Yesterday was the last day of the month. All over my Facebook feed were direct marketers pushing very hard to make their monthly goals. This happens every month. They casually work their business throughout the month and then frantically market the last few days of the month. Then they take a break the first day of the month and the cycle begins again.
What would it look like if the energy that was put in at the end of the month was put in, beginning the 1st day of the month? If everybody in direct sales put the energy into meeting their big goals at the beginning of the month hitting those marks early on then making every sale or recruit gravy after that.
I get that we all do direct sales in order to work around our schedules. I get that those who are the most successful set big goals. My question is why wait to the end of the month to push for those goals? Wouldn't it be wonderful to set a goal, meet it early on and then casually work your business the rest of the month? How much stress could we relieve if we hit the mark for getting the bills paid within the first week instead of pushing at the end when you haven't reached it?
I personally don't set sales goals or recruiting goals. We can not control what other people decide and if someone is not interested I am certainly not going to waste my time overcoming objectives and convincing people they need what I have to offer. There are a lot of people in the world and its better to look elsewhere than to pursue someone who has to be convinced. People either want something or they don't. Yes they can change their mind and that is the beauty of relationship marketing. You maintain the relationship even after the no and then if in the future they change their mind they know that you are available. If they begin to have questions then they know you are there to answer. Its better to have them come to you than chase a road going nowhere.
I like to set goals that I have control over. How many phone calls will I make? How much time will I spend developing relationships? How many networking meetings will I attend? How much training will I do? etc. Keeping my focus on what I can do and then actually doing it will ultimately lead to the sales and recruits that I want. Rome was not built in a day and neither is a successful business. It is the consistent work happening daily that will get you where you want to go.
So push on the 1st or push on the 31st. I say push on the first. If you hit your goal early you can make the choice to continue to push past the goal or back of a be more casual. Then you know you should make your goal higher for the next month.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Friday, April 28, 2017
Dealing with Fear and Doubt
What are the two biggest roadblocks to achieving anything big? In my opinion they are fear and doubt. Fear causes us to shy away from doing the things we need to do in order to reach our goals. Doubt causes us to second guess every decision we make. These are internal factors and ones that we can do something about.
I have heard several descriptions of fear. I have heard fear is false evidence appearing real as well as several others that I can't seem to remember right now. I have also heard about the flight or fight response. I was talking about the fight or flight response when it comes to being on stage with my homeschool co-op drama students last Tuesday. I think that the whole concept of fight or flight and the release of adrenalin into our systems has been over simplified and misconstrued. I love being on stage. I have no fear of doing this and yet every time I am ready to get on stage I feel sick to my stomach. My body releases adrenalin in order to give me extra energy to be vibrant on stage. Athletes release adrenalin in order to help their bodies to perform better. These times are not necessarily times of stress, but our subconscious minds send a signal for adrenalin to be released because we know that we need extra energy. I believe that this energy and clarity release has been confused as fear by this oversimplification.
There are two types of fear. There is the type of fear that causes the adrenalin to rush and creates extra energy. This can be turned to something constructive and can be channeled into something productive. If you channel that fear into action you will find that once engaged it will disappear. This kind of fear is what brave people acknowledge and ignore.
There is another kind of fear. This is the kind that stops us in our tracks and paralyzes us. This is not necessarily a fear that causes that sick feeling in our stomach. It often just turns our thoughts to ways we can avoid what we fear. Its what makes us not approach someone or pick up the phone. Its what makes us stick with the known and comfortable. This kind of fear stops us from growth. There is no accompanying energy release to prompt us to do something, anything. There is just a sense of apathy and lack of motivation.
How do we overcome this kind of fear? Once we recognize it for what it is then we can address the problem. We can start asking what is it we fear. Once we identify the fear and start thinking it through we begin to realize the result of confronting that fear will either have a great positive impact or if unsuccessful will really be no big deal. For example, fear of rejection is something common that stops people from approaching someone new. To address this you ask what will happen if this person rejects me or what I have to offer? The answer is nothing, you just move on and go to the next person. Once you can internalize this and face it you will find it quickly disappearing.
Doubt is usually a symptom of this kind of fear. It causes you to ask lots of what if questions that can never be answered without following through on the what if. It causes you to question your choices, what you have learned, and what you are capable of. These doubts just feed into fear. Doubt cause us to use other phrases such as I can't or it will never succeed. Once again this is something you have to actively address by stopping negative thinking the second it begins. If there is a legitimate question by all means seek out more information, but even then you are actively seeking a remedy to that doubt.
