Interviewing with 5 Diamond Elizabeth Mahusay!!

After I had interviewed Joni last week, God pointed my heart to interview Elizabeth this week. When I asked she said she would love to! It took us a bit to get a time down, since we had to work around business and family, and the first time I suggested, she could not do it because she had to share the business with a prospect, how awesome is that? Well, we ironed out all the details, and here it is!

After some kind words about this blog (thanks Elizabeth, you are too sweet!) I really got a welcoming feeling from her and an excitement about the interview. That really put me at ease to share time with her.

Mary: To be leaders and to sponsor, it is important to connect with people. How do you suggest connecting with such a diverse group as we all encounter?

Elizabeth: Well, when it comes to sponsoring, we need to realize that it is not about us, but all about them. We need to be sure to ask a lot of questions about them to be able to learn more about them, and connect with them on a more personal level. Often we do not take the time to learn about them, and that is a big problem.

Mary: What kind of questions do you ask?

Elizabeth: I always stick to F.O.R.M.:
-F: Family- Ask about her family, her kids and her husband if any. What are their names? How old?
-O: Occupation: What do they do during the day? (Make sure you ask this question instead of what her job is, you want her to feel accomplished, even when she stays home with her kids, that's a big job!)
-R: Recreational: What do they do for fun? (She often gets this question answered during her show when she asks what they would do with an extra $1,000).
-M: Motivation: Try to find out what motivates them to find more about Premier, you will use this to bring Premier to them in a certain direction.
Make sure to ask a lot of questions!

As for the Jeweler, you need to let them know that you care about them and not just about what they do in Premier. Get to really know their family, and them on a personal level. Let them feel that they can talk to things not Premier related. Sometimes we all feel burdened when we are talking to someone and we end up "gettin' into their junk" (a.k.a. personal life). But we need to realize that God put that jeweler on YOUR team for a reason, and she needs your support. Once you see them from the other side, it really strengthens your relationship, and gives you a deeper love. Fred and Ihave jewelers and their families over for dinner, and this helps us get to know them better. You also need to ask your jewelers, "How can I pray for you?" This not only builds the reationship, but is a huge blessing for her and her family.

Mary: You spend a lot of your time and energy teaching and training, even those not on your team. How do you spend that time and still grow your business successfully?

Elizabeth: Well, I learned a long time ago that teaching is my own personal gift, even before Premier. I have to be ultra organized, I use a "To Call" list and a "Make It Count" grid (*Both found on the Mahusay Website *). They help me know what I have to do, and they also are tangible proof that I am working my business.

I do love to train. I know that is my calling, and God will make the time for me. In 2008, I traveled a lot and spoke to many people, but I felt like my personal business suffered, especially my sponsoring. My Home Shows were strong, taking care of hostesses and working a show became 2nd nature, so I did it. But I was not able to unconsciously sponsor. Through that, God taught me to be more intentional with sponsoring, so I have learned.

Mary: Wow, that is comforting to know that even though you are a Senior Leader, you still have some of the same learning experiences that all jewelers have.

Elizabeth: We need to remember that ups and downs are all learning experiences! There will never be a time where we are not going through something. God needs to mold us and we all need to grow. When ever I think there is nothing else for me to learn, I pray, "Oh Lord, please don't let me get to the point where I think I know it all." And the Lord will continue to humble me.

Mary: You must have a mentor or two, who are they?

Elizabeth: I have three people: 1st, Julie Colburn, who is my grandmother in Premier. She is a wonderful encourager. Fred and I have a real connection with her. The other two are ladies form church. Gayle and Theresa. Gayle is part of a Bible Fellowship and teaches about God's word. Theresa and I have a strong bond and she brings me God closer. She is my "God sister", and I know that I can get Godly advice from her.

I also want to say it is so important to have a person who you can give and receive Godly advice. We must pray, "Oh Lord, please give me a Godly mentor." Because there is always a lot going on, Premier related and not.

Just then, she asked me to hold on as she had to talk to her son, Samuel. Cuing me into my next question! It really was my next. God touched us at the same time.

Mary: Is it difficult to split your time as mommy of 2, wife, and professional? How do you do it?

Elizabeth: It is always difficult when I don't let God orchestrate my time. When I feel overwhelmed, it is because I have taken over my time and not let God have the control. When I let go and let God lead me, He gives me balance. So it is an issue with me, I must GIVE IN.

