Wausau Daily Herald:
Cindi Engebretson and Shannon Eckels have more in common than just being mother-daughter.
Three years ago, both of them were living in difficult situations — Engebretson in an unhealthy marriage and Eckels barely able to feed herself.
Their relief would come from a familiar source for helping women in difficult times — direct selling Lia Sophia jewelry.
In 2006, Eckels, 28, of Plover was running a residential treatment facility for a nonprofit organization that helped high-crisis adults, specifically those with schizophrenia.
“I was working probably 50 hours a week,” Eckels said. “I felt good about what I was doing, but I was having a hard time making ends meet.”
Eckels was making about $300 a week, but had student loans to pay and a car that had broken down.
“It’s hard for me to talk about,” Eckels said. “I was having an extremely difficult time putting food in my cupboard.”
Living off of Ramen noodles, her weight dropped less than 100 pounds. She became desperate and learned she could donate plasma twice a week to make money — that is until she realized she didn’t meet the 110-pound weight requirement for donation.
“I became pretty desperate,” Eckels said. “I got ankle weights to fake the pounds. You grow up and think, go to college, get a good job and work hard. And I did, at the agency for seven years. You think everything will fall into place, and it just didn’t.”
That same week, her mom held a Lia Sophia party, and along with friends, convinced Eckels to enter the direct selling business.
“I threw one party for one afternoon and made $300,” Eckels said, “which was the equivalent to a 50-hour work week. That opened my eyes to there’s something here.”
Logo from Lia Sophia