Have you been stung by the UB Queen Bee?

The Greatest Book on Sales and Marketing

2009-04-10T16:36:00.000-07:00

The Greatest Book on Sales and Marketing

If I asked you to name the five best books on selling, Green Eggs and Ham probably wouldn’t leap into your mind.

But it should.

Immortal Sam I Am is one of the greatest salesmen ever.

Here are two reasons why:

1. He tries to close the sale sixteen times before he gets a “yes.”
Sixteen! The average salesperson asks twice.
Sam knew the average sale is made when the customer is asked five times.
Sam knew that 67% of all shoppers expect to return home with the item they went out to look for, but only 24% actually do.

2. Sam knew that simply asking again and again wasn’t enough.
That’s not closing, that’s being a pain in the backside.

This is key: Sam came up with sixteen options, ideas, new ways of thinking about green eggs and ham.

Would you like them in a box? With a fox? In a house? With a mouse? In a train? In the rain? Here or there?

Cheesy sales trainers love to spout, “Ya gotta remember ABC! Always Be Closing!” But what does that mean? Hammer on people till they give in? Let us hope not. Let’s hope your sales people think ABC-UWI-TWHP. Always be coming up with innovative ideas that will help people.
Oh, you’re not a sales person? But of course you are.

If you’re alive, you’re selling. Your ideas, your writing, your blog, your Web site, a product, your business… everything.

Stick with it. Get creative. Be like Sam.

(Did you know a Random House editor bet Ted Geisel $50 he couldn’t write a book using only fifty words? Green Eggs and Ham was the result.)

Welcome Shanta Newby!

2009-03-23T09:48:00.000-07:00

Shanta Newby from MS is one of our newest Hive Members and has filled out her questionnaire so we can get to know her better. Learn about Shanta below!

I am married, live in Columbus,Mmississippi, and my birthdate is 8/4/1979. I have 3 boys Ricky Jr., Isaiah, Quanterris, and my husband's name is Ricky. Some of the reasons why I joined UB are:

I like the commission structure, not having to pay the hostess benefits, as well as having a consumable product that is not hard to sell.

I really don't have a great support team, my own support is my personal drive and my relationship with christ. I have found that strangers sometimes give the best encouragement I can find.

The people I introduce this product to are excited about creating their own scent. My personality test said that I like mostly floral scents and yes I do agree, I was so surprised that test was so accurate.

As far as where I see myself with the company, right now I am in between, but I can see myself having a real income sharing this product.

What trait will help you do well in the business? I am so open I can get anyone to talk and down to earth, no one is a stranger to me I know to make people feel relaxed in my presence.

WELCOME SHANTA! YOU ARE GOING TO BE AWESOME AND REALLY ROCK MISSISSIPPI!

Back in the Swing of Things

2009-02-26T15:21:00.000-08:00

Wow - when I see the last post of my blog it's truly embarrasing! I'm so glad I work with a lot of other Moms that get the fact it's truly possible for months to get away from you with an infant. It's honestly hard for me to believe that Dawson will be a year old at the end of March. I constantly look back and think! Impossible - he was just brought into the world such a short time ago and now he's going to need his first hair cut.

I've decided in my own life that I need to simplify and become consistent in order to not only grow my business but survive in my day job, family job, and job as a wife. From now on I'll be updating the blog every month at least 1x a month for sure - maybe some extra times when Corp makes announcements, etc. But for sure 1 TIME A MONTH!

I know this is something I can commit to and I'm adding it to my calendar as a reoccuring event. This will also take the place of our monthly newsletter that I know you've also been missing. So we'll simplify your inbox messages from me as well.

After returning from AZ and UT for our first family vacation (see pool above) I realize that with the economy where it's currently at everyone and I mean EVERYONE is looking for a back up or 2nd income and we have a great option for those with little experience or those that have been out of the job market for awhile to really do well!

Plug in to Virtual Office and all the calls/events that Corp has to offer and sign up for the Scent of the Month club if you haven't already. It's become a real highlight of my month and I think that those who have customers on the plan are noticing it's a perfect gift as well for those that love scent like you do and a perfect way to introduce them to it.

Please comment on the blog this month if you're still active in the company and what you're doing to drive parties, web orders, etc.

Best Wishes,

Shawna Straub

Is November really over!?

2008-11-29T20:33:00.000-08:00

I looked at the last date on the blog and went UHHHHHHHHHHH whoops! I can't believe November is already gone! With Dawson suffering from recurrent ear infections I finally bypassed my pediatrician and took him to a specialist. Low and behold they scheduled his for ear tubes a week later and we just finished our post surgery ear drops and are on the mend and hopefully will have a better night sleep for the whole family. I've honestly been living on pure adrenaline thanks to the exhaustion this "no sleep" state has given us.

When the doctor came out of surgery and told me there was fluid on both ears and a huge infection pocket that he had to clean out on the left ear I knew that my Mother's intuition had been right. That's one thing we all have that we need to listen to. Whether it's that person that we had know would be incredible in our business, the perfect hostess wanna be if we'd just ask, or the best new networking opportunity if we would just hand out our card. Taking that first step is the most important thing we can do.

I'm looking forward to a great December. November shaped up to be a great month with over $1000 in RSV in The Hive. Keep it up and remember that UB is the best gift for Christmas you can give!

On the road again… (TSF)

2008-10-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

I may have mentioned that my husband and I love road trips. We love road trips so much, in fact, that this year in just the last 8 months we have put over 20,000 miles on our mini van. You may think we are nuts and sometimes we wonder the same thing given the current cost of a gallon of gas. However, our family is a bit spread out at the moment. One daughter is attending school 900 miles away and our son (who is now moving back home) has been living 1400 miles away but not in the same part of the country as our daughter. So, there you have it.

Recently, a good friend of mine and her husband (who leave next week on a road trip to a family reunion) asked me what in the world we do on these road trips to keep from terminal boredom. One of the things we enjoy, I shared, was books on CD. Yes, she and her husband had thought of that but were appalled to find that an audio book they were interested in was retailing for $30 on Amazon.com. To her SHOCK and surprise, I suggested that she might enjoy checking out the audio book for FREE from her local library. I say SHOCK because apparently my friend and her husband NEVER realized that the library checks out more than just print books.

Many of you are saying ‘duh’ at this point – however – I consider my friend to be someone in the know. That said, since SHE had no idea, we thought perhaps some of you might appreciate this tip as well.

Your automobile is a rolling classroom. It’s your choice. Flip through the radio stations OR ‘read’ a business building book as you drive. It’s a great way to maximize the time you spend on the road and I have found it to be far less distracting than using my cell phone. Visit your local library and visit the non-fiction audio section for some great books on tape that will cost you ZERO dollars.

P.S. Many libraries let you reserve and renew your books online AND offer MP3 downloads of audio books as well!

So Exciting! Denise featured in a blog!

2008-10-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

Here I was just getting back in the swing of things with some bloggers and low and behold I get this great email from Denise Eloundou in Minnesota...

"Hi Shawna,

Long time no email! I read on your blog the other day that is has been 6 months since you had the baby. Time flies!! I just wanted to drop you an email and give an update on what's going on with me and UB!I I have started calling into the Today Counts! hotline and taking an action step each day. I had a party last month and have one scheduled for the 16th. This was a lead I received from corp this past summer. I've kept in touch with her and now is the right time.

A woman I play volleyball with does silk wedding flowers and has a website
www.loveisblooming.com We are doing a give-away on her blog http://www.loveisblogging.blogspot.com/ I don't think the readership is huge but it is a start.

Thanks for reading. I hope all is well. Take care and talk to you soon.

Denise"

I visited the blog and it's darling and I hope that Denise gets some readership from it and hopefully can book a few parties! Just some great ideas for anyone re-engaging!

Where in the World is Shawna?

2008-10-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

So as I look at my last post I realize it's been WAY too long since I've updated the blog and I apologize. There are many excuses but no one need to hear them ;)

I am reinspired with Urban Botanic as I've just received my first shipment from the Scent of the Month club! OMG the Harvest Pumpkin is amazing. My entire home really smells incredible. I must say the blended scents for the SOTM are INSANELY good. I know McKenna also mentioned that if I had enough people on SOTM that I wouldn't have to do parties regularly as with 100 people on SOTM you have your $1k in volume! So I think she said something like if I blitz 22 parties I'd sign up enough people for SOTM that I'd be done if I "wanted" to be! I'm sure I may have messed up some of what she had said but I do know basic math. 100 people on SOTM and I'm good to go! 25 on it and I make my every other month volume for commissions every month!

I'm serious when I say that the SOTM scents are amazing. I'm actually on pins and needles to get November and December now. I'm hosting Christmas Eve so I'm excited to have everything be perfect for my husband's family and for my White Elephant Gift I'm giving them a warmer!

I've also been working with a new blogger on the Home Fragrances. I'm very excited to get some traction again there for some online sales. I just had an online $200 order from someone who took the personality test so I know that works. I quickly ordered $50 in volume after that and made my volume now for the month! LOVE THE WEBSITE!

Anyway - I'd love to hear any success stories you're having with SOTM! Look for an updated newsletter as well from me and a more active role again - I know I can get $1000 in Volume every month from this club. Already waiting for orders to come in from some of my Die Hard party folks :)

Five AMAZING quotes…

2008-09-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

I just received these from a dear friend. They are from some note-taking she did at a sermon she heard so long ago she doesn't remember the church or the pastor who made these points. But they were so good that she typed them up (on a typewriter!) and has been carrying them around in her Bible for years.

Read them one at a time - slowly and REALLY think about them - they are powerful!

Never complain about what you permit.

The problem that infuriates you the most is the problem God has assigned you to solve.

Those who unlock your compassion are those to whom you are called.

The secret of your future lies hidden in your daily routine.

When you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done

SUBJECT: Recruiting - 100 great tips! Part 1

2008-09-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

One of TSF's most requested topics is recruiting. So…for the next 5 days, we will be sharing a potpourri of 20 “quickie tips” a day (in no particular order). WARNING: Trying all these tips at once may be hazardous to your health!!!

1) Whenever possible, give your product as a gift.
2) Ask every single customer if they would like to join you in your business.

3) Promote your business as a “family” business and give examples.

4) Remember your customer's children and spouse's names
5) Don't be pushy; sincerely and honestly tell potential recruits why they would be good at this!

6) Leave your old catalogs in public places with “Help Wanted” stickers

7) If someone feels they are too busy because they are already employed outside the home, tell them they can be the “on-site” consultant for your company.

8) BE EXCITED about what you do!
9) Indirect method of asking “Do you know of anyone who might be interested…”

10) Follow up within 24-48 hours.
11) Keep information given simple and to the point.
12) “Take away” method of asking… “I don't know if this would be right for you, but this has been the best thing for me and my family…”

13) Put business cards in all of your bills.
14) Have a recruiting message on your answering machine.
15) Laminate a kit flier to pass around at your parties.
16) Put recruiting information in every hostess packet
17) Send recruiting information out with every catalog
18) Give recruiting information to every guest with their catalog and order form.

19) Use your products
20) Ask guests at parties lots of questions about themselves to determine needs

MORE quickie tips tomorrow!

Quick time saving tip…

2008-09-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

With the holidays fast approaching - it can be a great time to keep your name in front of your hostess and preferred customers.

Rather than adding a Christmas card (or whatever holiday you may celebrate in December) to the deluge of mail that arrives on or about the 3rd week in December, why not think about sending a Thanksgiving card? Aren't we ALL thankful for the business our customers/hostesses bring us?

Starting now, to save time, when you jot your hostess her post party thank you note - take another moment and address her Thanksgiving card as well! Then you will be ready to mail them out the 2nd week in November!

Calling back…

2008-08-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

From The Success Factory...

Thanks for your email tips newsletter. I love receiving the frequent encouragement, advice and tips for building my business. Here's something I've struggled with since starting my direct sales business and maybe you have advice that could be shared in your tips newsletter...You contact someone who is expresses an interest in hosting a party or hearing about the business opportunity. The first time you call, you get the answering machine. How many times and how frequently do you contact someone and leave a message for them on their machine if they don't return your call(s). Also, do you have a specific message that seems to be effective in getting their attention and enticing them to return your call? Thanks again for your help.

Rhonda

Dear Rhonda - Thanks for your kind words and great question. This is one that befuddles many of us all the time.

First of all, when it has been agreed that you will call someone back, do your best to schedule a specific time. It sometimes helps if you have made an official “phone appointment”.
Secondly, if someone seriously would like to speak with you, ask if they wouldn't mind sharing their cell phone number with you or if they work during the day, can you talk briefly to them at work.

Thirdly, I have yet to find the secret message that can be left on an answering machine that gets someone to call back (TSF would be a Fortune 500 company if it owned the rights to THAT one!)

I believe, however, that you should definitely leave some kind of message because so many people now have caller ID, they will be able to see that you have called even if you don't leave a message. I usually identify myself, say that I had promised to phone back to talk about (whatever), give the date and time and leave my phone number. Then I ask that the call me (knowing full well they won't) but say that I will call them again in several days if I don't hear from them. Depending on the urgency of what we needed to discuss, I will phone back in several days or about every 7-10 days; varying my time and day of the week until I reach them. I always leave a message identifying myself. If it has gotten to be quite a few calls (like 4 or more) and I've still not connected, then I usually leave a message that says something to the effect that I'm really feeling like a pest and that's the last thing in the world that I want. Please, if you wouldn't mind, will you just leave a message for me on my voice mail (less threatening than talking to me in person) and let me know one way or the other if you are still interested. Thanks for your help!

Try not to take the fact that NO ONE returns calls personally. If you really think about it, you probably do the same thing. I know I do, and often it is a return call to family members that I ignore. I really think that between email and cell phones, people are SO bombarded with being “in touch” all day that it can be difficult to get back on the phone at night or when they are spending time with family.

Coaching your Catalog Hostess - FINAL on Catalog Parties

2008-08-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

Today is our final installment in our mini-series on Catalog parties. We will offer some tried and true tips (in no particular order…sorry!) for helping your hostess experience success in this alternative venue to a traditional home party.

1) Set a deadline. Keep a catalog party open no more than about 10 days. By keeping the deadline close in, your hostess will keep it high on her priority list.

2) Coach your hostess to “share” the catalog amongst friends, thereby limiting the amount of time that a guest has to “lose” the catalog in the scurry of life. Tell her to drop a catalog off on her way to the grocery store and pick it up (payment and order) on the way home, in order to share the catalog with someone else.

3) Offer to mail catalogs to long distance family and friends. Let your hostess know you usually do follow up calls to explain product to these people as well. She should make an initial call to be sure they are interested first!

4) Be sure your hostess knows how to complete your order forms and properly add up orders including tax and shipping.

5) Don't assume your hostess will know what to say…help her with scripts for talking to her friends. “Mary, I was thinking about you when I decided to do this catalog party…I just KNOW you're going to love__specific product name because (you love to entertain, you have so many birthdays to buy for, you love to cook, you love to decorate, you are so great about playing with your kids, you take so many pictures, you care about family values…FILL IN THE BLANK based on your product!) When is a good time for me to drop by for about 5 minutes?

6) Consider leaving your hostess a small sampling of product to show her friends while circulating catalogs.

7) Mini demo your products to the hostess before she begins to collect orders to build her enthusiasm and help her know what to say.

8) Goal set with your hostess. Find out what's on her wish list and (based on a low average customer sale for your product), help her know how many orders she will need to collect to get the items she would like for free or at a reduced price.

9) RECRUIT YOUR HOSTESS…anyone who is a successful catalog hostess should absolutely positively become a consultant. After all, she is really doing YOUR job, isn't she? Let her know that if she would like to join you as a consultant on your team, she can use this first catalog party as her own! This is a great way to get her business off to a fast start.

10) ASK, ASK, ASK…how did she do it? When you have a catalog hostess who really does a great job; ask her what she did to make her show a success. This information is invaluable in training team members and in coaching your next catalog hostess! ( Pssst…we'll let you in on a secret…it's how WE get some of OUR best tips!)

FINALLY, once again we stress that a catalog party should be booked only as “frosting on the cake”. DO NOT consider them to be replacements for our real bread and butter which is…(say it with us now)… Home Parties!

Hive Member Spotlight - Gail Atwood - Maine

2008-08-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

I am married 10 years, we have been together 17 yrs. We have one 4 yr old son, 2 dachshunds Abby & Scooter. My Birthday is July 23

What caught your interest in UB and what made you decide to pull the trigger and SIGN UP NOW!? Family Circle Article. Plus I LOVE scents.

What kind of support network do you come from? Are your close friends and family excited for you with Urban Botanic? Skeptical? What can fellow hive members do to support you or gain support from you? My family and friends are very excited and will be big supporters.

What were your results on the personality test? What is your strongest scent family and do you agree with the results? I always thought I was more Woodsy/Warm scent, the test states that I am floral. Hmmm, we will see :)

Where do you see yourself with Urban Botanic in the next year? Are you a business builder, In it as a hobby, or somewhere in between? Maybe somewhere in between.

What is one personality trait you have that you think will help you be successful at UB?Outgoing!

“I'll be back…”

2008-08-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been a little lax in the blogging dept as of late. Little man has a really bad cough and is on antibiotics and just isn't getting better so he's taken a bit more time than per usual. Hope everyone is doing well. I thought this was great advice for those of us that have done some summer fairs, etc.
From The Success Factory...

I've mentioned before that my 18 year old daughter works part time at a local independently owned coffee shop as a barista.

In these hot summer months, the afternoon demand for a piping hot cup of coffee can often be almost non-existent and so some days I pop over for a short time to keep her company. As we were visiting yesterday, a couple, unfamiliar with the store, wandered in and asked a few questions about the types of coffee offered at the shop. They were looking for something in particular that the store does not carry. After a few moments spent perusing the menu board, they thanked my daughter and said “We'll be back!”

Oh, how many times have you heard THAT before?

As summertime is fair and festival time in many areas, I am sure those of you working booths are hearing all sorts of comments like this from folks strolling by.

“Will you be here all day, because I'll be back to make my purchases.”

“Will you be here tomorrow so I can come back then?”

“Where is your store located? I would like to shop there instead.”

“Do you have a catalog (business card)?

“This is something my wife/husband would be interested in. I'll go find her/him and we'll be back.”

“I just got here, so I'm going to (get myself settled, look at the other booths, do some other shopping) and then I'll be back to buy some things.”

“Your products look (taste, smell) wonderful; thank you for the free sample, I'll be back later on my way out.”

`I'll be back…' Arnold should be so proud to know that his infamous phrase is being used so handily to enable clean `guilt free getaways' for fair goers.

While I am certain probably half of the people who promise to be back intend to do just that - face it - there are too many other things at a fair to grab their attention and we are quickly forgotten. Keep the experience positive for yourself and your team by remembering:

First and foremost - HAVE FUN! We are sorting, not convincing SWSWSW-NEXT* applies BIG TIME when you work a booth. (*Some will, some won't, so what, someone is waiting, NEXT!)

Coupons - free shipping, sales tax or a discount on their first order may encourage a return visit or follow-up phone call. Be sure your contact info is on the coupon.

