Behind The Scenes On The Overnight Shifts...10 l Winter 2006-2007Q. What’s your role with Shop At Home? A: I work three or four overnight shifts per week and primarily sell coins

TV Shopping After Dark Behind The Scenes On The Overnight Shifts

Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve Gorgeous Jewelry to Swoon Over

Gung Hay Fat Choy Celebrate the Year of The Pig, and Indulge Yourself

TV Shopping After Dark Behind The Scenes On The Overnight Shifts

Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve Gorgeous Jewelry to Swoon Over

Gung Hay Fat Choy Celebrate the Year of The Pig, and Indulge Yourself

Is Agelesssuzanne somers

WINTER 2006 – 2007 | $4.00

www.tvshoptalk.com

KATHY LEVINE Where in the World is She?

suzanne somersIs Ageless

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“WE WILL REBUILD.”

Our heart goes out to Suzanne Somers, whose house was destroyed when a wildfire tore through Malibu on January 8th. Luckily, neither Suzanne nor her husband, Alan Hamel, were home at the time. “My nature is to look at the glass half-full,” she said in a statement. “I don’t have a son or daughter in Iraq. I haven’t lost a loved one. We will rebuild, and I truly believe we will learn something great from this experience.”

Word on the beach is that Victoria Principal’s Malibu home had also been endangered, but was not harmed.

IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES

Thank goodness that Victoria Principal wasn’t burned twice. She and her husband, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Harry Glassman, have finalized their divorce, agreeing to split more than $50 million in assets and setting aside a pre-nuptial agreement that Glassman contested. Principal and Glassman were married in June 1985, and she filed for divorce in May 2006, citing irreconcilable differences. They’ve now reached a settlement that Principal called “fair and reasonable.” According to court documents filed by Glassman’s attorney, Principal’s property interests are in excess of $50 million.

SHOP FROM OVER 600 NETWORK SHOWS

If you’ve ever watched a TV show, and thought to yourself, “Wow, where did that actress get that gorgeous sweater?” then the new shopping website SeenOn.com is for you. Covering top TV series such as “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Desperate Housewives,” “Project Runway” and “Las Vegas”– as well as more than 600 other shows, 2,000

celebrities, and 7,000 brands – SeenON! is the world’s largest shopping guide for behind-the-scenes access to what’s on screen and how to get it. Partnerships with over 25 studios including ABC Entertainment, NBC Universal, Twentieth Century Fox, CBS Paramount Television, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, and E! Entertainment mean that SeenOn.com community members will be able to find new items listed immediately after an episode airs.

GO WEST, YOUNG JEWELERS

Why did GemsTV decide to launch in the US, you ask? U.S. Country Manager Diane Schneiderjohn has the answers:

For several years, GemsTV has been selling its products to other home shopping channels in the UK, Germany, US and elsewhere in the world -- channels offering a full range of home and lifestyle products. The sale of our jewelry in the UK was so successful that the channel became GemsTV, dedicated to selling only our products. The response from the British public was phenomenal – 85% of our customers are repeat buyers, and many of our customers had our jewelry independently appraised for often 10 times what they paid for it on GemsTV. So, a second GemsTV channel was launched to meet the growing demand for our products.

Riding high on the success of our channels in the UK, the rising demand for colored gemstone jewelry worldwide, and the demand for our product via other homeshopping channels in the US, we decided to launch our own channel in the US.

The timing has been optimal, with November 2006’s British Vogue, featuring a ring from GemsTV, declaring that colored gemstone jewelry is the next wave in fashion.

GemsTV has a unique proposition for the U.S., with unbeatable prices because we are able to cut out middlemen and retailers and sell directly to the consumer; the largest selection of colored gemstone jewelry designs with an unparalleled selection of gems including many hard to find varieties; only genuine gems -- no fakes or synthetics; all our gold jewelry is only 14 Karat gold or better; and each piece of our jewelry is handcrafted by our own artisans. Plus, GemsTV will use the first ‘reverse auction’ format on TV in the US, offering buyers a fun, easy and low-priced way to buy. Instead of offering jewelry at a set price, GemsTV will offer exclusive designs in limited quantities, and the price will drop as buyers call in, until all pieces are sold, and all buyers, whether they were first or last to bid, will pay the final lowest price. s

BREAKING NEWS

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Dear Readers:

Here in Denver, Colorado, where Shop-Talk is based, we’ve had multiple bliz-zards, record-low temperatures, and over seven consecutive weeks of heavy snow on the ground. The streets are slick with four-inch thick sheets of ice, six-foot high piles of accumulated snow, and almost everyone we know has suffered from a bad cold, the flu, strained back muscles from shoveling their driveways, and nu-merous other winter maladies. So, to say the least, the weather has slowed us down a bit. We release this Winter is-sue with local forecasts predicting even more snow in the weeks ahead.

