When I work with clients on their target marketing, one of the biggest areas of contention is the realization that ultimately, everyone is not their target market.
No, everyone that fogs up a mirror is not your prospect. Neither is everyone who showers (if you're in skincare), everyone who eats (if you sell kitchen gadgets or food), or everyone with kids (if you sell toys or educational goodies).
You've got to be a little more specific.
For example, if you choose to service a local, offline, market, then people more than 100 miles from your home would not be part of your target market. This limits the number of people you can serve.
And that word, "limits", seems to put a stranglehold on a consultant faster than a rope 'n ride at the rodeo.
They want to serve everyone. Because if they don't serve everyone, how will they get enough clients for their business.
Then I try to remind them of this episode of I Love Lucy:
You can't possibly serve everyone and do a good job.
Really. You can't.
So, why not change your expectations? establish a market that you CAN serve, and that you WANT to serve.
And expectations go both ways. Be sure to let your target market know what they can expect from you, how you expect to serve them, and how they can expect to hear from you. here are some suggestions to help set the tone with new clients in your target market:
1. Lay out the ground rules from the get-go.
Tell them your guest lists typically have 40-50 names on them, and that you usually get them back within 3 days. If they have problems with that, you'll be more than happy to help them in person, or to direct them to another consultant that would be glad to work with them.
2. Express your excitement about helping your host have a successful show. Your best shows are going to have a certain number of guests (get this info from your statistics from last year). Let your hosts and guests know what they can expect if the evening is a success for everyone.
3. Decide in advance what kind of show you want to have. Leave nothing to chance. I have had success inviting my "go only" guests to other people's parties. If a guest says "I only go to parties, I don't host them" I put them on a list so that when I have a host that's struggling to get RSVP's, I can call them up and invite them to the party. The host thinks I'm her hero, and the guest appreciates being remembered and treated respectfully.
Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how you're going to make the most of your business, policies and procedures. your home office lays the foundation, but the framework is built by you. Your expectations set the tone for the outcome of your parties AND your business as a whole.
Expect more to get more.
Showing posts with label mindset. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mindset. 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
Never juggle alone
So I actually did a little research for this post:
I watched a handful of juggling videos on YouTube. As a kid, I had to learn how to juggle for science class. We started with one ball, which was incredibly boring, but we had to demonstrate mastery before we could move on to juggling two balls... and then three.
Fortunately, three was our limit. We just had to be able to prove we could keep three balls in motion for a preiod of time. And for as great of a multi-tasker I've become, it was not easy to keep three balls in the air in 7th grade.
So imagine my surprise when I found 5 ball forced juggling, 4, 6 and 8 object jugglers!
And it got me to thinking about how many responsibilities we, as business owners have in our daily routines.
And along comes online marketing, and "you want me to add ANOTHER ball to my juggling routine?"
I hear you.
I selected this video for two reasons - and I hope you watch it to the end. If you watch, for the most part, no one is ever responsible for more than 3 or 4 objects at one time - there are lots of items in the air, but each team member really only has to focus on their piece of the pie.
The other reason is that if you watch to the end you see where they actually DROP something. Now this was planned for effect, and if you watch, it's all done "on the beat" to the music and set up so that it times out perfectly with the end. Even there, you'll note that more than one person is throwing things at the catcher - no ONE person is responsible for everything.
In small business - particularly in direct sales, we feel like we've got to go it alone in and do it ourselves. That's the surest way to stay small in your industry.
That doesn't mean hire a bunch of elves to handle your tasks. It DOES mean seek out competent, qualified help - even if it's only on a project basis, to help free up your time to focus on the essential activities that MUST be done by you and only you.
Maybe you need a VA or one of your kids to help with loading/packing, shipping or customer follow up.
Run your business like a real business would and find excellent people to support you.
It's worth it in no uncertain terms.
With the right support team in place, you can have many many objects in the air, making it look incredibly difficult, and knowing all the while, that it's really simple if you stay focused on the part that's your responsibility.
I watched a handful of juggling videos on YouTube. As a kid, I had to learn how to juggle for science class. We started with one ball, which was incredibly boring, but we had to demonstrate mastery before we could move on to juggling two balls... and then three.
Fortunately, three was our limit. We just had to be able to prove we could keep three balls in motion for a preiod of time. And for as great of a multi-tasker I've become, it was not easy to keep three balls in the air in 7th grade.
So imagine my surprise when I found 5 ball forced juggling, 4, 6 and 8 object jugglers!
And it got me to thinking about how many responsibilities we, as business owners have in our daily routines.
And along comes online marketing, and "you want me to add ANOTHER ball to my juggling routine?"
I hear you.
I selected this video for two reasons - and I hope you watch it to the end. If you watch, for the most part, no one is ever responsible for more than 3 or 4 objects at one time - there are lots of items in the air, but each team member really only has to focus on their piece of the pie.
The other reason is that if you watch to the end you see where they actually DROP something. Now this was planned for effect, and if you watch, it's all done "on the beat" to the music and set up so that it times out perfectly with the end. Even there, you'll note that more than one person is throwing things at the catcher - no ONE person is responsible for everything.
In small business - particularly in direct sales, we feel like we've got to go it alone in and do it ourselves. That's the surest way to stay small in your industry.
That doesn't mean hire a bunch of elves to handle your tasks. It DOES mean seek out competent, qualified help - even if it's only on a project basis, to help free up your time to focus on the essential activities that MUST be done by you and only you.
Maybe you need a VA or one of your kids to help with loading/packing, shipping or customer follow up.
Run your business like a real business would and find excellent people to support you.
It's worth it in no uncertain terms.
With the right support team in place, you can have many many objects in the air, making it look incredibly difficult, and knowing all the while, that it's really simple if you stay focused on the part that's your responsibility.
Time for success?
In my last post I talked about how you've got to invest SOMETHING in your business if you want to see success.
Perhaps the BIGGEST issue I hear is the one of time.
We all know we have only 24 hours in a day.
So it's not a matter of time - we've all got the same amount.
It's a matter of priority, and clarity.
My husband and I go around on this topic regularly. I want him to mow the lawn, for example, and he wants to watch the Lions play football.
Don't get me started on the Lions. He's a die-hard fan and has been for decades. Our wedding colors wre blue and silver.
So when Sunday rolls around and the lawn's still not cut and he's watching TV, he looks at me and says "Honey, I just didn't have time this week."
BZZZZZT Wrong answer.
He CHOSE the Lions over the lawn. I can't say that I blame him, entirely. I'd rather sit in a warm room in front of a TV on a cold October day, too. Okay, I'd rather read or "hang out" on twitter, but you get the idea.
His priorities are such that Football is more important than the lawn.
My priorities are such that he is more important than football or the lawn. So I let him watch his football, and then point him in the direction of the lawnmower.
I'm telling the truth in love here.
And the road runs in both directions. There are times when I'm finishing up an email or talking with a client when it's dinner time.
It's all about priorities.
If you want to have success in anything - goal achievement, personal success, business success, relationships, etc. - you have to make it a priority.
Most people can't juggle 75 priorities. Something gets dropped.
This is where clarity comes in.
It's critical that you gain absolute clarity about what's important to you. Clarity on what your utmost priorities are.
Is your success part of that picture? If it's not, don't complain about not having the time. You've ranked your priorities.
And if something is so important you WANT to make it a priority, but you don't know how?
Figure out what gets cut.
Something has to give. You can't be all things to all people at all times.
Maybe you get less sleep. Maybe you spend less tim at the gym. Maybe you work while you're in line at the drive thru at the bank. Perhaps you delegate some activities to an assistant or high school kid that you can pay a few bucks to handle.
I've never yet met a person that could't re-arrange their priorities to accomplish something if they TRULY wanted to make it happen.
In fact, we're more likely to have too much time on our hands that we're wasting, than not enough time to achieve our goals.
I know. Them's fightin' words to many moms.
Sometimes, though, success means sacrifice. Sacrifice doesn't mean killing yourself to make something happen - it means relinquishing something of value, so that you can gain something else of greater value.
Which, when you think about it that way, isn't really a sacrifice, is it?
Perhaps the BIGGEST issue I hear is the one of time.
We all know we have only 24 hours in a day.
So it's not a matter of time - we've all got the same amount.
It's a matter of priority, and clarity.
My husband and I go around on this topic regularly. I want him to mow the lawn, for example, and he wants to watch the Lions play football.
Don't get me started on the Lions. He's a die-hard fan and has been for decades. Our wedding colors wre blue and silver.
So when Sunday rolls around and the lawn's still not cut and he's watching TV, he looks at me and says "Honey, I just didn't have time this week."
BZZZZZT Wrong answer.
He CHOSE the Lions over the lawn. I can't say that I blame him, entirely. I'd rather sit in a warm room in front of a TV on a cold October day, too. Okay, I'd rather read or "hang out" on twitter, but you get the idea.
His priorities are such that Football is more important than the lawn.
My priorities are such that he is more important than football or the lawn. So I let him watch his football, and then point him in the direction of the lawnmower.
I'm telling the truth in love here.
And the road runs in both directions. There are times when I'm finishing up an email or talking with a client when it's dinner time.
It's all about priorities.
If you want to have success in anything - goal achievement, personal success, business success, relationships, etc. - you have to make it a priority.
Most people can't juggle 75 priorities. Something gets dropped.
This is where clarity comes in.
It's critical that you gain absolute clarity about what's important to you. Clarity on what your utmost priorities are.
Is your success part of that picture? If it's not, don't complain about not having the time. You've ranked your priorities.
And if something is so important you WANT to make it a priority, but you don't know how?
Figure out what gets cut.
Something has to give. You can't be all things to all people at all times.
Maybe you get less sleep. Maybe you spend less tim at the gym. Maybe you work while you're in line at the drive thru at the bank. Perhaps you delegate some activities to an assistant or high school kid that you can pay a few bucks to handle.