Catalogs. If you decide to make catalogs available at your booth, keep them in YOUR control so that they don't walk away without you getting a name and number in exchange. As you retrieve the catalog, hand them a clipboard and invite them to enter your free product drawing. If the catalog gets tossed along with all the other fair freebees you still have a lead. Don't be afraid to pass out last season's catalog. Sticker with, “For a current FREE catalog or to place an order, please call ____ or visit www____”

Finally, wear comfortable shoes, bring a water bottle AND YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR! Booths are a blast to work but the days can get long. DECIDE to have fun when visiting with those folks who drop by. Do your best to engage them in some lively (non-sales) conversation. (That ice cream looks great, your child is adorable, you look exhausted already - are you having any fun?)

The less `intense' you are, the more likely they'll hang around for a few minutes longer, decide they like you and (perhaps) take a more serious look at your products and your opportunity.
Two years at this coffee shop gig have been a wonderful learning experience for my daughter. She leaves for college confident, personable, funny, and has earned enough in tips alone to finance all of her non-coffee shop social activities with friends.

And while the `tips' we earn when working a booth come in the form of new business leads; we (and our new team members) will walk away from the experience with a new level of enthusiasm and confidence for our products and our opportunity. For one of the smartest reasons to work the occasional booth is that it provides a phenomenal arena to PRACTICE talking about what we have to offer over and over again until we can do it in our sleep. If we goof up, no worries - you can try again when “they come back later.” :)

Summertime to-do's. The non-negotiables…

2008-07-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

Summertime can be the `black hole' season of the year.
This summer there have been many days when I sit down after dinner, take a look at my `to do' list and realize I got SO sidetracked (a last minute lunch with a friend, shopping with my sisters or daughters, a lovely long phone call, 5 minutes of weeding that turns into the rest of the morning) that EVERYTHING slides into tomorrow. I am relatively certain that each of you reading this has experienced your version of the same scenario.

However with summer solstice comes the reality check, God's little `tap on the shoulder' via his creation, that the fall and winter will soon be upon us. Whether we like it or not, summer is fleeting and cannot stay forever. The kids will go back to school, routines will become normalized, and we need to be ready for our fall harvest.

I know that at my house, despite the lack of discernable schedule that summer presents, there are certain non-negotiables that happen every day. *

I get up
I brush my teeth
I get dressed
I walk the dogs
I make meals for my family
I check and respond to the mail (`e' and snail)

*You have this list too. It is unique to YOU and YOUR life.
To this list of `life' non-negotiables here is a list of must-do's for your business to do before July comes to a close and/or (if applicable) before you leave for your company convention or national meeting.

SCHEDULE:
*Parties for the last two weeks of August and September, with special attention to the first two weeks of September.

*Pencil tentative party dates through December for all hostesses who have indicated an interest in a fall date.

*Check in with any recruit potentials and do whatever it takes to get them signed so that they can be trained in time to reap the rewards of a full fall season.

* Be in touch with team members, especially those who you haven't heard much from this summer and encourage them to do all of the above as well.

*If you have not already, schedule a date and place for your team's fall kickoff

*Check in with any recruit potentials and do whatever it takes to get them signed so that they can be trained in time to reap the rewards of a full fall season.

* If possible, get out and get your children's school supplies. That will be just one more thing off of your to-do list for those first two weeks in September.

By all means, relax and enjoy the rest of your summertime with your family - just be sure to be intentional about paying attention to your business! By taking care of this small to-do list, you will be setting your sights on a successful fall season.

Team Meetings

2008-07-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

Purpose and Importance

Training and continuing education
Networking
Friendships - a major factor in people's longevity in the business
FUN!
Date, Time, Location

For the purposes of consistency, choose a date and time that remains unchanged month to month (ie; the last Monday of the month at 7pm)

Duration of a meeting should be 2 hours. Begin and end ON TIME!
Choose a central location that is easy to find.
At the beginning, meetings may be small an held in a home
First goal is to move to a meeting room at a restaurant or library
Ultimately, grow your team large enough to meet in a hotel room.
o We encourage all consultants from one area to meet together; there is power in numbers!

Key Ingredients of a successful meeting

Appeal to each personality and learning style
Variety!
Remember to include in every meeting:
~ Fun!

- Skits, music, scavenger hunts, auctions, drawings, games (ie; BINGO, involving product), ice breakers
- Make and take group activities

Personalizing product
Creating recruiting binders
Hostess or recruiting posters to display at Celebrations or booths
~ Training on the basics

- Selling, including all the elements of a Celebration
- Recruiting
- Training should be done by top performers. Use traditional lecture format, role playing, or skits.

Recognition

Recognition should always come from you as the leader

Keep it simple; it is not necessary to know everyone's stats

“Stand up” recognition in some of these suggested categories: Sales, Recruits, LLL Clubs, # of Celebrations held and highest dollar sales at a Celebration. Be creative, recognizing activity as well as results!

Top performer in each category tells how they did it in the form of one “quick tip”

Prizes - people love them! Consider having a small gift basket of goodies or business supplies for top performers to choose from

~ Product Knowledge

Key component of each meeting
Gives consultants confidence for their presentations
Insures consultants will continue to be their own “best customer”
Educates consultants on product whether or not they actually “own” the product.
Ideas for product knowledge

· Brainstorm new ideas on product usage

· Share ideas for “add-on” sales and cross-selling ideas at Celebrations

· Everyone share about their favorite product

~ Company Information

Ensures all consultants are aware of dates, deadlines and details of all current company promotions

Presentation in the form of a skit or role play keeps things fun!

Keep this segment of the meeting short; 10-15 minutes tops. Defer additional questions to “post” meeting time

~ Motivation/Inspiration

Every meeting needs a “heart-tug!”

Who has a story to share; a personal experience or an experience shared by a customer? How has a product made a difference in someone's life?

Have someone give a report from CANI material.

General odds and ends

o DON'T do it all yourself! Enlist the help of other leaders in the area and other upcoming stars.

o People are more likely to attend a meeting when they have a job to do.

o Presenting at a meeting gives consultants the opportunity to grow in their leadership skills and strengthen their personal business skills. This is also a form or recognition!

Hive Member Spotlight - Kim Murray - Michigan

2008-07-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

Hi! Kim Murray here!!! I'm married (happily for 14 years, together almost 19 total). 3 sweet boys, Parker who is 10, Connor who is 6 and Cameron who is 22 months. We live in Livonia, MI. I'll be 38 on October 19 (1970).

I was driving home one day from a home show (different biz) and thought what would be fun...."Wait, I know. What if guests could create their own perfume scent.....that'd be cool." Decided to look into starting up my own little biz, and after a bunch of research found U.B. And figured...awesome...my work has been done for me!!!!!! Called McKenna, and she mentioned the new kit would be out soon, and have been waiting since late March/early April to sell when the new kit launched.

Have great supporters......husband tends to get in on the act and help out at home with the packing, contacts, etc.

Rest of my close family...they're excited with anything I do...lol...but they don't really (maybe once to get me going, but their money is all tight).....but support they do. I've been in Direct Sales for over 13 years....12 years with partylite, 4 years with my own start up boutique shows. Have a good customer base, and just willing to try anything new that sounds fun....but mostly if it sounds "unique" and profitable. I like to be the "new kid on the block" with the newest and coolest company. I like building from the ground up and watching it grow. So this is exciting. I think that because I like to see women "LOVE" what I have to offer, this is an easy fit for me.....seems fun! Was a leader in partylite for 11 years, loved it, but was just time for a change. (was making more money in my personal biz with my boutique shows, and with kids I had to give something up).

Personality test.....thought I'd be spice all the way, but it was a tie spicy/floral (which usually I hate floral...but I DOOOO like some of UB's florals a lot). Fruity was a close second. So ya, thought it was pretty on.

Where I'll be in UB. I'm a business builder for sure, but right now I find myself somewhere in between till I catch a breeze, then I'll fly if it suits me well. Right now, I envision myself doing AWESOME! I'm a self motivator and like working at things I like....have done if for so long, I'm good at delegating and setting work hours and committing. Like to work at my own pace (usually that's at fast pace), but like to take rests too. Balance is good.

I'm often called the "entrepreneur" of the bunch. I think my past experience will be a major plus! but because I have "stick-to-it-ness"....that's a good trait for home based businesses. It helps keep me excited cause its fun to watch a biz. build from the ground up...and I love helping the gals around me make a great income and have fun....so sponsoring is fun too for me.

Shawna's Note: Welcome Kim! You sound like the perfect addition to The Hive and we're so excited to learn from your past experiences as well!

Effective TEAM MEETINGS - Part 1

2008-07-08T09:37:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, my husband's family (parents, siblings and spouses) had a meeting to discuss some long overdue and vital topics regarding `parent care.'

To say that there are strong personalities amongst this particular gathering of folk would be an understatement. I am fairly certain that the delay in the get together was pure avoidance on everyone's part. Not unlike the west, where this time of year a mere spark can set off a forest fire, the potential for a full blown inferno is usually quite high when this group gathers.

In an attempt to circumvent; we resourced a few basic meeting techniques acquired over the years in my direct selling business.

The results, I am pleased to announce were truly beyond amazing. Today, I share the basics of what worked for us.

WHERE? - The meeting was held at a central location that was easy for everyone to get to.
TICK-TOCK - We set a beginning and an END to the meeting (with an emphasis on the END) - as no one wanted to blow their entire Sunday.
WHAT? We had an agenda that was pre-determined, TIMED, and sent out ahead of time to all parties. Copies of the agenda were also available at the meeting.
JOBS! We assigned a facilitator to keep the discussion moving along, a secretary to take notes and a time-keeper (essential in keeping things from getting bogged down)
VISUAL AIDS - A dry erase board served as our “parking lot”. Items raised that were considered to be `rabbit trails' were assigned a place in the parking lot and brought up again for discussion at the end of the meeting. This was invaluable!
REFRESHMENTS - minimal - basically, bring your own beverage.
PARTICIPATION - All parties were encouraged to participate - with no judgment or steam rolling allowed.
IN SUMMARY - At the end of the meeting, we overviewed what had been decided, who was assigned what tasks, deadlines for said tasks, and a meeting date assigned for the next get together.
All in all, the results were amazing. Difficult topics were addressed with some headway made, and for the most part, everyone's toes were in tact. I have no doubt that all this was accomplished, because of the willing attitudes of those in attendance, but also because the `rules' of the day had been set in advance in the form of basic meeting organization.

Tomorrow in Part 2, we will discuss this topic in more detail - including the `why's.

Writing it down - it really DOES work!

2008-07-01T23:52:00.000-07:00

I have been telling my husband for years that he should set goals and he has never listened. I'm not exactly sure who or what got to him or why all of a sudden the light bulb went off; but a true miracle has occurred. A few days ago, I needed to look some information up in his planner when I made an amazing discovery. On the first cover page of his appointment book he had written out a full page of goals that he wanted to accomplish. They were physical, psychological and spiritual in nature and were measurable and specific, both in destination and timeline.

The most interesting thing is in the period of time since he wrote those goals, he has accomplished more than 50% of what he set out to do. And while he hadn't chosen to share these goals with me; writing down the goals and keeping them in a place where he would read them daily, clearly had a powerful impact in the results he is experiencing. I guess miracles DO happen.

Summer can be a season when we lose sight of our goals. If you find you are drifting away and are distracted from working your business a good dose of CANI (Constant And Never-ending Improvement) may be just what the doctor ordered.

Did you brush your teeth today?

2008-06-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Probably the answer to that question is “yes”…of course you did. You probably did it without even thinking about it. Brushing your teeth is one of those lifelong habits that you just “do”. Would you agree?

This month's issue of Weight Watcher's magazine had an interesting perspective on exercise. Ideally, exercising should be something you just “do” like brushing your teeth. It needs to be something that we do not question and is a non-negotiable. Nevertheless, in order to make that happen it must be consciously scheduled into our lives. If you work another job in addition to your party plan business, that might mean walking during your lunch hour. If you have small children at home, you may have to get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning. Here is the good news.

Studies show that no single type of exercise works best. One study found that women who participated in aerobics classes had the same weight-loss and fitness results as women who simply increased time and effort spent doing everyday chores.

Staying healthy through physical fitness is an important component to staying balanced for life. We work to keep our family/business relationship balanced as we build our home-based businesses. However, it is just as important to factor in personal health and spiritual well-being.
Summer is an excellent time to begin new habits that will become the building blocks to a more well rounded “you”.

Why not start today by mentally associating brushing your teeth with exercising? If life throws you a curve ball and you cannot “formally” work out, just go about your day with more enthusiasm. Put some jazzy music on the CD; you will be surprised at how much fun and energy it can put into those otherwise “ho-hum” activities like vacuuming, making the beds, or phone work!

Empathize DON'T argue - you will never win!

2008-06-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

Do you ever find yourself so passionate about your product or your opportunity that you get into a disagreement with your prospect? In our business, arguing with a customer or a prospective customer will not get you far - even if you are right you will always lose.

“I'm too busy…”

“I don't know enough people.”

“I don't want to be a pushy salesperson.”

“There are too many people already doing this.”

“I don't have the money to get started.”

These are the `standards' in our industry as objections go. And as tempting as it is to tell our prospect all the things we know:

WE know that you can host a successful party without having to know tons of people to invite.

WE know that you can make good money in this business and you can work it around your family's schedule.

WE know there's plenty of business out there.

WE know that the market is not saturated.

WE know that busy people usually make the best hostesses or consultants.

Try empathy instead. Allow your prospect the space she needs to vent her concerns. Then, instead of showing her why she is wrong - use the Feel, Felt, Found method to address her objections. For example:

“I don't know enough people…” “I know how you FEEL. I FELT like I didn't know nearly enough people to book more than one or two parties when I began this business. But when I really started thinking about who I knew, I FOUND that there were people out there - some who I didn't even consider to be really close friends, who were willing to help me get started by hosting a party. And from those parties everything just snowballed and I've never had a shortage of customers since then.”

You get the idea.

If you find that there is one objection that you get on a more frequent basis - handle it before it comes up as a part of your party or recruiting presentation.

For example - if people are always telling you they are too busy (to host a party or to join the company) - as a part of your presentation you might want to story-tell on this topic. Many of my friends couldn't figure out how I would be able to run this business with three active children, a part time job, and all the running around that I do each week. The thing is, I find that this business allows me to set my schedule taking my family's needs into account first - and that working just 10-15 hours a week helps me to make our family's car payment each month. My business is growing so fast that soon I will be able to quit my part time job!

And what about the dreaded, “I'll have to think about it”?

Know that there are some personality types that truly DO have to think about something before they are able to make a decision. You must respect that and schedule a time for follow up within 24-48 hours. However, before setting that date - be sure that any concerns or objections that they may have are out in the open. You can say something like - “That is not a problem - I respect your need to think about this first - but can you tell me what concerns you have so that I can be sure to provide you with the right resources for you to research in order for you to make the best decision for you and your family?” (Then be quiet and listen. When you do this, often the real objection will rise to the surface.)

Hive Member Spotlight - Trudi Magoon - Michigan

2008-06-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

I am a single mom of a 22 year old son, Nathan, who lives at home. We have a 12 year old Cocker Spaniel, Duke and unfortunately, just had to put our other dog, Sadie, to sleep. I was born on October 17th. I grew up in Greenville, MI and lived in Grand Rapids, MI area for 10 years (2nd largest MI city). I have degrees in Accounting and Business with accreditation in Credit/Collections and Purchasing. In 1999 I became ill with TTP and Lupus (SLE) so moved back to Greenville to be closer to family.

With the Lupus I have been unable to work full time for several years. From 2000 – 2004 I owned my own handcrafted candle and bath/body product business; which I sold through craft shows and wholesale to gift shops. And I organized an internet “support” group, held supply co-ops, and organized annual conventions ( I still lend my knowledge to others on internet support groups). Business was growing to the point I was seeking a partner to help me, when I had a flareup of Lupus, so ended up closing the business at the end of 2004.

I have been looking for something else to do since (silly little disease won't stop me!). The idea of a direct sales company appealed to me; because I love the casual sales aspect of it...the fun party vibe that you can't get in a retail store. I also can have lots of control over when and how much I work. I discovered Urban Botanic a year ago while browsing online. I had just tried another direct sale business that didn't work out and was a big disappointment, so I was reluctant to try again. There also was no opportunity to view an actual UB workshop in action. But I just loved the concept of UB so much! And the number of products caught my eye as well. Having sold for other direct sales businesses and my own business in the past, I knew that stocking inventory or keeping up with changing products is a big issue...not so with UB! After a year of debating, my son suddenly said “Mom...just sign up already would you! You've researched it and if you feel you can easily sell it, do it. The biggest payoffs require the biggest risks.” My son, the voice of reason. So I am here and excited. I bought the $500 kit despite the new kits coming out soon. It really is a bargain with the free products. I do plan on purchasing the new kit when it comes out for the fragrance samples, as I see potential in the convenience.

My family, unfortunately, are not risk takers at all...it is outside their comfort zone. I have always been the odd one in the family who thought...just give me a little resources and see what I could achieve. Thankfully, my friends are very supportive. Since I haven't worked in a while I am apprehensive and a little unsure about my abilities right now. I am confident, though, that the support of fellow fragrance designers will give me the little pick me up I need.

I would have guessed my personality test results to be Fruity. I was actually afraid it would turn out to be Floral...I am not a floral fan. My results were Leafy and Spicy; which ,though, it surprised me a bit, I can see it.

I believe I am the only fragrance designer in Michigan at the time I write this and that excites me. I think UB will be an exciting new addition to the home party plans circulating around. I have lots of ideas swirling through my head as to where I will market. I am starting off slowly to see how the Lupus will behave. I have a few friends I am getting scheduled for workshops and am planning on holding a few open houses out of my home to attract others. I am looking forward to sharing UB with everyone I can find. I feel it is a great opportunity for others also and am hoping my enthusiasm will rub off to new recruits. We have a whole state to tackle here. I also like being a mentor to others. Well...I might as well set a goal right here...next year...$1500 a month in sales and 3-4 team members directly under myself who have at least 1 team member under them...or maybe my goal is “The Sky's The Limit!”.

What is one personality trait you have that you think will help you be successful at UB?

My mouth! I love to talk and when I get excited about something, it just runs and everyone else around me catches my enthusiasm bug.

Consistency…

2008-06-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Patricia writes -
Just starting out, did really well the first 2 months, now am at a standstill...I have trouble convincing people who are guests at a party to book a party....I do, but, its here and there not consistant....I need Help!!!!!

Dear Patricia -
Congratulations on your new business - we wish you the best. Thanks for your question - it is certainly one that many struggle with.

We have two thoughts -

Number 1 - Remember, we are in the `sorting' not `convincing' business. If you feel as though you have to convince people to have a party, then you will turn into that pushy sales person that no one wants to deal with. Your job is to effectively sell people on the benefits of hosting one of your parties. Work to do this 3-5 times during the course of your presentation in subtle ways like pointing out one of your popular items and mentioning that as a hostess you can receive it free or greatly discounted.