Whether you’re snowbound like we are, or enjoying sunny skies in the southern states, we hope you’ll enjoy this new issue of ShopTalk, featuring our good friend and former show host Kathy Levine. You may have seen her appear-ing recently in infomercials for Harry

Lorayne’s Memory Power, and wondered, “Where has she been?” Kathy herself tells you in her own words what she’s been up to, and what she’s experienced in her life since leaving the full-time world of TV shopping.

And Suzanne Somers talks about her controversial new best seller Ageless, where she challenges the conventional wisdom around menopause. Many doc-tors and health care specialists have taken issue with her claims. You can decide for yourself who’s right and who’s wrong, but we believe that each side of the argument has valid points to make. We suggest that you talk to your primary care physician before making any radical changes to your own health care regimen.

The great thing about cold, snowy weath-er is that it gives us more time to stay inside, cuddle up on the couch, and watch more TV shopping! And that’s ex-actly what we’ve been doing. The only problem is that we have to shovel the walk way so that the delivery person can get to our door.

Stay warm and dry!

Sheila Salido Jordan

P.S. We hope you’ll support our efforts, and subscribe to ShopTalk: The Maga-zine For TV Shopping Fans™ today.

And please spread the word to your fam-ily and friends – we’re only available by subscription!

To subscribe, use the form on page 31 or order online at www.tvshoptalk.com

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www.tvshoptalk.com

The ShopTalk Team

Sheila Salido Jordan Editor & Publisher

Chuck Jordan Special Projects Director

Katia Gelman Publication Design Director

ShopTalk: The Magazine For TV Shopping Fans™ (ISSN: 1559-8497) is published quarterly by Fanzines, Inc., P.O. Box 631573 Littleton, Colorado 80163-1573 U.S.A. © 2006-2007 Fanzines, Inc. All rights reserved. ShopTalk: The Maga-zine For TV Shopping Fans™ cannot be reproduced in any manner without the permission of Fanzines, Inc. ShopTalk: The Magazine For TV Shopping Fans™ is a service mark and logo owned by and/or registered to Fanzines, Inc. All other TV shopping networks, personalities, products or brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Available by subscription only. Subscrip-tion price in the United States and posses-sions is $12 for four issues. Periodicals postage paid at Denver, Colorado, and additional mailing offices. Subscription Services: ShopTalk: The Magazine For TV Shopping Fans™ will, upon receipt of a complete subscription order, undertake fulfillment of that order so as to provide the first copy for delivery by the U.S. Postal Service or alternate carrier within 6 – 12 weeks. Should you have any problem with your subscription or if would like to update your address, please write to Customer Ser-vice Dept., Fanzines, Inc. P.O. Box 261573, Littleton, Colorado 80163-1573 U.S.A. Checks or money orders for subscriptions should be made payable to Fanzines, Inc. Printed in the U.S.A.

Advertising Inquiries: Please call 1-303-221-0780 or e-mail [email protected].

Send press releases to: [email protected].

Winter 2006-2007 contentsFEATURES

Letter From The Editor & Publisher

Breaking News Geena Davis commands attention with Wild fires tear through Malibu, Principal Divorces, GemsTV in the USA, and how to shop from 600 TV networks in one website ............................................................ 6

Letter From The Editor & Publisher Recurring blizzards, icy streets, and shovels of snow slow ShopTalk’s Winter Issue production ................ 8

TV Shopping After Dark Jewelry Television’s Mandy Bradshaw and Shop At Home’s Shawn Leflar share their experiences of working the overnight shifts .................................. 20

Suzanne Somers is Ageless Her controversial best-seller takes on the medical establishment and challenges traditional notions on women’s health and menopause .......................... 22

Jumping Into The Abyss by Kathy Levine Kathy Levine shares her insights on taking risks, being brave, and learning how to fish ................... 24

Heart-To-Heart Wear your heart on your sleeve, or your neck or wrist, with lovely heart-shaped jewelry ................. 26

Asian Influence Celebrate the Year of the Pig with stylish jewelry in gold and jade ........................................................ 28


Q. What’s your role with Shop At Home?

A: I work three or four overnight shifts per week and primarily sell coins and knives. I started working overnights in the home shopping business 12 years ago, shortly before joining Shop At Home in 1996.

Q: What’s a typical schedule for you?

