The other day I met an incredible person. A person who has very much influenced my development in the industry through his teachings. In fact, he has impacted on so many lives in the industry that he most certainly is responsible for the person I have become through my mentors. Just for a moment, I was in awe. I could feel the creeping shyness of my childhood, that feeling that comes from knowing you are in the presence of someone with superior knowledge, insight, or power. That feeling was quickly shed as we fell into the comfortable rhythm of conversational exchange. I forgot myself, and the book I have on my shelf, fingerprinted and dog-eared, written by this incredible man. I forgot, for a moment, that I have struggled, forgot the down line woes, and the people who "can't". I forgot the thousands of no's and the hundreds of "inactive's". I engaged in a very real conversation with a very real person.
When I hung up the phone, I pondered the exchange, turned it over in my mind, and examined it from all angles. I found the meaning, for me, in that very simple exchange. You see, so often we hold ourselves back from true potential because of our own definition of self-worth. How easy it would be to hold back because of awe or fear or ignorance. How easy it is for so many, to hold back from opportunity in relationships or business success that is meaningful.
Learn to be open and accepting of all that the universe places before you. There is value and joy in every experience, however fleeting. Every moment of our lives provides a unique opportunity to experience and learn, to share, give and receive. Ours is not to judge the purpose, but rather to open up to possibilities. The purpose will reveal itself in time.
Live life to the fullest. Give generously, receive graciously, love people and be true to yourself. Everything else will look after itself.
Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist an author, mentor and trainer to the home business industry.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Build a Global Business- Forums as a Marketing Strategy.
The dilemna-- where to find and connect with networkers on the International scene. How do you get exposure for your self and your business, and connect with people all over the world?
First, let us examine the trend that brought you here to the reading of this article.
The Internet
People are rushing to the internet in record numbers. The internet allows people to travel the world at the click of a mouse, and is launching Network marketing on a growth path that is exponential.
People are realizing that they can literally grow a global business from their living room. Network Marketing just got easier.... or did it?
Well, it certainly sounds easier.
But like anything, a little knowledge, and a strategy goes a long way.
The easiest way to get exposure in a global arena is to hang out with like minded people. People who share a common interest. That is true for anything but it is especially true in Network Marketing, where the success of your business depends on "word of mouth" promotion.
While there are many ways to grow an online business, forums are the logical choice for most people, for a number of reasons.
Here is what forums provide:
- A "virtual water cooler" environment where people can gather and exchange information.
- A community of people interested in the topics being discussed. These people are all there for a reason, and while it is true that most of them are promoting their own business, they are also reading your posts, and many of them will join you if they like how you present yourself and your company.
- A place for new people to ask questions, and a place for experienced people to provide answers, and establish credibility.
- Fresh content (which the search engines LOVE). This means a number of things... it means your posts will be indexed by the search engines, you will get your websites linked and indexed, and you will have an increasing amount of traffic for you opportunity, all without having to do a ton of work.
Forum Etiquette.
Before you rush out "willy-nilly" and start posting your ad on MLM forums, understand that forum regulars are very protective of their "coffee room". Forum posting, and the credibility that can come from it requires a certain amount of strategy, and a bit of dedication.
Want to make forum posting a viable way to grow a business? Follow these steps.
1. Introduce yourself.. a bit about you and your company, your successes etc. No advertising, just straight forward information.
2. Read the posts, find some that lie within your area of expertise, and offer advice or a solution.
3. Use the "signature" in your profile and allow people to "come to you" Most forums provide you with the opportunity to place a link to your website in your profile, and include a link in your signature. If you provide helpful information people will recognize you as a leader and look at your business info.
4.Read the forum rules before you jump in. The best forums have posting guidelines, and it is important that you know what they are. The regulars will be much happier with you if you take the time to do so.
Follow these guidelines and you will meet MLMers that you will develop long term relationships that will ultimately take your business all around the world !
Shelley Penney is a full time networker, author, mentor, trainer and "pay it forward" practitioner. Shelley is also webmaster of the newly launched CanadianMLM.com forum.
www.CanadianMLM.com
First, let us examine the trend that brought you here to the reading of this article.
The Internet
People are rushing to the internet in record numbers. The internet allows people to travel the world at the click of a mouse, and is launching Network marketing on a growth path that is exponential.
People are realizing that they can literally grow a global business from their living room. Network Marketing just got easier.... or did it?
Well, it certainly sounds easier.
But like anything, a little knowledge, and a strategy goes a long way.
The easiest way to get exposure in a global arena is to hang out with like minded people. People who share a common interest. That is true for anything but it is especially true in Network Marketing, where the success of your business depends on "word of mouth" promotion.
While there are many ways to grow an online business, forums are the logical choice for most people, for a number of reasons.
Here is what forums provide:
- A "virtual water cooler" environment where people can gather and exchange information.
- A community of people interested in the topics being discussed. These people are all there for a reason, and while it is true that most of them are promoting their own business, they are also reading your posts, and many of them will join you if they like how you present yourself and your company.
- A place for new people to ask questions, and a place for experienced people to provide answers, and establish credibility.
- Fresh content (which the search engines LOVE). This means a number of things... it means your posts will be indexed by the search engines, you will get your websites linked and indexed, and you will have an increasing amount of traffic for you opportunity, all without having to do a ton of work.
Forum Etiquette.
Before you rush out "willy-nilly" and start posting your ad on MLM forums, understand that forum regulars are very protective of their "coffee room". Forum posting, and the credibility that can come from it requires a certain amount of strategy, and a bit of dedication.
Want to make forum posting a viable way to grow a business? Follow these steps.
1. Introduce yourself.. a bit about you and your company, your successes etc. No advertising, just straight forward information.
2. Read the posts, find some that lie within your area of expertise, and offer advice or a solution.
3. Use the "signature" in your profile and allow people to "come to you" Most forums provide you with the opportunity to place a link to your website in your profile, and include a link in your signature. If you provide helpful information people will recognize you as a leader and look at your business info.
4.Read the forum rules before you jump in. The best forums have posting guidelines, and it is important that you know what they are. The regulars will be much happier with you if you take the time to do so.
