As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, my husband and I researched countless opportunities before landing on the one we finally decided on. For years we hesitated to make a move to be our own bosses. I suppose, at the time, some of that was fear of failure. However, a large portion of why we were afraid to move forward with our dream was that the opportunities we looked into somehow didn’t feel right or didn’t seem to fit. To a big degree, it was the free continuing training and mentoring that helped us finally make a decision, but it was also the “team” mentality that our mentors brought to the table that helped “seal the deal” so-to-speak. The comradery that a team offers in and of itself is valuable. But there are far more advantages to that approach in a business than the obvious.
Our team participates in nightly calls Monday through Thursdays and during that time, we accomplish a great deal. We are able to pose questions, get opinions from other business owners and offer input of our own. My husband and I call these valuable phone calls our B.S. sessions—Brain Storming Sessions. And out of those calls, we bring away a feeling of being part of a great company with top-notch people.
Additionally, we bring away beneficial insights as to how to more efficiently run our business, ways to market for low or no cost, ideas of new ways to gain exposure and recommendations for great websites and other information such as books or videos. If a member of our team is done with a particular book or movie, they offer to make it available to other members. That way, we all can share materials with a minimum of investment. We also role play with one team member being a prospect and another being the business owner. This lets us get genuine feedback on what we might say in a particular situation with a potential client.
We discuss important aspects of the company we all are members of—things that separate it from other opportunities out there. This also gives us added value in what we can share with prospects. The members of our team, obviously, all have different backgrounds, come from different places and possess different levels of experience and skills. In a lot of cases, this is just what we need as new team members are coming aboard all the time and it gives them the opportunity to hear many owner’s thoughts and experiences and what has and hasn’t worked for them. It also gives the team members a chance to be exposed to additional uplifting attitudes and serves to reinforce what is important in any small or home-based business.
Each team member pitches in in different areas. Some will offer to speak on an area of marketing they are exceptional at, others will offer ways they have managed to be successful with advertising and still others will lead a call on how the program that we sell has helped them personally. We also discuss co-op marketing opportunities and any of us who want to be a part of it can opt in. This can extend your reach with minimal investment in many areas of marketing. All of the input is priceless to us in our day-to-day operation of our business and we are always happy when we can bring something to the table as well. I should state that these calls are not mandatory in our business. They are strictly on a participate if you want to basis. But there really isn’t a single team member who misses out on those calls barring some emergency or prior important family commitment. We all look forward to them and have come to think of the team members as friends as well.
If you are looking for an opportunity, I highly recommend you choose one that offers this same “team” mentality. If you are already a home business owner, maybe you can suggest this type of participation from others who are working in the same business. It is incalculable in it’s value and presents a fresh mindset to you daily. If you can add this to your home business experience, you will find that being able to touch base with others and share experiences, ideas and approaches, as well as the sense of comradery, is a bonus you will find immeasurable.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Critical Traits To Possess for Success in Your Home-Based Business
As I have mentioned, before I was a home business owner, I was in a completely different industry—Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design software. However, my job was Press Relations Manager and that position required exceptional marketing, sales and promotion skills. Those skills I developed and used in marketing changed over the years (social media, wider internet use, etc), but what I found didn't change, was the key factors required to be successful. See, people who are successful possess certain strengths that they have perfected through their experiences and through knowledge they have accumulated. No matter what market or industry they are in, they get results because they implement those key traits in every aspect of their business. This is no different for your home-based business. When we talked to friends about starting a home business, one friend of mine sent me an email telling me about an adage that uses the acronym "CRAZY" to explain what a person who starts their own business is. But once I read the details of her email, I had to admit I agreed.
C = Creative Thinker
R = Risk Taker
A = Ambitious
Z = Zen-like Focus
Y = Yearns for Independence
I'm okay with that definition. In fact, I have found over the years that successful people in home businesses actually boast three traits that ensure that success.
1) People who find success are consistent. I have written an entire blog entry on this and cannot emphasize enough the importance of consistency in gaining success. You cannot randomly execute your marketing strategy and expect immediate and impressive results. Having been in the press relations career that I was in, I knew that from advertising campaigns in major publications. The rule of thumb was to run no less than 3 months of ads on a campaign. Six months was actually considered a norm, but if you wanted to create brand awareness and motivate people to act on an ad, you had to get yourself in front of them and stay there. That same rule of thumb applies to you and your home-based business. No, you aren't necessarily running advertisements in major publications, but you are marketing yourself through other advertising vehicles including social media, classified ad sites, hosting a website, etc. And just posting a few times and participating erratically on the social sites does not constitute consistency. Don't give up. Every successful company or business are out there—everywhere. They use every means possible to gain exposure. Even if you are implementing a low or no cost marketing campaign (as addressed in a previous blog), you are needing to be consistent in your actions to actually make progress.
2) Successful people are very decisive and act on those decisions. They don't hesitate and doubt their decisions and they base those decisions on research and through trial and error. They possess great self-discipline and are able to move forward on their decisions and don't let the "what ifs" hold them back from their action. When they do take action, if it doesn't result in the type of success they had hoped for, they move on. They don't dwell on that lack of success and they don't use the fear of additional failure as a reason to stop moving forward. On the flip side, those that lack self-discipline in decision making hesitate and then waste time pondering the possible outcome. That gets them nowhere fast and therefore, they are even more discouraged. It's a visious cycle and one that will not rectify itself without changing your decision making and self discipline habits. Those that find success are not fearful of change and trying different ways to market and locate prospects is well within their comfort zone. They do not delay in taking action. They set a plan of action and move forward without delay.
3) Positive attitude and determination are the key traits of successful people as well. This is, actually, the most important of all the traits of a successful business owner. Without these traits, you will not be presenting a desirable opportunity or product or service. That's it. There is no getting around it. People are drawn to the positive and determination shows and reflects in every aspect of your business. A determined person overlooks their fears, avoids playing the "what if I fail" game, and gets up each day ready to begin again. Determination is one of the strongest traits you can possess. It will get you through an overwhelming startup, guide you through lean times and keep you on the path to success. If you don't have determination, you will find yourself questioning your own opportunity. And once you begin to do that, you may as well fold.
Did I always posses these traits? Not by a long shot. In fact, my fear of failure almost kept me in my long time job and I would have missed out on the level of success we have now achieved working for ourselves. But I spent a great deal of time developing and perfecting these traits as I knew if I didn't, I would never make any headway. And my dreams of being a business owner provided me with a drive that allowed me to quash the negative, adopt the positive, set personal goals, achieve consistency and move forward. Would my idea for marketing produce results? Who knows? But if it didn't produce the results I hoped for, I moved on and kept moving on until I found what worked for us.
I should say that if devoting time to perfecting and embracing these traits isn't desirable to you, you may want to rethink the home business thing. It will take effort. You won't achieve long-term success if you don't. But if you are one of those "crazy" people who have made up your mind that you are going to live your dreams and reap the benefits this way of life has to offer, then you are already well on your way there.
C = Creative Thinker
R = Risk Taker
A = Ambitious
Z = Zen-like Focus
Y = Yearns for Independence
I'm okay with that definition. In fact, I have found over the years that successful people in home businesses actually boast three traits that ensure that success.
1) People who find success are consistent. I have written an entire blog entry on this and cannot emphasize enough the importance of consistency in gaining success. You cannot randomly execute your marketing strategy and expect immediate and impressive results. Having been in the press relations career that I was in, I knew that from advertising campaigns in major publications. The rule of thumb was to run no less than 3 months of ads on a campaign. Six months was actually considered a norm, but if you wanted to create brand awareness and motivate people to act on an ad, you had to get yourself in front of them and stay there. That same rule of thumb applies to you and your home-based business. No, you aren't necessarily running advertisements in major publications, but you are marketing yourself through other advertising vehicles including social media, classified ad sites, hosting a website, etc. And just posting a few times and participating erratically on the social sites does not constitute consistency. Don't give up. Every successful company or business are out there—everywhere. They use every means possible to gain exposure. Even if you are implementing a low or no cost marketing campaign (as addressed in a previous blog), you are needing to be consistent in your actions to actually make progress.
