Monday, June 30, 2008

Tips to Time Management

We all have the same number of hours in a day so why is it that some women seem to accomplish so much more? It’s all about how you use your time. If your biggest excuse is your need to organize everything before you can start, do it today and get over it. My organizational friends would tell you, you lose more than an hour a day looking for things you need and can’t find due to lack of organization. So, plan one day to get your office in order and then that’s it, move to what makes you money. For ideas on keeping it organized, here are two of my favorite resources. BusinessMom Mentor & Organize with Confidence.

Now, no more excuses. You’ve done it, you’re organized, now plan from here. These 14 tips can help you get a grip on your time management.

1. Know your goals
2. Know what steps / actions it takes to reach them
3. Determine the time it will take each week
4. Determine which tasks will help you for each step toward your goal
5. Plan the necessary amount of time into your schedule each week
6. Decide which tasks generate income and help you toward your goal, and schedule those first in your calendar
7. Schedule power hours. One 90 minute block of time, not fragments, but block of time to focus on the task that is most important to your business growth. Perhaps that may be your contact time with consultants, holding training tele-classes with them, planning the training or meeting for the week.
8. Next schedule two separate power hours during the week. Think about your business needs and delegate the time accordingly
You may want to break it into these 15 minute segments, one right after the other:
* 15 minutes to make customer care calls
* 15 minutes to make hostess coaching calls
* 15 minutes to make prospecting calls
* 15 minutes to make return phone calls to those who have called you or referral calls
9. The next full power hour can vary weekly:
* Week one: booking blitz calls
* Week two: consultant contact calls
* Week three: phone sales
* Week four: consultant contact calls
10. Delegate those tasks that are not income generating
11. Give up the need to do it all
12. Turn the “ringer” on your emails off and open up your emails two times a day
13. Let others know your plan and work times so they respect your work schedule
14. Always ask your self “Is what I’m doing right now helping me to reach my goal?” if it’s not, drop it, delegate it, or skip it all together

Put these ideas into action and next time I'll have more time management tips.

© 2008 Anne Nelson, Joy Zone, LLC

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Who Says the Sky is Falling?

I try not to watch much news or read the papers because they are so negative it drives me nuts. The media loves to sell sorrow. I ran into a few people talking about how tough the economy is and how desperate times are and thought “Well, I don't feel desperate. I'm being wise about my spending, but I always have been.” And then, I did read an article that stated no matter who is president, which party is at the helm, the entrepreneurs were the ones least effected, if at all, but tough economic times. Why? Because they don't talk about the sky falling, they talk about how to improve the roof.

As a direct sales consultant – you get to decide if the sky is falling, or if you're going to reinforce your cover. Now is an ideal time to be sharing your earning opportunity. It's the way you reinforce your cover and it's how you enable others to do the same.

When you offer your business to others, share your success story and those of others in your company, you give hope to your prospect that they can have a better life. You provide comfort that life will be good and it's okay to keep living, dreaming, and moving forward. When you separate yourself from the negative talk of the economy, and look to what is working, you'll find a sense of peace within too.

Your business offers women the opportunity to

  • earn a few hundred dollars a month to cover rising household bills

  • earn a few hundred dollars a week to wipe out credit card debt

  • earn a couple thousand dollars a month to replace a job where she's overworked and underpaid.

  • earn a six figure income that can do all of the above and create a retirement plan she can depend on, and more!

If you are maximizing your earning opportunity, you know this. If you are not, look at the achievers in the company and you'll see it. There is hope for everyone who wants a brighter future. The question is, are you going to add to the desperation or are you going to be part of their solution?

Who should you share the your business with today?

© 2008 Anne Nelson, Joy Zone, LLC

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Overcoming Objections Tele-Seminar Notes

The Overcoming Objections tele-seminar was today, and due to the technical difficulties half way through, only the second half of the call was recorded. It’s the middle of the afternoon here, thundering and lightening like crazy and very dark outside so that may be what caused our technical snafu.

Below are some of the responses to overcoming objections that I shared on the call. (For those of you waiting for Part I to Consistency in business, come back soon, I’ll be posting that next.)

OBJECTIONS TO SALES:

IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE
* I used to feel the same way until I realized how often I was replacing my ____ because it (faded, didn’t hold up, was poor quality, etc…) and realized how cost effective our products are.
* There will always be products that are cheaper, but there’s a reason for it, they are poorly made, they’re manufactured overseas, or they anticipate you’ll simply replace it latter.
* It may seem expensive until you compare it to other products and see ours lasts longer, only needs half as much, etc.
* That’s why you’ll want to take advantage of our buyers club.
* When you purchase two items, you get the next two at ½ price which makes it really affordable.
SHIPPING AND HANDLING FEES
* The difference you have with the retail industry is you still pay these fees but they are built into the cost of their goods.
* People today are used to catalog shopping and internet shopping where they have shipping and handling charges.
* You’ll want to be a hostess then because with a qualifying show, hostesses don’t have shipping fees.

