Treasures from Gems - 7 Diamond Joni Brummel!

Joni Brummel, a Premier Designs 7 Diamond Designer is our very first interviewee! We set the date and time to do the interview a couple of days ago, we decided to do it at 1:30, when my children go down for a nap. I called her today exactly at our appointment time. She answered the phone on the second ring, "Joni Brummel, how may I serve you?". Her voice was so sweet!

Mary: Hi Joni! It's Mary, how are you doing?

Joni: Great! Did you get those 3 babies down for a nap?

Mary: Yes! I filled their belly's and they went straight to bed!

Joni: Oh great! What a good Mommy! (She is ALWAYS this personable and warm)

Mary: Well, lets get started! First Question:
What is your motivation when you began Premier and what is it now?

Joni: 13 years ago when I began, my motivation was to fund my childrens' college, and let them have the opportunity to graduate without the ball and chain of debt. And the main reason is to Minister. I have a special heart for woman that struggle with self esteem. Becky (Her sponsor) helped me see the ability to minister through Premier.

I have since paid for all three childrens' school tuition; Melissa to go through hair school, and Becca and Joel through college. I have also paid for Melissa's wedding.

Mary: And your motivation now?

Joni: Of course to continue ministering and to pay bills and anything that might come up for our family in the future.

Mary: What is one piece of wisdom you wish to share with every new jeweler?

Joni: I always give new jewelers 4 things that they must do:
#1. You MUST be a master booker, You must replace every show with a show, and replace cancellations. To do this you must;
- Believe in our hostess plan.
- Communicate the Hostess Plan clearly
- Ask every customer
It might take time, but remember that God uses us through our home shows, and of course, we make money through our shows. Remember it does not take a certain way-whatever works for you-and be sure to be consistent!
#2. NEVER miss a training. I don't care if you are busy, tired, or have too much going on. You must be there to learn information and to be with other jewelers. Your sponsor cannot teach you everything, you only receive info from her world. At training, you receive info from many other jewelers' worlds. And of course, ALWAYS go to Rally!
#3. Call your upline. This is very important, it gives you accountability, and helps build that relationship. You must trust enough that your sponsor was good enough to bring you into this business, and she is good enough to teach you. You might not agree, or you might not see eye to eye, but it is important.
#4. You must be very excited to show the business plan. You never know, you might meet the next person who needs Premier in their lives.

Mary: Leaders inspire us to do our best, what was the most important piece of advice that you have received?

Joni: I would say, "Do what successful people do". Copy what they say, and their actions. Hang around people that are successful and positive. It even says in scripture that, "Bad company corrupts good character."

Mary: Isn't that the truth!

Joni: It is! You will become the people you are around. If you are a jeweler who wants to be a designer, hang out with designers, if you are a 1 diamond who wants to become a 2 diamond, hang out with 2 diamonds, (and so forth). I am a 7 diamond, so I hang out with Executive Directors like Julie Miller and Julie Colburn.

Mary: Julie Colburn, wasn't she just promoted?

Joni: Yes she was! And she has been in Premier for 11 years. I remember when they we were on Designer trips and they would run up to us and other Senior Leaders and ask if they could hang out with us. They would ask a ton of questions like, "What do you do when," "How would you..". So it is no surprise they are Executive Directors. So I hang out with those people, even if it makes me uncomfortable, or pushes me out of my box. And you must apply it! Use the information you have collected in your own personal business. And do not be too afraid to do well, fear is the enemy!

Mary: Sometimes experienced jewelers feel like the wind has left there sails. How do they catch it and keep sailing?

Joni: (sigh) This is so true Mary, so true. You HAVE to remember, as an experienced jeweler - that it is normal, and you have to stay passionate and must always know your "Why" factor. Why you got into the business. It can't be a title, titles are given and titles are taken away. It must be big enough to push me to do Premier even in the hard times. If it is money, it must have an amount. It can't be "I want to make more money". Well, whatever money you make will be more than you have, and you will just stay that way. You need to say, "I want to make THIS amount of money in THIS time period." And also remember, sometimes jewelers do not succeed or quit because they are afraid to lead. They must have courage, and must allow themselves the chance to lead! Purpose and Passion really come when we work on them.

