Create A Cash Flow Show

You can generate FREE leads through public speaking

One of the best lead generation systems I have ever found is offering yourself as a public speaker. There are literally hundreds of clubs, churches, schools and non-profit organizations near you that would love to have you come and speak to their group. There is nothing better than a system that generates an unlimited supply of leads that are FREE! This is a summary of our last teleseminar “Getting Started in Speaking for Free Leads”. Don’t miss the upcoming Power Hour Seminars: Sign Up

I’m afraid to be a speaker

Yes, you can be a speaker. If you are anything like the rest of the world, you probably started speaking a while ago. Maybe age 2 or so. I bet you are pretty good at it by now! If you are in direct sales or network marketing (and the odds are good since you are reading this blog) then you are already a paid speaker. You can be a public speaker, so stop staying you can’t. Offering yourself as a speaker will bring new business into your client base that is totally unrelated to your existing client base. You wouldn’t pass up on FREE or PAID For Leads would you? (Sometimes speakers get paid. You can’t beat that: Getting paid to generate leads for your direct sales business! Wow!)

Say it: I am a public speaker!

What to Talk about

I am often asked “what would I talk about?” Here is a simple way to decide what you will offer the organizations when you begin to make your calls. Think about these questions:

• Who are you?
• What is your life purpose?
• What is your business purpose, your brand?
• Which part of you will have value to groups?

Make A List

Keeping those questions in mind, write four lists each with about 10 entries on each. List your passions, your skills, your hobbies, and your business skills, products or motivations. It might go something like this:

Passions
Children’s eating habits
Environmental issues
Chemical free living
Whole foods

Skills
Organization
Teaching
Marketing
Web design

Hobbies
Body building
Cooking
Gardening
Bonsai

Business, motivation or expertise
Chef
Recipe creator
Human resources management
Business training
Increase metabolism

It doesn’t really matter what you have in each category. The topics do not have to relate to your business for you to get leads. If you snowmobile for a hobby then write it down. If you are a good swimmer as a skill then that is good too. The point here is to dig deep and get 10 in each category. You should have no less than 40 topics to pick from.

Pick A Topic With Value

After the lists are done, go back to the original questions. Which ones of these topics are you most comfortable with? Which of the topics are best presented to groups? Which have the most value to the audience? Pick out three of the 40 on the list and determine the benefits to your audience. Taking the three that you selected, get a new paper and list the benefits or value of each topic.. Again, think of as many values as you can come up with. In the above list, I have selected one of my topics as increasing metabolism.

The Value Of Increased Metabolism
Not tired
Feel better
Keep up with the kids
Get more done
Stronger immune system
Fewer colds
You can eat more
More energy,
ETC.

What To Call Your Seminar

Now that you have three seminars and you know all the benefits or value of those seminars for the participants it is time to write a SNAPPY title and an equally snappy subtitle. The title gets their attention and the subtitle tells them what it is all about.

For example:
Title: The Jack Rabbit Energy Workshop

Subtitle: I can teach you how to have the energy and spring of 12 jack rabbits on a trampoline.

Pretty SNAPPY, Huh?!

During our Power Hour TeleSeminar last week one of the topics was gardening. The title that one of the participants came up with is: Be a Red Beet, not a Deadbeat! A subtitle might be: Become a super human growing super foods for exercise and nutrition. The point of the subtitle is to give the listener a brief one line description with some emotional value. The subtitle needs to be short, to the point, and leaving them wanting more. It should have an impact to the emotions. Like, who wouldn’t want to have the energy and spring of 12 jack rabbits anyway?!

It Takes Time To Be SNAPPY

The process of creating speaking topics takes a few days. Allow your subconscious mind do some of the work by not forcing the issue. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone a bit. It is OK to feel a bit uncomfortable the first time you tell someone that your topics are:
The “Jack Rabbit Energy Workshop” and “Be A Red Beet, Not A Deadbeat”

The SNAPPY titles will catch them and the subtitles will make them want more. When they ask what the Jack Rabbit Energy workshop is you just say “I can teach you how to have the spring and energy of 12 jack rabbits on a trampoline… When does your group meet?”

Take advantage of your subconscious mind

Don’t write the speech until you have a dated speaking engagement. Again, allow your subconscious mind to do some work while you do the calls. When someone gives you a date, you will be able to write a speech in a flash because your subconscious mind has done all the work.

The System Summary

The summary of how to get paid-for (or at least free) leads:

1. List your topics.
2. Pick out 3 topics with the best value that are going to market.
3. List the benefits or value to the group, client or organization. How will the members benefit from the topic or your speech.
4. Write a write a snappy title for each.
5. Write an equally snappy subtitle that conveys the emotional value to the group quickly in a quick one liner.
6. Make your calls.
7. Write up a page description to use as a mailing piece when requested and not before.
8. Write your speech when you date a speaking engagement.

