158 | Meet the Founding Partner Mentor: Colleen Matthews
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[00:00:00] Hey friends, welcome back to the Called to Lead podcast. So today's episode is going to be another interview with one of our founding partner mentors, who I have been touting to share her story on this podcast for over a year now. So if you have been listening for a long time to the podcast. And you've heard me talk about Colleen Matthews and the impact that she has made on my life as a leader, mentor, and friend.
You are finally about to hear her story of how, ~uh,~ not only has she been able to have amazing success in the direct sales industry, but a foundational element of Restore Collective as one of our founding partner mentors. So you're going to love this week's episode. And I can't wait for you guys to meet and get to know the heart of Colleen.
Let's dive in. [00:01:00]
Okay. So Colleen, I am seriously so excited. I feel like this could be like a hour, hours long podcast to share the amazing journey that you and I alone have been on together, but I'm so excited for the listeners to be able to just hear your heart and, and your story and inspiration of all that you've been able to do and your multiple experiences in [00:02:00] network marketing leadership.
~Uh,~ and just bringing that here to Restore ~as, as,~ as one of our very first founding partner mentors. In fact, we go. Way back with that, all the way back to the beginning. So thanks for being here, girl. I'm excited. It's been a long time coming. Definitely for sure. ~Uh,~ well, for those that might not know your story, cause we obviously have a lot of new listeners to the podcast that are following along with the Restore journey.
I would love for you to just maybe share a little bit of your background. You know, really what your life was like even before you got into network marketing, but then how you've been able to just grow into an amazing leader and even grow closer together in your marriage with Evan and being a mama. ~Um,~ when you and I met.
Here in Savannah, actually years ago, you didn't even have, I think you had two kids, right? When we first met. And so you've added a couple more and now they're growing up so fast and you lived all over the country. So I want people to hear from ~your, ~your heart and your voice, ~um,~ the beautiful story that the Lord has, ~um,~ woven for you ~in~ when it comes to all the things.
Give us a scoop. Okay. [00:03:00] So Evan and I have been married a little over about 16 and a half years. So for a hot minute, ~um,~ and we actually, he's an east, he's a west coast boy and I'm an east coast girl. So we met in Kentucky, which is a fun part of our story. ~Um,~ I don't have enough time to share. How that happened, but it's only only God could have put our story together, which is really special.
~Um,~ and so when I met Evan, ~we were,~ he was a tanker. ~Um,~ so he, we're active duty military family, and he is going to retire this year, which is very, very exciting. 20 plus years in service. I'm very proud of him and the life we've built and the experiences we've been able to have. But, ~um,~ when I met him, he was a tanker and his big lifelong dream was.
To be a lawyer. And so he got accepted into the FLEP program and then we got engaged and got married and started our journey, ~um,~ in Virginia and had two kids in Virginia and then moved to Georgia in Savannah. And that's where I met you, Heather. ~Um,~ I had no direct sales [00:04:00] experience at all. I feel like the direct sales industry wasn't really a thing.
~Um. Um,~ I probably, I guess it was around 2014. Yeah, it was when I was actually pregnant with Kerrigan. ~Um, so~ that was my third one. She was born in Georgia, in Savannah. My only Georgia born child, actually. And, ~um, that year, or~ that fall,~ I became, um, Can I, I mean, I guess I can share it. It's noonday, right? Um, ~I joined.
The network marketing industry as a noonday collection ambassador. And I did this truly because of Noonday's mission. I had followed a couple of, ~uh,~ influencers and authors for a really long time. And they talked about new day collection. So it was more of, I don't think I really knew what network marketing was.
It was more of just, I really loved. The jewelry and accessories. And I loved the foundational aspect that they were made across the world and that I was supporting these families in third world countries and being able to bring their stories to women in the United States. And I was so enveloped with that idea and I've always loved travel and it just seemed like the perfect fit.[00:05:00]
And so I got into it then and just kind of fell in love with the model of network marketing, because. It's such a social business and you just invite people in and I'm mildly obsessed with human behavior. And that's like a whole nother story. But because of that, I think being with women, and I've always led women in some capacity, even since high school.
And so being able to kind of find my footing in a business where I could earn income, but also. Just have parties and be with women and meet new women that I'd never met before. It was just very, ~um,~ it was a new thing for me. And so I just loved that part of it. And then realize that I could actually make.
An income. And so then that started to grow and I actually became a top leader with noonday collection and served on their advisory board. And I was with that company for almost seven years and loved it. Loved every minute. Got to travel to [00:06:00] Haiti and Vietnam. And I just have so many experiences with them and~ loved, um.~
I'm still good friends with a lot of the girls that I was ambassadors with. You know, you, you make these connections with women and they never go away. And I'm grateful for that. So joined that. And I was with them for a long time. And through that with our family, ~um,~ Evan deployed for a year to Afghanistan.