Follow these guidelines and you will meet MLMers that you will develop long term relationships that will ultimately take your business all around the world !
Shelley Penney is a full time networker, author, mentor, trainer and "pay it forward" practitioner. Shelley is also webmaster of the newly launched CanadianMLM.com forum.
www.CanadianMLM.com
Saturday, March 04, 2006
A great new resource.
www.CanadianMLM.com
Personally, I love forums. They are "virtual water coolers" as a friend of mine so succinctly put it. Many people within this industry are lacking basic knowledge and information that will help bring them to the success they desire. They are hungry for mentorship, friendship and encouragement.
So, in the spirit of helping, this forum was born
It is the start of a full MLM resource, and I invite you to jump in and participate.
Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist an author, mentor and trainer to the home business industry.
Personally, I love forums. They are "virtual water coolers" as a friend of mine so succinctly put it. Many people within this industry are lacking basic knowledge and information that will help bring them to the success they desire. They are hungry for mentorship, friendship and encouragement.
So, in the spirit of helping, this forum was born
It is the start of a full MLM resource, and I invite you to jump in and participate.
Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist an author, mentor and trainer to the home business industry.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Stop Losing Sales- Build your own website !
I have been saying (and practicing) this for over a year now.... ok, well I am little slower than SOME ! ! You need to have your own personal website if you are in the direct sales arena. Read this very well written article taken from Direct Sales News.
If you are in Direct Sales, you may not realize how many sales you are missing by not having a website of your own. Rep websites aren't usually indexed in the search engines, and most can't be personalized completely.
Let me give you an example of why it's so important to have your own website. I searched for "Watkins Vanilla" on Yahoo, Google, and MSN.
- On Yahoo, Watkin's company page was #7 in the listings. Ranked before them were reps with their own website.
- On Google, the company page was #5. Again, reps with their own websites ranked above them.
- MSN was the only place the company website was #1. However, following the company site were several personal websites.
Here's another term I searched: "Tupperware catalog" (which according to Word Tracker is searched over 300 times a day). On Google and MSN, Tupperware's company site wasn't even on the first page of results! On Yahoo it was the first, but of course personal websites followed.
So what does this mean to you? It's simple - there are millions of people searching for YOUR business or items from your business ever day. By having a personal website, you aren't lost in a sea of other rep websites in the search engines. Even the simplest of terms can work their way to the top of search engine results, in many cases giving you more free traffic than you can handle!
Of course, once you get those visitors there it's up to you to turn them into customers. The best way to do this is getting them on your list. More about newsletters next week.
So if you don't have a website already, start making plans now to build your personal website today!
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About the Authors: Kara Kelso & Anita DeFrank are two busy wahms, and the owners of Direct Sales Helpers. For more Direct Sales Success Tips, visit: http://www.directsaleshelpers.com/newsletter.html
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If you are in Direct Sales, you may not realize how many sales you are missing by not having a website of your own. Rep websites aren't usually indexed in the search engines, and most can't be personalized completely.
Let me give you an example of why it's so important to have your own website. I searched for "Watkins Vanilla" on Yahoo, Google, and MSN.
- On Yahoo, Watkin's company page was #7 in the listings. Ranked before them were reps with their own website.
- On Google, the company page was #5. Again, reps with their own websites ranked above them.
- MSN was the only place the company website was #1. However, following the company site were several personal websites.
Here's another term I searched: "Tupperware catalog" (which according to Word Tracker is searched over 300 times a day). On Google and MSN, Tupperware's company site wasn't even on the first page of results! On Yahoo it was the first, but of course personal websites followed.
So what does this mean to you? It's simple - there are millions of people searching for YOUR business or items from your business ever day. By having a personal website, you aren't lost in a sea of other rep websites in the search engines. Even the simplest of terms can work their way to the top of search engine results, in many cases giving you more free traffic than you can handle!
Of course, once you get those visitors there it's up to you to turn them into customers. The best way to do this is getting them on your list. More about newsletters next week.
So if you don't have a website already, start making plans now to build your personal website today!
-------------------------------------------------------
About the Authors: Kara Kelso & Anita DeFrank are two busy wahms, and the owners of Direct Sales Helpers. For more Direct Sales Success Tips, visit: http://www.directsaleshelpers.com/newsletter.html
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Wednesday, February 22, 2006
The Lead-ing edge...
There has been much discussion recently on the MLM and Home-Based business forums about "leads". Of course it is a topic that comes up over and over.
"Leads" are the lifeblood of our business. A "lead" is a loose term to describe someone who may be interested in your product or service.
Of course you can generate your own leads both in the physical world via classified ads, radio ads, flyers, face to face networking, or you can generate leads in the virtual world via google ad-words, search engine optimization or internet marketing via splash pages or "lead capture" pages.
Many people simply do not have the resources or expertise to generate leads in this fashion,.. and that is where the "lead broker" comes in.
There are many "lead companies" out there, but only a very few that actually generate their own leads. They do so by simple forms that compel a potential buyer to provide information such as email address, phone number, physical address, and perhaps some more specific questions.
These "leads" are then distributed to the people who have purchased them. They are, in many cases, sold over and over and over. They are sold to other clients, sold to other lead companies who in turn sell them to other clients, and perhaps to other lead companies, and so on. It is not unusual for someone to be receiving contacts even 2 years after they originally filled out the online form.
As you can see, in many cases the "freshness" of the lead is important. Leads that are delivered in "real-time" are the freshest possible lead... their information is delivered to your email address literally the minute they submit their information. These are my second choice for the "best" lead.
My first choice is the telephone verified lead. The lead generation company has the leads filtered through a call center. The staff in the call center phone each person and verify that they did indeed fill out the information on the form, and that they are looking for a particular product and service. Only then do they send on the information to the client. This, as far as I am concerned, is the highest quality, most responsive individual you can get.
Expect to pay between $4.00 and $8.00 or more for this type of lead.
Once you have the lead information, it is up to you to make the most of the next steps.
