Earlier this week Neil at Citizen of the Month posted an interview challenge. Leave a comment and someone will interview you. This is an effort to combat the blog cliques, bloggie nominations and all things that compete to separate us as bloggers. I’m with Neil, I blog, you blog; I’m a geek and so are you. The only difference between you and me is that I’m wearing 4 inch, black patent leather, peep toe, loepard print stilleto’s.

How lucky am I? I randomly pulled a Non-drinking, Canadian who runs a Watkins Business and blogs about it on the internet. There are no two different people on the internet. Except say me and any conservative political male blogger. However, I’m pretty sure I was one of them in a past life and I came back as a liberal single mother with, athiestic tendencies and no desire to blog about politics as punishment. Whichever it is; I’m good with it.

So for my contribution for breaking down the blog barrier, I present you with The Watkins Lady

Stats:
How long have you been blogging? On this blog since June 2006 but I
dabbled at blogging before that.
Geographic location? I live in a small, isolated community in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada (aka the middle of nowhere)
Male/Female (I make no assumptions about gender, that’s what this experiment is all about)? The Watkins Lady didn’t give it away? I’m female!
Platform for your blog? Word Press and I love it.
Cocktail of choice? I normally don’t drink alcoholic beverages so something with fruit juice and preferably virgin.

When you first started your blog did you intend it to be another venue for
you to sell products?

No, not at all,  I started this blog to share what I’ve learned with
others, perhaps to enlighten or inspire them, as a way to give back to the
online community. I also wanted to include a bit about my life and what I
do so people can get to know me. Occasionally I mention the Watkins
business opportunity since that is part of what I do, help people start
their own Watkins business but it’s not my main focus.

You seem to have a lot of twittering updates; have you replaced blogging
with twitter?

It almost looks like it! Actually, adding my twitter posts started out as
a experiment since I’m not a very good blogger and don’t add new articles
every day so I though it might add some interest. I didn’t realize how
much I talk on twitter! I think it is another way for people to get to
know me and what my interests are.

How has blogging or twittering enriched your life?

I think (hope) that some of the articles on my blog have helped someone
and I really appreciate it when people comment on them. I agonize over
each post and usually work on each one for several days trying to get it
just right. Then, I usually see something I should have changed after it’s
published. Having this blog has really made me stretch and grow as a
writer.

With Twitter I enjoy the conversation, the feed back and the sharing. It
is a community of micro bloggers that one can connect with and share
common interests. The posts are usually spontaneous and are limited to 140
characters so they are small bits of information.

Has it helped your business?

Yes, I think that my blog has, not by setting my sales on fire but by
helping me become a better leader for my team.  I try to be a good leader
training, supporting and coaching the people who join me in this business.

Twitter was something I discovered while learning about new media/social
media. I’ve learned new things from the people I follow, laughed with them
and celebrated with them. I’ve met lots of new people which has expanded
my community. When I’ve linked to one of my web sites through twitter
people visit so that’s a good thing. Since this is fairly new, new media
and new to me, it’s hard to say how much it has or will help my business
but it’s fun!

Since you are the self described Watkins Lady, tell me what Watkins is?

A long time ago, when times were simpler, there was the “Watkins man” who
traveled the North American country side visiting farms and communities on
his route. He was welcomed into people’s homes as he brought news about
friends and neighbors as well as the essential household goods people
needed. Things like kitchen staples - vanilla, pepper and other spices.
Medicinals like liniment and salves to treat man or beast. Plus little
indulgences for the housewife to pamper herself, like lotions and elixirs.

After a 140 years Watkins continues to produce essential household
products all backed by the original money back guarantee. This includes
gourmet and organic foods, non-toxic cleaners, natural dietary
supplements, bath and body products and the old time remedies people
remember and love. As a direct sales company the products are sold or
distributed by independent associates (business people) such as myself.
While I am not the only Watkins Lady around, that’s who I am to thousands
and thousands of people who are my customers or who know me in various
online communities. I love my career, use the products everyday and am
very proud to be called a Watkins Lady.

What is your philosophy on life?

I believe that you should treat people as you would like to be treated.
For me that means being helpful, kind, compassionate, honest and
respectful.

People are the most important thing in my life, first and foremost my
family, I adore my husband and children. Then my friends, business
associates, customers and acquaintances. I’m a nature and animal lover,
and I’m frugal as well as a bit green so I also believe we shouldn’t be
wasteful of our resources.

— That’s the end of my interview; I hope you learned something and I hope you go visit the Watkins Lady and either buy something or say hello. Thanks to Neil for being such a cheerleader and to Melody for being so kind and patient with me.