I've never yet met a person that could't re-arrange their priorities to accomplish something if they TRULY wanted to make it happen.
In fact, we're more likely to have too much time on our hands that we're wasting, than not enough time to achieve our goals.
I know. Them's fightin' words to many moms.
Sometimes, though, success means sacrifice. Sacrifice doesn't mean killing yourself to make something happen - it means relinquishing something of value, so that you can gain something else of greater value.
Which, when you think about it that way, isn't really a sacrifice, is it?
Coaching vs. Mentoring: What's the Diff?
In light of the pre-launch of my new training and coaching program, Marketing Mentors, I wanted to define and distinguish between coaching and mentoring.
Most people don't readily acknowledge that there is a difference between the two.
For one, mentoring requires some level of "been there, done that" in order to be effective. in essence, the mentor comes alongside the mentee, to help them navigate the rough waters of their situation, and steer them to safer waters, generally based on their past experiences.
For example, if you wanted to learn how to jet ski, your brother-in-law who's been doing it for years, could mentor you, and show you how to jump the waves just like he does.
In business, if you wanted to increase sales using a particular technique, you would find someone well-versed in that technique and have them teach/train/mentor you in mastering that technique.
Mentoring is specific to the task at hand. If you don't have an area of experience related to the task at hand, you cannot mentor someone.
You could, however, coach them.
In fact, you may often find that coaches have very little practical experience in the specifi situations you face in your business. But a good coach doesn't need to, because they are not mentoring you. They are not showing you a step-by-step, "this is how I did it" process.
In fact, it's kind of the opposite. Coaches, work with you to help YOU develop your OWN process.
For example, I've never had the experience of personally dealing with the voice change that men endure when puberty converts those pure, pristing little boy voices into deep, brooding, "manly man" voices.
But as a vocal coach, I work with men who struggle with "smoothing out" the transition from different registers in their vocal range. There are specific techniques and exercises I can offer, have the man try, and they experience for themselves the benefits.
In addition, mentoring assumes a small layer of responsibility, whereas in coaching, the responsibility for growth and progress lies almost entirely in the hands of the person being coached.
A Mentor may say "try this, it worked for me". A coach will say "what do you think would work for you? Have you thought about this?"
While the words sound similar, they have entrely different meanings and semantics.
One of the things I pride myself on is the fact that I rarely recommend something if I haven't found success with it myself. If I can make it work, and be successful with it, I readily recommend it to my own team, as well as my clients and customers.
That holds true whether I'm working with Direct Sellers or if I'm selling a skin cream. I try to be authentic in my dealings, and let people know honestly what my reactions and successes/failures have been so that they can gauge their own personal level of potential success.
In it's purest form, those recommendations are a type of mentoring. So if I make a suggestion and it doesn't work, a mentee can come back to me and say "that didn't work. now what?"
That leaves me on the hook for a lot of potential blame, if I'm not choosing my words carefully and coaching my clients along the way.
A blanket recommendation rarely works for everyone - because we are not a one-size-fits-all society. We are different people with different needs and abilities.
Thus, for me, my mentoring always comes along with a healthy dose of coaching.
Asking powerful questions, seeking answers based on the specific needs of the client, but allowing the input to be driven entirely by the client is what coaching is all about.
For example, a client told me that she wasn't getting any shows on her calendar.
Instead of giving her a run down of "try this, try that" I begin with questions:
* do you know your show booking average?
* Do you know your show attendance average?
* Do you know your RSVP rate?
* What's your cancellation rate?
Notice I didn't say "how many people did you talk to today?" In business, when a company is stuck in a rut, sometimes it's more helpful to see the bigger picture (trends) than it is to focus on what's not working right now.
Interestingly enough, most consultants don't even know these basic business details.
So instead of showing them how to get more bookings, we look at how failing to know their business is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed.
And funny enough, when they start looking at those numbers, they start to see the answers:
"well, I'm only seeing 4 people at my average show. i guess I need to make sure my hostess gets those invitations out."
"People aren't RSVP'ing like they should. I guess maybe I should review the script with my hostess so she knows what to say when calling to confirm attendnce."
That, my friends is coaching. Like a birthing coach, I can't have the baby for you - or tell you how to do it right. I can only help you along, guide, you and keep you focused on the actions you already know are within you that need to happen to bring that baby out!
But coaching COMBINED with mentoring not only gives the coach more credibility, it also lends more empathy on the part of the coach.
When you're struggling with the same issues your mentor endured, the mentor can "totally relate to what you're going through." They can empathize with your frustration, and help you to see what the other side of that mountain looks like - because they have already crossed over - and you can, too!
It's a unique blend that I think strengthens the client relationship in a way that adds remarkable value, without placing the onus on the coach. Ultimately the responsibility for success lies firmly in the hands of the coaching client, and the empathy a mentor/coach might have for a specific situation can work to augment the coachign relationship and sometimes speed up the process that leads to success.
Rich rewards await those that work with either a coach or a mentor, and having both can be a blessing.
Most people don't readily acknowledge that there is a difference between the two.
For one, mentoring requires some level of "been there, done that" in order to be effective. in essence, the mentor comes alongside the mentee, to help them navigate the rough waters of their situation, and steer them to safer waters, generally based on their past experiences.
For example, if you wanted to learn how to jet ski, your brother-in-law who's been doing it for years, could mentor you, and show you how to jump the waves just like he does.
In business, if you wanted to increase sales using a particular technique, you would find someone well-versed in that technique and have them teach/train/mentor you in mastering that technique.
Mentoring is specific to the task at hand. If you don't have an area of experience related to the task at hand, you cannot mentor someone.
You could, however, coach them.
In fact, you may often find that coaches have very little practical experience in the specifi situations you face in your business. But a good coach doesn't need to, because they are not mentoring you. They are not showing you a step-by-step, "this is how I did it" process.
In fact, it's kind of the opposite. Coaches, work with you to help YOU develop your OWN process.
For example, I've never had the experience of personally dealing with the voice change that men endure when puberty converts those pure, pristing little boy voices into deep, brooding, "manly man" voices.
But as a vocal coach, I work with men who struggle with "smoothing out" the transition from different registers in their vocal range. There are specific techniques and exercises I can offer, have the man try, and they experience for themselves the benefits.
In addition, mentoring assumes a small layer of responsibility, whereas in coaching, the responsibility for growth and progress lies almost entirely in the hands of the person being coached.
A Mentor may say "try this, it worked for me". A coach will say "what do you think would work for you? Have you thought about this?"
While the words sound similar, they have entrely different meanings and semantics.
One of the things I pride myself on is the fact that I rarely recommend something if I haven't found success with it myself. If I can make it work, and be successful with it, I readily recommend it to my own team, as well as my clients and customers.
That holds true whether I'm working with Direct Sellers or if I'm selling a skin cream. I try to be authentic in my dealings, and let people know honestly what my reactions and successes/failures have been so that they can gauge their own personal level of potential success.
In it's purest form, those recommendations are a type of mentoring. So if I make a suggestion and it doesn't work, a mentee can come back to me and say "that didn't work. now what?"
That leaves me on the hook for a lot of potential blame, if I'm not choosing my words carefully and coaching my clients along the way.
A blanket recommendation rarely works for everyone - because we are not a one-size-fits-all society. We are different people with different needs and abilities.
Thus, for me, my mentoring always comes along with a healthy dose of coaching.
Asking powerful questions, seeking answers based on the specific needs of the client, but allowing the input to be driven entirely by the client is what coaching is all about.
For example, a client told me that she wasn't getting any shows on her calendar.
Instead of giving her a run down of "try this, try that" I begin with questions:
* do you know your show booking average?
* Do you know your show attendance average?
* Do you know your RSVP rate?
* What's your cancellation rate?
Notice I didn't say "how many people did you talk to today?" In business, when a company is stuck in a rut, sometimes it's more helpful to see the bigger picture (trends) than it is to focus on what's not working right now.
Interestingly enough, most consultants don't even know these basic business details.
So instead of showing them how to get more bookings, we look at how failing to know their business is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed.
And funny enough, when they start looking at those numbers, they start to see the answers:
"well, I'm only seeing 4 people at my average show. i guess I need to make sure my hostess gets those invitations out."
"People aren't RSVP'ing like they should. I guess maybe I should review the script with my hostess so she knows what to say when calling to confirm attendnce."
That, my friends is coaching. Like a birthing coach, I can't have the baby for you - or tell you how to do it right. I can only help you along, guide, you and keep you focused on the actions you already know are within you that need to happen to bring that baby out!
But coaching COMBINED with mentoring not only gives the coach more credibility, it also lends more empathy on the part of the coach.
When you're struggling with the same issues your mentor endured, the mentor can "totally relate to what you're going through." They can empathize with your frustration, and help you to see what the other side of that mountain looks like - because they have already crossed over - and you can, too!
It's a unique blend that I think strengthens the client relationship in a way that adds remarkable value, without placing the onus on the coach. Ultimately the responsibility for success lies firmly in the hands of the coaching client, and the empathy a mentor/coach might have for a specific situation can work to augment the coachign relationship and sometimes speed up the process that leads to success.
Rich rewards await those that work with either a coach or a mentor, and having both can be a blessing.
The Body Shop At Home US Closes April 30
As a Direct Sales Coach and trainer, I've always wondered about the other coaches that don't tell you what company they were with.
They'll tell you they earned fancy trips, shiny cars, and made a ton of cash climbing the leadership ranks, but the never tell you what company they were with.
When I became a coach, just over a year ago, I vowed I wouldn't use my business as a recruiting platform, so while I didn't advertise any of the companies I worked with, I also didn't really HIDE it from anyone.
I've ben involved in numerous direct selling/network marketing companies in the past decade. None of them made me feel more at home than the At Home division of The Body Shop. I loved the values, the products and the people. They quickly became "my primary bizop".