We moved. from Georgia back to Virginia. We moved to Alaska, lived in Alaska for two years back down to Texas for three and a half. And now we're in Alabama. ~Um,~ while we were in Texas, he also deployed for another 11 months. ~And, um, ~so it was, ~uh,~ you know, it's been an interesting journey to be, to live all over, but actually that's another great thing I've loved about network marketing is the ability.
To travel with it, you know, for me as a military spouse to be able to take my business wherever we went, that's something that you unless you're a remote worker, you can't do that. So to be able to earn an income and build a business and I don't [00:07:00] have a huge social following ~it. You know,~ I. I have built relationships with people and built trust that, ~um,~ all over.
Like I joke all the time, if, if I need to fly to pretty much any state or a lot of countries, I've got a bed to land in because you do have the opportunity to live in so many cultures and meet so many people. And, ~um,~ I think that has been one of the foundational. Abilities for me to grow, you know, my business is where they work.
~Um, do you want me to talk about Saint yet? Or where do you want me to, I don't know where I could keep going. Because~ I just, I'm thinking back in this season, it's just, it, well, I have so many thoughts and so many facets to our story in this, but it's wild that you and I met when you were a noonday ambassador.
When one of my good friends invited me last minute to one of your, ~uh, ~trunk shows trunks shows? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So trunk shows. And like, I wasn't like the host didn't even, I know her now, but I didn't even know her then. And I just was like, Oh, that sounds like fun. I'll go with you. And so it's just, it's really cool to see how God introduces people.
And just in the, the action of you inviting, [00:08:00] I think it was Christina. Right. Like to be your host for this, ~this, um, you know,~ this trunk show. She then of course, invited her friend, Christine, who then invited me. And then we met and it's just so wild to look like even through the journey. Funny enough, actually did sign up as a new day ambassador.
That's another story for another day. ~Um,~ and then Colleen was one of my first customers at a Saint. If you know, you know, my, my story in that. This is one of my favorite stories to share. She returned the makeup because I color matched her wrong. Then I finally got to, I hosted a noonday trunk show. We love noon day around here.
Still. ~Um,~ I hosted a noonday trunk show and my boutique finally got to try yet another wrong color on her face, but she somehow wound up falling in love with the makeup did decide to enroll. And then of course, maybe that's where we can kind of pick up, but just watching the way the Lord weaves, the actions, the bold actions of you inviting someone to host for you, who then invited a friend who then invited a friend to then meet someone who.
Honestly, it's changed my life in [00:09:00] so many ways. It's just really cool to look back. So now let's dive into circa whatever year that was that you decided you did in fact, like the makeup. Yeah, it is crazy to think back to that because it's been over a decade, like I met you over a decade ago. And the craziest thing is that God knew then that we would be doing this together now.
And that is so wild where he's brought us from, you know, 2014 here to 2025 and the adventures and so many things in between. Right. ~Um,~ so yeah, that was 2018. That I joined as a Saint artist and actually it was on, it was like a week before I left for Vietnam with Noonday to go on that trip. And then, ~um,~ shortly after we moved to Texas and Evan deployed for 10, 10, 11 months.
And so that was one of the hardest years of my life and kind of going into my story ~with. ~With network marketing, kind of taking [00:10:00] it to a new level. We were in a financial situation that was really tricky. And I like to tell this story because I think it resonates with a lot of women. But,~ um, ~when my oldest, ~um,~ we have four kids, our oldest is a boy, and then we have three girls.
And when my oldest was in third grade, he wrote an essay and it was supposed to be a persuasive essay. ~Um,~ and so he wrote about how he wanted my mom or his mom to buy an ice cream maker, why I should buy an ice cream maker and all of the reasons were, ~um,~ because I wouldn't have to worry about paying for ice cream if we went out, I wouldn't have to worry.
He, he said the word worry. ~Uh,~ no less than probably six or seven times in his essay. And when he brought that home, Evan was deployed. And I remember feeling the weight of my, you know, third grader noticing that I was worrying about finances. And I, I didn't want that for them, for any of my kids. I didn't want to live in a place [00:11:00] where that dominated their, ~uh,~ they're too young to, to think about.
What I'm worrying about. And so when Evan got back from that deployment. We kind of made a mutual decision and said no more and we cut out certain habits and I went all in with Seint at that point and had my first exponential month and had a huge growth.~ Um,~ through that first year when I just went all in with it, and then since then, it just continued to grow pretty subtly at a pace and I mean, financially changed our family's life.
I mean, hands down. And so, you know, when that change happened last year and saying it changed their compensation plan, ~um,~ to reward high sellers and kind of take away the team aspect that was really difficult for me on a lot of levels. One, because. team building and team and community [00:12:00] and human behavior is a passion of mine and that felt empty when they decided to take that away.
But then, in addition to that, it was also the income that we didn't expect to ever go away. And so,~ um. ~It's been a learning process through the whole thing, but I'm so grateful for all the experiences that I had both at noonday and Seint, ~um,~ because I am not the same person. I'm not the same leader. I'm not the same friend.
