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Ask for Assistance With Your Direct Sales Business
If you need assistance, ask for assistance.
You read that correctly; that’s the text I saw today on a sign displayed on a retail store shelf: If you need assistance, ask for assistance.
At first I thought, “Well d’uh.” And then I continued to talk to myself, “That’s a stupid sign”. Yet after I had a chance to chew on it a minute I decided that I really liked that sign. In this particular case I surmise the sign was there because the merchandise was way up on some high shelves. Perhaps in the past someone climbed on the shelves to reach the goodies or just left without making a purchase because the treasures were out of reach.
My mind quickly turned to direct sales and recruits; and how this sign applies to us as well. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve heard struggling and former consultants lament that her sponsor never did anything for her or that she never hears from her sponsor. We’ll leave the merits of what a good leader should be doing for her team to another post. For now, I want to focus on the comment that the recruit “never hears from her sponsor.” Continue reading
Creating Time to Work Your Business
So I’m sitting here in Food Avenue Express, the little snack bar inside of Target, waiting for my daughter and her friend to finish shopping. They’re the class reps who have the distinguished honor of purchasing toys for the family their class adopted for Christmas.
What does this have to do with running your own business? It may be a stretch, but hang with me a moment. What’s one challenge independent consultants often state as a reason for their business not taking off? NOT ENOUGH TIME!
Many newer consultants also work a full time job – either at home raising children or outside the home as an employee for someone else. Don’t forget all the other obligations such as being taxi driver for the kiddos, cleaning the house, head chef, banker, homework helper, wife or head of the household. When would you possibly have time to start a home business?
The answer is that you don’t have time – you have to make time. You’ve heard the tired cliché “Where there’s a will, there’s a way?” This is definitely true of making time to start and grow a home business. It’s not too often that people complain that they have too much time, right? So from the start just come to terms with the fact that you likely will not have nearly as much time to devote to your business as you would like. If you accept that from the beginning, then you will not always feel like you’re failing or have that uneasy feeling that there’s never enough time. Continue reading
Drama in Direct Sales
You Don’t Have to Like Your Coworkers
Being at the highest rank of my direct sales business is a wonderful thing … usually. Though along with that title are also opportunities to hear about all the drama that goes on within my group. Drama in direct sales is not unique to my group or my company. It happens within every downline in every company out there. Some scenarios aren’t as dramatic as others, but conflicts do arise. It’s the nature of the beast.
Not to let the male direct sellers off the hook, but generally the drama occurs between or among women. I get to hear She said/She said or She did/She did. My role as a director is not necessarily to moderate, as I rarely have any evidence to support what has been accused; but rather to listen, advise and encourage particular action on the part of the individuals involved.
Our company does not allow any changes in sponsorship. I suspect other companies have the same policy. This is another reason why I encourage everyone to take their time and carefully select a sponsor before enrolling. Because you’re generally stuck with the person you signed up with, it behooves everyone to figure out a way to get along.
As is more common due to the internet, my entire team is long distance. I have met face to face with very few team members. I don’t have the ability to sit across the table to look each in the eye and determine who is blowing smoke up my skirt. I can only go by gut instinct and by listening carefully to what I am being told by each caller. It’s my role to remain impartial. Continue reading
Didn’t Ask, Don’t Care
Wow, that’s a pretty rude title, don’t you think? How do you feel about:
• Your lips are moving but all I hear is blah, blah, blah
• She sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher
• Does this look like a face that cares?
• I’m sorry, you’ve obviously mistaken me for someone who gives a rip
• Here we go again, someone please poke me in the eye with a fork
• Oh for the love of Peter, make it stop
• The world does not revolve around you
• Perhaps some cheese with that whine?
• Just put me out of my misery, now!
‘Can’t imagine too many people would be thrilled if someone actually said those things to them, though I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but people have likely thought those things about you.
Who is the You I’m referring to here?
I don’t know. Is it You? Do you know someone this could be written for? Oh gosh, could it be directed at You? Are you feeling guilty or paranoid? Do you think I could be talking about you? Are you searching your last conversations to see if this applies to you?
For the record, this is not directed at any one person, and it’s not even directed toward anyone specific I have in mind. But rather it’s directed toward a group of people, in general. We all know who they are in our lives; and some of you may not even realize you are the ones who do this.
The ones who do what? Continue reading
Factoids about Direct Selling
Those on my team know I am a numbers junkie. I’ve always enjoyed analyzing data. I firmly believe that if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. It’s been said before that “In God we trust, all others bring data!”
The information contained below was snagged from DSA’s Direct Selling 411 Website. I found some of these statistics interesting – and hope you do too.
- 77% of sellers have been with their company 1+ years
- 80% of sellers say direct selling meets or exceeds their expectations
- 85% of sellers report a good, very good or excellent experience with direct selling
- 74% of US adults have purchased products from a direct seller
- 15.1 million people in the U.S. are involved in direct selling
- $29.6 billion in total US sales
- $114 billion sales worldwide
What is the primary reason you became a direct seller?
- To earn supplemental income (51%, 4,231 Votes)
- To earn full-time income (34%, 2,768 Votes)
- To buy the products at a discount (9%, 729 Votes)
- I like to be recognized for my accomplishments (4%, 292 Votes)
- I like to meet other people (2%, 208 Votes)
Direct sellers report a positive experience with direct selling: Continue reading
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