Last week I had the honor and great fun of speaking at the Usborne Book Convention in Tulsa, OK. It is my second year to be invited to speak with these folks and I’m honored to be a part of that convention. I’ve also had the good fortune to be working closely with many Usborne Consultants over the last couple of years and have a close bond with many of them.

Their convention, like most conventions, is packed with great ideas and lots and lots of information. A recurring theme I’ve heard this week after the convention is “Where do I start processing all of this?”

Anyone who has been to a great convention or weekend workshop knows what this feels like. So much good information. How do you sort through it? How do you put it all into action?

Well the truth is, you don’t You can’t put it all into action right away. Your feelings are right, listen to them. It is too much information. That’s why you feel overwhelmed or at least not totally sure where to start. The big problem, because we feel overwhelmed or unsure, is that too often we don’t start at all.

A Little Goes a Long Way

A little goes a long way is not a new idea and it certainly isn’t an original one. But it’s one we often forget when we have so much information to choose from. Why?

Choosing is tough. Because once we choose to do something we are also choosing not to do something else.

• Don’t worry about what you don’t implement.
• But implement something.

You may not see the results tomorrow from a little change in your business, but over time you’ll see a great change. Like most things, it’s the little steps that count. And often when we add those “little steps up,” they leverage themselves and 1 plus 1 starts to equal 3 or 4.

Here’s my suggestion:

1. Pick one thing that you remember right now.  Something that spoke to you.  Something like sounded interesting and you thought at the time “That’s a great idea!”The trick is to pick just one thing.
2. Find your notes and if there is an audio posted from whatever you attended listen to it again.
3. Break down the activity into small doable steps.
4. Put time aside in your calendar to implement each of the steps.

I promise if you pick one thing to implement in your business from that last teleclass, training or convention – just one – and then use the above steps to get it into place, the change in your business will be substantial. It may take a little time for it to show up, but the ultimately you’ll see the difference.

Put some time in your calendar right now to spend an hour to go over your notes and choose the one thing you’re going to implement immediately.

Have fun!

Warmly,

Jillian

I was so far behind I didn’t know where to start.

Recently I came to grips with the feeling that I was so far behind I didn’t know where to start. Rather a scary thing to admit being a coach and all.

Obviously I am not immune to life and things happen that disrupt. And, if I’m not on top of things right away, they seem to snowball. As soon as things start to get out of control, the less well I seem to be able to accurately determine what I can get done. When things are in a chaotic state, I make things much worse (oh so very much worse) by thinking I can do much more than is possible. It seems that my mind and good sense scramble right along with my routine!

Do you relate? If so, then you know what kind of a slippery slope this can be if it’s not checked really early. Depending on how long you stay in this “running behind chaotic state”, at the end of the day, week, month or (yikes) months, you have:

• unfinished projects
• little or no follow-up
• great leads getting colder by the minute
• unmet deadlines (broken promises)
• goals feeling further and further out of reach

Yes, there is a way to prevent getting into this mess. It takes some practice – and as you can tell by my confession I’m still practicing! Watch for our next ezine issue. I’ll cover in that issue what to do to avoid setting yourself up to be hopelessly behind.

What’s Your Red Flag?

When I find I’ve allowed myself to get out of control and am behind, I have to be really careful or it can get worse, way worse, before it gets better. Why? Because once I start thinking, “I’m so far behind I don’t know where to start – I don’t start. My routine is so out of whack I feel powerless to get back in sync.

To make matters worse, I’m so into ‘the overwhelm’ and so caught up in the guilt of “what’s not done,’ that I end up being reactive rather than proactive. I find myself spending time in my office doing the least important things. Eventually things get so bad that when I do (finally) sit down at my desk, the first thing I do is push the send and receive button. But that actually is a good thing.

How can aimlessly reading emails be a good thing?

Through the work I’ve done with my own coaches, I’ve identified this behavior as a major red flag. It acts as an alarm. I know when I’m sitting down and pushing ‘send and receive’ to see what I have to do, I’m not in control. I’ve learned over the years it is my habit when I’m in overwhelm. I look to my email for (of all things) direction! Today I’m aware that’s what I do when I’m out of control and it sends all kinds of warnings off in my head. I know I’ve blown through an opportunity to avoid chaos, I’m in it. It’s time to stand back and get back to basics.

