Coffee Talk with Ferf

Ch...Ch... Ch... Changes

2011-02-10T19:17:00.000-06:00

You've heard me say (or seen me write) "Upgrades are necessary as success progresses". This past year has been one of incredible growth and transformation for me and my business(es) as well as for you and your business(es) - I've seen it! I'm excited to announce that my coaching business site is getting a face-lift and will be switching over to a blog format. It's nearly done; but I honestly couldn't wait to share it with you. So, you might be asking, what's gonna happen here with Ferf Chat? I'll most definitely still be posting Ferfisms, including info on my direct selling business. The primary change you'll be seeing here is that the business focused articles will now be posted on my coaching business site instead.

I'm embracing each change and LOVING it! I gotta say, once you open your heart and mind to possibilities and opportunities, doors open. One opportunity I'm currently celebrating is being selected for Linda Forsythe's Fabulous 5 for Mentor's Harbor Magazine - including a COVER STORY. Do it with me now - *happy dance* I'll keep everyone posted on that over at my coaching site. So, until my next post, I bid you adieu for now... leaving you with very chocolatey and caffeinated thoughts. ((HUGS))

Thank You Lord and A Smile

2010-12-31T21:33:00.000-06:00

Count your blessings.

We know we should, and let's face it when we actually take the time to do so, it's rather simple to count our blessings. All too often people fall back onto counting their "blech-ings". :) Everything seems to point to "blech", nasty, no-good, horrible, terrible, could-it-get-any-worse, etc. EVERYTHING? Not ONE good thing came about today? When we step back and look at the big picture, we'll see countless blessings! At the risk of going all Pollyanna, you woke up today, you're breathing, you're reading this right now which means you've been educated enough to be able to read, you clearly have electricity and a computer with internet access (or you're in a facility that has those things in which case you can be thankful for the freedom of being there). Get the idea? Yah, I knew you would because we've heard the proverbial "I can be thankful I have a messy house because it means I have a roof over my head" and "I have a little extra chub which means I have food to eat".

"I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet." ~Ancient Persian
Saying

Count your blessings.

I've learned from my mother - oop warm fuzzy moment - to be thankful for even the teeniest, tiniest things. If the traffic light turned green at the most opportune time while driving somewhere, mom would softly say "Thank You, Lord" and then smile. Also while driving if what looked like a normally difficult intersection lends way to let her through easily - you got it - "Thank You, Lord" and a smile. If something uneasy happens, be it a quarrel or an injury, and all turned out well... yep - "Thank You, Lord" and a smile. Seems a bit "magoo", I know, but you now what? It works! The outlook of a person with an attitude of gratitude is incredibly powerful and contagious. Try it, even for just a day, and discover how many people you touch and influence. You just never know who will hear under your breath "Thank You, Lord". And that smile of yours? Absolutely contagious.

I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences of smiling gratitude - please be sure to share some comments! :)

© 2010 Jennifer Stoll 'The Stand Up Coach' All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEBSITE?
That would rock, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is founder and editor of "Java Jive" a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An Author, Speaker and Success Coach, Jennifer provides principal based resources in a fun, humorous and caffeinated way. If you're sick of the same old selling, booking and recruiting tips and want to have more fun in your business by making it YOURS, then visit Jennifer at http://www.BeASuccessInProgress.com .

The Grace of Change

2010-12-04T18:37:00.000-06:00

    Change is good. Change is necessary for growth and with each new growth comes an invitation for even more change. Some adapt beautifully while others grow dark with resentment. People change. Opinions change. Attitudes change. Circumstances change. Seasons change. It's all cyclical. Until we fully embrace the reality that change is necessary in all seasons of life, we cannot effectively move forward. In understanding the foundational truth that change is necessary, it is not the "how we change" that is as important as the "how we ARE in our change".

    I am a fan of football. (GO PACKERS!) Now whether you closely follow football or not, you know the name Brett Favre. As an avid Packers fan I can tell you how incredibly fun it was to watch that good ol' country boy grow an amazing professional career, breaking record after record, all with pure passion. Game after game he'd smile such a smile that made fans everywhere proclaim "he's such a big kid". I can tell you an entire fan base choked up as he started the game following his father's passing. I can tell you how humbling it was to see articles and interviews in March of 2008 upon his announcement of retiring (this time seeming it would really be true and yes, I saved a copy of at least one article). It was a time of awe. Truly, a local sports 'hero' was finally hanging his helmet and doing so with a great sense of pride and accomplishment. In embracing the reality that Favre's retirement was finally official we Wisconsinites knew that in the future we'd be taking our kids to the Hall of Fame to let them basque in the glory of those good ol' days. *Sigh* "There, son, is a great quarterback. He was so incredibly talented and fun to watch."

    Then, pardon me for putting it like this but, something crawled up Favre's behind over the summer that year because things drastically changed. Honestly we Packers fans had grown used to Brett's come-and-go retirement announcements but that Spring he made it all official. We fans embraced the news for what it was worth, talked about it for months and found ways to move forward knowing full well we'd gladly welcome the new face to come. After all, it's not the first nor the last time we'd ever see a new quarterback come in. But this "comeback" was far from Favre's usual. After his official announcement, the organization did what they had to do: move forward. Draft picks commenced, practices began and assignments were being made. At practically the eleventh hour, Brett Favre decided he'd like to come back to the game. The organization sure would have loved to have him back, but they'd already begun embracing change. It would be far from practical to suddenly turn everything around to the way things were at the time simply because one person (who retired) would have preferred it that way. Favre was welcome to come back BUT his playing conditions would have changed. He would have not been the starting quarterback. This Brett did not like. It was as though a wave of "don't you realize who I am" came over him and the drama began. That season he was starting quarterback for the NY Jets (keeping his precious starter stats). The following year he thought he could make a bigger and bolder statement by becoming a Minnesota Viking (Packers rival). Interview responses were mouthy and Favre's stature was incredibly different as he proclaimed something to the effect of "if you're a real Packers fan, you'll understand why I'm doing what I'm doing". Pompous as they come.