I'm not the same level emotionally that I was. And without having gone through all of those experiences, even if they sucked, I, I, I wouldn't be who I am today. And I, I wouldn't be able to be. in such a supportive role for Heather and Roger and for all the other FPMs. I, I don't think I would have been mature enough to do this role a couple of years ago.
And so again, just going back to his timing, it's, it's [00:13:00] perfect and we can't always see it. ~Um,~ but I'm grateful for where we're at now and it's a, we're only going up. Yes. Well, and it's just, it's so wild once again, just like thinking of our story and our journey through your journey with saint and through some really hard times.
I mean, you've had individually hard times, whether that be like health related, you know, or, you know, even team related, like, I mean, Network marketing leadership is not easy, but when I think specifically, and we talked about this in the prayer right before we called, ~uh,~ right before we hit record is that like iron really does sharpen iron.
And I've known from day one, which is why you were a dream teamie and a dream customer of mine back in the day that you were iron that you were a rock, you know, in the Lord, but. In order to be sharpened into this diamond, we have to have other pieces of iron to be able to, in addition to the Lord, of course, to be able to shape and reform us.
And I feel the same way. Like, I know that I wouldn't be where I am as a [00:14:00] leader, getting ready to take on the huge task of founding this company. If it weren't for you being a piece of iron to sharpen me into who I am. And so that's pretty special. Number one, to hear you, your humility in. Even just admitting that and, and even for people like I would never want someone to look at me circa five years ago or 10 years ago or certainly 15 years ago before I knew the Lord, you know, and, and base where I am now on that.
And so it's, it's just what an amazing journey for, ~um,~ For the growth that we've had the literal rollercoaster, which I'm going to link to that episode too, by the way. So, ~um,~ so you guys, long time listeners will know which one I'm talking about, but we, you want to tell the story? Cause it's kind of, it's kind of a funny, it's kind of a good one.
~Um,~ about on the wild Eagle. Oh yeah. Yeah. I actually have my little, ~um, ~if anybody needs a visual here, you're actually watching and not, and not listening. Yeah, we, ~um,~ Heather and I, we went to a leadership retreat. October of 2023, ~um,~ in Pigeon [00:15:00] Forge, Tennessee, which is the home of Dollywood, which my family loves amusement parks and Dollywood's a huge favorite.
And they have, they have this roller coaster called the wild Eagle. And if you know, Heather, you know, she's not like an adrenaline junkie. Like she doesn't. Big, you know, rides or that stuff. It's, it's not that she's scared. It's, it's that it's just not her preference. Like she's just not going to put herself in a position where she wants to do those types of things.
~And, and, um, and I, so I never, you know, ~so in going to the park that day, I was like, okay, well, I'm going to go hang out with like all my girlfriends that are going to do these like thrill rides. Right. So Heather, like be bopped off to go get cinnamon bread with whoever, you know, and it was like, okay, see you later.
And then she came and, like, found me at one point, and I remember she was like, I mean, I knew that the wild Eagle existed because my family visited Dollywood frequently, but I don't know that you knew, did you know that there was a wild Eagle? Did you know that that was a. Oh, no, no, no. [00:16:00] Well, I didn't know much about what I knew about Dollywood actually learned from you and you convinced me to ride the thunder mountain or mountain something.
That's the best rollercoaster that I've like that one makes me want to try more rollercoasters because that thing is amazing. And the only reason I got on that one also was because of you. So then when I trusted you. Because I actually had fun on something that was kind of scary. But like you said, it's, fear wasn't what held me back.
I'm like, why would you put yourself in a position to be scared? Like, why would, why would you do that? And then I was like, oh wait, because it's actually kind of fun. So that's, so no, I did not know about the wild eagle. Well, and, and Heather's word, your, what was your word for last year? Well, renewal. It's freedom at that, uh, at that time in 2023, what was your word?
Well, it was freedom, but, but it was. Technically, the Isaiah 40:31, which you just texted me yesterday, I think, you know, is a scripture from your Write the Word, which I meant to ask you, what Write the Word journal are you using? Because I just talked about this on last week's podcast. What word did you choose?
[00:17:00] I have courage right now. Courage. That's a good one. ~Um,~ yes, I'm doing hope. I think as I talked about on there, but I did just order my joy when, ~um,~ during their sale last week. But anyways, I digress. ~Um,~ Isaiah 4031 is actually. It's, it's kind of my leadership, ~um,~ based like network marketing leadership based verse, I have verses for everything, but that one in particular, ~um,~ you will soar on wings like eagles, ~uh,~ you will walk and not, ~um,~ go weary.
You were running, not go faint. That to me describes. My journey in network marketing and putting my trust in the Lord and, and truly aspiring to be an Eagle, which means letting him carry me through the hard stuff, which includes a lot of those hard things with, you know, with, with you. And so, yes. So that the Eagle, the wild Eagle, if you've been to Dollywood, it's literally straight down, which I don't do falling.