2) Successful people are very decisive and act on those decisions. They don't hesitate and doubt their decisions and they base those decisions on research and through trial and error. They possess great self-discipline and are able to move forward on their decisions and don't let the "what ifs" hold them back from their action. When they do take action, if it doesn't result in the type of success they had hoped for, they move on. They don't dwell on that lack of success and they don't use the fear of additional failure as a reason to stop moving forward. On the flip side, those that lack self-discipline in decision making hesitate and then waste time pondering the possible outcome. That gets them nowhere fast and therefore, they are even more discouraged. It's a visious cycle and one that will not rectify itself without changing your decision making and self discipline habits. Those that find success are not fearful of change and trying different ways to market and locate prospects is well within their comfort zone. They do not delay in taking action. They set a plan of action and move forward without delay.
3) Positive attitude and determination are the key traits of successful people as well. This is, actually, the most important of all the traits of a successful business owner. Without these traits, you will not be presenting a desirable opportunity or product or service. That's it. There is no getting around it. People are drawn to the positive and determination shows and reflects in every aspect of your business. A determined person overlooks their fears, avoids playing the "what if I fail" game, and gets up each day ready to begin again. Determination is one of the strongest traits you can possess. It will get you through an overwhelming startup, guide you through lean times and keep you on the path to success. If you don't have determination, you will find yourself questioning your own opportunity. And once you begin to do that, you may as well fold.
Did I always posses these traits? Not by a long shot. In fact, my fear of failure almost kept me in my long time job and I would have missed out on the level of success we have now achieved working for ourselves. But I spent a great deal of time developing and perfecting these traits as I knew if I didn't, I would never make any headway. And my dreams of being a business owner provided me with a drive that allowed me to quash the negative, adopt the positive, set personal goals, achieve consistency and move forward. Would my idea for marketing produce results? Who knows? But if it didn't produce the results I hoped for, I moved on and kept moving on until I found what worked for us.
I should say that if devoting time to perfecting and embracing these traits isn't desirable to you, you may want to rethink the home business thing. It will take effort. You won't achieve long-term success if you don't. But if you are one of those "crazy" people who have made up your mind that you are going to live your dreams and reap the benefits this way of life has to offer, then you are already well on your way there.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Home Business Opportunities Offer Way More Than The Obvious
If you are considering a home business opportunity, or even if you have just started one, you may want to consider exactly what that decision would afford you. There are the obvious advantages to working from home—you control your own income, you choose your own hours, you don't have the rush hour traffic, you avoid the fear of layoffs or cut backs, you are your own boss. For sure those reasons alone are enough to spur someone into action who has even dreamt of being able to be a business owner. But what I've realized is that the home business venture proffers many more bonuses than most people realize.
Now that we have joined the ranks of the self-employed, I have found that I'm almost overwhelmed—although in nothing but a good way—at what this way of life has to offer. It has brought about a complete self-examination that has created a life without boundaries—literally. And anyone who is successfully running their own home business will be finding no borders where there used to be an abundance of them.
Consider just a few...
Chance to hone your time management skills- This is a great one. You didn't have time in a traditional job to manage your personal life effectively, I'm sure. A job dictates the hours you have left to do the things you need to do and want to do. Therefore, your after work hours are spelled out for you, purely out of necessity. I used to find there weren't enough hours in the day. Come weekends, it was chores, errands and maybe some time left over (if I wasn't too tired) to indulge in some personal time. Now, I'm finding it a welcomed challenge to decide which hours make the most sense for our business, which should be spent doing the things that are necessary and which are to be spent exploring what life has to offer.
Become more physically fit- This was a huge plus for me. Although I got up at the crack of dawn to make sure I exercised before showering and going to work, now I have found time to actually set up a complete workout plan. I combine the things that interest me (speed walking, some running and some yoga) and feel better than I have in years. Knowing I wasn't "on the clock" to be out the door to go to work has allowed me the time to take better care of myself. Even if you just add a brisk walk to your daily routine, it's a big difference in your health.
Take more short trips- This has been a biggie. Sure, you always had vacation time coming from work. Maybe paid, maybe not. But you had to request time off and then hope that the okay came through. And I was always torn as to whether to use my vacation time to travel to be with family at holidays, or to go somewhere new and exciting. Working at home, those mid-week visits to family and friends, or to a beach cottage, or even to an event (such as the Daytona 500 that was just here) are completely doable. And I don't have to worry whether another colleague happened to ask for the same time slot off.
Learn- Okay, so before you say this doesn't sound like fun, I have to tell you it is. I have been able to read more and watch more programs on the Science Channel or Discovery Channel and have actually spent a great deal of time online reading informative articles. A friend of mine who entered the home business arena about 4 years ago actually took some courses at a local community college that she had always wanted to take. It opens up the world to anything you want to discover to be able to set your own hours.
Do things you never had time to do but always wanted to- This is my favorite. Grow that herb garden, volunteer somewhere, join a book club, go to local plays and theater, try new foods and methods of cooking, coach a team or join a team....the list is endless. But the point is that without that time constraint that had us running inside to let the dogs out and then get supper on the table, we now have unlimited options to try things we only dreamed of before. We walk our dogs in the most pleasant part of the day and have quality time with them. That makes me so happy, that I am a better person. We also have 3 local flea and farmer's markets we never went to. Come the weekend, we told ourselves we have to fight the crowds and unless we got an early start, everything would be picked over. So we'd talk ourselves out of going. Now, we have even struck up a friendship with a gentleman at a local produce market and have learned a great many ways to fix vegetables and fruits than we never would have thought of. We also choose the mornings when most deliveries arrive.
Connect with old friends- This was one that I found a pleasant surprise. I was never one to spend much time on Facebook, Classmates.com, etc. Every now and then when I could sneak in a couple minutes I'd jump on line. Now, because our business grows through social media, we have connected with old friends and even gone to visit some of them. What a great feeling to have time to do that.
Live where you want to live- Yeah...that's right. And we do now. We live 1/2 the year in Florida (winters) and 1/2 at Lake Powell in Arizona. Portability changes everything. Instead of living where the jobs are or where the work is, the mobility that a home business offers opens up the world to you and your family. Since it probably only matters that you have internet service and a phone, try out new places. A friend of ours with their own home business actually retired from teaching at 35 and moved to a warm climate. She no longer had to live where there were openings for teachers. We love meeting new people and this affords us the opportunity to really see two drastically different parts of the U.S., while reaping the best from each place.
Improve your money-management skills- I, for one, didn't have any. Seriously. I counted on my husband to get our checks deposited and since he had an accounting system set up to auto-pay our bills, I never gave it a thought. I knew what are checks would be each month because in a traditional job, for the most part, you know what you will earn. Now, although we are earning more, it isn't a set paycheck and I have made it a point to take advantage of the business opportunity we bought into as it is based on a wealth and financial development product that offers advice, education and tips for making our money work for us. Since I took the time to learn what is involved in money management, I actually feel more secure than I did and it's a great feeling to know I'm making the most of what we earn.
Slow down and enjoy life- This is, by far, the most rewarding of all the bonuses that being a home business owner grants us. No more ironing my work clothes the night before, getting to bed early so I'm prepared for the rush the next day will be, running home (after traffic) to feed the dogs and ourselves and then doing the things that need doing before we turn in yet again. Now, we take life day-by-day, utilizing the time we have in the way that works best for our business and ourselves. I take advantage of the great weather when it's here and I often meet interesting people just running errands. My mindset is different and I project that.
We wouldn't trade our lives with anyone. We have found that the benefits of our home business are far more abundant than we originally told ourselves they would be. With a home business, it's a whole new world out there—and you could actually have time to explore it!