    It was not the change itself that caused such controversy. This certainly wasn't the first time a beloved Packer had moved on to a different path. For chocolate's sake, Ryan Longwell (kicker) went over to the Vikings before Favre even thought to and all was well. It happens. The issue was not that Brett Favre left the Packers and brought on change. The issue was HOW Brett Favre WAS (and IS) in his change. Some say the Packers were mean to Favre while others (like yours truly) are proud that the franchise stuck to their guns, refusing to bend the rules for a seemingly now self-absorbed superstar. Was Favre embracing this new change or resenting it? The answer is in his actions. His middle name surely ain't Grace. :)

"Opportunity knocks at the strangest times, it's not the time that matters but how you answer the door." - Steve Gray

Football fan or not - a virtual penny for your thoughts?

(Note: although the publish date reflects a later date, this article was written prior to Favre's photo scandal which is why there is no reference made to said event.)

© 2010 Jennifer Stoll 'The Stand Up Coach' All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEBSITE?
That would rock, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is founder and editor of "Java Jive" a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An Author, Speaker and Success Coach, Jennifer provides principal based resources in a fun, humorous and caffeinated way. If you're sick of the same old selling, booking and recruiting tips and want to have more fun in your business by making it YOURS, then visit Jennifer at http://www.BeASuccessInProgress.com .

The Ice Cream Truck Effect in Your Business

2010-07-24T15:31:00.000-05:00

    Summertime brings those all-too familiar sounds around here: children laughing, smaller children yelling "wait for me", motorcycles, lawn mowers, outdoor home improvements, boats and jetskis on the lake, and lest we forget the ever elusive "do your ears hang low, do they wobble to and fro" tune that overtakes your brain like a colony of ants on a fallen cheese puff. *Shakes Fist* Curse you Ice Cream Man!!! (At least change your tune once in a great while.) Aha! I smell a business application coming on. Yes indeed. Annoying as his tune may be, the ice cream guy rolling through our neighborhood sparked a few thoughts on similarities in building a direct sales business.

   Yes, when thinking of an ice cream truck our immediate thought goes straight to that music. It doesn't even have to be a familiar tune for the kids in the neighborhood to know which direction to run with money in hand. It's classic conditioning (hey, that psychology course in college comes in handy now and again). I bet you can practically hear the music now, can't you? And because we've almost always associated that sound with an ice cream truck, every time you hear music that is even remotely close to that sound your mind gravitates to an image of an ice cream truck. Classic conditioning meets branding? Hmmm... mayhaps. Classic conditioning meets marketing? Now we're getting closer. The public has been conditioned to recognize the tinkling music and associate it with ice cream, yes, and that indeed falls under marketing, but let's look a little further. You see, it's not enough to have tinkling music playing from a vehicle to sell massive amounts of ice cream. It's incredibly helpful to know a few things before venturing out on a hope-filled journey chanting "Gee, I hope I get some sales today". Think about what the ice cream man needs to consider:

1) Identify Your Ideal Client/Customer
   Obviously the first potential clientele that comes to mind for an ice cream business would be children. However, location can also mean a great deal. If an ice cream man lives in an area where children are virtually nowhere to be found, can his business still thrive? Well, consider this - are ice cream consumers only children? If this ice cream guy lives in a college community he may very well hit the jackpot too. In that case his marketing efforts will need to be adapted to his ideal customer and his musical truck may not be the best means for making a sale. He does, however, have other options available to him and with some unique creativity he can build a business that he loves because it has his name written all over it. Take some time to identify the type of person you prefer to work with. Why subject yourself to just anybody and everybody for the sake of a couple sporadic sales? Give your business the credit it truly deserves and work only with a client base that justifies your greatness. You work with rockin' awesome people, not just anybody and everybody. It is in fact acceptable (and wise) to turn away business that is not a fit.

2) Know Where Your Ideal Client Congregates
   The ice cream guy in our neighborhood knows the hot spot right now is the beach. In the coming weeks he'll be wise to scope out the local festivals. GO TO the clients rather than hope they'll come to you. I remember early on in my Direct Sales business thinking sales, bookings and recruits would come to me if I was enthusiastic enough about the products and business opportunity and if I said the right, powerful words to "sell the sizzle". It didn't take me long to learn that adapting these concepts as my main business activity was actually running my business haphazardly at best. I often felt I was "barking up the wrong tree" so to speak and you know what? I was. It was frustrating and exhausting to work with people I'd otherwise never associate with socially. My business became much more enjoyable after I buckled down and stuck to my guns on who I work with. And you know what else? Because my business is more enjoyable I am able to better serve. Now that's a win-win!

3) Know What Your Ideal Client Prefers
   Knowing our best sellers can indeed be helpful, but knowing the needs of our ideal customers will help to keep us ahead in offering top notch service. (I understand that "need" can be a relative term - especially when it comes to ice cream!) *grins* Let's give our customers some credit in understanding they can decide things for themselves. If we're being 'salesy' by telling them they "need" what we have to offer, they're outta there at mach 5 with their hair on fire. Building a relationship with our customers, and recognizing their purchase patterns, will better equip us for not only offering rockin' service, but for having enough supply AND knowing what they'll be interested in when new products are released. We can then say - IN TRUTH - "I thought of you right away as soon as I saw that new product! I just knew you'd like it!" Personalized service is a beautiful thing. The ice cream man who has become familiar with his regular customers and remembers their favorites ("Hi, Jimmy, want your usual?") will surely generate more business for himself - which leads me to point 4.