And today, regrettably, they have announced a closing of the doors in the US. Amid some other scandalous issues from late last year, we are all elft wondering the root of the decision, but ultimately, At Home was not a profitable, sustainable channel for The Body Shop brand.
People have already started coming out of the woodwork asking me if I'm going to be okay, which makes me chuckle.
Of COURSE I'm going to be okay. I never promoted The Body Shop in the first place.
I always branded ME.
This isn't the first company I've been a consultant for that's closed it's doors (it's the third, actually), yet, of all the companies I've worked with, they're the ONLY ones that I've seen do it RIGHT.
A stream of correspondence showered the morning. With REAL commitments to help us transition to other opportunities, plus increases in pay, bonuses, etc for teh remainder of the term.
For some of these women, TBSAH was the ONLY source of income for their families. Many were earning $10,000 or more each month - and in 6 weeks that will all be gone.
The Body Shop has done a outstanding job of making a bad situation more tolerable. They are proactively seeking ways for us to transition to other opportunities, even offering up priority consideration for employment within TBSAH stores.
It's never a good thing to have to lop off a division of a company - in terms of headcount, morale, etc. But if it has to be done, The Body Shop is a good example of the right way to do it.
And I'm not the least bit concerned about my direction now that TBSAH is closing in the US. I'll just turn back to the sme methods I've been teaching in Home Party Solution. I know offers will come out of the woodwork, so it's just a matter of finding the right fit for me.
And I never promoted my direct sales company - I took my own advice. I am the most important produt my company has to offer, so I promote myself first. That's why people know me, instead of the face cream, candles, toys, kitchen gadgets, jewelry, and other products I used to sell.
Now more than ever, I maintain that you NEED to be creating a name for yourself first - your product second and your company third. Most companies don't like that idea.
Who cares!?! It's YOUR life that's at stake here. Build it to YOUR benefit.
They'll tell you they earned fancy trips, shiny cars, and made a ton of cash climbing the leadership ranks, but the never tell you what company they were with.
When I became a coach, just over a year ago, I vowed I wouldn't use my business as a recruiting platform, so while I didn't advertise any of the companies I worked with, I also didn't really HIDE it from anyone.
I've ben involved in numerous direct selling/network marketing companies in the past decade. None of them made me feel more at home than the At Home division of The Body Shop. I loved the values, the products and the people. They quickly became "my primary bizop".
And today, regrettably, they have announced a closing of the doors in the US. Amid some other scandalous issues from late last year, we are all elft wondering the root of the decision, but ultimately, At Home was not a profitable, sustainable channel for The Body Shop brand.
People have already started coming out of the woodwork asking me if I'm going to be okay, which makes me chuckle.
Of COURSE I'm going to be okay. I never promoted The Body Shop in the first place.
I always branded ME.
This isn't the first company I've been a consultant for that's closed it's doors (it's the third, actually), yet, of all the companies I've worked with, they're the ONLY ones that I've seen do it RIGHT.
A stream of correspondence showered the morning. With REAL commitments to help us transition to other opportunities, plus increases in pay, bonuses, etc for teh remainder of the term.
For some of these women, TBSAH was the ONLY source of income for their families. Many were earning $10,000 or more each month - and in 6 weeks that will all be gone.
The Body Shop has done a outstanding job of making a bad situation more tolerable. They are proactively seeking ways for us to transition to other opportunities, even offering up priority consideration for employment within TBSAH stores.
It's never a good thing to have to lop off a division of a company - in terms of headcount, morale, etc. But if it has to be done, The Body Shop is a good example of the right way to do it.
And I'm not the least bit concerned about my direction now that TBSAH is closing in the US. I'll just turn back to the sme methods I've been teaching in Home Party Solution. I know offers will come out of the woodwork, so it's just a matter of finding the right fit for me.
And I never promoted my direct sales company - I took my own advice. I am the most important produt my company has to offer, so I promote myself first. That's why people know me, instead of the face cream, candles, toys, kitchen gadgets, jewelry, and other products I used to sell.
Now more than ever, I maintain that you NEED to be creating a name for yourself first - your product second and your company third. Most companies don't like that idea.
Who cares!?! It's YOUR life that's at stake here. Build it to YOUR benefit.
The BIG Unveiling: What The Heck IS Going ON?
Let's piece the clues together:
I'm closing the doors to something at the end of February (or sooner).
I've gotten very clear on who I want to help and where I want my business to go.
I'm not just addressing the Direct Sales industry.
I'm focusing on working with Christian business women.
I'm giving something away for free.
I'm also creating something even better.
I'm doing it in a BIG way.
There's going to be some VIDEO involved.
And I keep mentioning my "Build a Better Customer" Program
Can you stand it any longer? Okay, here's the BIG news:
Say goodbye to Home Party Solution as you know it. That ship has sailed.
Or it will come the end of February (or when all the current copies are sold out).
Yep. I told you people would think I'm nuts.
More on that in a minute.
What am I giving away? The entire updated curriculum for the Build a Better Customer program. In full - with nothing left out.
See, during the pilot program, I was hesitant to share a lot of what made this program really tick for me. Quite honestly, my faith and belief in God really drives my success, and it's at the core of this program.
I felt like I had to water it down tremendously in order to create "mass appeal" for the product.
But in my coaching sessions, my clients were actually appreciative of the references to God and faith, when I was feeling so apologetic about it. It became clear to me that THIS was the way GOD wanted me to operate. Not from some shady, half-veiled product creation.
And someone once said that knowledge should be free. I agree to a point. I believe that basic constructs designed to improve our human existence shouldn't have a pricetag. I also believe that my hard work and creativity should be rewarded/compensated appropriately.
So after offering up this project in prayer, I've decided that the beginning of my "crack addiction' will be to GIVE the content in my Build a Better Customer Program away. I'm still working out the details, but rest assured, this program will be a fantastic tool in your business building arsenal. I've already charged hundreds for this content, and I feel confident that it's worth ten times what others have paid for it - especially now that I'm dding in all the components, like my P.E.A.C.E. process that brings even more clarity to the method.
Yep, I know. My husband thinks I'm mentally ill, too.
But I say I'm crazy like a fox.
See, when you've gone through this system, you'll feel so empowered, so motivated, and so ready to do what comes next, you'll KNOW what you need to do. And I'll be there to provide you with teh step-by-step coaching to take your business to the next level.
I will, in short, have created my 'crack addiction'.
Yeah, but what about Home Party Solution? Before you stand there, staring at the door, I want you to know that it's not gone forever - it will be making a comeback - but in a completely reborn format.
More comprehensive, more informative, and so much EASIER to follow. This will be a multimedia experience like you've never seen before in the direct sales industry. But it will come at a MUCH bigger price tag.
Yep, there I go, raising prices when everyone else is lowering them. I really am insane, huh?
Not really.
See, I can't afford to keep cranking out the same old stuff that everyone else is churning out on a monthly basis. You're too savvy for that. If you're like me, you're tired of seeing the same stuff, repackaged with a shiny new label.
About every six months, I've released an updated version of Home Party Solution, incorporating the latest information and strategies for using online marketing to grow your business. And each time I do, I raise the price. Because I'm adding more content and more knowledge. I'm shortening your learning curve immensely.
And I think that's worth a few pennies in the bucket.
But the one thing I kept hearing over and over was that people wanted to see some video, hear some audio, make it a little more interactive.
Your wish is my command.
So I'll be spending the next couple of months totally revising, revamping and suping up the engine that is Home Party Solution. In the end, the finished product will actually be TWO products: A solution specifically for Direct Sales consultants, and another solution targeted to small business owners in general.
So much of what I teach crosses over, and I've seen my subscriber base expand from just home party consultants to a wider array of work from home, small business entrpreneurs.
It will be concise, powerful, portable and interactive. And we're going to cover more than just the basics. You won't BELIEVE what you're going to be experiencing. And I can't wait to share it with you.
In the meantime, you best pick up your copy of Home Party Solution before it becomes a collector's item. Once that happens, people could be selling it on ebay for a few hundred bucks.
Don't laugh! I've seen it happen before!
When they're gone, we're closing the doors. And I promise you it'll be at LEAST March before the new version is ready - possibly even April or May. I'm not going to do this thing half way. If you want the insider tips and secrets I've been sharing with my clients for the past year, now's the time to get on the bandwagon before every last copy is sold out.
Yes, the PM2 Mastermind group will still be available, and if you get the complete Home Party Solution package now, you can lock in the lowest PM2 rate now.
Don't stand there staring at the door at the end of February. Jump through the window now while there's still time!
It looks like Lauren is our big winner, although I got a few emails asking all kinds of questions in addition to the posts on the blog. I think you got all the big elements of the announcement: closing Home Party Solution, giving away BBC. email me, girlie, and I'll get your content out to you.
Congrats!
I'm closing the doors to something at the end of February (or sooner).
I've gotten very clear on who I want to help and where I want my business to go.
I'm not just addressing the Direct Sales industry.
I'm focusing on working with Christian business women.
I'm giving something away for free.
I'm also creating something even better.
I'm doing it in a BIG way.
There's going to be some VIDEO involved.
And I keep mentioning my "Build a Better Customer" Program
Can you stand it any longer? Okay, here's the BIG news:
Say goodbye to Home Party Solution as you know it. That ship has sailed.
Or it will come the end of February (or when all the current copies are sold out).
Yep. I told you people would think I'm nuts.
More on that in a minute.
What am I giving away? The entire updated curriculum for the Build a Better Customer program. In full - with nothing left out.
See, during the pilot program, I was hesitant to share a lot of what made this program really tick for me. Quite honestly, my faith and belief in God really drives my success, and it's at the core of this program.
I felt like I had to water it down tremendously in order to create "mass appeal" for the product.
But in my coaching sessions, my clients were actually appreciative of the references to God and faith, when I was feeling so apologetic about it. It became clear to me that THIS was the way GOD wanted me to operate. Not from some shady, half-veiled product creation.