Now that we have joined the ranks of the self-employed, I have found that I'm almost overwhelmed—although in nothing but a good way—at what this way of life has to offer. It has brought about a complete self-examination that has created a life without boundaries—literally. And anyone who is successfully running their own home business will be finding no borders where there used to be an abundance of them.
Consider just a few...
Chance to hone your time management skills- This is a great one. You didn't have time in a traditional job to manage your personal life effectively, I'm sure. A job dictates the hours you have left to do the things you need to do and want to do. Therefore, your after work hours are spelled out for you, purely out of necessity. I used to find there weren't enough hours in the day. Come weekends, it was chores, errands and maybe some time left over (if I wasn't too tired) to indulge in some personal time. Now, I'm finding it a welcomed challenge to decide which hours make the most sense for our business, which should be spent doing the things that are necessary and which are to be spent exploring what life has to offer.
Become more physically fit- This was a huge plus for me. Although I got up at the crack of dawn to make sure I exercised before showering and going to work, now I have found time to actually set up a complete workout plan. I combine the things that interest me (speed walking, some running and some yoga) and feel better than I have in years. Knowing I wasn't "on the clock" to be out the door to go to work has allowed me the time to take better care of myself. Even if you just add a brisk walk to your daily routine, it's a big difference in your health.
Take more short trips- This has been a biggie. Sure, you always had vacation time coming from work. Maybe paid, maybe not. But you had to request time off and then hope that the okay came through. And I was always torn as to whether to use my vacation time to travel to be with family at holidays, or to go somewhere new and exciting. Working at home, those mid-week visits to family and friends, or to a beach cottage, or even to an event (such as the Daytona 500 that was just here) are completely doable. And I don't have to worry whether another colleague happened to ask for the same time slot off.
Learn- Okay, so before you say this doesn't sound like fun, I have to tell you it is. I have been able to read more and watch more programs on the Science Channel or Discovery Channel and have actually spent a great deal of time online reading informative articles. A friend of mine who entered the home business arena about 4 years ago actually took some courses at a local community college that she had always wanted to take. It opens up the world to anything you want to discover to be able to set your own hours.
Do things you never had time to do but always wanted to- This is my favorite. Grow that herb garden, volunteer somewhere, join a book club, go to local plays and theater, try new foods and methods of cooking, coach a team or join a team....the list is endless. But the point is that without that time constraint that had us running inside to let the dogs out and then get supper on the table, we now have unlimited options to try things we only dreamed of before. We walk our dogs in the most pleasant part of the day and have quality time with them. That makes me so happy, that I am a better person. We also have 3 local flea and farmer's markets we never went to. Come the weekend, we told ourselves we have to fight the crowds and unless we got an early start, everything would be picked over. So we'd talk ourselves out of going. Now, we have even struck up a friendship with a gentleman at a local produce market and have learned a great many ways to fix vegetables and fruits than we never would have thought of. We also choose the mornings when most deliveries arrive.
Connect with old friends- This was one that I found a pleasant surprise. I was never one to spend much time on Facebook, Classmates.com, etc. Every now and then when I could sneak in a couple minutes I'd jump on line. Now, because our business grows through social media, we have connected with old friends and even gone to visit some of them. What a great feeling to have time to do that.
Live where you want to live- Yeah...that's right. And we do now. We live 1/2 the year in Florida (winters) and 1/2 at Lake Powell in Arizona. Portability changes everything. Instead of living where the jobs are or where the work is, the mobility that a home business offers opens up the world to you and your family. Since it probably only matters that you have internet service and a phone, try out new places. A friend of ours with their own home business actually retired from teaching at 35 and moved to a warm climate. She no longer had to live where there were openings for teachers. We love meeting new people and this affords us the opportunity to really see two drastically different parts of the U.S., while reaping the best from each place.
Improve your money-management skills- I, for one, didn't have any. Seriously. I counted on my husband to get our checks deposited and since he had an accounting system set up to auto-pay our bills, I never gave it a thought. I knew what are checks would be each month because in a traditional job, for the most part, you know what you will earn. Now, although we are earning more, it isn't a set paycheck and I have made it a point to take advantage of the business opportunity we bought into as it is based on a wealth and financial development product that offers advice, education and tips for making our money work for us. Since I took the time to learn what is involved in money management, I actually feel more secure than I did and it's a great feeling to know I'm making the most of what we earn.
Slow down and enjoy life- This is, by far, the most rewarding of all the bonuses that being a home business owner grants us. No more ironing my work clothes the night before, getting to bed early so I'm prepared for the rush the next day will be, running home (after traffic) to feed the dogs and ourselves and then doing the things that need doing before we turn in yet again. Now, we take life day-by-day, utilizing the time we have in the way that works best for our business and ourselves. I take advantage of the great weather when it's here and I often meet interesting people just running errands. My mindset is different and I project that.
We wouldn't trade our lives with anyone. We have found that the benefits of our home business are far more abundant than we originally told ourselves they would be. With a home business, it's a whole new world out there—and you could actually have time to explore it!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Business opportunity? Overcome Your Fear With an Informed Decision
I've had a number of emails this past week in response to one of our blog posts ("BUSINESS: ASK NOT WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU….BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT!") and wanted to take the time to address the question that I actually, also get from many prospects contacting us in response to our opportunity. The question, really, can be asked in many ways, but it always translates into the same basic inquiry. "How do I know if it's a good opportunity for me?"
Not every opportunity is right for everyone. And only you can decide if it is something you can believe in and stick with and do what it takes to make a go of it. Because regardless of what opportunity someone decides to go with, it ultimately is up to them to make it successful. Are some opportunities "set up for success" more than others? Probably. Based on the product or service, some opportunities, in some ways really, will sell themselves. If people are looking for what you are offering, then they will come to you if you market successfully. If, however, the product or service you are offering is not so mainstream in it's value, it will be a little more difficult to reach your prospective customers.
When looking for the suitable opportunity for you, there are a number of key questions to ask yourself: Do YOU believe it's a quality product or service that you would find of value? Can you see yourself representing that product or service with enthusiasm—day in and day out? Will you really be offering others a good opportunity when you, in turn, are prospecting? Because if any of those are answered with a "no"—or even a "maybe"—you need to wonder what others will see in what you have to offer.
If however, the product or service does hold value and does fill a need for the general population (and you yourself can see the benefit it holds), then more than likely you will find success. In our business, it happens to be a product that offers a return on investment to people. By utilizing the program, they can more than pay for their investment. Additionally, with their purchase, they obtain the business opportunity, so for us it was like getting the opportunity for free. No brainer. But do remember, we spent many years checking into various businesses out there and actually wrote a checklist that allowed us to gauge the "value" in each opportunity we were considering. We spent time "investigating" so-to-speak through a variety of methods:
- The main corporate website
- Google/internet
- Other people's websites who were already marketing the business
- Forums
- Blogs
Let me start by saying that each of these ways in which we researched an opportunity was enlightening. If the main corporate website seemed "hidden" at all, or never really came right out and said what the opportunity was or offered, then we ruled it out immediately. If a company is buoyant enough, they will not see any reason to not disclose everything to you. They should have no problem letting you know what you would be doing and what product or service you'd be representing. That check alone will rule out businesses that may not be on the up-and-up. The individuals already in the business should have websites that are professional and that don't have questionable content. They should also be up-to-date and informative. Testimonials should play a role in their marketing and information so that you know there are others out there and that they have been successful in the venture.
Forums are another way to get feedback on an opportunity. Keep in mind, however, that you get all kinds of people on them and you should get more than one opinion on a business. Often times, you may read an entry from someone who never even "worked" their business once they bought in and therefore is NOT a good judge of the potential that opportunity has to offer. At one point, we considered a business opportunity which was difficult to explain to people in its value. Not that it wasn't a good product. But people didn't really understand how the product would benefit them short and long term and we found ourselves wondering if we were capable of marketing it both effectively and affordably. We felt that it may be more difficult to find a "target" customer. So although the product and company were respectable, it concerned us that we wouldn't have what it took to move forward in our efforts.