4) Recognize and Repeat What Creates Repeat Business
   Great service is usually a given, especially in this day and age where customer service is virtually dead. We in the Direct Sales industry have the privilege of going above and beyond the call of traditional customer service by providing/suggesting necessities/complementary items clients hadn't thought of, up-selling to matching products that make their experience even better, building a rapport/relationship so customers can be confident in their purchasing decisions and so on. Does an ice cream man drive his musical truck through the neighborhood only once? Heck no! He knows to come back more than once because he understands the "out of sight out of mind" principle. He also understands he needs to make himself available to his customers. Does he hand out business cards and hope someone will call? Ummm, no. Making the rounds in the neighborhood is simply an ice cream man's friendly reminder of what he has to offer. Am I saying drive around neighborhoods playing music from your vehicle? Oh boy, no way! I'm talking about making sure our customers know they can come to us. It's not the customer's job to remember we're in business. ;)

5) Create Faithful Clients: Become THE Go-To Source, Their FIRST Consideration
   Could clients go elsewhere? You bet. Give 'em reason to stick around AND recommend us/our services to people they know. BE YOURSELF. Nobody wants to work with someone who is fake or uncomfortable. Additionally, nobody wants to work with someone who doesn't keep their word or doesn't take action. Point 4 helps with creating faithful clients, but it goes a bit further than that. When we are genuine with our business it becomes a two-way street and people genuinely want to do business with us. Again, does an ice cream truck circle the neighborhood only once and consider it a job well done? Of course not. On particularly hot days he'll make his way around 2 or 3 times, won't he? He understands the client's need to cool off and wants to be the solution to that need because he knows he can provide. I don't care what you sell, consumable items or not, faithful customers CAN be made because they will be faithful to YOU, not necessarily just your products or service.

   These are simply the first few things that came to mind when the ice cream truck rolled through our neighborhood recently. Does this application prove I've found the world's newest solution to building a HUGE direct sales organization? No, in fact you've no doubt heard these concepts before. However, have you ever thought about the correlation between what we do and what an ice cream man does? I tell you what, when we can associate business concepts with an everyday thing, something so simple as a special afternoon treat for the kiddos, our eyes are opened to great possibilities. So am I sharing tips on building a business, or the idea that we can be inspired dern near anywhere by dern near anything? *grins* Huzzah!

Now I'm in the mood for some ice cream, how about you? Did this spark any other thoughts about building your business? Do tell, leave a comment! (Oh, and here's a napkin for your ice cream... want some jimmies?) :)

© 2010 Jennifer Stoll 'The Stand Up Coach' All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEBSITE?
That would rock, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is founder and editor of "Java Jive" a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An Author, Speaker and Success Coach, Jennifer provides principal based resources in a fun, humorous and caffeinated way. If you're sick of the same old selling, booking and recruiting tips and want to have more fun in your business by making it YOURS, then visit Jennifer at http://www.BeASuccessInProgress.com .

Lifesaver Recruiting Game

2009-07-01T09:19:00.006-05:00

(This new game idea was shared anonymously, and was featured in today's issue of Ferf's Ezine: "Info Buffet". If you're not subscribed already, get your behind over there and make it happen! Your business is waiting!) ;)

LIFESAVER RECRUITING GAME

This is a fun twist to recruiting. Take rolls of 5 flavor Lifesaver candies (the small, mini rolls will do).
At your presentations, open a roll of Life-Savers and give everyone one. Announce that just as you wouldn't eat candy in front of them without sharing with EVERYONE --not just a select few--you want to share with everyone why your business can be a lifesaver for them. Then ask, "Do you feel like you are going in circles, like this candy? You don't know the beginning from the end. Well, here's a lifesaver for each of you!"
Now ask, "who has a YELLOW LIFESAVER? Yellow means I have a BRIGHT BUSINESS...it's a happy environment because I get to show people like you how to use our products, give gifts to wonderful hostesses, share my business with people who want to work in a bright, happy business, all while helping my family by earning more and being home.
Speaking of HOME, who has a RED LIFESAVER? Red means LOVE. I love to work from home with the people I love most. And, I also love our products and showing others how to profit from our products by doing parties.
Who has a CLEAR lifesaver? The reasons for joining this company are CRYSTAL CLEAR, like this lifesaver. It's a home-based business and you don't have to fight rush hour traffic!" (List one or two reasons that really make you and your company stand out, like gifts, trips, automobiles, getting paid every week, begin your business with little financial outlay, personal service...)
"If you're ready to get GOING, the light is GREEN!" (See which guests have a GREEN lifesaver.) "Not only does GREEN mean GO, it also stands for money. Now that you know more about this company, and how it can be a lifesaver to you, ORANGE you glad you're here to find out more? If so, visit with me after the party and I'll see you home with your own roll of LifeSavers and we'll discuss more about how you can savor your life and business!"

What a clever, new and quick way to share what you do. This can be one of many recruiting seeds planted throughout a presentation. (Granted, this one may not be as subtle as some, but seeds come in all shapes and sizes.) Using a visual as we share can be incredibly effective because it's memorable. Think these guests will ever look at Lifesavers the same way? Probably not.

Hard Work Will Get You There

2009-06-22T06:00:00.005-05:00

"Hard Work Will Get You There" - Anonymous

What are the things that you're longing in life?
What are your dreams? Your ambitions?
What are the steps you've been taking, my friend?
What are your rules? Your conditions?

What are you doing, to better your life?
Is your heart full of joy and contentment?
Are you full of love? A song on your heart?
Or bitter with gloom and resentment?

Life isn't easy. No bowl of cherries.
Fact it is, often, quite tough.
People give up, too easy, too often.
They don't live their lives full enough.

Life is a gift, that is meant to be savored.
Lived to the fullest each day.
The work that you do, is accounted to you,
by the time that it leaves you to play.

Hard work is the way that you get the things done,
that you say, every day, you will do.
Hard work is the key to success, to the top.
If that's what's desired of you.

Hard work is the difference, tween winning and losing.
Of all that your life will consist.
The difference of possibly having it all.
Or of having to, only exist.

The choice is a simple one. What will it be?
It's time that you sit down and faced it.
Will you do good with the rest of your life
Or sit back and, more or less, waste it?

Glory is out there. Yes fortune and fame,
are waiting for me and for you.
Let the decision, you make today
forever affect what you do.