And someone once said that knowledge should be free. I agree to a point. I believe that basic constructs designed to improve our human existence shouldn't have a pricetag. I also believe that my hard work and creativity should be rewarded/compensated appropriately.
So after offering up this project in prayer, I've decided that the beginning of my "crack addiction' will be to GIVE the content in my Build a Better Customer Program away. I'm still working out the details, but rest assured, this program will be a fantastic tool in your business building arsenal. I've already charged hundreds for this content, and I feel confident that it's worth ten times what others have paid for it - especially now that I'm dding in all the components, like my P.E.A.C.E. process that brings even more clarity to the method.
Yep, I know. My husband thinks I'm mentally ill, too.
But I say I'm crazy like a fox.
See, when you've gone through this system, you'll feel so empowered, so motivated, and so ready to do what comes next, you'll KNOW what you need to do. And I'll be there to provide you with teh step-by-step coaching to take your business to the next level.
I will, in short, have created my 'crack addiction'.
Yeah, but what about Home Party Solution? Before you stand there, staring at the door, I want you to know that it's not gone forever - it will be making a comeback - but in a completely reborn format.
More comprehensive, more informative, and so much EASIER to follow. This will be a multimedia experience like you've never seen before in the direct sales industry. But it will come at a MUCH bigger price tag.
Yep, there I go, raising prices when everyone else is lowering them. I really am insane, huh?
Not really.
See, I can't afford to keep cranking out the same old stuff that everyone else is churning out on a monthly basis. You're too savvy for that. If you're like me, you're tired of seeing the same stuff, repackaged with a shiny new label.
About every six months, I've released an updated version of Home Party Solution, incorporating the latest information and strategies for using online marketing to grow your business. And each time I do, I raise the price. Because I'm adding more content and more knowledge. I'm shortening your learning curve immensely.
And I think that's worth a few pennies in the bucket.
But the one thing I kept hearing over and over was that people wanted to see some video, hear some audio, make it a little more interactive.
Your wish is my command.
So I'll be spending the next couple of months totally revising, revamping and suping up the engine that is Home Party Solution. In the end, the finished product will actually be TWO products: A solution specifically for Direct Sales consultants, and another solution targeted to small business owners in general.
So much of what I teach crosses over, and I've seen my subscriber base expand from just home party consultants to a wider array of work from home, small business entrpreneurs.
It will be concise, powerful, portable and interactive. And we're going to cover more than just the basics. You won't BELIEVE what you're going to be experiencing. And I can't wait to share it with you.
In the meantime, you best pick up your copy of Home Party Solution before it becomes a collector's item. Once that happens, people could be selling it on ebay for a few hundred bucks.
Don't laugh! I've seen it happen before!
When they're gone, we're closing the doors. And I promise you it'll be at LEAST March before the new version is ready - possibly even April or May. I'm not going to do this thing half way. If you want the insider tips and secrets I've been sharing with my clients for the past year, now's the time to get on the bandwagon before every last copy is sold out.
Yes, the PM2 Mastermind group will still be available, and if you get the complete Home Party Solution package now, you can lock in the lowest PM2 rate now.
Don't stand there staring at the door at the end of February. Jump through the window now while there's still time!
It looks like Lauren is our big winner, although I got a few emails asking all kinds of questions in addition to the posts on the blog. I think you got all the big elements of the announcement: closing Home Party Solution, giving away BBC. email me, girlie, and I'll get your content out to you.
Congrats!
Clue #12: Closing Doors
I posted a few weeks ago about how we sometimes stand starting at a closed door, wondering what happened, when, in reality, we need to be looking at the window that just opened up down the way.
I'm closing a door at the end of February.
I can't say it any plainer than that. So please don't stand staring at it, hoping it will re-open.
That door is closed forever.
Which door? You'll find out in less than an hour. But who cares!?!
You should be looking for the window.
There are people that will call me a meat head for closing this door.
There are people that will sratch their heads and wonder what I'm up to.
And there are people that will bang on that door for weeks after it's been closed, trying to get back in.
They should be looking for the window.
There WILL be a window of opportunity between tonight's announcement and the closing door at theend of the month.
Will you be looking for it?
Will you take advantage of it?
Or will you sit there, scratching your head, staring at the door, come March?
This isn't a scare tactic. This isn't a "going out of business sale".
This is me, culling the wheat from the chaff. Closing the door on projects that aren't as good a they could be to make way for something SO amazing, you'll fall out of your chair when you hear about it later tonight.
At least I HOPE you'll fall out of your chair. I think it's pretty exciting.
I'm closing a door at the end of February.
I can't say it any plainer than that. So please don't stand staring at it, hoping it will re-open.
That door is closed forever.
Which door? You'll find out in less than an hour. But who cares!?!
You should be looking for the window.
There are people that will call me a meat head for closing this door.
There are people that will sratch their heads and wonder what I'm up to.
And there are people that will bang on that door for weeks after it's been closed, trying to get back in.
They should be looking for the window.
There WILL be a window of opportunity between tonight's announcement and the closing door at theend of the month.
Will you be looking for it?
Will you take advantage of it?
Or will you sit there, scratching your head, staring at the door, come March?
This isn't a scare tactic. This isn't a "going out of business sale".
This is me, culling the wheat from the chaff. Closing the door on projects that aren't as good a they could be to make way for something SO amazing, you'll fall out of your chair when you hear about it later tonight.
At least I HOPE you'll fall out of your chair. I think it's pretty exciting.
Clue #10: Red Hot Chili Peppers
"give it away, give it away, give it away now."
That song was an anthem in my high school days.
I still don't get the lyrics, but who cares? The pulsing beat, the driving rhythm of the lyrics maes you want to give...
give...
give...
"Give it away give it away give it away now!"
For those of you guessing I'm giving something away, you're on the right track. You can't create a crazy addiction if you don't.
Yes, it something more than my weekly ezine.
No, it's not something specifically targeted to direct sales consultants.
But something giving away is only HALF of creating an addiction. I've outlined the rest of it in previous clues.
Each clue gives you glimpses of what I'm about to do.
Yes, it's a bit shocking.
Yes, there's a reward system built into it (but not necessarily an affiliate program)
Things are getting kicked up a notch. In direct sales, it's nothing you've ever seen done before. In business, I'm bringing coaching to a whole new level.
You'll find out more in a few hours. In the meantime, are you guys going to let Lauren run away with the guesses?
That song was an anthem in my high school days.
I still don't get the lyrics, but who cares? The pulsing beat, the driving rhythm of the lyrics maes you want to give...
give...
give...
"Give it away give it away give it away now!"
For those of you guessing I'm giving something away, you're on the right track. You can't create a crazy addiction if you don't.
Yes, it something more than my weekly ezine.
No, it's not something specifically targeted to direct sales consultants.
But something giving away is only HALF of creating an addiction. I've outlined the rest of it in previous clues.
Each clue gives you glimpses of what I'm about to do.
Yes, it's a bit shocking.
Yes, there's a reward system built into it (but not necessarily an affiliate program)
Things are getting kicked up a notch. In direct sales, it's nothing you've ever seen done before. In business, I'm bringing coaching to a whole new level.
You'll find out more in a few hours. In the meantime, are you guys going to let Lauren run away with the guesses?
Clue#7: Creating a Crack Addiction
I've been toying with the idea that in order to be successful in business, you have to create a loyal following that goes beyond "customer satisfaction" and even a bit past "customer loyalty".
I call it "customer crack addiction".
Now, I mean this in the nicest possible way, with no offense to any crackheads that might be reading my post.
I examined other possible ideas and concepts. I've read Jeffrey Gitomer's book, "Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless", and I agree with so much of what he writes.
At one point he draws the comparison to a marriage. Would you want your spouse to be "satisfied" or "loyal"?
Great analogy. But I think there's another level: "Addicted"
In my mind, I want my spouse to be addicted to me. He can't get enough of me. Would do anything to be close to me. I might draw the line at being obsessed with having me, but I think you get the idea.
The Bible tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. In my mind, that means be willing to die for me. To lay down his life in order to save me.
Periodically, I ask my husband if he's willing to take a bullet, or give up a kidney for me.
I'm still working on getting him "trained". Hee hee.
But in business, you I believe you CAN create an addiction to your products and services. Before I share that wih you, though, let's take a look at the desired results:
Crack/Cocaine is a nervous system stimulant. It affects the brain, and leaves you in a temporary state of euphoria. Essentially, you feel SO GOOD while you're "high" on the drug that you lose touch with the problems and issues of your reality. I heard Tony Robbins explain it in his Personal Power series of 20 years ago. In basic terms, you are feeling immense pleasure and absolutely no pain while you are under the influence of the drug. You have no inhibitions, no fears, no doubts, worries. Nothing negative exists in this world.
NO WONDER people become drug addicts!
And how does the pusher work?
He gives you a taste for free. You might remember the commercals that ran in the late 80's/early 90's with the kid who was just supposed to give the 'stuff' away. Then when his friends came back - "THAT'S When I start charging?" said the kid.
Before this story takes a dark turn, let's bring it back to my business analogy.
We've all seen the thousans upon thousands of 'freebies' that are given away every singleday on the internet. Put you email address here and we'll give you our free ezine, our free special report, our free tip of the week, our free piece of day old limburger cheese...
I'm kidding about the cheese.
But you get the idea. Everyone's offering something for free to get you to give up your precious contact information so that they can barrage you with emails about the latest and greatest thing they want to sell you.
Here's where I start to huff and puff. I'm blowing the house down, folks.
I've built my newsletter over the past year to a sizeable audience. Thousands of you read my work every week. I'm humbled by that. And I don't charge a penny for it - and never will as far as I can tell. As long as email is free, my newsletter will be too.