This is a system that works to generate an unlimited supply of free leads. Power UP For Professional Results and Create A Cash Flow Show are sets of systems. Each CD set includes 8 hours of proven systems training that work for all businesses. Check It out.

Do You Network For A Living? What Is Network Marketing?

Paul Zane Pilsner says that network marketing is the wave of the future. Network marketing is the right industry to be in now and into the future. What is networking? Working the net? What does that mean? A net is defined as an interconnected web. Working is the act of creating results. Networking is working or creating results using a net. Networking for a living is the generation of cash flow or creating a living by using your net of interconnected people. A network marketing business utilizes the net created by the structure of collaboration between other like-minded individuals so that all involved will benefit from the increased results as a result of the interconnected network.

Are you networking?

I am networking today at an all day seminar-fair focused on wellness. Many of the participants do not understand what networking means. Some of the people here think that it is called net-sitting. They are sitting behind their tables, or sitting alone just waiting for others to connect with them. The action of working the net is required to create the connection. It is networking, not net-sitting.

Collaboration Creates Results Squared

The network grows and becomes more powerful when more net workers become involved in working the net. I cannot network with the women who set themselves apart from the group and do not participate. When two people network, they create results that square the results that they could have created as an individual. Two people create 4 times the results as one. Three people create 9 times the results as one and so on. I have networked with a dozen or more people today. I have participated with these individuals and they participated with me. We collaborated and created a net of common ground that will benefit all of us into the future. Others, such as the women I lunched with, only traded business cards with me. That is not networking. It is wasting business cards. When you are networking you are creating a net of common ground of interest. You cannot network with someone who does not want to participate. Trading cards with uninterested parties is not networking. At lunch we net-ate. Have you ever gone to an event or a party to network, and found yourself net-eating? Just hanging out with business people eating. Not collaborating on creating a business net to benefit all involved?

Effective Networking Skills

Networking is a skill that takes focus to get good at. I am not an expert, and it does not necessarily come naturally to me. I know though that I can create benefits and results for both myself and fellow net workers when I put my focus on doing it effectively. The first part of being an effective networker is to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and to decide that you are going to network. Just like good salesmanship, networking requires a focus outside yourself. Frequently, I get into networking situations that the other party only talks about him or herself. As a matter of fact, and I am sure everyone has this issue, I must make a concentrated effort to keep the focus on others when I am talking and be an active listener when they are talking. The way I do this is to keep my side of the conversation to 10 seconds or less and ask a question. Then share 10 seconds or less with clarifying information, based on the answer they gave and ask another question. Sometimes, when I hear myself rambling on about my personal interests or business, I just pull a question out of my head quickly, anything, even if it doesn’t relate. I say anything that will put on the brakes to my own talking. In this manner, I find that I am always able to find common ground with my fellow networker. Sometimes I have the ability to further their business and sometimes it is the other way around. Either way the collaborating efforts pay off.

The proof is in the follow-up

The other piece in effective networking is the follow-up. For me, a quick encounter in networking always requires some quick notes, as well. I have learned that it is OK to actually write things down during the networking process. If I do not jot down a note, then I may not remember the experience or the promises I made. It also shows the other party that you plan to be serious about your connection. Your follow-up should then take place within 48 hours after the networking experience. Whether it is an email, phone call or mailing, making the follow-up is key to the results of your networking experience. Building a net of support that works for you is what networking is all about.

Networking Is The Industry Of The Future

This event is not a huge event. It is not the high level networking event I expected, yet I know phenomenal opportunity will come my way as a result of my networking efforts. A commitment to the process of networking will always result in a net that works in your business for the future. You never really know where the net you create today will take you in the future. Networking is the industry of the 21st century. Next time you are in a networking situation, plan to network and make a decision to do so. Be sure that you do not net-sit, net-eat, net-complain, net-read the newspaper, net….

One of the reasons that the industry has an image problem is that everyone has heard of many people who started a direct selling business and stopped before they reached their dreams and successes. There are thousands of network marketing and direct sales success stories, yet few people have heard of them. Sharing success stories of direct sellers who have used the industry to reach their goals will go a long way to improving the industry image.

