I was an Amway Associate about an eon ago. Yes, I, Jerralea, sold soap. My only regret is I didn’t sell more of it.
I see now I could have focused much more on my customer’s needs by selling a lot more products, therefore making their lives easier. I didn’t understand about serving my customer.
Instead, I was all into the marketing side of the business, concentrating on building a downline, efficiency, positive thinking, organization, dressing for success, becoming a better me. I wouldn’t trade those years in Amway for anything. It has molded and shaped me into who I am today.
“This is all well and good,” you might be thinking, “but what does this have to do with elegance?”
Presenting an elegant image
One of the amazing things my upline did was to present different guests to our group sharing different areas of expertise. (Thanks, Dan and Donna!)
One such consultant presented a talk regarding a point system for dressing for business functions. She explained if you wanted to look classy, you didn’t want to be wearing too much jewelry or makeup. (Amway had a line of both makeup and jewelry they were launching at the time.)
She explained a point system you could rate your outfit to know if you were overdressed. There were points for wearing glasses, watches, and each piece of jewelry, as well as points for each color and pattern in your outfit. Indeed, there was a point for each piece of clothing and a point if your shoes were a different color than the hem of your garment. I believe the number of points you absolutely did not want to go over was 21, and then she wrapped up her talk with this:
“Ladies, when you want to present yourself as a classy successful individual, remember ‘less is more’.”
Experiences from the past speak to today
In my quest to live a life free from mental, spiritual, emotional clutter as well as physical clutter, I realize I already had some tools at my disposal.
The phrase “less is more” can be used in a multitude of ways.
Decorating your house?
Less is more. Let just a few statement pieces say what you want conveyed. Don’t overstimulate the eye.
Upset with someone and having a great desire to say your piece?
Less is more. A few well-chosen answers spoken in a loving tone will go far more then you ever dreamed.
Do you have a desire to serve and lead a busy, productive life?
Less is more. Find your heart’s passion and then work in those areas. No one can do everything well, but we can all do our passion with excellence if we make room for it.
I don’t have to have all the things and be all there is to be to lead a rich and satisfying life. You don’t either.
This is day nine of my series, “A Rich and Satisfying Life,” examining a life free from the clutter of both wrong thoughts, attitudes, expectations, and too-full calendars, as well as physical clutter. You can click here to see all the links to the series.
I’m joining a host of writers participating in a Write28Days challenge sponsored by Anita Ojeda. My life being what it is, I’m starting 3 days behind, but writing 28 days does not have to be defined by the month of February. I’m simply promising to write for 28 days. If life interrupts, as it often does, I may have to skip a day here and there. The goal is to write 28 times on my subject, “A Rich and Satisfying Life,” consecutively … or not!
All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy.
I’m sharing this post at Tune In Thursday, Grace & Truth, Inspire Me Monday, InstaEncouragements Link-Up, Tell His Story
“I’ve never heard of a point system for dressing, but I appreciate the concept you shared. This is so true, “Less is more. A few well-chosen answers spoken in a loving tone will go far more then you ever dreamed.”
I learned that lesson over 40 years ago … Wonder how today’s fashion would score?
Thanks for dropping by, Lisa!
If less is more, I’m quite more. lol. I tend to underdo when it comes to decorations and clothing. Maybe to a fault though. ha. I love a clutter-free home and lots of white space. It helps me to think clearer.
As my kiddos move out, I am sending “more” with them – trying to declutter and let my home reflect both who my husband and I have become through the years. It comes with needing to let go of the past without offending those who think I need to keep pieces and parts of other’s pasts! It’s a delicate paring back that will hopefully produce more less!
Love all the ways that less is more apply to our life. Having less means we have to take care of less. I heard something very similar to your dressing talk, years ago. It is funny how sometimes the fashion is to wear multiple pieces of jewelry, and other times the fashion is to wear bigger pieces and less.
Love, love, love this Jerralea! I strive to live by “less is more” in every area of my life, including dress. I never went in for loud, cluttered anything! Simple and elegant is so much better! But I really like the way you wove elegance, the less is more idea into every day life. Like speaking to others, decorating and “adorning” our schedules. Excellent!! (and elegant!)
I frequently tell myself, “less is more.” Simplicity is elegant. I appreciate how you’ve broken it down to various aspects of life. Thank you.
I love how you unpacked this less-is-more idea. A rich and satisfying life is not about how much we have, but how much is on the inside of us, how rich we are in Christ.
I remember Amway. You know when you think about the phrase ” less is more”, in the situations and contexts you mentioned, that;s exactly true. I haven’t looked at it closely enough like that. Thank you for bring less is more in more way than one for me. Blessings.
What a wonderfu mantra to remember! Less is more! I have no problem using this mantra when I dress–I keep it simple and timeless and no jewelry but my wedding ring. But when it come to my mouth? I’m not so good at it. You’ve helped me think about less is more in a new way.