Direct Sales Money Expert, Belinda Fuchs

Success in business and direct sales growth depends on your “money” strategy. Belinda Fuchs presented her workshop on the 2010 Speakers In The Park series. President of Own Your Money, Belinda provides hope and direction for individuals, couples and families so that they can transform the way they think, feel and act about money.

Belinda’s topic is “The 3 Disastrous Money Mistakes Direct Sellers Make – And What You Can Do To Prevent Them”, including how to begin creating a more powerful relationship to your money, so you experience the feeling of truly owning your money.

Is your “B.S.” in your way from your direct selling success?

• “If I make more money, I’ll have more headaches.”
• “If I try and I don’t succeed at the business, I’ll be a failure.”
• “I don’t have what it takes to get wealthy or be a leader in my organization.”

If any of these sound familiar to the dialogue in your head, then your “B.S.” – your “Belief Systems”—are holding you back. Yes, you are in your own way.

It is essential that you address your underlying fears and attitudes or you will unconsciously sabotage yourself because you actually believe your own B.S.

Success With Money

Most personal finance support is severely lacking because it ignores the elephant in the room that is in your way– YOU. You have access to thousands of tips on-line, yet it is your own beliefs around money and success that are blocking you from taking clear, powerful, and smart actions with your money. Most sales support is the same way. Until you address your attitude and beliefs, your behaviors will be remarkably slow to change.

What is your non-supportive B.S. when it comes to promoting yourself, promoting your business and with accumulating wealth?

It is literally costing you time, energy, and money each day that you ignore these unconscious non-supportive emotions and beliefs that are holding you back. However, once you develop a step-out-of-yourself perspective and new awareness as to what your Belief Systems are, a whole new world will open up for you.

Your non-supportive B.S. fosters a “poor” relationship to money, where you feel poor no matter how much money you are bringing in or even how much money you have in the bank. Even as you make more and more money, your stress increases, you spend more, and your problems just have more zeroes on them.

This is the world of scarcity in which people feel owned by their money instead of feeling powerful as the owner of their money.

You don’t have to live like this anymore. Don’t miss this call!

Our next Speakers In The Park series will start in May. The Direct Sales Training tele-seminars are year-round so, get on the list! www.speakersinthepark.com

Home Business Strategy = Business Systems

People never fail; only systems fail!

If you are not getting the results you want in your home-based business then don’t quit!  Just find some new systems. I often say that line: People never fail; only systems fail!  I was recently asked what I mean by that and what is a system for your home business?

The most effective home business success strategy is to do what other successful businesses do.  All successful businesses are founded on systems. Some systems work better than others.  You may have a system of host coaching, for example, that is not effective. If you are getting a lot of show cancellations or poor show attendance, then possibly you need a new host coaching system.  In the manufacturing world, the system of the assembly line has been  incorporated into almost every factory operation starting with the auto industry.  Today, tomato soup, couches, clothing and even your Big Mac are created using the system of the assembly line.  The system of making cars prior to Henry Ford did not work well.  Many people think that Henry Ford invented the car but really he only invented the system that made the car affordable.  Prior to that, the system to make cars was one at a time, slowly and very cost prohibitive.  Instead of quitting like most manufacturers of his time did, Henry Ford found a new system.

Home Business Systems

It is not uncommon for home business owners to get discourage and quit.  Frequently they feel as though they failed.  What really happened is the business system they were using failed, not them personally.  As newcomers in home party plan businesses, most people are taught the system of asking friends and family help them kick off their businesses.  I know when I started I was told to make a list of my 40 best friends that I have known since kindergarten and ask them to have a show.  The plan was to schedule 6 shows and then find more business at those shows.  This is an OK system to start a business for about 6 days.

• How many businesses do you know who rely on friends and family for an income?
• How many businesses do you know who start out with six customers then expect those customers to bring them the rest of their business?

This is a system of business start up that is prone to failure.

Business Success Strategy = Good Operational Systems

A system is a mode of operation that creates a protocol for operation.  All successful companies use the strategy of creating or finding a system that works for their operation.  Companies that do not have good systems usually operate in a state of chaos.  Good systems will effectively generate sales, business, or operations with greater success, profit and effort than poor systems.

There is always more than one system, so finding the one that works for you sometimes means trying new things, participating in training, and networking with other like-minded professionals.  A system of host coaching that works will reduce cancellations, increase sales, make the act of hostess coaching easier and most likely more enjoyable.  A system of lead generation that provides an unlimited supply of new business on an ongoing basis is one that will ensure success and reduce failure.

Effective systems also take the stress out of business.  When your home business operates with good systems that match your personality, product line and services, business will become  efficient.  You will be able to do the same amount or more business with less effort.  Like Henry Ford, you will become streamlined.  Oftentimes sales leaders ask me how they can possibly grow a team when it takes all of their efforts to generate sales. How could they possibly have enough time to keep the income up and train a team?  Systems are the answer!  When you no longer worry about where to find bookings because you have an unlimited supply of business, you will have time to train your sales team.  When your host coaching system generates a higher show average, you will spend less time out of the house and make more money.  That extra time will go into training your sales team. Systems give you time and money.

If you are not getting the results you want from your business, then be willing to try a new system.  This entire website is dedicated to home business systems that will create an effective income from your party plan business.  Do you want:

• Higher sales?
• Fewer cancellations?
• More recruits?
• More bookings?
• Better team retention?

There are hundreds of free direct sales articles, home business videos and marketing  audio recordings on this website that are proven business systems specifically designed for the party plan business.  Most of them will work in any home business!  If you answered yes to any of the above questions then take advantage of the many resources here.