Back to Basics

This is exactly what I do:

1. I grab a piece of paper and write down all the things I need to get done. It’s a brain dump. No editing. Just write down everything that’s undone.
2. I grab another piece of paper and determine my store hours for the day, or the week or the month. It doesn’t matter if you decide them each day or if you feel you can get them together for the month. Do what works. If you’ve never set store hours our Savvy CD http://www.savvysponsoring.com/storehours/ will make it quick and easy. Once you know when you’re starting and stopping work each day, you’ll wonder how you ever got anything done before!
3. After my brain dump and store hours schedule are completed, I take a minute to congratulate myself for “getting started right again” and let myself off the hook. There are going to be some things that are simply not going to get done when you go through this process. What it meant for me was letting go of the fact that I’d not sent out an ezine for months. I also didn’t offer two of my favorite coaching programs that were scheduled on my calendar. My guilt wasn’t going to change what was. Period. And the guilt didn’t help me to get moving. It was time to focus on what I was doing rather than what had slipped through the cracks. Make sense? Letting go of judgment and self recrimination is critical to moving forward. They act as anchors or a ball and chain at best. Let go of “what didn’t” and focus on what is.
4. I take a look at my list of things to do and circle three top money making activities. For you, these activities could include making follow up calls (use the most recent leads first), or an initial call to someone you think may be interested in your business or your product. Your goal might be setting a one-on-one appointment to make a business presentation. Or you might be asking someone to host a home event for you. All of these activities are money making activities.
5. Now grab your calendar and make an appointment with yourself to make these calls. Absolutely no ifs, ands or buts. This is an appointment with as much commitment as the one you make with your doctor. Real time carved out in your calendar for you to get these things done. Period. This means an appointment, an allotted exact time in your calendar. If you find yourself saying you’ll make the calls “when the kids are napping” or “after lunch” you’re setting yourself up for failure. Each day you work do these two things, (1) make sure you know your store hours and (2) that your calendar has you doing at least three money making activities before you do anything else.

Go Public!

If you have trouble keeping these commitments, go public. Tell someone you respect what you’re going to do and when you’re going to do it. It could be your partner, upline or coach, someone who will hold you accountable and help you through whatever comes up.

If keeping a calendar is tough for you chances are you’re trying to pack it way too full. Check out our Sexy Savvy Calendar CD, it will make things way easy. http://www.savvysponsoring.com/calendar/

Once you’ve moved the items on your list into your calendar, you can strike them from your list. Two important things to remember in order to successfully work through that list of things. (1) Do the money making activities first in your business hours and (2) give your self plenty of time to accomplish what you want to get through. If you have time left over you can add something else to your calendar. But if you pack your calendar too full, you’re asking for frustration at the end of the day because you were unable to complete your goals.

For many of us this is the toughest thing of all. We all have so much to do and what feels like so little time to do it. But less really is more when it comes to planning what you can get done.

Can You Be Seduced?

One last thought about planning. Sometimes we think planning our day takes too long. It can be very seductive to “just jump in.” Planning is your business roadmap. Having a roadmap doesn’t mean you’ll never get lost, but it is your best tool to get back on track.

I hope this ezine helps you stay on top of things. As for me, it’s great being back in sync, and wonderful to, again, be in touch with you.

If you didn’t take the moment above to register for our complimentary coaching hour covering, “How to get your new recruits into confident money making activity within their first 48 hours” well go ahead and click here now to register. The teleclass is on Tuesday, March 4th at 9am PST / Noon EST. It’s open to everyone. Hope to see you there.

Warmly,

Jillian

How many of you…

• said your business would be different this year?

• have trouble finding time to work your business?

• answer the phone when it rings – no matter what you’re doing?

• said that you were going to be focused?

• said you were going to be diligent?

• said you were going to talk to more people?

• swore you would only work with those who wanted to build a
  business?

• have said these kinds of things before?

• are being different in your business this year?

• simply don’t know what to do differently?

Ever heard this definition of crazy? 

Keep doing the same things and expect different results.

How many of you are crazy?

What would it be worth to you…

If someone could show you how to get a handle on your time so your business day worked for you…and you still had a life.

If someone could show you how to live a richer fuller life right now

If someone could show you to create your dreams into reality and not forfeit today?

If someone could show you how to listen and speak with anyone who comes along.  (Yes anyone .. be they doubting you or you doubting you because they look too successful!) 

If someone could show you how to get your new business builders into confident money making action within 48 hours. – yes, confident!

If someone could show you a way that you’d know exactly what to do in your work day…every day … and be able to show others – right from the start!

Too good to be true? 
 

No it’s not.

