Posts Tagged ‘Direct Sales’

Marketing ME

• November 5th, 2008
• 20 Comments »

This has been a long time coming. I have been wanting to share what I have changed in my business to get the better results I’ve been experiencing since July. There is a combination of different factors that led to my productivity. The biggest has been consistency. However, before one can be consistent, one must have tasks to do consistently. I was always stuck about being consistent because I never seemed to have enough leads to work with (or so I thought). There was also the problem of me getting stuck in my own head listening to what some call “the committee” rumbling and grumbling about all that goes wrong and ignores what goes right. Recently, I have quieted that committee and found some confidence in myself and in my business. Know what I did? I figured out how to get leads! (more…)

Got Guests?

• September 3rd, 2008
• 32 Comments »

Since I’ve been on a bit of a hot streak in bringing guests with me to my meetings lately, I thought I would share a little on what I’ve been doing. To be perfectly honest, I’m a little shocked myself. In the past, I have not had this much success in bringing guests. What I’ve been doing differently has made a phenomenal impact on my confirmation and attendance rate.

So what have I been doing? What’s getting these guests here? Who are these guests? Where are these leads coming from? I know, there are so many questions to be answered! In fact, over the years I was asking these very questions to myself as I would watch other members of my unit come week after week with guests while mine were not coming at all or I just had no one to ask. Part of the problem was my own self esteem and confidence. I didn’t really believe that I could find people who wanted to come with me. It was a little deeper than that, though. It was kind of a feeling of why would someone want to be my guest? I was making it very personal which was silly now that I look back on it. By personalizing it, I’m making it about ME. It’s not about me! It’s about them! (more…)

The Big Picture

• August 29th, 2008
• 5 Comments »

Recently, I’ve talked about affirmations and goals I’ve mentioned time after time after time. Now it’s time to see the big picture! The big picture is really your “WHY.” I just had this AHA moment the other day. It just kind of hit me in the brain as I was driving to or from work. Yes, I guess my mind wanders on that thirty mile commute! I was thinking about how we always hear about having a “why” for doing this business. I could never come up with one. (more…)

Affirmations Create Accountability

• August 17th, 2008
• 15 Comments »

For the longest time I have not been able to create an affirmation for myself. I have heard time and time again that having a daily affirmation or mantra will help one to reach her goals. I could never get behind it. I think I was stuck in this vision that affirmations are a little cheesy and cheery and don’t sound like anything I would say. Many I have seen, heard, and read feel like cheers or pep talks and I’m not good at those. I have on posted on my sidebar that sounds like a rhyme and a cheer. It’s good, but it’s not something I can get in the habit of saying daily. There is also the dreaded suggestion of recording oneself saying the affirmation and then listening to it repeatedly such as in the car. That kind of thing gives me the creeps for some reason. Then, I attended a workshop with my NSD back in April. My opinion and understanding of an affirmation was transformed. (more…)

Attracting New Business

• August 16th, 2008
• 13 Comments »

This is a sort of continuation of my earlier post on the Scavenger Hunt. In that post I mentioned it was not for me. It was too “Mary Kay Commando” for my taste. The feeling it gave me was uncomfortable. I felt like I was attacking people rather than attracting. There really wasn’t anything attractive about it. Again, don’t get me wrong, if you are a lover of this method of generating leads, go for it. If not, read on. (more…)

Tracking, Tracking, Tracking!

• August 3rd, 2008
• 11 Comments »

Back on my topic about goal posters, it came up that many of us (myself included) have trouble with tracking. This is the first quarter I’m tracking my goals. Yes, after five years in this business, I’m going to do some tracking and see where I land. I’m tracking many things. The first thing I’m focusing on is, of course, my sales. I’m committed to selling $3000 retail in August. I’m off to a good start. I have a silent hostess out and I sold $60 this weekend. I’m working on getting more silent hostesses out there. (more…)

Staying Focused on Goals

• July 21st, 2008
• 43 Comments »

Tonight our unit had a potluck dinner at my director’s house instead of a regular meeting. We did this to go over last year’s accomplishments and the new year’s goals. We were asked to bring our goal posters if we had them. I found this to be the perfect opportunity to grab my magnetic dry erase board and get that put together again. It’s an effortless goal poster. My director and friends had really nice posterboards with pictures and such pasted to them. I am not so good with glue. I love that I can just move stuff around and not have to throw the whole thing out and start from scratch. How very…green? (more…)

Got Goals?

• July 11th, 2008
• 20 Comments »

This comes a little late in the month, I know. July is the start of the new fiscal year and in MaryKayland, that is also the start of our Seminar contest year. Every year we talk about new goals and getting a fresh start on the new year. In the past I’ll admit it was all fun and games and everything kinda went in one ear and out the other. Yes, I made some goals, but I didn’t see any urgency so I didn’t really go for them. It’s been just about five years since I signed my agreement to take up a new hobby. Back then I just wanted a hobby and didn’t see any reason to pursue my business any further than that. There is nothing wrong with that. I think this is how many if not most consultants get started. I think that is fine. It allows freedom to work how they want. I’m glad for that. These past two years have made me rethink my approach to my hobby and I have decided to work the business aspect more. As I was making this transition I realized, “Hey! It’s July! The new year is just starting. What fabulous timing!” So, I have some very lofty goals. (more…)

Eagles Will Fly

• July 1st, 2008
• 1 Comment »

“Eagles will fly and chickens will peck forever.” This is a Mary Kayism. Tonight I’m writing a little bit about managing a team. It was our kick-off meeting for the new sales year this evening and I am so happy I went! We trained on the career path and how commissions work. It was good to have the information. I was more impressed with some of the advice we were given. The question came up about motivating your team or unit to sell. The answer was surprising.

The answer was not a “how to” on motivational speaking. Rather, it was to lead by example. Basically, it doesn’t matter how great of a motivator you are, if someone doesn’t want to be motivated, they won’t be. It goes back to that adage we often hear, “if you drag her in; you’ll be dragging her all the way.” Nobody wants a drag! The people who want to work will work. They will have questions. It is best to be working one’s own business and gaining experience than it is to motivate while working less. Also, motivating people into the ground who aren’t that into it anyway, will be quite draining on the motivator. (more…)