Don't be a lion...

           In the animal kingdom, most animals can sense a predator. They can feel the fear and the change in the environment when a predator is near. Have you ever felt like the prey? Maybe you were on a car lot just browsing, or maybe you were in a department store near the perfumes, but I'm sure you've had that feeling before. Sometimes people associate that feeling with the direct sales industry and that can be a problem for you especially if you're new. There are businesswomen out there that are so pushy and aggressive that they are true predators, and they give the rest of the industry, or company, a bad rep. You have probably encountered those people, and lets face it, it can be scary. You will even notice that your new prospects may be hesitant to be in contact with you because they have once been the prey. So, what do you do when you find yourself in front of a person who had once been the prey?
         For starters, don't be a predator, and don't be defensive. I know what it's like when you encounter someone who thinks your whole business is a scam. It's a horrible feeling. I know that you want to be defensive, after all this is your business and your dreams. This is where you really have to control your emotions, and it's going to be tough. Try your very best not to get defensive, angry, or hostile (and if you know me, you know that controlling my anger is very difficult). If their really stirred up about it then you have to accept that you probably wont change their mind. Here's something I would suggest to say:
  "I'm sorry that you, or someone you care about, has had such a bad experience with the direct sales industry, but this business supports my family and my dreams, so I would appreciate some discretion." 
        Obviously you need to tweek that to your own personality and circumstances. When you get defensive, they will become even more offensive and nothing will get done. Don't let them steal your good attitude about your business! This industry really works and there are thousands upon thousands of people that can prove it. If your like me, these comments will irritate for days but keep going. Prove them wrong yourself. Remember, that they were once someone's prey; they might have lost time, money, or more in the wrong business. Don't let them steal your thunder! You really can have it all, and I feel sorry for those that sabotage their own chances.

Hows business going in September for everyone? What kinds of content would you like to see in October?


My readers ROCK!! :)

Listen to the "Failures"!

           Sometimes, in the direct sales business, you will notice that some of the most successful people begin to sound like broken records: book, sell, book, recruit, etc. Let me tell you, they don't sound like that for their own good! When you're listening to the tips and ideas from someone that you admire, you might take notes, maybe even record their speech, but what do you do with all of that information when you get home? That's where things really count! You can spend all of the money in the world on cd's, coaching sessions, seminars, and conferences, but if you get home and just sit on it, it all is worthless. The message that I'm trying to send here is that these people that you admire have been where you are right now. So if they tell you to network, you'd better network! If they tell you that it's a numbers game and that everyone will have cancellations, you should believe them and keep going! The tips and ideas from the successful people in your field should be treated as direct orders (that's for all you military wives!) because they have failed more than anyone, and they know the road to success. All of this might sound cheesy or even a little bossy, but I just want to encourage you to get your money's worth from the training and inspirational purchases you make! You should copy your role models. I don't mean be a clone, I just mean copy their business plan because it works!
     And you should have a business role model! I have a few different ones and I really listen to what they say, because I want the success that they have.

Booths 101

        I am SO excited! I am running an event on Black Friday that's just for shopping! Home based/direct sales businesses get to set up their own booth and people from all over come to do their holiday shopping with real businesses. So, while I am planning this fantastic event, I wanted to take a moment to talk about fairs and festivals. If you've never participated in one of these events you are missing out on some great networking opportunities. Setting up a booth at a fair or a festival can open new doors for your business, and it can be fun!
   When you set up your booth or table, you want to make your product display sensational. The idea is to really attract people and to stand out among the crowd. Make sure that your company name can be easily seen and that everything on your table is properly labeled. I recommend that you dress in a business casual sort of way because it makes you both professional and approachable. Some companies actually have specific guidelines as to how to dress for a fair. Remember, no matter what, that your booth and personal image will be a direct reflection of the company you represent.
      To bring in leads from your booth, you will want to have a drawing. You can give away products, gift cards, and even gift cards to places like Starbucks (unless of course you sell coffee). You want to have a poster that shows what's being given away. Have hundreds of drawing entry slips and dozens of cheap pens on hand for people to fill out, and also a cute box for the drawing slips. The drawing slips should get the following information:
-Do they have a consultant/representative that they currently buy from?
-Are you interested in earning money, earning free products,or just having a girls night?
-Get their name, email, phone number, and zip code ( I dask for the zip code because it's quicker for them, to write than the whole address  but it still lets you know where about they live, in case they live out of town.)