A: I wake up at 11 a.m. and tend to everyday duties such as house or yard work and running errands – the stuff most people accomplish at 5 p.m. In the afternoons, I spend quality time with my wife and our six-year-old son before heading into work around 7 p.m. Once I arrive, I begin preparing for my shows, familiarizing myself with the items we sell. As the evening inches in on my 11 p.m. show time, I start drinking lots of caffeine. It takes a lot of energy and excitement on my part to keep our viewers interested and awake at 2:30 a.m.! When the show wraps at 3 am, me, my co-host Todd Boone, and our producers review the evening and discuss what sold well and peaked the interest of our viewers. Eventually, I return home and climb into bed around 5 a.m. and the cycle repeats itself.

Q: What makes working the overnight shift unique and appealing to you?

A: Over the years, I’ve noticed the people who watch overnights are long-time loyal viewers. They are collectors and enthusiasts who really care about what we do and what we sell. They blog about the shows and really maintain a high interest from day to day.

Q: What’s it like selling coins and knives?

A: I love it…and the two categories are completely opposite. They are two fascinating hobbies and collections that each attract a unique crowd.

Q: What are your favorite knife and coin collections?

A: My favorite coin collections are Platinum Eagles and Morgan Silver Dollars. My favorite knife collections are Tactical Folders and any handmade sword.

Q: What’s the funniest, strangest or most memorable thing that’s happened working the night shift?

A: It wasn’t funny at the time, but it’s hilarious now when I look back at the “blooper reel.” In 2001 during a knife show, I was showing off a sword and hitting it on a table like I’d done a million times before. Well, this particular item wasn’t made right. On the 2nd time I hit it, it snapped in half, hit the table, snapped back up and caught me right in the abdomen. The sword broke in half and I literally pulled metal shards out of my stomach the rest of the night. Fortunately I was fine and the show went on. This incident made national news headlines and it’s certainly something I’ll never forget.

Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career?

A: Always make sure you represent the product properly. I spend a lot of time researching and reviewing the products I show. This is the most critical aspect of my job.

Q: If you weren’t a home shopping host, what would you be?

A: I would be a college theater professor and soccer coach. I majored in theater and played professional soccer in my earlier years so I’m really passionate about both. s

Shawn waxes poetic about Platinum Eagles, Morgan Silver Dollars, Tactical Folders and handmade swords.

Shawn Leflar is a host on the Shop At Home network.

a night in the life ofSHAWN LEFLAR

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Mandy Bradshaw is a host on Jewelry Television.

It’s 12:45 am and I am sleeping very soundly as are my husband, our three

daughters and our Dalmatian Kaya. Beep, beep, beep. The alarm clock

goes off. I slowly reach over and hit snooze for just a few minutes of extra sleep. I finally open my eyes and see its a few minutes past 12:45 a.m. I slept nearly six hours. Not bad! It’s time to wake up and start my day.

I slide into my fuzzy slippers, grab a Coke, and turn on Jew-elry Television to scope out how the evening is progressing for my co-workers. Watching them is energizing and makes me even more excited for the day’s work ahead. I shower, get dressed, silently kiss my loved ones for the day, and head out the door.

When I arrive at the studios around 2:30, my hair is still wet. So, I dry and style it and then move into the studio to begin planning my show. I look through all of the jewelry and gems pieces for the night, grab a cup of coffee and its show time.

I love the 4am to 8am shift. I thoroughly enjoy talking with the viewers for those four hours and there’s huge gratifi-cation in selling them high-quality, well-priced pieces they won’t find anywhere else. I’ve concluded people who shop late at night make up a unique, knowledgeable crowd who really knows exactly what it wants.

When my show wraps at 8 A.M., I wish I could stay on the set for another hour. But, the other hosts are always eager to step in for their shifts, so I review the last four hours with my producers and then start developing my next show. I visit the merchandising department to survey new trays of jewelry and gems. The options and possibilities of what to show our viewers next are endless!

By now its 10:30 and time to reconnect with my family, run errands, and catch up with other duties. When I arrive home, my faithful husband always waits at the door for me with our six-month-old and then he goes to work. While she naps, I often spend time studying for my Graduate Gemologist degree. Later in the afternoon, my other two daughters return from school and its homework and car-pool time. Dinner comes early, and I eventually hit the hay as early as the girls!

Hands down my incredible family is my biggest joy. But, I honest to goodness also believe I have the best job in the world. I’m blessed to say that I look forward to stepping into the world of Jewelry Television everyday – even if it is at 2:30 a.m.! s

MANDY BRADSHAWBy Mandy Bradshaw

The industrious host studies for her Graduate Gemologist degree in her spare time.

a night in the life of

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suzanne somerssuzanne somers

ShopTalk: WhatareyourNewYear’sresolutionsfor2007andwhy?