What ever you do, DO NOT pick up the phone unless you are armed with some basic phone skills. Remember that once you have a voice on the other end of the phone, this "lead" stops being a lead and becomes a warm blooded human being with eeds, wants desires and dreams.
Your job is to relax, develop a connection, and provide information only if the two of you feel it is a good fit.
I use this very simple opener when calling leads:
"Hi Mary, this is Shelley Penney getting back to you. You recently filled out a form online requesting information about a ome business. I was calling to see what you had in mind when you filled out that form. Is this a good time?"
This is a great opener...... it shows respect for their time, and also opens up the conversation. It takes them away from any crisis that may be happening in their home right now, and brings them back to what they were interested in when they filled out the form in the first place.
Listen carefully, ask a few more questions to get to know them, and then say, "Mary, I don't know if what I am doing would be a good fit for you, but this is what I would like. I am going to give you a link to a website. You can check it out on your own and I will call you tomorrow and get your questions answered. How does that sound?"
Simple and effective...... Happy building !
Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist, trainer and consultant to the home based business trade.
"Leads" are the lifeblood of our business. A "lead" is a loose term to describe someone who may be interested in your product or service.
Of course you can generate your own leads both in the physical world via classified ads, radio ads, flyers, face to face networking, or you can generate leads in the virtual world via google ad-words, search engine optimization or internet marketing via splash pages or "lead capture" pages.
Many people simply do not have the resources or expertise to generate leads in this fashion,.. and that is where the "lead broker" comes in.
There are many "lead companies" out there, but only a very few that actually generate their own leads. They do so by simple forms that compel a potential buyer to provide information such as email address, phone number, physical address, and perhaps some more specific questions.
These "leads" are then distributed to the people who have purchased them. They are, in many cases, sold over and over and over. They are sold to other clients, sold to other lead companies who in turn sell them to other clients, and perhaps to other lead companies, and so on. It is not unusual for someone to be receiving contacts even 2 years after they originally filled out the online form.
As you can see, in many cases the "freshness" of the lead is important. Leads that are delivered in "real-time" are the freshest possible lead... their information is delivered to your email address literally the minute they submit their information. These are my second choice for the "best" lead.
My first choice is the telephone verified lead. The lead generation company has the leads filtered through a call center. The staff in the call center phone each person and verify that they did indeed fill out the information on the form, and that they are looking for a particular product and service. Only then do they send on the information to the client. This, as far as I am concerned, is the highest quality, most responsive individual you can get.
Expect to pay between $4.00 and $8.00 or more for this type of lead.
Once you have the lead information, it is up to you to make the most of the next steps.
What ever you do, DO NOT pick up the phone unless you are armed with some basic phone skills. Remember that once you have a voice on the other end of the phone, this "lead" stops being a lead and becomes a warm blooded human being with eeds, wants desires and dreams.
Your job is to relax, develop a connection, and provide information only if the two of you feel it is a good fit.
I use this very simple opener when calling leads:
"Hi Mary, this is Shelley Penney getting back to you. You recently filled out a form online requesting information about a ome business. I was calling to see what you had in mind when you filled out that form. Is this a good time?"
This is a great opener...... it shows respect for their time, and also opens up the conversation. It takes them away from any crisis that may be happening in their home right now, and brings them back to what they were interested in when they filled out the form in the first place.
Listen carefully, ask a few more questions to get to know them, and then say, "Mary, I don't know if what I am doing would be a good fit for you, but this is what I would like. I am going to give you a link to a website. You can check it out on your own and I will call you tomorrow and get your questions answered. How does that sound?"
Simple and effective...... Happy building !
Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist, trainer and consultant to the home based business trade.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Long Distance Sponsoring.
~Build Internationally Without Leaving Home.~
originally published at http://go-global.ws/blog.html
Many "old-time" networkers will still tell you that you must grow your business face to face. If you want to develop a large group you have to "be where the action is".
I really feel that the technological boom has given us all the tools we need to build a global business without ever leaving home. Don't misunderstand..... I am not saying that the old way is no longer relevant. In fact, exactly the opposite is true as far as networking skills are concerned. You need to develop acute communication skills to grow an international network marketing business from home. If you have the right tools, though, the face to face meeting is seldom necessary to develop trust.
More people every day are hitting the internet looking for the right home business opportunity. They are actively seeking an alternative to the 9-5 grind, and the "middle income poor" job that is not going to see them through their retirement years. These people are reaching out to you, and you need to be ready to help them feel comfortable enough to make a decision.
You need some tools before you start working.
You will need a phone with a good long distance rate. My phone plan has a flat rate for unlimited North American calling, and for over-seas calling I use www.goldline.net - they have the best long distance rates I have found. Of course many people are switching to V.O.I.P. technology, but personally I am waiting just a wee bit longer for the bugs to be ironed out.
You should also have a compelling website that presents your business and products in a professional way, and it is helpful to have a recorded business overview you can 3 way your contact into to hear a 3rd party presentation. Also, have a strong relationship with a reliable business partner who you respect, and that you can call on to do a 3-way "answer questions" session.
Steps to take ~ a simple formula....
originally published at http://go-global.ws/blog.html
Many "old-time" networkers will still tell you that you must grow your business face to face. If you want to develop a large group you have to "be where the action is".
I really feel that the technological boom has given us all the tools we need to build a global business without ever leaving home. Don't misunderstand..... I am not saying that the old way is no longer relevant. In fact, exactly the opposite is true as far as networking skills are concerned. You need to develop acute communication skills to grow an international network marketing business from home. If you have the right tools, though, the face to face meeting is seldom necessary to develop trust.
More people every day are hitting the internet looking for the right home business opportunity. They are actively seeking an alternative to the 9-5 grind, and the "middle income poor" job that is not going to see them through their retirement years. These people are reaching out to you, and you need to be ready to help them feel comfortable enough to make a decision.
You need some tools before you start working.
You will need a phone with a good long distance rate. My phone plan has a flat rate for unlimited North American calling, and for over-seas calling I use www.goldline.net - they have the best long distance rates I have found. Of course many people are switching to V.O.I.P. technology, but personally I am waiting just a wee bit longer for the bugs to be ironed out.