These slips are your new leads! You can use a similar method as the working women week method to track and call your new leads. Don't forget as you make great connections, to make little notes about who you talked to and who had a lot of interest in your product or company.

Do it anyway!

     Do you have a goal poster, or a dream board? All of the successful people in the direct sales industry, and business in general, agree that to make your dreams come true you first have to visualize them. I'm embarrassed to say that I don't have one...yet. I know how important it is to really see your dreams and how it can really clarify your focus to see it on paper. So I want to encourage everyone to put their dreams down on paper. Why wait until it's too late? Find some quiet time to sit down and really think about what you want out of your business and out of life. Set a date with yourself if you have to because it's that important to clarify your focus. Once you're able to truly visualize your dreams and goals, you will be able to have that laser focus you need to push through some of the tougher parts of life. Because that's all that separates us from the ones who are already living the dream, it's the laser focus that they have to overcome their obstacles. That's the only difference. When it gets tough or uncomfortable for them they look to their dreams and ultimate goals, and they do it anyway. Look up that song by Marina McBride called "Do It Anyway" and really listen to the lyrics. So make that cheesy goal poster, clarify your dreams, and then shout them from the rooftops! Because how will anyone else know that you made it if they didn't even know your goal?


Give me an update on your 30 in 30 challenge! I'm almost done with just 5 people left to see!! How is your business going in September? Stay tuned for some exciting giveaways in the next few days!!

Blessings...

Did you ever have a day when you felt overwhelmingly blessed? I did today, well this whole weekend, and I am so grateful for the blessings in my life. I'm going to try harder to remember how blessed I am when I'm going through a rough patch. I am thankful for my wonderful family, that my husband has a steady job, that I have my own business, that it's fall, and for the cheese I bought today. I LOVE LIFE!

Master your close

      Earlier in my blog, I wrote about mastering the basics of your business. We talked about memorizing your show from start to finish, and to really understand the processes of your business. Now, I want to write a little bit about how important your show close is. Never underestimate the power of a great close, it has the ability to transform a show from mediocre to outstanding. And, with your business, you always want to be outstanding. You always want to set yourself apart from others as a professional and expert in your business.
     Make sure your close includes the mention of your second appointment (if you are a 2 appointment business), and the impending one-on-one consultation that's about to take place (don't use the word 'impending' in your presentation though; it sounds scary). Explain that you would love to get their opinion of your products and presentation, so you will be meeting with them one at a time. If your company is offering specials, or sales, I would mention them again during the close portion of your presentation. The close is also a good time to tell them that they can get some of their most desired items for free, or discounted, by being a hostess. Make sure you are gracious to your hostess and her guests during the close, and thank them for giving you their time. You want to end by leading them to eat the refreshments and them taking the first guest aside for their individual close. I usually say something like this:
     "Lisa has put out some wonderful refreshments for us tonight so grab something to eat and I'll start meeting with you individually. Does anyone have to leave soon?"
By adding the question on the end, I can determine who to meet with first and get the chain going.
          So, write down and practice your show close. It can be a tricky area if you're new to business so get some opinions on your specific close. Memorize your close! It's essential for any serious businesswoman!

Getting your family on board...

     One of the biggest challenges that I have seen in this industry is the conflict with skeptical family members. Maybe it's your husband, or maybe it's your parents, but if someone important in you life is not on board with your direct sales business, it could become an uphill battle. I have heard many stories about husbands who just plain won't allow their wife to have a business. Many times the wife feels that dream within her heart but her husband keeps putting it down. People are not trying to be mean or cruel towards your dream, they simply don't understand the possibilities that can be achieved with a direct sales business. For an outsider, it can be hard to understand the potential and the security that can be provided with a business like this. Maybe you were a skeptic at one point in time, and now you're loving your party plan lifestyle. To most people, the direct selling industry can be a scary place. People assume that one bad experience covers all of the companies. It's your job to explain to your family the potential earnings from your business.
     A skeptic wants to see facts and proof to change their mind. You want to sit down with your family with actual facts in hand to show them how the business works. Get literature from your company about building a business and show your skeptic what is possible. Try not to be defensive. Come at this from a standpoint of information not force to change their mind. It's possible that a simple talk won't be enough for them, in which case I recommend bringing in someone who has already gotten to where you want to go. Talk to your recruiter or manager about how they handle the situation. And, most of all, show your family the fruits of your labor when you have a great show, or day, share it with them. Let your family take part in your successes and soon they will be cheering you on. Check out some more tips on family in the Build it Big series of books!