Suzanne: Irarelymakeresolutions.MyfocusintheNewYearistocontinuetobeanadvocateforwomen’shealth.Wewomenwanttofeelgood.Wedeservetofeelgood.Thereisaknowledgegapamongdoctorsinthiscountryandwomenarethelosers.Ithinkitisuptoustofightfortherighttotakecareofourbodiesthewaywechoose.

ShopTalk: Doyouhaveathemeforyourselffor2007?

Suzanne: Ialwayswanttocontinuetobeaproductivecontributor.Mypersonalphilosophyis“Ican.”Iwillnotstartanysentencewiththewords“Ican’t.”IfIdo,mymindwillacceptitasso,andthenIwon’tbeabletoaccomplishmygoals.InsteadItellmyself,“Ican,”or,“Iwill.”Inthisway,Ibelieve,successwillcometome.

ShopTalk: Youhavereinventedyourselfmultipletimesfromsitcomactresstoexercisemaventobest-sellingauthor,andnowahealthandwellnessadvocateforwomenbabyboomers.Whichdoyoufeelhasbeenyourmostimportantrole?

Suzanne: MostimportanttomeistoadvocateforwomenonissuesrelatingtotheirhealthandtheirplaceinAmericanculture.

ShopTalk: Whatisyourfocusmovingforward?

Suzanne: I’mveryexcitedaboutanewopportunitythathasopenedup.WehavecreatedanewventurecalledSUZANNETM.Ibelieveitwillempowerwomenandchangethelivesofmillionsofpeople;itisfilledwithendlesspossibilities.ThroughSUZANNE(www.suzanne.com),womencansignupandsellmyprovenbestsellingbeauty,gourmet,andothersignatureproductsdirectlytotheirfriendsandfamily.Forthelast20yearsIhavebeensellingexerciseequipment,sparklingjewelry,

deliciousfoodandgorgeousfashionontelevision,sharinglaughterandincredibleproductsthatenhancethedailylivesofviewers.Now,acrossthecountry,womenandmencanbuildtheirownbusinesseswithmanyofthoseverysametop-sellingproducts,completelysupportedwithtrainingandmaterialsthroughthewebsiteandthroughsalesmeetings.

ShopTalk: You’verecentlyaddedorganicmeatproductstoyourmerchandiseonHSN.Whatpromptedthis?Wasityourresearchonhealthandwellness?Howhasthisaffectedthedevelopmentofyourotherproductlinessuchasbathandbeautyproducts;dothosealsocontainorganicmaterials/ingredients?

Suzanne: Mostofmyproductscontainorganiccompoundswhereavailable.Youcouldeatsomeofmyskincareproducts!

ShopTalk: YouhavebeenwithHSNforquiteawhilenow.Canyoutellmeexactlyhowmanyyears?HowmuchinannualsalesdoyougarnerfromHSN?What%ofHSN’soverallrevenuesdoyourproductlinesaccountfor?

Suzanne: IhavebeenatHSNfor14fabulousyears.Wedon’tdetailrevenues.WeshareaterrificassociationwithHSNandwillcontinuetointroducenewproductstoourfansacrossthecountry.Thatsaysitall!

ShopTalk: Speakingofreinvention,HSNhaschangedalotinrecentyears—fromyoursetstothelighting.Whatareyourfavoriteimprovements?Arethereanyareasyouthinkstillneedtobeimproved?

Suzanne: WearetheonlyvendoratHSNthathasbuiltourownsetandbringsinourownteamofvideoqualitycontrolengineersforeachairing.HSNhaswelcomedeveryideawe’vehadtokeepitfreshandfun;that’spartofwhyIlovethem.

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ShopTalk: Whatareyourfavoritethingsaboutlivetelevision?Doyouhaveanyspecificfavoriteon-airmoments?

Suzanne: IlovemyhandcuffsshowasCrissy.

ShopTalk: Whoisyourcustomer?Canyoudescribewhoyourcustomeris,whatthedemographics/psychographicsofyourcustomersare,sothatwecanpaintapicture?

Suzanne: MycustomersarethesametypeofpeoplethatIgrewupwithinSanBruno—middleclassneighborsyoucouldalwayscount.They’resmart,savvybuyerswhowanttolookandfeeltheirbest.Now,withTVrerunsandmyhundredsofhourseachyearonHSN,mydemographicstretchesfromtwenty-somethingstooctogenarians.

