Make Your Direct Sales Business Resolutions Stick
By Caterina Rando, MA, MCC
I love the new year! I love resolutions and I love the optimism and possibility thinking that goes along with them. I have seen many times that they can work, and believe in making them. Just like in your personal life you probably have some ideas for what you want to be different this year in your business.
As you make resolutions and do your business planning for this year, apply these principles to ensure that your business is more solid, more prosperous and running smoother this time next year.
Know The Truth
Often times business owners make plans and set goals before they have sat down and taken a good look at the truth of what really happened in their business for the proceeding year. Do you know your cost of goods sold or how many marketing dollars it takes to acquire a new client? Can you say what percentage of your business is repeat business? Are you aware of what percentage of your revenue was generated by which products or services? These are just a few of the many questions to answer to better formulate your goals and plans for this year.
Be Optimistic
If you are a positive person, an optimist, you might even be avoiding planning right now because you do not want to set any goals because of you is afraid you might not achieve them due to the current economic reality. Plan and set goals anyway.
Attitude matters a great deal in your direct sales business. Everyday make sure you have a positive disposition. It will result in more productivity and a better direct sales experience. Hold the intention to be positive in the running of your business. You will feel better and have more fun.
Cultivate a Team of Super Stars
To truly have a business breakthrough most direct sellers would benefit from focusing on this area. Look to recruit people with whom you would be excited about opening a traditional business. People who are positive, action oriented, focused and goal-oriented. Those are the team members you want – seek them out.
Thinking and Planning
Taking time for thinking and planning is key to moving your business forward. Thinking and planning should be a daily success practice: something you do everyday to have a productive day today, while also moving you toward your longer-term goals. Find your optimal time for thinking and planning. Both the beginning and the end of the day work great. Choose one and stick with it.
Review Regularly
When I ask a Direct Sales Business Breakthrough Group member (link to DS info) what there goal is for sales or recruiting and they have to find their goal sheet before they can answer my question, I know they are nowhere near their goal even before they respond. I have seen this hundreds of times. You want to review your goals and plans at least daily, twice a day is better. The more your goals are in your head as well as on paper the more momentum, focus and great ideas will flow to support you in getting where you want to go.
Follow The Energy
Everything you do takes not only time, it also take physical energy, mental brainpower and focus. The more things on your plate the more mentally scattered you could feel. That’s why too many things on your plate can be a deterrent to your business success.
Stay the Course
Remember that it takes 3-5 years to start to earn a large paycheck in your direct selling business. You need time for your recruits to recruit, and for those people to recruit and for everyone to build a strong business.
Make a commitment today that you are going to work your business for another year for sure. Set specific goals that you agree, if reached, will keep you in business for the following year as well.
The Old Adage Still Applies
There is a lot of talk about work less – make more, and ways to build a profitable direct sales business in only a few hours a week. I love the concepts and principles and they are worth exploring and applying in your business as appropriate.
The old adage that there is no substitute for hard work still applies. Hard work still works. You do have to show up most of the time to accomplish what you want in your business. Hopefully you love your work so much that there are times it feels more like a privilege then work. This is the place you want to get to. I mean, really, how long can you lay on the beach with an umbrella beverage before it feels boring? I give it a week – maybe ten days.
Apply the principles outlined above and you will find that this time next year you are happier, wealthier and ready for your next resolution.
Comments
Hi, glad to be here today. I love your stuff and have you on my blog roll.
You know I came across a definition for the focus that I’d like to share.
F-follow
O-one(s)
C-course
U-until
S-successful.
I feel in direct sales and home parties people get side tracked easily looking for the one stop solution. You know the thing about life is this, once you commit to a course of action, your choice now becomes mundane, do it or loose it!
Great insights you share here
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