Planning for direct sales success can be as simple as turning on a light switch, or as challenging as digging ditches. It all depends on your outlook.
My husband thinks 'plan' is a four-letter word. So I have to come up with "action items" instead of a plan. It's the only way to get anything done around my house.
But before I lay out my "honey-do" list, I have to envision my desired outcome. Then, I need to understand the important pillars of getting the job done.
The same hold true in your direct sales business.
Once you've laid a vision for your direct sales business, identified the goals and created a strategy around what the key areas of accomplishment are, we then get to "the brass tacks" of bringing that vision to life - creating the plan.
Once you've laid out you annual objectives, you've got to break that down into meaningful, manageable "chunks". For example, if your goal is to add 12 new personal recruits to your team, that breaks down to approximately 1 recruit each month.
But this kind of thinking is not likely to be accurate.
Consultants are trained to average their numbers out over the course of the year, which is a detriment. In reality, the bulk of our sales - the bulk of our business, really - comes during the last quarter of the year.
Now that doesn't mean to sit on your laurels until October. Far from it.
What it means is that you should plan appropriately and project reasonably for the year.
For example, if you look at your sales history and 50% of your sales happens from October to December, don't expect that you'll have an even time of things from January to June.
Forecast higher numbers in the fall and lower numbers in the winter.
This does two things:
1. It paints a realistic picture for your business
2. It shows you where your real opportunities lie
So if you've NEVER added a single recruit in February, you can choose to focus on that objective, or to play to your strengths instead.
This is how your business truly becomes your own.
If in March, you know there's a big bridal event that you're planning for, lay the groundwork NOW and know what your desired outcomes are. They may look something like this:
1. collect contact info for 300 leads
2. connect with 30 brides (preferably at the show)
3. book 10 parties/events from the bridal show
4. schedule 2 recruit interviews
5. sign one recruit
If there is a commandment in direct sales it should be "Thou shalt know thy numbers." You can't plan a realistic business year without knowing your numbers. How many interviews must you hold (on average) before you sign a recruit? How many people do you need to talk to before you can schedule an interview? How many leads do you need to make 30 contacts?
If you know these numbers, you can look at last year's data to break it all down. Here's a hypothetical example:
2009 Results:
Jan - 2 shows, 16 people, 1 recruit interview (did not sign)
Feb - 8 shows, 80 people, 3 recruit interviews (1 signed)
Mar - 10 shows, 85 people, 5 recruit interviews (2 signed)
Apr - 7 shows, 80 people, 4 recruit interviews (1 signed)
May - 16 shows, 150 people, 10 recruit interviews (3 signed)
Jun - 7 shows, 81 people, 5 recruit interviews (3 signed)
Jul - 4 shows, 55 people, 3 recruit interviews (2 signed)
Aug - 4 shows, 42 people, 1 recruit interview (1 signed)
Sep - 6 shows, 55 people, 2 recruit interviews (0 signed)
Oct - 11 shows, 140 people, 12 recruit interviews (5 signed)
nov - 16 shows, 225 people, 20 recruit interviews (10 signed)
Dec - 8 shows, 150 people, 10 recruit interviews (3 signed)
2009 - 99 shows, 1159 people, 76 recruiting interviews, 31 signed
These numbers reveal that for every 3 shows you hold, about 1 person will sign up. It also tells you that only aout 6% of your customers and guests will hold an interview with you, but that once you DO get them to schedule an interview, you will sign up about 40% of them.
It also shows you that June, July and January are your slowest months. this tells you that you can either take a vacation (if you're certain you'll not do any business during those months), or plan some new ideas for those months to boost business.
It also shows you that you're bringing a lot of team members on in the fall. How can you prepare yourself to have an eqally spectacular spring, and still be ready to bring on so many new recruits during the busy season?
Armed with your own numbers, you can plan a course for your entire year - without waiting to see what your home office will do in terms of incentives, prizes, bonuses or rewards.
You can also find the holes in your armor and fix them. If January is always slow, is it because you're so bogged down in December that you can't get things moving? If so, now you have ammunition to create a strategy to prevent this kind of problem at the end of this year.
You don't need a coach to tell you all of this. You can crunch these numbers on your own. But crunch them one way or another so that you can have a powerfully productive 2010!
© 2009 Lisa Robbin Young.
USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com
Showing posts with label Happy New Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Happy New Year. Show all posts
The Direct Sales Conundrum: Embracing Entrepreneurialism
I have a few confessions to make:
1. I love direct sales. I love doing home parties, meeting people and making connections. I love seeing new faces and learning about new people. I love seeing the insides of other people's homes. Especially unique homes with stories. I love direct sales.