You should also have a compelling website that presents your business and products in a professional way, and it is helpful to have a recorded business overview you can 3 way your contact into to hear a 3rd party presentation. Also, have a strong relationship with a reliable business partner who you respect, and that you can call on to do a 3-way "answer questions" session.
Steps to take ~ a simple formula....
- The First call~ Be prepared to take some time during the first call to develop rapport. It is important that you are relaxed and in a conversational mood. Make the call from your office, or some other quiet place, away from the baby crying and the dog barking. The first time I speak to someone I might only be on the phone a few minutes, but I am prepared to be there for half an hour if necessary. The goal of the first call is to find a common ground, get to know one another, and lead your contact to the next step in the evaluation process.
First, I introduce myself, and make sure this person has a few minutes to speak with me. Then I tell him/her the purpose of the call, which is to share a bit about my company, and help them decide whether they want to look more closely.
Then I simply ask a few questions. "So tell me about you..." "Do you work?" "Children?" "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" Get to know you questions that I actively participate in. In other words, I do not just start peppering them with questions. I am looking for a common ground. Something that I can relate to, and that they can relate to me. The true key to successful phone relationshipping is to simply pretend that you are face to face. It is nothing more than that, but it does take a particular skill.
Practice projecting your personality over the phone line. Smile when you are talking and genuinely interact as if that person were sitting right in front of you. Nod, shake your head, gesture with your hands, and actively participate. Make sure you take notes so you remember what is important to this person you are speaking with. Never forget you are speaking with a real person with real wants, needs and dreams.
Don't be in a hurry to talk business... lead your prospect to it. When you are both feeling comfortable with each other say, "you know, I really like you, and I think we might get along well together. I don't know if what I am doing would be right for you, but I would love it if I could let you listen to a 3 minute recorded call. Do you have 3 more minutes?" Then 3 way them to the call. When it is done, ask, "did you hear that alright?" Chances are she is going to say, "Yes, I did. tell me more about that." This is your opening to send them to your website. I simply say, "I could give you more information, but I have a website that says it far better than I could. When do you think you would have a chance to look at it?" "Great, how about if I call you back tomorrow and get any questions answered." - Send a follow up email~ "Thank you so much for taking the time to meet me. I look forward to speaking with you tomorrow at 7P.M. and answering any questions you may have.
- The second call~ This is when you introduce your business partner. You should already have made an appointment with your business partner for a 3 way call. Call the potential business partner at the scheduled time. Refer to your notes, and ask something related to what was said, ie. "How is your son doing. Is he feeling better?". Then lead into the call... "I took the liberty of booking my business partner to answer some of your questions. I told him about you and he is really looking forward to speakimg with you." 3 way to your business partner, and make sure you do proper introductions. The proper and professional way to do this is to first introduce the prospect. Refer to your notes, and say what she does, what she is looking for, and why you like her. Then introduce your business partner, say what he did before, what kind of success he has found, and why you feel he is a great person to answer the questions. Then just sit back and listen, and take notes. At the end of that call, your business partner should ask... "Is there anything else you need to know to get started".
Now we all know that things rarely go as easily as that. My policy is to expect the common "long distant" objections and questions and be prepared for them. So what kinds of things can you expect? Here are the most common ones that I have faced, and my solutions.
- I need to try the product~ Excellent, If I can have your mailing address I will get some samples out to you right away. (I have 50 or so sample packs in envelopes ready to mail. I just address and send the next day.)
- How will I get trained~ I will mail you a binder of information, we have training calls once a week, an interactive website with training, and links to all kinds of audio, video and text material to teach you everything you need to know. I am also available by phone when you have any questions.
- How will I present to my friends~ If you gather them in a room and use your flip chart, you can get me on speaker phone, and I can do the presentation until you are comfortable doing it yourself.
- What do I do if I can't answer a question~ Call me. If you know ahead you will be speaking with someone, book me ahead of time, and I will make myself available. We also have a network of team members that you can call on if I am not available.
- I need to know everything before I can share it~ Not at all... all you have to do is use the tools available to you. Did you see how I shared the information with you? I used the recorded call, the website, and my business partner. I really didn't give you any of the information myself. You have the same tools available to you as well.
- I don't like using my credit card online~ That's not a problem. Our company accepts money orders.
My business has grown to 7 different countries in the past year, and I have strong teams in several states and provinces in North America, and I have never left home except to attend our international convention. Nothing thrills me more that to meet one of my team members for the first time at a convention, and continue, in person, the relationship we have developed long distance.
Put this simple formula to work for your team and build it around the world !
Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist, trainer and consultant to the home based business trade.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Goal setting.
What better discussion in January that that of goal setting.
The following artice is tremendous.
I couldn't have said it better myself !
You Gotta Have Goals....
by: Robert A Crutchfield
Kingdom Relationship Ministries
I’ve always found it interesting that a ship cannot be steered unless it is moving at a certain minimum speed. Those who navigate everything from small to massive ships call this “steerage.” Steerage is the exact point at which choosing a ship’s direction becomes possible. Of course a ships’ pilot also has charts, other publications, and a variety of tools to help him know in great detail where the ship should go. As people goals are what give momentum and motion to our movements, goals are how we know where to go, how far we have been, and how far we have yet to travel. Goals are the human equivalent of the navigators charts,and tools.
Where do we get our goals ? The best goals come from within ourselves. Goals that come from external sources are rarely truly motivating, or effective. Goals also require some thought. Developing good, life changing goals requires digging deep into what really means anything to you, and what you genuinely want to accomplish. I want to spend the rest of this article discussing some things you should look for in goals that will have true power in changing your life.
GOALS SHOULD BE ATTAINABLE
By attainable, I mean goals have to be realistic. After all goals are a tool to use in achieving success, they are not meant to be pipe-dreams ! Improving your sales 500% in the next year for example would be an example of an unrealistic goal. On the other hand a 20% sales increase may be very much within your grasp.