If you are one of those people who are tired of job cut backs and layoffs, less than stellar salary, and security now and in the future for you and your family and really want to make a change, I applaud you. That is the first step to finding financial independence and success. Motivation and consistency will carry you to success and in deciding to make a change, you have conquered one of the biggest hurdles—fear of failure. You will need to make your move into your new role as "business owner" with confidence and a positive attitude or you will not get far. And it will need to be a constant in your life. Some people are very enthusiastic initially, and then tire quickly of having to work their business day in and day out. But here is where you stop and ask yourself—"what is the alternative?" See, in making the move to business owner, you need to manage your time, do the things that need to be done on a daily basis and KEEP DOING THEM. You would have to in a job, only it would be for someone else's benefit financially. You would have to work everyday for a job, but it would be the hours someone else determined were required. You would have to work everyday in a job, but you would be limited in your income based on what that employer saw as your worth. Your own business changes that, and so when people fear failure, they are really fearing themselves and what they believe their ability to stay out there and active in the business is.
A small or home-based business—without question—IS the way to financial independence. What you do with it is up to you. We now put in about 20 hours a week (vs. 40 with our employer) and make each day a new challenge. We wake up and start each day knowing that any and all effort we put in is for US—and those whose lives we change through our opportunity. That keeps us motivated and excited. We don't waste time on fear. Because at the end of the day, it is true...you have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Not every opportunity is right for everyone. And only you can decide if it is something you can believe in and stick with and do what it takes to make a go of it. Because regardless of what opportunity someone decides to go with, it ultimately is up to them to make it successful. Are some opportunities "set up for success" more than others? Probably. Based on the product or service, some opportunities, in some ways really, will sell themselves. If people are looking for what you are offering, then they will come to you if you market successfully. If, however, the product or service you are offering is not so mainstream in it's value, it will be a little more difficult to reach your prospective customers.
When looking for the suitable opportunity for you, there are a number of key questions to ask yourself: Do YOU believe it's a quality product or service that you would find of value? Can you see yourself representing that product or service with enthusiasm—day in and day out? Will you really be offering others a good opportunity when you, in turn, are prospecting? Because if any of those are answered with a "no"—or even a "maybe"—you need to wonder what others will see in what you have to offer.
If however, the product or service does hold value and does fill a need for the general population (and you yourself can see the benefit it holds), then more than likely you will find success. In our business, it happens to be a product that offers a return on investment to people. By utilizing the program, they can more than pay for their investment. Additionally, with their purchase, they obtain the business opportunity, so for us it was like getting the opportunity for free. No brainer. But do remember, we spent many years checking into various businesses out there and actually wrote a checklist that allowed us to gauge the "value" in each opportunity we were considering. We spent time "investigating" so-to-speak through a variety of methods:
- The main corporate website
- Google/internet
- Other people's websites who were already marketing the business
- Forums
- Blogs
Let me start by saying that each of these ways in which we researched an opportunity was enlightening. If the main corporate website seemed "hidden" at all, or never really came right out and said what the opportunity was or offered, then we ruled it out immediately. If a company is buoyant enough, they will not see any reason to not disclose everything to you. They should have no problem letting you know what you would be doing and what product or service you'd be representing. That check alone will rule out businesses that may not be on the up-and-up. The individuals already in the business should have websites that are professional and that don't have questionable content. They should also be up-to-date and informative. Testimonials should play a role in their marketing and information so that you know there are others out there and that they have been successful in the venture.
Forums are another way to get feedback on an opportunity. Keep in mind, however, that you get all kinds of people on them and you should get more than one opinion on a business. Often times, you may read an entry from someone who never even "worked" their business once they bought in and therefore is NOT a good judge of the potential that opportunity has to offer. At one point, we considered a business opportunity which was difficult to explain to people in its value. Not that it wasn't a good product. But people didn't really understand how the product would benefit them short and long term and we found ourselves wondering if we were capable of marketing it both effectively and affordably. We felt that it may be more difficult to find a "target" customer. So although the product and company were respectable, it concerned us that we wouldn't have what it took to move forward in our efforts.
If you are one of those people who are tired of job cut backs and layoffs, less than stellar salary, and security now and in the future for you and your family and really want to make a change, I applaud you. That is the first step to finding financial independence and success. Motivation and consistency will carry you to success and in deciding to make a change, you have conquered one of the biggest hurdles—fear of failure. You will need to make your move into your new role as "business owner" with confidence and a positive attitude or you will not get far. And it will need to be a constant in your life. Some people are very enthusiastic initially, and then tire quickly of having to work their business day in and day out. But here is where you stop and ask yourself—"what is the alternative?" See, in making the move to business owner, you need to manage your time, do the things that need to be done on a daily basis and KEEP DOING THEM. You would have to in a job, only it would be for someone else's benefit financially. You would have to work everyday for a job, but it would be the hours someone else determined were required. You would have to work everyday in a job, but you would be limited in your income based on what that employer saw as your worth. Your own business changes that, and so when people fear failure, they are really fearing themselves and what they believe their ability to stay out there and active in the business is.
A small or home-based business—without question—IS the way to financial independence. What you do with it is up to you. We now put in about 20 hours a week (vs. 40 with our employer) and make each day a new challenge. We wake up and start each day knowing that any and all effort we put in is for US—and those whose lives we change through our opportunity. That keeps us motivated and excited. We don't waste time on fear. Because at the end of the day, it is true...you have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Monday, February 15, 2010
In Business, Put the "Best" You Forward For Success
I was on a team call the other night for our business, and a discussion was started about how important social media is to small businesses and home-based businesses. And I believe that....I've made that known in previous blog posts. However, what some of us don't realize is that unless we share the positive, no one will want to be a part of whatever it is we're doing, no matter how unmatched the opportunity we have to offer is.
I have an acquaintance I've known for some years and she is active on most of the social media sites—Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. But when I read and reflect on her posts, I am not "drawn" to her or her business. Why? Because her posts actually include a great deal of negative. She posts about things such as how bad the weather is, how she is so tired, how she is dreading a coming dentist appointment, how people are sometimes irritating. And I have to ask myself what exactly she feels anyone would be interested in when it came to taking her up on her business opportunity. I know that most everyone I know would avoid responding to those kinds of posts.
We all have bad days. But they are what you make them. As any of you know, we create our own reality. How we respond to certain situations, certain instances, and even certain people, will determine the reality of what they are. We build the kind of reality we want by seeking the positive in things that happen in our lives. And those positive things are the things we need to share. No one can benefit from negative. They can, however, benefit from the way you handle things and approach things and how you are able to put a positive spin on what would otherwise be a negative in your life.
The most important thing in any marketing for your business is to always put your "best" you forward. People, by nature, are drawn to others who have a desirable outlook on life and what it brings. I am. And I find myself avoiding that acquaintance who always sees the dismal and disappointment.
We actually took some personal development courses and I highly suggest that anyone in their own business does the same. It gives you clarity on what is most important and what will help ensure your success. In utilizing those personal development skills, you can reflect on exactly what you want to demonstrate in your business—prosperity, success, lack of stress, the power to control your own income and work hours, and the benefits of being a business owner. But whether you do or do not take personal development courses, think, and think again, and read again—anything you intend to post. Ask yourself how you would respond to a person or post that said what you are considering posting. You will know—if you view your post consideration from another person's perspective—whether or not it is something that is appropriate, beneficial or representative of the "you" that you want out there. And most importantly, whether you would be drawn to YOU.
I have an acquaintance I've known for some years and she is active on most of the social media sites—Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. But when I read and reflect on her posts, I am not "drawn" to her or her business. Why? Because her posts actually include a great deal of negative. She posts about things such as how bad the weather is, how she is so tired, how she is dreading a coming dentist appointment, how people are sometimes irritating. And I have to ask myself what exactly she feels anyone would be interested in when it came to taking her up on her business opportunity. I know that most everyone I know would avoid responding to those kinds of posts.