Assertiveness Explored

2009-06-15T06:05:00.000-05:00

"Assertiveness Explored" - By Valerie Montgomery, MA, NCC Personal & Image Counselor

How do you define assertiveness? How would your best friend define it? What about your family?

In American culture there are unspoken rules about what is rude, polite, or offensive. Many of us shy away from stating the obvious at risk of being called rude or insensitive. But, whose feelings are we responsible for anyway? Consider the following scenario:

Becky asks her friend, Ruth, for a ride to her mechanic's garage to pick up her repaired car. Ruth knows that she has other plans to go to lunch with another friend. What does she choose? She could feel obligated and say yes to Becky, she could yell at Becky for expecting help all the time, or she could say no respectfully. The rules you have grown up with will likely determine what you would say to Becky.

There are two extremes for how to handle a situation like the one described above. One extreme is to say yes to Becky which may lead to a building resentment within you that could lead to distancing of the relationship eventually. This is called Passive.

The other extreme would be to blame Becky for your feelings of being infringed upon. This leads to blame and anger. "You always want me to take care of you!" This would also lead to distance in your relationship. This is called Aggressive.

There is another alternative and hope for building up the relationship with your friend: Assertiveness. Assertiveness means recognizing your reality honestly while considering if you want to forgo your plans in preference of your friend's. This freedom is called Assertiveness. It means being true to whom you are and what you want and need, while being able to consider putting your friend's needs first. It's this freedom of choice that can lead to a free willingness to invest in another person.

Being in this state of personal awareness leads to balance: Balance of being able to live somewhere between Passive and Aggressive. Consider the following behaviors. You may want to take some time to think honestly about how you handle situations.

... If you find yourself in either extreme of (passive, assertive, aggressive) behaviors, consider keeping a journal of when this happens. Read books on this topic. Be honest for yourself and your relationships. Ask for feedback from others in your life about what they see in you. Be open to hearing what they perceive about your reactions or feelings. After all, you cannot really know how you come across to others if you do not ask them. Think about talking to a safe person about your feelings after doing these things. A counselor may be a safe person for you to talk to about this.

Let's talk about how you express who you are. Do you even know? Exploring who you are and how you come across to others in your world can bring benefit to yourself and to those who are important to you. ...Being true to yourself and to your wants and needs can lead to a new freedom of relationship with yourself and ultimately with others in your life.

...What is holding you back from being who you want to be? Maybe your fear or obligations are holding you back. Old rules from your past may be holding you hostage to some rulebook that is really a relic from someone else's experience. It is easier to hold to these old patterns. This is another example of being Passive. Think about it. Are you being Assertive with your life choices? Trying something new is not easy, but it is well worth it. You will grow, and others around you will notice and be inspired by your courage.

Valerie Montgomery, MA, NCCPersonal & Image Counselor As shared on Network of Business Women

A Sassy Affair? Scandalous!

2009-06-13T12:37:00.004-05:00

Mark your Calendar and plan to attend:

A Sassy Affair Shopping Extravaganza!
Sponsored by Sassy Sisters In Sales
June 27, 2009
11:00- 3:00 pm EST

Multiple vendors representing a variety of products. There is something for everyone.

Games, Prizes, Special Deals, Exclusive Savings!

Invite your friends - they won't want to miss this either! All of our guests will be entered for a chance to win fabulous prizes , but you must REGISTER !!!!!!!

Event will take place in the Momchats Vendor Fair chatroom. Simply enter your name, no password needed. Once logged in you'll be in "the lounge". At the top of the box click on the arrow & choose the Vendor Fair room. A moderator will be available to welcome you to the affair and update you with links of who is presenting. Sit back and enjoy the fair! Chime in with questions or comments anytime.

If you are a vendor and are interested in participating in future events, go to Sassy Sister Events and visit the schedule page to see which dates and slots are available (see terms for more details). This is a free event.

Come Join The Fun!

Follow Your Dream

2009-06-07T19:59:00.007-05:00

Follow your dream
wherever it leads
don't be distracted
by less worthy needs...

Shelter it, nourish it,
help it to grow
Let your heart hold it
down deep where dreams go.

Follow your dream
pursue it with haste;
Life is too precious
too fleeting to waste...

Be faithful, be loyal,
then all your life through
the dream that you follow
will keep coming true.

~ Larry S. Chengges

Nine Ways To Do A Show!

2009-04-28T17:33:00.004-05:00

By Shari Hudspeth

Nine Ways To Do A Show! Here is an idea that will make scheduling shows a lot more fun! Today's Hostess is busier than ever. To make booking a show more appealing, use the following activity at your shows: To get group involvement, I suggest you write these nine ideas on an index card. Have the guest read the ideas one at a time. After each idea is read, explain it briefly. Make a separate card for yourself with clues to remind you what to say until you become familiar with them.

Customer card - 9 Ways To Do A Show
1. Traditional Evening
2. Day Show
3. Stop and Shop
4. Theme Party
5. Fund Raiser
6. Co - Host
7. Restaurant
8. Saturday Multiple Choice
9. Open House

Consultant card
1. This is the way most of us are used to hosting a show.
2. For those of you who are home during the day, we can do a morning or afternoon show.
3. You’ll find this one easy. There’s no cleaning or preparation. We can do it at lunch or after work and you have a captive audience!
4. These can add an element of fun to your party. Make it a deck party, couples party, or ice cream social (you provide the ice cream and each guest brings a different topping).
5. These can be extremely rewarding. Do you belong to an organization that could use our products for something worthwhile? Host a show and the organization gets the Host credit!
6. Here is a another fun way to host! Partner with your sister or your best friend. One of you hosts the show at your home and the other brings the snacks. You each invite your own guests and receive the credit for the orders of those guests. It's just easier and more fun!
7. This one is as easy as it gets – and super fun! You get free product, and you and your friends get a dinner out together. I’ll bring a few products with me and casually share a little information about these products during our time together.
8. Saturday is my most popular day, so I offer three different time frames to accommodate you – 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
9.Casual shopping with personal service.