Changing Direction in Life

My story of leaving the corporate world and becoming an entrepreneur is a direct selling success story. Most of you know my story, so I will only share it briefly here. After thirty years of dedicating my career and efforts on someone else’s business I finally realized that all the hard work and dedication were never going to realize my personal or financial dreams. I then decided to give up the stress and pursue my own direction in life. I quit my full-time job and started my direct sales business. With determination, focus, study and education I built my home party business to replace my $80,000 year job in only 9 months. My home party business became a vehicle for me to pursue my dreams. Throughout my life I have used this same determination in the corporate work to achieve the goals of my employers. I also used it in the pursuit of many other personal goals. Now I am using my determination and joy in creating my future to make a difference in the world through speaking and educating others.

Direct Selling - Keys to Success

The key to success in direct selling is determination, commitment and education. What do these people have in common: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. Other than the obvious, that they were presidents, is the fact that none of these men were born into wealth and prosperity. They each became the most powerful person in the world without a background of wealth and prosperity. All of these men came from families that required them to create their own future despite odds at home. Nixon declined an award from Dartmouth to assist his family financially. Ford is the only president to be adopted, and he coached boxing in order to pay for his college education. Reagan, was the son of an alcoholic. Clinton’s father died 3 months before he was born and Clinton was raised by an abusive stepfather. They all set goals. They all had determination and constantly educated themselves. It was only with perseverance, determination and commitment that they achieved their goals.

Network Marketing Success

Success in network marketing is achieved the same way, through determination, education, and commitment to your dreams. The joy of what you are doing coupled with the willingness to do what it takes.

One of the reasons that people are frequently doubtful about direct sales or network marketing is that they do not know anyone personally who is successful. There are many successful direct sellers and network marketers. Introducing a potential consultant to your leaders or bringing them to meetings may assist them in seeing the vision.

Starting a Home Business

When I first started my home business, I went to my first home party show and the presenter was Don Funt. Don’s direct selling success story is one that inspired me to take the step out of the security of my job. As a matter of fact, had any other consultant been the presenter that day, most likely I would not have been open-minded to the possibility that direct sales would lead me to success. Don’s story is that he also quit his full time job to get out of the rat-race. He treated his direct sales business with a professional attitude and created a 6-figure income from the comfort of his home. One of my concerns with my new career was that I may be perceived as being a home-party-lady or unprofessional. Don’s business positioning and attitude showed me that direct sales is a respectable career. That was when I realized that carrying the professionalism from my “real” job into my direct sales was going to be my key to success. I am grateful to Don for giving me the gift of a new life. Don’s success was my inspiration. As we sometimes say in the business,” Don, I am glad you asked!” That should be a lesson to everyone not to prejudge. Had Don decided for me that I was already too successful for him to offer the opportunity to me, then I would not be experiencing a better quality of life today and achieving my dreams.

Myron Golden

Another success story that I would like to share with you is my friend and mentor Myron Golden. Myron’s success story will intrigue everyone in network marketing or direct sales because he struggled with the network marketing business for many years. As a matter of fact, the story he tells is that when getting started in network marketing he worked at his new business for over a year before he got his first paycheck. When Myron got married and started his family he was a garbage man. Now he is a millionaire. During his trash days, Myron spent his lunch breaks and the times spent sitting in traffic in the truck reading self improvement books or listening to educational tapes. He turned his trash truck into a university on wheels. The years of study paid off because now he frequently makes more in one month than he made in the entire decade of the eighties. This success did not happen overnight. Myron Golden is now an accomplished author who shares how he went from the trash man to the cash man in his book The Ebony Treasure Map:. The Road Map To Riches For African Americans. This book is a step-by-step guide that teaches simple steps that will teach anyone who is committed to accomplish the same thing Myron did. Myron’s book teaches a simple system that will work for anyone regardless of race and handicap. I have completed Myron’s seminar training on coaching and presenting the Ebony Treasure Map. This is a seminar presentation that teaches attendees at schools, churches, clubs or organizations how to create a mindset and personal life plan that will make financial freedom an attainable goal. This is an awesome presentation that I enjoy presenting, and especially to young people. I wish someone had shared with me the concepts in The Ebony Treasure Map when I was in my teens or twenties! As a trainer, for Myron’s book I can offer it to you at a discount. It makes an awesome gift for teenagers. Click here to order The Ebony Treasure Map $20. (no shipping)

The American Dream

The fact that 5 of the last 7 presidents of the United States came from normal families with struggles just like you and me is testimonial enough to say that anyone can achieve the American Dream when she or he puts their mind to it. Direct sales can be your dream come true, or it can be the vehicle to your real successes. To learn more about Deb’s transition from the corporate world to the life of an entrepreneur, check out the Power UP For Professional Results CD Set. Do you have a network marketing or direct sales success story? Post a reply to this post and share it with us!

Successful Business Owners Study

Successful business owners study their chosen trade. When a person studies his/her trade everyday for 20 minutes they will achieve the status of top 20 % of their field in a year. The Power UP For Professional Results set of sales and marketing strategies for the home business owner will sky rocket your business to higher levels.