GOALS SHOULD BE SET HIGH
Look at our previous example. A one year sales increase of 20% could look pretty good if last year sales,were flat. The same 20% increase in sales would look pretty pathetic if last year,sales doubled. Only goals that are set high will drive you to success. Whatever you are trying to accomplish your goals should be set toward the top of what is possible not the bottom. At the same time don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t always make it all the way to your goal. In fact if you always easily make your goals, I guarantee you aren’t setting them high enough !
GOALS MUST BE MEASURABLE
“ I want to sell more widgets.” or “ I want more free time this year.” are powerless goals. “I want to spend 8 more hours a week with my family.” is an example of a goal with life changing power. It is specific, identifiable, and measurable. You in fact will be able to know the exact moment this goal is reached. What a rush ! Try this, show your goals to a mentor, coach, or colleague. If they can’t tell you exactly what you want to accomplish without further explanation, revise your goals.
GOALS MUST BE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL
Making more money won’t drive you to success if what your really want is more time with your family. Goals that matter mean more to you than anybody else. They are tied directly to what you want, to what makes you happy. If you cannot get absolutely passionate about your goals, if they don’t have you jumping out of bed in the morning, they’re wrong. Other people may be able to define your goals if you let them, but they will never be able to define your true happiness. Without what makes you truly happy, you can never be truly successful.
GOALS SHOULD HAVE VARYING TIME HORIZONS
Powerful life changing goal making involves short, mid and long term goals. Different people have different ideas on the time frames involved, but here is how I look it. Short term goals can be accomplished this month. Mid term goals can be won within a year. Long term goals are things like earning a college degree, that can take more than a year to attain. Its also important that at least some of your short, and mid term goals build on each other to reach your long term goals.
GOALS NEED TO BE VISIBLE
Making goals will not do any good if they get shoved in a drawer, or buried on your hard drive somewhere. Make a list of your goals and put them somewhere you will see them at least daily. Better yet put each goal on a separate index card, and post them all over the place so you will constantly be reminded of one goal ,or another. All of us take in way to much of other people’s garbage everyday. Why not counter this “negative programing” with reminders of what it it that you want ? Want to do even better ? Get yourself an “accountability partner.” Somebody you trust , and share your goals with. The best accountability partner would be somebody with similar goals. If your really lucky you can find a mentor who has gotten what or where you want. In fact this does not even have to be a single individual. A support group, or personal “board of directors” would have an even more profound, powerful impact on your ability to reach your goals.
GOALS NEED TO BE REGULARLY REVIEWED
Circumstances change, goals get achieved, new opportunities crop up. Beyond all this we can’t loose sight of the fact that goals are intended to keep you focused, motivated, and moving forward on those things you use to define your personal success. Short term goals should be reviewed at least monthly. All others need a good going over every 60-90 days.
CONCLUSION
Its nearly impossible to get what you want, unless you know where you are, where you are going, and how to get there. That’s why everybody needs goals. Good, powerful goals are the roadmap to your success, no matter how you choose to define it. Believe me, nothing creates more powerful more life changing goals than beginning with what you want the most. Search your heart and figure out what that is. Find out what it takes to get there. Develop high, specific, meaningful, goals you can be passionate about daily. Then all you have to do is, go get it tiger !
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert A. Crutchfield is President of Kingdom Relationship Ministries. He works as both a minister and a life/success coach. He is a Brainbench Certified Trainer, and holds the Competent Leader designation from Toastmasters International. His articles on a variety of subjects have been read in dozens of countries. For more information and a free personalized report to help with your goals, visit him at www.kingdomrelationships.org.
The following artice is tremendous.
I couldn't have said it better myself !
You Gotta Have Goals....
by: Robert A Crutchfield
Kingdom Relationship Ministries
I’ve always found it interesting that a ship cannot be steered unless it is moving at a certain minimum speed. Those who navigate everything from small to massive ships call this “steerage.” Steerage is the exact point at which choosing a ship’s direction becomes possible. Of course a ships’ pilot also has charts, other publications, and a variety of tools to help him know in great detail where the ship should go. As people goals are what give momentum and motion to our movements, goals are how we know where to go, how far we have been, and how far we have yet to travel. Goals are the human equivalent of the navigators charts,and tools.
Where do we get our goals ? The best goals come from within ourselves. Goals that come from external sources are rarely truly motivating, or effective. Goals also require some thought. Developing good, life changing goals requires digging deep into what really means anything to you, and what you genuinely want to accomplish. I want to spend the rest of this article discussing some things you should look for in goals that will have true power in changing your life.
GOALS SHOULD BE ATTAINABLE
By attainable, I mean goals have to be realistic. After all goals are a tool to use in achieving success, they are not meant to be pipe-dreams ! Improving your sales 500% in the next year for example would be an example of an unrealistic goal. On the other hand a 20% sales increase may be very much within your grasp.
GOALS SHOULD BE SET HIGH
Look at our previous example. A one year sales increase of 20% could look pretty good if last year sales,were flat. The same 20% increase in sales would look pretty pathetic if last year,sales doubled. Only goals that are set high will drive you to success. Whatever you are trying to accomplish your goals should be set toward the top of what is possible not the bottom. At the same time don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t always make it all the way to your goal. In fact if you always easily make your goals, I guarantee you aren’t setting them high enough !
GOALS MUST BE MEASURABLE
“ I want to sell more widgets.” or “ I want more free time this year.” are powerless goals. “I want to spend 8 more hours a week with my family.” is an example of a goal with life changing power. It is specific, identifiable, and measurable. You in fact will be able to know the exact moment this goal is reached. What a rush ! Try this, show your goals to a mentor, coach, or colleague. If they can’t tell you exactly what you want to accomplish without further explanation, revise your goals.
GOALS MUST BE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL
Making more money won’t drive you to success if what your really want is more time with your family. Goals that matter mean more to you than anybody else. They are tied directly to what you want, to what makes you happy. If you cannot get absolutely passionate about your goals, if they don’t have you jumping out of bed in the morning, they’re wrong. Other people may be able to define your goals if you let them, but they will never be able to define your true happiness. Without what makes you truly happy, you can never be truly successful.