What can we conclude by this? The only way to deal with fear and doubt is activity. Address fear and doubt head on once you have proven to yourself that your fear and doubt have no validity then you are able to get out of your own way.
I have heard several descriptions of fear. I have heard fear is false evidence appearing real as well as several others that I can't seem to remember right now. I have also heard about the flight or fight response. I was talking about the fight or flight response when it comes to being on stage with my homeschool co-op drama students last Tuesday. I think that the whole concept of fight or flight and the release of adrenalin into our systems has been over simplified and misconstrued. I love being on stage. I have no fear of doing this and yet every time I am ready to get on stage I feel sick to my stomach. My body releases adrenalin in order to give me extra energy to be vibrant on stage. Athletes release adrenalin in order to help their bodies to perform better. These times are not necessarily times of stress, but our subconscious minds send a signal for adrenalin to be released because we know that we need extra energy. I believe that this energy and clarity release has been confused as fear by this oversimplification.
There are two types of fear. There is the type of fear that causes the adrenalin to rush and creates extra energy. This can be turned to something constructive and can be channeled into something productive. If you channel that fear into action you will find that once engaged it will disappear. This kind of fear is what brave people acknowledge and ignore.
There is another kind of fear. This is the kind that stops us in our tracks and paralyzes us. This is not necessarily a fear that causes that sick feeling in our stomach. It often just turns our thoughts to ways we can avoid what we fear. Its what makes us not approach someone or pick up the phone. Its what makes us stick with the known and comfortable. This kind of fear stops us from growth. There is no accompanying energy release to prompt us to do something, anything. There is just a sense of apathy and lack of motivation.
How do we overcome this kind of fear? Once we recognize it for what it is then we can address the problem. We can start asking what is it we fear. Once we identify the fear and start thinking it through we begin to realize the result of confronting that fear will either have a great positive impact or if unsuccessful will really be no big deal. For example, fear of rejection is something common that stops people from approaching someone new. To address this you ask what will happen if this person rejects me or what I have to offer? The answer is nothing, you just move on and go to the next person. Once you can internalize this and face it you will find it quickly disappearing.
Doubt is usually a symptom of this kind of fear. It causes you to ask lots of what if questions that can never be answered without following through on the what if. It causes you to question your choices, what you have learned, and what you are capable of. These doubts just feed into fear. Doubt cause us to use other phrases such as I can't or it will never succeed. Once again this is something you have to actively address by stopping negative thinking the second it begins. If there is a legitimate question by all means seek out more information, but even then you are actively seeking a remedy to that doubt.
What can we conclude by this? The only way to deal with fear and doubt is activity. Address fear and doubt head on once you have proven to yourself that your fear and doubt have no validity then you are able to get out of your own way.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Changing trains on life's journey
Sometimes the train or path you are on was the right one at first, but it is not the train or path that will get you to your ultimate destination. Just like when I took a trip to Illinois from Virginia, the train I started on was not the train that got me to Chicago or my final destination. In fact I changed trains twice in order to get to my destination on the Illinois Wisconsin border. I got on the correct trains but they were only able to get me so far.
Likewise when we create our action plan for our goals and dreams the plan we start out with is the right plan for that time. As we work it we learn and we grow. Sometimes that plan will end in the achievement the plan was created for, but oftentimes our original plan will only take us so far. That happens because although what it takes to reach that goal or dream doesn't change, but often our understanding of what it will take to reach it does.
My dream of financial independence began at age 18. Each action plan I undertook gained me knowledge and experience. Each new venture gave me a better understanding of what needed to happen to reach the goal of financial independence. In the past I have always referred to these ventures as failures. Maybe its time to look at things in a different perspective.
I started this journey not living in poverty, but overly concerned with financial stability. We were not well off, we had to budget carefully, but we were not on welfare. The problem was my parents openly talked about their money troubles regularly, couple that with a low self worth and I lived in a poverty mindset. Each venture I took while teaching me valuable knowledge and skills was doomed to end simply because I continued to live in a poverty mindset. As a result that is what I continued to attract. I was not ready to have an abundant life because I was not ready to accept one.