All it takes is practice… and the right tools in your belt, as discussed here in this short clip from our class last Monday, January 22nd. Just click the play button below to listen to this short 10-minute clip. (Be sure to turn up your speakers!)

Click
to Play (10 min)

Imagine what we can accomplish with 18 weeks of practice!
 

Just ask any one who has coached in the six month Savvy Sponsoring program. 

And congrats to them!  It takes courage to “Step Up” and “Break Out” of a comfortable – albeit not productive – rut. 
It takes courage to spend money. 
 

Well maybe it doesn’t considering we have a refund policy with a full money back guarantee!
 

What are we about at Savvy Sponsoring? Delivering tools that will allow you to build a financially sustainable network marketing business. Isn’t that what you want?
 

Are you ready to BE in business?  Click here to register for our complimentary coaching call on the “5 Steps To Work Less and Make Money In Network Marketing” and get the details on our Savvy Sponsoring Strategies program.
 

Oh for heaven’s sake, do it now….  we’ll be waiting for you.   

What kind of a person are you looking to sponsor? The obvious standard answer is someone who’d like to make a change in their life. Someone who understands that it will take work and some focus as well as a vision and a business plan.

But aren’t you also looking for someone who is solidly connected into an ever growing sphere of influence? Someone respected in the community. You know like the old TV commercial, "When E F Hutton talks everyone listens."

But if you want to sponsor that person the question begging to be asked is, "Are you that person?" And if you’re not, why would that person want to look to you for support in their new business?

Don’t panic because there are a couple of things you should know about yourself (and the rest of us.)

1. You have an innate force to be that person
2. You can learn how to be that person

Let’s tackle number one first.

What is everyone’s favorite subject? If you said, "themselves" I think you’re right?

But given that, what do you hear most often that one spouse says about the other? "My husband (or wife) doesn’t listen to me." To be "heard" is what we all crave and it seems we don’t get it very often!

In truth all of us want to feel listened to. I know some of you are as old as me and probably read the article in the latest AARP by science writer Daniel Goleman. He claims, "…paying full attention – showing people that they’re being experienced…is basically what each of us wants more than anything."

What I found really fascinating is Goleman’s claim "We’re Hardwired To Connect" with each other. We have a natural brain function to connect with each other. And, it happens whether we intend it to or not!

And all connections are not created equal.

If we have a ‘toxic" connection we can actually get sick. When we’re stressed out the body produces cortisol - a harmful drug or chemical. This nasty substance actually interferes with your immune system.

But if we have positive interactions with people our bodies respond with another drug. This one’s called oxytocin. I’ll call this the feel good drug. It is the same drug the body releases when you make love! And along with making you feel good this drug also boosts the immune system and decreases stress hormones.

Think about this.

• Did you ever wonder why when someone smiles at you, you smile back and it makes you feel great?

• Did you ever see anyone yawn and then find yourself yawning too?

• Have you ever found yourself caught up in the giggles with someone else? Tough to get a handle on those…huh?

• Have you noticed when you’re in a bad mood others seem to be too?

• Have you ever seen a baby start to cry because another baby cries?

We’ve been connecting with others since we were babies – we just we’re not conscious of it.

This is where number two above comes in. If you’ve been around Savvy Sponsoring for any length of time then you know we believe that "awareness is curative." In other words if you want to change something inside you, the first step is to be conscious of what you’re doing now. What do we mean by "conscious?" Simply pay attention.

So how do you pay attention and become that person in the middle of an ever expanding sphere of influence? Tim Sanders (Love Is The Killer App) would say "become relevant."

What do I mean by that? Are you involved in the local community? Do people see you as a source of information for them? Do they see you as helpful (this does not mean you push your product or your opportunity on them every time you see them even if you know they need it!)

How do you know if you’re relevant in the lives of others? When you walk into the room do peoples’ faces light up? Are they glad to see you? If someone is talking to someone you don’t know do they happily introduce you sharing how important you are to them or the group?

This is what happens when you’re relevant. And you can be relevant to people in your social circle, your family as well as your network marketing business. It will take "awareness" on your part and maybe a bit of courage but it can be done. You can get this help from lots of places. I asked Susan Litchford to share how our Savvy Sponsoring program boosted her "relevance" to her team.

