Welcome to another edition of Wacky Wednesday Wisdom, our ongoing effort to help direct sellers and other entrepreneurs get through the week. Today we are sharing some of the random bits of news that should make us think about some future re-directions in direct sales.
If you are a beginner in direct sales, these are great sources of information for you. If you are an experienced leader, these may be pieces you can point your team members towards to help them. If you are struggling, these may give you the AHA moment to recover what you seem to have forgotten.
We Did It! Women now are the majority of workers in the U.S. workforce. While I don’t claim to be a part of the ‘we,” that was the title in the Economist announcing it. Tom Peters provides more details as he celebrates the moment that women became the official majority. What does this mean to the way you recruit, sell, or develop leaders?
Soft Addictions.The internet has opened up a whole new world for direct sellers to create community. And the phenomena is so new that we struggle with understanding it’s implications. Spending a lot of time in front of your computer? Maybe you are softly addicted. Melissa Ruggieri explores this idea in a recent issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Marketing Plan? One of my favorite new blog writers is Robert Middleton. I saw him train at the recent International Coach Federation Convention and thought his ideas were incredibly clear and powerful. He writes a lot like he talks. There is a no-nonsense style that makes you want to save his words and dig back into them when you have more time. One of his recent topics was on Marketing Plan Formulas. Do you have one? Please don’t ask for mine yet.
Do You Negotiate? Most of us would answer that with a categorical YES. For most women, though, it’s a tough position to take. Whitney Johnson asks the question, Can Nice Girls Negotiate? I’d love to hear your answer.
Please share your thoughts. We’d love to hear about your experiences and ideas as you read these insightful articles.
A thought before you start your week:
“The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Who will you gift without spending money?
How will you give when you “don’t have the time?”
What will you give that lets the receiver claim as uniquely you?
Welcome to another edition of Wacky Wednesday Wisdom, our ongoing effort to help direct sellers and other entrepreneurs get through the week. Today we are sharing some of the thoughts we’ve found recently about time management and delegation.
If you are a beginner in direct sales, these are great sources of information for you. If you are an experienced leader, these may be pieces you can point your team members towards to help them. If you are struggling, these may give you the AHA moment to recover what you seem to have forgotten.
It’s FOCUS. Susan Reid does a great job of explaining how it’s not time—it’s setting priorities and sticking to them. Her Inner Samurai Priority System gives a clear path towards getting more control of your focus.
Time Manage Like Jim Collins. When I first saw this Bronwyn Fryer article, I was really intrigued. After I read it, I decided that Jim Collins really knows how to match time with his priorities. While I’m not sure I can be disciplined enough to manage like this, his concept of maintaining white space in your life has real appeal.
Outsourcing. Casey Graham writes about outsourcing bookkeeping. While it’s not intended for direct selling entrepreneurs, the rationale still remains the same. Outsourcing frees you to do what you do best. Let a professional do what you can’t, don’t want to, or can hire done.
Bonus: Improve Your Marriage. One thing I try to do every Wednesday is provide you with a way to laugh, cry, or get out of your way. January is one of those months where we get so caught up in our resolutions and other activities that we almost forget what is really important. Tess Marshall offers 50 Ways to Improve Your Marriage and I can’t think of a better way to spend some time.
How do you manage your priorities? Who do you turn to for delegation and outsourcing? Please share your thoughts.
A thought before you start your week:
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”
~Judy Garland
What do you do that no one else comes close on?
How will you live that every day?
When will you be ready to tell the world?
Do you have a variety of different cultures within your team? What a great opportunity you have to embrace the uniqueness of your team members. By doing so, you not only unite your team, but you expand each other’s understanding of different interpretations. By reaching out to others that are different from yourself, you afford the opportunity to serve others and grow in the process. This can increase your business in limitless ways. Not only can you bring in more prospects, but in the process, create a wealth of new ideas, from different viewpoints. This in turn can transform your business from local to global. Nowadays, new clients are just a click away. You have an opportunity to make it happen and celebrate together.
What are some ways you could incorporate cultural differences in your next meeting?
Can you think of any cultural celebrations you would like to embrace with your team and their prospects? Can you calendar them today?