2. Direct Sales is not enough for me. Lest you think I'm greedy, I'm discovering that I'm not alone. I've coached dozens of direct sellers that are trying to find themselves in their business, and I've found out that they, too, feel like direct sales is not enough. It has nothing to do with the compensation plan, or feeling that they won't succeed. In fact, many of these women are VERY successful in their direct sales business. They just feel like there's something 'more'.
3. I am an entrepreneur. I mean that in the "I want something I can call my own, to grow from a seedling and watch it blossom and grow" sense of the word. By design, you never truly own a direct sales business. Sometimes, it owns you. yes, you can build a successful business in direct sales, but the busines you build is always "You, inc." and your direct salescompany is at best a wholesaler and partnerin your venture. You never really 'own' the company.
As an entrepreneur, I jumped from company to company trying to find that "right fit". Sometimes I juggled multiple company affiliations because I thought they'd work well together. And if I found a company that didn't see things my way, I'd jump ship - again.
For a long time, I thought it was just me, until I heard stories from other company hoppers. I thought there was a problem with me sticking to stuff. I thought it was my entrepreneurial ADD kicking in. And that's when it hit me.
I call it The Direct Sales Conundrum.
The problem isn't that you're flighty, or can't stick to one thing. It's not even the fact that you can't ever own the company - at least not entirely. It's the fact that you've hit the wall in your business between being a distributor and being an entrepreneur.
You're trying to force a square peg in a round hole.
Direct sales is amazing for entrepeneurs because it eliminates a lot of the original fears entrepreneurs have about going into business for themseves: your product, marketing materials and all the logistics of delivery are already handled - and you have a whole R&D team and corporate offices backing you up. You're not cash flowing that expense out of your own pocket. All you have to do is handle your personal book of business and manage your own clients - and train your team to do the same.
There are a ton of benefits for entrepreneurs to get their feet wet in a direct sales business model. The 'conundrum' comes when you're not happy with we feet, and are ready to jump headlong into the entrepreneurial pool.
The things that make direct sales great can be the very same reasons why entrepreneurs get listless in their business. Maybe you have some great ideas on how the company should create a new product, serve a new market, or provide better customer service (I sure did).
Those ideas alone would be enough to get soem entrepreneurs shifting in their seats. When you couple those ideas with a burning passion to see changes happening - and they're not happening - you can get downright frustrated in your business.
"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore." has been a war cry for entrepreneurs probably since the beginning of time. We get to the point where we crave something more than our direct sales business, but we're carrying around too much fear to make the leap into our OWN business.
Smell it? It's fear.
I've watched client after client wrestle with their own fear demons. Some were able to successfully build a direct sales business that brought them contentment. Others wanted "more" and struck out on their own.
The irony is that many of those people wanted to transition out of their "real job" and discovered they had only transferred assignments to a new company.
They were still working a job, they just had more flexibility.
What about you? I love direct sales, and will probably always be a consultant for a company that I love. I also embrace my inner entrepreneur in the other company I've built and the new brand I'm launching next year.
There's nothing wrong with realising that direct sales has serve its purpose in your life, and moving on to the next big thing for you.
There's also nothing wrong with loving a company and products that you are passionate about and sharing them with the world.
Whichever you decide, decide it for yourself. Live life and build your business without apologies. Make mistakes, take big leaps, grow your world and expand your mind.
Because if you don't, who will? You'll be that square peg trying to squeeze yourself into a place you don't belong.
1. I love direct sales. I love doing home parties, meeting people and making connections. I love seeing new faces and learning about new people. I love seeing the insides of other people's homes. Especially unique homes with stories. I love direct sales.
2. Direct Sales is not enough for me. Lest you think I'm greedy, I'm discovering that I'm not alone. I've coached dozens of direct sellers that are trying to find themselves in their business, and I've found out that they, too, feel like direct sales is not enough. It has nothing to do with the compensation plan, or feeling that they won't succeed. In fact, many of these women are VERY successful in their direct sales business. They just feel like there's something 'more'.
3. I am an entrepreneur. I mean that in the "I want something I can call my own, to grow from a seedling and watch it blossom and grow" sense of the word. By design, you never truly own a direct sales business. Sometimes, it owns you. yes, you can build a successful business in direct sales, but the busines you build is always "You, inc." and your direct salescompany is at best a wholesaler and partnerin your venture. You never really 'own' the company.