There are two premier products on this site that are the systems that I used to build a direct sales business that allowed me to quit my full time job in 9 months.  The Create A Cash Flow show program is a set of party plan systems that are specific to the home party.  Host coaching, sales, bookings and recruiting systems all focused on your home party.  The Power UP For Professional Results program is a set of professional systems that will assist you in marketing and finding business.  When you incorporate these systems into your home business, you will never worry about where to find business again.

A Success System To Get More Yeses

We all love to hear more yeses and Yes is the key to more sales in any direct sales business. Here is a simple system to boost your number of yeses so that you can increase sales and make more money from home.

Secret To Yes

A proven system will work in all sales businesses no matter what the product line is. This system to get more yeses will work for you no matter what your product line is.

• Develop a relationship with small talk
• Getting them to say yes or positive statements
• Share what is in it for them first
• Compliment them first
• Then ask them the question

Direct Sales System

Another success system is what I call the 10 Second Rule:

The 10 second rule is simple. Share for 10 seconds or less and ask a question. Listen. Then share for 10 seconds or less with clarifying information and ask another question.

Direct sellers have a tendency to talk too much. This simple system of communication will keep the focus on your guest or customer.

Goals Setting Is A System Of Planning

What is a goal?  It is important to understand what a goal is.   Goals define what needs to happen in order for your business to be successful. It is a system of planning that brings results to all businesses, home or otherwise that incorporate them into their written business plan.

Your goals should stretch you slightly.  They should be reachable so you feel you can do it but and but also stretch you to make a real commitment. Goal-setting is the process of deciding on something you want, planning how to get it, and then working towards the objective. Goal-setting is not wishing or dreaming. It is something you progressively work towards. Goal setting is a process and a system of planning that will guide you to your destination.

Goals Must Be Written Down

Goals are written in your business plan in specifics. Written goals are attainable. Mental or not-written down goals are just dreams. Start by jotting down the goals you want to reach and then make a plan on how you will accomplish it. Look at each goal and evaluate it.

Each goal should be written out in detail and include the following criteria in your plan:

S – SPECIFIC

M – MEASURABLE

A – ACHIEVABLE

R – REALISTIC

T – TIME FRAME

Business Goals Need To Be Specific

Use the above guidelines to structure your home business goals and make a plan that will really work.

Is your goal specific?

Example: I will reach earn a commission of $3000 per month. Avoid vague terms like “some” or “a little bit”, or “more”. Be specific! Keep your goals simple, clear and focused.

What are your measurements?

You can’t achieve a quart of happiness. “What gets measured gets done.” However, you CAN achieve a 4 mile jog, get 8 new customers this month or achieve the next sales level. Define your goals in terms of height, weight, dollars, inches, or hours.  Measure your progress periodically until you achieve your goals.

Can you really attain your goal?

If a goal that is important to you it should be included. All of the goals must be attainable though.  Earning $3000 per month starting next week is not attainable if you are currently earning $300 in your home business.  So, be realistic and make your goals attainable.  If it is meaningful, you will develop the attitudes, abilities, skills and financial capacity to reach it so think big!

It is important to be realistic!

A high goal is frequently easier to reach than a low one because people with low goals do not exert much motivation. Earning $300,000 in your  home business company is unrealistic if you just started.  Maybe with time it is possible so your goal setting should include stepping stones. Your goal is probably realistic if you truly believe that it can be accomplished.

Include a time schedule in your goal plan.

When your goal has a time frame it creates a sense of urgency. Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic.

A Home Business Goal Setting Plan Includes

There are many things that should be included in a goal setting plan.  Other things to consider when writing our home business goal setting plan are:

You deserve a reward!

Reward yourself along the way. My favorite reward is a one hour massage at a day spa. That is something I truly enjoy. What kind of a reward would you like when you reach your goals in your home business?

Share your goals.

When you share your goals with family and friends they become easier.  They will support you in your goal setting and also hold you accountable.

When you make your goals achievable and they are CONSISTENT WITH YOUR VALUES they will be easy to attain. One of the biggest reasons people fail to achieve their goals is that they have conflict between their behavior and their values. However, when your values and your goals are in agreement, there is no stopping you! Clarify your values first, then set simple, specific, measurable, tangible, written goals that are consistent with those values. You will achieve them every single time! Use this SMART Goals Home Business Tracking Form.

Have you ever set goals? Would you like to share your goals? Please feel free to share your questions and comments in the comments box below. In my upcoming articles we’ll talk about setting Sales Goals and Team Goals.

Deb’s program The Power UP For Professional Results training program includes an IRS approved home business plan template that establishes realistic goals in a format that protects your home business for the home office deductions. (Game players: See the score sheet for a $20 savings coupon.)

To Your Goal Setting Success!
Merilyn Strange
Avon Leadership/Beauty Trainer

Party Plan Show Average Goes UP!

I always thought that people spent more money at my shows when they used credit cards. I never really did any research on that belief, though. Recently I read an article on a British study that examines the psychological reasons why a person might spend more using a credit card.

The report called the “The Realities of Spending” said among other things:

Adding a small amount to an already large credit card bill makes it feel like you did not spend as much.

Thinking about the cost of a purchase while consuming or using it can lower the pleasure gained from the purchase. Credit cards block this by disassociating the payment from the consumption – in other words, you don’t feel the pain of paying for something while using it if you use your credit card.

It is easier to put “things” on our credit cards than experiences because while you are paying off your credit card, you can think of all the enjoyment you are getting from the physical thing you still have, i.e. home decor, kitchen tools, makeup, jewelry.

So the report is extensive but not really definitive.  I think in direct sales the message is that it is important, during your product wrap-up or show closing, to tell your guests that ‘we love credit cards’.  There are two reasons:

1. It is good customer service.
2. It may increase sales.