Quarter One is Done; What Will You Do in Quarter Two?
- September 16th, 2008
- View Comments (25)
Today begins Quarter Two in our fiscal sales year. How did your first quarter go? Did you track your goals? Did you hit them? How close were you? This last quarter was the first one I tracked in a long time (or ever). My goal was Ruby Star. I missed the goal. I did not Star this Quarter. I could dwell on that and get down or I can focus on what I actually did accomplish with my efforts. I’d prefer to stay focused on the things I did do.
Being focused on large sales meant I had to see more people. I set my goals, created my affirmation, and created my vision. With my business plan laid out before me, I was able to talk to more people I normally would have been afraid to talk to. I invited more people to my meetings. I talked to people I see daily that I had not asked for appointments with before. The activity paid off.
My results were forteen new customers added to my customer base. I saw thirteen faces that I put product on. I have booked 4 classes so far and I still have plenty of leads to call. In my most recent skin care class I managed to hold the individual consultations. This is something that had eluded me in the past. By doing this, I built stronger first impressions and relationships with the guests. This quarter I sold more skin care sets in a single quarter than I have EVER in my five years with MK. This quarter I sold six skin care sets! I sold four of them in one day at a class! I also signed three new team members this quarter and have a handful of others that are interested. I’m on the right track to be in my Red Jacket by October 1, and a Team Leader by November 1. I have been working as closely as I can with my team to answer questions and help them get started in their businesses. I’m right on schedule for my overall goals. It’s hard for me to believe, but I’m not backing down. This business feels like something I am meant to do! It is starting to feel natural and I love helping these women (customers and team members alike)!
I could focus on the missed goals and all the things I didn’t do or did wrong, but that’s not happening. I overcame a lot of fears this quarter and I am proud of myself for that. My confidence is up and I actually enjoy calling my customers. My mindset has changed. When things are put into perspective that I’m providing them with a service the whole attitude of the conversation changes. It’s awesome. I’m going to use the momentum I have built and move forward in this quarter to reach new levels still. What did YOU do this quarter? Where are you going in Quarter 2?
Linda J
MJ
Jessica
beautyinpink
elaine
Stumble It!
Shades, way to go! That is the way to do it..it all begins at the class..the sale..You go girl! I truly am impressed with your work this last quarter. You are getting it down and getting it done!
It is more impressive because I know some of the firsts were uncomfortable but you know what? You did it anyway and the more we do the things we fear, the more natural it becomes.
No Way..No How..are you backing down! Girl you are on a Roll!
Your #1 fan
Great job, Shades! I’m inspired!
Shades, by focusing on the positives of last quarter and concentrating on making them stronger you have put yourself in a very good position to meet the goals you have for this quarter! Congratulations on the Skin Care sales!~ They are definitely the mainstay of our awesome business!
Shades…AMAZING! You may not have reached your goal but you did achieve some really big things. I have not kept track as close as you did and plan to do so this quarter.
I did hit my Sapphire Star Consultant status (barely). But some of that was stocking up on products and new items. I was running really low on inventory there for a while.
For quarter 2, my goals are Ruby Star, 30 faces each month. I have never done a power start, I know that sounds bad, but I just want to say that I did one. Also, NEW FACES. This has been my weakness. I mentioned it on my blog but right now I have been working with current customers and past team members to get sales and bookings. I did get about 7 new faces or so last quarter but…..I want more. Any Ideas!!??
MKheart, that’s really good that you hit your Star! I have not done a power start either. I have come close. I think the closest I got was 26 faces in one month!
New faces? The best way I have been able to do it is to ask for referrals. Ask your existing customers if they know anyone who might like to try the products. Ask your existing customers to hold a product preview and invite lots (you can have 10-15 people at previews). Then book them for SCC’s. Invite guests to your weekly meetings. This has been putting me in touch with new people. I tell whomever I invite to bring 2 friends and get a 50% discount. Then book appointments with them from meeting.
