Bobbie Silva – Just Keep Sharingno

Bobbie Silva is no stranger to startups, hard work, or big business. As a general manager in the airline industry for more than 20 years, she was enjoying a successful career when her priorities shifted. Bobbie became pregnant with her third son, and decided to retire from her strenuous career to spend valuable time with her family. It wasn’t long, however, before her incredible drive influenced Bobbie to re-enter the world of business.

“After being at home with my youngest for five years, it was time, financially, for me to start looking for something else to do. I sunk my teeth into a home-based company and did very well—but I noticed some upper-level problems that eventually led to the company’s bankruptcy. I took a hiatus, and it was during that time that I was introduced to Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields.”

New employment

Christian Diaz, a former Rodan + Fields® employee, admired Bobbie’s hard work in her previous business venture, and gave her a call when R+F left department stores for the world of e-commerce. “Chris knew my work ethic and conviction, and asked if I wanted to take a look at a new employment opportunity. I flew to New York, met the Doctors, and absolutely fell in love with their mission and the idea that I could be part of something greater than myself. I knew that this was where I wanted to be.”

Bobbie told Christian that she would serve as Regional Sales Director for six months, after which time she wanted to become an Independent Consultant. She touched a lot of lives every week as she traveled across the country’s different markets to spread the news of Rodan + Fields, training eager Consultants along the way. It was extremely rewarding, and so six months turned into seven years until, in late 2015, she finally decided that it was time to transition.

“R+F was announced as the fastest-growing skincare company, and I could see that we were headed towards being a billion-dollar skincare brand. I just knew it was time for me to start building my own organization in a much more personal and intimate manner, with a team that I could put my arms around. I wanted to grow my own organization the way that so many smart, savvy Consultants before me had done!”

Bobbie celebrating the first Rodan + Fields Convention in

Phoenix, 2009

Making the big shift

Bobbie enrolled under her business mentor, Sarah Robbins, with whom she’d had a close partnership from the very beginning. “Kris Fairless, Sarah, and I had trained and coached together for years, so the transition to Sarah as my business mentor was very simple. And I would not have been able to accomplish all I have without the amazing team and organization that is Silva Stars. We celebrate our differences, remind each other of our talents, and lift each other up each and every week to accomplish the goals that may not have seemed possible. We’re confident in who we are and that R+F is going to help us achieve our dreams.”

While she misses the people she worked with at the Home Office, Bobbie loves being able to see this new side of the Company. “My first Convention onstage as an employee was terrific, but my first Convention as a purple-boa-waving Independent Consultant was equally memorable.” She’s thankful that this transition has given her a whole new appreciation for the team that started it all. “Now I realize, more than ever, that we form a true infinity circle as Home Office and Consultants. We can’t have one without the other. Our success as a Company automatically depends on all of us. I’d love to give a shout-out to the terrific work that our Home Office team does for our Independent Consultants!”

Bobbie with her husband, Al Silva

Family benefits

As much as Bobbie loved meeting Consultants around the country as a Rodan + Fields employee, she was pleased to find that she has more time as an Independent Consultant to devote to her other priorities. “Because I am no longer traveling four days a week, I finally have the time to be a better mom to my kids and a more present wife to my husband. First and foremost, before any job or career, I am the mother of three inspiring sons. They are my biggest ‘why.’ My family is everything to me, and I’m so thankful to enjoy more moments with them.”

And while her family is unendingly supportive, Bobbie laughs that she still has to remind them of the anticipated timeline.

“I knew that it was going to take time to build my personal business. That’s always a really big obstacle for people, and I still have to remind Al that it’s a 3-5 year plan that condenses a 30-50 year career. It doesn’t happen overnight! But I know that as long as I just keep sharing these phenomenal products, it’s going to happen for me, too.” Now Bobbie works 20 hours per week as a Level V Circle Achiever, and is “a breath away” from achieving her Lexus.

The Silva Stars of RF Global Connection in Vegas, NV Convention 2017

Endless possibility

Bobbie is incredibly passionate about the R+F journey extending far into her future. “My belief in the Company and in myself has never wavered. I’ve known from the beginning that we will be a global household name, and so working my business feels like shouting good news from a mountaintop. We are fortunate to be associated with the number one skincare brand in the United States. Just keep sharing—I can’t stress that enough!”

The last words of encouragement from this “small in stature, big in heart” powerhouse: “I am 57 years old right now. In the next 10 years I plan to still be doing this work so that others can see it is never too late to take matters into your own hands. We are never too old to continue to grow and develop as business people or to learn something new. For lack of a better word, we’re never too old to redefine ourselves. R+F brought out the woman I always knew that I could be, and I’m passionate about helping everyone who wants to make a difference in their own lives.”