No thank you. And it's, and there's no, there's no floor for your feet. Your feet just dangle, which I love those, but that, for people that like to feel secure, that's like the worst type of rollercoaster and it goes upside down. Yeah. [00:18:00] Which, the upside down part doesn't scare me for some reason. I, I did grow up going to Six Flags over Georgia, ~um,~ as a child, and there was one, I think it was called like the Ninja or something that, that had, it did, you just kind of moved the whole time.
Didn't really know. There wasn't the. Anticipation of going up up up up up up up. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh What are we doing? Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. This is too And they're going straight down. So no, I would never, ever have thought in a million years about going on the Wild Eagle, but I knew and like looking at that Eagle and I mean, I, it was like everything in my being, I was like, I'm going on that ride.
And there's one person here at this park that needs to be on that ride with me. And it is Colleen. And I remember you were with other people and you're like, I don't want to leave my team. I was like, they will understand. You're coming with me. You're coming with me on this ride. Yeah. Yeah. I felt a little bit bad, like peacing out on my girls, but you were like, so dead set.
And I was like, well, I'm not going to tell Heather. No. Like there's just certain times, you know, not to tell Heather. No. And this was one of them. And I remember actually, we were [00:19:00] standing in line and, you know, even like the lead up, like the, the line standing was fine. And then we kind of get there and you could see Heather kind of like, you know, kind of put her shoulders back and get a little tense.
And I I will never forget like ~we're, you know, and there is~ when ~you're~ the ride initially does a huge and you hear that click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, as you're going up that, you know, huge ascent. And I remember you grabbed my hand and but your eyes were closed. And I remember telling you.
Heather, open your eyes. You have to watch this. You have to open your eyes. And then you were like, I can't, I can't do it. And I was like, Heather, open your eyes. And then we went over the crest and then we went down and then that's when the picture caught us and it was like perfect. So yeah. And then the, the right outside the ride in the cement, it says sore on the, on the cement.
So we actually got a picture. With that too, because that was, even though that wasn't your word for the year that had come up in so many different, ~uh,~ [00:20:00] parts of not just your journey that year, but my journey and our journey together. And so it was just really special. Yes. So special. And yeah, soar to me is, is the goal for anyone, you know, if you're listening to this and you have the goals and network marketing and direct sales.
You know, Colleen really does exemplify that, Eagle, especially as I've watched her ascend, that's, you know, up the crazy roller coaster, you know, that, like, truly trusting in the Lord, in all of the strengths and gifts, and that's, I know, one of your passions that, that we probably don't have time to talk about today, but if you want, you need to, for sure, subscribe to her newsletter, Happy Mail
happy mail, which comes out every other week. I'll drop the link to that too, because it blesses me every time. And you'll see her heart for, for building others up with, you know, just sharing, sharing a little, little encouraging things and a lot more of her story as well. ~Um,~ but truly it is, it's like. To me, soaring, if you want to do big things should be the goal.
And that's why that verse is so important and so vital. And definitely you'll be hearing more about it at [00:21:00] restore, ~uh,~ down the road. So,~ uh,~ everyone listening, stay tuned for more, more background on, on that story. Well, speaking of Restore, I'd love to kind of share, ~um, ~a little bit of how you and Evan, of course, because he was right there from the beginning too, got involved.
I'm talking from like day one, basically, ~of, of this, ~of this company. So maybe share what that journey's looked like in terms of your journey with Restore so far. Well, first of all, it has been such a blessing to see this really build from the ground up, like from literally from an aha moment of could we actually do this to where we are right now with a production line and And formulation and things, shipping and seeing it ~get to hold~ holding, you know, makeup and bags and bottles and actually holding what was once just an idea.
And it's, I mean, I love creation. I used to, ~I used to, ~I still bake. It's one of my little hobbies and I love taking. ~Um,~ random things, random [00:22:00] ingredients and putting them together to build something so beautiful and I feel like that's what we're doing. ~Um,~ and yeah, from, from the moment, from that first week of July, you know, a lot had happened with, with Saint that week.
And I remember being on a call with, ~um,~ some of the girls that were also direct to her then. And. And I remember her saying, you know, just talking about kind of how we were all feeling. And I just threw out kind of randomly, well, we just need to start our own direct sales company. And everyone kind of laughed because, I mean, wouldn't that be nice to just say it and it happened right away.
And, but then Heather actually thought she could, and then, you know, she had Unbeknownst to me, she had been having, um, you know, meetings with people and, and conversations that I wasn't aware of at this point that I think the Lord had been preparing her, ~um,~ [00:23:00] for these next couple of moments. And then my family at the time was at Hilton Head Beach.
And then on, I remember on July 4th, Heather was, I remember having a texting conversation with her that night because we were only probably about an hour and a half physically apart from each other because she was in Savannah and I was in Hilton Head and we were both watching fireworks and I think we were both Enjoying Chardonnay.