Those are the things I’ve been doing. I’ve done 13 new faces since the end of August. I’m working on hitting 30 in September. I have 7 so far. I know I’ll hit 15 (that is the minimum in our NSD challenge). I have 30 referrals to call that I got from guests at my events and the class I held on Saturday. I offer $5 off their order if they can give me five names and numbers of people who would like to try MK. It’s been working quite well!
Thank you so much Shades. I found a tic-tac-toe sheet with the new mineral products and such on it so I am going to start asking for referrals just like you said with that sheet and then if the referral schedules a facial with me, the person that referred will receive the product that was in that tic-tac-toe box for free. It is a win-win situation.
I also have registered myself for two fall festivals in the area in October for booths which I am totally excited about!!! I need the new names.
I’ve done the tic-tac-toe before, too. For some reason, it didn’t work for me. My director uses it and she has success from it. I think it’s a great idea to try it out.
Festivals and table events are my other favorite way to get leads. You’re doing great!
Wowza, Shades! You go, girl! I’m in awe.
I’ll be honest; I pretty much sucked this quarter. :-p It’s my own fault–I just did nothing. But I am working on my goals and plans for the upcoming quarter.
What an awesome month Shades, I am really proud of the way you continued working right on even with little hickups happened and by tracking it, you see what you can accomplish with the numbers so you are going to be able to start judging exactly you need to do to get what you want. Now that you have that momentum going it is just going keep building - you are on the move!! Woo Hoo!!
Congratulations Shades!
Thanks, mkme! And Kare, you didn’t suck this quarter. You just chose not to work and that’s OK. And you know what else? You can stop working for a quarter and you still have your business when you are ready to pick it up again. You can’t get fired.
I have put my business down a few times over the years. And when people asked me if I was still “doing MK” I would say, yes, but right now I’m more focused on [fill in the blank]. Whenever I decide to work it more, I let people know about it, too. I think that is what I love most about it. I can put it down for a bit and pick right back up. Can’t do that with another job. 
Thanks, Shades.
I felt pretty rotten this past quarter, so maybe I’ll chalk it up to unpaid sick leave. 
LOL! There ya go!
No need to dwell on what didn’t happen. This quarter focus on your goals and what you need to do to reach them and then tally up where you are in December! If you miss your goals, see where you landed instead. I bet it will be better results than you had this quarter and that is worth something. If you don’t hit your goals, then you evaluate what to do differently next quarter. For me, I was ready to go, but fear was gripping me. Once I got past the fear, I was fine. It was just a little too late in the game to get where I needed to be.
Hmm. I didn’t hit my goals in any way what-so-ever. However, this quarter is starting out with, well not quit a bang, but a good shove. It’s enough to get me motivated! Yay!
I’m looking forward to an Open House, shared with my recruiter, and some excutive gift giving. I’m excited and a little bit scared to see where this goes.
Kim
Sounds good, Pink Lady! Let me know how your executive gift giving goes. I’m very curious about that. I have not attempted that myself and would love to hear about your results!
Well, I did finish Ruby this quater. I am glad that I made it. Next quarter I would like to finish Ruby or higher we will see how it goes. I usually do a health fair in November at our County Court House. I get a lot of leads from that. Last year I was sick however my sister went and sat at the table for me and handed out things and got names. This year I am going to be there. I think I want to have an open house for Christmas gifts I am going to look into that. Well, I pray that everyone has a GREAT DAY.
Bren
Wow, Bren! That is excellent! Keep it up!
Pink Bren,
Ruby is great–any tips on how you did it? I’ve done Sapphire before but not often. I’d like to do at least Sapphire each quarter.
Shades, you are such an encouragement!
Wow, Pink Bren! That’s amazing! Please share how you did it. I need some serious help!
Shades, I’m not sure how the Excutive gift giving will go. One of the director’s in my area did a whole class on it. She made it sound wonderful. I’m hoping it works as well for me as it does for her.
I’m cheating slighty (smile). My husband works for a company that has about five offices in our city. He is going to get me the names of the supervisors to send letters to. That’s as much as he can do (soliciting issues), which is fine by me.
Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Kim
I just worked my business. I had a lot of reorders. When the new colors came out I had a few customers call and they ordered all the eye colors. I did get on the phone and call. I had a facial that was just one lady and she bought everything that I showed her. I just got on the phone and it was a little at a time however I did have a pretty good quarter. I just acutally called people.
I have never made Ruby before and it is kinda of exciting. I did order somethings that I don’t usually order I got the Christmas stuff, I thought that I would try and work that angle with like an open house and see how that goes. Really I was just out of everything.
I also give my sisters a discount when they get outside orders for me and sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. I have 3 sisters. I also have a friend that is a silent hostess and she did well this quarter too. She is not ready to be a consultant however she likes to sell so I give her a discount and she sells. I am hoping that she will want to come on to my team she would be an asset.
The only advice that I can give is to work your business, pick up the phone and call customers. Book and hold classes. Just work it they way that Mary Kay wanted it done. Always putting the customer first. Pass out cards.
I am praying that I can do it again next quarter and that maybe I can increase it. We will see.
Have a GREAT DAY
Pink Bren, GREAT ADVICE!! It is amazing what just opening your mouth can do for your business.
Could someone help me define the difference between ‘goals’ and ‘vision’. Are these kind of the same, or different?
You have short-term goals and long-term goals. When you put them all together it paints the larger picture which is your vision. Does that make sense? Your vision is what you see yourself achieving in the long run as you achieve your smaller goals. So, your vision is comprised of your short term and long term goals. The vision is the big picture. Does that make sense? Let me know if I’m being confusing.
Thanks, that does help me understand it better. I have never been able to ‘visualize’ it seems, not just in MK but other areas of my life, its like there is a block there or something. I say all the time I want to do this or that, but I really struggle seeing in my minds eye the Director’s suit on me, or me sitting in the career car. Does that make sense? Any suggestions on how I can visualize better? Do I start there and then make goals?
That makes sense. The problem is, the suit and the car aren’t the vision. They are tools to get you to your vision. Your goal is the car because reaching that goal affords you something else. My big picture is a particular lifestyle that I want to accomplish. Earning the car will help to get me there. I will take the cash to pay off my current car. That frees up the money I was previously paying on the car each month.
It’s like thinking outside the box. Sorry to sound cliche, but that’s what it is. Go OUTSIDE the MK things. It’s not just about wearing a suit, driving a car, and selling makeup. It’s about developing relationships and working toward personal goals. At least, that is what it means to me.
It’s a process. It goes back to having a “WHY.” I never had a “WHY” before. I was content with my day job. My husband was working a steady job. Things have been changing and it has motivated me to want to work harder with MK. My “WHY” is this vision I have that includes a lifestyle I want that I cannot attain with my current situation.
So, Donna, I think you should think about what it is you want to gain from your MK business. Is it more monthly income? Is it a new career? Is it a lifestyle change? Is it the opportunity to work from home? Think about what you really want to gain from the business, then use the business to get you there. Does that make sense?
Yes, that makes lots of sense. I am sitting here at the office and I think you helped me just have one of those ‘Ah ha’ moments I hear so much about! I was all messed up! Ha! I think I have been looking at this all wrong. I think I really need to sit down and re-think this through and ask myself WHY I want to be a Director, and WHY I want a career car. I went back to your post from Aug. on vision, determining your ‘why’ and re-read that and that was really helpful too. I see now that I was really confused on that.
I think I am a lot like you, in that what I seek from this business is the freedom, both in time and finances.
My kids are in their teens now, and I was very fortunate to be able to be home with them until they were in school all day, and I have had family to fill in the gaps after school, etc. God has blessed me that way so much. I also believe with all my heart that He blessed me with this opportunity too, and I feel like sometimes I have just been spinning my wheels and playing around for 7 years, and I am just so tired of that.
Thanks so much for your help! I will share my thoughts after I figure out my WHY!