Hello, and welcome back to The Real Mom's Playbook. I'm your host, Lisa Autry. I'm very excited to welcome our guest, Kim Bain from Sparkle & Shine with Kim Bain today.

She is one of our amazing guest feature sponsors for the podcast, so because of her, this podcast has been made possible. Thank you so much, Kim, and welcome.

Thank you, Lisa. I'm so excited to sit here and visit with you and just have a nice chat.

It's so funny, Kim and I talk almost daily. We're colleagues, she's my client, we've known each other a little over two years, but I honestly feel like it's been forever. I feel like she's just been in my world and in my life forever.

But I'm so excited to share a piece of her and her business with you today because she is so inspiring. And today's topics are all about expanding on your business, pivoting and elevating your experience in business ownership. I know that her word for this year, it's the new year when we're recording this, so everything is about, you know, vision boards and mantras and words for the year. And she's like, my mantra for this year is elevate with intention and we're going to be talking about that with her legacy and her mission today. So I'm really, really excited to show you guys a little piece of her world and what she's been working so hard on the last couple years.

First off, Kim, can you tell the listeners what you do and kind of how you got started?

I am a area leader with Park Lane Jewelry. I got started because I attended a jewelry party online with my cousin, and my upline was so much fun and I joined her community. I was ordering and ordering.

And then I said, okay, if I'm going to keep ordering, why not go ahead and take advantage of the fact that when I place an order, I get 30% back on my own order.

So I'm taking advantage of a sale by being an area leader with Park Lane. I did not start out at that. I've worked hard. I've added to my team and I decided I was just gonna join because of the fun and I love the products that Park Lane offers, the guarantee they offer.

I recently decided that I was going to expand my business, and because of that, I am working with Lisa and building a coaching business in a community called Business Builders.

And she is our first interviewee that has what's called an MLM, multi-Level Marketing, and we often hear about these companies and Beachbody, Tula 12, Park Lane, LuLaRoe, there's so many different MLMs out there now. And what's great you can have someone who doesn't necessarily have a business idea in mind initially, and they want to make some side income. And you came into this being like, you know what? I'm gonna take advantage of a discount and I'm gonna see how big I can build this business. And over the last two years of you and me working together, it's been unbelievable seeing you double and triple your income all because you believe in Park Lane's mission.

You love the product. It's a beautiful product, and this is what's amazing. And so many people discount about MLMs, it's like. If you don't know exactly what you want to start, but you know you wanna be your own business, this is at least the perfect way to start. And sometimes you really make your niche and you make it successful.

Kim is elevating, you know, she has a downline now that she's been coaching for well over a year and a half and she's like, man, I love doing this. This is a calling for me. So she's started to expand and say, okay, now I'm going to be coaching other people too, because this is something I really enjoy doing.

And that's the beautiful thing about business is you can get in and you can organically grow. That kind of relates back to legacy, and we've been talking about this with the other ladies, like, what is your legacy and mission in your business? And now businesses you have, you have twofold of successful businesses.

So what is your legacy and your mission?

Well, I really enjoy connecting with other women and helping give them the confidence and the tools that they need to go out and conquer anything that comes their way and slay their day. And as you know, that is my elevator pitch, but I strongly believe in that.

I think it is so important to share your knowledge and your skills. Just like I've learned through Park Lane. I didn't have to go in and create everything. They give us so many tools, but the great thing is that I can go in and change some things and make it my own.

And the other thing that I am really passionate about is spreading kindness. I just think there is not enough kindness in the world, and so I love to just go out and give people with my jewelry that I can do because I earn it.

And I absolutely love Kim's kindness campaign because it really relays into what you ultimately want to achieve. You want to spread that kindness. And because of your success in business, you've been able to do that.

It's very philanthropic. Kim has a very philanthropic heart and we are able to do that when we get to a level of our own success, because if you are in the business not to make money, you're not in the business then. This is just a passion project or a hobby. And so when we look at this, you want to start a business in order to elevate your income so that you can give, and that's something Kim has been so good at doing over the last year of saying, here's my legacy, here's what I want to leave and here's my mission.

And how I'm going to achieve it. And slay their day is perfect. When we were first started working together, I'm like, what's your elevator pitch? And she came up with that beautiful elevator pitch. So it's easy, off the cuff and something that you can say to someone so they get kind of an understanding of who you are and your intention in business.

Let's redirect a little bit and talk about the intentional transformation and really what you've done in your business over this year and what the intentional transformation means to you.