But like cocaine, once you develop a tolerance for it, you need more and more to get the high you first did. And no, I've never done drugs, just so we're clear on that. I'm a just say no girl. If anything, chocolate is my drug of choice!
So you, as a consumer, have grown immune to the "click here for your free report" type marketing. And that's GOOD news for you.
Because it means we as sales people have to raise the bar and give you more value.
As far as I'm concerned, I want your business. I want to make millions and millions of dollars off my customers for decades to come. I want to create a crack addiction with you. I want you to be so excited about the products and services that I offer that you don't even blink an eye about opening your wallet to "get the goods" from me.
But like a drug addiction, you're not paying big coin for regurgitated crap. I'm not selling you baking soda or powdered sugar. This is a powerful, mind expanding, state altering product. Once you've tried it, you'll never go back to the way you were. It's not possible. You will have changed in your very core. You will be SO different because you will know things you may not have known before. You'll be so CLEAR on your mission and passion in your life, that you'll know what to do and how to take action.
But like any good "pusher" you first have to get a sample...
Some of you are giving some great guesses. Tell your friends to join in the fun, there's still time! The big announcement is tonight at 7pm. Post your guesses here, and watch this blog for more clues throughout the day!
I call it "customer crack addiction".
Now, I mean this in the nicest possible way, with no offense to any crackheads that might be reading my post.
I examined other possible ideas and concepts. I've read Jeffrey Gitomer's book, "Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless", and I agree with so much of what he writes.
At one point he draws the comparison to a marriage. Would you want your spouse to be "satisfied" or "loyal"?
Great analogy. But I think there's another level: "Addicted"
In my mind, I want my spouse to be addicted to me. He can't get enough of me. Would do anything to be close to me. I might draw the line at being obsessed with having me, but I think you get the idea.
The Bible tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. In my mind, that means be willing to die for me. To lay down his life in order to save me.
Periodically, I ask my husband if he's willing to take a bullet, or give up a kidney for me.
I'm still working on getting him "trained". Hee hee.
But in business, you I believe you CAN create an addiction to your products and services. Before I share that wih you, though, let's take a look at the desired results:
Crack/Cocaine is a nervous system stimulant. It affects the brain, and leaves you in a temporary state of euphoria. Essentially, you feel SO GOOD while you're "high" on the drug that you lose touch with the problems and issues of your reality. I heard Tony Robbins explain it in his Personal Power series of 20 years ago. In basic terms, you are feeling immense pleasure and absolutely no pain while you are under the influence of the drug. You have no inhibitions, no fears, no doubts, worries. Nothing negative exists in this world.
NO WONDER people become drug addicts!
And how does the pusher work?
He gives you a taste for free. You might remember the commercals that ran in the late 80's/early 90's with the kid who was just supposed to give the 'stuff' away. Then when his friends came back - "THAT'S When I start charging?" said the kid.
Before this story takes a dark turn, let's bring it back to my business analogy.
We've all seen the thousans upon thousands of 'freebies' that are given away every singleday on the internet. Put you email address here and we'll give you our free ezine, our free special report, our free tip of the week, our free piece of day old limburger cheese...
I'm kidding about the cheese.
But you get the idea. Everyone's offering something for free to get you to give up your precious contact information so that they can barrage you with emails about the latest and greatest thing they want to sell you.
Here's where I start to huff and puff. I'm blowing the house down, folks.
I've built my newsletter over the past year to a sizeable audience. Thousands of you read my work every week. I'm humbled by that. And I don't charge a penny for it - and never will as far as I can tell. As long as email is free, my newsletter will be too.
But like cocaine, once you develop a tolerance for it, you need more and more to get the high you first did. And no, I've never done drugs, just so we're clear on that. I'm a just say no girl. If anything, chocolate is my drug of choice!
So you, as a consumer, have grown immune to the "click here for your free report" type marketing. And that's GOOD news for you.
Because it means we as sales people have to raise the bar and give you more value.
As far as I'm concerned, I want your business. I want to make millions and millions of dollars off my customers for decades to come. I want to create a crack addiction with you. I want you to be so excited about the products and services that I offer that you don't even blink an eye about opening your wallet to "get the goods" from me.
But like a drug addiction, you're not paying big coin for regurgitated crap. I'm not selling you baking soda or powdered sugar. This is a powerful, mind expanding, state altering product. Once you've tried it, you'll never go back to the way you were. It's not possible. You will have changed in your very core. You will be SO different because you will know things you may not have known before. You'll be so CLEAR on your mission and passion in your life, that you'll know what to do and how to take action.
But like any good "pusher" you first have to get a sample...
Some of you are giving some great guesses. Tell your friends to join in the fun, there's still time! The big announcement is tonight at 7pm. Post your guesses here, and watch this blog for more clues throughout the day!
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.
Make it Black Friday EVERY Day
Well, it's official. According to a post at CNN.com:
"The National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday that the U.S. has been in a recession since December 2007, making official what most Americans have already believed about the state of the economy."
And yet, despite the horror stories and deep discounts, retail sales were still up 3% over last year on Black Friday.
Where's the disconnect? And how can we apply that to Real Life Marketing?
The day after Thanksgiving in the US signals the beginning of the end - the mad shopping frenzy that beats a path to Christmas Day and leaves a trail of exhausted shoppers in it's wake.
For most Home Party consultants, however, the holiday season is quickly winding down, and many consultants find themselves in a slump from around December 9 through the end of the year. In fact, many consultants - and some companies - close their doors for the last two weeks of the year - despite the potential for additional sales, parties and possible recruits.
Black Friday shouldn't be a one-day-of-the-year occurrence. Retailers pin their profit dreams on the single biggest shopping day of the year - and many find their dreams dashed on the rocks if sales aren't all they imagined.
What can you do to make your sales cycles more consistent? What can you do to make every day Black Friday - that is, more profitable?
Diversify. Don't pin all your hopes on one show on your calendar - or one month (or day) of the year. Every day that you have a show, your office is "open for business".
Consistency. Touch your business regularly. Have business hours - even if it's only one hour a day. People like consistency and prefer to do business with you when they know what to expect.
Over-deliver. Rather than slash your prices to the absolute rock-bottom - or create a loss leader for yourself to pull in more sales, consider adding more value to your customer's purchase. Perhaps free training on the proper use of a product, or a special recipe, or hand-written thank-you note. Not a coupon. Coupons are NOT value added. Coupons imply that the customer must spend money with you AGAIN in order to get the benefit. Give value, get loyalty.
Consistency. Say you're going to do something. Do it. Then do it again, just like you said you would.
Accept nothing less than the best for your clients. Notice that many of the companies going out of business over the 2008 holiday are the low-price competitor. Price is a minor consideration in the customers eye. If the value of the offer is 10-100 times greater than the cost of the investment, the customer will buy.
Consistency. There's nothing like getting what you expect time and time again. McDonald's is McDonald's is Mcdonald's. You've seen one, you've seen 'em all. Just like Krispy Kreme.
Reward your best customers. Give repeat buyers an additional incentive to continue shopping with you. It is far easier to keep a client than it is to gain new ones. Invest some of your advertising budget in client retention.
Consistency. It may be redundant, but it's important to be consistent in your business.
Serve ALL your markets. Do you have clients that prefer to shop online or in person? Don't ignore them. Use direct response mail and email to reach out to your customers in the way they want to be reached.
Consistency. Need I say more?
Building a profitable home party / network marketing business is a bit like dollar-cost averaging. If you do the same amount of work every day, over time you'll see a greater return on your investment. Some days may be up, and others down, but if you're consistent in building your business the RIGHT way, you'll be ahead of the curve at the end of the year, and every day can be Black Friday.
© 2008 Lisa Robbin Young. All Rights Reserved.
==========
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE?
I'd be honored - so long as you include this complete blurb with it: Lisa Robbin Young is Editor and Founder of "PartyOn!", a free newsletter for party plan professionals. A personal branding coach, Lisa is on a mission to educate consultants on big business ideas they can apply to their small business enterprise for stellar success. Get your free tips at http://www.homepartysolution.com.
"The National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday that the U.S. has been in a recession since December 2007, making official what most Americans have already believed about the state of the economy."
And yet, despite the horror stories and deep discounts, retail sales were still up 3% over last year on Black Friday.
Where's the disconnect? And how can we apply that to Real Life Marketing?
The day after Thanksgiving in the US signals the beginning of the end - the mad shopping frenzy that beats a path to Christmas Day and leaves a trail of exhausted shoppers in it's wake.
For most Home Party consultants, however, the holiday season is quickly winding down, and many consultants find themselves in a slump from around December 9 through the end of the year. In fact, many consultants - and some companies - close their doors for the last two weeks of the year - despite the potential for additional sales, parties and possible recruits.
Black Friday shouldn't be a one-day-of-the-year occurrence. Retailers pin their profit dreams on the single biggest shopping day of the year - and many find their dreams dashed on the rocks if sales aren't all they imagined.
What can you do to make your sales cycles more consistent? What can you do to make every day Black Friday - that is, more profitable?
Diversify. Don't pin all your hopes on one show on your calendar - or one month (or day) of the year. Every day that you have a show, your office is "open for business".
Consistency. Touch your business regularly. Have business hours - even if it's only one hour a day. People like consistency and prefer to do business with you when they know what to expect.
Over-deliver. Rather than slash your prices to the absolute rock-bottom - or create a loss leader for yourself to pull in more sales, consider adding more value to your customer's purchase. Perhaps free training on the proper use of a product, or a special recipe, or hand-written thank-you note. Not a coupon. Coupons are NOT value added. Coupons imply that the customer must spend money with you AGAIN in order to get the benefit. Give value, get loyalty.
Consistency. Say you're going to do something. Do it. Then do it again, just like you said you would.
Accept nothing less than the best for your clients. Notice that many of the companies going out of business over the 2008 holiday are the low-price competitor. Price is a minor consideration in the customers eye. If the value of the offer is 10-100 times greater than the cost of the investment, the customer will buy.