ShopTalk: WhenyouareinSt.Petersburg,Florida,foryourHSNappearances,whatdoyoudoinyoursparetime,ifyouhaveany?Arethereanyfavoritebeaches,restaurants,activities,etc.?

Suzanne: Sadly,mytimeinFloridaisstrictlywork.Inthe14yearsIhavebeengoingthereforHSN,Ihavebeenoutfordinneronlyonceandhavenevervisitedabeach.So,I’vebeenabletoenjoythepeopleImeettherebutnotthesites!

ShopTalk: Canyoutellusaboutatimewhenyoudecidedtotakeabigriskinyourlife?Wastheoutcomewhatyouexpected?

Suzanne: Intheearly70s,Itookmy7-year-oldson,rentedatruck,putallmyworldlybelongingsintoit,anddrovetoL.A.togetintoshowbusiness.Atthetime,Ihadabout$200tomyname.Iwasterrified.TheoutcomewaswhatIhaddaredtohopefor,andbetterthanIexpected.

ShopTalk: Whatadvicedoyouhaveforwomenwhoareatacrossroadsintheirlives,whoneedtomakeabigchangebutdon’tknowhowtobreakoutofarut?

Suzanne: First,takecareofyourself.Makesureyourbodychemistryisperfectlybalanced.Then,visualizewhatyouwantandwhereyouwanttobe.Ifyoubelieveinitandinyourself,itwillhappen.Youcanmakeanythingyouwanthappenifyouareconvincedthatitispossible.s


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When Sheila asked me to participate in this issue, my first reaction was, “What would I say?” I’ve been out of the industry for nearly

seven years, and who really cares about Kathy Levine anymore? Then I bumped into someone who recognized me (of course, looking my

sweaty worst coming from the gym), and she said, “We miss you, what are you doing?” She seemed interested in my response, awed by my

willingness to leave such a fine job, and jump into the abyss.

So let’s talk about risk taking. I am a motivational lecturer, and this is one of the themes I talk about.

EASY DOES ITSomeofusthriveonsafetyandpredictability.Wetakecomfortinhav-inggoodjobsandkeepingourhomesor-ganized.Putthedogout,takethepaperin,dothelaundry,checkemails,getthekids,takeyourvitamins,go to themarket.Per-hapswegooutonSaturdaynights.ManyofusscheduleourlivesaroundDesperateHousewivesorGrey’sAnatomynights. I’maBostonLegaladdictmyself.Manyofusfaithfully watch one of our favorite shop-

pingshowseverydaytoenjoythecompanyor tobuya littleblingwheneverpossible.There’ssecurityinhavingaroutinethatwecan control day after day, year after year.Welookaheadandwehopeit’llcontinuestatusquobecausethere’speaceinknow-ingtheroadtraveled.

Unlessyou’reKathyLevine!

Ihaveashortattentionspan,andwhenIgetboredwithsomething,I’mdonefor.

By K

athy

Lev

ine

FIRS

T PE

RSON

SothereIwasbackin1998,“diva”oftheshoppingindustry.Ihadbeenontheairfornearly11yearsandhaditdownpat.Itwasallworkallthetime.Butthiswasgreatwork.Ienjoyedtrav-elingtheworldformyjob.Ihadthethrillofwritingtwobooksandvisiting14 states on a publicity tour. I wasthe“it”girlforallnewcelebritieswholaunched their products, and I wasalways the one chosen to be inter-viewedbythepress.Itwasthemostexcitingandglamorousdecadeofmylife,andIhavenothingbutpraiseandthanksformyformeremployers.

THE ITCH Istartedto feelacertainrestlessnessabout the future. Iwasnearingthatmagicalageof50whenoneasks,“WhyamIhere?”and,“Isthatallthereis?”Ihadenduredari-diculous,ifnotcomicalstringofloserrelationships,andworkwasmyfavor-iteandmostconsistentlover.Heck,Iwasmarriedtomyjob.Americawasmy date every Friday, Saturday andSunday night, and no man couldbeatthefabulousplacesIwasbeingtaken. I got dolled up five nights aweekandfeltadoredbymany.Itwasatotalthrilltoreceivesomanyniceletters(eventhougheveryonceinawhilesomeonewrotetotellmehowmuchtheyhatedme.Myfavoritewasfrom an entire group of workers inMassachusettswhobandedtogethertosignalongpetitioncalledtheWeHate Kathy Club.Wow, I wish I hadenoughtimeandenergytodevotetosuchaworthycause)!