Actually, I think we actually have pictures of that. Do you remember that? Like cheersing virtually in our text messaging. And I remember her saying, I remember Heather saying like, I can't stop writing. Like, all these ideas are flowing. Like, it's like the, it's the birth of something. It's, it's the fireworks, it's the, ~um.~
Well, it was a, you coined it somehow it was the spark, it would, you would talk about the spark and how that played into, you know, independence day and 4th of July. [00:24:00] And, you know, I'm like, I know, you know, if you know, Heather at all, and, you know, she gets on this role and she's like all the ideas start just up downloading for her and she's like wild woman taking notes and everything.
And, and then we had the opportunity Evan and I to go to dinner with her. The very next night. So that was July 5th. And we went to this super cute place in Hilton head. What was it called? Heather CQs. It's one of my favorite restaurants in the world. Yeah. The food was so good. The food was so good. And,~ um,~ we.
We've sat there for hours, probably. I mean, it was over three hours. Our poor waiter was probably like, please get up and leave. And we just sat there and, and Heather shared kind of her vision where she was at. And I mean, to have Evan along with me. You know, cause through my network marketing journey, he has always been a support, a backbone and like the physical representation of [00:25:00] holding me up.
Like I just, like he, if, if there's anybody that has always thought that I could do whatever I wanted to do, it's my husband and. He's always supported me and everything I've wanted to do, but it's always kind of been my venture, you know, working noonday is always kind of been my venture Saint was kind of always my venture and Restore is completely different.
He's a part of it. And I would say to anyone listening, if, if that has been part of your story, where it's been you. Doing direct sales as a hobby or a full time income or a part time job, but your husband hasn't met a part of it. You have the opportunity to invite him to be a part of it and your kids.
And that is something that I think sets restore apart among many things. But that is one thing. With it being so [00:26:00] family focused that it's about the whole of the family, the health of the family, the health of the marriage, the health of how God shows up in your lives. That is going to be what makes Restore Indestructible.
And so that night to be able to invite him in to that and for him to sit across from Heather and hear it directly from her and him ask her hard questions. And she asks. Hard questions and to be able to kind of dream together. I mean, that was one of those nights that just. We'll go down in history for us.
I think same. Yeah. I I'm, I'm so grateful for, for those memories and the foundational elements and, and the impact that, that your marriage and that your, your feedback has, has come in. And it's funny because I just had something. It'll be one of the secrets for down the road, but there was something that Evan said in that.
Meeting if you will, or that dinner that I kind of forgot about and I just remembered [00:27:00] it today and I was like, oh, yes, we need to do, we need to implement that. So stay tuned for one of the Evanisms that will come in because we just really, truly do want to invite the families on this journey because I know because I've experienced it and I've watched you do this actually.
~Um,~ when you invite them on it with you, it just It's so much more fulfilling for everybody. So I just, I love that it's been really cool to kind of like walk down memory lane and I'm just so grateful to have you, you know, a part, a part of this for sure. So let's kind of shift into the part of the podcast where we kind of keep things consistent.
Cause obviously your story, all of everybody's stories is so, so different and so beautiful. ~Um,~ but I want people to be able to get to know you specifically as a leader, whether they're, you know, considering you as a founding partner mentor, the cool part is, is we all have a heart of abundance. ~Um,~ you know, to where it's like we, we believe that there's like the right person that's, that's out there.
~Um, ~but I would love to share a little surprise cause she doesn't know about this, which is your originally when you kind of filled out the little [00:28:00] form or the application survey, whatnot. ~Um,~ I asked you to take a little survey that you've done with me before the high five test to determine your five, ~um,~ gifts and strengths, or, and as we know, there are lots of them.
And this is just a, a, a capture of it, but it's one way that we can kind of share what that, what that is. So yours, from that, ~uh,~ assessment, are believer, strategist, catalyst, storyteller, and commander. And so I want to kind of share that. I don't know if you remember those or like how, if they truly do resonate with you.
I also know you're the type that doesn't like to be put in a box. Roger's the exact same way. I think he's here. Yep. There he is. Yep. Same way, but I'm curious. Do you feel like those are accurate reflections of your God given gifting when it comes to leadership? 100%. 100%. Yep. I love it. And the storyteller one I love because I'm like, yep, anybody that's been listening is just like captivated by by the stories.
And it's such a huge, [00:29:00] a huge part of this. So I think it's accurate as well. So love that. So the next question I have for you, and I know this is a tough question. But if you had to pick one of our 12 core values, which one kind of resonates the most with you? Oh, and there's one in particular that if you don't say this one, I'm gonna have to call you out on it.
But which one resonates in particular with you? Well, I think the one that you would call me out on would be loyalty. Yep. Is that, yeah. ~Um.~ I mean, that's, there's, there's so many, I, I, I do truly love all of them. It's kind of like asking me to like pick a favorite kid. Like I can't, I can't really do that.
But like, if you force me to, you know, ~um, ~Loyalty is just something that's so important to me. I mean, I kind of, and I think part of it comes from just my background and my research in psychology and human behavior and personal development. And I think that it, and I mean, [00:30:00] gosh, even biblically the, the idea of loyalty where somebody has your back no matter what, or on the flip side, when you know somebody has your best interest in mind.