Number 2 - In order to be consistent with asking each and every person to host a party - during your introduction tell the guests that you will give them FREE SHIPPING on their order if you neglect to ask them to host a party. THAT WAY - it makes YOU accountable and also helps them to expect the question. Soon, asking every guest to host will be a habit for you and we think this will help with your challenges over consistency.
Thanks for writing! -TSF

Customer Service

2008-06-11T16:09:00.000-07:00

We love to focus on customer service! Customer service is one of the most important ingredients of our business that makes sure our customers come back to us time and time again. We have the opportunity to distinguish ourselves over the Wal-Marts and Targets of the world simply by building repoire and caring about our customers. When people look at you as someone who cares, vs. someone who's just “doing their job” or “out to make a sale” they will think of you over and over when they have a need for your products and more importantly, they will refer you to others.

Here are some things to think about when servicing your customers:

1) Do you know something about them personally?

-Do they have children, grandchildren?

- How old are they, what are their names and ages?

- If they are married, what is their spouse's name?

- Do you know the date of their birthday or anniversary?

How special would your customer feel if you sent her a card or quick note on her birthday or anniversary? When calling, if the husband answers the phone and you are able to call him by name, won't it be more likely that your message will be relayed?

2) Do you have a note of their past purchase history and/or wish list? What a great service to be able to phone when a particular product goes on special or when a new related product comes into your line that might be of interest to her.

Keep good records on your customers and use them. Be sure you are making notes when you chat. Stay in touch at least four times a year, either by phone or mail. The key is to be sure that when they think of your product, they think of you…by name!

Summer FUN and Business FOCUS!

2008-06-09T16:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we talked about how to stay focused while enjoying the fun of summer with the kids home from school.

Today, we will share a potpourri of ideas to help you to be intentional about enjoying your summer AND keeping your store open.

Think OUTSIDE the box. Summer is a great time to try some new theme ideas for your parties. There's nothing better than a girl's night out, complete with margaritas to give your home party pizzazz! Tell your hostess you'll bring the salt and the limes!

Bring plenty of catalogs to stamp with you to those swimming lessons and soccer games - it's a good use of your time AND a great conversation starter.

Taking a road trip with the family this summer? Be sure you have a supply of old catalogs with you to leave at the rest stops along the way. Include a sticker that says “For a current catalog or information about earning some extra income flexibly - call …”

Summertime means fairs, festivals and farmer's markets. Vendors are always welcome. Booths are a wonderful way to branch out and meet new customers so be sure you don't miss these great opportunities.

How about organizing a neighborhood block party? What a great way to meet your neighbors and find out who else is running a home based business. You might even consider offering to put together a local directory to help folks be in touch.

Feeding your mind in the summer is easier than ever. If your company has a summer convention - don't miss it!

Long distance driving and your morning jog goes much faster while listening to CD's.
Need a good read for those lazy days on the beach? Feed your mind with a good read. Dare to Dream is one of the best books out there on building your business!

Summer FUN and Business FOCUS - Part 1

2008-06-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

Can FUN and FOCUS co-exist in our home based business during the summer months?
With the kiddos home from school, schedules are altered. The neighborhood pool beckons, BBQ's and picnics are aplenty, family vacations loom ahead, etc; The FUN is just waiting to begin. Who wants to think about focusing on business?

Well, this year marks my 23rd of having a home business and I am here to tell you that the answer is ABSOLUTELY! You CAN have a fun business and still have a business focus in the summer. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box and INTENTIONAL planning.

Here are some strategies for working with your children home during the summer.
1. Re-think your office hours. Consider making them shorter (for example, just two hours in the morning each day Monday through Friday). The kids are usually fresher in the morning and can do chores or entertain themselves. After lunch, they will be ready for the day's activities.

2. Speaking OF the day's activities - I always found my children were much more cooperative when there was a `carrot' each day related to good behavior. For example, if Mom can make phone calls for two hours, then we will go to the pool, zoo, or park after lunch. For smaller children, you may need a smaller block of time and also make use of the kitchen timer.

3. When taking your children to various activities, don't forget your `traveling office'. An expanding file works nicely. Stock it with business cards, catalogs, order forms, recruiting applications and be sure your party calendar is with you as well. You never know where you might meet a new potential customer.

4. Logo wear is a MUST in the summer. Get out those tee shirts, caps, and tote bags. The key is to BE SEEN!

5. Summer is also a great time to start to break in new babysitters in the form of Mom's helpers. There is nothing a preschooler likes more than a gregarious 10-year old to play with while mom is working.

Tomorrow, we will share more ideas for FUN and FOCUS during the summer months.
Need some ideas for new business? The summer is a GREAT time to expand your customer base. Check out our website for our newest CD release - “Expanding your Customer Base beyond Friends and Family”

Recruiting part 3 - Are you ready?

2008-06-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we discussed how to avoid that PUSHY feeling and also had a brief mention of Green Flags. Today we discuss another reason some people do not recruit -

Reason # 2 - I am not ready!

v What if someone expresses an interest in the business…NOW WHAT?
Ø I have NO idea what to say
Ø I have NO idea how to do a recruiting appointment
Ø I have NO idea what paperwork to fill out
Ø I have NO idea what I would do with someone who joined my team
Sound familiar?

Maybe these are not your personal fears but read this email with two sets of eyes please and think about the people on your team. Some of them have any or all of these questions with regards to recruiting.

What to say…The biggest mistake we all make, especially as new consultants, is that we say TOO MUCH! Especially if we have learned to identify Green Flags (see yesterday's email). Someone asks us a question about our business and we LAUNCH, leaving our poor `victims' with hurricane hair. Remember, we have one mouth and two ears! When someone asks a question about your business such as, “How many nights a week do you do this?”, feel free to answer BRIEFLY and then say… “I'm curious, why do you ask?” then please CLOSE YOUR MOUTH and wait for the answer. It will be hard, but do your best!

How to do a recruiting appointment-tomorrow's email topic.
How do I fill out the paperwork - obviously this is unique for each company. Please check with your recruiter if you are unsure and then PRACTICE filling it out so that you are comfortable! Sounds silly, but it's a smart idea!

What do I do with someone who joins my team? Again, training is unique to each company…your job is to educate yourself (via your recruiter or upline) as to what training resources are available through local meetings, the internet and conference calls. Also, (of course), get them subscribed to our FREE tips! www.TheSuccessFactory.com. As a new recruiter, you are the first resource to your new team member for any questions she may have. Don't worry! If you don't know all the answers, there is a good support system in place via your upline management and the company so use it!

Obviously, it is important also to have recruiting information and materials stocked as part of your business supplies. Carry this information with you wherever you go, just as you do your hostess information. YOUR GOAL is to become as comfortable signing new team members as you are scheduling parties. REMEMBER, we do the same job, same job, same job! If you can sell your product, you can book a party. If you can book a party, you can sign up a new recruit. These are all the same skills, you are just selling different products!

SUMMARY
Learn to be a listener!
Read tomorrow's email for tips on recruiting appointments
If you don't know already, learn about what paperwork you need to fill out to sign someone up.
Check out your company's training information
Be a good buddy to your new team member, answer what questions you can, and get help with the questions you can't answer!
Remember that we are ALWAYS doing the SAME JOB!

Recruiting Part 2

2008-06-01T12:41:00.000-07:00

We continue on our study of recruiting and discovering why it is that more people do not take advantage of the opportunity to truly build residual income in this business.

REASON #1… “I don't want to be PUSHY.” Probably the most common fear associated with recruiting.

Where does that fear come from?

The consultant is thinking more about herself than the potential recruit. Her fear of what that person will think of her exceeds the need to offer the opportunity. Therefore she says nothing.
Perhaps she had a negative experience with an “overly enthusiastic” sales person. She would never want to be perceived in that way and therefore, she says nothing.

Negative reinforcement from people in her life who she respects (relatives, close friends). We've all been there…ah yes, here are some of the things I heard when I first began in the business…

Ø (from my sister)… “You are doing WHAT? Do you need money? I'll give you money!
Ø (from my mother)… “Oh, certainly (that person I work with) is only buying from you as a favor to me!”
Ø (from a good friend)… “Now that you are in the party plan business, are you going to be bugging all of us all the time to sign up?”
Ø (from another good friend)… “Oh, we won't even talk to you about the business. We had SUCH a bad experience with…”
Ø (from a variety of people) … “Oh you are doing THAT? Isn't that one of those `pyramid schemes?'”
o Working through the fear, how do we filter out negative comments from important people in our lives in order to be able to hear green flags signs that someone is interested in the business? Sometimes those negative comments are replaying in our heads so loudly, that we can't hear when people say to us things like…
Ø “How's that going for you?”
Ø “Did you have to buy all your samples?”
Ø “Did you have a good night tonight (translation, how much money did you make?)”
Ø “How many nights a week do you do this?”
Ø “How did you get started doing this?”
Ø “You look like you really enjoy what you do!”

There truly is a very big psychological component to sales. And no matter how you hedge it, we are in the business of SALES! There it is, we've said it aloud. It boils down to your belief system. Do you believe in what you are selling (your product, the hostess and the business opportunity?) If you don't, then you need to get your head on straight. To our knowledge, none of the TSF subscribers are selling something illegal. All of us are selling something that will benefit someone. The key is remembering that. Adopt an unshakeable faith in your company and your product and stick with it. Do your best to develop a thick skin and not take things personally (and yes, this can be difficult with those people you care about in your life). We sort, we don't convince. Our job is to ask good questions in order to see if our product or service is a good fit for our potential customer. Once you learn to focus on what they need and not on yourself, you will find things go a lot smoother. SWSWSWSW NEXT is your daily mantra. SOME WILL, SOME WON'T, SO WHAT?.....SOMEONE'S WAITING…NEXT!

If you are fearful that you will be perceived as being pushy, say what you fear most. You might be surprised at the response that you get. Many years ago, a very good friend joined my team. This was someone I had grown up with and our families were as close as blood elatives. She became a leader in my downline and was with me for many years and grew a very organization of her own. Here's the interesting part of the story - it took me SEVEN YEARS to recruit her. Now, you would suppose that she would have written me off as a friend over that period of time or that I would have given up, right? But, to this day, long after our business relationship has come and gone we are still very close friends - neither of us would have it any other way. I worked all that time to recruit her because her need was crystal clear - she needed an extra income but is a mom of 4 active children. In my heart of heart, I knew it was a good fit for her and also that she would be great because she was a wonderful people person and a very hard worker (which I always told her). From time to time (maybe 3-4 times a year), I would contact her about joining my team. I would ALWAYS preface every phone call by saying - “Janet, I am really feeling like a pest here and you know our relationship is much more important than my business. Do I have your permission to tell you about what's happening right now with my company?” Her answer was always yes, and then for seven years there was always some reason or another why she couldn't join right then. I would always close our conversation with, “May I stay in touch, and can I count on you to tell me to buzz off when you are sick of hearing about the business?” So you see, I always had her permission to check in and I always gave her permission to let me know when she was no longer interested. Eventually timing for her family was right and she enjoyed many years with our company.

Summary
1) FAYC (Forget About Yourself Completely)
2) Have an unshakeable faith in your product, and your company
3) ALWAYS think about and STATE to your prospect
a) How they would benefit from your product or services
b) Why they would be a good fit for your company
4) Say what you fear most - by being honest and forthright, your prospect will respect you and listen to what you have to say (in most instances)
5) Remember, we are in the SORTING not the CONVINCING business - it's important to develop THICK SKIN!

Recruiting- The Recruiting Appointment

2008-05-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we reminded you that recruiting someone requires the same skills as booking a party. That said, you need to become as comfortable doing a recruiting appointment as you are doing a party presentation. As with anything, practice makes perfect. You will probably have to have some “wipe outs” before you get good at it, but your first couple of parties probably had some hiccups in them, right? Don't be afraid not to be perfect - just go for it!

One great format to use when doing a recruiting appointment comes from a great friend of TSF and longtime party salesperson, Barb Montgomery. Barb calls this the 7-step recruiting appointment. It is a great one to use because you can actually put a key word from each step on a 3x5 note card and carry it with you to the appointment to help to keep you on track. The whole appointment should be 30-45 minutes in length. Here is how it goes:

Step 1 - Build rapport. This is easy - take a few minutes as you arrive to warm up to your prospect (just as you would in any social situation). Compliment her on her home, ask about her family, what has she enjoyed about past job experiences - whatever. (Write the letter “R” or Rapport on your note card)

“Sub-step” before going on to Question #2 - Let her know you will be talking about the benefits of the business, how we make money, where to find business, support and kit options. Ask her if she has any additional “burning questions”**

** (This is important because if you don't give her this opportunity - she may have an unstated question that will weigh so heavily on her mind, she won't be listening to the rest of your presentation)

(Write the word “QUESTIONS” on your note - card or the letter “Q” or “?”.)
Step 2 - Talk about the benefits of the business and find out which of these are the most appealing to her. Some examples are: Flexible scheduling, Be Your Own Boss, Unlimited Earning potential, Great Products, Friends, Recognition, etc; Then ask her which of these benefits appeal to her most? (Try to get her to identify two benefits).

(Write the word “BENEFITS” or “B” on your note card. You may also want to list the benefits on the back for your reference)

Sample transition statement to Step 3 - We all love what we do and the great thing is that it isn't a volunteer job - we actually get paid to do what we love! Would you like to know how you make money in this business?

Step 3 - Explain how we make money, briefly and simply. Again, this will be unique to each company. Get help from your upline or recruiter if you feel unsure as to how to easily explain your company's career plan.

(Write the word “MONEY” or “$” on your note card.) Make any additional notes on the back if you need them.

Sample transition statement to Step 4 - Let's talk for a moment about where you will find business, OK?

Step 4 - Where to find business. Think about questions that you can ask her to help her discover for herself all the people she knows and the contacts she has. AGAIN - we are doing the SAME JOB - use your Hostess coaching skills here. Some sample questions might be - tell me about your life. Do you currently work outside the home? Do you have family in the area? Do you go to church or are your kids in activities? THEN please BE QUIET and wait for her to answer. By saying, see, you know lots of people - you will be reassuring her that she will not have problems building a business.

(Write-Where to find Business or WHERE on your note card)
Sample transition statement to Step 5 - The great thing about our company is all the training and support you will get, no matter where in the country you live!

Step 5 - Talk about the support she will receive from you and from your company. You might want to show her your company's web page (if accessing a computer is convenient), a sample newsletter or a piece of training information. Let her know that she is not alone out there - there is lots of help available.

(Write- HELP on your note card)
Sample transition statement to Step 6 - Show her the kit options that your company offers.
Step 6 - Kit options

Some companies have only one kit and some have several. If your company has several options, be prepared to suggest a good choice for her. If you only have one type of kit, just show her what she will get and then move right into

Step 7
(Write the word KIT on your note card)
Step 7 - CLOSE

This is the most important step of all. You can do it in a variety of ways
Discuss payment options (deposit vs. payment in full, check vs. charge)
Or simply say something like- So, what do you think? Or How does that sound?
(Write the word CLOSE or the letter C on your note card. DO NOT AVOID or DELETE this step. It is like doing a party and leaving without taking orders!)
FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK and help her begin listing names of potential customers, hostesses and recruits. Schedule her Grand Opening party!

SUMMARY - THE 7 STEP RECRUITING APPOINTMENT
Build rapport - get her questions
Talk about the benefits
Talk about how you make money
Talk about where to find business
Discuss support and training
Go over kit options
CLOSE and get her started!

The “R” word…

2008-05-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

The “R” word - I think you know what I'm talking about - Recruiting (also called sponsoring, signing someone up, getting someone happily involved in the business, etc;)

However you describe it, we are talking about building a team and it is something that some consultants avoid when they first join the business themselves. In fact, some consultants never do begin to build a team. More often than not, those consultants do not last long in the business.
We sell three products in party plan. We sell our products - the items featured in our catalogs and on our company website, we sell hosting - the opportunity to get products for free or at a discount by having a party and finally we sell the business - the opportunity to earn money by selling the products as a consultant.

In our business we are unique in that we can give ourselves a raise anytime we want. We can sell more products either by increasing the average customer order or increasing the number of guests at parties. We can also find others who would also like to join us in the business - the R word - RECRUIT.

One of my uplines once said that we should all walk around with a penny in one pocket and a quarter in the other. The penny represents the money we make selling product and the quarter represents what we make when we build a team.

So, if ultimately more money, residual income, is to be made by team building, why is “Recruiting” a dirty word to some people in this business?

As always, a mini-series is in the works and this one is on the phenomenon of recruiting. Even if you are an ace recruiter yourself, we hope you will tune in as you may have team members who are not recruiting. We plan to help you understand why.

WOW! IT'S A BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL!!!

2008-05-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

Please tell us you are old enough to remember the famous K-Mart “blue light specials”! You know the deal, the P.A. system announces… “Attention K-Mart shoppers, in just 30 seconds and for the next 5 minutes, there will be a blue light special featuring our special house dresses in aisle 3…” Suddenly, there is a stampede of women all running over one another with their shopping carts in an effort to get to the cart featuring those lovely flowered garments.
OK, where are we going with this…today's topic, to discount or not to discount…that is the question.

TSF recently received an email from a consultant in a party plan business (to remain nameless), offering 25% off her products. We receive one of these emails from this same consultant about every other week…always offering some kind of discount on her products.
Now, while we are all independent consultants and therefore running our own businesses; for the most part it is our decision whether or not to discount (although some party plan companies strictly forbid this practice). If you are considering discounting your products, you may want to consider the following:

1) Discounting regularly “cheapens” your product.

2) Discounting regularly makes it sound like you believe your products are too expensive.

3) Discounting regularly makes your customers believe your products are too expensive.

4) Discounting regularly makes your customers NEVER want to purchase at full price.

5) Discounting and emailing your customers too frequently can make you a pest vs. a service.

The key phrase here is “discounting regularly”. While we believe an occasional sale for preferred customers/hostesses is a wonderful “thank you”; we think the above thoughts are worth taking into account as well…would you agree?

RSVP

2008-05-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

Répondez S'il Vous Plaît - (RSVP) French for Please Respond. Please respond - not respond if you are coming or respond if you are not coming. BUT - PLEASE RESPOND! I was once told it stood for:

Respond so VERY promptly!

Depending on your season of life, this time of year you may find your mailbox filled with a daily assortment of invitations to graduation parties, baby showers and/or wedding invitations.As the mom of a soon-to-be high school graduate, I am getting a humbling dose of what our party plan hostesses experience.

Despite asking for an RSVP, at three days prior to my daughter's graduation party - I have only a slight idea of how many guests to plan for. Many friends and family have yet to be in touch and many more are “still deciding”. Not only is this maddening in terms of preparation, but it is disappointing. In an ideal world everyone comes to MY child's event, at the exclusion of all other conflicts. Yes, this is an unrealistic expectation I know - but a mom can dream, right?
The thing that I am finding is making a difference, however, in terms of attendance is the personal contact I have been making with people. It goes something like this -
“Hey, by the way, are you going to be joining us on Sunday?”

“I don't know - we still are trying to decide because (blah, blah, blah yah-dee, yah)…“OK, well it is going to be a blast - a great excuse just to sit around, eat and enjoy one another's company. We would SO love to see you.”