It was not until this last year that I have come to understand the concept of mindset and how our thoughts create our environment. I lived in a negative and dark place. Every minor glitch was a huge mountain to climb. I am so thankful for Plexus products and the associations that have allowed me to change that. I felt better and because I decided to try once again for that dream of financial independence I started reading mindset books, surrounded myself with positive and encouraging people and learned to make new connections. In short I began to change the view I had of myself and what I deserved or could have in my life. I finally began to prepare myself to accept an abundant life 28 years after I birthed the dream of financial independence.
A couple of months ago I started feeling that I was missing something. I felt stuck. As much as I liked Plexus and its compensation plan I began to feel that I wasn't quite connecting. At first I thought I was looking for a better support and training system, but you know what with my mastermind groups and my 28 years of direct sales experience however hit and miss it was, I has all the knowledge I needed to be successful and new what to do and enough positive encouraging people in my life to have a cheering squad.
In spite of the great Plexus products, something began to click. One of the mastermind groups I visited told me my best customers would be the lowest hanging fruit on the tree. The problem was I wasn't hanging around people that wanted nutritional products. I found myself trying to find customers and team members in groups of people I wasn't necessarily comfortable with. My husband cemented this concept as he told me about his experiences in his job and people he could do business with in the short term but not the long term. When I began to look at other opportunities not only did he urge me to research the company but find out if I would be comfortable with the type of people who would buy the products and the type of people who would become team members.
At first I began looking at well established companies represented in my referral group. I was really interested in one until I started hearing some things I really didn't like. Then I decided to do something really risky. I looked up new opportunities. There were 5 that looked promising because they offered unique concepts or products I liked. I eliminated two right away leaving 3. One of them I liked the product but realized there was part of the marketing of the product I just couldn't get into. That left two companies that I contacted. I would like to say that I chose the company that I did because it was the first to email me, but its not true. I started talking to people about the two companies and the products they offered. One I really loved the concept behind the products and the causes they supported, but it was pointed out to me just how hard this great concept would be to sell. The other company offered early education products. As a homeschool mom and someone who was raised around education I started to realize that this just might be my opportunity at the right time. I did the research, asked the questions and found that these products were the kind of products that the people I would be comfortable around would be interested. I saw the potential and the need and became very excited. I signed up with this company last Monday as the 137th active consultant nationwide.
As I prepare to launch this new venture I have already discovered amazing things. I have already had more positive responses and inquiries not to mention contacts in the last three days than I did in a year of any other company I have worked with. I do not have the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that I might fail at this one. As I talk with people and begin to set up events I can share my product and company at, contact people who have already expressed an interest in it and soak in every bit of training and information I can on my new venture, and answer question about the products and company as they come, I am realizing just how 28 years of experience and effort just might help me become a so called overnight success this time. My destination has never changed, but each new vehicle I have tried has gotten me much closer than I was when I started. I am looking forward to what this journey will bring instead of fear that my final destination will never materialize.
Likewise when we create our action plan for our goals and dreams the plan we start out with is the right plan for that time. As we work it we learn and we grow. Sometimes that plan will end in the achievement the plan was created for, but oftentimes our original plan will only take us so far. That happens because although what it takes to reach that goal or dream doesn't change, but often our understanding of what it will take to reach it does.
My dream of financial independence began at age 18. Each action plan I undertook gained me knowledge and experience. Each new venture gave me a better understanding of what needed to happen to reach the goal of financial independence. In the past I have always referred to these ventures as failures. Maybe its time to look at things in a different perspective.
I started this journey not living in poverty, but overly concerned with financial stability. We were not well off, we had to budget carefully, but we were not on welfare. The problem was my parents openly talked about their money troubles regularly, couple that with a low self worth and I lived in a poverty mindset. Each venture I took while teaching me valuable knowledge and skills was doomed to end simply because I continued to live in a poverty mindset. As a result that is what I continued to attract. I was not ready to have an abundant life because I was not ready to accept one.
It was not until this last year that I have come to understand the concept of mindset and how our thoughts create our environment. I lived in a negative and dark place. Every minor glitch was a huge mountain to climb. I am so thankful for Plexus products and the associations that have allowed me to change that. I felt better and because I decided to try once again for that dream of financial independence I started reading mindset books, surrounded myself with positive and encouraging people and learned to make new connections. In short I began to change the view I had of myself and what I deserved or could have in my life. I finally began to prepare myself to accept an abundant life 28 years after I birthed the dream of financial independence.