So it goes both ways. Right? So if I'm loyal to you, Heather, that means that I'm going to have your back when you're not there. That means that when your name gets. Brought up in a room that I put all the gold stars behind it. That means that, you know, if anybody tried to tear you down, I would be the one to speak up, but then it goes the other way too.
Whereas if, if my desire is to. Honor what you've got going on. Your desire is to honor what I've got going on. And there's this kind of bond that forms when loyalty is important in a relationship. And [00:31:00] I truly believe that like when people are loyal to each other, just like in a marriage, that those are the kinds of bonds that won't be broken, no matter how many hard conversations you have to have.
No matter, no matter how many tears are shed or. Unmet expectations. It's when you were loyal to someone or something, you always come back to it. It's just that familiar. It's that like, it's that like girl dinner, you know, it's just like, you go back to it because it's comfortable and you know, that it's, you're, you're not going to get hurt.
You know, and so I don't know, loyalty is just, it's just a precious commodity. And I, and I feel like there's not, I feel like society's kind of lost that in some ways, and I'm just on a mission to help people find that again. I love that. Thank you for so beautifully sharing your heart around that word, which you, when we kind of got together [00:32:00] and actually, for those of you guys, ~uh,~ watching the YouTube, you can see, ~um,~ on the wall back there, it's hard to see, but that was.
~Um,~ when we very first got together and picked out the core values and the mission vision for the company, ~um,~ loyalty was one that Colleen brought up with those beautiful words and it's something that's really resonated and with me. And so I love thank you for kind of diving a little deeper on that. It was beautiful to hear.
So the next question is going to be specific to the culture of your branch. So obviously, for those listening, in case this is your first time listening, we are inspired in the structure of our company is not a top down pyramid. It is a bottom up rooted, ~uh,~ approach to growing this beautiful tree with our customers and the people who fall in love with this product, of course, being the fruit and the flowers of this, of this beautiful tree.
But each of the different branches of the founding partner mentor are going to look slightly different. And they're going to have a, you know, kind of a unique flavor to it. And so I would love to kind of know for those that are, that are listening, what are, what are some of the [00:33:00] flavors of your, uh, the culture that you could kind of see and envision for your, your team and your branch at Restore.
Oh, this is a great question. And I think that when you read my, my top five, ~um,~ from the test, you do hear,~ um,~ commander and catalyst. And for some people that might sound scary. ~Um,~ but anybody who knows me really, really well knows, I mean, my best friends call me, you know, affectionately call me a pusher because they know I just don't, I don't settle for things.
I, I, I push people to be their best selves. Best selves. And honestly, I think that for people that know me, they secretly love it because they, they know I'm not going to just let them. Take the easy way out. I believe everybody has God given potential. And I mean, it's a proven statistic that about 80 percent of that goes wasted because people just don't chase what [00:34:00] they're meant to do and what they were created for partially because they don't know what it is and they don't know how to seek it out.
But then also partially because either they get comfortable and where they are, or they just don't know how to do it. And so I would say that, you know, part of my catalyst commander is really expecting people and helping them find that and coming into their own, like who God really created them to be.
And I know that that could be. Or sound a little bit cliche, but if you don't know what you're running towards, then you're never going to get there. And so I think that, you know, everybody's goals and definition of success is going to look different, which it should. And so everybody's race. is going to look different in their own lane.
So whether or not success to you looks like making [00:35:00] a couple hundred dollars a month, or it looks like a full time income, then my job, which is a privilege is to help you get there. And so I'm just one of those people that. Won't let you settle. And, and although that might seem a little bit scary, I will tell you the ones that initially found it scary have found so much fulfillment in chasing what maybe they didn't even know was there just because they were willing to get out of their comfort zone.
So I would say, you know, the flavor of, of my branches. Is definitely always the posture of somebody who is a lifelong learner and just wants to be the best version of themselves for themselves, for their husbands, for their families, and really leave a legacy. I mean, that that's what we're all working towards, right?
Is that we want to leave a mark on people's hearts. [00:36:00] And, and if you don't know how to do that, I can help you figure that out. Oh, that's so good. And so true. ~Um,~ it's been a joy to be able to watch you, ~uh,~ use those gifts to not only like you said, bless your families live through this business model, but truly to be a tremendous blessing on so many people around you, whether they're on your team or not.
So, ~um,~ I love that. And I feel like that's also an accurate description of the next question, which is if you had to describe your ideal partner, and of course we welcome, like you said, anyone and whatever version of success, but do you feel like what you were describing also kind of accurately Is a description of your dream teamie and who you feel like would be an ideal person for your team.
Yeah. I mean, you know, I mean, you said this earlier, I don't like to be put in a box. So I've, I've never liked that. I'm kind of, uh, anti personality tests, which is different. I feel like then, then the high five test, ~uh,~ or the strength finders test. ~So~ I don't, I don't necessarily think that I could [00:37:00] say. You know, my avatar or my ideal teamie would be and list you off like 10 qualities.