How did Savvy Sponsoring help me become more relevant to my team? I’ve found my leadership voice. Because of the Savvy Program I’ve learned to work in the moment and ask coaching questions. I’m not focused on "getting through" my outline anymore. Oh, we have direction and an organized system. In fact as a team we now have real clarity. But I don’t have a need to have all the answers. By me asking questions my team is now looking "within" for their answers not just to me. They are stepping up and leading. My numbers speak to this. My volume was fairly static in the low 30,000 but dropping slowly. That was the reason I actually took the Savvy program. I didn’t say a word for the first six weeks and then my volume dropped to $18,897.48! Before Savvy I was using a "splash" of things. You know, get them on this call, or to this meeting – but each time I met someone I was feeling my way around. Which option do I use? A lot of missed opportunity went by and I know the same was true for my team. Norine was clear exactly how to get a new recruit into money making action in the first 48 hours. But she did it through coaching not training or teaching. The key word here is "coaching." I don’t "tell" my team what to do, but rather coach them into action. My volume went from that low of $18,897 within just four months to $56,971.60 and I completed my Regional Vice President promotion. The best part of this for me, I no longer feel the weight of other people’s businesses on my shoulders. I’m not pulling them along! We’ve created leaders.

Here is something else that should get your attention. Susan’s team is duplicating. Stacey Goddard claims the Savvy Program has changed everything for her… and Stacy has never been enrolled in our program! How?

Susan is Stacey’s upline. And because Susan has taken the Savvy coaching approach back to her team along with the tools, well this is what Stacey says happened.

Since Susan started coaching us using the Savvy Sponsor program coaching tools my business volume doubled.  It went from $10,000 to $20,000. Susan’s leadership is catching! I start my own team call tomorrow Savvy style. Now I control my business rather than it controlling me plus and my team is doing what I’m doing! And I have more time. I use to feel like I did Arbonne all day but since Susan brought back the Savvy tools, well now I do it in a "consolidated way."

If you are that person you’re looking for, Someone ready to make a change in your life and are ready to move your business to a professional financially sustainable level, then check out our Savvy Sponsoring Program.

If you read my personal note above it won’t surprise you my thoughts this month revolve around time… and how we spend it.

I’ve dealt with more death this year than ever before… death of those close to me and it certainly brought home the question:

How am I living my life?

This is not a moral question – Are you being good, doing what you "should."
It is a question of perception. How are you living your life?

Are you just getting though the day? Are you beating time until something else happens? Are you waiting for something to change things for you? Are you doing things you don’t really like today, so you can have more tomorrow?

Or

Are you enjoying your day? Are you enjoying all the things you do throughout your day… every minute of it?

Do you have a plan for your life – Is it written down? Is everything you do each day allowing that plan to unfold? Are you enjoying each step of your plan so you are Living Your Plan today? Or have you put your life "on hold" while you finish everything you think is necessary in order to "get there?" (And good heavens where do you need to "get?" Isn’t your life right here, right now with you?)

If I have a "Pet Peeve" around network marketing it is hearing this:

"You need to sacrifice now in order to get what you want later."

Ugh!

There are at least two things wrong with that statement.

1. You can have a wonderful, full life right now just starting out in your MLM business. Yes you can! Your life can have a qualitative change immediately for the better and you need not put anything on hold for it to continue to get better.
   
2. Who says you’ll be around later to reap the rewards of this life you put on hold? Anybody guaranteeing that for you? I thought not.

Look folks this is the deal. How you think about something is exactly how it is going to feel and look to you. Timothy Leary is right, your thoughts, your words they do create your reality. If you think you can’t have a good, rich, thoughtful, interesting life right now… you’re right.

But if you think you can have a good rich thoughtful interesting life right now, you’re right… All it takes is to get your head on straight.

My family could spend the end of this year spiraling down a nasty ladder because of my Dad’s death. I miss him and he’s gone. I’ll not hug him again, I’ll not hear his voice again, I’ll not talk with him again and there are so many things left to say.

But… I can change my thoughts and remember all that he gave me and celebrate the memories and work to keep my head full of Dad’s gifts. Oh, I talk about him with tears but laughter too and lots of it.

I know John McBride had bigger personal plans than he was able to accomplish in his all too short life. But I also know that John lived a rich full life while he was expanding it. He loved to sail and took his love of sailing to kids who might otherwise never have had the opportunity to learn. As John continued to accomplish more of his plan he may have done more of that but he did some of it now… John lived his life now and continually expanded it to his ever growing plan.

How about you? What kind of choices are you making? Are you letting life’s circumstances get in your way? Are you letting your past create your future?

My Dad was a five year prisoner of war during WWII. Not a nice time. Over the years, I heard stories that made me cry. But that’s not what my Dad focused on. I grew up hearing about the things these young guys (my Dad was only 19 when he was captured) used to do as prisoners to get more out life. Dad could have been bitter he certainly had a right to be. But how would that have served him?