Well, thanks to you and the Real Mom's Playbook. It helps you learn so many things. Letting go of negative Nancy, there are so many people in your life that are going to tell you no. You might even have family members that will say, that isn't going to work, but you have to do what feels right here, and when you do that, you will be successful.

Another thing about transformation is taking the time to evaluate where have I been? What did I do? What worked? What can I improve on? What do I need to totally let go and say that didn't work at all?

I'll give you a quick example. I did a fundraiser for a large national company and I was so excited about it. I thought, okay, this is great. I'm gonna be giving back, but I'm gonna be making connections. and it went absolutely nowhere. And the thing that I learned from that was that maybe I need to go smaller, more local versus doing a national campaign.

And that was huge when we were talking about, because something Kim and I do in our personal coaching sessions and something Kim would do with you and your coaching session is we always reflect back and we always take a situation and it's like, what's the lesson learned?

And I remember we were sitting there talking one day and you're like, Man, that did not work out how I thought it was going to be. And it is disappointing. I mean, we have disappointments in business, but it was ultimately like, what lesson did I learn? And it made her realize I need to pivot and work in a more local setting, more hands on because this company was just a little too big and everything got lost in translation, even though you were so on point with your process.

It's like sometimes we can't control the things outside of our control. When you look at this, this has really been almost a crowning achievement for you to realize, man, this is what direction I need to take with my business, and this is how I can learn from these setbacks or these disappointments, right?

Like how many disappointments do all of us face in business? On a daily basis, it's like, man, that is not how I thought this was going to pan out. Man, am I even cut out for this? How many times do we say that, Kim, am I even cut out for this? Should I even do this? Right?

Absolutely. There are many days where you think I just can't, I'm not keeping up.

But one of the things that you also shared is systems. And when you put systems in place, that really does help.

Leading with your process over just the progress.

So Kim, you have done so much in the last two, two and a half years. What do you ultimately hope to achieve in your business and based on where you're headed now, where do you ultimately hope to go?

Well, I want to grow, and that's one of my main goals on my vision board. I created a section that talks about building a team, and I need to take a step back and think about, a lot of times in business you don't want to ask, but if you don't ask, it's always a no. And so I've had to learn that.

And so I want to grow my team. And the way I can do that is by asking that question and not taking it personally when they say no.

We have the opportunity to earn trips, and I have not earned one yet. I was close the last time, but I want to earn one of the trips and you can earn more than one. So hopefully I'll be able to bring Mr. Bain along.

I want to also build my coaching business and connect with women on one-on-one basis and help them find their direction, their vision, their goal, where do they want to go, and learn that it's okay to pivot and to redirect yourself and let go of those negative Nancy's.

Let go. And that's something so many of us don't do. We don't let go of the negativity. We don't let go of the failures. We don't take all of these situations into perspective. That kind of brings me to elevate with intention. So you were just talking about your vision board and let's talk a little bit about your mantra of the year and Elevate is happens to be in the Real Mom's Tribe, like our mantra for the year. It's our word for the year in the tribe itself. But you're like, oh, I'm going to take it another step. Cuz elevate was your word last year in 2022.

Yeah.

And you're like, it needs to be elevate because I'm not done elevating, but I like how you said elevate with intention this year.

Can you tell us what that means to you?

Well, last year I'll just review that it was the elevate, but it was work hard, play harder. And I did that more, but then I stopped to really think about elevate and I need to be intentional with the things I do. And so that is having a system, scheduling the times that I'm going to sit down and do these things, but also knowing that even if I use my power of 6, I might not get all six done and that's okay.

So I think that I just really am going to be more focused on what I'm doing when I'm doing it. Not going down the rabbit hole of looking at other things. So making sure I have my list and I'm checking it off as I go and pivoting when I need to. But then being able to get right back into my list and going, where was I?

Okay, here's where I am. This is what I still need to do today. And guess what, some days when you have a power of six, you can do more than six because you're really chugging along, and that's a really big accomplishment.

And that's huge and what a lot of us, when we're starting on this journey, we feel like we have to work and work and work and work to be successful.

How have you found balance in this business? You know, when you're building your business, it's like a baby, it's a full-time job. But how, over this last year especially, how have you learned how to balance it?

Once again, going back to those systems and putting things in place, by doing that. And knowing that it's okay to ask for help when I need it. Letting go. I am such a control freak. I don't think people can do it as well as I can. Of course they can. They just do it different than I do it. But one thing is to know it's okay to ask for help. I don't have to do it all. So if I'm not going to get to something, it's okay to rely on someone else to help me do it. But then to know when it's time to let go.