What’s great about this activity is, customers who weren't even considering hosting a show say, “A deck party, that would be so much fun!" or "I never thought about a restaurant party!" It just gives them so many more options and can be a real “Aha” moment for your guests! I do want to share with you that the Saturday multiple choice idea was a huge “Aha” moment for me when I first heard someone train on it. It had never occurred to me that I could do three shows in one day. It made great sense: I was already leaving the house. I already had my kit packed and my Hostess and recruiting packets ready. Why not schedule more than one show in a day while I was already out and about? Even if you did two on Saturday or Sunday twice a month that would be four shows in two days! The BIG perk I saw in doing multiple shows on Saturday was that my customers knew that I did this. When they made the decision to join my team, they would naturally do the same thing because they saw me doing it. It was one of the things that contributed to a high-selling Central Team and down line!

Article by Shari Hudspeth, Provided by The Direct Selling Women's Alliance Copyright 2003

Economic "Whoa"

2009-03-05T22:10:00.005-06:00

It's everywhere right now: tv, newspapers, billboards, radio, the water cooler at work, etc. It seems everywhere we go now, someone is talking about the economy, and it's usually negative. Discussions of the housing crash, foreclosures, lay-offs, bank fails, bankruptcy, credit levels, bailouts, and "the worst economy since the Great Depression" are popping up everywhere. What we're NOT hearing enough of is that some of the greatest businesses, brands, empires and associations had their start during a questionable economy! While I'll admit, the current downturn is indeed historic, it's a drop in the bucket compared to the drawn out 22 year depression in the US from 1873 to 1895 (sparked by the Vienna stock market crash). During that time a great deal of Fortune 500 companies & major corporations - recognizeable even today - launched their debut including Eli Lilly, Hershey's, Merck, Gillette, IBM, Alcoa, AT&T, Chevron, GE, J&J, Coors, Johnson Controls, and Bristol-Meyers to name a few.

During the Great Depression (1929-1939) companies such as Texas Instruments, HP, and 20th Century Fox were launched. (Mind you, the stock market was crashing nearly 90% and unemployment rates hit near 30% during that time!) Other periods like the Oil shock and market crash of '73-'76 generated companies like Microsoft, Genetech and Apple. In the early '80s when mortgage rates were peaking at nearly 21% companies were beginning to blossom such as Sun, E*Trade, Adobe and Symantec. And even more companies have emerged through trying times - look at Sports Illustrated, MTV, Federal Express, Burger King and IHOP. Good grief - why does this happen? What did they know/do?

Well, for one thing, they realized that spending doesn't come to a complete hault during a soft economy. They embraced the fact that people become more selective. People work harder, nay they search harder for getting more value for their money. However, spending still occurs. Because of this, these companies knew their market, they knew what triggered interest and spending within their company and product line. They sought out their customers' needs and found a way to fill them. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

Instead of waiting around for our entrepreneurial turn at bailout money, I believe it's time to focus on what we CAN do with our business to become more productive. What need can your product fill? Better yet, what need can YOU fill? How can you be creative with what you have to offer so you begin to stand out and become a long-lasting "brand" yourself?? Did you know that according to the DSA, the highest percentage of recruits have been obtained during an economic recession/downturn? Do you realize what this means for your business? BIG things! Whether you prefer to build a team or not, your company has a solution that many people are currently seeking. It's almost the proverbial fish jumping into the boat! Take this time seriously, and focus on what can really happen in your business. This is not the time for cutting back on your business and confirming that it's turned into a "hobby", no way. Now more than ever is the perfect time to focus on building your team - a motivated team! What joy you all will experience when you can look back and say "we made it through"! Now more than ever is the time to perform incredible, unmatched customer service! I can almost guarantee that because of the severe lack in service right now, when you take care of your customers properly they will be loyal for years to come! Grow your customer base - make them fans of you, your business, your product. Make it happen today. Sure, it's getting ugly out there, there's no denying it. But you were made for greatness, and greatness doesn't recognize hard times as "hard times". Managed properly, your services will thrive. The trick is to stay alive just one day longer than those who decide it's too tough.

© 2009 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEBSITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is founder and editor of "Info Buffet" a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An Author, Speaker and Success Coach, Jennifer provides principal based resources in a fun and humorous way. If you're ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com .

Example Press Release

2009-02-26T22:06:00.006-06:00

Writing a Press Release for your business is an incredible way to get the word out about your new business. But did you realize that Press Releases are not limited to "Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Local woman starts a new business with ABC Company!" type messages? They can be truly effective as an announcement for each new catalog, or supplemental catalog. Even better yet, issue a press release when you promote or when you're honored with recognition at your annual conference. Anything news-worthy is welcomed with open arms. Obviously, a great place to start with press releases is in your local media - they love receiving new material from locals. An online resource I recommend is http://www.pressexposure.com and the best part is: it's FREE! Below is an example of one of my recent press releases on becoming a new consultant.

INSPIRANZA DESIGNS WELCOMES LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR AS NEWEST CONSULTANT

(Date, City, State) Local Entrpreneur Jennifer Stoll today announces the launch of her Inspiranza Designs business.

As an independent Inspiranza Designs Consultant, Stoll will be presenting high quality, sterling silver and gemstone jewelry at in-home shows. "Our Hostesses receive tremendous benefits, including FREE jewelry, exclusive gifts and half price selections," she says. "Customers enjoy fantastic savings with a unique special each month. Plus, every item includes a Lifetime Warranty."

An extensive variety of styles are available from traditional to trendy. "My goal is to help people find their own personal style," says Stoll. "I'll show you how to add your personality to popular trends and make your current wardrobe pop!"

It's this attention to detail that makes Stoll's business stand out. She provides personal service and unique access to the trends and styles you want most.

"I'm thrilled to be part of a company that offers beautiful, sterling silver jewelry, an amazing Lifetime Replacement Warranty and the opportunity to achieve unprecedented success in my own business!"

Stoll invites people to contact her for more information about Inspiranza Designs, how to receive incredible benefits by hosting a jewelry show or how to start your very own Inspiranza Designs business.

