Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Should I blog again?





I ran into someone a few weeks ago who referred to my blog. I was at a restaurant with a friend and  a guy came up to me and asked if I knew who he was. I did not. He told me our daughters used to play soccer together. He knew a lot of other stuff from my old self too. Some pieces about him vaguely returned.

This was a few weeks ago and it really got me thinking. This soccer dad from Malibu, who also happens to have 3 daughters, remembered the things that I wrote in 2011. Many of which I, myself, had tried to forget.

I had a blog when I was going through my divorce, took over my last company, etc, etc. When I was ready to start out fresh, five years ago, I unpublished most of my posts. I miss it, though.

Talking to Soccer Dad brought back some painful memories but it reminded me of why I blogged. This morning, I woke up early and took a look. I re-published 7 of my old posts. Ones that exemplified different stages of where I was and what I went through.

It was difficult to read through all of those old posts. It was somewhat like looking into another person's life. Mostly, I was encouraged to see how far I've come.

Because I think that sharing my experiences can help others, because I love to write, and because I want to connect again with some of the awesome bloggers out there...I am thinking about writing again.



I have learned that sometimes you need to get creative. 

When I rewind to five years ago it is truly a different life. I went from being a Malibu housewife with money in the bank to waking up realizing that there was nothing left. After having retired from selling a business in our early 30's, I rose from my "6 year nap" realizing that we were in perilous personal debt. Additionally, our family business was deeply in trouble. Borrowing money to turn this situation around, I took control of the company, went to work and eventually made myself CEO: commuting three hours daily on Los Angeles freeways and traveling the country. I sometimes questioned myself, asked for help when I needed it, and I worked through my seemingly desperate situation step-by-step.


Within two years, I made important changes to the company and I sold it. Employees were able to keep their jobs and I became debt free. I was now a single mom of my three daughters.


By creating a social selling company that provides opportunity for all women, I decided to tell my story with action. I want to set an example that no matter what life gives you and even when you’ve made mistakes, you can find the courage and strength to not only survive hardships but to create a wonderful life. 

Over and over I hear women ask what they could possibly do after being out of the workforce for many years. I feel that our potential is our greatest asset, and I see Winnie & Kat as a way for me to help guide women to jump out of their comfort zones, gain personal control of their finances and build confidence, because it is never too late.



Please contact me for more information.

Warmly,

Diane



Friday, April 5, 2013

Surprising way to find an upswing in midst of plunging job creation


Could Social Selling provide your own personal upswing?


After selling my most recent temporary staffing agency where we were dependent on job rates and the economy, I started my own Social Selling company that is based on entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment. Why did I do this? Because the unlimited opportunities available in Direct Sales are based on an individual’s potential more so than on the world economy.

Right place at the right time: When I co-founded Title Temps in my living room in 1996, there were no other agencies staffing title insurance professionals. Southern California title insurance companies used expensive bi-monthly lay-offs to manage work fluctuations and there were many job seekers who had been displaced after the 1993 Northridge earthquake. Three years later, companies were ramping up and we had employees ready to fill their needs. In 2001, having placed thousands of temporary professionals, we sold the company for $28 million. That was good timing.

Reflecting on the March 2013 job report this morning, I can’t help but know this is the right place and the right time for Direct Sales. The quintessential model of the American Dream, Social Selling allows you to work when you want and how you want, to get what you want. Our country is built upon entrepreneurship. Having the good fortune of being born in America, I feel patriotic to provide opportunities to individuals who want to take charge of their lives. If you are ready to change the way that you work, is it possible that Direct Selling might be right for you?



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

How I turned debt & crisis into opportunity & inspiration


3 years after facing the most difficult time in my life, I'm presenting awards to Winnie & Kat Independent Stylists 


I have learned that sometimes you need to get creative. 

When I rewind to five years ago it is truly a different life. I went from being a Malibu housewife with money in the bank to waking up realizing that there was nothing left. After having retired from selling a business in our early 30's, I rose from my "6 year nap" realizing that we were in perilous personal debt. Additionally, our family business was deeply in trouble. 
Borrowing money to turn this situation around, I took control of the company, went to work and eventually made myself CEO: commuting three hours daily on Los Angeles freeways and traveling the country. I sometimes questioned myself, asked for help when I needed it, and I worked through my seemingly desperate situation step-by-step.