“Oh, I know - we are really going to try - I'll let you know for sure as soon as we know what's happening.”

(Can you see how a script similar to the one above might be good to share with your hostesses when they are inviting their friends to their product party?)

Now comes the part where I would love a `party consultant' to step in. The day before the party it would be SO nice if someone else did a quick follow-up phone call to all the `maybe's' and `haven't heard from yets' on my guest list and just said…

“Hi, I'm the consultant for the graduation party on Sunday. Our hostess is just making final preparations for food and seating and wanted to know if you'd made your decision about coming yet. She would REALLY like to see you!”

How much easier and less awkward THAT feels than talking to my friends and family once again!

Some of you have written in to ask HOW you get the invitation list from your hostesses in order to do day before reminder phone calls to her guests. The point in this graduation party anecdote is to help you make a mental paradigm shift. When YOU truly wrap your head around it, I promise that your attitude will change and your challenges in this area of your business will become a thing of the past.

1. Making reminder calls is as much a part of your job as bringing your samples in, setting up your display and selling your product. It is part of the service that you offer - period.

2. Once you truly `own' #1, you will have a different attitude when coaching your hostesses. Your attitude MUST and will be - “this is what I do, this is my service to you. The day before reminder calls must be made. If you do it, it will take all day. If I do it, it will take me 45 minutes!”

3. REPEAT AFTER ME - A phone call or personal contact TRUMPS an e-vite hands down. Even an answering machine message left is more effective than an e-vite. E-vites are too simple to decline. The importance of THIS FACT when coaching your hostesses again cannot be denied. An e-vite is OK as a supplemental invitation, but not the primary invitation.

Your job is to help your hostess have the most successful party she can. The only way that this can happen is if she works WITH YOU to help her guests feel like they would truly be missing out on something wonderful by not attending. The last thing any of us wants is a disappointed hostess. Time and time again our hostesses can go through tons of preparation for their party, only to have mediocre results. This is NOT what you want. Once you begin to experience success getting your invitation lists from your hostesses and doing those calls for her, you will find that it will become the `norm' for you and no longer a challenge

When are you at your best?

2008-05-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

One of the beauties of a home based business is the flexibility that it gives us. There is also a dangerous component of that flexibility and that is that we have the potential of “flexing ourselves right OUT of the business.”

In order to be successful, we must work our businesses consistently. That is a given. However, look at when you are most effective and schedule your work time accordingly.

When is your energy level the highest? Are you an “early bird” or a “late night owl”? When you sit down to make your plan for the week, look at what your goal for the week is. What activities do you need to do in order to accomplish that goal? Knowing who you are in terms of your natural body rhythms is important in working your business with the best results possible.

For example, if you are a late night person, when you come home from an evening party; work off that natural “ post-party adrenaline rush” by making some notes on the order forms of the guests you just met to jog your memory about them in the future. If the party closed that night, go ahead and submit your order to Home Office. Evenings after dinner probably will your best time to do customer calls. Communicating this to your spouse and scheduling specific nights that he/she will deal with the kids will help you to capitalize on your body's natural time clock.

For you early birds, the same can hold true but you will want to be working first thing in the morning. Do paperwork and make notes while the house is still quiet in the morning; and get creative getting daytime childcare help. Summer is a great time to hire a local Jr. High student as a mom's helper to play with the kids while you work one or two days a week. You can also considering trading time for time with a neighbor or friend who has children with similar ages.
Knowing when you are at your best will also help you to choose when you are at your best for training your team as well.

Now, we know that in a perfect world all this is possible. We will always have times that we must work when we are not necessarily at the top of our energy level. Nonetheless, being cognizant of who we are can help us in our quest for balance between business, personal and family life.

A Servant's Heart

2008-05-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's mail, we got a flier and a business card from the realtor who sold us our house 14 years ago. She moved back to the area after living several years out of state and, due to the recent death of her husband, is re-establishing her real estate practice. It brought a smile to my face and the thought that she'd definitely get our contract if and when we sell our home.
In our town, as in most communities, there's no scarcity of realtors. This time of year, the For Sale signs on homes and empty lots are as prevalent and varied as the spring flowers. Rarely a week goes by without a mailing from some local realtor. Why, after all these years, would we remain loyal to Maureen? There were several factors, all related to our current topic of SERVICE.

~ She asked good questions related to our needs in a home and showed us homes that fit the criteria we provided.

~ She stayed in touch, followed up and returned our calls promptly

~ She was polite and professional, always arriving on time and always prepared for our appointments.

~ She always answered our questions and when unable to do so, got the answers we needed in a timely fashion

~ She was always happy to see us

~ She didn't give up, despite the fact that it took over 6 months to sell our old home and find a new home.

~ She took a personal interest in us, always asking after the kids by name as well as networking with our businesses. This behavior continued even AFTER our closing.

~ For the duration of time that she practiced in our area before moving away, she stayed in touch, even showing up at our door with a Christmas gift each year.

Wouldn't you agree, that most, if not all of the above practices could be transferred to our party plan businesses? The most basic guideline you can follow is to treat other's as you would most like to be treated and to remember that when you truly maintain a servant's heart towards your customers, hostesses and team members, you will be richly rewarded.

DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT

2008-05-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

Goal setting can be a daunting task. How does one move from “I'm just going to see how it goes” to a concrete business plan based on concrete goals?

We hope that the following questionnaire will help you to solidify your thoughts:

WHAT DO YOU WANT PERSONALLY?

Describe, in as much detail as you can, your “ideal” life.

What improvements, growth experiences, etc. do you want for your own personal growth?

Where do you want to be personally in:
1 year?
3 years?
5 years?

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR FAMILY?

What changes are likely in your family life in:

1 year?
3 years?
5 years?

What are your personal priorities and time commitments? (Consider personal time, marriage, children, community, etc.)

WHAT DO YOU WANT IN A CAREER?

What is important for you to achieve professionally?

Where do you want to be professionally in:
1 year?
3 years?
5 years?

How much time do you want to commit to your business?
Per week?
Per day?

WHAT ARE YOUR INCOME NEEDS (after real expenses)?

Think about things you want, ie.,mortgage, car payment, college,vacations, housekeeper, tuition expenses, etc.

What are your net income objectives in:
1 year?
3 years?
5 years?

Think about/look over your categories of business expense.

Which items are optional expenses?

What are your three largest expense items?

For what expense categories are you unsure if your investment is necessary or an appropriate amount?

IS THERE A RANK OR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IN YOUR BUSINESS THAT IS AN IMPORTANT GOAL FOR YOU?

What would the accomplishment of that goal mean to you?

What must you do to reach that goal? (sales, recruiting, Manager promotions, etc;)

DEVELOPING REALISTIC, ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES CAN BE DONE USING THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:

What I want MINUS Time available = REALISTIC OBJECTIVE

Is there a conflict between your career/income objectives and your personal/family objectives?

What factors are causing the conflict?

What possible modifications can you make to reduce the conflict?

What would be the benefits of these modifications?

Do you dream or do you set goals?

2008-05-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

The difference between a dream and a goal is simple. The definition of a dream is: to imagine as possible. The definition of a goal is: the result toward which effort is directed. ***EFFORT is the key word***

Look at your business. Are you dreaming or are you setting goals?

To set a goal, you need to do four simple things:

Make your goal specific

Have a time line.

Be accountable

Very important - Identify the barriers to achieving your goal

If you need help, call your upline or a business buddy and break it down into bite-sized pieces. If your goal is too big, you run the risk of becoming `paralyzed' and thereby unable to begin the work needed to achieve it.

It is nearly June - half the year is already over. Where do you want your business to be by December 31st?

It is OK to dream in order to formulate a goal - but remember that dreaming is imagining. Be concrete. Set the goal and challenge yourself to achieve it!

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

To all the wonderful designers that are also Mothers, I hope you enjoy a special day and this great blog on commitment. Motherhood being the ultimate commitment of course!

Subject: Committing to the Commitment
By Dr. John C. Maxwell

At the age of 67, Thomas Edison watched as fire destroyed much of his work and equipment. Time to retire? To hang up the lab coat?
No way.

“All our mistakes are burned up,” the inventor said. “Now we can start anew.”
There is a time to quit, but Edison knew his time hadn't come. The fire that consumed his work didn't destroy the fire that burned within him to continue his work. Edison's commitment remained.

People tend to associate commitment with emotions. If they feel the right way, then they can follow through on their commitments. But true commitment doesn't work that way. Commitment is not an emotion; it's a character quality that enables us to reach our goals.
Emotions go up and down all the time, but commitment must remain rock solid. A solid team - whether it's in business, sports, marriage or a volunteer organization - must have team players who are solidly committed to the team.

Let's look at four things every team player needs to know about being committed:

Commitment is usually discovered in the midst of adversity.

Commitment does not depend on gifts and abilities.

Commitment results from choices, not conditions.

Commitment lasts when it is based on values.

Commit to your commitments and goals today!

Responsibility and its Organizational Implications

2008-05-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

Victim Mindset

I view myself as separate and disconnected from situations as they occur. Circumstances and events happen to me. I belive there is nothing I can do to affect the situation.~Resist/Complain/Blame~Enroll others in negativty~False alignment/sabotage~Do Nothing

Responsible Mindset

I view myself as an integral factor in all situations. Every situation occurs and/or unfolds as it does in some measure as a direct outcome of my actions, non-actions and interpretations.I belive there is always something I can do to affect the situation. ~Cause a breakthrough~Inspire others to take a new action~Create a new outlook on the facts~Explore possibilities

The Trium Group

TSF loves The Trium Group's interpretation of the difference in having a victim mindset and a responsible mindset when building your business and your organization. Remember a leader with a positive outlook means you need to get OUT of the problem and INTO the solution!!

When life throws you a curve ball…

2008-05-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

Life happens and sometimes, we get thrown a curve ball. A job layoff, an unplanned pregnancy, a divorce or separation, challenges with children, a serious - even life threatening illness, or even the unexpected death of someone close. This is life and life happens.

Suddenly this crisis, whatever it may be, moves into your life and begins monopolizing everything. Your time, which was already at a premium, becomes more precious than ever.
How do you continue to work and grow a home-based business when crisis happens?
As with most of our tips - we write from personal experience. So…what DO you do when `life happens'?

1) First and foremost allow yourself some time to process, grieve and regroup. The beauty of being self-employed is that you don't have to ask the boss for time off of work.

2) DO communicate what's going on with key people in your organization and your home office if need be. It's OK to ask for help.

3) DO allow others to help you. If they want to cook a meal for your family or take over some of your duties temporarily - let them!

4) DO let the non-essentials slide - this is a great time to let go of any tendencies towards perfectionism that you might have.

5) DO make use of a laptop and cell phone if possible. This way you can still do business from wherever you may need to be.

6) DO make lists and use pockets of time. You can be very productive with a 15 minute pocket if you have a list that you are working from.

7) DO cut yourself some slack. This may be a time of re-assessing your goals at least temporarily and that too is OK.

8) DO surround yourself with positive people and positive thoughts.

Now more than ever this is SO important. The power of prayer is amazing - try it if you haven't and don't be afraid to ask others to pray for you.

What to do when it's not FUN anymore…

2008-04-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

“We all have a point at which we want to quit. We all have a breaking point. We all have a time when we question what we are doing, especially if it's difficult. Usually the number one sign is when we say, `This is no longer fun. It's just not worth it.'…

You must understand this and realize that at some point it's going to happen to you. You must understand the power of these psychological traps and do everything you can to combat them…”From Rick Pitino's book Success is a Choice

How full is your booking calendar? Is your team thriving? Do you even HAVE a team? Are you having fun with your business - and if you are not, why not?

The month of May can present its own unique set of challenges. While to us, the milder weather and abundance of sunshine should herald the proliferance of parties - often we find that our priorities are not the same as those of our customers. Graduation parties, end of the year activities, garage sales, weddings and showers all vie for the attention of our hostesses and their potential guests. The month of May can be a more challenging month to schedule parties that are well attended and that do not cancel.

How will you handle these challenges? Do you have a game plan or will you just toss in the towel because it is too hard?

“No matter what kind of business you have, if you are not committed to a `failure is not an option' mindset, you are setting yourself up for failure, says Neil Anderson, president of The Courage Group, a consulting firm for entrepreneurs.

In his book, Success is a Choice, Rick Pitino explains and dissects the importance of mental attitude in growing a business.

TSF is excited to offer you this book at 25% off - but only while supplies last. This is a resource that you will reference time and time again. It also makes a great Father's Day gift for that not-so-easy-to-buy-for man in your life! Visit our website and order your copy today!

Telephone challenges…

2008-04-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

Tammi writes…I'd love to hear you address this issue some time... I am a stay-at-home mom and the best time for me to make phone calls is during my toddler's nap time (once I pick up my older kids from school, I feel lucky if I get time to go to the bathroom in private, much less make professional phone calls! Homework, dinner, bath, family time, screaming toddler, etc...) Most of the time, the people I call are not home during my toddler's afternoon nap and I have to leave a message. My question is twofold... What is the best thing to say on an answering machine (don't want to sound pushy or desperate and want a way to want them to return my call)... and is it OK to call people's cell phone number even if you think they may be at work (keep in mind many are people who filled out a form at a fair and I don't know them).

Dear Tammi,
Oh boy - I remember well the days when my office hours were 1-3pm. It was naptime for my toddler, preschool time for my son and those were my office hours - period. I can also remember having the same frustrations that you are experiencing when people who I needed to talk to, weren't home. What's a mother to do? Well, here are some ideas that have been shared by some consultants in the past and also that I have used over the years that have helped with this delicate business/family balance issue.

1) One of the most successful consultants in our company built her business to over 400 consultants within her first 2 years by focusing on moving ahead her business by doing one positive thing each day. It was so successful in fact, that our company adapted it into a `battle cry' for all consultants to mirror. It was called “One a Day”. Daily, you focused on doing just one positive thing: Book a party, schedule a recruiting appointment, hold a recruiting appointment or sell some product.

2) When making contact with people ALWAYS ask them what a good daytime number is for you. And, if they are giving you their cell phone number - ask them if you have permission to use it.
3) Saturday mornings from 9am-11am is a wonderful time to reach people at home as are Sunday evenings. These were times that my husband and I `negotiated' child care.
4) On Fridays, I had a friend who I hired for three hours in the morning to take my daughter so that I could do phoning. I found that having one day a week when I was following up with those who I couldn't reach during nap time really helped.

5) I traded time for time with a friend. We would take turns watching one another's children. This way, again, I had a time other than naptime when I could reach people.

6) When leaving a message, I always tried to say something that would entice them to want to pick up the phone the next time I called or perhaps call me back. “Oh I am so sorry I missed you! There are some exciting things going on right now that I just know you'll want to hear about. Call me at: 555-5555 if you have a moment. But if I don't hear from you - I'll try you again.

7) If I have left multiple messages with no luck - then I will leave a message that says: “I am feeling like such a pest and that is the last thing I'd like to be. I know you are busy and I don't want to presume that you are no longer interested - but if you'd do me a favor and just leave me a voice mail at 555-5555 to let me know one way or the other - that would be great! Thanks. (The key is that if you tell them to leave a voice mail, then they are more likely to call because they don't think they'll get you in person.)

8) Instead of flipping on the TV on evenings when a party cancelled, I sat in the office and did my phoning anyway. This, like the Saturday morning/Sunday night calls were points of negotiation with my husband.

The bottom line is that you will have to get creative. I found that the more money I made with my business, the more cooperative my husband became in terms of co-parenting. If you are just playing with your business and it is more of a hobby that costs your family money vs. a viable money making business - you can hardly blame a spouse for being less than cooperative. OUCH…a challenging but necessary message to hear and consider.

Thanks for writing in! We love to hear from you! - TSF

For those of you new to the hive...

2008-04-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Treasure Mapping is a wonderful way to really set your business on fire. Here are the steps as outlined by The Success Factory...

“When the `why' is there, the `how' gets easy” - Jim Rohn

Treasure mapping is an activity designed to help you visualize your goals. It serves as a concrete reference point that will keep your `why' in front of you every day.

A treasure map can be simple or complex. When complete the end result is a collage of pictures and/or words and phrases that help you to focus on what you want tobe, to do, andhave. The finished product can be small enough to hang on a bathroom mirror or it can be larger and serve as a focal point to hang in your office. It may be mounted on poster or core board or be pages of a scrapbook if you desire.

A treasure map is never set in stone. It is fluid and can be added to and amended as your dreams change and crystalize.

Visualization is a powerful key in goal setting. Allow yourself the time and thought to do this activity. It will be time well spent.

Homework to do in advance:
Pull out some old magazines and page through them. Don't think too hard. Let your mind run wild and have fun fantasizing! As you browse, go through and cut out pictures and phrase that leap off the page at you. You might find phrases like “A place of my own” or pictures of a desirable vacation destination, a pair of running shoes (to symbolize a fitness goal) or even a graduation cap.

Optional and time permitting: Is there is something very concrete that you have been imagining about? Perhaps it is a house you pass each day that you would LOVE to live in, a new couch for your family room, or even a business to invest in. Get out your camera, take some photos…allow yourself to DREAM BIG!

Supplies to bring to the conference:

Poster board of any size (or scrapbook if you desire)
Glue or glue stick
Colored markers (if you are feeling artistic)
Scissors
Magazines for sharing and continued “snipping”
Your homework (see above)

What to do:
Let out your inner child. Begin to edit and collage your homework onto your poster board or into your scrapbook. Even if you are not particularly “artsy” the end result will be a focal point that you can use as a powerful visual. It will be a concrete reminder of your `why' that you will be able to reference as often as needed. When life and work become challenging, this treasure map will help keep you motivated from within. ENJOY!

Attitude is EVERYTHING

2008-04-17T08:28:00.001-07:00

We just got back from dining out with my family for Sunday dinner - a rarity as our busy schedules make it difficult for everyone to be available. The restaurant was a favorite - one where, historically, we knew the food and service were good…usually.

Our waitress today, was very competent - every order was correct, delicious and the food delivered in a timely fashion. However, hard as we tried, we could not get her to warm up to us at all (and we are a friendly bunch). She had a drill sergeant attitude in the way she greeted, took orders and served our lunch. It made for a most uncomfortable situation whenever she came to the table. We managed to have a good time, nonetheless, but it really tempered the afternoon a bit - her attitude was a dark and cloudy as the cloudy, rainy day outside.

It made me think how important OUR attitude is when we do our parties. Often, getting our families settled into dinner or homework and getting ourselves out of the house in a timely fashion can leave us tense, crabby and frazzled. If we are not careful, that attitude comes right in the door along with our display of samples.

Here are some tips to help you arrive at your destination refreshed, relaxed and ready for FUN!
1) Cut down on stress by being sure your car is packed up the night before your party or in the morning. This will leave one less thing to worry about when you leave.

2) Have two or three “standard” demonstration outfits that you always wear - this avoids a last minute clothing crisis.

3) Consider hiring a neighborhood teenager as a mom's helper to smooth the transition time as you depart.