For example, between Christmas and New Year's, I was able to have systems in place so that a lot of my posts automatically schedule. Alls I had to do was go in and comment. Once in a while, I go live in my community a lot, so I told them next week I'm going to be gone. I went to California to spend time with my baby boy. Who's 29, so he is not really a baby. And I was able to spend time doing things with him, going to the golf course, going to the disc golf, going to the beach, and enjoying those moments because my number one value is my family.

And I could let go of things because, I knew what needed to be done. I prescheduled, and one time we were in the mountains. I was supposed to go live and I couldn't, but I could text and I texted my partner and I said, Hey, I can't go live. Can you do it for me?

And I was able to let go and know that because I have systems in place and I have backups that I can go enjoy the time that I need to enjoy and then recharge and feel ready and fresh and energized to go back in and do the things that I love anyhow.

And that's a huge thing that not a lot of us think about. We think about in order to be successful, I have to work, work, work, work, work. You guys realize when you own your own business, it doesn't matter if it's an MLM or an idea a hundred percent on your own, you make the rules in business.

It doesn't mean you never work on your business, and it doesn't mean you work on your business 24/7, but finding that good balance between work and play, like work hard, play hard, like Kim said, was her mantra last year and really learning how to make it fun. Like you said, your top value is family, and guess what?

If you're not spending any time on it, you are out of alignment. It doesn't matter how successful your business is, it's I'm not spending time on the things that are most important to me. And Kim could have easily come to California. I say, come to California cuz I'm in California. So I'm like, oh, you are only a few hours away from me.

But it could have been so easy for her to come to California and literally just bring all of her work and do the exact same thing she would normally do at home. But she was like, I'm going to make this time fun. She doesn't get to see her baby boy, like 29, but still your baby boy.

You don't get to see him all the time. So actually enjoying the moment, living in the moment. And that, in my opinion, and Kim, you can correct me if I'm wrong, that's what makes you such a good business owner is that you know what's important to you and you are living the important things, so when you show up in your. It's a no-brainer of what you need to work on in order to be successful.

Do you find that true, there's good balance between business and just living an enjoyable life? Do you feel like bringing that mantra and that value system into your business makes it successful?

Absolutely. You know, there are some weeks where I probably work 50, 55 hours, but guess what? There are other weeks where I can say, I'm chugging right along, everything's smooth, and I'm only gonna put in 30 or 35. So it's finding that balance and knowing. One of the best things that I have done with you, there's so many, but was to learn my values and to make sure that the decisions that I make are based on those values. To ask myself when I am making decisions, is this going to elevate me? Is this what I want to do? Is this a benefit to my family, my health, all of the things that are my values.

I love that. And we're such multifaceted people. And when you look at our primary listener is women and mom owned businesses.

And it's like, we are not just mom. We are not just a business owner. We are so many different people. And so Kim really capitalizing on what's important to her and bringing it into her business and bringing it into how she communicates with her downline and her team. Are you currently bringing people on your team?

And if so, how can people reach you to join your team? Because I'm gonna tell you guys, Kim is such a positive and inspirational leader. If you are looking for a company to join, if you want to start your own business and you don't know where to start, joining someone who is a true leader. Is going to get you wherever you decide to go.

So Kim, are you expanding on your team within Park Lane? And if so, how can people reach you and how does that whole process work?

Absolutely. That is my biggest goal for this year because I am passionate about sharing the opportunity of Park Lane. It can be as little or as much as you want. I know there are many moms, stay-at-home moms, and they take advantage of this to connect with other women because we all know when you're a stay-at-home mom, the conversations you have throughout the day are so different than you might have with an actual adult.

So having that little side business where you're out connecting, you know, Hey honey, it's my night to go out and work Park Lane, and you get away from the kids a little bit. We all need that time. Also, there are people who have full-time jobs, teachers, corporate world, and they love the jewelry so much, and let's face it when you see it, Jewelry is one of the number one conversation starters.

So someone might come up to you in the corporate meeting or a parent when you're teaching and say, I love that necklace. And you can go, oh, really? You know, I love connecting with women. And give them your elevator pitch and they're gonna say, tell me more. And then you share the opportunity. And that's one of my biggest passions for this year is to help people.

So if people are interested in it, they can get in touch with me at link.tr.dash kbain119 forward slash, it is not Dash. I am so happy to help them. It's really easy. We do have a kit as little as $99, and the really great thing about that is you get to pick the jewelry that fits your needs.

Park Lane does not set up the kit and just send everyone the same kit. Each stylist gets to pick their own jewelry to what their preferences or what they think their clients might like. It is a perfect time for anybody to reach out and get started with Park Lane and make it what you want.

