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Can You Stand Another Happy Mother’s Day Post?
Each holiday social media is littered with “Happy This, Happy That” type posts that seem shallow and disingenuous. Right, wrong, or indifferent, that’s my opinion on the matter. However, I do have something other than a superficial greeting that I would like to say on the subject of Mother’s Day.
This post is for the moms who no longer have a living mother.
All too often I’ve heard women say they don’t like Mother’s Day because their own mom is no longer on this earth. With the exception of the very first Mother’s Day you endure without your mom, because that one is a doozy, I would strongly encourage those who share the sadness sentiment to change your attitude about Mother’s Day.
If you’re sad on Mother’s Day I assume that means because you adored your mom immensely and miss her greatly. I get that. I lost my mom to lung cancer before I ever finished high school. That was a long time ago, but rarely a day goes by that I don’t think about her. If your mom was so special to you, that means she was a wonderful person. So answer this: Do you think your mom would want you spending your Mother’s Day being sad? I can answer that, that’s a resounding NO WAY! Continue reading
Direct Sales Consultant Todo List
Now that you’re a direct sales consultant or promoted to a direct sales leader / director / manager what are you supposed to do?
Below you will find a list of activities you can do. These are many of the activities that I do or have done. Some activities you will want to do daily, others weekly and others less frequently. You do not have to do all of these. Consider it a menu of possible actions you can take.
- Check email
- Post on Group/Team Facebook & Fan Page
- Post on LinkedIn
- Tweet, RT and reply on Twitter
- Update pins on Pinterest
- Check Work at Home forum for opportunities to contribute
- Write blog post on your own blog
- Guest blog post for others
- Label/stamp catalogs, recruiting brochures, envelopes, product, promotional flyers
- Makes product samples
- Compile business opportunity packets
- Review reports for team members sales, promotions, milestones, birthdays, anniversaries
- Send emails or snail mail to team members based on actions from #11. Continue reading
What Not to Do – More Lousy Customer Service
Every time I think nothing can surprise me, I am mistaken. I have two more examples of Lousy Customer Service. How places that don’t know it’s the customer who keeps them in business is beyond me.
Situation #1: My daughter wanted to join the Direct Sales ranks. She’s grown up watching her mother build a successful direct selling organization so it’d be a nice way for a college student to earn some money while working around class schedules. We went on a research quest together to find a good company that was something she could be comfortable representing – both in product line and with a solid management behind it.
The Reader’s Digest version is that after three separate messages left for the corporate office using three different platforms (so “didn’t get it” wasn’t an option) it was only nine (9) days later did she finally get a return call. NINE DAYS! She basically said she wanted to sign up and just had a few questions first. We also attempted to contact a number of independent consultants to potentially find a sponsor. Only one person responded and she wasn’t too bad, but also quite new herself. There didn’t appear to be any other business builders; at least none visible.
When my daughter responded back that she had contacted her nine days ago and never heard back, so she joined another company, the company owner responded that she had sent a generic form letter about an informational call only four days after her initial request. Okay, um, four days later to say, “get on the call” (info that was already public) and still thinking that qualified as a response to the specific questions? Oh my. Enough about that one; it’s no wonder that company is still creeping at a snail’s pace after a number of years in business. Clearly, Blondie was not meant to enroll with that company and the lousy customer service helped save her from what was likely a horrific business experience. All is good, though. She found a great company to join and both will surely thrive. Continue reading
More on Selecting a Direct Sales Company and Sponsor
We’ve talked about the importance of doing thorough research before joining a direct sales company or signing with a sponsor. With so many options as far as which company and which person to choose as your upline, go into your new business venture with your eyes wide open. You don’t need to enroll with the first person who shared information with you. Talk with different consultants. In addition to the previous posts on selecting a direct sales sponsor, below you’ll find some more questions to ask. The first part is to help you find the right company for you and the latter are questions you can ask different consultants you are interviewing to be your sponsor.
Corporate questions:
- What is the training like? Is there a training center for consultants? Is it all self-paced or are there calls or in-person trainings, workshops, conventions? Is the training geared both toward product education or technical procedures such as how to enter parties, policies and procedures, etc.
- What are the monthly or quarterly qualifications as far as personal sales to stay active? What happens if you go inactive? Are you terminated or can you reactivate?
- Do you have a copy of the compensation plan? Can you start recruiting other team members right away or do you need to reach a certain rank advancement?
- What are the policies and procedures on marketing the business online? Separate website permitted? Blog? Facebook page? What are restrictions on use of the logo or use of company name? Does the company offer marketing collateral? If so, what kind and how much? Are we able to sell at vendor events/fairs and shows.
- Is there an option of setting up an online party that customers from all across the country can shop from, with volumes crediting to the host?
- How much is the monthly website/webstore hosting?
Sponsor questions:
- How long have you been with your company? What about your upline? Are they knowledgeable or accessible? Or is that not really protocol to reach out to them? Continue reading
Are Manners and Common Courtesy Obsolete?
Two words – “Okay, thanks” or another derivative “Thank you.” Why is it so difficult for some people to use those two words?
When you let someone cut in during a traffic jam, don’t you expect the other driver to give you “the wave”? It’s the universal “Thank You” signal from driver to driver. I don’t mind letting cars in once in a while – as I believe in that whole karma thing. But admittedly, I’ve heard myself utter “The wave. You’re supposed to do the wave.” if I happen to let a car sneak in front of me and I don’t get “the wave.” They’re just supposed to say “Thank You.”
Likewise if someone takes a moment to hold the door open for you – it’s assumed that you will utter “thank you” to the person who just took 8 seconds out of his or her day to ensure the door was not shut in your face.
The same goes for online etiquette. Why is it so difficult for some people to email you back after you provide a response to say, “Thank you” or “Okay, thanks.” I agree there comes a point where the email banter needs to come to a conclusion – thank you, no thank You, no really, thank You – that is a bit redundant. Continue reading
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