Ialsolookedaheadfiveto10years

and saw myself still sitting on airin the samechair, selling the samejewelry,althoughthey’dwheelmeinwithmy teeth inacupandmy tworemainingthinhairscoiffednicelyonmy shrunken gray head. Don’t evenaskaboutJoan.She’dbemummifiedbutlookingswellwithastuffedSpikebyherside.

The itch started to worsen. I toldmyself all the things you tell your-self when trying to make a deci-sion to throwawayagood thing inexchange for an unknown. I madea list of the good news/bad newsaboutmyjob.Therewasnonegativecolumnbutthatdidn’teliminatemyrestlessness or my curiosity aboutinvestigatingoptions.

My on-air shifts started to feel likeweeks instead of hours. I startedto become stale andbored. I knewitwasamatterof timebefore Ibe-cameboringtotheviewerstoo.Likea pro athlete, would it be better toleave on a high note orwait until Isimplydiedout?

Clearly many of you are at somecrossroadsinyourlife.Youaren’tsureyouwanttostayinacertainjob,oryouareconsideringgettingafirstjobaftermanyyearsoffthemarket.Per-hapsyouarethinkingofgoingbackto school or starting a business ofyourown.Someofyouwanttoenterintoa relationship,andotherswanttojumpoutofone.Everyonecomesto these little (or big) impasses.Manyaretoughandcriticaldecisionstomake.Ifyoufindit impossibletoimaginethechange,thenyouarenotreadyforit.Whenit’sright,it’sclear.Whenindoubt…DON’T.

Everydayforaboutayear,theideaoftakinganewpassageinmylifewasmorealluring.Ireallybegantothinkbeyondthedoubtsandconsidermyoptions and the drawbacks. Could Isuccessfullyleavethisbigcompany?

WouldIsurvivefinancially?IfIjumpedship,mightIbeabletogobackoncethatbridgewasburned?WhowouldIhurtifIfailed?WasthistherighttimeorshouldIwaitalittlelonger?

These are the questions we shouldallaskwhenevermakingadecisionthat impactsour livesand the livesofour lovedones. It’susuallynotasounddecisionifeveryoneelsehastosufferforyourchoices.

Inmy case, the answerswere easy.Iwasalone,nohusband,nokids. Ihad banked enough money to sur-vive on a lesser income if needed,to carry my own health insurance(outrageously expensive even ifyou’rehealthy),andtohelpmymomifshe requiredassistance. Ihadnooutstanding debts, and I was crys-talclearonthefactthatonceIleft,therewouldbenogoingback.Whenwould the right time be? The timeis right when you can’t get leavingout of your head, and the thoughtof staying becomes more confiningandmoreunappealing.Itwasscary,itwasfrivolous,itwasdownrightnutstowalkoutonsuchagoldenlife,butitwasmygangplank,nooneelse’s.Ifounditratherexciting.

ARE YOU NUTS? I put out feelers,and Igota joboffer togo toNY tohave my own talk show. I jumped.Call me crazy, call me stupid, callmeungrateful,callmeegotisticaltothinkitwouldhaveworked.Youcan-not imagine thenumber of letters Ireceived telling me I had no talentandwouldnevermakeit;thatIwas


“…work was my favorite and most consistent lover. Heck,

I was married to my job. America was my date every Friday, Saturday and Sunday

night, and no man could beat the fabulous places I was being taken.”

“I took the risk. I put on my ‘big girl shoes,’ and I

walked. I took the criticism, I angered my employer, I burned the bridge, but I

went with my gut.It was time for change. Change is scary.

Change is good.”

lucky to have thisTV-selling joband should leavewellenough alone. Those letters were harsh, and nobodyknewbetterthanIhowdangerousthisventurewas.EvenmymomwhoismytowerofsupportthoughtIwasoffthewallforleavingthecableshoppinglimelight.

Butyouknowwhat?Itooktherisk.Iputonmy“biggirlshoes,”andIwalked.Itookthecriticism,Iangeredmyemployer,Iburnedthebridge,butIwentwithmygut.Itwas time forchange.Change isscary.Change isgood.Changebringschange.

I failed.The talkshownever tookoff, it stank fromthegetgo,andIwasoutofworkinnotime.Itwasawful.Mynextventurewasaclothinglinewhichlaunchedbeforeitwasrightanddidnotbearmypersonalstyle.Iaskedtocancelthedealandwasgraciouslyreleased.Anotherfailureifyouwanttolookatitthatway.Eachlittleeffortforwardkickedmeseveralstepsback,butIkeptenter-ingthedoorsthatopened,andImademyway,learningalittlemoreeachtimeaboutwheremystrengthslieandwhattrapstoavoid.