About the Author: Karen Orem specializes in assisting, supporting and guiding in the direct sales arena. She is a coach in progress and is involved in supporting the DSWA’s ELITE Leadership Program. Karen also enjoys supporting Team Connections, The Coach Toolkit and Direct Sales Distributors. Contact Karen at korem@netscape.com.
Welcome to another edition of Wacky Wednesday Wisdom, our ongoing effort to help direct sellers and other entrepreneurs. Our hope is that we’ll laugh, we’ll cry, and then we’ll get through the week. Today, we are sharing some of the blogs that cover the basics of a home-based sales business.
If you are a beginner in direct sales, these are great sources of information for you. If you are an experienced leader, these may be pieces you can point your team members towards to help them. If you are struggling, these may give you the “AHA” moment to recover what you seem to have forgotten.
Sales Moms Network. Jessica Morgan has several years experience in direct sales and internet marketing. Last fall this blog really took off. The posts are quick reads. On a weekly basis you will see company profiles, lead generation ideas, and ideas to manage your core income producing activities. Ever thought about a Power Hour of work? Ever work on getting 100 NO’S? And if you don’t do RSS feeds, you can subscribe by email.
Sparkplugging. Sparkplugging is really a blog network for self-employed business owners who work at home. With ten “channels,” you will find everything from seasonal coloring pages to downloads, sage advice on time management and organization, and everything else from soup to nuts for the work-at-home business people. While they don’t offer email subscriptions, it is available by RSS feed or you can bookmark Sparkplugging and check back daily for new ideas.
The Selling Sherpa. You can get a sales tip of the day. I like this because they are about those things that direct sellers often forget. Topics range from your bad breath to customer follow-up. Patrick Williams is an excellent writer who attaches each topic to a classic rock and roll LP, so you also get a daily smile in your email or RSS feed.
What’s in your inbox? Will you share the blogs that you regularly read?
What is your dream for this year? How many people will you help with your leadership, compassion, and support? How many people will you welcome into your organization? How much money will you put aside for your family entertainment after the bills are paid?
Dreams are fuel to our passion.
What are you doing to make your dreams come true? Are you setting aside time to work your business? Do you have a plan set out to grow your business? Are you willing to plan your work and then work your plan?
“If it is to be, it is up to me.” I have heard this quote for many years. And you know what? It hasn’t changed. We are in charge of our destiny. We can always find a way make it happen and if not, we can always find an excuse.
Do you want a fantastic year?? It is consistently achieving this activity:
Talk to one person a day, every day about your products and opportunity.
This is the SECRET PLAN.
Direct Selling is not rocket science. Discipline is the key to consistency.
Look around: there are people to support you. Hire a coach to keep you accountable.
It is your business. What will you do this year?
A thought before you start your week:
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
~Marcus Aurelius:
What is your privilege to enjoy today?
How will you share what you have the honor of receiving?
How will you show your enjoyment with your whole being?
From all of us who have helped with this blog the past year, happy holidays!
One of the reasons that so many of us own our business is so that we can control our schedule. With that said, this will be our final post of 2009. Please join us early next year when we resume publications.
We offer this final gift.
Seth Godin has produced a FREE year-end gift, and I wanted to alert you about it. Godin asked 70 big thinkers to write a short article (no more than 200 words) about their view of the future. Click here and get the free eBook.
Our hope is that you celebrate all of the blessings that you have received and our wish is that next year will bring you even more.
Here are some great open-ended questions you can use at your next leadership meeting. I sure would love to hear from some of you on any of these topics.
Lead Generation
Getting to Know your Prospects
- What are some silent & verbal signals you watch for in a potential recruit?
- How can you stay focused on recruiting without feeling as if you’re being boring & pushy?
- What are some conversation starters you use when you are talking one-on-one to potential recruits?
- How do you invite people to meetings & follow-up to encourage them to attend?
Lead Follow-Up
- When do you make the initial follow-up call after meeting a potential recruit?
- What do you say to set up an interview?
- Realizing lack of “time” is probably the most common objection we are faced with, how do you overcome this objection?
- How can you keep the potential recruit from getting “cold feet”?
- What actions can you take to keep the potential recruit interested & insure they get a quick start within 7-10 days?
Welcome to another edition of Wacky Wednesday Wisdom, our ongoing effort to help direct sellers and other entrepreneurs get through the week. Today we are sharing some of the random bits of news that should make us think about some future re-directions in direct sales.