4) Cook double so that on the nights you are working, you already know what dinner for your family will be - pull out that crock pot!

5) Know where you are going in advance! Double check the directions your hostess gives you online so you aren't stressed if you are traveling somewhere unfamiliar AND so you know how to get home!

6) Be sure you have a cell phone in case of emergency.

7) Carry a great CD of upbeat `traveling tunes' in your car to chase that departure stress away and get you pumped up for a great evening.

Remember, packing a great attitude is as critical as your samples in order to have a successful evening! If you are having fun, they will have fun. And if THEY have fun, why wouldn't they want to join your TEAM?!!!

I can't book any parties…

2008-04-15T11:54:00.001-07:00

This is a familiar tale of woe that we at the TSF hear fairly frequently.
The truth of the matter is, if you aren't booking enough parties, you aren't asking enough people. That is usually the easy answer and the bottom line. Perhaps you are thinking about asking people to host a party, but if you would actually log your activity you would see that you just aren't asking enough - plain and simple.

Booking parties, just like recruiting team members, is a numbers game. You have to ask approximately five people to host to book one party. So, in theory, that means that at an average party of 8-10 people you should book 1-2 parties - right?

Perhaps you are afraid that if you ask every person at the party to book a party, you will appear pushy. Let's do a paradigm shift on your thinking for a moment here, shall we? What if, as a guest at a party, you were the only one that the consultant DIDN'T ask to book a show? How would that make you feel?

Remember, we are in the sorting NOT convincing business. Ask everyone! If it helps - announce at the beginning of your presentation that you WILL be asking everyone to join you in the business and/or book a party and if you neglect to do so, you will pay for the shipping on their order. THIS will make you accountable because you can bet that your guests are going to be waiting for you to forget!

Having difficulty booking parties over the phone?

It is time to do an attitude check. Do you have trepidations or are you confident when you invite people to host a party? Ask a friend or your upline to listen in the next time you do phone calls - or really stretch your comfort zone and record your side of the conversation. You may be surprised at what you hear. If YOU wouldn't book a party with YOU, then it's time to revamp your attitude. If you don't feel confident then try to figure out why and ask your upline for some coaching in this area. Fake it till you make it is the golden rule. With practice, you will get better and confidence will come. Yes, you will make mistakes but that is how we learn best, wouldn't you agree?

For more ideas on booking and recruiting order our Business Basics training CD set!

Getting sidetracked…

2008-04-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you nearly break your arm from attempting to pat yourself on the back?

I will share that last night was one of those times for me. I ended the weekend with a clean house, a clear desk, a TO DO list compiled, lunches made and Monday dinner planned. WOW, I'm good!

And then…what is it that they say about best made plans?
I began my day right on schedule at 6:20am setting out on my 40 minute walk - 10 minutes into the walk, the downpour began. OK - so much for physical fitness - I'll go home and get an early start on my Bible study. Strike ONE.

My sweet husband, however, apparently hadn't read my schedule and was completely frazzled looking for some paperwork that he needed so that his day would go as planned (he says it's my filing system that is to blame). Strike TWO; so much for my morning quiet time.
Stay calm - the paperwork location continues to be a mystery and now it is 9am and he has to leave. I have already lost one hour of my designated tip writing time (8am-11am), but - no problem…I'll just boot up the old laptop and get cracking.

OF COURSE - I can't get my internet to connect on my laptop. DRAT! Alright, this should be an easy fix with all these swell built in Connectivity Wizards. (Don't you LOVE when you know just enough about your computer to be really, really dangerous?). What's that? My clock chiming - 10am??!!!! WHAT THE HECK??? No internet, no tips, no quiet time, no exercise…AUGHHHH#)**%($*#$*!!!!!!!! STRIKE THREE!

WHERE DID THE TIME GO AND HOW COULD I HAVE GOTTEN SOOOOOO SIDETRACKED????!!!!

What's the take away this morning?
1. Working from home can be distracting-duh.

2. Do your best to WRITE DOWN your plans for the day - having a list enables you to `tweak' as needed and still accomplish something.

3. Be aware of and do your best to be in control when beginning a journey down a rabbit trail. Ask yourself - Is this the best use of my time right now -or- can this wait until later? When dealing with something that is lost - is this absolutely positively something I MUST find right now? (ie; The only set of car keys, YES, paperwork - in our case - can be replaced at a later date, not ideal but possible.)

4. Life happens - just go for Plan “B”. Celebrate what you DO accomplish today and add the leftovers to tomorrow's list. (Hey, at least dinner's in the crock pot-food is good!)

5. Computers and the internet can be MAJOR time wasters! Factor time to clear email into your daily `to-do's' but do not exceed the allotted time. If you are having computer problems DO NOT spend hours trying to resolve them unless absolutely necessary. Move on to your next `to-do', grab the next teenager who crosses your path and he will probably be able to fix what ever is ailing your PC in no time whatsoever (yes, this is a personal testimony - my son fixed my laptop in just under 30 seconds.)

I'm having a baby!

2008-03-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

So I'm going to be offline for the next 2 weeks and just wanted to post in case anyone forgets! Don't forget to check out http://www.babysites.com/sites/dstraub for all the pics and details! I'm scheduled for Monday at 12:30 PST to have little man. I'll miss you all XXOO

Expect to see me back online 2nd week of April!

- SHAWNA

Money sitting on the shelf…

2008-03-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

If I heard this phrase once, I heard it a million times from my accountant husband. Inventory is money sitting on the shelf.

Now, while some companies do not allow their consultants to order and carry inventory, mine did. For some of us, because we work many booths and conferences in the springtime, inventory can be a necessary evil, so-to-speak. People come to these events and expect to be able to purchase items on the spot.

However, if you carry (or plan on carrying) inventory - here are some things to keep in mind.
Don't purchase inventory from your `paycheck'. A few days ago, we talked about the 60-20-20 rule in terms of budgeting. (60% is your pay, 20% to reinvest and 20% discretionary). Inventory purchase is an example of discretionary spending.

DO remember, that if you purchase inventory, while it may make your personal sales look amazing for the month - if you don't sell the inventory, it just takes a bite out of what you are selling next month (assuming you are filling orders with inventory that following month)
Don't get into the habit of purchasing inventory to `make numbers'. (Been there, done that) - nothing takes a bigger chunk out of your ability to pay your bills than when you've reinvested your profits back into inventory. Product does NOT translate into milk and eggs at the grocery store.

Are you ready?

2008-03-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

A customer phoned me yesterday to place a catalog order. As luck would have it, I was sitting in front of the computer and on the internet. I was able to quickly access my company's website, take her order and check to see how I might be of service in the future.

Are you ready to service your customers quickly and easily? Unfortunately, we aren't always at our computers when people call, but there are some things that you can do in order to make any dealings with your customers as professional as possible.

Have a list of unavailable products readily available.

Have a catalog, calculator, and phone message pad by each phone in your home.

KNOW IN YOUR HEAD when your next several available party dates are so that you can easily offer to schedule a show.

DON'T FORGET to ASK anyone who calls - no matter what they are calling about - if they know of anyone who might be interested in more information about joining you in the business.

I'm just going to make some fliers….

2008-03-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

… “and leave them on my neighbor's doors…”

This is the way so many new recruits decide to start their party plan businesses. And,
while this is certainly a very acceptable, non-threatening way to advertise, the reality is that neighbors probably will not come storming to the door, jumping up and down with unbridled excitement anxious to see whatever it is that this new consultant is selling.

The truth of the matter is, that the “flier method”, will net very little (if any) return on the investment of time spent designing and distributing, and money on printing. Marketing studies show a less than 1% .

Think about the last time you received a flier offering to clean your home, sell you firewood, landscape, paint or wash your windows. What did you do with the flier?

a) Threw it away

b) Scribbled a phone message on it then threw it away

c) Read it then threw it away

d) All of the above.

So…the next time you sign a team member and she decides to let her neighbors know about her new business in this manner; don't discourage her. In fact, applaud the fact that she is thinking about how to market her business. However, just educate her on the facts so that she won't be disappointed. Then, help her compile a List of 100 and give her words to use when contacting the people on that list. In this business, relationships count and the personal touch will go much farther than an impersonal flier.

Your car…

2008-03-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I do some of my best thinking when I'm driving in my car.
When I'm riding in my car it seems like that's where I think of new marketing ideas for my business, I think of people I'd like to join my team or book a party with, I remember odds and ends of things I've forgotten to do and I even pick up information from some of the signs in front of park districts and churches (for upcoming booth opportunities).

Something that might be handy for you to have in your car is one of those little hand held tape recorders. When these thoughts hit - just press the `record' button and start talking! You'd be amazed when you play the tape back. You think you'll remember what you were thinking by the time you get home but I promise you, you won't. And a little recorder is probably safer than writing it down on a piece of paper. While I'm not a fan of talking on your cell phone while driving - some cell phones do have a “messaging” option to do the same thing - just be sure you can speed dial it easily so you don't get distracted.

Finally, always be sure that you carry supplies with you in your car. Use an extra briefcase or a small file box that doesn't ever leave. Keep it stocked with business cards, consultant information - including agreements, catalogs and hostess packets. ALWAYS be prepared wherever you go!

Are you thinking, or are you doing?

2008-03-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been surprised, annoyed, or angry to find out that a friend or family member joined another direct sales company? OR even worse, that they'd joined YOUR company but with another consultant?

If you've never had this experience, trust me, it is one of those true `kick in the guts' moments. It has happened to most of us at one time or another who are in direct sales. You've thought about this person, even imagined in your mind how the conversation might go as you approached them about joining your company. But, once again, you don't pick up the phone because “I don't want to be PUSHY”.

Today's challenge is to put together your `chicken list'. This is a list of people that you are chicken to ask to join your team. Be sure you put their phone number next to their name - that is the first step in `lightening' that 500 pound receiver.

Now, before you pick up the phone, think about why they would make a good consultant. Perhaps they are lots of fun, or a hard worker, or have lots of friends and a large circle of influence. Maybe they just need to earn an income but do it flexibly.

Why would you company be a good fit for them? Do they love the product? What things about your company do YOU most appreciate that might appeal to them?

Here's a script thought-starter: “Hi Cindy, this is your cousin Sue - do you have just a couple of minutes? You have been on my mind and I've been too chicken to call you because I didn't want to appear pushy - but I am having such a good time with my home business - I wanted to talk to you about it. I would feel terrible if I didn't share this information with you because you are such a people person, but I also want you to know that the most important thing to me is our relationship as cousins. I don't want you to avoid me at upcoming family gatherings. I'd like permission to sit down over a cup of coffee and talk with you about this just once, so that you know what I'm doing and then I'll leave it up to you if you would like to pursue things further - how does that sound”

Make the script your own and get going on that chicken list!

Welcome Michelle Fields from CA!

2008-03-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

My name is Michelle Fields… but my nickname is Kitty. My husband, Greg and I live in Salida, Ca located in beautiful Northern California near Modesto. We have 2 fur baby yorkies: Marley and Jezebel, no children yet, although we treat them like children! Absolute doggy lover all-the-way! I’m allergic to cats, ironically! My birthday is October 30th. I am a total night owl, and love communicating via the internet. I am a full-time Esthetician, and love making people look and feel, and now smell great! Skin is my passion.

I loved how unique the product is. It seems so innovative~ I wish I could have thought of it. I have worked in the fragrance industry before for Armani and Ralph Lauren, always wanted to have a foot in it somehow, and what a great way to do it. I have an extensive fragrance collection. I pick out fragrances to match my mood, outfits etc. It’s like picking out shoes to match. More than anything I was really impressed with the quality of the product. Wow!

I love to chat & socialize; this is one of my hobbies. I am fairly new to the area I live in, and I don’t have a big family. I am looking at ways to “branch out” and meet new people. I could always use more clients! So far everyone is excited about UB. How can I get started successfully & rapidly? What has not worked? How can I make the most money?? All those questions from the team will be helpful!

I was a floral, which totally describes me. Especially the part: “always trying to improve yourself.” I laughed out loud! Tied for floral and Spicy. I was kind of surprised about the spicy, but I like spicy with floral together, so that makes sense! I have a few scents like that already. Hmmm?!

I love freesia and honeysuckle. I want it in everything!!

Where do you see yourself with Urban Botanic in the next year? Are you a business builder, In it as a hobby, or somewhere in between?

I see myself at the top somewhere. Hopefully my esthetician business grows simultaneously too, so I consider it somewhere in between, but I definitely want to have fun, and grow, grow, grow!

What is one personality trait you have that you think will help you be successful at UB?
I think I am great at sharing enthusiasm, and being passionate with what I do. I am not flaky, and I don’t like letting people down, so I am always professional about things.

Thanks for the welcome. :O)

I can sell, but don't talk to me about that “R” word…

2008-03-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

Does this sound like you? I'm a strong seller; selling is not a big deal; our products are so awesome that once you get them in front of people they really do sell themselves because they are so wonderful. Yes, I mention the business opportunity at the beginning and the end of my presentation. Yes, I even give everyone at my parties some information on the business. I'm sure if they are interested, they will ask me about the business; after all, I don't want to be PUSHY!

The above are ACTUAL comments from a consultant who was such a strong seller that she consistently was recognized by her company year after year for being in the top 1% of her company! After years of this, she finally realized that with the number of people she was selling product to, she was really missing a BIG opportunity for building residual income by recruiting and team building. She made the choice to change by incorporating a few more pro-active approaches to her business; consider giving these a try:

Make a HELP WANTED sign to display at each party

Put a recruiting label with “your story” on each catalog

Focus on demonstrating products from the new consultant kit and state that these items are included in the kit

Coach ALL hostesses with the attitude that they will join

Talk to EVERY guest individually about joining

Make “Morning After Calls”, to each guest, thanking them again for their purchase and inviting them to join

Make recruiting the primary focus at each event

Make the parties fun and simple so potential recruits could see that it is truly duplicatable work.
By making these simple changes, she more than doubled her annual recruiting. But the biggest difference she said was in her attitude. She says; “You have to believe that the opportunity you are offering IS your best product. Make it your primary focus at each presentation that you do…the sales will come naturally; but statistics don't lie; you really do need to ask. But when you do, 1 in 10 will join! Yes, there are still some individuals who will come up and ask you, but the majority are waiting for you to invite them to join you.

First quarter of the year - ALMOST OVER…YIKES!

2008-03-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

The beautiful spring weather gives cause to take a closer look at the calendar where we see - WOW - the first quarter of the year is nearly over.

It is time to access the goals that you set in January.

How are you doing? Take a look at your sales, recruiting and rank promotions - both personally and for your team. Are you ahead or behind? Were the goals that you set in January realistic or do they need adjusting?

Mid-March is the perfect time to re-access, reanalyze and look ahead. You still have three quarters of the year ahead of you. If you haven't already done so, put together a treasure map (or tweak the one you have already done). This might even be a great idea for a team activity at your next meeting. A treasure map is a HUGE help in goal setting because it helps you to focus not only on the goal - but the WHY behind the goal.

When the WHY is there, the HOW is easy - Jim Rohn
P.S. If you don't remember what a treasure map activity is, stay tuned. Next week we'll do an “instant replay” of the email we posted a few months back on the `how-to's' of treasure mapping.

Chatty team members - a question from YOU

2008-03-13T20:18:00.000-07:00

\Charlotte writes…I have a question. I am a leader of a team of 23. What suggestions do you have to help with staying on task when you have a team member who just loves to chat? Honestly, I shy away from calling her because she takes up so much of my time, even when I do say, “Well, I need to go so that I can_______________” - it still takes forever to get off the darn phone! And if she does drop by - forget it -hard to get her out of the house and on her way. It IS good to touch base and get to know team members better and I want to support her, BUT my time is so limited as it is, I do avoid connecting with her because of this. HELP!

Dear Charlotte,
Your challenge is one that is common to those of us in direct sales. Many who are attracted to this type of work have that “cheerleader” personality type. Many join this business as a social outlet and the “business” part of it is a secondary component and so the result is the situation you are dealing with. We LOVE these team members, but it is important to establish boundaries early on so that as your team grows you are able to keep yourself organized and balanced.
So…because at TSF we have `been there and done that' we have a few practical suggestions.
Schedule weekly phone appointments with her. Set parameters for the appointments:

· The appointment is 15 minutes in length

· She needs to come prepared with a list of questions and challenges she is having

· She needs to schedule at a time when distractions at her house are minimal

· She (and you) will keep a notebook as a log of your appointments.

· YOU keep a kitchen timer on your desk so that you can be true to your commitment of a 15 minute appointment.

The agenda for the phone call is as follows:

· Review how her previous business week went, what worked and what needs to be changed.

· Deal with the challenges she had and brainstorm solutions.

· Give her an assignment for the current week (example, book two more parties for April)
· Schedule a time for the call the following week.

Don't be surprised if the first week's appointment ends up with her chatting away and using up the time. That's where the kitchen timer comes in. The timer will go off (and since it is by the phone), she will hear it. You MUST cut the conversation off - let her know that you have another appointment coming up right after hers and so next week we will have to make sure to get right down to business. (This will train her very quickly that she needs to `get down to business' on your calls.)

Now, this doesn't mean that you don't take her calls at other times during the week - but only do so if you have time and ask that if she has questions that she uses email whenever possible.
Set and keep office hours and be sure your team knows what those are. For example, when my children were small, my office hours were from 1-3pm during nap time. Remember, office hours are only effective if you keep them!

Keeping control on “drop in visits” is most important, especially as your team grows. I have a pick up basket on my front porch. I use it for team members and customers alike. Whether they need to drop off a check, purchase business supplies, pick up a catalog or inventory - this basket is in constant use. It is a wonderful tool. When I get a call that someone needs something, I just let them know it will be out in the basket for them to pick up at their convenience so that we don't have to coordinate our schedules. Even if I am home when they come by - I don't go to the door. Problem solved.

Remember, a key to success in this business is operating your business from the start like the large organization that you are working towards it becoming. That means setting parameters and putting solid business practices in place early on so that you can effectively balance your family and your business life and obligations.
Hope that helps!

Moving from HOBBY to BUSINESS

2008-03-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hi. I really need to make my business a business and not a hobby. I have two small children so I really need to maximize the time I give to my business to the utmost! I'm hoping to get some good tips through your website to help me be successful! Thanks. -Terri

This is a common “lament” amongst not only Party Plan folk but anyone who works from home. While we have addressed this topic before; we thought a quick review might be in order for those of you who have only been with us a short while.

We have the “perks” of working from home burned in our minds. We sell the advantages on each and every recruiting appointment. You know the spiel, “work in your pajamas, set your own hours around your family's schedule, no traffic to fight, do a load of laundry while you work, be the `field trip mom', no boss breathing down your neck…yah-dee-yah-dee-yah.” The list goes on and on. However, Terri's point is a valid one and a struggle for many of us as we try to make a viable income from home while at the same time caretaking small children. How is it that you can best move beyond the hobby level and (to quote Emeril) “kick it up a notch…BAM!”

Here are some tried and true tips that will help you do just that:

SET OFFICE HOURS (can we say this enough?) Set them, keep them, and know they will change each year as your children grow.

KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN. Share your goals with your family. Let them know where you want to be, when you want to be there, what's in it for them and how they can help.

GET HELP!* As much as we try, we can't do it all. Get a cleaning service (even once a month will help); schedule an extra party to pay for it. After all, wouldn't you rather do a party and let someone else scrub your floors?

CHILDCARE*! Yes, we KNOW you are working from home to be with your kids, but through our entire history in party plan we were always a party of a babysitting co-op or we hired another mom to help us out. (Don't belong to a babysitting co-op? Then start one! It's a great way to network for your business and it won't set you back financially because the `currency' is trading time for time) Visit your local library and check out a book on the subject.

TREAT IT LIKE A BUSINESS! That means you may have to say “no” once in a while. The biggest `rookie' mistake for those working from home for the first time is to think that magically there are MORE than 24 hours in a day and you suddenly no longer need to sleep. Figure out your priorities and learn to say NO to those who think you are just `playing office'. Resist the urge to drop everything to have coffee with a friend when it is office hour time.

GO HOME FROM WORK! One of the biggest challenges of working from home can be that you (mentally) don't go home. When you are spending time with family you feel guilty because you think you should be working and when you are working you feel guilty because you think you should be spending time with your family. AGAIN, go back to #1. By setting and keeping office hours (and set “party” nights as well) you will begin to be able to compartmentalize. Having a separate office space WITH A DOOR THAT CLOSES is also helpful if possible.

C.A.N.I. (Constant and Never-ending Improvement). Another “must” …stay motivated by reading our daily tips and TAKE A PEEK at our awesome training materials to help you keep on keeping on when the going gets tough!

More exciting news!

2008-03-11T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hot off the presses! Our second new training CD is now available!
Have you ever felt discouraged because you didn't know where to look for business? Have you been disappointed at the lack of support from friends and family?

Then Expanding Your Business Beyond Friends and Family by Dede Gruenberg of The Success Factory is just the boost to your business that you have been looking for. Listen as Dede shares ideas that she and her teammates have used successfully to grow and expand far beyond that `inner circle' of friends and family. Learn about what you can do to have a calendar that is consistently booked year round. Get creative as you expand your thinking beyond the traditional sources of party business. Find places to advertise inexpensively that you may have never considered before and much more.

The convenient CD format is an easy and inexpensive way to turn your car into a rolling classroom. Feed your mind with a daily dose of CANI (Constant and Never-ending Improvement) as you travel to and from your parties, run errands or wait in the carpool line.

Not only will the tips shared on these CD's help you with your personal business, but it will help you to be a more effective trainer as you help new consultants begin and grow their businesses.
We guarantee that your head will be spinning with so many new ideas that you won't know which ones to try first. At just $9.95, this CD will easily pay for itself the first time you use the techniques that you hear. Order your copy today!
http://www.thesuccessfactory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.viewProduct&productId=109&catId=2

ACTION plan for GROWTH in 2008

2008-03-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Where do I go from HERE?

Put your “pedal to the middle” and do whatever it takes to grow your team to the size of 75-100 as soon as possible. When your team grows to this size, this is where the real fun starts to happen. Your business will take on a life of its own. Getting to that size is like being in labor…it can be fast and furious or slow and painful. But, the difference is that unlike labor, when growing your business YOU get to decide how long the labor goes on.

Once your team is at this size -
1) You will not be the only one doing the majority of the selling and the recruiting. People on your team will be duplicating what you do. DUPLICATION LEADS TO MULTIPLICATION. This is where the FUN BEGINS because parties and recruits are showing up all over the place on your team…WHAT a great surprise!

2) When multiplication occurs, you will have a “pool” of potential leaders to work with. Leaders make for a strong organization with income that you can count on month after month.
So…what do you think? Will 2008 be YOUR year to EXPLODE your business or will you end the year in much the same shape as you were this year? The choice is yours!

More ACTION plan for GROWTH

2008-03-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we discussed the dangers of “playing manager”. Today, as promised, we will discuss specific strategies for balance in your business life and GROWTH.
Work to establish good habits NOW that will serve you as your business grows.

Set office hours.

Schedule phone appointments with team members using the following guidelines:

Keep appointments short (15-20 minutes in length)

Keep them regular (once a week or once a month depending on the “pace” of the team member).

Your time should be spent most frequently with new team members and business builders.

Keep appointments short (15-20 minutes in length). Stay “on task”. Ask team members to make a list and save questions for phone appointment time if possible.

Establish just one day a week (Sunday evenings or Monday mornings are a good choice), that are Team Touch Times. This helps team members get off to a good start for the week. The rest of your week should be spent building your personal business.

Consider a separate line or a separate ring (on an already existing line) for business. Caller ID can be very helpful as well. RESIST picking up the phone when you KNOW it is your time to be making customer calls.

Ask team members to leave a complete message. Often you can call back later with an answer to their question and just leave a message or send an email to them. This can be a huge time saver.
DROP INS and DROP OFFS. Please read this with an open mind. Certainly we love to get to know our team members better. However, someone dropping by to pick up inventory or business supplies can sometimes turn into a HUGE timewaster if too much chit chat happens. So, consider having a box or basket on your front porch for these exchanges. It will control the socializing AND eliminate the need for “coordination” of mutual schedules.

By taking control of your business NOW, while it is in its “fledgling” time, you will be properly positioned to stay balanced as you GROW!

ACTION plan for GROWTH

2008-03-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

If you want to experience NO movement in your business for the new year and are completely satisfied with where you are right now, then stop reading right now.

HOWEVER, if YOU want some specific action steps to move your business forward in 2008, then this next “mini-series” could be the most important tip you have read this year. Keeping in mind that while we realize that each company has its own career plan; there are, as with all our tips “generic rules” that we have found to be generally applicable to everyone.

Tip #1… Resist the urge to “play” supervisor/manager when your team is at 5-10. What we mean by this is that one common error consultants make once they have a small team is that they get SO busy coaching their team, setting expectations for them and worrying about what they are or are not doing with their businesses that their own business gets lost in the shuffle.

Building a team can be exciting and fun. When you recruit someone, of course you have a certain responsibility to make sure they know what they are doing and are trained to know where to find the information they need about growing their business. However, many new team builders fall into an “easy trap” of spending too much time in this area. While most of us agree that it certainly can be easier to talk to a team member than it is to pick up the phone to call a hostess, customer or recruit potential; it is important that you still spend 80% of your time on your personal business. Be sure that 80% of your time is spent equally between recruiting and selling.

WOW!

2008-03-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

Recently, one of our staff received the following thank you note from a good customer of her party plan business. Wow, how wonderful to have a customer feel so strongly as to write this wonderful note. When we work hard to build a relationship with our customers, it becomes just that, a relationship…not something that would be defined as pushy or negative but truly good service!

“… Your knowledge, customer service, no pressure sales, friendly demeanor, insights, etc. is the example to which I compare all other home sale businesses and salespeople. You truly are a consultant and not so much a salesperson. Not to mention, that you are just a kind, good natured person with whom I enjoy talking!”

I'm SO excited!

2008-03-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

There are three basics that we need to do to be successful in this business:

Use/Love our products (be your own best customer)

Share our products with others (Sell)

Find others who would also like to share our products (Recruit!)

The fact is that no matter what company you are affiliated with, you love and believe in your product enough that you want to share it with others. Today's tip is this: roll up your sleeves and use your product. Get excited about it again! Take a little time to re-familiarize yourself with your products again and use them as they were intended.

Whether you need to play with your kids, put together a photo album, try a new recipe for your family or a neighbor, enjoy the ambiance of a new scented candle, or redecorate an area of your home. You get the picture; re-energize yourself and re-connect with all the reasons you joined the business.

Why, you might even want to schedule a “Grand Re-Opening” of your business next week to celebrate!

Business EXPLOSION!

2008-03-03T18:29:00.000-08:00

Can you guess what each of the following have in common?

- A fundraiser for a major hospital in one of the largest cities in the U.S.

- A very hard-to-get booth opportunity at a Junior Women's League holiday bazaar.

- A corporate order that nets thousands of dollars in commissions annually.

- Monthly orders for corporate gift baskets

- An annual fundraiser for a prestigious private school that nets nearly $10,000 in sales

- A party booked that leads to other bookings in a high income area

- A new team member whose business skyrockets. Bringing several hundred new team members to the organization.

Give up?

These are ACTUAL BUSINESS SUCCESSES that were the result of CONTACTS MADE AT A PARTY by TSF and/or members of our downlines.

The MORE people your hostesses get to attend their parties, the richer the networking opportunities. That is a FACT!

Getting to know you….

2008-02-29T15:35:00.001-08:00

Continuing on the topic of eliminating cancellations forever our topic today is “getting to know you.”

In the course of the 3-4 calls you make to your hostess prior to her party; be sure that you are taking a moment or two to be interested in her personally. This doesn't mean that you have to chat at length with her on each call; but do be sure that you have taken the time to find out things like her husband and/or children's names and some of her outside interests.

Most people reveal things about themselves personally in the normal course of conversation; especially if the listener is sincerely interested. Your job is to make some notes on your hostess file folder as these things come up so that you can ask about them on subsequent conversations. For example, “is Michael's cold better?” -or- “how did that basketball game of Amy's go after our last conversation?” You get the picture. Taking a personal interest in your hostess shows her that you care and you are more than just a `salesperson'. A hostess is much less likely to cancel on a friend than a sales person.

How am I doing?

2008-02-29T15:32:00.000-08:00

Why is it that some people are so successful in their businesses and others are not? Well, there are lots of contributing factors; but today, we will look at one of the most important ones. The most successful business people never stop observing themselves and learning.

Once you decide that you've learned everything there is to know about your business, in our opinion it is the kiss of death. Never stop attending meetings and seminars, listening to tapes and reading and never stop learning from others who are successful in your company but also from your CUSTOMERS!

One of the smartest questions you can ask your customers is, “How am I doing?”

Our tip for today is a challenge to you. At your next presentation, during your introduction, let the guests know that you are always striving to do a better job. Ask that they watch what you do in order to give you some honest feedback about your presentation, your company, and your product. Then, be willing to listen to what they have to say and analyze the comments in order to make you more effective at your next presentation.

You might be surprised at the results!

Assessing the financial health of your business- Part 1

2008-02-25T15:10:00.000-08:00

Recently we asked that you answer a series of questions regarding the finances of your business. Today we will talk about the answers to those questions.

1) Do I have a separate checking account for my business? If you haven't already, open a separate checking account for your business. This helps track expenses more accurately. You will also find that you are not mixing business expenses with the family bills such as the grocery store. Also, if you are ever audited by the IRS, having a separate checking account is a good indication to them that you are running a business (vs. a hobby).

2) Do I have a separate business credit/debit card? If you don't, then you should for the same reasons as indicated in #1. Also, for the purposes of tracking expenses, do your best to always use your checking account or credit/debit card when paying business bills. Receipts for bills paid by cash can easily get lost in the shuffle.

3) Am I carrying a balance on my credit card? If you are, then you are overspending AND probably paying high interest rates too boot. If you have difficulty with credit cards, consider using only a debit card.

4) Do I have too many business supplies on hand? Basic is better. It can be easy to get carried away ordering all kinds of brochures from the company; however you'll probably find that less is better. Stick to the basics: order forms, invitation postcards, recruiting contracts and catalogs. E-vites can be a great alternative to postcards and many company websites offer forms and fliers that are downloadable from their websites so take advantage of that! Remember too that statistically there is a 1% return on direct marketing (ie; leaving brochures on your neighbor's doorknobs or in their mailboxes; so save a tree and pick up the phone!

5) Do I own lots of extra “stuff” with my company's logo on it (tee shirts, stationery, magnets, hats, etc ;) We get so excited “shopping” for these kinds of things (especially at convention) that we can overspend. Keep in mind that in most cases, bumper stickers and tee shirts book very few parties.

Tomorrow, we will see how you answered the rest of the questions on our survey…so tune in then!

Hive Talkin Tonite...

2008-02-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

Join us tonite on the Hive Talkin call for info on taxes, booking more parties, and overall catch up!

Sunday February 24, 2008
Time:

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm PST
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm MST
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm CST
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm EST

Location:

(712) 775-7000 Code: 805628#

Success leaves clues…pay attention

2008-02-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

One tip you will hear from us time and time again is the important role CANI (Constant and Never-ending Improvement) plays in keeping you moving and motivated in your business. In addition to reading good books and listening to good tapes and CD's, take advantage of trainings that are available to you. Your company may provide these speakers, either from within your sales field or professionals hired from the outside. You may also have the opportunity to take educational seminars depending on what area of the country you live.

Speakers and trainers are chosen because they are qualified based on success they have experienced. They have DONE IT and can therefore, `talk the talk' because they HAVE, `walked the walk'. While most of us will never agree 100% with everything a particular speaker or trainer has to say, listen with an open mind. Take the best and leave the rest.

Sometimes we find ourselves resisting a tip or a technique. It is important to remember that the thing you are most resistant to is USUALLY the thing you need to hear the most. Chances are good that in a few years, you will look back and realize that the one thing you were offended by was the one thing you needed to change to grow your business. Don't make the mistake of dismissing everything a speaker has to say because you disagree with one thing they had to say. It is like throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Taking advice from someone who has not yet built a successful business is pure folly. There are REASONS why people succeed and EXCUSES why they don't. Success is not accidental or “lucky” but the end product of hard work.

Success leaves clues…smart business builders pay attention to successful people.

RAVE REVIEWS for The Aladdin Factor!

2008-02-18T17:01:00.000-08:00

When I go to church on Sunday morning and the pastor uses a personal story to illustrate a point he is trying to make on a passage of scripture, it always makes a bigger impact on me. There is something about storytelling that makes everything clearer, wouldn't you agree?

Apparently The Aladdin Factor is having the same effect on some of our loyal subscribers who have ordered this book from our website.

On our personalized training calls this week you gave it RAVE REVIEWS. You agree with us that this easy to read book is really hitting home with its simple tips and stories. Many of you are singing the praises of the great results you are getting because it is helping you to move beyond your FEARS and JUST ASK! This is exactly why we added this book to our product line.

To those of you who are already reading, enjoying and applying the principals in The Aladdin Factor, we are so glad it is working for you. Our hope is that many more of you will see the value of owning this phenomenal book!

How much are you spending?

2008-02-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year when we often hear “my spouse says I'm not making enough money in my business and wants me to quit.” Sound familiar?

If so, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I have a separate checking account for my business?

Do I have a separate business credit/debit card?

Am I carrying a balance on my credit card?

Do I have too many business supplies on hand?

Do I own lots of extra “stuff” with my company's logo on it (ie; tee shirts, stationery, magnets, hats, etc;)

Am I spending money on extra hostess gifts (over and above my company's hostess plan)?

Am I mailing out catalogs/brochures and sale fliers without asking my customers if they want them and/or not following up?

Do I often spend cash when a customer uses the real “green stuff” (vs. check or credit card) instead of depositing it?

Am I paying at least one family bill in addition to all the expenses created by my business?

Am I doing enough revenue generating activity each week or am I spending too much time playing office?

Am I keeping good financial records?

Do I know how to file a Schedule C so my family benefits fully from the tax advantages available to me because I have my own business?

Take a moment to answer these questions and BE HONEST!

Now or later?

2008-02-14T14:24:00.000-08:00

How often, when we are giving information to a prospect regarding the business opportunity do we get the response, “Maybe down the road…” (When the kids are in school, when I have more time, when I finally get organized).

You've heard it all, right? Well, suffice it to say, that timing is probably never perfect; and while sometimes there is a legitimate reason why someone can't begin immediately, often it is just procrastination and fear raising its ugly head.

Your job is to ALWAYS know why RIGHT NOW is the BEST time to join your company. Right now, it is just $_________ to get involved.

Right now, we have a wonderful hostess special, so you will have a really easy time booking parties!

Right now we are just beginning to work on earning next year's incentive trip. No matter what, RIGHT NOW is always better than later and you should be prepared to know each month of the year why RIGHT NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO JOIN!

If you are having a tough time figuring out why RIGHT NOW is the best time for someone to join your company; check in with your upline. They will always be able to tell you why someone would want to join today. Each time you accept the reply “maybe later”, rest assured that you will have to start from the beginning when you contact this prospect about joining your company again down the road. Creating a sense of urgency is key to helping new prospects get started RIGHT NOW!

Having trouble with RSVP's? Give this a try!

2008-02-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this Monica! Way to be creative and think outside the box. Thank you for sharing….TSF

I wanted to tell you how much I LOVE your emails! They are always encouraging and informative! It seems you send a message that applies to a topic that I am currently dealing with!

So, I wanted to share with you a contest I recently held regarding the RSVP'ing. My hostess booked a last minute party and she was going out of town the day after the evite went out. She wasn't returning until the day before her party. So I had her guests RSVP back to me. Her party was scheduled on a Thursday and it the Saturday before and only 3 girls had responded back. So, I emailed the list of guests and held a RSVP contest.

I thanked the ladies who had already RSVP'd and then told them whoever RSVP'd back by Tuesday (the RSVP date) would be put in a drawing for a special gift even if they couldn't attend. Well... I got 20 RSVP's by the next day! It was such a good response I'm going to do it for all my future parties. You can certainly share this with your email loop if you'd like.You all have a blessed day and keep up the GREAT work!Kind regards,Monica

The Hive - this is a great idea! Definitely try it and tell me how it goes.

Money, money, money….MONEY!

2008-02-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

Can I make any money at this? As women sometimes we steer clear of this topic. As if it is something we aren't supposed to do…make money for our time. Well, get over that. The fastest way to lose your spouse's support is to treat your business like a hobby. Remember that hobbies generally COST you money. But, I digress. Let's come back to the subject that is on a prospects mind.

Will I make any money in the party plan business? Do you know how to answer that question in a simple way? And by simple, I mean NOT percentages. Percentages generally mean NOTHING to someone who hasn't been in the business. What are the average sales at your parties? (Know you can get this information from your home office or your upline, trust me, they watch these stats like hawks). Based on the percentage that you make as a base commission, you should be able to easily tell someone what range of income they can make for an average night out doing a party. For instance, you need to be able to say to someone, “the average consultant makes $50-$125 for an evening out doing a home presentation. Our presentations take about 2 hours, so that's $25-$63 an hour, more than you'd make working at Kohl's, wouldn't you agree?”

Obviously, this will vary from company to company. Your job is to get the facts and STOP keeping them a secret. Figure out how to subtly wind them into your presentation. People ARE nosey…they DO what to know how much you earn doing what you do…don't be shy about letting them know!

Are we having FUN YET?

2008-02-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

Today we focus on John Kalench's number 2 question that all prospects have, “Can I have fun doing this?”

As in yesterday's email, I encourage you to look at your presentation. Are you enthusiastic? Are you having a good time? If you aren't, why aren't you and what can you do to have more fun? If you need some new ideas to “spice up” your parties, consider attending a presentation by another consultant in your area. If that's not possible, at the very least, get yourself invited to a couple of other parties that your friends might be throwing. Take what you like from the other consultants and leave the rest. You might find that if you aren't having fun anymore, you are just a little stale. Open your mind, use some new ideas and start having fun again. People will like what they see and want to do what you do!