And I'm going to be here to help you the entire time, and my upline and her upline, et cetera, all the way up to the senior VP of our division is connecting with each person on my team even. It's just amazing.

Well, and I love because I've gotten to talk to a few levels of your upline and downline. You know, it's not like I talked just with Kim.

I've talked with her immediate upline, all the way up to the senior VP as well, and it is one big family atmosphere. Amazing things happen when you have a great team of women, and we talked about this with Crystal, because with her salon, she's like, why can't we all rise together? Why can't we all be successful together?

And it's the same kind of thing with the jewelry industry. It's like, it seems so competitive, but when you're working together, there's enough room for all of us at the top. And that's what I love.

I didn't know you could pick everything in your own kit. I think that is so cool because it's unique to you. It's not just saying y'all get the same thing and you just have to deal with it and make it work for you.

That's unique in business and they see the strength in letting everyone pick their unique business for them. So don't worry guys, if you couldn't get all of her U R L down, go and click on the show notes because we're gonna have it hyperlinked in there. You can go and contact her right away. I know you can go to her free community.

She has a free community if you want to just buy the jewelry and host a party, or if you want to join her team. If you want to join Business Builders, you can find out more about her coaching and how she can set your business. Maybe you already have a business and you're like, I'm only looking to be successful in mine.

The Business Builders is where you can go and learn how to be successful and we go live weekly in there.

And so don't worry, you can click on the link in the show notes and access because I know if anyone else is like me, you're trying to write that URL down and you're like, well, I lost it.

I don't know. You moved on so quick, but don't worry, it's in the show notes.

So, Kim, it was so great you coming on and I loved everyone meeting you. I get the pleasure of talking with you almost daily, at least weekly because we have so many meetings and chats together that I was excited for everyone and all of our listeners, all of our subscribers, to hear a little bit about your world and how they can elevate and take their business to the next level with their value system guys, this is huge. It's not just you're going to be successful, it's like you're going to be intentionally successful with what's most important to you. And Kim started this business with a goal in mind and she's far surpassed her initial goal, and now she's heading into a whole other phase. So it's been such a pleasure working with you these last two years, and I can't wait to see where you go this year.

It's going to be amazing. I feel the energy coming off of you in everything you're going to accomplish this year. Do you feel it too?

I do and I'm really excited because I just need to point out, you were talking about already interviewing Crystal and because we are both in the Tribe, I was able to connect with Crystal and we're starting to build a partnership in her salon where she's going to be displaying my jewelry for me.

Guess what? She picked the pieces that she'll wear, but then when she's not wearing them, I'm paying for 'em. But she's going to be wearing them when she's in the salon. When she's not, they're going to be displayed right in the salon.

So, being a woman and partnering with other women is so amazing the way she said, we can help others rise.

It's so true, and that's what her and I are going to do together.

I was so excited when you ladies told me that, and we haven't even had a follow-up conversation about it yet, that Crystal was like, I get to work with Kim. That was her highlight from this week in the Tribe. I get to work with Kim and partner with Kim.

And it's so fun because you guys are in completely different industries. You're in on different sides of the country, even. You normally would never have met. And we have this community where you guys are able to, we call 'em tribe sisters, where you guys are able to connect and do a partnership like this and let me tell you, Crystal and Kim are both powerful women and when powerful women come together, it's kind of scary, right?

We hope so.

It's a good scary. And if you're listening, you probably want to be scary too. So get into Kim's world, no matter what way in which you get into her world, just pick up on her energy.

I was telling my vision producer this, I'm like, I'm a collector of powerful women, and it sounds weird. But when I put amazing and powerful women into my world, it helps elevate me as well. And it doesn't matter in which way you put someone into your world, it can make a positive impact. You know, we are a culmination of the average five people we hang out with.

I was just gonna say that. Yeah.

I know cuz great minds think alike, right? Do you want those to be positive people or negative? Like she said, negative Nancy's, sorry if your name is Nancy, I even apologize in the Real Mom's Playbook book, I'm like, I know a Nancy, she's a wonderful person. But you know, I like alliterations, right?

But it's true. It's like, do you wanna be around positive people or negative people? And Crystal and Kim are both two people that it's like, man, when they join forces, I am excited to see what happens. It is so synergistic. So I'm excited you guys are working together.

Yeah, me too.

So it was so great meeting with you, Kim, and you know, in the amazing places you are going. You inspire me daily and I hope that you inspire the ladies listening today. Until next time, ladies, this is The Real Mom's Playbook. And I'm Lisa Autry.