Connie Hyder of Williamson, Georgia faced some setbacks when it came to making a conference she was looking forward to – but not for long. Hyder used good old ingenuity and a mini-van to move that trip forward.
Hyder and her husband Matthew, a EMT firefighter, were planning on taking themselves and their four children on a mini-vacation to Miami, while Connie attended the ViSalus “Vitality” conference. Hyder started selling the popular weight loss shake in June and was looking forward to learning more about growing her business.
With savings in the bank, the trip was a go. A go, that is, until her expected check as an insurance agent turned from $3,000 to $77, when the company changed the way they compensated new agents. Coupled with a van break down that same week and a bill for a new transmission, the trip was off.
“I still wanted to go, Matthew wanted me to go, but with 90 cents in the checking account, it didn’t look like a good idea,” Hyder said. But that is when Hyder decided to take a leap of faith. She posted ads on Facebook and other ViSalus networking sites and offered rides to the conference. Within a short time she had four takers. She charged $100 round trip for the 1,800 mile trip from Williamson to Miami, Florida. Hyder said she could take some shake mix as trade for funds, but the van couldn’t run as efficiently on shake mix as Hyder does.
“I had lots of friends and family think I was crazy,” Hyder said. “But I just felt like everything was going to be OK.”
Registration, for the event was going to be $99, Hyder’s portion of the hotel was $125 and parking was about $84.
“I packed fruit, water and pretzels for my food,” said Hyder. “I used a Chic-Filet coupon for free grilled nuggets and a water for my dinner down to the conference.”
Hyder, forever an optimist, wanted to give the journey a name so the “Victory Van” tour had begun. Motivational sales pitches ruled the sound system and the car-poolers were richer for their experiences.
“I made lifelong friends on the trip,” Hyder said.
Getting there was only half the battle. Conference fees were going to add up. Hotel fees, gas home, parking and incidentals still needed funding. With some help from her up-line the “Freedom Force,” she purchased a ticket to the conference.
Then she turned the Victory Van into a taxi-for-hire, giving rides back and forth from hotels between sessions for the entire four days.
“I parked far away from the conference and walked about 6 miles a day, between shuttle runs,” said Hyder. “I had blisters, but I told myself this was part of my journey. I was passing through, I wasn’t going to land here.”
On the first day, Hyder made enough in taxi tips to pay for her parking.
“Matthew called to check on me and say ‘How is it going?’” she said.
Hyder had made enough the first day to pay for parking at her hotel, with two extra dollars to order something off the dollar menu — but she didn’t. By the end of the trip she had covered all her expenses and was able to bring some cash home.
Using her van to fund the trip not only blessed her, but others.
“I was hearing horror stories about how much a taxi costs, and I just said ‘give what you can’ and brought people back and forth from the hotel to the conference center.” Soon word got around and everyone wanted to ride in the Victory Van. “I didn’t expect to be an inspiration,” Hyder said. “I just wanted to go to the conference and this is how I could do it.”
The conference may have focused on Shake Mix – but Hyder took home more food for thought.
“I learned to enjoy the journey. Just because it is hard doesn’t mean it is not worth it. You have to take action and make your own way. Most of all, I learned it’s good to have a joyful spirit while you are doing it!”
Hyder had a great time, came home inspired, and starts a new job on Monday. Best of all, when she got home she handed Matthew $160 that she had made above covering her expenses by turning her mini-van into a taxi.
“We are putting this in the bank,” he said.
The next conference is in November. Hyder’s original victory riders are already saying they would rather drive than fly.
“I don’t know what that trip looks like yet, but I am open to it,” she said.
Congratulations, Connie, for doing good by going the extra mile, and using your joyful spirit to do good for others along the way.
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Wat an awesome story of determination. Love it!!!!
Praise the Lord!!!
So proud of you awesome cousin of mine that you were determined and you trusted in the Lord 100% to get you to that conference and able to pay the expenses and still come home with some money. I am also proud of you that you made my sister’s website and this very awesome and very inspirational story is getting around the world. You both rock and I love you both and am very proud of both of you. Keep up the great work Jodi and Connie. Much Love your awesome sister and cousin Hollalina
Connie,
I admire you and your family. You guys reached a goal together. What a lesson for your kids.
There are way more summers and winters under my belt than I care to count. However your adventure has inspired me to look forward to working with ViSalis.
God bless you and your family on ya’lls journey with ViSalis.
Ken