Consistency. There's nothing like getting what you expect time and time again. McDonald's is McDonald's is Mcdonald's. You've seen one, you've seen 'em all. Just like Krispy Kreme.
Reward your best customers. Give repeat buyers an additional incentive to continue shopping with you. It is far easier to keep a client than it is to gain new ones. Invest some of your advertising budget in client retention.
Consistency. It may be redundant, but it's important to be consistent in your business.
Serve ALL your markets. Do you have clients that prefer to shop online or in person? Don't ignore them. Use direct response mail and email to reach out to your customers in the way they want to be reached.
Consistency. Need I say more?
Building a profitable home party / network marketing business is a bit like dollar-cost averaging. If you do the same amount of work every day, over time you'll see a greater return on your investment. Some days may be up, and others down, but if you're consistent in building your business the RIGHT way, you'll be ahead of the curve at the end of the year, and every day can be Black Friday.
© 2008 Lisa Robbin Young. All Rights Reserved.
==========
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE?
I'd be honored - so long as you include this complete blurb with it: Lisa Robbin Young is Editor and Founder of "PartyOn!", a free newsletter for party plan professionals. A personal branding coach, Lisa is on a mission to educate consultants on big business ideas they can apply to their small business enterprise for stellar success. Get your free tips at http://www.homepartysolution.com.
Personal Brand=Reputation
Thanks to twitter pal @emailcopywriter for leading me this blog post on personal branding.
I posted a response, but I also wanted to expand on it here:
Why do we have to extricate brand from reputation? A lot of what I teach is about establishing yourself as a value provider, hence your reputation is PART and PARCEL to your brand identity.
There are some great points in this post. I also believe strongly that throwing out the baby with the bath water, as it were, only makes the situation more problematic.
People who make themselves indespensible are not losing their jobs - they're making their own way. Even if companies collapse, they have other options they can pursue - thanks in part to positioning themseleves and having a great reputation for results.
Reputation=Brand=Reputation
You can't have one without the other.
In real life, when a person knows you by your reputation, that's how you are percieved. It is, in essence your brand. Do you want to be known as a self-centered egoist? That's your brand. You want to be known as a kind-hearted marshmallow? That's your brand.
Don't want to be known at all?
That's your brand
Trust me. The people who have developed a reputation for excellence and delivering results are rarely out of a job - and if they are it's by choice.
Employers clamor for people like that. People who are known for delivering the goods on time, under budget, with an amazing WOW factor.
In my opinion, your reputation is NOT separate from your brand, indeed it is the CORE of your brand. Everything I teach about personal branding centers on who you are, and what you're all about at the core of your being.
Reputation is not the only component of building a solid brand, but my mother ALWAYS equated McDonald's with a clean restroom and cheap eats when we were travelling as kids. It was part of their reputation. It was a core component of what endeared the brand to my mom.
Personal Branding isn't just about your smile, what you wear or having your face on a magazine. It's not just about your message. It's about CONGRUENCE between your reputation and your message, your image and your demeanor.
You can put on a great dress and have a great smile, but an airhead by any other name will be just as useless at a networking event as the one dressed in rags.
Personal Branding is NOT about creating a facade. It's about celebrating the best parts of the real you in a way that makes you marketable, in demand, and gives you back control over your business.
When I talk with Direct Sales reps, so often they focus so heavily on the product. I think in light of the recent company closures, it's safe to say that had those reps been focusing on building their own reputation in the market place (their brand), they would not be in the mad scramble they find themselves in today.
I'm so passionate about this, I've started compiling my thoughts into a new book. It's not just about Direct Sales Reps anymore. Personal Branding is necessary for anyone trying to "be known" in the world. When I think of all the personal brands in high school, I believe even more that there should be a required course on building reputations.
Branding=reputation=branding
Need I say more?
I posted a response, but I also wanted to expand on it here:
Why do we have to extricate brand from reputation? A lot of what I teach is about establishing yourself as a value provider, hence your reputation is PART and PARCEL to your brand identity.
There are some great points in this post. I also believe strongly that throwing out the baby with the bath water, as it were, only makes the situation more problematic.
People who make themselves indespensible are not losing their jobs - they're making their own way. Even if companies collapse, they have other options they can pursue - thanks in part to positioning themseleves and having a great reputation for results.
Reputation=Brand=Reputation
You can't have one without the other.
In real life, when a person knows you by your reputation, that's how you are percieved. It is, in essence your brand. Do you want to be known as a self-centered egoist? That's your brand. You want to be known as a kind-hearted marshmallow? That's your brand.
Don't want to be known at all?
That's your brand
Trust me. The people who have developed a reputation for excellence and delivering results are rarely out of a job - and if they are it's by choice.
Employers clamor for people like that. People who are known for delivering the goods on time, under budget, with an amazing WOW factor.
In my opinion, your reputation is NOT separate from your brand, indeed it is the CORE of your brand. Everything I teach about personal branding centers on who you are, and what you're all about at the core of your being.
Reputation is not the only component of building a solid brand, but my mother ALWAYS equated McDonald's with a clean restroom and cheap eats when we were travelling as kids. It was part of their reputation. It was a core component of what endeared the brand to my mom.
Personal Branding isn't just about your smile, what you wear or having your face on a magazine. It's not just about your message. It's about CONGRUENCE between your reputation and your message, your image and your demeanor.
You can put on a great dress and have a great smile, but an airhead by any other name will be just as useless at a networking event as the one dressed in rags.
Personal Branding is NOT about creating a facade. It's about celebrating the best parts of the real you in a way that makes you marketable, in demand, and gives you back control over your business.
When I talk with Direct Sales reps, so often they focus so heavily on the product. I think in light of the recent company closures, it's safe to say that had those reps been focusing on building their own reputation in the market place (their brand), they would not be in the mad scramble they find themselves in today.
I'm so passionate about this, I've started compiling my thoughts into a new book. It's not just about Direct Sales Reps anymore. Personal Branding is necessary for anyone trying to "be known" in the world. When I think of all the personal brands in high school, I believe even more that there should be a required course on building reputations.
Branding=reputation=branding
Need I say more?
Convicted: Whirlwind Weekend Ends Fireproof
File this one under TMI, but it's important and it's good.
By Friday, I was so excited about the Vampire Ball in downtown, that I was twittering every few minutes as I was finishing up the program. My costume was all picked out, I had a great makeup artist to do my vampire face and I was rambling!
Then the day of the ball, I had all I could do to wait around my home for the witching hour. So I troddled up to the theater to assist in anyway they'd let me so I could be not at home for the remains of the day.
But it wasn't because I was excited about the party. No.
I was tired of being me.
Do you ever have those days? Where you just want to crawl into a shell or disappear and pretend you're not who you are?
My husband was tired. He lumbered into my office and announced his fatigue, and then asked (rhetorically, I think), "Why am I always so tired?"
Flippantly, I replied "It's the weekend, it's your M.O. You're always tired." I resumed my clickety clack on the keyboard.
I flashed a cheesy "I'm teasing you" grin, and he replied "WHy am I always tired on the weekend?"
I really should have held my tongue, but it was an open door to disaster. "Good question." I replied.
But I think he heard the coldness in my voice. Because he went upstairs to take a nap.
In my defense, I have told him repeatedly to see a doctor about what could be apnea, but he refuses. I get tired of "playing the game" with him. I love him, he needs help, he won't get it, don't come whining to me.
See? It was a day I didn't want to be me.
The baby had pink-eye. The oldest was grounded because he's failing at school.
I just didn't want to be me.
So after he slept for a couple of hours, I woke him, told him I was going down to the theater to help, and left.
That was around 1:30 on Saturday Afternoon.
I didn't get back home until almost 7 the next morning.
Don't roll your eyes. I was 3 minutes from home the entire evening. At 1:00 there was an "after party" and because I was such a good helper, I got to stay. I rubbed elbows with the headlining musician at the party, and because I was the unofficial DD, I got the honor of helping Voltaire load his gear into my pal's Hummer and chauffeur him back to the hotel.
He was every bit the gentleman - we talked about our kids, music and branding. He wouldn't even let me help him unload his gear from the car.
That was 3:30 in the morning.
But I still didn't want to go home. So I drove the Hummer back for my friend and helped clean up at the theater. By the time everything was wrapped it was 6:30 in the morning. I sad a few last goodbyes to Ted and JAcque and drove as slowly as I could to get back home.
It took me about 15 minutes.
My baby was up eating breakfast. My husband had already showered for church. All I wanted to do was sleep.
I wasn't even naughty in the traditional sense of the word, but I felt so bad about how I felt. I hoped sleep would "fix" me somehow.
Sunday afternoon, I wake up, as my husband is returning from church. I'm usually a church-goer myself, but not today. He also didn't take my oldest and left him home with me. Good thing he didn't set the house on fire - I would have slept right thru.
But my oldest noted that Dad took the baby to McDonald's - and he didn't get anything.
Argh! Inequity rears it's ugly head AGAIN this weekend. Where's that rock I want to crawl under?
So as my husband once again ascends the stairs for another nap, this time with baby, I move to appease the oldest with lunch and a movie.
We made a good lunch choice and a horrible movie choice. The kid will probably have nightmares, because I didn't take the time to listen to my conscience on this one.
And I came home ready for something else to fall apart.
My check engine light came on.
But then I saw another movie I really wanted to see: Fireproof
You know, that new Kirk Cameron movie from the makers of Facing the Giants and Flywheel. I'm starting to think every one of their movies is going to start with the letter F.
At any rate, it took some finagling - and of course I was the one that had to finagle - but I found a sitter for the 9:40pm showing of the movie.
And hubby and I went to an empty theater - we were literally the only two people in the whole theater for the film.
It was like God had set it up just for the two of us.