GOALS SHOULD HAVE VARYING TIME HORIZONS
Powerful life changing goal making involves short, mid and long term goals. Different people have different ideas on the time frames involved, but here is how I look it. Short term goals can be accomplished this month. Mid term goals can be won within a year. Long term goals are things like earning a college degree, that can take more than a year to attain. Its also important that at least some of your short, and mid term goals build on each other to reach your long term goals.
GOALS NEED TO BE VISIBLE
Making goals will not do any good if they get shoved in a drawer, or buried on your hard drive somewhere. Make a list of your goals and put them somewhere you will see them at least daily. Better yet put each goal on a separate index card, and post them all over the place so you will constantly be reminded of one goal ,or another. All of us take in way to much of other people’s garbage everyday. Why not counter this “negative programing” with reminders of what it it that you want ? Want to do even better ? Get yourself an “accountability partner.” Somebody you trust , and share your goals with. The best accountability partner would be somebody with similar goals. If your really lucky you can find a mentor who has gotten what or where you want. In fact this does not even have to be a single individual. A support group, or personal “board of directors” would have an even more profound, powerful impact on your ability to reach your goals.
GOALS NEED TO BE REGULARLY REVIEWED
Circumstances change, goals get achieved, new opportunities crop up. Beyond all this we can’t loose sight of the fact that goals are intended to keep you focused, motivated, and moving forward on those things you use to define your personal success. Short term goals should be reviewed at least monthly. All others need a good going over every 60-90 days.
CONCLUSION
Its nearly impossible to get what you want, unless you know where you are, where you are going, and how to get there. That’s why everybody needs goals. Good, powerful goals are the roadmap to your success, no matter how you choose to define it. Believe me, nothing creates more powerful more life changing goals than beginning with what you want the most. Search your heart and figure out what that is. Find out what it takes to get there. Develop high, specific, meaningful, goals you can be passionate about daily. Then all you have to do is, go get it tiger !
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert A. Crutchfield is President of Kingdom Relationship Ministries. He works as both a minister and a life/success coach. He is a Brainbench Certified Trainer, and holds the Competent Leader designation from Toastmasters International. His articles on a variety of subjects have been read in dozens of countries. For more information and a free personalized report to help with your goals, visit him at www.kingdomrelationships.org.
Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 8 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home. There are openings. :-)
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
I don't want to "sell" to my family.
If you've been around the industry of Network Marketing, Multi-level, or direct sales for any length of time, you know the drill. Make a list of your friends and family, and start calling them.
Many people simply don't want to do that. I know what that feels like. I remember starting fresh in my new business, and being afraid to talk to my loved ones. They knew that yesterday, I didn't know anything at all about cosmetics, and now all of a sudden I wanted to "teach them".
Reason's why not to speak to friends/family
- They might feel "obligated" to buy.
- They might laugh or discourage me.
- They might feel like I am harrassing them.
- They might say no.
- They might say yes. :-)
- They might think........... (your objection here)
Well, I certainly thought all of those things, and as a new distributor I was on shaky ground in the confidence department. I didn't know much about the products, or the compensation, and I didn't know how to handle objections. I certainly didn't have the successes behind me to prove I could succeed.
Here is what I have come to believe.
I believe that if I have something that could help my Mom's diabetes, I am obligated to share that with her. There are many "wellness" products out there that have real-life testamonials of efficacy. If they have helped "someone" they could help a "loved one. Doesn't Mom have a right to the information?
If my sister is fed up with her job, and I believe that I have a way that she could make a change for the better, I am obligated to share that with her. Network marketing has allowed me to walk away from my job and provide for my family at the same time. Doesn't my sister have a right to that information?
These are adults. They have a right to evaluate the information and accept or reject it, just like you did. You don't have to attack them at every turn. But surely they deserve a chance.
Let me ask you this.... If you knew that your friend, the nurse, was unhappy with her job, and you heard that the doctor's office on your street was hiring, would you call and tell her? Of course you would. And if she said that wasn't what she was looking for, would you be devastated? ......... I didn't think so.
The problem lies with in ourselves. Network marketing success is tied to others. In order for us to succeed, we need people to say yes. So we emotionalize that need and make it about us. All of a sudden there is importance attached to the answer, because if they say yes good things could happen for us.
Stop..... think very carefully about what I am about to say.
The success of your business does not depend on any one person. If this one person says "no" then nothing changes for you, or them for that matter.
Take yourself out of the picture for a minute.
Try this approach..... "Mom, I care about you very much, and I am concerned about your diabetes. I know of a product that has helped a lot of people, and I would like to give you some information to read, so you can see if it is something for you" All of a sudden, it's not about you"selling" your family, it's about providing information so she can make an informed choice. If she reads the information and decides against it, then at least it was her choice.
Or how about this....."Sis, I can hear how frustrated you are with your job, and having to leave your children with a babysitter. I might have a way that you could spend a bit more time with your children, and still bring in the income you need. I think it wouldn't hurt to look at the information. Would you come and meet my business partner and just hear what he has to say? It might not be for you, bit I think it is worth a look." Now you aren't "earning commission from your sister", you are showing her that there might be a better way.
I didn't approach my friends and family because I wanted something from them, I approached them because I care about them, and I respect the fact that they are adults who have the right to evaluate what is or isn't right for them. Some of them joined me, some became customers, and some were very happy right where they were. all of them have remained my friends and family members.
Work your business in service of others, and just watch what happens to your business !
Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 8 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
MLM Opportunity: The 7 Hidden Things to Look for...
and MUST HAVE in an MLM Opportunity.
~by doug firebaugh
If you are looking for a good or the best MLM Opportunity, and really do not know what to expect or pursue, then this article can help you know what to look for, and what to demand for your future.
It doesn't matter if it is a franchise, retail store, real estate agency, or MLM opportunity, you should embrace and become a part of only what you deem worthy, and demand that your future deserves the best and you will not settle for anything less. There is an MLM Opportunity waiting for you, and it is the one you really want.
But there are some hidden things that you need to look for, and demand from Your MLM opportunity. Not everyone looks at these things, and if they had, they would have had a different outcome in MLM.