Irecognizednewskills,entrepreneurshipforone,beingmyownboss,anditwasgreat.IalsolearnedhowmuchIliketotrainothers,andIstartedmarketingmylittlesalestraining to companies all over the country. My favoritejobwaswiththecompanythatflewmetoAustralia.Talkaboutanawesomecommutetowork!

Itwasalsoachancetofocusonanotherkindofchangeaswell.

UP IN THE AIRIhaddecidedthatIwasnowreadytohavearealandmeaningfulpersonallife.Idecidedtostopbe-ingtherescuerofscarredandabusedmen.IfeltliketheSPCAformalemongrels.Iwastiredofbeingsweetandunderstandingtomenwhosimplyweren’tnice.It’snotmyfaulttheyhadhorriblechildhoodsortheirparentsdidn’tlovethemenough.Theyweren’tnicetome,andIdeservedbetter.Igrewwearyofwackos,andIwastiredoftryingtobeupbeatandhappyforthosewhoweredepressed,aguidancecounselortothosewhodidn’tknowwhattheywantedtobewhentheygrewup(andtheywere50!),andIwasdefiniteaboutdumpingtheoneswhowantedMom.Idon’tlooklikeyourmama,Idon’tcooklikeyourmama,andIain’tgonnasupportyoulikeasugarmama,sogetajob,getagripandgetalife!

Imadeastrictdecisionthatthenextonewouldbeinde-pendentofhisparent’sopinions,hewouldownahome,hewouldbegainfullyemployed,hewouldbeciviltowardhisexifhehadone,andwouldadorehischildrenifhehadthem.Heneededtolookforwardtoeverydayasaspecialgift tobeopenedwith joyandoptimism. Iwasdonewiththelosersandthedowners.

The day I made that clear decision was the day it allchanged.Myneedlewas somewhereout therewaitinginthehaystack.

Herewas the rub; Iamnotadog,but Iamno ravingbeautyqueeneither. I’mabitoverweight, I haveweirdthinbi-polarshortbrownhair,Idonotplaytennisorgolf,nordoIski.Idon’tlovefootballorbaseballgames,andIhatetalkingpolitics.Iamopinionated,andIspeakmymind.Fromaman’spointofview,ifhewerelookingforaStepfordbobblehead,Iwasthewrongdoll.

WhatcouldIdotobeefupmyresume,soImightattracta“normal”butinterestingguyandmakeitenjoyableformeatthesametime?

I signed up for sailing lessons and flying lessons. If Icouldn’tmeetamanonsolidground,thenI’dlookouttoseaorupintheair.

1998wasthestartof theonlinedatingrevolution,butpeoplewerestilladvertisingheavilyinlocalnewspapers.For some unusual reason, I picked up a paper whosesinglessectionIhadperusedinthepast.Ihadgoneoutwiththreepeoplefromthisonepublication.IrecognizedmostofthesuspectsastheclownsIhadalreadytossedout.TheyhadbeenlookingforMs.Rightforever,andsim-ply renewed their loser adsmonth aftermonth. Rarelywasthereever“newmeat”,butiftherewasanewcomer,amillionPYTs(prettyyoungthings)wentafterthemlikehungrybarracudas.

Iwillneverunderstandwhyonthisparticularnightafterworkinguntil1a.m., I camehomeandpickedup thisparticularpaper,butthereitwas:“UPINTHEAIR:Busi-nessman,pilot,lookingforsomeonetoflythroughlife.”Theadthencontinuedmentioninggolfandsports,(uh-oh),andadesiredagerangeof45–55(blesshimfornotaskingfora22-year-oldwithperkyboobs).

IknewifIrespondedbysayingIam5’7”Imightblowmyselfoutoftherunningifhewasshort.IfImentionedmyshortbrownhair,hemightdecline ifhe loved longblonde hair. If Imentionedwhere I lived, hemight re-jectthedistanceasgeographicallyunacceptable.Someof these jokerswouldn’tgoaroundtheblockuntil theyknewAngelinaJoliewaswaitingthereforthem.AndifI


“I decided to stop being the rescuer of scarred and abused men. I felt like the SPCA for male

mongrels. I was tired of being sweet and understanding to men who simply weren’t nice.”

saidwhatIdidforaliving,hemightonlywanttomeetmetosayhemetsomeone onTV. It happens. PeopleliketosuckuptopeopleonTVjustsotheycantelltheirfriendsaboutit.Stupid,buttrue.