The story echoed through me like a recent memory: a couple drifted apart, a spouse wanting to save the marriage, the other not so sure, God's intervention and the obligatory happily ever after for which Hollywood is famous.
I wanted to see this movie because I thought - no, I KNEW, my husband needed to see this movie. He was excited about seeing it, so I had that in my favor. But I just knew that if he saw this movie, he'd change his behaviour, his attitude, his disposition. Like some kind of magic wand, he'd be all fixed and I'd stop wanting to be someone somewhere else this weekend.
But it didn't turn out that way.
It turned out better.
I realized that God can do anything, but I can't. All I can do is work on me. I can be the change I want to see in the world. In my husband. In me.
Why is all this in a marketing blog? Two reasons: First, this movie very cleverly comes wrapped in a pitch for an upcoming book: The Love Dare, and second, because this is a "real life" marketing blog, and in revealing things about my real life, I hope to share ideas, concepts and beliefs that will empower you to make yourself a better person, not just a better marketer.
By Friday, I was so excited about the Vampire Ball in downtown, that I was twittering every few minutes as I was finishing up the program. My costume was all picked out, I had a great makeup artist to do my vampire face and I was rambling!
Then the day of the ball, I had all I could do to wait around my home for the witching hour. So I troddled up to the theater to assist in anyway they'd let me so I could be not at home for the remains of the day.
But it wasn't because I was excited about the party. No.
I was tired of being me.
Do you ever have those days? Where you just want to crawl into a shell or disappear and pretend you're not who you are?
My husband was tired. He lumbered into my office and announced his fatigue, and then asked (rhetorically, I think), "Why am I always so tired?"
Flippantly, I replied "It's the weekend, it's your M.O. You're always tired." I resumed my clickety clack on the keyboard.
I flashed a cheesy "I'm teasing you" grin, and he replied "WHy am I always tired on the weekend?"
I really should have held my tongue, but it was an open door to disaster. "Good question." I replied.
But I think he heard the coldness in my voice. Because he went upstairs to take a nap.
In my defense, I have told him repeatedly to see a doctor about what could be apnea, but he refuses. I get tired of "playing the game" with him. I love him, he needs help, he won't get it, don't come whining to me.
See? It was a day I didn't want to be me.
The baby had pink-eye. The oldest was grounded because he's failing at school.
I just didn't want to be me.
So after he slept for a couple of hours, I woke him, told him I was going down to the theater to help, and left.
That was around 1:30 on Saturday Afternoon.
I didn't get back home until almost 7 the next morning.
Don't roll your eyes. I was 3 minutes from home the entire evening. At 1:00 there was an "after party" and because I was such a good helper, I got to stay. I rubbed elbows with the headlining musician at the party, and because I was the unofficial DD, I got the honor of helping Voltaire load his gear into my pal's Hummer and chauffeur him back to the hotel.
He was every bit the gentleman - we talked about our kids, music and branding. He wouldn't even let me help him unload his gear from the car.
That was 3:30 in the morning.
But I still didn't want to go home. So I drove the Hummer back for my friend and helped clean up at the theater. By the time everything was wrapped it was 6:30 in the morning. I sad a few last goodbyes to Ted and JAcque and drove as slowly as I could to get back home.
It took me about 15 minutes.
My baby was up eating breakfast. My husband had already showered for church. All I wanted to do was sleep.
I wasn't even naughty in the traditional sense of the word, but I felt so bad about how I felt. I hoped sleep would "fix" me somehow.
Sunday afternoon, I wake up, as my husband is returning from church. I'm usually a church-goer myself, but not today. He also didn't take my oldest and left him home with me. Good thing he didn't set the house on fire - I would have slept right thru.
But my oldest noted that Dad took the baby to McDonald's - and he didn't get anything.
Argh! Inequity rears it's ugly head AGAIN this weekend. Where's that rock I want to crawl under?
So as my husband once again ascends the stairs for another nap, this time with baby, I move to appease the oldest with lunch and a movie.
We made a good lunch choice and a horrible movie choice. The kid will probably have nightmares, because I didn't take the time to listen to my conscience on this one.
And I came home ready for something else to fall apart.
My check engine light came on.
But then I saw another movie I really wanted to see: Fireproof
You know, that new Kirk Cameron movie from the makers of Facing the Giants and Flywheel. I'm starting to think every one of their movies is going to start with the letter F.
At any rate, it took some finagling - and of course I was the one that had to finagle - but I found a sitter for the 9:40pm showing of the movie.
And hubby and I went to an empty theater - we were literally the only two people in the whole theater for the film.
It was like God had set it up just for the two of us.
The story echoed through me like a recent memory: a couple drifted apart, a spouse wanting to save the marriage, the other not so sure, God's intervention and the obligatory happily ever after for which Hollywood is famous.
I wanted to see this movie because I thought - no, I KNEW, my husband needed to see this movie. He was excited about seeing it, so I had that in my favor. But I just knew that if he saw this movie, he'd change his behaviour, his attitude, his disposition. Like some kind of magic wand, he'd be all fixed and I'd stop wanting to be someone somewhere else this weekend.
But it didn't turn out that way.
It turned out better.
I realized that God can do anything, but I can't. All I can do is work on me. I can be the change I want to see in the world. In my husband. In me.
Why is all this in a marketing blog? Two reasons: First, this movie very cleverly comes wrapped in a pitch for an upcoming book: The Love Dare, and second, because this is a "real life" marketing blog, and in revealing things about my real life, I hope to share ideas, concepts and beliefs that will empower you to make yourself a better person, not just a better marketer.
Ali Magazine: Inconsistent Messaging
I've been an Ali Brown afficionado for a few years. Her rise to nearly celebrity status as the darling of Internet Marketing, more commonly known as "the Ezine Queen", has been almost metoric in nature. In fact, during a teleclass this summer, she credited the law of attraction and the power of manifestation for her quantum leaps in business over the past few years.
So when I heard tell of a new magazine that was on the way, I was very nearly salivating. My mind traversed the possibilities: powerful interviews and articles on business building and attraction principles. Profiles on Ali disciples that had made good and gone "big time" with their business. Even the possibility of some lifestyle and travel tips. The horoscopes...
... Wait? huh? HOROSCOPES?
You heard me.
In my perfectly blunt style, I wrote my letter of disbelief to Ali. She of course did not reply (she's far too busy for that these days) but one of her assistants did.
"Thanks Lisa - We appreciate your feedback. The reason why we included a horoscope section is because horoscopes are FUN! People like them, Ali likes them. It's good to have fun with your business and enjoy it. :)"
Well, I don't dispute that FUN should be a part of your business. Countless pages in Ali's new magazine outlined style, fashion and travel ideas. And I even appreciated the tip sheet articles and guest spot on Heidi Klum. heck, I'll even give her props for the layout of "behnd the scenes" pictures from her cover shoot. That's fun stuff!
But Horoscopes, to me, seem to go completely against everything Ali spoke about during the summer teleclass on Manifestation with David Neagle. In a class all about setting your sights on a goal, learning the right way to goal set, and how to attain those goals through attraction, putting your "faith in the stars" just seems incongruent at best and insulting at worst.
To say "people like them, Ali likes them" is a means of justification without addressing the issue of congruence.
It draws to mind those old Venn diagrams from logic class.
If people like horoscopes, and Ali likes horoscopes, then Ali is people, too.
...Talk about lowest common denominator.
Don't get me wrong. I still like Ali's work, and she has some valuable content that has taken my business in a new direction, but to lower the qualty of the content to appeal to "the masses" is a bit heartbreaking.
A good magazine - a FUN magazine - doesn't need tawdry little, mind numbing horoscopes.
So when I heard tell of a new magazine that was on the way, I was very nearly salivating. My mind traversed the possibilities: powerful interviews and articles on business building and attraction principles. Profiles on Ali disciples that had made good and gone "big time" with their business. Even the possibility of some lifestyle and travel tips. The horoscopes...
... Wait? huh? HOROSCOPES?
You heard me.
In my perfectly blunt style, I wrote my letter of disbelief to Ali. She of course did not reply (she's far too busy for that these days) but one of her assistants did.
"Thanks Lisa - We appreciate your feedback. The reason why we included a horoscope section is because horoscopes are FUN! People like them, Ali likes them. It's good to have fun with your business and enjoy it. :)"
Well, I don't dispute that FUN should be a part of your business. Countless pages in Ali's new magazine outlined style, fashion and travel ideas. And I even appreciated the tip sheet articles and guest spot on Heidi Klum. heck, I'll even give her props for the layout of "behnd the scenes" pictures from her cover shoot. That's fun stuff!
But Horoscopes, to me, seem to go completely against everything Ali spoke about during the summer teleclass on Manifestation with David Neagle. In a class all about setting your sights on a goal, learning the right way to goal set, and how to attain those goals through attraction, putting your "faith in the stars" just seems incongruent at best and insulting at worst.
To say "people like them, Ali likes them" is a means of justification without addressing the issue of congruence.
It draws to mind those old Venn diagrams from logic class.
If people like horoscopes, and Ali likes horoscopes, then Ali is people, too.
...Talk about lowest common denominator.
Don't get me wrong. I still like Ali's work, and she has some valuable content that has taken my business in a new direction, but to lower the qualty of the content to appeal to "the masses" is a bit heartbreaking.
A good magazine - a FUN magazine - doesn't need tawdry little, mind numbing horoscopes.
No I didn't fall in a hole...
I've been absolutely swamped with a plethora of new activities to keep me occupied. My eldest is back in school - and already on his first suspension today. Oy.
We just finished Chicago, the musical to RAVE reviews and a sold out house. I ended up doing TRIPLE duty on this show. I had originally signed on to play the role of Matron Momma Morton (yes, the Queen Latifah role, but please do not compare!) and help out as vocal coach for the show. About a week before opening, I was also asked to take over as BAND DIRECTOR.