Direct Sales and Network Marketing

Direct sales and network marketing is one of the best income tax reduction strategies there is in the 21st century. Direct selling businesses open the door for income tax deductions. Did you ever notice that all rich people have a business? It is not because they are rich that they got a business, it is the other way around. They developed a business so that they could take advantage of certain tax benefits and that assisted them in gaining wealth. The home business is a legitimate income tax reduction program that the IRS has put into place. Anyone who owns a business has a legal income tax reduction package to utilize to their advantage. If you are an individual or family struggling financially, the quickest way to increase your cash flow without too much time commitment is to start a direct sales or network marketing business. The income generated from your new business will, of course, be helpful and the immediate income tax reduction will increase your cash flow substantially! (I am not a lawyer or accountant, and I am not giving you tax advice.)

For example. in a home business many of the things you are now spending money on will become an income tax deduction.

• Cell phones: even shared family plans
• Magazines subscriptions or cable TV, depending on your company, can be considered as market research
• Mileage to and from general errands that you are doing for your family can be deductions provided you intersperse business errands and lead-collecting in with the daily activities. Imagine deducting 60-80% of all your miles traveled, at 39 cents a mile…. That will really add up quickly!
• Meals and entertainment out can also be deducted provided you talk business and ask for referrals from your friends.
• Are you taking vitamins? When you are in a vitamin network marketing company, the vitamins may be deductible.
• Do you buy groceries? In a food-related company, a good part of your grocery bill may be deductible for market research, even if your family is eating the food.
• Are you giving the kids an allowance? Are your kids ages 7-17? How would you like to pay them for errands around the house, or helpful things they do, then take those payments as an income tax reduction? You can take it a step further and put the money in the bank for them and use it to pay for their living needs, like clothes or sports equipment, etc.

(I am not an accountant nor am I giving you tax advice)

Are you starting to see why all rich people have a business? These are things you will always spend money on. When you have a network marketing business now they become income tax deductions. That alone will increase your cash flow, even if your business does not make money immediately.

(See the post called The Cash Flow Generator in the business category)

Income Tax Deduction - Home Office

Another income tax reduction strategy available to direct sales consultants is the home office deduction. It never ceases to amaze me how many people do not take advantage of this strategy. Even relatively large successful individuals say, “I do not want to send up a red flag.” Or “My accountant won’t let me because it is a red flag.” (I am not a lawyer or accountant, and I am not giving you tax advice.) The government does not create laws just to “catch” people and get them in trouble when someone uses the law as it is written. There are no flagpoles down at the IRS that employees run up red flags on when someone utilizes a rule or tax law correctly. Think about this. When you open a store at the mall or in a shopping center, you will buy toilet paper, floor cleaners, light bulbs, maybe put up a sign, and even wash the windows, take out the trash, pay rent or cut the grass. As a business owner you can deduct all of those from your taxes. This will not put up a red flag because these are business expenses. Everyone can understand that. In your home business, you still have all those expenses affiliated with your business. Only now they are a percentage of your home expenses. The home office deduction recognizes that as a home business owner, you can deduct a percentage of your electric, your gas, your garbage, your telephone, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. This is the home office deduction.

There are steps you must take to be compliant with the IRS, which are not in the scope of this article. Most people think that they are required to show a profit periodically when in fact that is not so. (I am not a lawyer or accountant, and I am not giving you tax advice.) In order to be compliant with the IRS regulations you must:

• Have a business plan
• Generate activity
• Have documentation

The interesting part of those requirements is that they create a circle of success. When you have a plan, you generate activity and, when documented, the process creates income and deductions, which in turn gives you motivation to continue and creates cash flow. The business plan is updated yearly based on your successes and the cycle or circle of success continues.

This article, along with the previously posted article on Generating Cash Flow, could make an awesome opportunity tool. A little education goes a long way when you are focusing on growing a team. The past Generating Cash Flow article focused on network marketing as a business model, coupled with this one to generate immediate changes in a person’s tax requirements, becomes an terrific tool to share with potentials.

The Power-UP For Professional Results home study program includes a IRS-compliant business plan designed by a direct sales expert accountant. The business plan, along with the information on the CD, will set your business up with the necessary income tax reduction strategies. The business plan will give you the momentum to take the deductions you deserve. You will create the success circle of planning, activity and documentation that the IRS is looking for. (I am not a lawyer or accountant, and I am not giving you tax advice.)

All accountants are not direct sales-specific, and therefore may be discouraging you from maximum tax reduction strategies. If you are looking for a new direct sales specific accountant, just call me or drop me an email.

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