“The more extensive a man’s knowledge of what has been done, the greater will be his power of knowing what to do.” -Benjamin Disraeli
As one of the most competitive contests in the Direct Sales Industry, the Financial Fitness Customer Sales Contest has quickly demonstrated how so many people are willing to invest in their own knowledge when shown the value of new information. Between June 2015 and October 2015, the contest was run once again to see who could retail the most Financial Fitness Packs in a four-month period. People from all over North America and the Caribbean took what they already knew to make a big difference in their own lives–and marketed it to their friends, family and acquaintances. As the weeks passed, the names of those leading the competition changed numerous times. The bar was held high–and rightly so–as the rewards for the top 6 positions were quite impressive. Take a look at the fabulous prizes to be won:
- 1st Place – A 4-night stay at an exclusive hotel in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, plus 50% back on total Retail Sales and a trophy.
- 2nd Place – A 3-night stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, plus 35% back on total Retail Sales.
- 3rd Place – $500 plus 25% back on total Retail Sales.
- 4th Place – $250 plus 15% back on total Retail Sales.
- 5th Place – $150 plus 10% back on total Retail Sales.
- 6th Place – $100 plus 5% back on total Retail Sales.
Today, we want to feature the story of the runners-up for the Fall 2015 Financial Fitness Customer Sales Contest. Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks, as we will then feature the story of the 1st Place Winner, Mr. Victor Campbell.
Chris & Heidi Partida – Financial Fitness Contest Runners-Up
Chris and Heidi had already achieved some pretty amazing accomplishments in their lives before getting introduced to the Financial Fitness Program in 2013. Chris was an early retired Union Electrician after a successful 30-year career. He previously led large projects in Southern California as a General Foreman for numerous national companies such as Northrup Grumman, Boeing, Kaiser Permanente, and JPL / NASA. Heidi is the Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for a nationwide mortgage lender in the Washington D.C. area. She has an undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership and an MBA in Human Resource Management. After the 2008 financial crisis, she had to relocate from Southern California to Washington D.C. for work since there were no comparable positions open in California at the time. Between the two of them, Chris and Heidi have four beautiful daughters–two are 25 years old and two are 22 years old–and one 3 year old granddaughter. Some of their hobbies include fishing, skiing, traveling, skydiving, and spending time with friends and family in their vacation rental homes in Big Bear Lake, California.
“Although we’ve had great achievements in our careers, we always knew that God was calling us to do more. We learned long ago that true success was in helping others make a difference in their lives and teaching them how to leverage those same success principles to improve their own lives.” -Heidi Partida
Before being introduced to the Financial Fitness Program in 2013, Chris and Heidi had already studied Robert Kiyosaki’s books and were attempting to model their finances to those principles and others taught in the book, The Richest Man in Babylon. They thought they were pretty knowledgeable about how to use their money, yet were always hungry to learn more. After digging in to the Financial Fitness Program, Chris and Heidi soon realized how much they really didn’t know. This inspired them to become better with their personal finances and implement the principles into their lives.
“First, we realized that we had to be better stewards of the income God had allowed us to have. Over our lifetime so far, we had made a lot of money–but we had also made some serious mistakes over the years, too. We knew that we had to become better at anticipating unforeseen expenses. In addition, we had to become better at periodic payment planning, as well as saving money consistently while paying off debt at the same time. We found that discipline was the key. We had to repeatedly ask ourselves, ‘What familiar comforts could we give up now that could produce better long-term results?’ For example, we still love Thursday night 65 cent wing nights at a local restaurant. But we found that if we went only once every two months instead of once a week, we could make a huge difference in our financial future. That’s just one small example of many changes we decided to make. So, we started to implement the success principles of finance and began to see results over a very short period of time. In the last 2 1/2 years, we have paid off almost $600,000 in debt without even significantly increasing our income during that time.” -Chris Partida
Although these results are astounding by themselves, it wasn’t their personal success that got them the most excited to share. One Sunday, Chris and Heidi were reading the bulletin at their church and saw the giving statement and the Year-To-Date church deficit in multiple areas of giving. In a church of 3,000 members, they knew that if each family were to give up only one Starbucks coffee per week, the church deficit would be eliminated completely. This got them thinking about what they could do to get the Financial Fitness Program into the congregation, and how they could create a hunger for people to want the information.