Jennifer Stoll
(phone number)
http://www.InspiranzaDesigns.com/Ferfer

About Inspiranza Designs
Inspiranza Designs is a unique direct selling opportunity offering sterling silver fashion jewelry through personalized in-home demonstrations. The company's goal is to improve the lifestyles of its Consultants, Hostesses and Customers by providing top quality products at an affordable price and unparalleled opportunities. Inspiranza Designs connects women to their dreams, from obtaining beautiful jewelry to empowering their financial futures. For further information, contact the Consultant listed above, visit www.inspiranzadesigns.com or call 1-888-925-4386.

Simple enough, wouldn't you say? Follow the same type of format for press releases on new catalogs, promotions, etc. Most importantly, make sure press releases of this nature are approved by your company. If it's news-worthy, make it a press release!

© 2009 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com/.

"Recipe for Relaxation" - a Great Recruiting Gift Idea

2009-02-19T14:27:00.008-06:00

So you have a prospect who is VERY interested in your business opportunity. You have your opportunity packets all set & ready to go - always on hand - and as you hand her your cute little packet you arrange to chat with her to make sure this business is a fit for her & her family. Ever wonder what happens between the time she receives the packet & the time you chat with her?? (You DO chat with her after giving her the packet, right? I thought so.) I'll tell you what happens during that time: if she's really serious about it, she's researching this biz like crazy! She's writing out pros and cons, she's taking note of important details from your site & your packet. She's asking around to see if there's any interest... the list goes on. Wouldn't it be great if all prospects were this involved?? Truth be told, most prospects are looking into it, but life happens in between peeks at the opportunity packet. The kids got into something they shouldn't have, the dog made a mess on the carpet - again - and hubby can't find the scissors. For Pete's sake! :) What can we do to stay in the minds of our ever-busy prospects?? Share the "Recipe for Relaxation" as a special gift - a "thank you" for taking the opportunity packet & considering the business.

Here's what you need: party favor type cellophane bags, tea or gourmet hot chocolate, a small candle (like small "dinner light" candles for placesettings or a votive & holder), sample size bath fizzies or salts, and a delicious chocolate (make it worth-while like a Godiva, or even better yet Merci chocolates - can be found at WalMart; get it? Merci? I digress.)

Arrange all of these gifts with a little "foo-foo" confetti in the party favor bag and please be sure to be tasteful & make sure the chocolates are not going to make contact with the bath product or candle - yucky taste!! In Word, create some little notes (to tuck into the bag) that say the following:

Recipe for Relaxation
Make yourself a nice soothing beverage
Light a candle
&
Relax in a warm bath while thinking of the possibilities of what (Company) could do for you.
(The chocolate is an added bonus) :)
Next, don't think about the business at all for the rest of the night. Go to bed & sleep on it. If you find yourself thinking about the business between the time you wake up & noon - even for just a brief moment - then something's telling you to move forward with this & try it out.

Isn't that a nice gift?? She'll be thinking about the business for sure, and the great thing is you now have a conversation starter when you call to chat about the business. "Sue, did you take the time to 'relax' and think about what (Company) could do for you??" She won't forget you at all; in fact she'll appreciate the fact that you put her first. The timing might not be right for her, and that's okay. She will remember the lovely gift you gave her & will know exactly who to go to when the timing is right.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?

Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com/.

There May Be Hope Yet

2009-02-15T22:50:00.005-06:00

It's no secret that Direct Sales tends to get a bad name, particularly from those who don't completely understand exactly how it works and how it can drastically change people's lives for the better. Recently, however, I've seen Direct Sales mentioned with high regard in the media (which let's face it, means alot). To that I say "FINALLY"! There may be hope yet for Direct Sales to gain the name it deserves - a dern good one. We've seen many women reach six and seven figure incomes as a result of their Direct Sales business; women who in corporate society would have never otherwise come close to that sizeable income. This didn't fall into their laps by any means. It's hard work. It's consistent work. It's meaningful work, and that very well may be one of the greatest reasons WHY they've excelled so far. I'm excited to see these updates on what is normally a stream of bad news. I normally avoid the nightly news because the reports are either so unbelievably negative and sad or completely useless information. However, on occasion, there are a few diamonds in the rough. Watch this short CBS Evening News report:

I've heard time and time again that during a recession two things increase in sales: booze and lipstick - both because people want to feel good. I must say though that it's not simply the cosmetic companies that will be feeling and seeing an increase in both sales and consultant sign-ups. People are now searching for low-cost solutions to fill their needs of additional income and socializing. Because of incredibly dedicated, educated and experienced Direct Sellers, more and more people are coming to realize that a business opportunity in Direct Sales is an incredible option. Look what MSNBC's Mad Money had to say:

Now trust me, I'm the first to admit it's hard to stomach his cheezy sound effects, but the man has a point. And notice the longevity of the companies he discusses - they've seen quite a few moments of economic down-turn. What's the deal?? Consistency, my dear friend. I'm doubtful they've EVER sat back, put their feet up and hoped for the best. They understand it's hard, consistent, meaningful work that got them there and they understand that's what it will take to continue this incredible growth. How about you? Do you have a grasp of what you have before you?? We're making history here, dear friends, big time. Now is the time to shine, baby! Work that consistency NOW - I'm telling you it will pay off. We're at the gate, the roller coaster is about ready for us to hop on. It's about time Direct Sales is beginning to get some decent recognition! Buckle up, keep your arms and hands inside your vehicle at all times and enjoy the ride.

© 2009 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com/.

Love and All that Mushy Stuff

2009-02-12T23:15:00.003-06:00

I seriously wasn't going to do it. I wasn't going to do it for my ezine subscribers and I wasn't going to do it here; but alas - the love bug has splattered the windshield (well "dashboard" I suppose, depending on how you look at it). Terrible Blogger joke - so sorry. Yep, I wasn't going to bring up the whole subject of LOVE the week of Valentine's day. (Mostly because we're already saturated with all the cheesy lovey-dovey sentiments we could possibly endure.) However, I came across this great excerpt from Iyanla Vanzant's insight in Until Today and found it so fitting - what better time to share, right?