As an entrepreneur, I jumped from company to company trying to find that "right fit". Sometimes I juggled multiple company affiliations because I thought they'd work well together. And if I found a company that didn't see things my way, I'd jump ship - again.
For a long time, I thought it was just me, until I heard stories from other company hoppers. I thought there was a problem with me sticking to stuff. I thought it was my entrepreneurial ADD kicking in. And that's when it hit me.
I call it The Direct Sales Conundrum.
The problem isn't that you're flighty, or can't stick to one thing. It's not even the fact that you can't ever own the company - at least not entirely. It's the fact that you've hit the wall in your business between being a distributor and being an entrepreneur.
You're trying to force a square peg in a round hole.
Direct sales is amazing for entrepeneurs because it eliminates a lot of the original fears entrepreneurs have about going into business for themseves: your product, marketing materials and all the logistics of delivery are already handled - and you have a whole R&D team and corporate offices backing you up. You're not cash flowing that expense out of your own pocket. All you have to do is handle your personal book of business and manage your own clients - and train your team to do the same.
There are a ton of benefits for entrepreneurs to get their feet wet in a direct sales business model. The 'conundrum' comes when you're not happy with we feet, and are ready to jump headlong into the entrepreneurial pool.
The things that make direct sales great can be the very same reasons why entrepreneurs get listless in their business. Maybe you have some great ideas on how the company should create a new product, serve a new market, or provide better customer service (I sure did).
Those ideas alone would be enough to get soem entrepreneurs shifting in their seats. When you couple those ideas with a burning passion to see changes happening - and they're not happening - you can get downright frustrated in your business.
"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore." has been a war cry for entrepreneurs probably since the beginning of time. We get to the point where we crave something more than our direct sales business, but we're carrying around too much fear to make the leap into our OWN business.
Smell it? It's fear.
I've watched client after client wrestle with their own fear demons. Some were able to successfully build a direct sales business that brought them contentment. Others wanted "more" and struck out on their own.
The irony is that many of those people wanted to transition out of their "real job" and discovered they had only transferred assignments to a new company.
They were still working a job, they just had more flexibility.
What about you? I love direct sales, and will probably always be a consultant for a company that I love. I also embrace my inner entrepreneur in the other company I've built and the new brand I'm launching next year.
There's nothing wrong with realising that direct sales has serve its purpose in your life, and moving on to the next big thing for you.
There's also nothing wrong with loving a company and products that you are passionate about and sharing them with the world.
Whichever you decide, decide it for yourself. Live life and build your business without apologies. Make mistakes, take big leaps, grow your world and expand your mind.
Because if you don't, who will? You'll be that square peg trying to squeeze yourself into a place you don't belong.
Direct Sales Success: Strategy Part 2, Goals
As I write this, it's almost the new year, and if there's one thing I've learned to dread, it's the annual list of "resolutions" that are so often ignored about 3 weeks into the year. I stopped making resolutions a while back, and decided to create an annual strategy to achieve the things I wanted to accomplish in my life.
Did you hear me say "goals" in there? Most of us have gotten immune to the word goal. My husband even claims that "plan" is a four-letter word and refuses to do much in the way of planning. Thus, I've had to resort to semantics so that we can "create a strategy" (plan) for the things we want to accomplish (goals).
Some people are so turned off by the word, that I hesitated to use it here. That said, we need to decide what we want to accomplish - what our goals are - before we can finalize our strategy.
Would you like to reach more clients this year? Perhaps you'd prefer to really focus on generating more income from your existing customer base? Maybe you'd like more shows on your calendar - or maybe higer show sales averages?
You can't get what you want, until you know what you want. I think there's a song in there somewhere.
Take some time to really think about the three or four major goals you'd like to hit in your business this year. Take them and spend 3-4 months working on each one. It might be hard to prioritize them, but if you know you want to do an event at the end of the year to reach a new group of customers, make that your focus for that quarter.
This is how strategy is created in a real business. Even though your companies only tell you what's coming up for the next couple of months, they're already working on the holiday catalog for NEXT year! They've got a strategy, a business plan, and they have a direction to help them achieve their goals.
Does this mean we won't 'course correct' along the way? Heavens no. We need to look at our strategy and our plan periodically throughout the year to make sure we're on track - or to determine new goals. Sometimes, I find that the goals I laid out for a year are all met before the end of July. Sometimes, not. Funny thing about writing down our "goals" is that they become easier to accomplish.
It doesn't matter what they are - or how "SMART" they are. They need to be YOUR goals.