SowhatshouldIsayinmyresponsetothisad?WhatcouldIsayto“sellmyself”overandabove thecompe-titionwithout givingmywhole storyaway? Say NOTHING! Keep the in-trigue. I called the voicemail, and Isaid,“Hi,mynameisKathy,andIamyourpilot,youcancancelyourad.”Ileftmyphonenumber,andat9:30the next morning, he rousted meoutofadeepsleepfiringquestionsaboutwhatkindofplaneIflew,whereItrained,whomyinstructorwasetc.Hey,Ihadonlytakensevenlessons.WhoknewwhatkindofplaneIflew?Doyourememberthecaryoudrovein Driver’s Ed? It was a plane withtwowingsandfourseats,don’tboth-ermewithpettydetails!Aftera lotofdoubtandsomeinterrogationthatproved I wasn’t lying, we agreed tomeetatasafepublicplace.By theway, I was one of 92, NINETY TWOwomen who answered that little lo-calad.Hehadtocancelitafteroneweek because he said he’d be sixfeetunderbythetimehe’dmetallofthem.Thecompetitionistoughgirls,don’tkidyourselves.

Stevewaseverything I toldmyself Ideserved. He also encouraged meonourfirstdatein1998totakethatprofessionalplunge.Iwasstillwaver-ingatthatpoint.Hetoldmehehadrisked everything many times overto improve his own lot in life, andhe understood my fire-in-the-bellyrestlessness.Hetoldmeoneshouldnever lookback regretting life’s lostopportunities.“Put your fearsaside,andtrustyourself,youwillbefinenomatterwhat,”werehiswords.“Gofor

it”.AndultimatelyIdid.

On December 10, 2000, I marriedSteve, approximately eight monthsafterItookmyfinalbowatwork.

BAITING A HOOKSteve iseverybitthe risk taker Iam,andhehas theworstcaseofwanderlustIhaveeverseen.Wearealwaysonthemove.Ev-erySunday,hecutsoutarticlesfromthepaperonconcerts,movies,bookreviews,playsandplacesofinterest.Healwayshas25thingshewantstodo;somuchjoiedevivre,thisman.Hedragsmylazycarcasstothegym,andsinceIdon’tgolf,andhedoesn’tshop,wecompromisedonbikingandfishing. We have been all over theworld,andIhavebecomequite thecyclistandangler.Canyou imaginemewithmymanicurednails,baitingahook!Ido,andIloveit.

He has stood by me in all my at-temptstore-inventmyself,andwhile

doing so, we have built a beautifullife,awarmandfuncircleoffriendsandadelightfulnewfamilyunit.Hissonanddaughter in lawhave evenmademeagranny!Whatahoot.

So,nearlysevenyearslater,ImaynotbeyourTVbuddyanymore,andImaynotbelivingthelifeofthe“diva”withthe clothes and celebrities, but I’vedoneallrightformyself.Atage55Ihave enjoyed one super career andbuiltanotherslowly.

Ilecture,Itrainothersonhowtosellproducts on TV, and I host infomer-cials.Ihavetimetoworkout,cookarelativelyediblemealforStevewhenwe’re not running to an activity, andI savor the times with my mom inFlorida.It’safulllife,andit’stherightlifeformenow.Iwouldn’thaveitanyotherway.AmIsuccessful?Youbet!Iamasuccessfulwife,daughter,sister,friend,andbusinesswoman. IalwayswasandIalwayswillbesuccessfulre-gardlessofwhatIdo,becausethesechoices are real for me. Steve hastaughtmethat.Betruetoyourself.Nooneelseislivingyourlifebutyou.

Ifit’sreallyyourtimetoriskchange,it’llfeelsimultaneouslyscaryandex-hilarating. Jump in, thewater’scoldatfirst,butyou’llbefine.

Thanksforstoppingbyallthoseyears.Iwastrulyblessedbyyoursupport.

Happyshopping,

Kathy.s

EDITOR’SNOTE:KathyappearedwithherlovelymomonQVC’s20thanniversarycelebrationinOctober2006.Shehopestomakesomeocca-sionalvisitstoherformeremployer.Staytuned.

KathyLevineisaformerTVshoppingprogramhost,andtheauthorofseveralbest-sellingbooksaboutherlifeonQVC.Shenowhostsinfomercials,andtoursthecountryasamotivationalspeaker.Ms.LevinecanbereachedthroughheragentKepplerSpeakersinArlington,Virginia.


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Documents

Behind The Scenes On The Overnight Shifts...10 l Winter 2006-2007Q. What’s your role with Shop At Home? A: I work three or four overnight shifts per week and primarily sell coins