Joni Rogers-Kante of SeneGence: “Here Are 5 Reasons To Be Hopeful During this Corona Crisis”

When I become anxious about an unknown or a certain outcome I kick into ‘high gear’. Despite the challenge or situation faced, ‘high gear’ means to me setting forth a very precise and detailed plan to obtain the goal, a certain desired outcome or result that will eliminate the cause of my anxiousness. In’ high gear’ mode there is nothing that cannot be overcome or accomplished.

As a part of my series about the the things we can do to remain hopeful and support each other during anxious times, I had the pleasure of interviewing Joni Rogers-Kante, Founder and CEO of the billion dollar network marketing company SeneGence International.

She spends much of her time in the air. Joni’s global business operates in 17 countries and over the past few months, she held distributor meetings in Hong Kong, Australia, Oklahoma, hosted her annual distributor retreat in Mexico, hosted the Grand Opening of her new office building in Vancouver, Canada, and returned home to Orange County, CA. Now homebound with her husband and family at their ranch in Sapulpa, Okla, Joni shares her insight and encouragement to her distributors, employees and the American people.

Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?

I was raised in a small Oklahoma town called Sapulpa. We still have a home there and I love going back with my husband and two sons and we are sheltered there now. We also operate part of SeneGence out of Sapulpa, so I’m never far away from the business. While I grew up on a farm, I’ve always been something of a girly-girl. My first job was at Sav-On Drugs so, no surprise, my favorite aisle was cosmetics. I loved the color and “magic” of the products. A friend then introduced me to Mary Kay Cosmetics. Now a single Mom with a toddler son, the ability to flex my work schedule to suit my life was what I needed. From there, starting SeneGence was really inevitable. Based on two simple ideas: offering women great products that really work and careers that really work by selling these products, remains as true today as when I founded SeneGence 20 years ago.

Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?

Yes, there are two books that have significantly impacted my life. The first is entitled Napoleon Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich’. I’ve read hundreds of self-help, how-tos, and biographies, and had intentionally avoided reading this particular book as I thought it about teaching lessons in pursuit of money — which had no interest to me. Mary Kay Ash insisted I read the book. To my surprise I learned it outlined the 13 characteristics needed to master that would then lead to success in any area of life. I wrote each of the 13 on my mirror so I could review each night and each morning. It changed my life. The second book is ‘The Bible’, Proverbs specifically. It’s all there…all the truthful and real-life lessons one should follow to have a fulfilling and meaningful life while contributing to fellow man. Had I realized at a younger age that reality would have saved me hundreds of reading hours!

Many people have become anxious from the dramatic jolts of the news cycle. The fears related to the coronavirus pandemic have heightened a sense of uncertainty, fear, and loneliness. From your perspective, can you help our readers to see the “Light at the End of the Tunnel”? Can you share your “5 Reasons To Be Hopeful During this Corona Crisis”? If you can, please share a story or example for each.

Immense challenges always bring opportunities and are often the fodder for new innovations. I am hopeful, and have complete confidence, that forward thinking individuals will create new remedies and find better solutions to overcome the shortfalls of today’s challenges. I believe great strides will be realized in manufacturing, medicine, hospitals, communications between State and Private affiliations, internet technologies…wherever we have discovered there can be room for improvement, improvement will happen. Also, I am very hopeful of the human spirit. Times like these? Well, we see the best in others through their helping hands, selflessness, and generosities — putting aside gains for profit for the betterment of their neighbor.

Stay focused, don’t stop working until and unless absolutely necessary. It will be those who maintain and even modestly increase business during difficult times who generally make it to the other side (if even just barely). The majority, or ‘average’, entrepreneur can get distracted and/or disheartened and may use these challenging periods as an excuse for failing. Those who make it to the other side, using good business practices, tend to be those who rise up to become leaders within given industries.

From your experience or research what are five steps that each of us can take to effectively offer support to those around us who are feeling anxious? Can you explain?

First, Do Your Part; do exactly what is requested of you by our government officials.

Secondly, try to make alterations to the normal business processes or methods to contribute towards finding solutions to problems we are facing in any one or more of many challenged areas. What resources are at your disposal? What can you contribute? What are your skill sets you can put to work for those in your community or the nation? Every effort helps no matter how large or small.

The current situation has, like for most, meant we cannot gather ‘in person’ as we have been accustomed to. Instead, we are using technology to gather globally on a daily basis. In fact, even more often than usual. This has brought about an even more intimate feeling of community within the 17 countries in which SeneGence operates. I believe we celebrate and appreciate each other even more. The individual efforts and accomplishments of each SeneGence team member, from our corporate employees to our tens of thousands of independent contractors in the sales force, is ultimately uplifting us all as a whole.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?

Choose to live life in love and abundance — and then work for it!”

Do you have a story about how that quote was relevant in your life?

Living is about choices; how we react; how we spend our time; it defines our attitude; determines how we handle every situation good or bad; how we navigate our course — Adults Choose one way or the other, regardless of whether they are aware of their choice making abilities-or-not. Living this quote daily reminds me that every word, every move, every moment, I am displaying for all to see, my child, my husband, my friends, my coworkers….. the choices I am making as each moment passes. Are those choices helping the whole, enriching lives, spreading love and support, offering hope, helping another family? For me, there is no other reason to exist other than this. Sit back and think about it — There is no other way a single woman with a child could possibly grow from zero to billions……

What are the best resources you would suggest to a person who is feeling anxious?

When I become anxious about an unknown or a certain outcome I kick into ‘high gear’. Despite the challenge or situation faced, ‘high gear’ means to me setting forth a very precise and detailed plan to obtain the goal, a certain desired outcome or result that will eliminate the cause of my anxiousness. In’ high gear’ mode there is nothing that cannot be overcome or accomplished.