So what are your goals for the new year?
© 2009 Lisa Robbin Young.
USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com
Did you hear me say "goals" in there? Most of us have gotten immune to the word goal. My husband even claims that "plan" is a four-letter word and refuses to do much in the way of planning. Thus, I've had to resort to semantics so that we can "create a strategy" (plan) for the things we want to accomplish (goals).
Some people are so turned off by the word, that I hesitated to use it here. That said, we need to decide what we want to accomplish - what our goals are - before we can finalize our strategy.
Would you like to reach more clients this year? Perhaps you'd prefer to really focus on generating more income from your existing customer base? Maybe you'd like more shows on your calendar - or maybe higer show sales averages?
You can't get what you want, until you know what you want. I think there's a song in there somewhere.
Take some time to really think about the three or four major goals you'd like to hit in your business this year. Take them and spend 3-4 months working on each one. It might be hard to prioritize them, but if you know you want to do an event at the end of the year to reach a new group of customers, make that your focus for that quarter.
This is how strategy is created in a real business. Even though your companies only tell you what's coming up for the next couple of months, they're already working on the holiday catalog for NEXT year! They've got a strategy, a business plan, and they have a direction to help them achieve their goals.
Does this mean we won't 'course correct' along the way? Heavens no. We need to look at our strategy and our plan periodically throughout the year to make sure we're on track - or to determine new goals. Sometimes, I find that the goals I laid out for a year are all met before the end of July. Sometimes, not. Funny thing about writing down our "goals" is that they become easier to accomplish.
It doesn't matter what they are - or how "SMART" they are. They need to be YOUR goals.
So what are your goals for the new year?
© 2009 Lisa Robbin Young.
USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com
Direct Sales Success: What's Your 2010 Vision?
[Editor's note: Now that I'm migrating the "off topic" posts to my new blog, this blog will be almost entirely focused on Direct Sales Marketing Strategies - primarily online, but offline as well. - Lisa]
Every good business starts with a vision. Actually, there's some other stuff that comes before the vision. It's the foundational, "what makes you tick" kind of stuff that is a bit beyond the confines of this blog. Frankly, in order to build a business you can be passionate about, you have to do that work first. But once you've hammered that identity stuff out, you need to look to your vision.
Some people have an overarching vision for what they anticipate will be the life of their business, and that's important. Equally important is the vision for each year - those things you need to really hone in on to achieve success on your terms.
So what's your vision?
Most direct sales companies only feed you their promotional materials a couple of months at a time. It's a great way to keep you focused on "bookingin tight". But as my Sales Diva mentor, Kim Duke, loves to remind me - you need to be planning at least 90 days out*.
Suffice it to say that unless you're a higher up leader in your company, you can't possibly know what the company has planned.
A typical vision has got to have some kind of scope - who you're going to impact/reach - as well as what you want to accomplish.
For example, to sell $10,000 in XYZ product and teach 500 guests about proper skin care techniques.
A vision can't be one-sided. There has to be a quid-pro-quo (Latin for "this for that"), that is, a service being provided for the compensation being received.
Compensation isn't always monetary either. It can be money you earn, a position or title you attain, a level of prestige or recognition.
In essence, it's something you GET for something you GIVE.
Your vision should be inspiring, and a bit of a stretch. There's no vision in saying I want to keep everything in 2010 the same as it was in 2009. There's no growth in a business that's stagnant. Only decay.
So while a lot of you have started laying out strategies and ideas for what you'd like to earn, creating plans for the beginning of the year, how will you know what success looks like?
That's where your vision comes into play.
© 2009 Lisa Robbin Young.
USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com
* - Full disclosure: that's my affiliate link. I love Kim so much I recommend her to others and get compensated when I do.
Every good business starts with a vision. Actually, there's some other stuff that comes before the vision. It's the foundational, "what makes you tick" kind of stuff that is a bit beyond the confines of this blog. Frankly, in order to build a business you can be passionate about, you have to do that work first. But once you've hammered that identity stuff out, you need to look to your vision.
Some people have an overarching vision for what they anticipate will be the life of their business, and that's important. Equally important is the vision for each year - those things you need to really hone in on to achieve success on your terms.
So what's your vision?
Most direct sales companies only feed you their promotional materials a couple of months at a time. It's a great way to keep you focused on "bookingin tight". But as my Sales Diva mentor, Kim Duke, loves to remind me - you need to be planning at least 90 days out*.
Suffice it to say that unless you're a higher up leader in your company, you can't possibly know what the company has planned.
