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Plan to Work From Home in 2012
We’re in the last few hours of of 2011 and at the tail end of the busy Christmas gift giving season. If you’re like many home based business owners you’ve been running yourself ragged for the last 4-6 weeks. There’s something about holiday chaos that is an adrenaline rush! Soon you will be able to breathe easy and put your feet up.
Or will you?
If you choose to work from home, then you have a a business that needs consistent, forward activity in order to thrive. Let’s face it, your last minute holiday orders came in with little effort (at least compared to off-season) – as you had scheduled events and hopefully marketed yourself well. Therefore, by now you should be thinking about your game plan for 2012. Actually should have been long thinking about it before the ball drops in twelve hours.
Will your home based business be offering any special promotions for January such as limited time product offerings, special host benefits or recruiting specials? If so, don’t wait until January to start spreading the word about these specials. Promoting January during January is too late. Do it now. Of course if you’re just now reading this and it’s already January then it’s a little late, but better late than never I guess. You can plan better for next year. Continue reading
Bella Says: No Means No For Now
I was watching my tenacious basset hound, Bella, today. She doesn’t take no for an answer. Then I started thinking about how many direct sales consultants could learn a lesson or two from Long Dog.
For example, take the word No. Not too many of us like to be told no when there is something we want. This afternoon Bella wanted to get up on my favorite mid-century Danish Modern chair. I told her No. Then in a more “This time I mean it” voice, I told her no again.
She thought better of the idea and walked away looking somewhat defeated. A short while later I returned to the living room to see Bella Bella Short and Swella sitting in The Chair. “Get Down, NOW!” I tried to utter in a low but commanding voice. She slowly lifted her droopy eyes, looked at me and eventually got down.
So is this dog stupid? On the contrary. She knows what she wants and she’s not going to let a little No get in her way. Now it’s a battle of wills. I don’t want her up on the furniture and she wants to be up there. Of course I wear the pants in this house and she will have to listen to me, but that is not to say she won’t keep trying. Continue reading
Assertive or Aggressive?
Don’t you just love it when you walk into a store or onto a car lot and the salesperson, who obviously works on commission, instantly pounces on you? You mean you don’t crave that instant attack of desperation? No – me neither. I don’t know anyone who does.
Yet I see it all the time from new direct selling consultants – both online and offline. These desperados are under the false impression that there is a race and the first person to pounce on a potential gets the big prize. Personally, I run the other way when I see someone chase ambulances. There are some who “call it” (remember when you were little … the person who “called” the front seat first, was the lucky person to sit next to Mom?) Hard up new consultants will be all over the poor innocent person who just has a simple question and will announce to the world “PMing you (sending you a Private Message) now!” Meaning to the other forum participants and lurkers: I am sitting here, desperate; doing my impression of a vulture, and by my “calling it” no one else can address this person who has questions.
Personally the passive stance works much better for me. I make myself and my candle business visible. I try to help others who have questions without expectation of them buying or signing with me. I can honestly say that I have never asked for the close – contrary to recruiting gurus. Yet I have a very successful team of consultants who are with me because they chose to be – not because I force fed them and shoved myself down their private message inbox.
Make sure you are not sending the message that you are desperate. There’s a difference between being assertive and well, just obnoxious. There are more leads available than anyone could possibly ever get to; chill, relax and enjoy your business.
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan. She started her first home business in 1988. As a single parent, Laurie has supported her family by working out of her home. She is currently an Independent Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. You can find Laurie at http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com and http://la.scentsy.us
Are You Spending Your Online Time Wisely?
Social media. Social networking. Forums. Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. Tumblr. Google+ and countless other online websites give you plenty of opportunity to be social. Connecting with others online opens up so many possibilities and opportunities for independent business owners and direct sales consultants.
Online networking has a plethora of positive aspects to it, if done properly. It can also be detrimental to your business if you are spending an abundance of time online, all in the name of ‘networking’ but actually, all you are doing is chitchatting. True that in order to be successful online, building a rapport and reputation are key, but just who are you taking to and can it help build your own business?
To illustrate this point – consider the direct sales consultant who hangs out at their company forum. Companywide forums, where all consultants, from all teams gather to ask questions and share ideas can be a big help to some, especially if they feel they are not getting the support they need from their own upline. But is spending hours each day chatting with other consultants who are not even on your team giving you the return on your time investment? Continue reading
You Get More With Honey Than Vinegar
Watch your tone little lady. Try asking again mister, only this time a little nicer. I’ll be happy to speak with you when you can talk to me in a respectful manner. Do you hear yourself?
Chances are if you are a parent you’ve uttered the above words to your child – whether to a mouthy three year old or a too cool for rules teenager. I’ve said it myself. I have some great children, who don’t behave badly, but I have said on more than one occasion ‘that mouth is going to get you in trouble’.
The same thing is true in business. The tone you take when speaking to people will go a long way in determining the results you get in return. You can say the exact same thing, but depending on how you present your question or statement, you’re either going to get cooperation or you’re going to piss someone off. You must be extra vigilant when using email to communicate as we tend to misinterpret or add unnecessary or incorrect tone to words on paper or a computer monitor.
As an upline director of a direct selling organization it never ceases to amaze me some of the rude emails I receive from downline members. I know these concerns can and do work both ways, among up and downline members. Specifically, in this case I am referring to downline team members who need help but ask in such a disrespectful, entitlement approach.
For example, it doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to figure this one out but which email do you think would get the better response?
- Hi, I need your help please. I think my pay is wrong, or perhaps I don’t understand it. I looked in the manual but couldn’t find anything to help clarify. Can you take a look or let me know where to find the information or who to contact? Thanks. Or:
- I’m sick of this, my check is wrong again.
Here are two more: Continue reading
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