A Day with Dawn

Have you ever been to lunner? Sara and I have! Yesterday, we joined Dawn Griffith and Jessica, her daughter, (plus her daughter’s best friend) for a late lunch/early dinner. Lunner!  (Hey, if they can do it with brunch, we can do it with lunner. . . .)   

It was a delightful way to start out our time with Dawn. We got to know Dawn and Jessica better; you can tell they are the best of friends! (We met Dawn’s mother later, and the three of them are just an incredible, close-knit three generations!) Dawn’s husband has been working in Iraq as a civilian employee the last three years, and they are getting excited to welcome him home later this year; he’s planning on making it in time for Jessica’s high school graduation. She’s their only child, so it will be a milestone day for the whole Griffith family, I’m sure.

It became very apparent after spending only a few minutes with Dawn that she is a very genuine, sincere person. We talked about a lot of things, but mostly about her business and how she is so successful. She does workshops and clubs, but much of her business comes from online. She got into blogging years ago and had built up an enthusiastic, loyal following. When online ordering became available, many of her blog followers started ordering from her.

I was impressed with how hard Dawn works—she invests hours and hours into her business! She has created lots of videos, shares ideas and samples constantly, includes a hand-stamped card with every order she receives, and provides incredible customer service. And she doesn’t offer continual discounts, which is significant in my mind as we all look at ways we can balance an online presence with our commitment to living the Golden Rule.

The customer service she provides came up over and over throughout the day’s events, as people talked about how much they adored Dawn. People at her demonstrator event (a small group meeting with only 8 other demonstrators) and guests at her workshop treated her with such respect and love! Some of them were meeting her for the first time, having only communicated online previously. I was not the celebrity at this event—Dawn was! What a pleasure to see the friendships she has formed through her Stampin’ Up! business.

 

We met at a local hotel (Dawn’s home was kind of small for such a large group; she holds her clubs at a local church and other events at her mother’s home), which she had decorated in nice spring colors. Because the group meeting was first, the workshop guests waited outside the room in the hotel lobby (so the anticipation could build!). That meant that all the guests entered the room at the same time—no early birds or stragglers.

Because of that, we did both Make & Takes  (besides the card, which is different every time, we also do a quick pen tag at every workshop) together. I demonstrated Two-Step Stampin’ and the Stampin’ Around wheel . Dawn closed the workshop tonight and earned a free Awash with Flowers set! She also got three bookings (Woo hoo!) and enjoyed the opportunity (I hope) to be thanked and appreciated for the incredible effort she makes to share what she loves with so many others!

Comments

[Maxine]

I follow Dawn on line..consider her a friend even though we haven't met and she offers such inspiration all of the time. So happy she got this honor, she is a jewel.

[Ginger Grogan]

Hi Shelli, I signed up under Dawn. She is such an inspiration to me. I can't wait until I am able to achieve my own online business like she has. I am so happy she won this opportunity. I hope I get there one day too! God Bless

[Kate Cecil]

I'm curious, you stated you make a card and a pen tag, what is a pen tag?

[Maxine Conrad]

Shelli/Sara, I just knew you both would have a fabulous time with Dawn, She 'is' very genuine and sincere and is such a fun person to be around. I am loving seeing the projects you make at the workshops. ;) Sleep well x

[Ann & the Dog]

You just make us want to BE there at ALL the workshops! You described Dawn to a T!

[Jeannie]

Dawn is the bestest!!!! I imagine you all had a wonderful time together! Dawn deserves any and all honors because she is such a giving person and an incredible asset to SU!!!!!

Thank you for letting this star SHINE!!!!

[Marlene]

Shelli I follow Dawn's blog, it was the very first blog I saved to my favourites. She, and you. are both just amazing ladies.

[Tashana Lundy]

Hello Shelli,

Dawn is not my upline....but she has been training me ever since I became a Demonstrator. The funny thing is, she doesn't even know it. LOL My upline and I live in different cities and Dawn's blog has been such an incredible service to me. She inspires me to do more in life, as well with my SU! business. My children always ask me, "How is your friend Dawn doing?" They think we are such good friends because I am always talking about her. I am so happy someone invited me to a SU! workshop.

[DeLisa]

Dawn is a true gem! I have never met her in person, but do follow her blog and YouTube station. She does great videos with great tips! She is truly an AMAZING woman and a great friend on Stampin' Connection!

[Judy Boggs]

Shelli, I felt SO lucky and blessed to get to attend Dawn Griffith's DL Meeting of a Lifetime. She has become one of my best friends, and a wonderful stamping teacher, through her blog. And,to think, I had never even met her until last evening. I want you to know, it didn't take long, at all, for me to know that I am working for/with some of the most genuine people in the world. All of you made All of us feel important to you and cared about. Thank you for being the warm, wonderful,person that you are and for giving of yourself so generously to others. It is people like you, that make people like me, want to be the best that we can be. I am SO PROUD to be one of your Stamping Up demonstrators.
Thank you Shelli and Sara.
Judy Boggs

[Wanda Bingaman]

We don't do lunner here- we do lupper instead- lunch/supper............ that's always fun to have the kids say out and about!!