I think it's more about a person's heart and where they want to go. ~Um,~ because I just, I think, like I said, everybody has untapped potential. So whether or not you consider yourself a leader, You are a leader. If you have a child because you're leading your child, or if you are a volunteer, you're leading other volunteers.
And I think people underestimate how much their presence actually means in everyday situations. You know, you, you can, you can be an illuminator in somebody's life just by smiling at them or. You know, exchanging a kind word and, and I think there's just not enough of that in today's world. And so I would say, come one, come all, because I mean, gosh.
We're just lumps of clay, right? That the Lord works into these beautiful vases. And I kind of think [00:38:00] everybody's like that. Like everyone is this soul and God has given a job, you know, he has created each person for something. And so why would I choose certain people over others when everybody could, could go one way, you know, I mean, or not one way, but everybody could, everybody is going to be able to flourish.
How God intended them to flourish. So I guess I don't have a box for people. I think that's a great answer. That's perfect. So I want to wrap up talking about the product, a little bit of a fun thing for those kind of listening. ~Um,~ and I have, I have another little kind of secret addition to this one. We actually started that.
~Um, ~anyway, this isn't the first time it's come up, but,~ um, ~Before I get to that, what product are you most excited about? Like of all the things that you've had an opportunity to try and give all kinds of feedback. Is there one in particular that you're like, Oh my gosh, I love this. Couldn't live without it.
So I have to tell this really quickly because I think it plays into my [00:39:00] answer, but,~ um, ~Heather has always kind of affectionately joked that I am, you know, a little bit on the extra side. ~Um,~ I do like a good bougie experience, and I do like, you know, I do like nice things, right? That is not a sit. And so, I have always been In Heather's ear about options and about extras and about the experience.
And those things are so important to me. And so, ~um,~ I, I tend to be the one that I tend to lean towards the, ~the, um. ~Boulder side of the FPM group, you could probably say, and I think my FPM sisters would probably willingly agree to that, but I, I love options. And so two things, I guess. One is that because our compact is not only customizable with the insert, but you can actually [00:40:00] remove the insert and fit more options into the compact.
So it's like not even just one way, it's two ways. And then it's three ways. And I just think that that is brilliant. ~Um,~ so I would say just the versatility of. The compact itself, I think is amazing. But if I had to pick the actual, like a makeup product, ~um,~ I'm going to say, I think I just have to go with.
The lip cheek Emily, and, and I think it's because, well, first of all, I knew Emily and Emily was a special friend to me and I am a better person because I knew her. And so like every time, gosh, I thought I was going to make it through the podcast. Every time I wear it, I think of her. And I think of how proud she would be of you, Heather.
And I'm just so honored to be [00:41:00] able to wear her name. And one of my favorite things is, like, mixing it with other colors. Because Emily is, I mean, it is a bold orange red. And so if you wear it, I mean, it's buildable. So you can wear, you know, you can wear it and it's very You know, it's very pretty, just a very light layer, but if you want to go, you know, if you want to like punch it up, you can go really bold, but it's also really pretty mixed with other colors.
And one of my favorite colors to mix with it is joy. And it becomes this beautiful, like red pinky shade. That's just stunning. And so I think that, you know, there are so many, there's so many products to love with restore. I mean, I could have listed 12. 15, 20 of them. ~Um, ~but I think Emily is always going to have a special place in my heart.
So that's what I would say. Well, you know, that just touches right to my heart. And as you were saying it, I thought of several, ~um,~ of the products. ~Um,~ [00:42:00] including our go capsule, which is the smaller version of, of, uh, to give you options and, ~um,~ and travel capabilities like have come from the pushback, but from your, your, ~um,~ difference, like you said, your boldness in that.
~Um,~ and even with Emily, like that, that color in particular, it's been really cool to get your feedback and Brianne and other, ~uh, ~FPM, you know, kind of gave, gave feedback. And then even Emily's, ~uh,~ best friend~ core, um, uh, uh,~ Shelley.~ Oh my gosh. I don't know why I said great, but Shelley, um, ~gave input on it and it's just, it's been so special to be able to watch that, ~um,~ that come together.
And you've had a huge hand in a lot of the facets of development and everybody has, I mean, honestly, it's been a blessing to be able to. Build this product line, not just in what's in my own brain. ~Um,~ there's some of them, I think are direct downloads from the Lord that I feel called to implement, but others it's truly come together through the feedback, like you mentioned.
So the last little surprise element is I want you to tell us about Charlotte because, ~um,~ Emily is well, and I'm sure Emily is a grandmother name for a lot of people, but all of our color shade names are. [00:43:00] Grandma names, either from a founding partner mentor or someone that's been, you know, really a close part of this experience.
And Charlotte is an incredibly gorgeous, actually newer shade that I thought at it's downstairs actually. But, ~um, ~it is a beautiful warm champagne. That's meant to be perfect on the inner corner. I actually have Mary Lou, which is my grandmother on today, but it's like a warmer version of this. And it's incredible as an illuminator.