If there is ever a time to take responsibility for your life, it is right now. Why is it so important right now? Because you simply don’t know how much more time you have. None of us do. But you do have right now.

Are you living your life to its fullest? What kind of choices are you making? Be sure to watch The Choice Movie to give you something to help you think about this.

What does all of this have to do with your business?

It’s the end of the year. Time to take stock. How did you do? Did you grow personally? Did your business grow? Did you have a good concrete plan in place for that growth?

What’s happening for next year? Are you thinking it through? Are you taking stock of your choices and deciding what your next steps are?

Is everything you do each day integrated into your overall plan?

What! You don’t have an over all plan? ;-(

Hey if that’s true… who is running your life anyway? Cause without a plan it’s not you.

Let me give you a quick example of exactly what I mean if you "think" differently and have a plan. Let’s go back to my (well one of them) pet peeve – Sacrifice today for tomorrow. 

Here is a practical example for reason number one above. This is how you can have a wonderful, full life right now even if you’ve just started your MLM business… and haven’t made a cent… that’s right not a red cent.

Let’s say you take your new business to someone (usually on your warm list) and ask them to take a look at this great business you’ve found. They get this really smug smile on their face, typically cross their arms and then ask you, "How much money have you made?"

If you really believe that before your business can make your life better you need to make money – you are stopped dead in your tracks. You have no answer for this person.

But… If you have an overall plan and see just how your new business fits into it, then you’re coming from a completely different place. You think differently because you feel differently. Everything is not tied to money -  it’s tied to your actions and how you think and feel.

So now instead of being speechless, your answer to this dream crusher goes like this:

The trick to bringing this kind of thinking and growth into your life is to take charge of your life.  If you don’t know how to do that and you like what you just read check out our Year In Gear program starting in January… We’d love to have you join us.

The first 25 people save $100 on their
registration fee, there are a few spots left at this
special price… so act now!

I only do this once a year… if you’re ready to stop getting in your way and are ready to “catch your truck” see you on the Year In Gear.

But if you don’t join us for heaven’s sake do something.  The one thing we all know for sure, this life is not a dress rehearsal.  Make every minute count because each one of those minutes is precious and as they tick off they’re gone … forever.  

How will you spend your minutes in 2007?

Do you have a good “Entry strategy” and “Exit strategy”?

The first time I heard this statement I was taking a stock (as in stocks and bonds) course. 

I was asked how I choose my stocks? Was it someone’s hot tip? (yes, I’ve done that)…. Or, I read the papers and liked something I read (yes, I’ve done that)….or a stockbroker suggested something (and yes I’ve done that).

Maybe not a strong entry strategy (not hardly!) but we’ll let that go for a minute and buy in that it is a strategy. I did way better on the next question, and was pretty proud of myself. “What was my exit strategy to sell the stock?” 

The answer is obvious isn’t it…when the price is high!

Of course that doesn’t always pan out quite the way we think it might (unfortunately). Take for example my 100 shares of “Red Hat” that I purchased for about $20 per share. It ran itself up and split at $100 per share and then ran up again to $80.00. I was ecstatic. How far would it go….. I didn’t realize that the techno bubble was about to burst.

It didn’t “go” any further…unless you count how far it could go down …down…down… and me with no exit strategy other than “when the price is high.” I just watched it from the side lines frozen in disbelief with no plan in place.

Hard lesson yes….but it did get me to the stock course and now when I purchase a stock I have a solid entry strategy and a solid exit strategy regardless of which way the stock ends up going.

Once I saw how well entry and exit strategies worked in my stock portfolio I began to think about what kind of exit and entry strategies I used in my business. It didn’t take long to realize that often (too often) I was flying by the seat of my pants – rather like “selling high” – and didn’t always have a clear exit and entry strategy. Let’s look at the holiday season that’s upon us for an example.

How have you planned the month? Are you burying your head expecting or hoping (pushing?) everyone will work? Or have you already given up thinking that no one will do much because it’s December? Are you dreading the January doldrums and how difficult it is to get people back to work?

Or do you have a good plan for yourself that you can share with your downline? What’s a good plan? A good solid, steady work program right up until whatever date you want to stop….Period. How do you do that?

This is your December *Entry* Strategy

1. Decide what you want to accomplish in the month of December that is reasonable for the amount of time you want to work. 
2. Lay out exactly what kind of activity you think you need to do to in order to accomplish your December goal.