"I will know love when I realize... love offers me many things that I may not always see.

Living, Learning, Light, Luminosity, Law

Opportunity, Oneness, Openness

Vastness, Versatility, Virtue, Victory

Enlightenment, Eternity, Endurance, Endeavor

Until today, you may not have recognized some of the less obvious elements of love. Just for today, look beyond what you know to the hidden gifts, blessings and beauty of loving yourself and others. Today I am devoted to going beneath the surface of love."

My thoughts drifted, as they tend to do, to how SO many truly incredible women sell themselves short. SO many women rarely get the credit they deserve let alone give it to themselves. SO many women get the occasional "pat on the back" if the calendar says to do so (Valentine's, Mother's Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries...). So many women spend far more time looking at what could improve (weight, hair, skin...) and far less time embracing what's already theirs. When was the last time you showed yourself love - TRUE love?? Do you appreciate the gifts you've been given? Do you stand tall in confidence with each new accomplishment or hurry up & move on to the next thing on your list? Celebrate the moments that matter most. John Morgan so wonderfully pointed out "Be on the look out for life's little moments. You may look back & realize they were the big moments." Brian Tracy says "The people you love, and who love you, are the real measure of how well you are doing." We should be including ourselves in the list of those we love & who love us. How about your business; do you love your business? I don't mean the kind of love that involves how much you like the product & how fun your 'job' is - I mean are you showing it the affection & attention it deserves and needs in order to flourish? I'll close with a favorite quote of mine from Maya Angelou "Love life, engage it, give it all you've got. Love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it."

Blessings to you, my friends!

Hugs!

Let Your Business Lead You

2009-02-04T16:16:00.003-06:00

Anyone who has had a chance to get to know me has discovered I'm one of those gals that likes to keep just about everything. It's funny because when I (attempt to) organize my office, I come across things that make me think "why one earth did I save this". Other times I'm very thankful I held onto what others would have most likely thrown away. Today I was perusing through some old notes and came across a great little something I saved from Christine Kloser. I simply had to share it here with you.

Let Your Business Lead You

Let it guide you

to those places in your heart you have yet to discover.

Let it call your soul

to be fully expressed and engaged in the world.

Let it be the way

for you to contribute your unique gifts to the world.

Let it be your tool

for making the planet a better place

Let it be your vehicle

for leaving a legacy long after you are gone.

Let it be YOU...

...mind and body, heart and soul.

~Christine Kloser~

I always talk about setting yourself apart in your business and branding yourself. When you allow your business to do and be all these things, it really becomes YOUR business. Do you feel you're simply a representative of great products or do you have a solution for those around you? Can you really make a difference? Perhaps your incredible customer service or perky smile is a breath of fresh air to your customers or maybe your humor lightens their load for the day. What is uniquely yours that you can offer today? Make it happen.

TAG - I'm it!

2009-02-04T15:19:00.006-06:00

I've been tagged by my friend and fellow Sassy Sister over at Bold & Beautiful Party Girl in a fun little game called:

"What kind of purse do YOU carry?"

Here's how this works:

1. Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you cannot go into your closet and pull out that cute little purse you used back when, you know, you "had a life". We want to know what you're carrying NOW.

2. We want to know how much you paid for it. This is not to judge - sheerly for entertainment purposes only. So spill it! And if there happens to be a story to go along with how you obtained your purse (a.k.a. "luggage"), we'd love to hear about it!

3. Tag some gals and link back to this post so people know why on earth you're yammering about your bag!

I have to admit, when I first heard I'd been "tagged" I wasn't so sure I wanted to even look at what I knew I'd be pulled into. But this was fun so hey, why not!?! Now before you harp on me for "going to my closet to grab my cutesie bag" this really IS what I carry! Can I help it that I'm a bit of a diva?? I think not. *snicker*

I honestly flip back & forth between the two. They're both "designer inspired". The striped one came from a wholesale site - I don't even remember which one - and was $14. (Tee hee!) I was supposed to be ordering hostess incentive gifts & just 'happened' to come across this purse. Couldn't resist it at that price. The white one came from my friend Debbi's mamabags biz and was just under $20. It was a birthday present to myself on my hubby's behalf. ;)

So now I pass the torch to:

Lisa --> Real Life Marketing

Andrea --> Andrea Baker Designs

Jean May --> Jean May Originals

Jo Ann --> Retro Recycled Jewelry

Ketty --> Detail Diva Events

Have fun girls!! ;)

I am...

2009-01-29T15:29:00.004-06:00

I am a child of God
...a wife
...a mother
...a daughter
...a sister
...a friend
...an aunt
...a cousin
...a shoulder to cry on
...an ear that hears
...a hug that brings comfort
...a gift
...an entrepreneur
...AMAZING
...truly blessed
...creative
...UNIQUE
...trustworthy
...respected
...able to get back up when life tries to knock me down

... a goddess...

...me.

My bio always includes "Domestic Goddess turned Mompreneur". While I'm no domestic equivalent to the likes of Martha Stewart or the Brady Bunch's Alice, I've been able to hold my own when it comes to making our house a home. The above list goes on, but I wanted to share a few things that manifested when I took the time to relax and focus on what makes me "me". :) Today's post is about remembering to do something for yourself. One can never give from an empty cup. If the most you can do for yourself today is reflect on who you are, you'll be able to center on SO much more and in peace.

My friend Kristy Nichols, aka Average Goddess, made this incredible video; I just HAD to share!

2009 is YOUR time to shine! Make it happen, baby!
Blessings to you!

Dear Ferfie,

2009-01-21T17:14:00.004-06:00

This week I thought it would be fitting to address a question that was brought up in a regional training event at which I was a speaker recently. It caused quite a commotion in the room, I'm sure you can imagine all the murmuring and whispering. "Gasp! I'd never do that..." "Oh, that's happened to me before, now I want nothing to do with that company..." blah blah blah. The question was:

"As a vendor (for a craft fair or even online) do we really have to send the door prize we offered or can we just collect the leads and pretend there was no winner?"