A typical vision has got to have some kind of scope - who you're going to impact/reach - as well as what you want to accomplish.
For example, to sell $10,000 in XYZ product and teach 500 guests about proper skin care techniques.
A vision can't be one-sided. There has to be a quid-pro-quo (Latin for "this for that"), that is, a service being provided for the compensation being received.
Compensation isn't always monetary either. It can be money you earn, a position or title you attain, a level of prestige or recognition.
In essence, it's something you GET for something you GIVE.
Your vision should be inspiring, and a bit of a stretch. There's no vision in saying I want to keep everything in 2010 the same as it was in 2009. There's no growth in a business that's stagnant. Only decay.
So while a lot of you have started laying out strategies and ideas for what you'd like to earn, creating plans for the beginning of the year, how will you know what success looks like?
That's where your vision comes into play.
© 2009 Lisa Robbin Young.
USE THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE IN PRINT OR ONLINE!
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Lisa Robbin Young is a certified direct sales marketing coach, teaching direct sellers to grow their business like a real business instead of an expensive hobby. Sign up for her free weekly ezine at http://www.homepartysolution.com
* - Full disclosure: that's my affiliate link. I love Kim so much I recommend her to others and get compensated when I do.
Birthday Parties, Sales, and Saying Goodbye
I don't normally "do sales". I certainly don't broadcast them publicly very often.
I feel like I'm discounting the quality of my products when I "slash prices" and offer incredible savings on my products.
However, I have a very special circumstance that warrants doing something incredible.
My son turns 13 today. The BIG 1-3. But today's both his birthday party and his going away party.
See Forest has been struggling not only with teenage hormones, but also some emotional problems and mental health issues that have placed him and our family in harm's way more times than I care to count.
I can share this with you because he has consented to co-author a book with me about this ordeal. For the next couple of years, Forest will be in a camp program for boys with emotional problems. As a mom, this is the toughest thing I've ever done. It's
probably also the smartest thing I could ever do for my son.
You can read the details on my new website.
But here's the situation: the program costs nearly $24,000 a year - and we found out our insurance doesn't cover any of it. Big surprise, right?
And he starts December 31, so I have a lot of motvation to do something a little bit drastic.
Here's the link to get the print edition of Home Party Solution at more than 50% off.
If you want the 3.0 edition at the 1.0 price, you need to act fast. We can deliver as many copies as you can purchase, but the deadline for this "sale" is December 31 - the day Forest goes to camp.
I'm not one to ask for handouts. We don't have fifty grand just lying around, either. So here's the best of both worlds.
It may sound a little desperate, but hey, it's my kid. If it means looking a little foolish in order to save his life, that's a small price to pay. If it was your kid, what would you do?
If you've ever considered buying the book, now's the absolute best time to do it. You'll also get a special coupon you can use for a complimentary copy of our book when it's completed (but that won't be until after he graduates from the program).
It's the least I can do to say thanks.
Click here to purchase the book
There's no limited quantities on this. You can order as few or as many as you'd like. It's a great book to have in your leadership lending library for your consultants. The book offers step-by-step instruction on building your online presence quickly and effectively. Online marketing isn't just social media, folks, and this book covers all the basics in an easy to read, step-by-step approach.
So that's the reason I've been kind of incognito for the last month. We've been finalizing all the details on his enrollment, and that's kind of kept me out of the public eye for a bit.
And yes, that means next year will see some big changes for me and my family. I hope you'll stick around, because even with this ordeal, you're going to see some pretty incredible stuff coming out of our company!
I feel like I'm discounting the quality of my products when I "slash prices" and offer incredible savings on my products.
However, I have a very special circumstance that warrants doing something incredible.
My son turns 13 today. The BIG 1-3. But today's both his birthday party and his going away party.
See Forest has been struggling not only with teenage hormones, but also some emotional problems and mental health issues that have placed him and our family in harm's way more times than I care to count.
I can share this with you because he has consented to co-author a book with me about this ordeal. For the next couple of years, Forest will be in a camp program for boys with emotional problems. As a mom, this is the toughest thing I've ever done. It's
probably also the smartest thing I could ever do for my son.
You can read the details on my new website.
But here's the situation: the program costs nearly $24,000 a year - and we found out our insurance doesn't cover any of it. Big surprise, right?
And he starts December 31, so I have a lot of motvation to do something a little bit drastic.
Here's the link to get the print edition of Home Party Solution at more than 50% off.