[Jackie Martinez]

Shelli, I have followed Dawn's blog for over a year. I saw her at Convention and just had to tell her how much I enjoyed her blog and thanked her for sharing her talent with all of us. She gave me a big ol' hug and thanked ME! I was so impressed by her genuineness! And when I left a comment on her blog congratulating her for winning the Workshop of a Lifetime she e-mailed me a THANK YOU! What a Lady!

[Paula Tharp]

I just have to insert my 2 cents as well, and echo everyone else's comments on how much Dawn has helped them. I have been a 'hobby' demo for almost a year and have visited Dawn's blog on a weekly basis almost from my start with Stampin' Up! I have learned sooo very much from Dawn and can tell she is truly a genuine, caring person and will be one of the front-runners in the Stamin' Up family for a long time to come. Congrat, Dawn!! We all love ya!

Paula in Indiana

[Gina Wrona]

Thank you Shelli & Sara for picking my upline a/k/a bff Dawn Griffith for the Workshop/Downline Meeting of a Lifetime! It truly was an experience I'll never forget. The anticipation leading up to it was just like Christmas and then those 2 hours just flew by like in 2 minutes. I am truly blessed that Dawn has come into my life not only as my bff, but also how she has shared SU and continues to teach me something new all the time.

Love you ALL Bunches!
Gina Wrona

[Peggy Ksiadz]

I found Dawn's blog shortly after becoming a stamper. I have never met her or ordered from her, but she is truly an inspiration to me not only as a demonstrator, but as a person. Her blog was the first in my stamping favorites and I check it every day. Even Sunday's when there is no stamping just wonderful thoughts she shares with her followers. I feel very fortunate that Dawn choses to share herself, ideas and enthusiasm with me. Along with my upline, Linda Bennett, Dawn's sharing what she loves, encouraged me to become a Stampin'Up demonstrator! Thank you for recognizing this outstanding stamper, demonstrator and beautiful person. She lifts my days!

[PEGGY]

I keep up with Dawn's blog, she is so talented and shares a lot on her blog.
The fact that she won this honor proves she well deservs it. Thanks Dawn for you giving spirit.

[Sharon Steinwand]

OK - this sounds like a blog I must visit! Could you share Dawn's blog address? Or maybe Dawn is reading these comments and can share? Here's my email address if it's better to respond personally sharons@digitalweb.net I just love reading about these workshops of a lifetime- what a great sharing idea!

[Stampt]

heeheehee. In the South we call it Lupper (i.e. lunch/supper)...breakfast, brunch, lunch, lupper, supper, and midnight snack.

I've followed Dawn's blog for a LONG time. I'm so glad she won and you could experience her IRL (in real life). Her video's are a hoot!

[Matilde C Hanna]

Hi Shelly, I'm so happy you got to spend time with Dawn - she is just wonderful. I've never met her but she is the reason I am a Stampin Up! demonstrator today. Watching her videos gave me the courage to try something I had never done before - she makes everything look so easy! I love crafting now and I'm passing it along to my customers!!

[Lisa Shackett]

I am so glad that Dawn was one of your Workshops of a Lifetime. No one is more deserving than she. What an inspiration she has been to so many people. I just became a Demonstrator because of her and am so grateful that she is my Upline. Even though we live far away from one another, I live in Texas, I feel like she is just down the street! She is the Best of the BEST!!! A mentor to many! Thanks Shelli for honoring Dawn!

[Dawn Griffith]

Shelli : Thank you so Very much for making my workshop of a lifetime truely a moment ( which is what it felt like .. it went by so quickly ) in my lifetime I will never forget ! You & Sara are sooo amazing . Thank you from the bottom of my heart !
Thank you for all your sweet comments You all are such a blessing to me.
I started a section on my blog with all the highlights from this once in a lifetime event with Shelli Please click on my name below to view all the photos and so much more .
P.S Shelli : Jessie and Ash have a video that will be posted soon re:The workshop of a lifetime from the teenagers point of view :) pretty cute just like the previous ones you were hearing about that evening re: these 2 crazy girls .. a Special shout out to you & Sara and a few others .. Blessing to you and Thank you again for EVERYTHING!!
Much Love
Dawn Griffith

[Jan Tinklenberg]

I had such a lovely time meeting you and Sara at the downline meeting! Dawn was so sweet to invite me. Thanks for all you do for your demonstrators!

[Sylvianne from Quebec, Canada]

I love to hear Dawn's voice on her tutorial videos. She's "so cute!!!! Love it" I love her videos. I've learned to use a lot of tools and with her. Thank you for all the time and effort you put in to sharing your ideas.

Sylvianne, from QUÉBEC, CANADA

[Tricia Roberson]

I would like to see Dawn's blog... Can I have the address?

[Jenny Wrona]

Shelli! Thank you so much for picking Dawn for the workshop of a lifetime! She was so deserving for this special event! Dawn certainly pours her heart and soul into the business and is wonderful at it! I am truly blessed to be a part of her clubs! It was such a honor to met you and your daughter, you both are very sweet people!

Thanks,
Jenny Wrona