A couple of months ago I started feeling that I was missing something. I felt stuck. As much as I liked Plexus and its compensation plan I began to feel that I wasn't quite connecting. At first I thought I was looking for a better support and training system, but you know what with my mastermind groups and my 28 years of direct sales experience however hit and miss it was, I has all the knowledge I needed to be successful and new what to do and enough positive encouraging people in my life to have a cheering squad.
In spite of the great Plexus products, something began to click. One of the mastermind groups I visited told me my best customers would be the lowest hanging fruit on the tree. The problem was I wasn't hanging around people that wanted nutritional products. I found myself trying to find customers and team members in groups of people I wasn't necessarily comfortable with. My husband cemented this concept as he told me about his experiences in his job and people he could do business with in the short term but not the long term. When I began to look at other opportunities not only did he urge me to research the company but find out if I would be comfortable with the type of people who would buy the products and the type of people who would become team members.
At first I began looking at well established companies represented in my referral group. I was really interested in one until I started hearing some things I really didn't like. Then I decided to do something really risky. I looked up new opportunities. There were 5 that looked promising because they offered unique concepts or products I liked. I eliminated two right away leaving 3. One of them I liked the product but realized there was part of the marketing of the product I just couldn't get into. That left two companies that I contacted. I would like to say that I chose the company that I did because it was the first to email me, but its not true. I started talking to people about the two companies and the products they offered. One I really loved the concept behind the products and the causes they supported, but it was pointed out to me just how hard this great concept would be to sell. The other company offered early education products. As a homeschool mom and someone who was raised around education I started to realize that this just might be my opportunity at the right time. I did the research, asked the questions and found that these products were the kind of products that the people I would be comfortable around would be interested. I saw the potential and the need and became very excited. I signed up with this company last Monday as the 137th active consultant nationwide.
As I prepare to launch this new venture I have already discovered amazing things. I have already had more positive responses and inquiries not to mention contacts in the last three days than I did in a year of any other company I have worked with. I do not have the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that I might fail at this one. As I talk with people and begin to set up events I can share my product and company at, contact people who have already expressed an interest in it and soak in every bit of training and information I can on my new venture, and answer question about the products and company as they come, I am realizing just how 28 years of experience and effort just might help me become a so called overnight success this time. My destination has never changed, but each new vehicle I have tried has gotten me much closer than I was when I started. I am looking forward to what this journey will bring instead of fear that my final destination will never materialize.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Dealing with the everyday ups and downs
Sometimes life can be like a rollercoaster. Its only Wednesday and already my week has been one big one. Monday was going to be the start of something great right. I was going to get back on track with my exercise programs since I was injury free and get everything done on my to do list. Plus I was hoping to get the final question answered in a positive so that I could get begin a new business venture. So instead this is how Monday went.
I got up, did my morning devotions and then began the start of my workout schedule. That went well and all looked like it was going to be a great day. I had my breakfast and noticed the dishwasher indicator lights were flashing. I proceeded with doing all the tricks to clear it and get it started. To my dismay the dishwasher had given up the ghost. So it was time to add dishwasher shopping to my task list. I was quickly getting things done and received the answer I was waiting for and was able to pull the trigger on launching my new business venture. I was so excited and life was great. I went to get in the car and start the errands I needed to do outside the house and guess what my car wouldn't start. We had to get it towed to the service station. With the use of my sons truck I was able to do a few of my errands. That evening I went to a networking event and met a contact that will greatly help my new business venture and had a great time. I came home to the news that my car would cost over $500 and a new dishwasher would have to wait. That was just Monday.
Tuesday and Wednesday have had both their ups and downs. Most days don't have the severe swings that my Monday had but you will usually find it in a typical week. What do we do about it?
Here is what I do. First of all I recognize that all my plans aside I am not in control. This is not a God thing, this is just what is. Things happen. I get injured so I can't work out. Appliances break down, people get sick. We can not control the events in our lives, but we can control how we react to them. Do we let frustration rule as things don't go according to plan or do we take a breath and figure out a detour that will work. Do we recognize that most of what is going wrong or different doesn't matter in the long run?
I heard from somewhere that it is a great idea to ask yourself, will this matter in 100 years. I think its from a book called don't sweat the small stuff. The point was that most things are small stuff and don't matter in the overall picture of life.
If you can gain a new perspective on life and figure out that the ups and downs of life can be a fun ride instead of one filled with stress and anger then life becomes a little rosier.