If you want the 3.0 edition at the 1.0 price, you need to act fast. We can deliver as many copies as you can purchase, but the deadline for this "sale" is December 31 - the day Forest goes to camp.
I'm not one to ask for handouts. We don't have fifty grand just lying around, either. So here's the best of both worlds.
It may sound a little desperate, but hey, it's my kid. If it means looking a little foolish in order to save his life, that's a small price to pay. If it was your kid, what would you do?
If you've ever considered buying the book, now's the absolute best time to do it. You'll also get a special coupon you can use for a complimentary copy of our book when it's completed (but that won't be until after he graduates from the program).
It's the least I can do to say thanks.
Click here to purchase the book
There's no limited quantities on this. You can order as few or as many as you'd like. It's a great book to have in your leadership lending library for your consultants. The book offers step-by-step instruction on building your online presence quickly and effectively. Online marketing isn't just social media, folks, and this book covers all the basics in an easy to read, step-by-step approach.
So that's the reason I've been kind of incognito for the last month. We've been finalizing all the details on his enrollment, and that's kind of kept me out of the public eye for a bit.
And yes, that means next year will see some big changes for me and my family. I hope you'll stick around, because even with this ordeal, you're going to see some pretty incredible stuff coming out of our company!
Clue #3: Chinese New Year Resolutions
Chinese New Year officially was Jan 26.
That's good news, since most people have blown their New Year's Resolutions to smithereens by then.
It makes February a good time to get a fresh start. You can basically commit to re-committing yourself to achieving all those resolutions you set out to attain in January.
This month, why not make a move to clear out all the clutter? Get rid of the old projects and tasks that have been holding you back from finding real success! Take on some new challenges, and embrace change that will move your life forward with new momentum.
In January, I launched the pilot program for Build a Better Customer. This program has changed my life inprofoud ways in the past 6 months. In January, I unveiled the pilot program to a select number of clients. The results were SO amazing! The limited number of people that participated in this program gained so much clarity in their lives and focus on their goals!
Achievement was all over these guys! They made some amazing strides. What a great way to launch their new year.
And it gave me some great ideas about the kinds of people I want to work with and serve in the future. My heart will always be in direct sales. I've been a direct sales consultant, coach and leader for over 12 years. I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything.
But I also discovered that I love serving business women regardless of their industry. Direct sales is but a small slice of the female entrepreneurial market. And I want the opportunity to reach out and help them, too. That's part of why I created this program. BBC isn't just for home party consultants. It's for anyone that wants to gain clarity in their business, and work with their perfect fit customer. By focusing on one question every day, you develop the power within yourself to take your business to new levels.
The question? It's really not a mystery:
"I am building better customers. My perfect fit customer is looking for me right now. What can I do TODAY to help them find me faster, help them find me faster, help them find me faster?"
It's a very powerful question. When coupled with the other tools in the program, we've seen increases in job satisfaction, boosts in booking, sales and recruiting, as well as more clarity in the drection of people's lives.
One of my resolutions for the year was to help moer people find success in their business. In particular, I have a goal to help 10 entrepreneurs attain a 6 figure income in the next 12 months. I am happy to say that that is one resolution I haven't blown.
As for eliminating chocolate from my diet...well, I guess I'll have to try again for Chinese New Year.
That's good news, since most people have blown their New Year's Resolutions to smithereens by then.
It makes February a good time to get a fresh start. You can basically commit to re-committing yourself to achieving all those resolutions you set out to attain in January.
This month, why not make a move to clear out all the clutter? Get rid of the old projects and tasks that have been holding you back from finding real success! Take on some new challenges, and embrace change that will move your life forward with new momentum.
In January, I launched the pilot program for Build a Better Customer. This program has changed my life inprofoud ways in the past 6 months. In January, I unveiled the pilot program to a select number of clients. The results were SO amazing! The limited number of people that participated in this program gained so much clarity in their lives and focus on their goals!
Achievement was all over these guys! They made some amazing strides. What a great way to launch their new year.
And it gave me some great ideas about the kinds of people I want to work with and serve in the future. My heart will always be in direct sales. I've been a direct sales consultant, coach and leader for over 12 years. I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything.
But I also discovered that I love serving business women regardless of their industry. Direct sales is but a small slice of the female entrepreneurial market. And I want the opportunity to reach out and help them, too. That's part of why I created this program. BBC isn't just for home party consultants. It's for anyone that wants to gain clarity in their business, and work with their perfect fit customer. By focusing on one question every day, you develop the power within yourself to take your business to new levels.
