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After Allan passed away on August 2001, I struggled for a year to keep going with my Tupperware business. I took long breaks, sometimes 2 to 3 months away, leaving my team to be "looked after" by my two MIT's (managers-in-training) which turned out to be good training for them under Linda's watchful eye.
I spent a lot of time in Bali, a place Allan and I used to go every year, sometimes two or three times a year. I spent more and more time there where I felt free, away from the "grief and tragedy" in Perth.
It was in Bali where I met the people who offered me this job in Jakarta and after much soul-searching and angst, I decided to take it.
My team kept going while I was away, always achieving the minimum level each month to retain my managership and company car. I did split my manager's bonus cheques with my two MIT's (at the end of each month), who did all my work while I was away...and they also took turns driving my Tupperware car.
It was difficult for me to stay and continue, as anybody who knows the sales business, you have to stay positive all the time..no matter what troubles you are having. You had to keep your sales team motivated, attend the weekly sales meetings and monthly Manager's meetings, and also the monthly unit meetings I used to have at my home.
Attending the meetings was gruesome, facing people who were always asking how I was coping, seeing their sorrowful faces, hearing their condolences over and over again was something I couldnt deal with.
I gave it a year, but in the end I knew that it was best for me to leave...and it was the best thing I could do for my team.
Once a month Linda puts out a bulletin, all the gossip, news, accolades and recognition for the top achievers, encouragement and motivation for those who were struggling, new Tupperware products, promotions, challenges, and even a special section for recipes using the cookware/containers Tupperware was producing. And in this bulletin every month, Managers write "love letters" to their teams...praising their achievements and cajoling the strugglers.
The very last bulletin I received in October 2002, I brought up to Jakarta with me, along with the cards I received from all the managers, dealers and of course the girls in my team. I have scanned some pages where Linda wrote a nice farewell note to me, my own final love letter to my team, and the news of my promoting out my two MIT's to take over my team.
I am also posting one of the many cards I received, and another one which was specially laminated for me...and an invitation fax sent out to all the Managers for my farewell dinner.
I am doing this because I wanted to show that my success with this job would not have been possible without the support, encouragement, love and friendship from my colleagues, my girls, my customers and of course Tupperware Australia.
This page from the bulletin announcing my two Promote-outs, Cheryl and Tracey.
This page is a special message from Linda about my leaving
This was my final Love Letter to my team in the last bulletin
This is one of the cards I received from everyone....it is huge!!
Inside this huge card...these two sides...well most of it anyway
This is a poem written by one of the Managers and was laminated and I love it
This is a fax sent out to all the Managers, an invitation to my farewell dinner Linda put on for me, it was a pub/restaurant and a few of us got pissed...lol.
THE END