This is your December *Exit* Strategy

3. When your last day of work for December rolls around s-t-o-p working. If you’ve done the activity as you planned you should be guilt free. 

If you go back to work between Christmas and New Year make sure you follow the same three steps. 

This is your January *Entry* Strategy

1. Take a look at January right now. Decide when you want to plan your first, second and third money making activity for the month.
2. When you’re speaking with someone who puts you off till the New Year (because they’re so crazy from the holidays (aren’t you glad you’re not ‘cause you’re scheduled!) book them to your January schedule.

What this does is keep you working right up until the appropriate time through December…and it gets you back in motion – on schedule – in January. 

How do you get your team on board? Ask them if they have a good exit and entry strategy to keep sane through the holidays as well as keep their business momentum. When they say “no” give them this link www.SavvySponsoring.com… and we’ll send them this ezine. Use us for your third party validation. 

Help everyone have

Speaking about great starts and out the gate… Most of you know that I built a six figure Excel business along with another six figure multi level lead business. But before an overall entry and exit strategy for my business that ultimately spanned a year, three years and then five years I was unable to keep the money or sustain my business over time. 

And it was not about sponsoring. Sponsoring skills alone will not keep you afloat. I know. Talking to people was something I learned to do. I could sponsor…I did sponsor…but they didn’t stay. 

Why?

In order to build a successful network marketing business you need planning and preparation to build an organizational structure and systems from which to operate your business. Without foundations in place, sponsoring skills are not going to keep your business afloat. 

My day-to-day activities did not correlate to my year. Sometimes I was prepared for the day ahead but I wasn’t consistent. That meant I wasn’t well prepared for the year ahead.  I just didn’t have good entry/exit strategies. 

Do you relate?

Check out my Year In Gear starting in January. If you want to head into 2007 feeling confident about where you’re going and how you’re going to get there… I believe Year in Gear is a great way to start!

The first 25 people save $100 on their
registration fee, there are a few spots left at this
special price… so act now!

I only do this once a year… if you’re ready to stop getting in your way and are ready to “catch your truck” see you on the Year In Gear.

Have you ever met someone (or you may already know them) and you’d love to talk to them about your business but you’re afraid to. Afraid because they look so together, so successful that you not sure you are “good enough” to work with them? I have a story for you.

My dog Buddy is wonderful. He’s 70 pounds with a huge broad chest and resembles a pit bull. He was a stray 12 years ago so we don’t really know what he is – other than all heart.

He’s a good boy but does have it out for the UPS truck. Not the driver, but the truck. It doesn’t happen often but recently he got out just as the truck came by and he was off chasing it.

Our driver is a great guy and knows Buddy. So he stopped the truck and threw open the slider door on the driver’s side and said, “Come on Bud, come up.”

I give my dog credit he did climb in the truck… but he was so nervous and had absolutely no idea of what to do now that he’d caught the truck — that he piddled all over himself and the truck.

Poor Bud, talk about a bad case of “oh dear I caught it, now what do I do?”

I’m telling you this story because I heard a chorus of voices during the TeleSummit tell me they would be afraid to sponsor one of our presenters Chris Barrow into their business. Chris was very clear that he would only want to work with someone who was a solid entrepreneur. He would want that person to be someone who knew what they wanted and had a good solid five year plan in place to go after it. A plan that would include a solid system that would help a new recruit launch their business.

Now why would many of you be afraid to sponsor Chris? Isn’t Chris just exactly what we’re looking for? Someone serious, real and ready to build a successful business?

Here is what we heard. Because they didn’t feel “good enough” to sponsor Chris. They didn’t know what to do with him if he said yes. They didn’t know where they were going well enough to help someone else get where they wanted to go. Nothing will stifle your business faster. My dog’s story actually tells it best…

You see, Buddy still barks at the UPS truck but I notice that he never, ever, gets close to that front driver’s door again. He still wants the truck but he’s not courageous enough to go after it for real. Bud makes all the right noises, even chases the truck but he always puts on the brakes and stops short of really going all out.

Why does he stop? Because Buddy knows that he does not know what to do with that truck if he does catch it. So he stops short of his success.

Do you stop short of your success?

When you call someone and the phone rings once, twice and then goes to voice mail are you secretly relieved?

If so there is no better time to think of “getting over you” and getting your next “Year In Gear”. It’s up to you – Don’t you think it’s time you took your foot off the brakes?

Here is what I do each year….

