THE AMBER WEITZER PODCAST SILHOUETTES OF SUCCESS
SHEILA PHALEN-MILLER| EPISODE 70 | SHOW NOTES
FEATURED GUEST
Our VIP Featured Guest who has as we say, been there and done that!
She all things grit, grace, bold and beautiful…and definitely the one you want to sit by at a party! With her adventurous spirit, hands on experience and vibrant personality…she has a story or two to tell.
She was raised by single mom who worked two jobs my entire upbringing dirt poor at best. Sheila worked at a ice cream shop and local supermarket at 14, left the house at 16 for the first time and moved back in for a short stint. She was on her own permanently at 17, dropped out of high school to work full time but she went back to high school for senior year finishing on time in 2002. College was not a possibility, she had to make money to take care of herself. She started at a title and escrow company in 2003 at 18 answering the phones, took advantage of EVERY learning opportunity and within 3 years was running escrow departments and companies were recruiting her. This is where she learned she didn’t want to be held captive to a salary and a commission role was what she desired. She also learned the power of networking while in title & escrow. Taking her skills and connections with her, in 2007 accepted a commission only role at ADT as a Small Business Representative which was petrifying and started off slow without 1 sale in 3 months (which is TERRIBLE and she was lucky not to be fired).
In month number 4 she hit quota and never missed quota again. Her business kept growing and she finished #36 out of 800+ sales reps in the company, then promoted after 18 months to Sales Manager in Omaha
Finished my first year #1 in her category!
Promoted in 2010, she moved to Dallas for a bigger sales opportunity.
She did very well in this role for about 5 years, and during this time got married and had their first child.  In 2015 Sheila moved to a different division within ADT where she would earn two promotions and in my last capacity was the Regional Director of the East. During this time, in 2017, they had twin daughters. From there, in 2019, she and her husband purchased a commercial building and opened Better Than Sex-a Dessert Restaurant in Downtown Plano. She continued my role as Regional Director while my husband started us up but was laid off in 2020 from ADT and has worked in the restaurant full time since. Â
CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS
AMOROUS: Sheila tells us about her journey from corporate America to becoming a dessert restraint owner with her husband. In addition, she shares with us the stages of that journey from the time they purchased their historic commercial building to their sold-out opening weekend then up to the closing as a result due to the pandemic. She/they received amorous support from the community by way of cash donations then later full on social media love just when they needed it! These days she is surrounded by tantalizing, decedent desserts and seductive surrounding with intoxicating cocktails. Whether she is in the kitchen baking, in the front greeting or enjoying special times with guests and friends-she is in her element! Oh, and heck yes, she drops the top on her convertible and cruises the streets of D/FW blasting her Fellowship Creative Christian music!
SACRIFICE: They sacrificed their last dollars without knowing what was around the corner to put meals on the table for their family and families in the community. What a ginormous leap of faith and gifts of love they shared. In hearing her reflect back to the earlier days of her career journey and having the courage to go to the decision maker (female) in her business and ask for their consideration in moving her from salary to commission-receiving a chuckle, she realized that while it was difficult to do, and advocate for herself-it was necessary to aide in her growth. What a powerful lesson that supported her in her decision to leave and release so many mice-lessons within that experience that has served her well to this day.
DISCOVERY: Sheila talks to us about journey as a young woman making her way on her own, about titles, being the face of the business and how important all roles within an organization are equally important. She has great words of wisdom in saying that if you are in a role, commit to that role and do it to your very best-the best of your ability and conversely, if you are not good at it-admit it…speak up and ask to do something else. Sheila talks about how there is respect in admitting where you are not the best, but when you are honest with your team. Leaders and Managers can make or break a good organization…and good people. She truly believes in paying to what God is doing for you and doing right by people. It’s profound to here that Sheila has the greatest sense of satisfaction when she feels peace and contentment in whatever space in her life she is in, the bills are paid, time with the family. How sweet it is!
INTENTIONAL INSPIRATION
Always be transparent and authentic, being true to oneself.
Her Motto:
Never half ass anything,
always give your whole ass
and if you can give your whole ass,
then take your ass home.
RESOURCE LIST
SHEILA PHALEN-MILLER
Website:
Better Than Sex Desserts | Plano, Texas
FB: Sheila Phalen-Miller
IG: @sphalen10
IG: @betterthansexdesserts
BOOK:
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst
Fellowship Creative Christian music on Amazon
Know Fear by Ed Young