We all have bad days. But they are what you make them. As any of you know, we create our own reality. How we respond to certain situations, certain instances, and even certain people, will determine the reality of what they are. We build the kind of reality we want by seeking the positive in things that happen in our lives. And those positive things are the things we need to share. No one can benefit from negative. They can, however, benefit from the way you handle things and approach things and how you are able to put a positive spin on what would otherwise be a negative in your life.
The most important thing in any marketing for your business is to always put your "best" you forward. People, by nature, are drawn to others who have a desirable outlook on life and what it brings. I am. And I find myself avoiding that acquaintance who always sees the dismal and disappointment.
We actually took some personal development courses and I highly suggest that anyone in their own business does the same. It gives you clarity on what is most important and what will help ensure your success. In utilizing those personal development skills, you can reflect on exactly what you want to demonstrate in your business—prosperity, success, lack of stress, the power to control your own income and work hours, and the benefits of being a business owner. But whether you do or do not take personal development courses, think, and think again, and read again—anything you intend to post. Ask yourself how you would respond to a person or post that said what you are considering posting. You will know—if you view your post consideration from another person's perspective—whether or not it is something that is appropriate, beneficial or representative of the "you" that you want out there. And most importantly, whether you would be drawn to YOU.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
BUSINESS: TAKE A LITTLE TIME EACH DAY TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK
A next-door-neighbor of mine when I was growing up was an elderly man who sat on his screened porch and offered up wise advice to any youngster who wanted to hear it. I liked going over there. He talked to me as though I were an adult in that he offered good advice on being a good person—of any age. He was popular with neighbors, and when his wife passed away, there was no shortage of people stopping in and trying to help him through his loss.
I think back on that neighbor, and have throughout my adult life. I believe he instilled something in me that drove me to lead the kind of life I now lead. I stop when I hear an ambulance or siren and send out good thoughts that everything will work out. I do this without thinking as he suggested. It comes natural. I visit old school teachers that made a difference in my life whenever I can and I let them know they had an influence. I take time out to visit with my parents as count my blessings everyday that I still have them and that they are the type of loving parents they are. And I allow my children to be who they need to be—their own person—without judging them. I carried all those things away with me from that neighbor. And I will forever be grateful for those teachings.
In business, I have made it a habit to take time out from my day to do at least one thing that benefits only someone else. I try to vary what I do and I go to bed each night knowing that I have contributed—even if in a small way—to the happiness or well-being of another person. I post ads about dogs that are at shelters and are having trouble finding homes, I visit a couple older people I know who have no real family and share time just talking with them, I offer to shop for people who might find it hard to get out and about, or I volunteer at a no-kill shelter. Any of those things—and countless others—give me an uplifting feeling, and when I return to my business dealings, I am renewed and am feeling good about who I am and what I am capable of.
Sometimes, the simple act of doing something other than pursuing your own success can actually help in bringing that success about. When you are confident in the type of person you are and what you contribute to the world, it reflects in everything you do. Pick up trash, walk in a marathon that benefits a cause, sort through your possessions and donate what is not being used. And doing those things that are of benefit to others and the fact that you made a difference will make a difference in you, your business, and those you meet.
I think back on that neighbor, and have throughout my adult life. I believe he instilled something in me that drove me to lead the kind of life I now lead. I stop when I hear an ambulance or siren and send out good thoughts that everything will work out. I do this without thinking as he suggested. It comes natural. I visit old school teachers that made a difference in my life whenever I can and I let them know they had an influence. I take time out to visit with my parents as count my blessings everyday that I still have them and that they are the type of loving parents they are. And I allow my children to be who they need to be—their own person—without judging them. I carried all those things away with me from that neighbor. And I will forever be grateful for those teachings.
In business, I have made it a habit to take time out from my day to do at least one thing that benefits only someone else. I try to vary what I do and I go to bed each night knowing that I have contributed—even if in a small way—to the happiness or well-being of another person. I post ads about dogs that are at shelters and are having trouble finding homes, I visit a couple older people I know who have no real family and share time just talking with them, I offer to shop for people who might find it hard to get out and about, or I volunteer at a no-kill shelter. Any of those things—and countless others—give me an uplifting feeling, and when I return to my business dealings, I am renewed and am feeling good about who I am and what I am capable of.
Sometimes, the simple act of doing something other than pursuing your own success can actually help in bringing that success about. When you are confident in the type of person you are and what you contribute to the world, it reflects in everything you do. Pick up trash, walk in a marathon that benefits a cause, sort through your possessions and donate what is not being used. And doing those things that are of benefit to others and the fact that you made a difference will make a difference in you, your business, and those you meet.
Monday, February 8, 2010
BUSINESS: UTILIZE LOW/NO-COST MARKETING TO GET STARTED
I have some people contact us in regard to our blogs and success tips that are either considering an opportunity or who have recently bought into a business opportunity. Their concern is how to get started now that they have make the financial commitment to own their own business. In a lot of cases, they have used what savings they have remaining in order to make the change to their life and I applaud their belief in themselves and in their opportunity. However, they now want to know how to move forward with limited funds so that they can begin to generate leads and prospects in order to start earning money that will allow them to market to their full potential. There ARE ways. And we highly recommend they start with these low and no-cost marketing techniques so that they are in a “waiting” mode and not able to get up and running while their motivation is high.
We started out in a similar way. Keep in mind, that most everyone who is new to home based business has a “story” about what brought them to this way of life. We have children who are grown, yes, and out of the nest so-to-speak, and believe me when I say that we are still helping them financially. Whether it be for their college tuition or to help them pay an exorbitant heating bill, we are not done by any stretch. And the fear that we would not be able to offer that help if we put all of our funds into marketing, forced us to look for multiple, effective ways to achieve that exposure without breaking the bank.
Let me start by saying DO NOT underestimate the power of social media. I know you read everywhere how important social media has become. With a little time investment—versus money investment—you can meet countless people who are looking for ways to change their lives and financial situation. Mind you, they don’t want to be marketed to per se. But starting communications with people through Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, alone, allows you to take part in conversations in which you can offer informations in bits and pieces and you will find people inquiring as to what you do and wanting to be in your place—changing their situation.
There are books out there available used on Amazon.com that offer you easy instruction on how to get started on all of the social sites. They show you how to sign up, layout your page or profile and how to effectively market using those sites. “Twitter Power” by Joel Comm and “Facebook Marketing” by Steven Holzner were invaluable to us. Both books offer advice for everyone from beginners to advanced social media site users. They are only a few dollars bought used and were an indispensable investment. Also, bookmark the website http://mashable.com/ as this website is phenomenal in it’s instructional and informational articles related to social marketing. I made sure I subscribed to their feeds and learned a great deal about what was and wasn’t acceptable, as well as what was effective in social media marketing.
Also, blog. Blogging will let you enter the unlimited family of other bloggers out there. If you aren’t comfortable blogging right away, go to popular blog sites: Blogger, WordPress, Technorati, Posterous, and subscribe to other people’s blogs that seem to “speak” to you. From those blogs, you will see the wide variety of ways that people reach people through those blogs. Comment on blogs. Become a part of the subscribers community and meet others who are searching for ways to market as you are.
And lastly, and also important, is to take advantage of ALL the free classified ad sites out there. There are scores of them. Just utilize Google by searching for “free classified ads” and you will be presented with a plethora of sites to choose from, including most importantly, Craigslist. In starting your business marketing through these no/low-cost methods, you will be able to get started and employ the leads to gain financial success and then can move forward with other options. These methods proved to help us get a start and obtain leads that lead to sales which lead to marketing funds to expand our reach.
We started out in a similar way. Keep in mind, that most everyone who is new to home based business has a “story” about what brought them to this way of life. We have children who are grown, yes, and out of the nest so-to-speak, and believe me when I say that we are still helping them financially. Whether it be for their college tuition or to help them pay an exorbitant heating bill, we are not done by any stretch. And the fear that we would not be able to offer that help if we put all of our funds into marketing, forced us to look for multiple, effective ways to achieve that exposure without breaking the bank.