Within two years, I made important changes to the company and I sold it. Employees were able to keep their jobs and I became debt free. I was now a single mom of my three daughters.


By creating a social selling company that provides opportunity for all women, I decided to tell my story with action. I want to set an example that no matter what life gives you and even whenyou’ve made mistakes, you can find the courage and strength to not only survive hardships but to create a wonderful life. 

Over and over I hear women ask what they could possibly do after being out of the workforce for many years. I feel that our potential is our greatest asset, and I see Winnie & Kat as a way for me to help guide women to jump out of their comfort zones, gain personal control of their finances and build confidence, because it is never too late. 

Email or comment for more information on building the company with me. 
 

xo,

Diane




Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanks, NaNoWriMo. You changed me. Now it's time to take a nap.


Thanks, NaNoWriMo. You changed me. Now it's time to take a nap.

A little after six o’clock this morning, I hit the fifty thousand word mark by adding one last sentence to my very rough first draft. The last thing that I expected to do, on the day of “winning” National Novel Writing Month (#NaNoWriMo) was to sit down and write about it. However, there is some coffee left in the pot, my eyes still burn anyway and I am not quite ready to get up and clean the house.

Late in the summer, with a dream in my heart, I searched for writing tips online and stumbled upon Nanowrimo.org, who challenges participants to compose a rough draft of a novel in thirty days. Specifically, in the month of November.

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world compete in the contest and there are as many different approaches as there are plots. There are those who outline, there are “pansters” (a term which means he who writes by the seat of his pants) and there are many hybrids in between. While my September and October preparations of character descriptions and chapter notes helped, I abandoned myself to much pantsing in order to “validate my novel” by finally copying and pasting fifty thousand forty-one words into a little white box online and just in time.

After taking care of the daily tasks which I’ve let slide in order to pretend that I was a real-life novelist, I will edit and revise. They say that characters perform the unexpected as one writes and I had many surprises during these last thirty days. For example, my protagonist underwent her life-changing a-ha moment while in jail. However, if you ever read my novel, you won’t find Francie in the women’s state penitentiary. I may be tired, but I am lucid enough to know to ditch the prison scenes, as I shall prefer to perform research in a lovely location like Tuscany instead.

It was fun, NaNoWriMo. Thank you for the inspiration. This month has changed me and now I I’m going to take a nap.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011


Dear Workway team, family, friends, clients, and staffing industry peers:

I am no longer with Workway and I intend to take this opportunity to spend time with my family, volunteer in the community, write and participate in speaking engagements.  

During my time at Workway, I have had the pleasure of working with a team of dedicated, smart and driven individuals who I will miss. The company has allowed me to develop valued relationships with clients, vendors and industry peers. I am honored to be part of the staffing industry; a community of dynamic thinkers who must constantly evolve with changing laws, trends and economic situations.

I look forward to staying in touch. I can be reached at whatswithdiane@gmail.com and, of course; on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter! Best wishes for a fabulous finish to the year.  

Truly,

Diane Prince Johnston

Monday, January 31, 2011

Riding twists and turns, dual personae and taking out the trash

I used to not work so much.  First I did, at the start of my career, and when I began having children I went part-time in my own staffing firm, as Chairman on a board which consisted of my husband and myself.  We sold that business and honored non-competes for three years while I had another kid.  After the hiatus, we started up again, much the same as before, and I served as board member and advisor while mostly I chauffeured, volunteered and organized the lives of three little girls.

I kept in touch, however, and stayed involved, balancing personae of  working mother and stay-at-home mom.  2009 brought shifts in business and changes at home, thrusting me full-on into a new role, completely unfamiliar and altogether strange.  Finding myself suddenly a single/co-parent who commutes and cooks, I work more than full time and I try to keep up with what’s going on at school.  

The thing about it is that I love my job and I love my kids.  Flashing back to the early days, my new mommy friends and I debated, at length, the merits of staying at home to nurture and to raise the kids versus the mental stimulation and economic benefits of returning to work.  I now realize that life has twists and turns that we cannot foresee and for which we cannot plan and I do my best to enjoy the ride. Sometimes hectic and manic, often stimulating and fun, and usually warm and fuzzy as I kiss my daughters, “Goodnight.”  Juggling between business woman to mom is fine.  I just don’t like taking out the trash.
DESIGNED BY ECLAIR DESIGNS