Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Graham.
Natalie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in a small country town where my grandparents had a farm. Most of the family built their homes on the same land. As a child, I spent many days running back and forth across the yard with my cousins to each family member’s house. The elders kept an eye on us small children while our parents were at work. So many people always commented on how I had an “old soul.” It’s because I was surrounded by elders every single day. I spent a lot of time watching my aunts and uncles either in the garden, cooking in the kitchen, or cleaning homes of the elite. I was a sponge and absorbed everything around me including wisdom at a young age.
A few of those things I learned early on were that I wanted time freedom when I got older. My parents worked a lot and there were times I wouldn’t see them until dark. However, they provided a stable life for my siblings and I. I desired to get involved with activities like softball and tap dancing but couldn’t because of my parent’s work schedule. I always said when I got older. I wanted to ensure my future children had my time so that they could be involved in extracurricular activities. Going to the homes of the elite made me want just that a beautiful home… I always imagined in my head what the owners must look like and what their daily lives must consist of. I knew I wanted more even early on.
At the age of 11, my whole world turned upside down. My father, my hero, was diagnosed with Cancer. Hospice came in and explained that he had six months or less to live. My father passed away in our home. During his fight with cancer, he kept a journal. He told my mom to distribute a page that he had in his journal to each sibling once he passed. My letter was so meaningful and the part that stood out most was to remember the B’s BOOKS before BOYS OR BABIES. So you can imagine how I felt at the age of 15 when I discovered I was pregnant. So many people said I wouldn’t finish school. One thing I learned from my dad is that the word CAN’T be taken out of your vocabulary. So by nature, anytime I heard that word, it did something to me inside.
On February 22, 1999 my son was born and get this on my dad’s birthday 11 minutes before the clock struck 12. I knew that it my dad’s way of saying that even though I didn’t adhere to his message that he still wanted me to continue on with my education… and that’s exactly what I did. I graduated with honors and also created a funded program for teenage parents while I was still in high school. I went on to college and received my associate’s and my bachelor’s. By the age of 21… everything I desired I had. I got married… bought a home on a lake like the ones I’d seen my family cleaning as a child had the car I wanted by 29, I had lost it all. I was divorced… had a repossession. Three bankruptcies and was now a single mom of three. This isn’t what I’d envisioned for my life. I was broke, busted and disgusted!
I was sitting in my cubicle one day miserable… wasn’t even making ends meet and at this point, I hated my job and dreaded going in each day. I was mentally checked out. This just wasn’t it. I scrolled on Facebook and saw a guy… he was eating lunch with his children in the middle of the day the week prior, he was on some exotic island. I desired these things! I HAD to reach out to find out what it was he did for a living. I shot him an inbox and that’s when he told me. Network Marketing. I’d heard of it before but I didn’t have any experience in it but at this point, I was broke and was willing to do anything legal to help dig myself out of this hole. I started my business on November 5, 2015. I’ll never forget… my mother’s birthday… at the age of 30, I started a plan B while I still had a plan A.
I’ve always been an introvert so when I heard that I can do my business online even from the beaches of the world. I was sold. In 2016… not only was I remarried… I was pregnant with child #4. I went on maternity leave from my corporate job and never went back! I was making a residual income that superseded my salary pay… it didn’t make sense for me to go back. Four years into starting my business, I’m a dollar shy of millionaire status residually. The best part of it all is the time freedom I now have and my passion of helping others is now fulfilled. I get great pleasure in helping families leave legacies for their families. I smile when I see that I’ve helped so many families build 6 figure empires single moms who are now stable enough to maintain their households AND travel the world with their children. This is what I always prayed for.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
So many people see the amazing lifestyle I live now. A family needs a minimum annual income of $538,926 to be in the top 1% earners in the United States. How come this number is so low, you may ask? 1%? To be in the top 1% takes a lot of sacrifices and a lot of screwing up. The only difference in the one percent and everyone else is that we decided to fail more and sacrifice more. I missed my daughter’s 1st step because I was helping others build their empire. (She will not remember that I wasn’t there) however, through my hard work, she and my family will benefit through inheritance. I lost friends along the way on this journey to success. In the beginning, I gave up watching TV even got rid of cable completely. I gave up eating out because I knew. Short time sacrifice meant for long time gain. I invested money that I didn’t even have… bc my father also taught me… no investment, no return.
Please tell us about Graham Luxury Travel.
I am proud to be the number 1 female income earner out of over 58,000 agents around the world and to be the first and only woman to achieve the company’s MVP. I help others start their online travel agencies. I love the flexibility that it gives others. I love the time freedom it allows others.
My team of champions reference me as “Coach Bae” I’m the mentor that will get in the trenches with you… save you with criticism opposed to spoiling you with praise give you the gut-wrenching truth then take you out for oysters or have you tag along with me on vacation. Lol.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The characteristic that is most important to my success, along with consistency, is relationship building. I feel that establishing well-rounded relationships will take you further than anything. Get to know and love people. Listen to their stories… what makes them tick… where did they come from? Where are they going? People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.plannetmarketing.com/natalie
- Phone: 6783651124
- Email: GrahamLuxuryTravel@gmail.com
- Instagram: @thenatalielifestyle
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/nataliemillermk
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