Let me start by saying DO NOT underestimate the power of social media. I know you read everywhere how important social media has become. With a little time investment—versus money investment—you can meet countless people who are looking for ways to change their lives and financial situation. Mind you, they don’t want to be marketed to per se. But starting communications with people through Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, alone, allows you to take part in conversations in which you can offer informations in bits and pieces and you will find people inquiring as to what you do and wanting to be in your place—changing their situation.
There are books out there available used on Amazon.com that offer you easy instruction on how to get started on all of the social sites. They show you how to sign up, layout your page or profile and how to effectively market using those sites. “Twitter Power” by Joel Comm and “Facebook Marketing” by Steven Holzner were invaluable to us. Both books offer advice for everyone from beginners to advanced social media site users. They are only a few dollars bought used and were an indispensable investment. Also, bookmark the website http://mashable.com/ as this website is phenomenal in it’s instructional and informational articles related to social marketing. I made sure I subscribed to their feeds and learned a great deal about what was and wasn’t acceptable, as well as what was effective in social media marketing.
Also, blog. Blogging will let you enter the unlimited family of other bloggers out there. If you aren’t comfortable blogging right away, go to popular blog sites: Blogger, WordPress, Technorati, Posterous, and subscribe to other people’s blogs that seem to “speak” to you. From those blogs, you will see the wide variety of ways that people reach people through those blogs. Comment on blogs. Become a part of the subscribers community and meet others who are searching for ways to market as you are.
And lastly, and also important, is to take advantage of ALL the free classified ad sites out there. There are scores of them. Just utilize Google by searching for “free classified ads” and you will be presented with a plethora of sites to choose from, including most importantly, Craigslist. In starting your business marketing through these no/low-cost methods, you will be able to get started and employ the leads to gain financial success and then can move forward with other options. These methods proved to help us get a start and obtain leads that lead to sales which lead to marketing funds to expand our reach.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Honesty in Business: Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say
When checking out business opportunities that would allow us to leave our long-term jobs and become part of the self-employed, we found a lot of people out there selling opportunities. When asked, some of them would never quite answer us directly on what their opportunity consisted of. Answers were indirect, and it was actually difficult to pinpoint exactly what we would be doing with the business.
Other people would present their opportunity to us with all kinds of figures being thrown out about earnings and what we would definitely be able to bring in financially. Some of them talked about how it was a guaranteed income amount. No...we didn't believe it. See, we know that based on an individual's drive and ambition, the number of hours they put in, the type of marketing they did and their experience level with the internet would make it almost impossible to quote us real figures.
We do tell people an average income that people in our industry are making. No...everyone doesn't earn that—a large number of people make way more. But we don't present to people the upper end income amounts as "the norm". We want them to know what they can do realistically and then we allow them to listen to testimonials and read information from other people who are doing the same business we are.
When someone is inquiring about your opportunity, it is the best policy—hands down—to level with them about what is involved in becoming successful at it. We actually tell them about what our day consists of. We tell them how much time we put in on placing ads, or posting on sites, on returning calls, on meeting people and talking with them about the business, and also about the amount of training we participate in. It gives them a real view of what they would need to do to achieve the success we have achieved. We want them to realize that unless they are willing to do the same amount of work and put in the same effort, we cannot guarantee that they will make a go of it.
We have had some people inquire about our opportunity and then verbalize their objection to participating on team calls (an hour a night, Monday through Thursday) as they want their nights as their own. To be honest, we tell them they don't have to participate, but as I've said before—especially when starting out—you should take advantage of any and all training available, especially when it's free and with like-minded people who are doing what you are doing. So we don't hesitate to tell them exactly that. The ideas and input we garner from those calls is priceless. We learn from others what has worked or not and also exchange materials that less us further our education in the market. Invaluable!
What some people don't realize is that a home business is work. Plain and simple. It is not just sitting at home and hoping people find you and what you have to offer. It's also not possible to be really successful unless you fully understand your product or service AND the opportunity it provides. Just spending a little time learning those things will get you everywhere. To be able to intelligently discuss those things with a prospect is of the utmost importance.
We never promise people that if they decide to go with our opportunity, they will become rich overnight and that anyone and everyone will buy from them and will take them up on what they have to offer. It isn't true. And I don't care what any opportunity out there claims, it is not the truth. Not every opportunity is right for everyone and, again, based on the commitment they have they either will or will not make a go of it.
Home businesses are an unbelievable option for many people. If you have time management skills, you can become successful putting in part time hours. You don't have the traffic to worry about, you don't have to have an extensive work wardrobe, you don't have to spend money on gas and you don't have to punch a timeclock. You make your own schedule and determine which hours make the most sense for you. But they are not for everyone. And anyone who tells you that your opportunity will be "snatched" up and make you rich without working is lying to you. Those people out there with no motivation will more than likely fail. If you think about it, those unmotivated people are the ones that usually are layed off first, or stay in a dead end job and just accept their fate, although that fate is of their own making.
My husband and I are ambitious people. There is no question about that. I pride myself on my work ethic and taught those things to our children. If you aren't really willing to work, then things are not going to magically come to you. However, if you are willing to replicate the actions of those that ARE successful at the opportunity you are considering, you will find yourself in the same place—enjoying success.
Other people would present their opportunity to us with all kinds of figures being thrown out about earnings and what we would definitely be able to bring in financially. Some of them talked about how it was a guaranteed income amount. No...we didn't believe it. See, we know that based on an individual's drive and ambition, the number of hours they put in, the type of marketing they did and their experience level with the internet would make it almost impossible to quote us real figures.
We do tell people an average income that people in our industry are making. No...everyone doesn't earn that—a large number of people make way more. But we don't present to people the upper end income amounts as "the norm". We want them to know what they can do realistically and then we allow them to listen to testimonials and read information from other people who are doing the same business we are.
When someone is inquiring about your opportunity, it is the best policy—hands down—to level with them about what is involved in becoming successful at it. We actually tell them about what our day consists of. We tell them how much time we put in on placing ads, or posting on sites, on returning calls, on meeting people and talking with them about the business, and also about the amount of training we participate in. It gives them a real view of what they would need to do to achieve the success we have achieved. We want them to realize that unless they are willing to do the same amount of work and put in the same effort, we cannot guarantee that they will make a go of it.
We have had some people inquire about our opportunity and then verbalize their objection to participating on team calls (an hour a night, Monday through Thursday) as they want their nights as their own. To be honest, we tell them they don't have to participate, but as I've said before—especially when starting out—you should take advantage of any and all training available, especially when it's free and with like-minded people who are doing what you are doing. So we don't hesitate to tell them exactly that. The ideas and input we garner from those calls is priceless. We learn from others what has worked or not and also exchange materials that less us further our education in the market. Invaluable!
What some people don't realize is that a home business is work. Plain and simple. It is not just sitting at home and hoping people find you and what you have to offer. It's also not possible to be really successful unless you fully understand your product or service AND the opportunity it provides. Just spending a little time learning those things will get you everywhere. To be able to intelligently discuss those things with a prospect is of the utmost importance.
We never promise people that if they decide to go with our opportunity, they will become rich overnight and that anyone and everyone will buy from them and will take them up on what they have to offer. It isn't true. And I don't care what any opportunity out there claims, it is not the truth. Not every opportunity is right for everyone and, again, based on the commitment they have they either will or will not make a go of it.
Home businesses are an unbelievable option for many people. If you have time management skills, you can become successful putting in part time hours. You don't have the traffic to worry about, you don't have to have an extensive work wardrobe, you don't have to spend money on gas and you don't have to punch a timeclock. You make your own schedule and determine which hours make the most sense for you. But they are not for everyone. And anyone who tells you that your opportunity will be "snatched" up and make you rich without working is lying to you. Those people out there with no motivation will more than likely fail. If you think about it, those unmotivated people are the ones that usually are layed off first, or stay in a dead end job and just accept their fate, although that fate is of their own making.