Also, if you have been on a company incentive trip or a company convention, don't be shy about having a small notebook of pictures laid out for people to look at. This is another great way to show what fun you have doing what you do!

Finally, again we land on team building. As you grown into management, be sure that you let your downline know all the things you enjoy. Don't complain or talk about being so busy you can't see straight. If there are parts of your job as a manager that aren't fun anymore, then take a look at what those things are and what you can do to change them. Get the help of an upline. Someone with more years in the business than you is a great resource, as it is likely she's been through what you are going through already and knows what to do to tweak and fine-tune!

Is this business simple?

2008-02-08T08:42:00.000-08:00

How difficult are you making your job look? Remember, the best place to recruit is at your parties. At your next one, take a moment to critique yourself. Observe yourself through the eyes of someone who might be thinking about joining your company. How “perfect” is your display? How about your presentation? Do you know every item number and every price? If you do, certainly it is great that you are doing your job well; but are you doing it too well? Don't make your job look hard to the outsider looking in. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to make a couple of “boo-boo's”, and then treat it like it is not a big deal by saying something like, “See, I told you my job wasn't brain surgery!” Also, this is where using notes is OK as well…it makes you look duplicatible. Get the idea?

For those of you building a team, the same principal applies. You need to make management look simple. Don't complain to your downline if you are having a bad day (this is where the saying “dump up” is crucial!) Talk about and be conscious of, all the things that your company does to make your job simple. Do they provide team meeting agendas? Do you get coaching calls from your upline or home office? Any of the little perks (besides extra money) that you get for being in management with your company are the things you need to brag on with your team. They will want to do what you do and you will begin building a strong organization!

5 points worth memorizing!

2008-02-07T16:46:00.000-08:00

In his book, “Being the Best You Can Be in MLM” author John Kalench discusses the 5 key questions in any prospects mind when considering your company's business opportunity. Committing these to memory will net increased confidence in your recruiting skills, which will, in turn, increase the number of people who you help get involved in the business.

Here are the questions:

1. Is this business simple?

2. Can I have fun doing it?

3. Can I make money doing it?

4. Will they help me do it?

5. Is the timing perfect for me to get involved - now?

It might help if you memorize just 5 key words:

1. Simple
2. Fun
3. $$
4. Help
5. Now

Getting team members to events

2008-02-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

Cheri writes…
I really enjoy your emails - very short, concise and helpful! I was wondering if you had any tidbits on how to diplomatically get team members to return calls, RSVP to events, etc. I have a decent sized team and am working on a regional meeting and they have known about it for almost 2 months - I did the Evite concept to make it easy and still many have not even responded. I have also done personal follow up calls and an email specifically asking if they will attend or not - no response. I hear this frustration with many others and wondered if there was diplomatic way to address it with the team. Quite honestly it is rude and I know we are in a non-RSVP society now, which is really frustrating. Any thoughts would be great!

TSF:
Hi Cheri,
Thanks for your compliments - we are glad to be of help.
As to your challenge, what we CAN say is “been there, done that” and we have been in your shoes many times. It IS a “non-RSVP” society and yes, it is very frustrating to say the least. Here are some of our thoughts on this topic.

Firstly, we always say in this business, “It's the same job, same job, same job.” If nothing else, your frustration will help you empathize with your next hostess who goes through the same thing with her friends! Use this as a personal example when coaching her that people do NOT RSVP and that the personal touch is very important.

Secondly, in terms of getting people to events…this is a process and a culture that you as a leader need to create within your team. “Attend everything” needs to be your mantra from the day your new recruit signs the paperwork. Frequently a potential asks, “is it a requirement that I attend meetings?” When accompanied with body language like a shake of the head or roll of the eyes, we find ourselves saying ANYTHING just to get them to sign. Heaven forbid we set an expectation…(PLEASE just FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK)…“Oh no, meetings are helpful, but not required.” The end result can be the frustration you are now experiencing when we try to turn the culture around so-to-speak.

Thirdly, when planning events, distribute the workload LIKE CRAZY. Divide EVERYTHING up into bite-sized pieces. If people have a job, they will come!

Evites can be easily ignored. People need to be sold on coming to an event. Just like we tell our hostesses…their enthusiasm will come across when they personally talk to people. Keep phoning and give them a reason they won't want to miss this event. Again, it is the same skill we teach our hostesses to use. Think about the person you are calling and why they personally will benefit from attending this event. Keep phone messages upbeat and excited and be sure you tell them that it just won't be the same unless they are there. Stay positive and avoid making people feel guilty because they haven't responded.

Finally, some strategies to use “post-event” in order to ensure better attendance for your next meeting.

1) Sing the praises of the event like crazy. Sending emails that talk about how FUN and exciting the meeting will leave people kicking themselves for not coming.

2) Ask those in attendance to share (via email) 2 of the best tips they received.

3) AVOID re-enacting the event. When team members call to ask how the event was, stay upbeat and positive. Tell them the event was UNBELIEVABLE and how you will look forward to seeing them at the next meeting! DO NOT take time and energy to re-present the information. If you do this, why should they ever attend events themselves?

Advice from a mother-in-law

2008-02-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

OK, many of you are squirming at the title of this tip. I love my mother-in-law dearly but in my early years of marriage found she often was a little too “helpful” with her advice (do you know what I'm saying?). However, one piece of advice she gave me has been SO helpful over the years and comes back to haunt me when I don't heed it.

Years ago, she and I were running errands together. I was a typical young mom, 2 kids in car seats, frazzled and in a hurry making a quick stop at the local ATM. I flew back into the car, tossed the cash and my card into the console area between front seats and started to throw the car into reverse. My mother-in-law stopped me and said… “Wait, just stop for 30 seconds and put your card and your cash away, it's a good habit and 30 seconds now will save you lots of time later looking for a misplaced ATM card or lost cash.” Her voice rings in my head every time I am frantically looking for keys or a purse that didn't get returned to their proper place and I am running late. Her words came back to me yesterday as I was running my business profit and loss statement in order to fill out college financial aid forms. I'd gotten sloppy with some of my transactions in November and December and was wracking my BRAIN to try to remember what it was I'd done.

What should have been a 15-minute process took the better part of the day. WHAT a waste of time. All it would have taken was an extra 30 seconds with each “mystery” transaction and so much time would have been saved in the long run.

Needless to say - “take 30 extra seconds” is one of my New Years resolutions. How about you? What is taking extra time in your business or personal life because you rushed through it and didn't do it right to begin with? Think about it…

“If you lose your money, you can always make more, if you lose time, you can never get it back…” - Jim Rohn

Ode to the Macy's Perfume Catalog

2008-02-04T14:52:00.000-08:00

I love Valentines' and the Macy's catalog that is ALL perfume. It's an awesome opportunity for me to find out what's in the hottest new perfumes and find ways to re-create that with our UB stash of goodies!

Michael Kors Island Carpi sounds delightful and it's top 3 ingredients are as follows:

Orange (use our mandarin)

Rose Petals

Violet

Escada Moon Sparkle boasts Strawberry and Apple

Sean Diddy Combs Unforgiveable is quite the concoction. See the story below

Eau de Bad BoySean Comb's Sleek, Sexy Scent Epitomizes Cool

As with any perfectionist, it goes without saying that Sean Combs would be hands-on in the making of anything and everything that has his name on it. His experience as a mixologist dates back to childhood when he would cook up crazy Kool-Aid™ flavor combinations for his family—long before companies began selling them that way. So it’s not surprising that during the creation of Unforgivable, Combs went so far as inviting the team of perfumers to his home for what turned out to be a marathon mixing session. An incredible 665 sample scent combinations later, Combs finally made up his mind.

Unforgivable (a.k.a. #666) is a citrus-musk mix made up of three main elements:

HOT: An uplifting introduction of Italian bergamot, green mandarin, and Moroccan birch are topped with a sparkling champagne accord.

FABULOUS: Crisp and sensual Mediterranean air accord dissolves into a crisp pool of refreshing Tuscan basil, Florentine iris, clay sage, and lavender.

SEXY: A delightful contrast of warm cashmere accord and cool sea moss blend with the sophistication of Australian sandalwood, amber, tonka bean, and the smooth sensuality of rum for the perfect finish.

Another winner is Coco Mademoiselle:

You might want to call her Miss -- but she prefers COCO MADEMOISELLE.With the creation of COCO MADEMOISELLE in 2001, Jacques Polge reaffirms the modernity of the young Coco Chanel, who overturned convention with the pure and simple lines of her inimitable style. COCO MADEMOISELLE is the fragrance Coco Chanel would wear if she were 21 at the dawn of the 21st century.

Fragrance Family

Fresh oriental, enlivened with modern, unexpected notes.

Sparkling, lively top notes of Orange and Bergamot are followed by clear, pure middle notes of Jasmine petals and Morning Rose. Base notes of Patchouli and Vetiver express a discreet sensuality.

The basics for one of my favorite scents Juicy Couture are:

Mandarin, Rose, and Lily! Make a lotion or shower gel to go with the complex blend.

Last but not least I'm a huge fan of Gwen Stefani's new scent called LAMB! Look at all the notes she uses that UB carries!

L L.A.M.B. Fragrance By Gwen Stefani Introducing L, the first L.A.M.B. fragrance by Gwen Stefani. Gwen's iconic style goes beyond music, beyond fashion, beyond boundaries. The L stands for Love, the first letter of her L.A.M.B clothing and accessories collection. Her signature fragrance is a fusion of feminine and masculine, with a luscious floral scent that bursts with sparkling freshness, then wraps you in the warmth of sensual musks. The packaging reflects all the things Gwen loves, by utilizing the Rasta colors red, yellow, and green, plus turquoise, white, and black stripes. This is truly a glamorous, sexy signature scent that is pure Gwen.

Notes:Fresh Green Notes, Water Hyacinth, White Freesia, Fresh Pear, Violet Leaves, Jasmine Petals, Rose, Muget, Sweet Pea, Orange Blossom, Heliotrope Flower, Sensual Musk, Frangipani Blossom, Peach Skin.

Style:Unique. Powerful. Cool.

Lessons in building rapport - TSF

2008-01-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

For the past month, our family has been dealing with some serious health issues with my mom. All kinds of new people have entered our lives - doctors, nurses, therapists, health care technicians, ambulance drivers - you name it.

I have been privileged to observe absolute masters of rapport building as I watch my parents interact with these folks. It is pure, it is kind and it is honest. My parents are the kind of people who just take a genuine interest in others. What an example they are. It matters not who the person is. It might even be someone on a short elevator ride. My folks just make it their business to get to know people. Between the first and the third floor of a hospital elevator - my dad had a great conversation with a man who was also a Veteran (my dad always wears his Korean War Vet cap). My mom never forgets to ask her home health nurse what her son's Boy Scout troop is doing this week. In a two mile ambulance ride, she was on a first name basis with the EMT who rode with her, knew where he lived and even which route he took to work each day.

No matter what speed bumps the road of life throws you - it is never bad to take a genuine interest in others.

So often at TSF we hear that you are having difficulties talking to strangers. It seems that when we join a direct sales business - somehow all of our normal people skills are forgotten. We get the feeling that we can't talk to anyone without feeling obliged to sell them product, book a party or recruit them and so, we get tongue tied and say nothing at all.

Does this sound like you? If it does, may I make a suggestion for you for the next several weeks? Try this exercise. Start talking to people again. Everywhere you go - just strike up conversations with strangers. Do your best to find out as much about them as you can. You will be AMAZED at what people tell you when you ask them questions about themselves. FAYC (FORGET ABOUT YOURSELF COMPLETELY). Just focus on THEM. Don't worry about talking about anything other than THEM.

The goal of this exercise is just to help you remember your people skills again. You CAN talk to strangers - you may have just temporarily forgotten how. This exercise will help build your confidence and re-teach you the fine art of LISTENING. Listening for needs is the key to true success in sales. So, give it a try - we would love to hear how this works for you

The advantages of inclement weather

2008-01-30T15:41:00.000-08:00

One of the good things about the inclement weather that January and February brings to many parts of the country is that you have a better chance of reaching your customers on the phone. If the weather is lousy, people are usually indoors.

These months are the perfect time to go through your data base and do follow-up calls with everyone you sold product to in the past year. Use your time wisely. In addition to re-connecting with them and asking them specifically about how their products are working out - make good use of your time by covering the following points:

Solve any product issues

Ask for re orders and/or be prepared to share any current related product specials.

Find out when this year your customer would like to hear from you to:

Order more product

Book a party

Join you in the business (be prepared to share why NOW is the best time to start!)

Use the weather to your best advantage. January and February are the months to line up your calendar for the entire year - so don't miss the opportunity that bad weather brings.

There is a price for not asking

2008-01-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

Not only do Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, in their book, The Aladdin Factor, help us understand our psyche and why we do not ask. But they also talk about the consequences of not asking.

I couldn't help but remember the people on my personal List of 100, who I spent a great deal of time thinking about - but never actually asking to join me in the business. Time and time again, my feelings were hurt when they took advantage of opportunities elsewhere. After all, I was (a relative, a close friend, a former classmate) - YOU fill in the blank.

The following excerpt is a sobering reminder about the price for not asking from The Aladdin Factor:

A number of years back the University of Chicago received a million dollar grant from Mrs. Fields of the Marshall Fields Department Store fame and fortune. When the administration at Northwestern University read the headline in the newspaper, the people of Northwestern were shocked. How could this be? Mrs. Fields lived in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern was in Evanston, Illinois. She had been a supporter in the past. Why hadn't she donated the money to Northwestern? Why had she given the money to the University of Chicago instead?

When the university officials called Mrs. Fields to discover why she had given the money to the University of Chicago rather than to them, she replied, “The people of the University of Chicago asked. You didn't.”

Think about it and order and read The Aladdin Factor to help you get over your fear of asking!

New marketing materials hit the mark!

2008-01-28T17:47:00.000-08:00

For those of you that haven't received the new company marketing materials (brochure/catalog) make sure to order some as it's definitely worth the new strategy and some great new offerings we haven't had ready made to order.

I know I've mentioned to a lot of you the success with the TWEEN bday parties and I was so excited to see a Bday party unscented product package. Even if you aren't able to service all your bday party clients they can now do it theirself!

I hope this helps to jumpstart a few of your February's! Don't forget to send in your parties and keep up the great work! Looking forward to seeing some sucess stories on catalog parties as well now!

Success May Mean Being Different

2008-01-25T20:36:00.000-08:00

One of the great paradoxes of life is that being "normal" or "reasonable" often means settling for ordinary results, while success requires that we step outside our normal boundaries, be different and, often, uncomfortable. Highly successful people are, by definition, not average people!

All of us have been pressured to conform at one time or another. We've been told to "sit still" in school, to "stop interrupting" or "not make a scene." We've been criticized for dressing, speaking, acting or thinking (or being) "different." The subtle and not-so-subtle pressures to accept conventional norms are powerful. "To get along, you have to go along."Well. Madame Currie, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Oprah Winfrey are not admired because they were "average" people! Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh, Franklin Roosevelt and Bill Gates were not "conventional" people.

Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as the greatest American president, yet the thing he was most known for among his friends was his obnoxious refusal to quit running for office, even after he lost thirty-two elections! That is not normal!

One of the things that has made America, and capitalism great, is our love of individuality. We have always had a loving attitude toward our "mad inventors." The Wright brothers thought they could fly! Henry Ford thought he could put a car in every garage. Ben Franklin flew a kite in a thunder storm (didn't his mother tell him to come in out of the rain?). Mary Kay thought she could make a living selling make-up, while Mrs. Field tried to support her family selling cookies! That's just crazy!

Now, we need to tell the truth here. A lot of crazy ideas really are...crazy. We've all had brilliant ideas in the middle of the night, only to find that in the clear light of day they weren't worth pursuing. I've made many fortunes while taking my shower, only to find them going down the drain when I tried to tell my partners about them. Just because an idea is weird doesn't mean it's wonderful.But many great ideas (and the fortunes) have been lost because the genius who thought it up was shy or lacked courage or was intimidated by someone commenting, “You can't do that!”

All great ideas were crazy before they were brilliant. Alexander Bell thought he could talk over copper wires, and even worse, Marconi thought he could send messages through thin air! When David Sarnoff wanted to launch the first radio network (now NBC), one investor ridiculed him by asking, "Who would pay to send a message to no one in particular?" Jules Verne thought people might one day travel under the ocean or, even more ridiculous, fly in outer space. How crazy was that!?If you can read this, you are a genius. You have had thousands of wonderful, creative, brilliant ideas--most of which you've never pursued, and that's a shame.

Success in life is not achieved by being "ordinary." It is not achieved by being "different," by following your own path and trusting your own instincts.One of my heroes, Henry Thoreau, recommended "marching to beat of your own drummer." No two people have the same DNA or the same fingerprints. No two lovers "do it" quite the same way. No two parents (not even spouses) raise their children quite the same way. Sea Biscuit was too small and ungainly to be a champion, but lives in history as one of the great race horses of all time.

To achieve your unique version of success, follow your heart. Yes, you'll want to learn from others. Yes, you'll want to obey the law and applicable regulations, but aside from those things, you become great by being exactly, and uniquely yourself. This is a call for more eccentrics, more individuals, more creative, unrepentant adventurers. Go where you heart and your instincts lead you. Follow your dream. Instead of following the "normal" highway, blaze a new path and leave a trail for others to follow.

Published by:
The Philip E. Humbert Group, Inc
PO Box 50910Eugene, OR 97405
U.S.A541-342-1030

Stress Less in 2008

2008-01-23T17:36:00.000-08:00

Stress Less in 2008

By: Aurelia Williams

STRESS. "Yes, the S word." Stress is the 'wear and tear' our bodies experience as we adjust to our constantly changing environment. Stress has both physical and emotional effects on us, and it can create positive or negative feelings.As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new consciousness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, insomnia, ulcers and other health problems.

As you can see, as we adjust to different situations, stress can either help or hinder us, depending on how we react to it.I'm not going to sit here and tell you that you shouldn't let things concern you, but what I do want to say is that you can slowly reduce the stress in your life.As women we wear many hats, and as moms our hat racks are overflowing. Be sure to recognize stressful situations and notice how you deal with them both mentally and physically.You remember the saying, "If mama' ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"? Well, I tend to agree with it, so I am very conscience of the stressful situations that I am confronted with, and I am sure to take time off so I can replenish my mind, body and spirit. Sit back, relax, and see if you can apply some or all of the action steps below into your life and take the road to less stress.Write it down.

Write down goals, errands, chores, due dates etc, and instead of creating just a To Do list, keep a Have Done list, too. Move things from your To Do list to the Have Done list after having completed them. At the end of the day, review how productive you were.Express yourself. Unloading your worries and concerns is a terrific way to clear your mind and reduce stress. It's very important not to keep everything inside, so try finding a friend or professional with whom you can talk. You can also write your feelings down in a journal. Moving things out of your head and onto paper can help you release a lot of the inner turmoil you may feeling.