Here are 7 hidden things to look for that you MUST HAVE in an MLM Opportunity:
1) MLM Opportunity - Timing.
Timing is everything in an MLM business. You need to make sure that timing is good for the company you are looking for, and timing is good for YOU. Is the company experiencing growth and momentum? Or is it going through a slow time that could slow you down? Is it succeeding in the marketplace, or struggling? There is a growth curve to MLM Opportunities. Where is it along the curve? That will determine a lot of the future potential of rapid growth.
Timing in the marketplace is everything for you. Look at the market trends (anti aging, technology, skin care advancements, legal product improvements, insurance product advancements, weight loss advancements, etc) and see if the mlm company has products that contain ingredients or technology that are being talked about in the media. This alone speaks volumes of where the company is in the timing curve.
And how old is the company? If it is too young, it could fold, and if it is too old, it could be stale, and living on past Successes, not current. But there are some older MLM Opportunities that stay current with their approach to the marketplace. My suggestion is start looking for an MLM Opportunity that is at least 3 years old.
2) MLM Opportunity - Seriousness of Owners.
This is a Million Dollar Question: How serious are the owners about a LONG TERM business? If you are going to build a business for your future, you need to make sure that the owners are as serious about your future as you are. There are some that are not unfortunately.
They may talk about it, but you need to SEE it. They need to make sure they make decisions based on long term growth, not short term profits. This is a key sign to look for. Talk to people and see if they have made any recent changes to the compensation plan, or the requirements to qualify for your check, or consistent changes in product pricing.
If they have, and it is not the first time, beware. They are thinking short term profits. Owners that are serious, have proven to do what they need to do internally, in house first, and only as a last resort take money from the field. And ask around, and even see if you can talk to one of the top earners, or one of the owners themselves.
3) MLM Opportunity - Product Uniqueness.
Does the mlm product you are looking at have a one of a kind reputation? Does it have a unique marketing proposition?
Is it a truly unique product, or honestly, just another "me too" product or product line? Me too products can fade from view in the marketplace quickly in MLM.
Your products MUST be unique, and no other quite like it. Yes, there can be many skin care, weight loss, make up, nutritional products out there, but the product you are considering must have a unique "sizzle" to it that sets it apart. There are many vitamin products, but what does the product have that makes it unique? This is a HUGE test for long term product viability, as well as what the next products will be like.
An MLM opportunity may have products that come across as sleek, sexy, and hot. But if they are not unique, they will have a limited life span in MLM.
4) MLM Opportunity - Idiot Proof Training System.
A good MLM opportunity will have a training system that can be used 24/7 and can train anyone anytime, anywhere. It does not replace the role of the sponsor, but a good training system will train the new distributors quicker, and with more impact.
This is a brutal truth fact: Most sponsors do not train their people. That is just the way it is, and I wish it wasn't like that, but it is. Ask anyone who has been in MLM for a while. They will say the same thing, if they are honest. That is why that a good training system, including training manuals, cds, online training, and live events and conference call training is a must. That gives the new distributors a "menu" to choose from and to start getting their training immediately.
And it must be step by step. If the MLM opportunity has these things, or working on them, that is a great sign that they are serious about their field's success.
5) MLM Opportunity - The Better Business Bureau Factor.
Simply, in a good MLM opportunity, there cannot be a lot of complaints with the BBB. It is that simple. Yes, you will always have disgruntled distributors, that is part of the business. But a lot of complaints from all over on shipping, getting their checks, refunds, products, legal challenges, all must be considered when looking at an MLM opportunity.
Every company I know of that has had massive MLM Success, has had some things against it with the BBB. But they all were minor, and not really of the "you should be concerned" type.
If the complaints are consistent, and current and fresh, then you need to really look into that, as where there is consistent smoke, somewhere there is a fire.
Make sure you do not get burned with that fire.
6) MLM Opportunity - Is the company "product and customer focused?"
Understand this: Without customers, there is no business. Without good products, there are no customers. Without either, there is no use to look any further.
A company MUST be customer and product focused, but business driven. It is the customers and their purchases that create the volume for the MLM company. But it is the distributors driving the message out to the masses that creates the business vehicle. But it ALWAYS needs to revolve around creating a massive customer base, with a great downline helping to build that army.
Check on the MLM opportunity you are looking at, and if they are more business focused, and the products are a mere mention, then you may want to seek an MLM Opportunity somewhere else. Lots of loyal customers create wealth, not one time up front hits of volume, as that eventually goes away.
7) MLM Opportunity - What kind of people does this company attract?
This is HUGE. I have seen so many good companies that have attracted people who want to become scientists, and not distributors. They want to become Ph.Ds, not build a wealth producing business. Some MLM opportunites attract people that are more focused on short term gain, then long term stability. Some companies attract mostly the older crowd. Some network marketing companies attract mostly people under 30.
You MUST have a mix. Not too heavy on either. Why? Overall market viability. Today's MLM opportunites that are going great guns, appear to have a great mix of ages, and the average age is not too young, but yet, not too old. This is a hidden factor that speaks volumes of the MLM opportunity.
Too much youth, or too much grey, will slow any company down over time.
These are 7 Hidden things you MUST HAVE in the best MLM Opportunity. Check them with who you are looking at, and see where they stand, and how they add up.
Yes, these things are what most people do not look for, and my suggestion is you do. They speak volumes about your future with an MLM opportunity.
You will be so glad you did in the long run, with your best MLM Opportunity.
Blessings...Doug (c) _2005/ all rights reserved
http://www.passionfire.com
http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_7.html
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top MLM Network Marketing Trainers in the world. Over a million people a month read his training ezine. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking and training on Success. He lives in Birmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subscription to his training ezine- The MLM Success HEAT- at: http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_4.html and http://www.passionfire.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Firebaugh
~by doug firebaugh
If you are looking for a good or the best MLM Opportunity, and really do not know what to expect or pursue, then this article can help you know what to look for, and what to demand for your future.