1. I sit down and determine what I want from my business in the coming year
2. I play with that plan until I understand what activity I want to do each day to make it come true
3. Tom and I take a look at what we want to personally accomplish next year
4. We plan our vacations first! (yes that’s plural)
5. I put some measurements in place to check my business progress throughout the year

When we are finished with this process my desire is driving my activity. In fact I’d say that the bottom line is I don’t work… I want to do all the activities that make up my plan – they bring value to my clients and to my family and to me.

Do you ever ask yourself how come some people seem to be able to do this MLM thing much easier than others… maybe much easier than you?

Some people simply take off and make their business work relatively stress free. But others … well it’s like banging their heads against a wall!

Well I have an idea of what it is…

Commitment

Now hold on a minute before you groan and tell me you are committed. Are you really?

Do you follow through in all your conversations to your appropriate end point? Or do you let yourself get pulled off or “scared away” because the person you’re talking to is strong and has an agenda of their own… or maybe negative… or simply asking you lots of questions?

Here’s an example:

YOU: Hey John, thanks for talking with me today. I’m delighted you’re going to (listen to the call, read the website or…). Let’s make an appointment to get back together again to talk about what you (heard or read or..). Does it work better for you to talk during the day or in the evening ….

JOHN: Interrupting you… Actually Mary what I’d like to do is take a look at this (listen to this) and then I’ll give you a call.

How do you handle it when you offer to follow-up with someone but they say to you, “I’ll give you a call” rather than letting you call them?

Do you say, “Sure John that will be great.”

In other words, do you capitulate and let them take over? Or do you stick to your game plan and make another effort to make an appointment to follow up?

How many of you – right now – hear that voice inside say, “But I don’t want to be pushy?”

This is what I mean by commitment.

Here is an example that will help you get that appointment.

YOU: “Hey John, thanks for talking with me today. I’m delighted you’re going to (listen to the call, read the website or…). Let’s make an appointment to get back together again to talk about what you (heard or read or..). Does ….”

JOHN: (Interrupting you) “Actually Mary what I’d like to do is take a look at this (listen to this) and then give you a call.”

YOU: That’s great John, but this is what I’ve found. If things are to move forward to whatever end their supposed to they usually have a deadline on them rather than leaving them open ended. Tell me if this works for you.

I’d like to make an appointment with you to follow up and I’ll expect one of these three things from you. 1. You’ll say, “No thanks” and I’ll go away and not bother you again. 2. You’ll say, “I love this product how do I get it?” Or 3 you’ll say, “I want this product and I also want to know how you’re making your money.”

There will be no pressure John. If you have no interest, I just go away. Does that make sense?

If John is up for this then you book the actual appointment. If John isn’t up for this what you know is that John is most likely not a serious player.

Are you glad you found out that today rather than two weeks from now?

A few questions to ask yourself:

1. Did this seem pushy to you or did it feel like good business skills?

Your answer here will really reveal your level of commitment not only to your business but also to yourself. Are you following through with a good commitment to your business?

2. Can you see how this is a real measurement of your commitment to do what you’re supposed to do in order to move your business forward…regardless of what the person you’re speaking to says?

Having a plan and sticking to it regardless of who you are talking to is what makes your business hum. If you don’t follow through with your plan each time, you cheat yourself of your success. Follow through and follow up are the true measurements of successful businesses of any kind.

3. How would step two (You remember what that is right?) – taking a minute to write down exactly what you want out of the conversation you are about to have – help you stay on track here?

Taking a minute to plan what you want from your conversations before you open your mouth will help you get where you want to go. Why? ‘Cause you’ll know which way to go, you’ll have a plan.

Part of the reason I’m so excited about our TeleSummit is because we are integrating the “Three Pillars” that I believe are necessary for a flourishing successful business.

1. Sponsoring
2. Building a Strong, Sustainable Team
3. Your Inner Game of Business

Why are they important? Without the tools to accomplish all three of the pillars, your comfort level simply cannot be at its peak. And if you’re not comfortable, how does the other person feel?

Even if you have all the practical tools, without a strong “inner game” you’ll be relying on things outside of you… and eventually that will trip you up. Let me give you an example.

You’re at a meeting – could be a company convention, an upline event or crossline. Someone says something and you think, “That’s great I’ll use it.”

Seems simple enough, but when you get home somehow it doesn’t feel right… or sound right… and you find yourself still not moving forward.

Why? Stands to reason that the successful person who gave you their “words of wisdom” is saying the right thing, it’s working for them. Why not you?

Simple… they are their words, not yours. You’re giving voice to their feelings not your own. You’re playing their inner game not your inner game.