Drink some orange juice. Scientists have discovered that vitamin C can reduce the production of stress hormones. Try eating an orange, drinking some juice, or taking a Vitamin C supplement. Here are a few foods that are rich in Vitamin C: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, strawberries, grapefruit and cantaloupe. Exercise. Studies have shown that taking a brief 10 minute walk during intense times will increase the amount of oxygen to your brain, allowing you to think more clearly and ultimately helping you to make better decisions.Give yourself a license to be imperfect. No one is perfect. Give yourself a break.

Try to reach a healthy balance between what really needs to be done now and what can wait. Also, give yourself permission to ask others for help when you need it. Adjustments. Let's face it -- there comes a time when we have to make adjustments. Try to identify your stressors and adjust yourself so that you react differently to them.

The Aladdin Factor - Why we don't ask for what we want

2008-01-22T08:14:00.000-08:00

I don't like to shop. This has always been a weird concept for people to grasp because I am a woman. Some people believe that as a woman, part of your DNA is programmed to NEED to shop and spend money as a source of enjoyment, entertainment and excitement.

One of the reasons I don't enjoy shopping is that if you get something home and it doesn't work or fit, you have to take it back to the store and return it. I have never liked to return things. I'm not exactly sure what I am afraid of - probably a potential for conflict. But the bottom line is that if you don't shop, you don't have to return.

Well, you can imagine my interest when the first chapter of the Aladdin Factor addresses the whole issue of asking for what you want. There are actually REASONS and BARRIERS that keep people from asking and consequently settling for a not-so-great meal at a restaurant, a job that is less than fulfilling, even from getting help at school. It amounts to a life of settling for less than you want or deserve.

The five barriers are:

IGNORANCE (We don't know what's available or possible)

LIMITING AND INACCURATE BELIEFS (Programmed by our parents, school, media)

FEAR (Fear of rejection or looking stupid)

LOW SELF-ESTEEM (My needs are not important)

PRIDE (Fear of appearing weak or needy)

Not only will this book transform you as a businessperson, but also as a parent, spouse, child, volunteer, etc; It will change how you look at things forever!

Recommended Reading
The Aladdin Factor

Anything is possible.... if you dare to ask! Personal happiness. Creative fulfillment. Professional success. Freedom from fear -- and a new promise of joy that is yours for the asking. We have the ability at our fingertips to achieve these things. It is the Aladdin Factor, the magical wellspring of confidence, desire-and the willingness to ask -- that allows us to make wishes come true. Now bestselling motivational authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen introduce us to the Aladdin Factor -- and help us put it into effect in our own lives.

The Aladdin Factor helps us by pinpointing the major stumbling blocks to asking -- and teaching simple techniques to overcome them. With inspirational stories about people who have succeeded by asking for what they want, this book shows us how to turn our lives around -- no matter what kind of obstacle we face. And with this knowledge, we can reap the riches of a truly well-lived life -- a treasure that comes not from an enchanted lamp, but from the heart.

Goal setting - Questions for the New Year

2008-01-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

Are your goals for 2008 solidified? Do you have a plan to move your business forward this year or are you still struggling with that “G” word?

Today we share a list of questions to ask yourself that may help you to formulate what it is that you really want in your business, home and life.

You may find that these questions are a good topic at your next team meeting or retreat. They are questions that will spark good discussion and sharing amongst team members.

What is the single most important thing you can do to improve the quality of your life this year?

What is the single biggest time-waster in your life and what can you do about it?

What's the most important way you will try to make this year different from last year?

What one thing could you do to improve your working habits this year?

What is the most important decision you need to make this year?

What area of your life most needs to be simplified and how can you achieve that?

What is your most important financial goal this year and what is the single most important step you can take toward achieving it?

What habit would you like to establish this year?

What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

What is the most important trip you want to take this year?

What one thing do you most regret about last year and what will you do about it this year?

When life throws you a curve ball…

2008-01-17T14:54:00.000-08:00

Life happens and sometimes, we get thrown a curve ball. A job layoff, an unplanned pregnancy, a divorce or separation, challenges with children, a serious - even life threatening illness, or even the unexpected death of someone close. This is life and life happens.

Suddenly this crisis, whatever it may be, moves into your life and begins monopolizing everything. Your time, which was already at a premium, becomes more precious than ever.
How do you continue to work and grow a home-based business when crisis happens?
As with most of our tips - we write from personal experience. So…what DO you do when `life happens'?

First and foremost allow yourself some time to process, grieve and regroup. The beauty of being self-employed is that you don't have to ask the boss for time off of work.
DO communicate what's going on with key people in your organization and your home office if need be. It's OK to ask for help.

DO allow others to help you. If they want to cook a meal for your family or take over some of your duties temporarily - let them!

DO let the non-essentials slide - this is a great time to let go of any tendencies towards perfectionism that you might have.

DO make use of a laptop and cell phone if possible. This way you can still do business from wherever you may need to be.

DO make lists and use pockets of time. You can be very productive with a 15 minute pocket if you have a list that you are working from.

DO cut yourself some slack. This may be a time of re-assessing your goals at least temporarily and that too is OK.

DO surround yourself with positive people and positive thoughts. Now more than ever this is SO important. The power of prayer is amazing - try it if you haven't and don't be afraid to ask others to pray for you.

Get your parties into me!

2008-01-15T15:33:00.000-08:00

We're having a great start in January! Some special mentions to the following Hive Members:

Darlene Debardelben - 4 parties this month so far
Theresa Small - 4 parties this months so far
Annette James, Shawna Straub, Cat Jaiver-Wong - 1 party for the month so far

January is getting off to a good start and I had one of the most FUN bday parties ever with 10 seventeen year olds that thought UB was the bomb! The entire party only took me one hour. It was awesome and they were naturals at getting some great scents together.

I loved when the bday girl's combo ended up having Tomato Leaf. A non-herby that loves that herby scent I bonded with her immediately.

Please send in your parties and your success stories. It's time to get back in the swing of things and get cranking for Valentines sales! Don't forget to read up on the January newsletter in the UB Office.

5 points worth memorizing!

2008-01-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

The “G” word

2008-01-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

“When you know the `why' the `how' gets easy.” - Jim Rohn

We are going to hit on that “G” word again … Goals. By now you have had, or have at least have plans to have your “board meeting”.

When you deciding on your goals and sharing them with your spouse, ask yourself the following questions:

1. How will I feel when I achieve the goal?
2. How will it benefit my business?
3. What will it do for my family?
4. How will I feel because of the difference I have made in the lives of others?

Here are 6 points to remember when goal setting:

1. A goal gains power when it is written down. This allows it to become substantial and it will then begin to sketch itself into your subconscious mind. Post your goal in various places around your house where you will see it often.
2. A goal gains power when it depicts an event. Put it in terms of who, what where, when and then add DETAIL!
3. A goal gains power when its benefits are expressed. Select your destination, define it, depict an actual event and put yourself into it. Be sure to make it exciting…it needs to lift your spirits!
4. A goal gains power when entered into the subconscious mind. Use color, touch, emotional feelings and responses, taste and smell, and sounds.
5. A goal gains power when the subconscious mind delivers the “how”. Break your goal
into bite-sized daily steps.
6. A goal gains power when you act now!

A goal is a dream with a deadline. Be sure that your goal has a deadline, that it is written down and SHARED! Follow these action plans and as Zig Ziglar says, “We'll see YOU at the top!”

PAYING THE PRICE By: John Maxwell

2008-01-09T19:59:00.000-08:00

I once heard about a young man who, in his eagerness to make it to the top, went to a well-known millionaire for advice about how to get there. "What is the first reason for your success?" he asked. "Hard work," the millionaire replied.

Disappointed, the inexperienced fellow responded, "What is the second reason?" We laugh at this young man's desire for a quick-and-easy formula, but his response brings up a much more serious question for people who aren't doing what they know they'd like to do. Are you willing to pay the price to get there? You don't get a fulfilling career at a bargain-basement price. In fact, the cost is often much higher than many people are willing to pay.

I've seen more examples of this than I can count. People embark on a new career path with energy and enthusiasm, only to fizzle out when they realize how much effort is involved. If they had counted the cost first--if they had seriously investigated what it would take to make them successful in that area--they may have gone another direction. Instead, they're right back where they started--dissatisfi ed and unfulfilled.

The way to avoid this scenario, of course, is to count the cost of doing what you'd like to do before you begin. So what does the price tag include? Here are just a few items:

1. Hard work
There's no way around this--you can't fulfill your career dream without a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and maybe even a little elbow grease. You also might have to spend time--perhaps large quantities of time--working diligently at jobs you don't particularly like in order to prepare yourself for the job you want.

2. Learning
Doing what you love might require you to acquire some new skills, polish existing abilities or earn another degree. Are you willing to devote the time, money and energy to making that happen?

3. Discipline
It takes focus and commitment to pursue your goal without getting sidetracked or giving up. Success doesn't just happen. You have to be intentional about it, and that takes discipline.

4. Change
At the surface, this might not seem like a significant price. After all, you wouldn't be engaging in this exercise if you didn't want a change in your life. And yet, as we all know, change isn't easy. It can cause stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and a host of other uncomfortable emotions.

5. Emotional stamina
On your way toward doing what you love, you're going to stumble and you might even take a few hard falls. When that happens, you've got to have the intestinal fortitude to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get going again. Do you? As you think about the price of doing what you want to do, remember that the specifics vary from job to job. One career path might require a higher cost in the area of learning, while another might take more emotional stamina. The only way to find out for sure how much you'll have to pay in each of these and other areas is to find someone who is having a great time doing what you'd like to do and ask them about the cost.

Ask them what they DID in order to DO what they do. The young man in our introduction got it partly right--he went to someone for advice about how to be successful. Sadly, his response shows that he was unwilling to pay the price. But it doesn't have to be that way for you. Now the ball is in your court. If you know what you want to do but aren't doing it yet, stop making excuses and start taking steps to make it happen. Don't wait until everything is perfect to begin, because everything will never be perfect. Don't put it off until tomorrow because tomorrow you'll be tempted to put it off until the next day. Just start. And as you begin, remember these three truths about the end result.

1. Doing what you want to do will be different than you imagined it would be.
2. It will be more difficult than you ever imagined.
3. And it will be better than you ever imagined. I can assure you that when you're doing what you really want to do, it's not work. It's fun because you're reaching your potential and you're helping others reach theirs.

It just doesn't get any better than that.

Is your New Year getting off on the right foot?

2008-01-08T18:26:00.000-08:00

In addition to making 5-10 customer service calls a day, this week put away 2007 and make sure you are all set up for 2008. WARNING, don't get so side-tracked on this project that you forget about those all important customer calls!

Here are a few things you may want to get at the office supply store:

1) Banker's boxes for storing last year's customer files

2) File folders for this year's files

3) 2008 calendar

Take last year's files and put them in a banker's box for storage. You may still need access to these files so don't put them too far away! In a separate banker's box, gather all your (now sorted) 2007 information so it will be ready for your accountant. You will also want to keep this box handy as this month all your end of the year statements will be rolling in and your accountant will need those to prepare your taxes.

If you already have an organization system in place for files, then just replicate it for this year. If you don't, the following list is a suggested set of files you may want for 2008.
Also, label one file folder for each month, January through December 2008. This will be for each month's customer/master orders.

Business/Home file folders can be labeled as follows (yours may vary, these are suggestions only):

Auto (gas, repairs, tolls, parking, car payments)

Bank Statements (consider separate file folders for each account)

Charity

Computer expenses (including software, cable bills and website bills)

Convention/Seminars

Credit Card Statements

Gift Certificates

Insurance

Investments

Medical

Miscellaneous

Mortgage (or rent)

Office Supplies

Postage/Shipping

Telephone

Travel (airline expenses, meals while traveling etc;)

Utilities

Take an hour or two to organize now, and you'll save yourself mountains of time all year.

It's time for a BOARD MEETING!

2008-01-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! It's time for your annual BOARD MEETING. If you are married, sit down with your spouse. (If you are single, sit down with yourself or a business buddy.) The agenda is simple and yet extremely effective for long range business planning. The goal is two-fold. First, determine where you'd like your business to be at this time next year. Second, communicate and share mutual goals with your spouse. This beginning of the year board meeting will include your spouse in your business (and vice versa) and will set a standard of team work within your household.

Take this meeting seriously, give it the respect it deserves. Do this without the children underfoot (this may require a little planning and perhaps even a night out with a babysitter - YOU PAY!)

Together, sit down with your calendars for the year. What events are in place for both of you? When will your spouse be in and out of town? What meetings (including kick-offs and conventions) do you have coming up? If you are attending your company's annual incentive trip, what are the dates? What activities do the children have and when?

Take some time to reflect on last year. Running a home business has its own set of challenges and certainly impacts family life both positively and sometimes negatively. What worked well last year and what needs to change? Be prepared to hear some things you might not like, but try not to get defensive and take it personally.

Share your business goals for this year with your spouse. What are you working towards this year? What would you like your income to be at the end of 2008 and how will that help your family? Is there another family bill that you will commit to paying this year with your business income (this is music to every spouse's ear!) What company incentives are you working toward and what's in it for your family? What help do you need from your spouse? How do you need to help him/her? Men (spouses) don't like surprises!

Finally, present your business plan. What will you need to do to accomplish this goal? How many parties and recruiting appointments must you hold each week? What will your work schedule be in terms of evenings or days when you will be out doing parties and appointments? Be ready to tweak and fine-tune based on input from your spouse.

Treat your business like a business. Have a plan, work it, and give your spouse the job of holding you accountable to the plan. You will find that communication is the key to smooth sailing in a home-based business. Put a post-it note on your bathroom mirror or your refrigerator and don't take it down…_________________(fill in your spouses name) doesn't like surprises!

Farewell to 2007

2008-01-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

I know I've been pretty quiet these last few weeks and I think I've been silently praying to make it through the end of 2007 because December has probably been THE worst month of all for this year and I've been dreading it terribly.

Here is pretty much the sum up of December for my family:

Flip House basement floods and causes over $3000 worth of damage

Hubby redoes all the baseboard trim in flip house garage and roof leaks and ruins all the paint job.

Horrible flooding and storm in WA causes Beach House to be out of power for 1 week. Entire refrigerator defrosts and leaks in kitchen. 4 hour drive to clean up mess and handle everything.

Due to financial situation with 3 houses, hubby and decide to NOT exchange Cmas presents

12/30 my cat went to the vet because she wouldn't stop throwing up

12/31 at 11pm we put her down due to kidney failure from bad genetics :(

So you can see I'm VERY happy 2007 is over. There were a lot of great moments but I'm happy to say that 2008 has already started off well and I'm hoping to REALLY enjoy this year and have it be successful for all of us! Get cracking on your UBS goals!

Countdown to Christmas and New Years - Quick tip to start the year on a positive note! January 2nd - FINAL in the series.

2008-01-02T11:25:00.001-08:00

Before 2007 becomes a distant memory - sit down NOW and pull together your financial records in preparation for filing your 2007 taxes. Be sure all of your checks and credit card transactions have been spread into the appropriate categories so that you can best take advantage of all the deductions that a home business offers.

Give your tax preparer a call NOW and set up your appointment. For those of you with college age children, the earlier you put your records together, the faster you can fill out your FASFA forms.

DSWA Conference

2007-12-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

A great organization and wonderful oppty for those that can attend:

With the holiday season coming to a close we have an important question we need to ask you… what do you want to be different for yourself, your business and your family in 2008?
Do you want more fun, higher party sales, more zeros on the end of your override check and a rapidly expanding team? Well the truth about getting more of what you want in 2008 is in trying something new – going the extra mile – and doing what successful people do. Would you agree?

On April 18-20 in Las Vegas, Nevada you have an opportunity to do just that by joining like-minded direct selling professionals from around the globe for the event of the year. It’s the DSWA’s Education Celebration which has been hailed as “the most significant industry event of the year that has transformed the businesses and lives of the people who attend.”
The Education Celebration is 2 1/2 days of fun, networking, learning and inspiration with people like Jack Canfield, Marcia Wieder and many of the most successful women in the network marketing and party plan profession today. From the Friday night kick-off to the inspirational Sunday afternoon close, we have planned every moment to prompt an internal shift that will inspire you to new heights in 2008.

Here's where you go to learn more:http://www.mydswa.org/celebration_2008.asp
In fact, we are so confident you will leave renewed, inspired and on fire to grow your business we’ve made it practically impossible to say no.

We’ve included every meal and tons of goodies at an Early Bird price you can’t pass up. We’re offering an easy 3-payment option for full registration so you can pay over time.Your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you attend the entire Celebration Event and do not agree that it was a great value for your investment, we will refund your registration fee (less meal costs).
And best of all, until midnight January 1st...We’re throwing in the most talked about training course that has helped people triple their team size and make recruiting fun and simple. It’s the Principle-Centered Sponsoring™ E-course and it’s yours f-r-e-e when you register for the Education Celebration by Midnight PST, January 1, 2008.

Don’t settle for one more year of the same! Make 2008 the year you go from wishing you could to truly living the life you desire. Join us in Las Vegas and let us send you home with fresh ideas, a renewed passion and a commitment to take your business to the next level.
Please register right away. Not only will you get the special Early Bird price, you’ll also get instant access to the f-r-e-e Principle-Centered Sponsoring™ e-course that can help you double or triple your sponsoring success rate in just 6 weeks! A $79 value – that is our gift for registering right today!

Here's where you go to learn more:http://www.mydswa.org/celebration_2008.asp

Here's where you go to register:http://www.mydswa.org/convention_register.asp

To Your Success,Nicki, Jane & Grace
Co-Founders of the Direct Selling Women’s
Alliance
mailto:info@mydswa.org 888-417-0743

The day after...

2007-12-26T21:01:00.000-08:00

Oh the day after Christmas is such a beautiful thing. It's when you really let your hair down, forget the shower and the hair and just veg out and work from home while having your children at home at the same time to really make things relaxing! And if you believe all that I have a flip house to sell you ;)

Ok so the good news is the holiday is over. The tree is undecorated and 3 bins of Cmas decorations are packed and I get to continfue that part all day tomorrow. I did manage to have my parents pick me up a tree while they were out for 75% off! Love those sales at Lowes!
Next year I'm actually crazy enough to host Christmas Eve for the hubby's family and do this with a 9 month old Woo Hoo!

Funny how our priorities shift and we grow into ourselves. I plan to make some very exciting goals for 2008 including Weight Loss, Business Growth, and of course becoming the Mom I truly want to be which includes some big home organization goals LOL.

Taking some much needed time off

2007-12-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

Well today will be the last blog post until after Christmas. It's hard to do since I've been blogging every day since I started but I know most of you are too busy to read it right now anyway LOL so I'm sure you'll live without me.

I hope you all received McKenna's UB Scentsational Email and are working hard to qualify for the open windows they're providing. 2008 proves to be an exciting time and I know you'll all work hard to make it your best year yet.

I actually tried to brave a few stores today and was beyond thankful that I had already done my shopping (I was just returning some pants) as Target had absolutely NO carts to shop with and the store was so packed you could hardly move. Planning ahead does make the season brighter!

Have a VERY Merry Christmas and enjoy your time off with your family.

Best,

Shawna