So again, this is Mary Lou, if you're watching ~on, on the, um,~ on YouTube, but I want you to talk to me about. The name, like the person, Charlotte, uh, your grandmother and tell us like what she means to you. So my grandma Charlotte is my dad's mom and she actually passed away in May, ~um, two,~ a year and a half ago.
And my daughter Kerrigan, my third child, her middle name is Charlotte after my grandmother. And, ~um, ~She's always been a special grandmother. I have a lot of fond memories. They lived in Minnesota. All my dad's family, it was in Minnesota and I have a lot of special memories going to [00:44:00] their house for Christmases and, you know, because it was Minnesota, there was always snow and it was very magical.
And,~ um, but I, I was also,~ I am the first grandchild on both sides of my family and I've always just had a very special connection. With her. And I don't know if it's because I was the first grandchild. ~Um,~ my dad actually over Christmas had sent my sister and my brother and I a picture and said, like, guess who this is.
I knew right away. It was my grandma Charlotte. ~Um,~ and she had this. beautiful, full, dark, curly hair, not curly, but like, just like bouncy, voluminous curls. And this picture was like, I don't know, from like 1940 something. And, ~um,~ and she was sitting on top of like a, an old car and she, ~um,~ I, I favor her, ~um,~ my rounder features and, ~um,~ just my, my brother and my sister are like.
Like twigs. They're like, I mean, we're all tall, but [00:45:00] they're like sticks. They like favor my mom's side that way. And, but I'm more curvy and more round features and I favor my grandmother. And I always felt a little weird because. I didn't look like my brother and my sister, and I thought that I should, like, I wish that I had this, the more thin bones and the thin frame and, ~um,~ but seeing that picture over Christmas, actually, I'm so proud, ~um,~ I'm so proud to like, carry on what she, what her legacy,~ um,~ she worked in the school system for years, and the stories that my dad tells about her, her mothering style and growing up, and I just always remember I just, her hospitality was just something that was unmet, ~um,~ which is probably now I am so,
I love hospitality so much. ~Um, ~I have just, I have a new appreciation and love for hospitality and [00:46:00] for, ~um,~ you know, learning how to treat people well and, and, and making somebody feel seen. And, ~um,~ and she did that so well. I mean, you didn't go to her house Without her, like, pulling cookies out, or coffee, or, she was always prepared, and she, her energy, she just always was.
You could just feel it. She just always had this presence about her that was just so beautiful. And so, you know, so I love that the color when Heather was describing it is meant to, like, illuminate, you know, the, the parts of your features that, you know, to brighten them and to illuminate them and it's so perfect, you know, when we were kind of discussing, like, what shade and originally we thought Charlotte might be a lip cheek color, which would have been great, you know, but, ~um, ~I think it's more, it's, it's more perfect for this because she's an [00:47:00] illuminator.
She was, and she lit up every room and people just adored her. So I hope that I can carry on that legacy of her, ~um,~ illumination and her hospitality because She was one of a kind. Oh my gosh. I'm so glad I thought to ask that question and a lot of these, these stories. I don't, I don't know. And I know that the legacy that a lot of times our grandmothers, certainly mine, you know, have left on our lives is just.
Is such a special one. And, and I think that's one of the reasons that is a God given inspiration that I can't even take any bit of credit for to name them because there, there's so many stories about the women who've come before us and, and the impact and legacy that they've, that they've left. And, and it's just, it's so special.
What a beautiful, beautiful story. And thank you for, for making me love her even more now. So excited. Well, this has been amazing. I feel like we could, like I said, at the beginning talk for hours. And again, I don't think this is the [00:48:00] last time you guys will be hearing from Colleen or really any of the FPMs, but I am so glad we got to share a glimpse of the journey that we've had together.
~Um,~ and the path that the Lord has brought us on together now. ~Um,~ and I would love to invite you to pray, ~um,~ for those listening as we wrap up the podcast. Yep. We'd love to. Heavenly Father, Lord, thank you for just another day, just another day to get up and be able to get to do the things, not have to do the things, but get to do the things.
And Lord, I just pray for every. Every person listening, every woman listening, Lord, I just thank you for each one of their stories and how they will contribute to restore whether or not they decide to become partners or advocates or customers, Lord, that, that each one of them matters in, in. How you've created them to be.
And I just pray that as, um, we wrap up here, that, that something in my story resonates [00:49:00] something makes them think fondly of someone that they know, or, uh, Feature that they have or a personality character trait that they have Lord that these are just gifts from you. And I just pray that each one of these women, um, learns to really harness those and use those because they're gifts.
And I just pray that as we continue to build, restore that we just keep it under the umbrella of. Your direction god that you continue just to show us the way to go and that that everything we do glorifies you lord I pray for each woman listening each woman watching. I pray for all the fpms and heather and roger And all the formulators and all the vendors and everyone that we work with lord.
What an honor to build something for your kingdom god Um, we love you and it's in your precious name. We pray amen. Amen. So good friend. Well I'm grateful for you. So thank you again for being here. Love [00:50:00] you. Love you. ~ ~