The question? It's really not a mystery:
"I am building better customers. My perfect fit customer is looking for me right now. What can I do TODAY to help them find me faster, help them find me faster, help them find me faster?"
It's a very powerful question. When coupled with the other tools in the program, we've seen increases in job satisfaction, boosts in booking, sales and recruiting, as well as more clarity in the drection of people's lives.
One of my resolutions for the year was to help moer people find success in their business. In particular, I have a goal to help 10 entrepreneurs attain a 6 figure income in the next 12 months. I am happy to say that that is one resolution I haven't blown.
As for eliminating chocolate from my diet...well, I guess I'll have to try again for Chinese New Year.
What You Can Learn From Kung Fu Panda
Small Business Success: Be a Dragon Warrior
by Lisa Young
During holiday, 2008, my two year old subjected me to repeated viewings of Disney's Kung Fu Panda. Over and over and over again, I sat and watched the as the reluctant panda (Po) faced his fears, overcame obstacles and defeated the mighty foe, despite seemingly insurmountable odds to claim the title of "Dragon Warrior" and bring peace to the village outside the Jade Palace.
As Master Oogway would say, "There are no accidents."
In the final moments of the film, Po shares the ultimate secret of what it means to be the Dragon Warrior. Pardon me if I spoil the film for you, but his message is clear:
"There is no secret ingredient. It's just you."
As with most reluctant heroes, he "didn't get it" at first. Earlier in the film, he sat confused and disillusioned, staring at the blank Dragon Scroll - supposedly the secret key to unlocking all the mysteries of the universe. Not until his father revealed the mystery of his "secret ingredient soup" (there is none) did Po come to understand how this "secret" applied to becoming the Kung Fu Dragon Warrior.
Like Po, I didn't get it at first, either. Content to watch a mindless children's film incessantly until my child fell asleep, it slowly dawned on me that perhaps I was missing the very poignant message aimed at adults as well.
In life (and in business) there is no secret ingredient. It's just you.
But your level of belief makes all the difference.
We all have the power to become Dragon Warriors in our businesses - and our lives. We have to be willing to not only give ourselves that power, but believe we deserve it. Our success and happiness does not come from some secret scroll, lost for ages. There is no magic pill or "secret ingredient" that holds any power outside ourselves.
And lest you think me blasphemous, even the Bible says there must be faith and belief for God's miracles to unfold. And that begins in YOU.
So STOP looking for answers outside yourself. Dig deep within. Discover your true beliefs. Know that anything is possible in your business if you have the faith and take action in alignment with that faith. There's no secret ingredient to achieving a powerful, mission-focused business. There's no mystery to creating something you stand in awe of and proud of. There's no hidden pill, mystical experience, or million-dollar program you need to attain the levels of business success to which you aspire.
It's just YOU.
When you bring yourself, your dreams, your actions and your beliefs in alignment, doors fling open for you. You can't believe and not take action, you can't take action and not believe. You can't dream without clarity, and you can't be clear without your dreams. All these things are within you.
There is no secret ingredient. It's just you.
© 2008-2009 Lisa Robbin Young
==========
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR PRINT OR WEB PUBLICATIONS?
I'd be honored - so long as you include this complete blurb with it: Lisa Robbin Young teaches entrepreneurs how to be celebrities in the eyes of their customers. Lisa's mission is to educate entreprenurial women about big business ideas they can apply to their small business enterprise for stellar success. Learn the 4 steps to Building a Better Customer at http://www.homepartysolution.com/bbc.
by Lisa Young
During holiday, 2008, my two year old subjected me to repeated viewings of Disney's Kung Fu Panda. Over and over and over again, I sat and watched the as the reluctant panda (Po) faced his fears, overcame obstacles and defeated the mighty foe, despite seemingly insurmountable odds to claim the title of "Dragon Warrior" and bring peace to the village outside the Jade Palace.
As Master Oogway would say, "There are no accidents."
In the final moments of the film, Po shares the ultimate secret of what it means to be the Dragon Warrior. Pardon me if I spoil the film for you, but his message is clear:
"There is no secret ingredient. It's just you."
As with most reluctant heroes, he "didn't get it" at first. Earlier in the film, he sat confused and disillusioned, staring at the blank Dragon Scroll - supposedly the secret key to unlocking all the mysteries of the universe. Not until his father revealed the mystery of his "secret ingredient soup" (there is none) did Po come to understand how this "secret" applied to becoming the Kung Fu Dragon Warrior.