Mary: What would you say to the jewelers that are doing all the right "steps", but do not feel successful?

Joni:"Well Mary, this is going to sound harsh,

Mary: That's OK, we need to hear the truth!

Joni: Well, those jewelers are not doing the right steps then. The right steps produce the right results, and the wrong steps produce the wrong results. For example, jewelers might think they are doing the right steps when it comes to presenting the hostess plan, but they are not getting bookings. It is not the plan that is not right, it is the direction or communication of it that is incorrect.

I had a jeweler tell me that she was doing the hostess plan at her shows, but was not getting any bookings. I had her come over, and when she got there, I told her I wanted her to role play with me. She refused, she tried EVERYTHING in her power to get out of it. But I told her she would not leave my house until she role played. Finally, she gave in and did. Well, in the first 30 seconds I knew why she was not getting bookings. She was not saying things correctly, and we corrected some small things that needed corrected. And guess what?

Mary: She got bookings?

Joni: Right. And we must also remember that what has worked in the past might not continue to work in the present or future. Things change, our economy has changed, we must adapt to them to produce activity. You might not have had to do certain thing (like booking with boxes) in the past, but you might now.

Mary: Very good point, I guess as we become more seasoned in Premier, the more we think that the correct steps are concrete.

Joni: Absolutely. We must have the courage to change things - it pulls us out of our comfort zone, and no one likes getting pulled out of their comfort zone but if you want to grow as a leader, you have to accept change. God gives us bigger gifts as we personally grow bigger, and as your "box" gets bigger, so does your influence, then your vision, and your character to grow and develop continues to grow.

Mary: What is your favorite sponsoring technique?

Joni: Well it depends on the crowd, I will do Big Money, or the Ask it Basket questions on the back of the big bills. I will either ask the questions, or I will use the money that the questions are on for my Big Money. That way I do not carry more stuff, and I can switch (*finger snap snap*) between them easily .

Mary: Why is it so important to involve the husband at an Opportunity Presentation?

Joni: I believe that God made him the head of household, and I need to honor him and his wife. Him being at the O.P... he needs to be there to ask me questions and have an active roll in the decision. And he thinks differently. Woman tend to think in short terms and are emotional. Men have the ability the see the big picture and in long term. I also want him to get to know me personally, and know that I am not trying to convince or scam his wife.

Mary: How in the world can there be a 6 and 7 Diamond Designer in the little town of Allegan, Michigan?

Joni: Mary, that is a great question!

Mary: Thank you, Chris can up with it, (giggle)

Joni: Good job Chris! Well we (Becky Wallace and herself) know that our world is not the small town of Allegan Michigan. We have the mindset, "Have jewelery, will travel.". Our vision is not the small town of Allegan, our vision is all of Michigan, to the corner of California, up to the top of Alaska and the tip of Texas. We know that we can sponsor anywhere. And that we must train, encourage, and give those jewelers the tools it takes to be successful. And the question I want to ask everyone is, "How big is your world?" If it is as small as Niles, Elkhart, or any other city, then your business will be just as small. But if it is so big that God must help you to achieve it, then your business will be as big.

Mary: How many states do you have jewelers in?

Joni: Oh Mary, I am not sure, (Long pause and counting sounds). Maine, Ohio, North Carolina, hmmm, there is so many too count!

Mary: So you have a lot!

Joni: Yes! I have exactly 400 Jewelers, I just saw!

Mary: Oh wow! How awesome!

Joni: Yes!

Mary: What is a hidden talent of yours?

Joni: Oh man! I don't know! I wear myself on my sleeve, everyone knows pretty much everything about me! I would say I love to sing! I sing around the house, in the shower, and at church.

Mary: That is a very good talent!

Joni: Haha

Mary: One last question: What is you favorite new piece of jewelery?

Joni: I would say the Runway - I love it! It is absolutely gorgeous and will be one of my favorites!

7 Diamond Designers Joni and Mel Brummel have been in Premier Designs Inc. for 13 years. They reside in Allegan, Michigan. They have three children, Becca, Melissa, and Joel. Their 2 Daughters, Melissa Tubergan and Becca Brummel, are also in Premier!

Thank you, Joni, for taking the time to let me interview you and "pick your brain"! I hope that this information helps jewelers across the country grow both personally and professionally!