CONGRATULATIONS, SUSAN NYGAARD!
August 31, 2015
Congratulations, Susan Nygaard!
As the eighth person to achieve an astounding $1,000,000 in personal sales, Susan Nygaard has joined a group of elite demonstrators! We offer her a million congratulations and a collective high-five on reaching this mind-blowing milestone.
Susan, a senior manager from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a pharmacist by day and a stamper the rest of the time. Her husband Lance is no doubt celebrating with her. She shares, "He is always so thrilled for me when I achieve something at work or through Stampin' Up! (and he loves the vacations)." He says the same thing to her every time she heads out, "Have fun, sell tons."
For her, this journey has been one of self-discovery, filled with aha moments, charting goals, and-most importantly-being a positive influence for those around her.
Back in 1997 when a friend invited her to a workshop, Susan very adamantly told her that she was not interested in a new hobby. She shares, "Well, then she showed me the catalog, and ahem . . . suddenly, I was a little more interested in coming to her party." You know where this is going . . . Susan ended up with a $260 order and before she left the workshop, turned to the demonstrator and said, "I want to do this." And, boy has she done it!
Some of her early workshops included mopping the floor for a hostess, kids walking across the dining room table, and a $30 bounced check. Actually, that's just one workshop! (Who's been there before?) She took every experience in her early demonstratorship as an opportunity to learn and grow.
She shares, "It [went from] 'I don't know what I'm doing,' to 'I think I may have a plan,' to 'Focus, focus, focus,' to 'I am going to reach that goal if it kills me.' Goal setting drives me-sometimes I write it down, but mostly I don't have to. I visualize earning an award or reaching a milestone, and then I just do what I have to do to make it play out just as I envisioned it. Works every time."
She hasn't missed a convention since she started and remembers one time as she watched the top demonstrators walk across the stage; it suddenly hit her that she was only a few thousand dollars away from the number 10 spot. She set a goal, graphed it out on paper, and the next year she made it to number seven in sales! "I always wondered what it would feel like to sit in the front of the room at convention and hear my name called," she recalls. "Well, it feels pretty darned good."
One of Susan's greatest passions is to help others discover the joy of creating. She shares, "I love it when someone new comes to a workshop or party and immediately states 'I am not creative.' And I say, 'Neither am I!' Then, I show them how easy it is to create something without being creative, and I just love the look on their face when they realize they can do this. Such fun." She takes it a step further by surprising her customers with little gifts or cards tucked into their orders.
Besides stamping, her customers love her workshops because she is hilarious! "If people are not falling off their chairs laughing, then I have not done my job. I use a lot of humor in my workshops. It breaks the ice, and everyone has a pleasurable experience that they won't soon forget." She adds, "I love taking them away for an hour or two to a place where they can forget about their troubles and just laugh and have fun."
So what's her advice to new demonstrators? "Take advantage of the strengths that you have and make those the focus of your business. If you're creative, then show that off with a beautiful blog. If you have a head for business, then run your business to help support your family. It's kind of like going to college, really. Sometimes you have to get in a few semesters before you are able to declare a major. Just try out a little of everything until you find your niche."
The "million dollar" question is this: What are Susan's thoughts about this achievement? "I think of the confidence I have gained, the friends I have made, the unforgettable experiences traveling around the country and the world, and the absolute joy that I experience when sitting down to show someone how to make something beautiful and lasting. It has been a privilege." Well, said, Susan! You are an inspiration to all who are striving to reach goals, feel joy, and make a difference in the lives of others.
There's no doubt that Susan is still busily planning her next fun-filled night of comedy and stamping. And we can almost see the face of her newest customer, lighting up with laughter and creativity! Keep it up, Susan. We're cheering for you!
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