I got up, did my morning devotions and then began the start of my workout schedule. That went well and all looked like it was going to be a great day. I had my breakfast and noticed the dishwasher indicator lights were flashing. I proceeded with doing all the tricks to clear it and get it started. To my dismay the dishwasher had given up the ghost. So it was time to add dishwasher shopping to my task list. I was quickly getting things done and received the answer I was waiting for and was able to pull the trigger on launching my new business venture. I was so excited and life was great. I went to get in the car and start the errands I needed to do outside the house and guess what my car wouldn't start. We had to get it towed to the service station. With the use of my sons truck I was able to do a few of my errands. That evening I went to a networking event and met a contact that will greatly help my new business venture and had a great time. I came home to the news that my car would cost over $500 and a new dishwasher would have to wait. That was just Monday.
Tuesday and Wednesday have had both their ups and downs. Most days don't have the severe swings that my Monday had but you will usually find it in a typical week. What do we do about it?
Here is what I do. First of all I recognize that all my plans aside I am not in control. This is not a God thing, this is just what is. Things happen. I get injured so I can't work out. Appliances break down, people get sick. We can not control the events in our lives, but we can control how we react to them. Do we let frustration rule as things don't go according to plan or do we take a breath and figure out a detour that will work. Do we recognize that most of what is going wrong or different doesn't matter in the long run?
I heard from somewhere that it is a great idea to ask yourself, will this matter in 100 years. I think its from a book called don't sweat the small stuff. The point was that most things are small stuff and don't matter in the overall picture of life.
If you can gain a new perspective on life and figure out that the ups and downs of life can be a fun ride instead of one filled with stress and anger then life becomes a little rosier.
Monday, April 24, 2017
Filling Your Bucket
Today I want to talk about the 2nd half of what Jenn Williamson spoke about last Friday. Have you ever heard the phrase all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy? If you think about the word dull it doesn't just mean boring. It means lacking sharpness.
When we have a to do list a mile long we have to prioritize our tasks. Often the last thing on our priority list is ourselves. We stop taking care of ourselves. Sleep is sacrificed on the altar of productivity, but more than that we stop doing the things we love to do.
If you have a 40 hour a week job your most favorite thing to look forward to is vacation. Often times people get back to work after vacation realizing that it could be another year before the next one and groan. What else happens when you get back from a fun vacation? Often times you will find yourself more productive for a time. Unfortunately the trend in this country at least has become to bank your vacation days for the future or if you are not allowed to bank them get the money at the end of the year for them.
Why are we more productive after a vacation? When you take the time to have some rest and relaxation, when you take the time to have some fun, you recharge your batteries and address the stress that you normally feel. When you take the time to relax you reduce your cortisol levels and your adrenaline stops pumping you full of false energy. You increase your endorphins and create sense of well being.
The questions becomes if we are more productive when we take some time out to do the things that we love, why don't we do it more often? The answer always stated is that we don't have time.
So if we are less productive and more stressed when we stop doing the things we love how is that helping us? The realization becomes that if we don't take time out for us to play and relax we are going at our work life and our action plans toward our dreams with a dull ax.
This doesn't mean that you reverse the phrase and become all play and no work. It just means that you take reasonable measures to take care of yourself and do the things you love alongside the things that you are required to do to make a living and take care of your family.
So not only does sharpening your ax mean learning or honing your skills to achieve your dreams, it means that you take time out to do the things that make you smile and be your best self.
Back in pioneer times axes, where sharpened on a rotating grind stone. This form required you to use water so a full bucket was kept close by to keep the stone wet. We call this a whet stone. So in order to sharpen your ax you need to fill your bucket first.
When we have a to do list a mile long we have to prioritize our tasks. Often the last thing on our priority list is ourselves. We stop taking care of ourselves. Sleep is sacrificed on the altar of productivity, but more than that we stop doing the things we love to do.
If you have a 40 hour a week job your most favorite thing to look forward to is vacation. Often times people get back to work after vacation realizing that it could be another year before the next one and groan. What else happens when you get back from a fun vacation? Often times you will find yourself more productive for a time. Unfortunately the trend in this country at least has become to bank your vacation days for the future or if you are not allowed to bank them get the money at the end of the year for them.
Why are we more productive after a vacation? When you take the time to have some rest and relaxation, when you take the time to have some fun, you recharge your batteries and address the stress that you normally feel. When you take the time to relax you reduce your cortisol levels and your adrenaline stops pumping you full of false energy. You increase your endorphins and create sense of well being.