OBJECTIONS TO BOOKINGS:

I DIDN’T BRING MY CALENDAR
* I limit the number of shows I do each month and I’d hate to have you miss out. Let’s set a tentative date so you are guaranteed a date and we can confirm it tomorrow when you have your calendar handy.
I’M TOO BUSY
* Because women today are so busy they really appreciate how quick our shows are.
* Busy women are the most successful hostesses because they know how to keep it simple, get it done and move on to the next thing on their list.
* I understand that’s why I help you with the invitations and we keep our parties very simple.
MY HOUSE IS TOO SMALL
* Thank goodness we don’t need the whole house.
* Patio parties on the deck are really popular this time of year.
* You are welcome to use my home, just bring your friends.
MY FRIENDS ARE PARTIED OUT
* That’s why we keep our shows simple, quick and fun so your friends can relax and have a good time or stop in quick to shop and run.
* What was the last show you were all at? (It may be that they really haven’t been for months, or that they “all” got invitations to shows this week, though they didn’t go. Probe a bit further. )
* How do you think they’d feel about a relaxing spa afternoon?
* Oh I understand, sometimes long parties get to be a bit much. How about a quick stop and shop night? (Or) How would a private cooking show work for your friends instead?
*
Sometimes the terminology is all you need to change, try words like a girl’s night out, private fashion fittings, personal make over, private jewelry show, etc. Give it a different label, show, party, presentations, demo, or girls night out.
I DON’T KNOW ENOUGH PEOPLE
* This might be the perfect opportunity to meet your neighbors.
* We don’t need a lot of people for a show so if you have three friends and they each bring a guest; you’ve got a great show.
* Many of my hostesses feel that way at first, and with my coaching have found they have as many as they really need for a party.
* Several of the women at this show have long wish lists so you could easily add some of them to your guest list.

OBJECTIONS TO HEARING ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OR BECOMING A CONSULTANT:

I WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL
* While the kids are at camp, you could be getting through the learning curves so you are ready to fly in the fall, when sales are at their highest.
* I can respect that. You may want to hold a few shows this summer and start getting your clients lined up so you’re ready to soar this fall.
I CAN’T IMAGINE ONE MORE THING ON MY PLATE, I’M TOO BUSY
* That’s exactly why I thought of you. Busy women like yourself are so good at managing many things at once and it might be the outlet you give yourself for personal time out and fun.
MY HUSBAND WON’T LET ME
* Does he object to you making money?
WHEN I RETIRE… WHEN THE KIDS ARE ALL IN COLLEGE
* That makes sense. What you’ll find is by hearing the information now, you’ll know if it’s the right thing for your future. I’d hate to have you thinking this is what you’re going to do and then later discover you should have been planning something else.
I DON’T KNOW ENOUGH PEOPLE
* If you have 3 to 5 people who would host for you, you’re business will mushroom from there.

When people have objections, they’re really telling you they don’t have enough information for a "yes" decision. Objections mean they don’t have enough information to solve their problem. An objection means they still have questions. Repeat objections that you hear over and over are an indication that that is a concern you could be addressing during your shows to eliminate it. You can turn an objection into a recruit bid, booking bid, or a reason to buy.

And by the way, if it’s raining, your customers and prospects are likely home since ball games are cancelled, it’s too wet to mow or garden, etc. So take advantage of a rainy day and pick up your phone!

© 2008 Anne Nelson, Joy Zone, LLC

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Consistency is in the Following the Recipe!

Part I

My Grandmother’s sugar cookies are to-die-for, melt-in-your-mouth, incredible cookies. Her cookies are hard to duplicate; many have tried and failed. Her secret? Patience. She always said no one could make her cookies like hers because they weren’t patient enough to stick with it (and of course add enough love to it too!). Good cookies like hers require beating for a long time and refrigerating over night. You can’t rush them or they’re soft. Grandma’s cookies are consistently good because she follows her recipe exactly the same every time.

Business is the same way. You can’t rush it. You have to be patient and you have to stick with it! You can’t alter the recipe. What is the recipe for success in your company? Two shows a week? Three follow up calls to prospects per show? Four personal calls to your customers per season? Know the recipe and follow it.

Patience and consistency are vital to your business success. I’ll share more ways in the coming days on creating consistency. But to start with, begin with your “why.” Why are you in business? What do you want from it? Who benefits and how, from your success? Take some time and write out your “why” and get very clear about it. When you understand the deeper value of your business success, creating consistency in business becomes easier and more natural.

Check back soon, I’ll have more on creating consistency in your business.