I also make sure to do things that bring my family together. I love to cook, so I cook 3-4 meals a week. And my son, Samuel loves to do that with me as well. Because I am cooking, that also means that we are eating together as a family. We have to make sacrifices to do that. Like we eat quite early at 5 or 5:30-but we choose to do it. We eat, then I am usually off to a home show. We must carve out time for family. We plan family time minimally one time a week. For example, we get together and Fred picks out a Bible Characteristic that we are working on that week, like honesty, and we all talk about it. Date night is also a big thing for us. That is time that we work on our marriage. It is a very basic thing. Our hearts hurt for couples who think Premier is a burden on their marriage.

Mary: Sometimes people blame Premier for issues in their life like arguments or added stress on themselves or their marriage. How do you feel about this?

Elizabeth: Well, God has changed both Fred and my lives. He has also taught me about people issues. What appears to be a problem for someone is rarely the actual problem. Like, say a woman is successful in Premier and thinks that because she is successful, she does not need her husband. So, she divorces him. Or, a husband resents his wife because of Premier or the money. Premier just brought the feelings and problems to light, it did not cause them. It is rarely the problem.

In marriages and with all people, we must again, learn to ask questions, to find out the underlying reason. And remember, they themselves might not know the real reason! Problems are a reason for us to both learn from the experience and use them to help others. Now, when I have my own problems I might not be so happy-go-lucky about them. I must remember to stop and ask myself questions to expose the real reason I am going through things and feeling that way. And I must remember that God is always trying to humble me and make me a better person.

Mary: What is your best advice for someone who has not reached a certain level in the time they wanted or who has lost a level?

Elizabeth: This question touches me, because for us to go from 4 Diamond to 5 Diamond was quite a learning experience for us. It took us 15 months. Each times, three times total, being only one jeweler away to finally become 5 Diamond. Prior to that, we had attained 1 level every 12 months, so 3 years seemed like a long time to us. It made us realize that it is easy to follow a title. I had to learn that people don't follow titles, they follow a good leader.

I had to ask myself, what did I do in my first 4 years to grow, and what must I change to continue to grow? It was not easy to change after doing certain things for so long! But God is after different things in all of us. He will push us, prepare us, and grow us. Always make the time that it takes to reach goals. It takes time to grow. And we must all ask ourselves, "Are we making goals our God?" "Are we pursuing God or a goal?".

As for the jewelers that have gone back a level, they must learn that they can love their team, teach them, and pray for them. However, we cannot do it for them. If you understand the lessons that were taught to you through the ups and down, the "blow" is not so hard.

Also, Gary Googe once said to me, "Choleric's can easily fall into managing what they already have. They must work on building new people." We must still encourage and support all of our jewelers, but don't get hooked up on just managing only certain ones or you will go back. Continue to ask God to show you the next person that needs to be lead.

Mary: Wow, that touches on our next question! Do you know your temperament type? Are you mostly Choleric?

Elizabeth: Fred and I train on temperaments a lot, I am mostly Choleric then Sanguine. I have learned to communicate through the years pretty well with all types, but I am still working on Phlegmatic, I am working to learn to genuinely listen.

Mary: What is your favorite Bible Verse?

Elizabeth: Oh, that is a hard one, but I really like Ephesians 1:17-20,

¹⁷That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

¹⁸The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the Saints.

¹⁹And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,

²⁰Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.

The more I study, the closer I feel to God, and this talks about that. It gives me enlightenment. This verse also says that the enlightenment from God is available to all of us. Not just Myself, or Joni Brummel, or anyone else, it is there for all who are willing to cling to Him and learn about Him.

Also, I have had a lot of pride issues in my life, and still do. I used to believe in Him for very little. When I and all of us realize the power of God, we would absolutely be amazed.

Mary: What is your favorite Rally memory?

Elizabeth: Well, this past National Rally was my.......8th. I have a lot of memories, and prior to this past Rally I would have given you a different answer, but I was touched at the last one. My top favorite memory is when Tim and everyone presented Andy and Joan with the statue. It was amazing, and there will come a day when that is the only way for jewelers to get there picture taken with them. We and all of the jewelers there were a part of it, and it will be a treasured memory. Aside from Primer, they are a great example to married couples. They have been married 64 years!

Mary: And the final question, what is your favorite food?

Elizabeth: Ooh, sweets and baked goods. Especially, red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. Yum!

Fred and Elizabeth have been in Premier for 7 1/2 years, they have two boys, Anthony 8, and Samuel 6,they reside in Tampa, Florida. THANK YOU Elizabeth for taking the time for me to interview you! You really are an AWESOME conversationalist and an inpiration! You really touched me!

*Mahusay website: www.servingthe813.com*