches to being a CM Independent Advisor:<\/p>\n

\"Diana<\/a><\/p>\n

Name:<\/strong> Diana Brinsley
\nLocation:<\/strong> Lancaster, California
\nMain activity as an Independent CM Advisor:<\/strong> Self-hosted parties and regular crops in my home
\nMy best advice for new advisors:<\/strong> Create at least one F2F album to show people who don’t have time to scrapbook. And when you are finished with that, try one of our multi-pocket albums. Both are great alternatives to traditional scrapbooking for people who are strapped for time.<\/p>\n

\"Lisa<\/a>Name:<\/strong> Lisa Graham
\nLocation:<\/strong> Westland, Michigan
\nMain activity as an Independent CM Advisor:<\/strong> Weekend retreats and day crops
\nWhat I\u2019d wish I knew earlier about being an advisor:<\/strong> On the business side, I wish I\u2019d have been told not to get hung up on the selling side of things and to instead concentrate on simply sharing. Fortunately, I\u2019ve found that when you share what you love the sales usually follow. On a personal side, I had no clue about what a wonderful community I was joining (including both advisors & scrapbookers). I\u2019ve met some of the most supportive, caring, creative people thanks to CM, both in real life and virtually.
\nMy best advice for new advisors:<\/strong> Become familiar with the entire product line and put together a traditional album as well as a F2F album. Nothing beats hands on experience to share with others!<\/p>\n

\"Fran<\/a>Name:<\/strong> Fran Smitherman
\nLocation:<\/strong> Birmingham, Alabama
\nMain activity as an Independent CM Advisor:<\/strong> Workshops and retreats
\nIf I had it to do all over again . . . <\/strong>I would tell myself not to compare myself to others in home based business because I was doing my business my way, and whether I had 20 or 200 regular customers and 1 or 100 downline, I was providing a service that impacted their lives in a meaningful way. I would also tell myself that I had made a very good choice to sign up, even if I did have a full time career and years of studying for the CFA ahead of me!
\nMy best advice for new advisors:<\/strong> Make the most of your discount and make as many albums as you can because your joy from your own sense of completion will shine through! Be organized, be genuine, be helpful, and make sure to invest some of your profits back into your business.<\/p>\n

\"Julie<\/a>Name:<\/strong> Julie Tambrini
\nLocation:<\/strong> Currently moving from Madagascar to Virginia; formerly from Chicago
\nMain activity as an Independent CM Advisor:<\/strong> One-on-one scrapbooking instruction and online sales
\nI wish someone had told me earlier . . . <\/strong>not everyone will be as excited about CM products as I am! But don\u2019t let that dampen your enthusiasm.
\nMy best advice for new advisors:<\/strong> Work on your own albums, projects, and ideas, and then show everyone so they can see how easy it is. Don’t scare them away\u2014offer to help them get started and keep things simple. Sometimes they need help organizing a project. It can feel very overwhelming. I tell people to start small\u2014make an album of one vacation, a big birthday party, or other single event. Once you get going, things go faster.<\/p>\n

\"Stefani<\/a>Name:<\/strong> Stefani Jones (that\u2019s me!)
\nLocation: <\/strong>Bountiful, Utah
\nMain activity as an Independent CM Advisor:<\/strong> Teaching card classes
\nI wish someone had told me earlier . . . <\/strong>there really isn\u2019t a \u201cright\u201d way to connect to CM\u2014instead of spending time looking for \u201canswers\u201d spend time exploring possibilities! You really can make it what you want and need it to be for YOU!
\nMy best advice for new advisors:<\/strong> Don\u2019t take it personally when people turn you down, whether you\u2019re asking them to host a party, join your team, or try a product. Just keep focusing on the things you love about CM and share that passion with the people around you.<\/p>\n

I hope from this small sample you can see that there are many ways to be an advisor, and whether you\u2019re looking for a leader to work with, a coach who can guide you, a friend to chat with, or just someone to answer your questions about a CM product, there are lots of folks ready to connect with you! Find an advisor near you<\/a> on the CM website today!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CM Advisor Stefani Jones did a little digging for us to find out exactly how other Advisors run their businesses. We love the variety, the flexibility and the opportunity to make this business fit into anyone’s lifestyle. If you’re interested in learning more about the opportunity, visit our website. Thanks for such a great post, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95570245,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[405515165],"tags":[405517683,408833],"class_list":["post-148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all-about-cm","tag-creative-memories-opportunity","tag-direct-sales"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6NsZA-2o","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":115007,"url":"https:\/\/creativememories.com/apps/thepages\/2026\/06\/19\/the-truth-about-becoming-a-creative-memories-advisor\/","url_meta":{"origin":148,"position":0},"title":"The Truth About Becoming a Creative Memories Advisor","author":"Creative Memories","date":"June 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"If you've ever thought about becoming a Creative Memories Advisor but weren't quite sure what it really involves, you're not alone. 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