It doesn't matter if it is a franchise, retail store, real estate agency, or MLM opportunity, you should embrace and become a part of only what you deem worthy, and demand that your future deserves the best and you will not settle for anything less. There is an MLM Opportunity waiting for you, and it is the one you really want.
But there are some hidden things that you need to look for, and demand from Your MLM opportunity. Not everyone looks at these things, and if they had, they would have had a different outcome in MLM.
Here are 7 hidden things to look for that you MUST HAVE in an MLM Opportunity:
1) MLM Opportunity - Timing.
Timing is everything in an MLM business. You need to make sure that timing is good for the company you are looking for, and timing is good for YOU. Is the company experiencing growth and momentum? Or is it going through a slow time that could slow you down? Is it succeeding in the marketplace, or struggling? There is a growth curve to MLM Opportunities. Where is it along the curve? That will determine a lot of the future potential of rapid growth.
Timing in the marketplace is everything for you. Look at the market trends (anti aging, technology, skin care advancements, legal product improvements, insurance product advancements, weight loss advancements, etc) and see if the mlm company has products that contain ingredients or technology that are being talked about in the media. This alone speaks volumes of where the company is in the timing curve.
And how old is the company? If it is too young, it could fold, and if it is too old, it could be stale, and living on past Successes, not current. But there are some older MLM Opportunities that stay current with their approach to the marketplace. My suggestion is start looking for an MLM Opportunity that is at least 3 years old.
2) MLM Opportunity - Seriousness of Owners.
This is a Million Dollar Question: How serious are the owners about a LONG TERM business? If you are going to build a business for your future, you need to make sure that the owners are as serious about your future as you are. There are some that are not unfortunately.
They may talk about it, but you need to SEE it. They need to make sure they make decisions based on long term growth, not short term profits. This is a key sign to look for. Talk to people and see if they have made any recent changes to the compensation plan, or the requirements to qualify for your check, or consistent changes in product pricing.
If they have, and it is not the first time, beware. They are thinking short term profits. Owners that are serious, have proven to do what they need to do internally, in house first, and only as a last resort take money from the field. And ask around, and even see if you can talk to one of the top earners, or one of the owners themselves.
3) MLM Opportunity - Product Uniqueness.
Does the mlm product you are looking at have a one of a kind reputation? Does it have a unique marketing proposition?
Is it a truly unique product, or honestly, just another "me too" product or product line? Me too products can fade from view in the marketplace quickly in MLM.
Your products MUST be unique, and no other quite like it. Yes, there can be many skin care, weight loss, make up, nutritional products out there, but the product you are considering must have a unique "sizzle" to it that sets it apart. There are many vitamin products, but what does the product have that makes it unique? This is a HUGE test for long term product viability, as well as what the next products will be like.
An MLM opportunity may have products that come across as sleek, sexy, and hot. But if they are not unique, they will have a limited life span in MLM.
4) MLM Opportunity - Idiot Proof Training System.
A good MLM opportunity will have a training system that can be used 24/7 and can train anyone anytime, anywhere. It does not replace the role of the sponsor, but a good training system will train the new distributors quicker, and with more impact.
This is a brutal truth fact: Most sponsors do not train their people. That is just the way it is, and I wish it wasn't like that, but it is. Ask anyone who has been in MLM for a while. They will say the same thing, if they are honest. That is why that a good training system, including training manuals, cds, online training, and live events and conference call training is a must. That gives the new distributors a "menu" to choose from and to start getting their training immediately.
And it must be step by step. If the MLM opportunity has these things, or working on them, that is a great sign that they are serious about their field's success.
5) MLM Opportunity - The Better Business Bureau Factor.
Simply, in a good MLM opportunity, there cannot be a lot of complaints with the BBB. It is that simple. Yes, you will always have disgruntled distributors, that is part of the business. But a lot of complaints from all over on shipping, getting their checks, refunds, products, legal challenges, all must be considered when looking at an MLM opportunity.
Every company I know of that has had massive MLM Success, has had some things against it with the BBB. But they all were minor, and not really of the "you should be concerned" type.
If the complaints are consistent, and current and fresh, then you need to really look into that, as where there is consistent smoke, somewhere there is a fire.
Make sure you do not get burned with that fire.
6) MLM Opportunity - Is the company "product and customer focused?"
Understand this: Without customers, there is no business. Without good products, there are no customers. Without either, there is no use to look any further.
A company MUST be customer and product focused, but business driven. It is the customers and their purchases that create the volume for the MLM company. But it is the distributors driving the message out to the masses that creates the business vehicle. But it ALWAYS needs to revolve around creating a massive customer base, with a great downline helping to build that army.
Check on the MLM opportunity you are looking at, and if they are more business focused, and the products are a mere mention, then you may want to seek an MLM Opportunity somewhere else. Lots of loyal customers create wealth, not one time up front hits of volume, as that eventually goes away.
7) MLM Opportunity - What kind of people does this company attract?
This is HUGE. I have seen so many good companies that have attracted people who want to become scientists, and not distributors. They want to become Ph.Ds, not build a wealth producing business. Some MLM opportunites attract people that are more focused on short term gain, then long term stability. Some companies attract mostly the older crowd. Some network marketing companies attract mostly people under 30.
You MUST have a mix. Not too heavy on either. Why? Overall market viability. Today's MLM opportunites that are going great guns, appear to have a great mix of ages, and the average age is not too young, but yet, not too old. This is a hidden factor that speaks volumes of the MLM opportunity.
Too much youth, or too much grey, will slow any company down over time.
These are 7 Hidden things you MUST HAVE in the best MLM Opportunity. Check them with who you are looking at, and see where they stand, and how they add up.
Yes, these things are what most people do not look for, and my suggestion is you do. They speak volumes about your future with an MLM opportunity.
You will be so glad you did in the long run, with your best MLM Opportunity.
Blessings...Doug (c) _2005/ all rights reserved
http://www.passionfire.com
http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_7.html
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top MLM Network Marketing Trainers in the world. Over a million people a month read his training ezine. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking and training on Success. He lives in Birmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subscription to his training ezine- The MLM Success HEAT- at: http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_4.html and http://www.passionfire.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Firebaugh
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