Chris and Heidi admit that they didn’t actually place in the Financial Fitness Contest because they were trying to. Their passion for eliminating the church deficit led to a meeting with the pastor, who set up a meeting between them and the church Chief Financial Officer.
“We thought we were just going to introduce the Financial Fitness Program to the CFO and hand over the teaching to the church elders to do a class. God had other plans, though, and so did the CFO. We soon found ourselves writing a curriculum that was themed around Biblical principles.” -Heidi Partida
After the first class at their own church went fantastically, they decided to do a second class at their friend’s church–and it was phenomenal! During the second class especially, they found that they were learning so much more about their own finances and the things that they could still improve on. They mentioned that they even realized how much they had stumbled along the way between Class 1 and Class 2 (only eight months apart!). They then vowed to personally revisit the program going forward every three months until it became second nature.
“Qualifying for the contest was not even a consideration in our minds. It was about who we could help–even if it was only one couple–and what kind of a difference could be made in their lives.” -Chris Partida
Chris and Heidi Partida embody the mission of the Financial Fitness Program in helping people escape the Financial Matrix through educating them. Not only were they blessed to see the difference made in the people that they touched, but they also got rewarded with a great free trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, and 35% back on their total Retail Sales! We are so proud of the attitude and character that they both exemplify as they do business to make an impact in the world around them. Below are some of Chris and Heidi’s favorite quotes and verses that have helped them press on with their A-game and leave the results up to God:
- “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” -Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)
- “The first and best victory is to conquer self.” -Plato
- “Good, better, best. Never let it rest.” -Tim Duncan
- “In everything, I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” -Acts 20:35 (NASB)
Lloyd weiler says
Amazing story! Love the hunger to improve on an already good life!!
Alex Stiehl says
Awesome job! You’re impact in so many peopleslives will stretch farther than you’ll ever realize! God bless!
Dean Frey says
Great story about a great couple. We are proud of you both.
Heidi Partida says
Thanks Dean! Congrats to you & Teresa as well on your achievements. We love hearing you every time you speak!
June Ewald says
How amazing is this story. Thank you for your willingness to share and inspire more people with hope.
Michelle says
Congrats Chris and Heidi! I love your story….and it got even better as you challenged your thinking with the Financial Fitness Program. What a great example for all of us.
Sharon Hoffman says
Congratulations Chris and Heidi!!! It has been a blessing to rub shoulders with you at Opens and we celebrate your success! Proud of you both!!!!
Heidi Partida says
Thanks Sharon! It’s been great getting to know you & Tony as well – God bless and congrats to both of you as well!
Robby Palmer says
Great job guys!! Peoples lives are being changed everywhere by this program! In churches and communities all over
ronda says
So awesome! Congratulations! Yall are an inspiration to me!
Perry and Joyce Brooks says
What a great story you guys! We are so proud of you for inspiring us and so many others. May God continue to bless you immensely.
Go Team Liberty Quest–LET FREEDOM RING!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dennis & Sue Seymour says
So proud of both of you. You come from the heart of helping people and practice what you preach. You have done an unbelievable job of teaching what you have put all to practice.
Angie Sigmon says
People’s lives are being changed with the Financial Fitness program! What an amazing testimony! #lovelifeleadership
Cheri Purkey says
Congrats you inspire those you are around to give and grow !!!!!!!
Jennifer martinez says
Such an inspiring story , you guys are awesome go getters who are not afraid to spread the truth and help others with this awesome info !! Thank you for the inspiration
Tammy Murphy says
Wow! What a wonderful story! What a blessing to many people. Congratulations on spreading truth to so many!
Katrina says
Congratulations Chris & Heidi! Thank you for blazing a trail for the rest of us to follow, to get the great financial fitness information out to the public. You are such servant leaders!
God Bless,
Katrina S.
Go Team Liberty Quest! Let Freedim Ring!