My husband and I are ambitious people. There is no question about that. I pride myself on my work ethic and taught those things to our children. If you aren't really willing to work, then things are not going to magically come to you. However, if you are willing to replicate the actions of those that ARE successful at the opportunity you are considering, you will find yourself in the same place—enjoying success.
Honesty in Business: Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say
When checking out business opportunities that would allow us to leave our long-term jobs and become part of the self-employed, we found a lot of people out there selling opportunities. When asked, some of them would never quite answer us directly on what their opportunity consisted of. Answers were indirect, and it was actually difficult to pinpoint exactly what we would be doing with the business.
Other people would present their opportunity to us with all kinds of figures being thrown out about earnings and what we would definitely be able to bring in financially. Some of them talked about how it was a guaranteed income amount. No...we didn't believe it. See, we know that based on an individual's drive and ambition, the number of hours they put in, the type of marketing they did and their experience level with the internet would make it almost impossible to quote us real figures.
We do tell people an average income that people in our industry are making. No...everyone doesn't earn that—a large number of people make way more. But we don't present to people the upper end income amounts as "the norm". We want them to know what they can do realistically and then we allow them to listen to testimonials and read information from other people who are doing the same business we are.
When someone is inquiring about your opportunity, it is the best policy—hands down—to level with them about what is involved in becoming successful at it. We actually tell them about what our day consists of. We tell them how much time we put in on placing ads, or posting on sites, on returning calls, on meeting people and talking with them about the business, and also about the amount of training we participate in. It gives them a real view of what they would need to do to achieve the success we have achieved. We want them to realize that unless they are willing to do the same amount of work and put in the same effort, we cannot guarantee that they will make a go of it.
We have had some people inquire about our opportunity and then verbalize their objection to participating on team calls (an hour a night, Monday through Thursday) as they want their nights as their own. To be honest, we tell them they don't have to participate, but as I've said before—especially when starting out—you should take advantage of any and all training available, especially when it's free and with like-minded people who are doing what you are doing. So we don't hesitate to tell them exactly that. The ideas and input we garner from those calls is priceless. We learn from others what has worked or not and also exchange materials that less us further our education in the market. Invaluable!
What some people don't realize is that a home business is work. Plain and simple. It is not just sitting at home and hoping people find you and what you have to offer. It's also not possible to be really successful unless you fully understand your product or service AND the opportunity it provides. Just spending a little time learning those things will get you everywhere. To be able to intelligently discuss those things with a prospect is of the utmost importance.
We never promise people that if they decide to go with our opportunity, they will become rich overnight and that anyone and everyone will buy from them and will take them up on what they have to offer. It isn't true. And I don't care what any opportunity out there claims, it is not the truth. Not every opportunity is right for everyone and, again, based on the commitment they have they either will or will not make a go of it.
Home businesses are an unbelievable option for many people. If you have time management skills, you can become successful putting in part time hours. You don't have the traffic to worry about, you don't have to have an extensive work wardrobe, you don't have to spend money on gas and you don't have to punch a timeclock. You make your own schedule and determine which hours make the most sense for you. But they are not for everyone. And anyone who tells you that your opportunity will be "snatched" up and make you rich without working is lying to you. Those people out there with no motivation will more than likely fail. If you think about it, those unmotivated people are the ones that usually are layed off first, or stay in a dead end job and just accept their fate, although that fate is of their own making.
My husband and I are ambitious people. There is no question about that. I pride myself on my work ethic and taught those things to our children. If you aren't really willing to work, then things are not going to magically come to you. However, if you are willing to replicate the actions of those that ARE successful at the opportunity you are considering, you will find yourself in the same place—enjoying success.
Other people would present their opportunity to us with all kinds of figures being thrown out about earnings and what we would definitely be able to bring in financially. Some of them talked about how it was a guaranteed income amount. No...we didn't believe it. See, we know that based on an individual's drive and ambition, the number of hours they put in, the type of marketing they did and their experience level with the internet would make it almost impossible to quote us real figures.
We do tell people an average income that people in our industry are making. No...everyone doesn't earn that—a large number of people make way more. But we don't present to people the upper end income amounts as "the norm". We want them to know what they can do realistically and then we allow them to listen to testimonials and read information from other people who are doing the same business we are.
When someone is inquiring about your opportunity, it is the best policy—hands down—to level with them about what is involved in becoming successful at it. We actually tell them about what our day consists of. We tell them how much time we put in on placing ads, or posting on sites, on returning calls, on meeting people and talking with them about the business, and also about the amount of training we participate in. It gives them a real view of what they would need to do to achieve the success we have achieved. We want them to realize that unless they are willing to do the same amount of work and put in the same effort, we cannot guarantee that they will make a go of it.
We have had some people inquire about our opportunity and then verbalize their objection to participating on team calls (an hour a night, Monday through Thursday) as they want their nights as their own. To be honest, we tell them they don't have to participate, but as I've said before—especially when starting out—you should take advantage of any and all training available, especially when it's free and with like-minded people who are doing what you are doing. So we don't hesitate to tell them exactly that. The ideas and input we garner from those calls is priceless. We learn from others what has worked or not and also exchange materials that less us further our education in the market. Invaluable!
What some people don't realize is that a home business is work. Plain and simple. It is not just sitting at home and hoping people find you and what you have to offer. It's also not possible to be really successful unless you fully understand your product or service AND the opportunity it provides. Just spending a little time learning those things will get you everywhere. To be able to intelligently discuss those things with a prospect is of the utmost importance.
We never promise people that if they decide to go with our opportunity, they will become rich overnight and that anyone and everyone will buy from them and will take them up on what they have to offer. It isn't true. And I don't care what any opportunity out there claims, it is not the truth. Not every opportunity is right for everyone and, again, based on the commitment they have they either will or will not make a go of it.
Home businesses are an unbelievable option for many people. If you have time management skills, you can become successful putting in part time hours. You don't have the traffic to worry about, you don't have to have an extensive work wardrobe, you don't have to spend money on gas and you don't have to punch a timeclock. You make your own schedule and determine which hours make the most sense for you. But they are not for everyone. And anyone who tells you that your opportunity will be "snatched" up and make you rich without working is lying to you. Those people out there with no motivation will more than likely fail. If you think about it, those unmotivated people are the ones that usually are layed off first, or stay in a dead end job and just accept their fate, although that fate is of their own making.
My husband and I are ambitious people. There is no question about that. I pride myself on my work ethic and taught those things to our children. If you aren't really willing to work, then things are not going to magically come to you. However, if you are willing to replicate the actions of those that ARE successful at the opportunity you are considering, you will find yourself in the same place—enjoying success.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Help Prospects Change Their Lives And That Will Change Yours
If your goal is to make a million dollars, then you mastermind with millionaires. If your goal is only to make $50K a year, then align yourself with people who make $50K a year. It's true. There is a reason those people who are immensely successful are. They are involved with quality products, in a growing company, with people who are interested in changing other people's lives as well as their own. And in doing that, they continue to experience success. Is that always the case? No...but then those people that are in it to line their own pockets exclusively sometimes tend to burn out quickly and find their prospects drying up over time. They aren't in it for the right reasons. It's that simple.
When we got into this business, it was our goal to just replace our income we had in our jobs so we could quit. We didn't hate our jobs, but we were working 50+ hours a week, taking no vacations or holidays to speak of and were pretty much capped out on income. We knew that we would be "stagnant" so-to-speak and that we wanted to change and improve our lives. The couple who introduced us to our opportunity were genuinely supportive, supplying the information we needed to make an educated decision as to whether it was right for us. There was no pressure and our endless questions didn't tire them or make them eventually avoid our calls. See...they knew we had family, and responsibilities and were nervous about making such a substantial change in our lives. And they guided us through that change, helping us to realize our dream. Did that change their lives? Sure it did. But it did so as a result of offering us the ability to change ours.