Like Po, I didn't get it at first, either. Content to watch a mindless children's film incessantly until my child fell asleep, it slowly dawned on me that perhaps I was missing the very poignant message aimed at adults as well.
In life (and in business) there is no secret ingredient. It's just you.
But your level of belief makes all the difference.
We all have the power to become Dragon Warriors in our businesses - and our lives. We have to be willing to not only give ourselves that power, but believe we deserve it. Our success and happiness does not come from some secret scroll, lost for ages. There is no magic pill or "secret ingredient" that holds any power outside ourselves.
And lest you think me blasphemous, even the Bible says there must be faith and belief for God's miracles to unfold. And that begins in YOU.
So STOP looking for answers outside yourself. Dig deep within. Discover your true beliefs. Know that anything is possible in your business if you have the faith and take action in alignment with that faith. There's no secret ingredient to achieving a powerful, mission-focused business. There's no mystery to creating something you stand in awe of and proud of. There's no hidden pill, mystical experience, or million-dollar program you need to attain the levels of business success to which you aspire.
It's just YOU.
When you bring yourself, your dreams, your actions and your beliefs in alignment, doors fling open for you. You can't believe and not take action, you can't take action and not believe. You can't dream without clarity, and you can't be clear without your dreams. All these things are within you.
There is no secret ingredient. It's just you.
© 2008-2009 Lisa Robbin Young
==========
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR PRINT OR WEB PUBLICATIONS?
I'd be honored - so long as you include this complete blurb with it: Lisa Robbin Young teaches entrepreneurs how to be celebrities in the eyes of their customers. Lisa's mission is to educate entreprenurial women about big business ideas they can apply to their small business enterprise for stellar success. Learn the 4 steps to Building a Better Customer at http://www.homepartysolution.com/bbc.
Happy New Year to Meeee.
Sing it with me now...
Happy Birthday to you (cha cha cha chahhh!)
Yes, I am counting down the wee hours before I turn (dare I say it?) 33 tomorrow.
TOMORROW!
Holy cow. Is it that time again already? It seems like only... well, just a few days ago actually, that I was sitting comfortably in 2007.
Well it's here now. No point in trying to shake it off.
So what's going to make this year any better (or worse) than last year?
Energy. Focus. Determination.
Or a lack thereof.
This year, I'm being selfish and spending the morning doing some annual planning. Planning for goals, achievements, new projects, Joint Ventures and let us not forget making time for family and friends.
This year is going to be explosive for me. Heck, it already HAS been explosive, and I'm only 4 days into 2008... and not officially into MY new year yet!
Here's a peek at some of the stuff I'm involved with already:
I'm so GLAD I don't have any pets - when would I find the time?
So anyway, as my year dwindles down to the final hours. Welcome to the new Blog. What are your priorities for this year? I'd love to have you share them - even if it's August when you read this post.
Happy Birthday to you (cha cha cha chahhh!)
Yes, I am counting down the wee hours before I turn (dare I say it?) 33 tomorrow.
TOMORROW!
Holy cow. Is it that time again already? It seems like only... well, just a few days ago actually, that I was sitting comfortably in 2007.
Well it's here now. No point in trying to shake it off.
So what's going to make this year any better (or worse) than last year?
Energy. Focus. Determination.
Or a lack thereof.
This year, I'm being selfish and spending the morning doing some annual planning. Planning for goals, achievements, new projects, Joint Ventures and let us not forget making time for family and friends.
This year is going to be explosive for me. Heck, it already HAS been explosive, and I'm only 4 days into 2008... and not officially into MY new year yet!
Here's a peek at some of the stuff I'm involved with already:
- A couple of JV partnerships for some Internet-related projects.
- The Launch of HomePartySolution.com and the PartyOn! Newsletter
- One of the Top 100 Authors in the Network Marketing category for E-zine Articles
- Still actively involved in my Direct Sales companies (yes, I run more than one!)
- Still actively training new recruits in my Direct Sales Companies
- Still actively promoting leaders in my Direct Sales Companies
- Revamping the website and product line for the giving candle
- Finagling the website for my pals over at Vertigo Theatrics
- Directing the female voices of the Genesee Valley Choral Company
- Posting this Blog
- Recording a new CD - that may never get done!
- Home schooling my oldest
- taking care of baby
- Did I mention our new old house?
- What? Isn't that enough for you? Wow. Tough Crowd!
I'm so GLAD I don't have any pets - when would I find the time?
So anyway, as my year dwindles down to the final hours. Welcome to the new Blog. What are your priorities for this year? I'd love to have you share them - even if it's August when you read this post.
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