To play your inner game means you need to be aware of what you’re feeling – not aware of someone else’s words.

Do you want success? Then take stock of where you are when you talk to people. Here are some questions we coach with at Savvy Sponsoring. Ask yourself these questions after every call you make or meeting you have. Debrief yourself this way and the change in you will be huge.

Bottom Line: You want success! Know Thyself!

• Were you comfortable in the call/meeting?
• If you were uncomfortable when did it start
• How did you know you were uncomfortable?
• What did you notice about yourself when you got uncomfortable or nervous… did you talk more? Less? Did you just fold up and go away? Or….
• What about the person you were talking with, were they comfortable?
• How do you know?
• Did they listen intently?
• Did they listen differently in the beginning than they did at the end of the conversation?
• How did you handle it? Did you acknowledge it or ignore it or…

If you take time after each business conversation with potential clients, potential business builders as well as those already on your team to check yourself out, your awareness level will soar.

I’d like to say that I made it up… but I’ve read it over and over in psychology, philosophy and business.

AWARENESS IS CURATIVE

Think about it…If you’re aware of something aren’t you already on your way past it? You bet you are.

If this is a new idea for you…or if you knew this is the kind of thing you should do but you needed this reality check to get yourself in gear….imagine what a week of the best coaches in the industry combined with daily mastermind sessions to put the information into working steps could do to your business.

Hope we see you at the TeleSummit!

Here are the topics for each of the speakers…after hearing these presentations from the comfort of your office, you’ll also have group coaching to make sure you know what to do with the wonderful information.

• Trouble Recruiting? How you Can Build 100 Customers in 100 Days
• Get Out and Stay Out of Debt (And Just Generally Save More, After That!)
• Taking Concrete Steps to Uncover Your ‘Chazown’*
• Speaking and Listening .. Nothing you do is “not this”
• How to Heat Up a Cold Market: Recruit New Business Partners Using Internet Generated Leads
• Exactly How A Tweak to Your “Business” Cards Can Help Pull in Leads
• Simple Ways To Get People To Call *You*

To qualify for the early bird registration fee (a significant savings) be sure to click the link BEFORE October 23, 2006.

http://www.networkmarketingtelesummit.com

You also have the option to get a full 30 minutes of intense 1-on-1 coaching – included in the TeleSummit price! Be sure to bring us the biggest most specific challenges your business is experiencing, wont you?

Don’t miss it! If I had to do it over again, I know I certainly wouldn’t.

http://www.networkmarketingtelesummit.com

If you are unclear what network marketing is or have only heard about it from others, we invite you to stick around for awhile and get to know us and the industry.

If you are already a network marketer, this is a great little reminder of why our industry is ideal for so many.

Network Marketing is a perfect vehicle:

1. For people who desire a financial change in their lives. It doesn’t matter if it’s a little change or big change.
2. For people who want to grow and know themselves better.
3. For people who want to work in a cooperative environment.
4. For people who want to have something of their own, something they create that affords them a better life.
5. For people who currently have limited funds to start a business.
6. For people who currently have limited time to start a business.
7. People who want to build a residual income recognizing it takes work but not total sacrifice.

I would like to share with you Willo’s personal story

Willo came into Sunrider in 1987 and for three years she used the products and told some family members about them. No huge growth in her business there. Then in August 1993 Willo went to her first Sunrider convention and made a decision – key ingredient to her success, a decision – that she was going to do Sunrider full time by Jan 1994. By August 1996 (only 18 months of solid business building) Willo was a Group Director. And then because of a number of things in Willo’s life she was pulled from her Sunrider business. She didn’t work it at all for the next six years. But in that six year period Willo earned an average of $2567.00 per month in residual income. Yes, residual income. That means she didn’t do anything in her business except cash the checks.

This story is, to me, a perfect illustration of why network marketing is so great. Because she had already set such a strong foundation for her business, Willo was able to focus elsewhere in her life and still make a living. It doesn’t get much better than that does it?

For those of you who are already building a network marketing business Willo’s story may be your own… and you probably know others with similar stories.

Nothing speaks more to the success of an industry than the stories of those involved, and so I invite you to…

Tell us your network marketing story!

How has network marketing affected your life? 

What changes have you created in your life through network marketing, that you may not have otherwise achieved?

Why do you think network marketing is great?

What would you like to share with anyone who is considering a network marketing business?

I invite you to share your answers to any one (or more) of these questions here at our blog. Just click on the ‘Discussion’ link below to share your comments and read what others are sharing as well.