Talk about a humbling experience. I haven't directed an instrumental ensemble since my college days. For those of you that think you just wave your arms and music comes out, well, you're partly right.
I was put in front of some of the best musicians our town has to offer - and to direct Kander and Ebb is no small feat - but with a 5 piece ensemble - and at least ONE of them is a band director himself in real life - and did I mention they were all guys?
Yeah, I felt a wee bit intimidated. I mean, the drummer has played with some of the biggest names in modern rock and roll history. The sax player has more years experience than I have been living on this little rock. And did I mention the trumpeter is classically trained and is the high school band director in a Flint Suburb?
My palms weren't just sweaty because it was hot on that stage.
Opening night was more of a trial by fire for me than anything else I've experienced in my life. In my two (Count 'em TWO) conducting classes I had at college - only ONE was for instrumental music - I was taught the very rudimentary basics of conducting:
1. Mark the score for changes in tempo, key, mood, etc.
2. Analyze the music to know what's going on where (see #1 if you're unclear)
3. Note any cues
4. Practice conducting the music BEFORE your do it in front of your ensemble.
Well, I could pretty much scrap #4 because I had to jump right in on a dress rehearsal. Being part of the musical already was helpful because I already knew some of the music, but the incidental, between scene music (walk-offs, etc) I had never heard before, and well, let's just say I'm not the world's greatest sight-reader.
So I over counted, gave too many prep beats, and tried to be OVER helpful with my band. Some of the guys didn't mind, but I could tell there was a bit of derision in the ranks.
The whole show was cues - and with actors sometimes coming in on time and sometimes not, it was a new arrangement every night.
And we pulled it off to thunderous applause every single night.
But the guys who deserve the applause sat behind that bandstand. I waved my arms, and THEY made me look good.
And now that it's over, I'm glad - and I'm gonna miss 'em.
Tom, Frank (and Glenn for one night only), Larry, Gary and Chris: Y'all rock. Thanks for helpin' a girl overcome herself.
But next time, I want more notice.
We just finished Chicago, the musical to RAVE reviews and a sold out house. I ended up doing TRIPLE duty on this show. I had originally signed on to play the role of Matron Momma Morton (yes, the Queen Latifah role, but please do not compare!) and help out as vocal coach for the show. About a week before opening, I was also asked to take over as BAND DIRECTOR.
Talk about a humbling experience. I haven't directed an instrumental ensemble since my college days. For those of you that think you just wave your arms and music comes out, well, you're partly right.
I was put in front of some of the best musicians our town has to offer - and to direct Kander and Ebb is no small feat - but with a 5 piece ensemble - and at least ONE of them is a band director himself in real life - and did I mention they were all guys?
Yeah, I felt a wee bit intimidated. I mean, the drummer has played with some of the biggest names in modern rock and roll history. The sax player has more years experience than I have been living on this little rock. And did I mention the trumpeter is classically trained and is the high school band director in a Flint Suburb?
My palms weren't just sweaty because it was hot on that stage.
Opening night was more of a trial by fire for me than anything else I've experienced in my life. In my two (Count 'em TWO) conducting classes I had at college - only ONE was for instrumental music - I was taught the very rudimentary basics of conducting:
1. Mark the score for changes in tempo, key, mood, etc.
2. Analyze the music to know what's going on where (see #1 if you're unclear)
3. Note any cues
4. Practice conducting the music BEFORE your do it in front of your ensemble.
Well, I could pretty much scrap #4 because I had to jump right in on a dress rehearsal. Being part of the musical already was helpful because I already knew some of the music, but the incidental, between scene music (walk-offs, etc) I had never heard before, and well, let's just say I'm not the world's greatest sight-reader.
So I over counted, gave too many prep beats, and tried to be OVER helpful with my band. Some of the guys didn't mind, but I could tell there was a bit of derision in the ranks.
The whole show was cues - and with actors sometimes coming in on time and sometimes not, it was a new arrangement every night.
And we pulled it off to thunderous applause every single night.
But the guys who deserve the applause sat behind that bandstand. I waved my arms, and THEY made me look good.
And now that it's over, I'm glad - and I'm gonna miss 'em.
Tom, Frank (and Glenn for one night only), Larry, Gary and Chris: Y'all rock. Thanks for helpin' a girl overcome herself.
But next time, I want more notice.
Lex Requests More Accountability
So an "ex" of mine up in Idaho has a blog. I only discovered it today. Hey, I told you he was an "ex"!
I use quotes because our "relationship" defies accurate description. He wasn't really an ex in the traditional sense of the word, and I don't consider him a FORMER friend, although I don't think we've had contact in a few years. Since the last time I recall making contact, I have another kid, and so does he. And both are oldests are old since the last time I actually SAW him in the flesh.
But I digress. In catching up on his posts (yes, I started at the beginning for better contextual understanding), I found a very timely post he calls Great Technical People.
I believe that this doesn't just apply to techs, but the greater world in general. and it all comes down to ACCOUNTABILITY, folks. It should be a required course - along with the 3 R's and whatnot. If we all understood and used accountability in our daily lives, gosh, this planet would totally rock.
Problem is, tehre are too many people trying to live up to some false expectation in the world. Trying to be more than tehy are, or less than they could be because it's too hard to do what's right.
The Marketing lesson? Jeepers, if you haven't figured it out, go read his post again.
I use quotes because our "relationship" defies accurate description. He wasn't really an ex in the traditional sense of the word, and I don't consider him a FORMER friend, although I don't think we've had contact in a few years. Since the last time I recall making contact, I have another kid, and so does he. And both are oldests are old since the last time I actually SAW him in the flesh.
But I digress. In catching up on his posts (yes, I started at the beginning for better contextual understanding), I found a very timely post he calls Great Technical People.
I believe that this doesn't just apply to techs, but the greater world in general. and it all comes down to ACCOUNTABILITY, folks. It should be a required course - along with the 3 R's and whatnot. If we all understood and used accountability in our daily lives, gosh, this planet would totally rock.
Problem is, tehre are too many people trying to live up to some false expectation in the world. Trying to be more than tehy are, or less than they could be because it's too hard to do what's right.
The Marketing lesson? Jeepers, if you haven't figured it out, go read his post again.
So after a quick trip to the local library with my oldest child and his best friend, I scoped out the shelves for some new reads.
I found a couple of VERY good resources, and I had to share this one today:
Kaira Sturdivant Rouda is the president of Real Living, and "gets it" when it comes to personal branding. I'm half way through her book, Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs
.
I can't tell you how mnay times I've shouted from the rooftops the importance of Branding yourself. Kaira's book really gets it done.
Stay tuned!
I found a couple of VERY good resources, and I had to share this one today:
Kaira Sturdivant Rouda is the president of Real Living, and "gets it" when it comes to personal branding. I'm half way through her book, Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs
.I can't tell you how mnay times I've shouted from the rooftops the importance of Branding yourself. Kaira's book really gets it done.
Stay tuned!
7 Secrets of Multimillionaire Entrepreneurs
My mind has been blown wide open.
I took a huge risk and it's been paying off in spades - and it's only been a week!
I made a commitment to invest in a teleseminar series with Ali Brown and David Neagle called "The 7 Mindset & Manifesting Secrets of Multimillionaire
Entrepreneurs". This was not a cheap experience, to say the least - but for coaching direct from Ali and David, the price was well worth it.
We sit on the phone for 5 calls each about an hour and a half long. Each call reveals one or two of the 7 secrets, and we're getting ready for call three tonight.
But those first two calls really had me taking a look at priorities, life focus and "the ultimate questions" for me.
Here's the biggest highlight from the first call:
If you knew you could not fail, and that money, public opinion, and other external factors did not matter, what would you choose for your life?
That question left me - a woman with many words - silent. For a very long time.
I had to take a lot of time to dig down past years of subterfuge and enculturation to get at what was really tugging at my heart.
And what I found almost shocked me. I say almost because I knew it was there all along, it was just hiding under the years of dust and grime.
No. I don't REALLY want to be a rock star. Although music does play a role in this.
No. I don't REALLY want to leave Michigan - contrary to what my husband thinks. I do want to do a bit of travel, but I like being based in the Midwest.
I'm still having a hard time putting it all into words. One thing for sure, I want to start a scholarship fund for young women. So I'm getting the wheels going on that this month. It'll be a while before it's fully realized, but I've learned that you've got to start somewhere, and you've got to START, or dreams never become reality.
So stay tuned. Big things are happening in my life. What about yours?
I took a huge risk and it's been paying off in spades - and it's only been a week!
I made a commitment to invest in a teleseminar series with Ali Brown and David Neagle called "The 7 Mindset & Manifesting Secrets of Multimillionaire
Entrepreneurs". This was not a cheap experience, to say the least - but for coaching direct from Ali and David, the price was well worth it.
We sit on the phone for 5 calls each about an hour and a half long. Each call reveals one or two of the 7 secrets, and we're getting ready for call three tonight.
But those first two calls really had me taking a look at priorities, life focus and "the ultimate questions" for me.
Here's the biggest highlight from the first call:
If you knew you could not fail, and that money, public opinion, and other external factors did not matter, what would you choose for your life?
That question left me - a woman with many words - silent. For a very long time.
I had to take a lot of time to dig down past years of subterfuge and enculturation to get at what was really tugging at my heart.
And what I found almost shocked me. I say almost because I knew it was there all along, it was just hiding under the years of dust and grime.
No. I don't REALLY want to be a rock star. Although music does play a role in this.
No. I don't REALLY want to leave Michigan - contrary to what my husband thinks. I do want to do a bit of travel, but I like being based in the Midwest.
I'm still having a hard time putting it all into words. One thing for sure, I want to start a scholarship fund for young women. So I'm getting the wheels going on that this month. It'll be a while before it's fully realized, but I've learned that you've got to start somewhere, and you've got to START, or dreams never become reality.
So stay tuned. Big things are happening in my life. What about yours?
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