When my husband and I return a call to a prospect that has contacted us in response to our marketing efforts, we stop and always take a moment to remind ourselves that we need to help that prospect find out if what we can offer them, in the way of a business opportunity, will assist them in changing their life. Because it's a fact that any prospect that contacts you is looking for something. Some will be looking for something they can start immediately and make an income as quickly as possible. For them it is time-critical. Maybe they lost their jobs, or are losing their home, or have mounting medical bills or can't afford daycare to work outside the home. But others are just looking to add income or change jobs. For them, the urgency isn't there. However, they ARE looking for something or they wouldn't have contacted you. It's your responsibility to find out if your opportunity will help them find that something.
The opportunity we decided on was based on several factors. The product was timely for sure. It offers a program to help people eliminate debt, create wealth and change their lifestyle. Plain and simple. And we knew in today's economy we would be able to offer people a solution that would, if they followed the program, do just that. But we also knew that the company was very interested in their consultants, welcoming input and involving them in day-to-day training and tools to help those consultants continue to experience success. Every company should be of that mindset. It's good business and it's recognizing that it takes good people to have a good business. Align yourself with a good product, service or opportunity to sell. then focus on helping other people reach their dreams. THAT is your top priority.
In summary, if you approach your business from a "giving" and "grateful" attitude and perspective, it will come back to you. No question about it. You make every call to your prospects asking yourself what your opportunity (or service or product) can bring to their lives. And in doing so, you will help them to discover that it's just what they are looking for.
When we got into this business, it was our goal to just replace our income we had in our jobs so we could quit. We didn't hate our jobs, but we were working 50+ hours a week, taking no vacations or holidays to speak of and were pretty much capped out on income. We knew that we would be "stagnant" so-to-speak and that we wanted to change and improve our lives. The couple who introduced us to our opportunity were genuinely supportive, supplying the information we needed to make an educated decision as to whether it was right for us. There was no pressure and our endless questions didn't tire them or make them eventually avoid our calls. See...they knew we had family, and responsibilities and were nervous about making such a substantial change in our lives. And they guided us through that change, helping us to realize our dream. Did that change their lives? Sure it did. But it did so as a result of offering us the ability to change ours.
When my husband and I return a call to a prospect that has contacted us in response to our marketing efforts, we stop and always take a moment to remind ourselves that we need to help that prospect find out if what we can offer them, in the way of a business opportunity, will assist them in changing their life. Because it's a fact that any prospect that contacts you is looking for something. Some will be looking for something they can start immediately and make an income as quickly as possible. For them it is time-critical. Maybe they lost their jobs, or are losing their home, or have mounting medical bills or can't afford daycare to work outside the home. But others are just looking to add income or change jobs. For them, the urgency isn't there. However, they ARE looking for something or they wouldn't have contacted you. It's your responsibility to find out if your opportunity will help them find that something.
The opportunity we decided on was based on several factors. The product was timely for sure. It offers a program to help people eliminate debt, create wealth and change their lifestyle. Plain and simple. And we knew in today's economy we would be able to offer people a solution that would, if they followed the program, do just that. But we also knew that the company was very interested in their consultants, welcoming input and involving them in day-to-day training and tools to help those consultants continue to experience success. Every company should be of that mindset. It's good business and it's recognizing that it takes good people to have a good business. Align yourself with a good product, service or opportunity to sell. then focus on helping other people reach their dreams. THAT is your top priority.
In summary, if you approach your business from a "giving" and "grateful" attitude and perspective, it will come back to you. No question about it. You make every call to your prospects asking yourself what your opportunity (or service or product) can bring to their lives. And in doing so, you will help them to discover that it's just what they are looking for.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Business: Crystal Beach a Reminder of What Business is About
We take our dogs, every evening, down to Crystal Beach in Florida in the winters. It's only a few blocks from us and when we get there, it feels like we are entering a different world. Florida has grown and expanded commercially as all places have through the years, yet a sense of real community dwells in Crystal Beach. It has managed to keep a laid back, slow paced way of life through all the growth surrounding it. And it is why we go there....
People of all ages and from all walks of life go down to the beach in the evenings. They bring blankets and drinks and sit on benches and mingle and let their dogs run in the surf and socialize with other dogs as well. Everyone is friendly and they come to watch the sunset over the water and see their neighbors. It's an experience I look forward to every evening. It is the closing to our day that is refreshing and we relax and have small talk with people of the same mindset—that life is good.
I am reminded everyday about what business is about. It's about people and relationships with those people. We never discuss business there unless someone asks us about ours, which they often do. But even then, we approach it as providing information and there is never any pressure put on the recipient of the information to take advantage of the opportunity. Have they? Yes. But it's a trust in us as neighbors that has made those who have chosen to move forward in our business opportunity comfortable in doing it.
See, business should always be about you wanting to help others be successful, as you are. If you really want to see them succeed, then you treat them as neighbors and friends. I wouldn't want anyone to take up our opportunity and run with it if it wasn't right for them, because I wouldn't have wanted someone to talk me into something that they couldn't see me being successful at.
Many people will tell you to market your business or opportunity and then once you have someone interested, and you've made a sale, move on. Some will provide some training initially or even instructions or a "game plan" to get them started. But we feel that if someone is responding to our marketing and wants to know what we have to offer them to change their life, then we owe it to them to offer them the best training and mentoring we can give. In other words, we think it's important to give what we'd want to get.
There are countless opportunities out there. Some good, some bad. And deciphering which is the "right" one is quite an undertaking. That's why you want to make sure to explain what you can offer a potential client or customer and promise only what you intend to provide. What should you provide? All the tools necessary to get them started as well as tools to help them continue to expand and grow their business once they are started.
In viewing your business like Crystal Beach—open, warm, friendly—you will attract people to you that are dedicated and believe in what they are doing when they do become a client. You will give them trust in your opportunity and will find that you have quality people representing your company or business. And you will develop a sense of "team" in your business or opportunity that continues on—day after day—that will continue to provide benefits for years to come.
People of all ages and from all walks of life go down to the beach in the evenings. They bring blankets and drinks and sit on benches and mingle and let their dogs run in the surf and socialize with other dogs as well. Everyone is friendly and they come to watch the sunset over the water and see their neighbors. It's an experience I look forward to every evening. It is the closing to our day that is refreshing and we relax and have small talk with people of the same mindset—that life is good.
I am reminded everyday about what business is about. It's about people and relationships with those people. We never discuss business there unless someone asks us about ours, which they often do. But even then, we approach it as providing information and there is never any pressure put on the recipient of the information to take advantage of the opportunity. Have they? Yes. But it's a trust in us as neighbors that has made those who have chosen to move forward in our business opportunity comfortable in doing it.
See, business should always be about you wanting to help others be successful, as you are. If you really want to see them succeed, then you treat them as neighbors and friends. I wouldn't want anyone to take up our opportunity and run with it if it wasn't right for them, because I wouldn't have wanted someone to talk me into something that they couldn't see me being successful at.
Many people will tell you to market your business or opportunity and then once you have someone interested, and you've made a sale, move on. Some will provide some training initially or even instructions or a "game plan" to get them started. But we feel that if someone is responding to our marketing and wants to know what we have to offer them to change their life, then we owe it to them to offer them the best training and mentoring we can give. In other words, we think it's important to give what we'd want to get.
There are countless opportunities out there. Some good, some bad. And deciphering which is the "right" one is quite an undertaking. That's why you want to make sure to explain what you can offer a potential client or customer and promise only what you intend to provide. What should you provide? All the tools necessary to get them started as well as tools to help them continue to expand and grow their business once they are started.
In viewing your business like Crystal Beach—open, warm, friendly—you will attract people to you that are dedicated and believe in what they are doing when they do become a client. You will give them trust in your opportunity and will find that you have quality people representing your company or business. And you will develop a sense of "team" in your business or opportunity that continues on—day after day—that will continue to provide benefits for years to come.
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