 |
 |
Consistent Dedication
con·sistent·ly adv. (kn-sstnt le) in a systematic manner; reliable; steady
Think about any achievements that are worthwhile – losing weight, playing an instrument, earning a black belt, getting a college degree, becoming BCS champions, writing a book or learning any new skill. What do they all have in common? It takes consistent dedication to reach the goal.
Consistent dedication.
Now look at any successful direct sales business. Consider the consultants who have reached top ranks and who have financial freedom. What do they all have in common? It took consistent dedication to reach that goal.
Yet look at most failed direct sales businesses. Consider the consultants who quit or complained “it didn’t work” or that they were spending more money than they were making. What do they all have in common? Likely they either gave up too soon or they can’t honestly say they were consistently dedicated to working their business.
What are some activities you can do consistently to help you reach your goal of managing a successful direct selling business? Consistently – meaning daily or at least multiple times per week: Continue reading
5 Tips to Rev Up Your Direct Sales Business in January
Many direct sales companies are slower during the J-months (January, June and July). January can be a particularly challenging month especially if you’ve just come off a whirlwind, crazy busy, holiday season.
The biggest mistake you can make in your business is to take January off because you’ve predetermined that your business will be virtually nonexistent. True it will be slower, but that is all the more reason to work even harder; not to go on hiatus. It’s likely that you were extremely busy during November and December. But don’t confuse being busy with working hard.
Before you get insulted at that last statement, I am fully aware of all the hustling and organizing it takes to ensure all holiday orders are placed and delivered timely. It can get pretty chaotic. Though I’m sure you’ll agree that it wasn’t terribly difficult to get orders during the gift giving season. It’s safe to say you didn’t have to work very hard to get parties, vendor events or orders. 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
How to Look Desperate During Direct Sales Recruiting
Looking for tips to help increase your recruiting numbers? Prior to talking about some of the things you can do to help grow your team, it’s important to talk about what not to do.
Before you say, “But that’s not focusing on the positive, Laurie” let me say that I am positive that if you are currently engaging in any of the actions below; and if after you read this you find yourself with a new awareness that what you’ve been doing isn’t necessarily a best practice, I am positive you will see an increase to your down line.
Join My Team and Get …
Bribing people to join your team is numero uno on my list desperate recruiting moves.
- Do you really want team members who are just there for the freebies?
- It looks like your company’s business opportunity and/or starter kit isn’t good enough to stand on its own.
- How is this any different than the little elementary school girl who couldn’t get anyone to play with, so she gave away her cookies at lunch just to have friends?
- It’s sending a message that your mentoring and coaching skills are sub-par. Otherwise you wouldn’t devalue what you have to offer.
- Based on the percentage of royalties you will receive on your new recruit’s sales, have you calculated how much she/he will need to sell before you merely break even on your give away?
I Only Need Two More People To Qualify for the Trip
Do I really need to elaborate how desperate this one makes you look?
Push It… Push it Real Good
Some sales gurus will tout the benefits of creating a sense of urgency. Ok, I’ll give you that some feel this is a good tactic. However my personal experience with direct sales is that it is not appropriate to push too hard when recruiting team members; doing so only makes you look desperate.
- It’s one thing to let people know if you have a ground floor opportunity or a limited time offer, but will their lives really be that miserable if they don’t act now?
- If you represent a stable company with an awesome opportunity, isn’t it reasonable to expect that you (and the company) will be around for a while?
- You may be able to strong-arm someone into joining your team, or create must-have hype, yet if someone starts a business before she/he is ready, who will that benefit … anyone?
- Some will question the motive behind you pushing so hard to recruit new team members. If it’s a good fit, it should flow naturally.
I have never asked anyone to join my team. Never. I simply make my opportunity and myself visible; those who want to join merely do. I’ve had potential recruits ask if me I am offering any sign-up specials (no) or tell me that another consultant is offering free websites to their recruits (so). The passive, put-it-out-there-and-then-just-step-back and let-it-simmer approach has worked well for decades (yes decades) with me.
If you need to make some adjustments in your recruiting efforts, there’s no time like the present to do so!
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com
Follow Me!