Consider the You Plus Two for Easy Revenue

If you are finding people telling you they are reluctant to host a party or show due to the economy, try the next best thing to book a show: the You Plus Two. This is when you ask someone who loves your product to invite you and a couple of her friends over and you show them what you have around the kitchen or dining room table. You conduct a You Plus Two more like an interview and a consultation than a show. Since the three guests get lots of personalized attention, they are sure to make some good purchases and be very happy with the experience. That is of course when you invite them to invite you over for a You Plus Two.

Quick Follow Up Check Up

Lately I have been talking to direct sellers a lot about follow up and finding out that they are not doing enough of it often enough. Know that the longer it takes you to follow up the less likely it is you will get the booking, the order or the recruit.

Give yourself a quick follow up check up. Do you:

Call someone within 24 hours of connecting with then in person?

Follow up via email immediately after they reach out to you via email?

Have three times  at least scheduled each week specifically for follow up?

Keep following up until you get a “No” or a “not now”?

Make phone appointments where ever possible to avoid phone tag?

Okay how did you do? Identify one area to upgrade after reading this and watch your follow up turn into more revenue for you.

Do Your Want to Write? Join me tomorrow.

This post does not pertain so much to your direct sales business and since I know many of you are doing more than one thing, I thought I would let you know here about a free teleclass I am doing on What a Busy Entrepreneur Needs to Know to Get A Book Done Fast. For info or to register for this free teleclass visit http://www.powerdynamicspub.com/teleclass.htm

Direct Selling Power Coming Soon!

A couple years ago I decided to publish a multi-author book to help my clients get out their expertise without having to write a whole book. That decision launched a whole new division of my business and soon we will publish our 4th multi-author book especially for you, the direct seller.

This is the best book for direct sellers you will ever put your hands on. If you think that is hype just read the list of co-authors:

Nicki Keohohou, Celine Egan, Shannon Bruce, Marcy Stahl, Tammy Stanley, Martha Staley, Anne Nelson, Rhonda Johnson, Gale Bates, Ruth Fuersten, Beth Jones Schall, Lyn-Dee Eldridge, Kimberley Borgens, Shari Hudspeth, Lorna Rasmusen, Sallie Meshell, Karen Clark, Mary McLoughlin, Cindy Sakai, and of course me.

Find out more about all the hot topics covered in the book and all about the co-authors at http://www.directsellingbook.com

Radio Interview to Make Your Business Thrive in 2010

Purpose Without Limits is the new radio show to inspire you to be your best self today.

They just interviewed me and I think you will be both inspired and get some great ideas.

Listen now at http://tr.im/JOOu

Make Your Direct Sales Business Resolutions Stick!

Happy new year, I wanted to wait until the second week of the year to post this info because the first week most people are very focused and motivated. Now it is time you make sure you have your program together to make sure your business resolutions stick!

This article has lots of great ideas:
http://www.directsalescoaching.com/articles/resolutionsstick.htm

Make it Thrive in 2010

Happy New Year,

When you have your own direct selling business staying motivated and staying inspired is key.

Almost every year I have sent my clients, to post on their wall for the whole year, a dynamic and colorful daily inspiration card that they can download and post on their wall to stay focused, happy and in action all year.

I am especially love this year’s version. Download it here.

The theme for my business this year is Make It Thrive! Make that your theme or come up with something else that will inspire you for the next 360 plus days. Expect Success!

Caterina

Cultivate Your Million Dollar Mindset

Last week while speaking in Denver for a direct selling company, I met a couple of women who are generating over a million dollars in team volume in a year. That is exciting.
 
I decided I want to generate a million dollars in one year in my speaking, training, coaching, and publishing business.
 
I have not yet figured it all out and finalized my plan on how to get all the way to one million dollars.
 
What I have figured out is the importance of cultivating a million dollar mind set. What that means is that I am currently asking myself everyday what I would do differently if I already had a million dollar business today.
 
I had the perfect scenario to reflect on this last week. My latest book publishing project Executive Etiquette Power http://www.execetiquette.com/ had been printed and all the pages were about to be bound when my team became aware that there were a couple of very minor mistakes in one of the chapters. The cost to fix the problem- $1,250.00. Perhaps not a lot, however, the project costs are already 20% over budget in the pursuit of a great product. I could let it go after all 99% of books have a couple of errors in them. Still when I asked myself if I was a million dollar publishing house would I spend the money? The answer was of-course I would.
 
When I reflected further I thought that the only way you get to a million dollars is by being excellent which I have a commitment to do and by being in integrity. It would be out of integrity to produce a book I know is not the best it can be.
 
Maybe you already have a million dollar business. If you do, give me a few tips on how you do it that I can use and share. If not you can definitely cultivate your million-dollar mindset while you are getting there. What would you do differently if you were already having a million dollar business?

I Love the word “Yes” and Often the Right Response is “No”

Yesterday a really good friend, who I love a lot, who has often been a mentor, made a request of me that would cost me a good amount of time in an already busy week. I really wanted to say “yes” to her. I felt my desire to oblige, yet physiologically I also felt the pressure of adding one more thing on my very full plate.  I took a breath and explained why I could not meet her request. She was fine with it and the conversation happily continued.

Upon reflection I thought how much this is an issue for so many of us full plate types.

My good friend Pat Haddock is a communication expert and trainer, I asked her to share some of her wisdom here on this topic. Please give a warm welcome to our first guest blogger.

Setting Boundaries by Patricia Haddock
“No” is a small word with great power. Saying no more often can be hard, but it is one of the best tools you have for putting more time in your life.

Start by keeping your goals in mind. Say no to anything that takes you away from your goals or does not increase your productivity. This doesn’t mean that you avoid unpleasant or difficult tasks. The key is to keep your goals and priorities in focus.

Saying “yes” when you mean “no” can lead to feelings of resentment and anger. This can be more damaging to your relationships in the long run than saying “no” when you mean “no.”

Sometimes, saying “no” isn’t easy. Many people were raised to please others, not themselves and feel that if they say “no,” they will lose friends and associates. So, how do you say “no” without alienating others?

• Speak courteously and politely.

• Make “no” the first word you say and keep your statements simple and direct. “No, I can’t do that.” “No, I won’t be able to do that.”

• Give a reason if appropriate, but keep it short and straightforward.

• Show that you understand the situation. Remind people of your roles and responsibilities.

• State the consequences of saying “yes.”

If you’re not sure whether you want to say “no” or “yes,” ask for time to think it over. Be specific about when you will have an answer.

You can find out more about Pat at  http://developingasaprofessional.blogspot.com
http://abcbusinesswriting.blogspot.com/

Coaching Your Team to Win

As a direct selling leader, you want to do everything you can to help your team members book, sell, recruit, and build their own strong teams. Like many leaders I have met, I am sure you want to implement the strategies you know will support your team members and help them succeed.

Maybe you have tried coaching your top team members, maybe you have thought about it and maybe you have even spoken to other leaders about it.

Here is what many leaders have told me- it does not work- others have said it is a waste of time and has often left them frustrated.

Here is why – people rarely value a service that is delivered for free. Yes we can appreciate a product that someone gives us for free- we call that a gift- but a service? We do not embrace that concept as readily.

In order to have your team members value your coaching you have to charge them a fee. Not a monetary fee a free fee- a fee of action.

Here is your free-fee to regularly coach someone on your team:

1. They make a commitment to their business and to working with you;

2. They keep their appointment with you;

3. They call you at the pre-designated time;

4. They send you a results report in advance;

5. They set goals.

There has to be some fee—even if it is a free-fee and these five things are what is needed to have someone really make coaching with their upline work.