The questions becomes if we are more productive when we take some time out to do the things that we love, why don't we do it more often? The answer always stated is that we don't have time.
So if we are less productive and more stressed when we stop doing the things we love how is that helping us? The realization becomes that if we don't take time out for us to play and relax we are going at our work life and our action plans toward our dreams with a dull ax.
This doesn't mean that you reverse the phrase and become all play and no work. It just means that you take reasonable measures to take care of yourself and do the things you love alongside the things that you are required to do to make a living and take care of your family.
So not only does sharpening your ax mean learning or honing your skills to achieve your dreams, it means that you take time out to do the things that make you smile and be your best self.
Back in pioneer times axes, where sharpened on a rotating grind stone. This form required you to use water so a full bucket was kept close by to keep the stone wet. We call this a whet stone. So in order to sharpen your ax you need to fill your bucket first.
Friday, April 21, 2017
Sharpening Your Ax
I went to a lunch meeting with Business Among Moms today. It is a great mastermind group for Moms who are also business owners. We had a great speaker. Her name was Jenn Williamson. She is a Real Estate agent and life coach. Her presentation had actually 2 parts, but I want to talk about the first half. I will talk about the second part at another time.
Jenn talked about sharpening your ax. She told a story about a man cutting down a tree. a wise old man came along and asked how long he had been chopping and was told 5 or 6 hours. This tree was not a very big tree so the wise old man asked is your ax sharp? The man replied I don't have time to sharpen my ax. the old man returned you don't have time not to.
Anything that we do takes a certain skill and mind set in order to have success. Skill and mind set can be learned, but you have to take the time to do so. What this means is that you need to set aside time on a regular basis to work on the skills and mindset that you need to be successful.
Skills can be learned through reading, workshops, podcasts, mastermind groups or classes. Mind set can be learned both by the above named activities and by surrounding yourself with positive and motivated people. Just being around people like that has an effect on how you view the world and your abilities. These positive and motivated people have a way of making you feel like you can accomplish anything.
By working on personal development, you gain the skills you need to effectively work on the action plan you have created to achieve your goals and dreams. If you are not progressing the way you had hoped, ask yourself what can I improve about me before deciding that the goal or dream is faulty.
Anybody can achieve their dreams. They may take detours and meet dead ends along the way. It may take way longer than they ever thought it would, but a positive mindset and a faith in your dream can make all the difference.
Jenn talked about sharpening your ax. She told a story about a man cutting down a tree. a wise old man came along and asked how long he had been chopping and was told 5 or 6 hours. This tree was not a very big tree so the wise old man asked is your ax sharp? The man replied I don't have time to sharpen my ax. the old man returned you don't have time not to.
Anything that we do takes a certain skill and mind set in order to have success. Skill and mind set can be learned, but you have to take the time to do so. What this means is that you need to set aside time on a regular basis to work on the skills and mindset that you need to be successful.
Skills can be learned through reading, workshops, podcasts, mastermind groups or classes. Mind set can be learned both by the above named activities and by surrounding yourself with positive and motivated people. Just being around people like that has an effect on how you view the world and your abilities. These positive and motivated people have a way of making you feel like you can accomplish anything.
By working on personal development, you gain the skills you need to effectively work on the action plan you have created to achieve your goals and dreams. If you are not progressing the way you had hoped, ask yourself what can I improve about me before deciding that the goal or dream is faulty.
Anybody can achieve their dreams. They may take detours and meet dead ends along the way. It may take way longer than they ever thought it would, but a positive mindset and a faith in your dream can make all the difference.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Researching the right opportunity
Direct Sales is big business, with the ability to set your own hours, choose who you work with and make money through duplication. In the US alone there are 1,400 Direct sales companies to choose from and new ones being created all the time. So how do you go about choosing the right one for you?
There are so many variables to look at. How long has the company been around. I found an opportunity that had a website begun only 36 days ago. It looked kind of interested because it involved chocolate. Then there are companies that everyone has heard of and have been around forever such as Avon, Watkins and MaryKay. Then there are companies that fall somewhere in between.
The problem with well known companies that have been around is that you often find consultants everywhere you turn around. Even companies that have been around for 10 years can have that problem if they grew rapidly. For the right people you can do very well in these companies and find yourself in leadership positions. For others they are great starter companies with great training that will aid you in future opportunities.
The problem with newer companies are that these companies will have to deal with adjusting their programs as they grow. The training is limited because of how few consultants there are and the financial stability is always in question.
Here are some suggestions for choosing the right company for you.
If you have never done direct sales before start with a very well established company that has regular meetings for training and recognition. These companies have really established what works and what doesn't and you will have ready access to experienced leaders to answer questions and give helpful advice.
If you have been doing direct sales for awhile you might want to look at a much newer company that has unique products and few consultants. This allows you to apply your experience to a company that just may have the rapid growth potential you are looking for. Especially if they have a valuable product that a lot of people want with little competition.
In direct sales the biggest key is to find a company that has products you can become passionate about. If a company has a great compensation plan, but you don't really like the products it will be very difficult to be successful.
Look at the compensation plan. Does it make sense? How does it compare to industry standard? Will your time and work be adequately compensated?
Consumable products are great because they have to be replaced once they are consumed, but many companies with those kinds of products do require you to carry an inventory or you are required to rely on testimonials of others without product to demonstrate so while many can have great success with these kinds of products you should be very aware of the cons of selling them.
Party Plans are great because you are able to reach groups of people and its even better if you are able to do Facebook parties and have a website so you can sell to someone across the country.
One of the most important things you must look at when researching the right company for you is the leadership and the other consultants you would be working with. In Direct Sales you are not alone and if you don't quite fit in with the people that you are meeting with on a regular basis it can curb your enthusiasm and make it difficult to connect with the trainings and culture of the company.
Make sure that you have an idea of what it is you are looking for. Research reviews on the opportunity and the products. Make sure that the company stands behind its products and supports its consultants.
All companies will have their complaints. Make sure that the company that you work with had a record of dealing with those complaints to the satisfaction on the customer.
Overall if you want to have success in direct sales don't join a company because you went to a party or demonstration and liked the consultant and products. Dig deeper than that and base your decision on research not emotion.
There are so many variables to look at. How long has the company been around. I found an opportunity that had a website begun only 36 days ago. It looked kind of interested because it involved chocolate. Then there are companies that everyone has heard of and have been around forever such as Avon, Watkins and MaryKay. Then there are companies that fall somewhere in between.
The problem with well known companies that have been around is that you often find consultants everywhere you turn around. Even companies that have been around for 10 years can have that problem if they grew rapidly. For the right people you can do very well in these companies and find yourself in leadership positions. For others they are great starter companies with great training that will aid you in future opportunities.
The problem with newer companies are that these companies will have to deal with adjusting their programs as they grow. The training is limited because of how few consultants there are and the financial stability is always in question.
Here are some suggestions for choosing the right company for you.
If you have never done direct sales before start with a very well established company that has regular meetings for training and recognition. These companies have really established what works and what doesn't and you will have ready access to experienced leaders to answer questions and give helpful advice.
If you have been doing direct sales for awhile you might want to look at a much newer company that has unique products and few consultants. This allows you to apply your experience to a company that just may have the rapid growth potential you are looking for. Especially if they have a valuable product that a lot of people want with little competition.
In direct sales the biggest key is to find a company that has products you can become passionate about. If a company has a great compensation plan, but you don't really like the products it will be very difficult to be successful.
Look at the compensation plan. Does it make sense? How does it compare to industry standard? Will your time and work be adequately compensated?
Consumable products are great because they have to be replaced once they are consumed, but many companies with those kinds of products do require you to carry an inventory or you are required to rely on testimonials of others without product to demonstrate so while many can have great success with these kinds of products you should be very aware of the cons of selling them.
Party Plans are great because you are able to reach groups of people and its even better if you are able to do Facebook parties and have a website so you can sell to someone across the country.
One of the most important things you must look at when researching the right company for you is the leadership and the other consultants you would be working with. In Direct Sales you are not alone and if you don't quite fit in with the people that you are meeting with on a regular basis it can curb your enthusiasm and make it difficult to connect with the trainings and culture of the company.
Make sure that you have an idea of what it is you are looking for. Research reviews on the opportunity and the products. Make sure that the company stands behind its products and supports its consultants.
All companies will have their complaints. Make sure that the company that you work with had a record of dealing with those complaints to the satisfaction on the customer.
Overall if you want to have success in direct sales don't join a company because you went to a party or demonstration and liked the consultant and products. Dig deeper than that and base your decision on research not emotion.
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