This was a very sincere question and trust me, plenty of consultants had their fair share of 2 cents to add. I'd like to think that this question should never have a need to be asked, but let's face it - it's a dern good question considering one technically could just collect the leads and nobody would ever know, right? Well... there's a great deal of ethics to consider. Okay, first things first. If you're offering a raffle/door prize, you are making the commitment to give this item away. Done. If your intention is to hoard names for your list by using the bait & switch method, then I seriously question your integrity. That puts a huge damper on you AND your business. If you're not going to give the prize, don't offer the prize.

"But Ferf, I want to add to my list and don't have a whole lot of money to shell out for prizes." No problem. People will sign up for your mailing list if they're made aware of the VALUE you can share. They're not going to sign up if they assume their inbox is going to be inundated with "here's my special... shop with me 24/7... I'd like you to host... can you help a girl out by placing an order... by the way did you know I'm in business?" And I'm going to tell you something right now, because so many reps have been doing this with their mailing lists, the passers-by at these vending events assume you are no different. Make sure that they know they will be getting articles of interest, tips, ideas, special VIP savings only available to people on your list... be creative with it. They need to know that you do not want to send them anything they do not want, and they can opt out at any time. If this is not made clear, they won't share their information. Respect their privacy.

Another great way to get people's information at these events is to have them fill out a slip (essentially like a door prize form) stating that they've received one of your catalogs. As long as they're willing to fill out this form, they can take a catalog home with them that day. If not, then sorry no catalog. Why waste the expense of investing in and passing out 50 catalogs that are going to end up who knows where?? If you're hoping that those catalogs will end up at an office somewhere, that's really sweet but think about all the catalogs & brochures you've received from events like this. Where are they right now? Trash? Under a pile of other catalogs, papers & brochures somewhere? Thought so. On the slip you're having them fill out, they have the opportunity to be alerted if items go on special. This is when you can send them your newsletter/info about specials because you DO have their permission. This is called operating your business with authenticity and most importantly INTEGRITY.

Let's just say, for the sake of example, that you end up offering a prize but don't actually send it and someone finds out somehow. Ouch! That's integrity? Not so sure that person will be doing business with you anytime soon, and I'm certain that person won't be sending referrals your way either. "People more attention pay to what you do than what you say." If you're operating on integrity, you wouldn't even consider making empty promises. Sure, life happens and there might be a delay in getting the prize out the door. Understandable, we're only human. :)

Conclusion? Operate on integrity, give value - and for Pete's sake, send the prize you offered, it's only right.

Hugs!

© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com/.

What Direct Sales Consultants Can Learn from Deadliest Catch

2009-01-14T14:15:00.006-06:00

Have you ever seen the show, Deadliest Catch? (Or at least seen the commercials for it?) We haven't seen every episode ourselves, but we have tuned in a few times to see what the hub-bub was all about. Even if you haven't seen the show - or the commercial for that matter - you'll still get the basic idea of this post. ;) Essentially, viewers follow eight crab-fishing vessels as they go about their "normal" work day. But this is far from your typical rod & reel retreat; virtually every moment at sea is captured as the captains & crew endure struggles and weather conditions that make their jobs one of the deadliest - thus the name of the show. So what can Direct Sales/Party Plan consultants learn from Deadliest Catch?

Let's dive in (pun intended, so sorry) to the concept here. The crew uses gigantic 800-pound cages called crab pots to bait & capture their ideal Alaskan crabs. There's a strategy to placing these crab pots as well as making sure the floating markers don't catch on anything - or anyone - as they're being cast over the edge of the vessel. It's a great deal of work (by the looks of it anyhow, never tried it myself, but I digress) especially considering their ship is being tossed about by waves that literally envelope the deck. It's even more difficult in the midst of a storm, but the job needs to be done (and, quite frankly, the show must go on). So I'm sure by now you're thinking "yes, Ferf, we should be 'casting our nets' out there to find our host & recruit prospects, we already know that". Novel idea, yes, but that's not where I was going with this. ;) As these massive crab pots are cast into the sea, they don't stand around and wait. They move on to yet another area and "bah-loop", into the sea another pot goes. They're not hanging all their hopes on one pot. They also realize the task is far from over. Is it conceivable that one or more of those pots could come up empty, or with very few crabs? Absolutely. Harsh truth for a crew who just plummeted an 800-pound crab hotel into the sea. Do you think the crew pouts when this happens? Well, perhaps a few newbies, but the learned members of the crew know as well as the captain that there's more "business to be had", they just need to move on to another area. Do you think a captain would be a captain for long of he continuously griped "We can't seem to get anywhere with this business"? (Hello, leadership tip! Leaders understand there is great diversity in business and where business can be found! They also understand the term "speed of the leader, speed of the pack" - leaders with the "I can't" or "We can't" mindset will have a team who "can't".) So again, the crew would move on to another area if the pot came up empty. The next place may turn up with the same results. What really intrigued me about the few episodes I saw was this: the experienced captains KNEW the best areas, they could easily spy/seek/find/recognize the ultimate nesting ground, head the vessel in that direction and BOOM - loads of crab! (So glad there wasn't a typo on that... just sayin'.)

I noticed that as the crew hoisted these massive crab pots onto the ship, they wouldn't just hoard every crab for the taking and say "alright, good enough" nor were they satisfied with the great number of crabs they caught. We tend to do that in our direct sales business, don't we? Take every customer, hostess & recruit we can cuz there are prizes to be won, there's money to be made and there are records to break - we're just SO happy to have them no matter who they are or what they can really do for the business. Do you really want just anybody and everybody? Let's go back to the Deadliest Catch analogy; The crew has to sort through and keep only the crabs that regulation allows, or the ones that will - let's face it - return the most profit. They handle each one in a manner 1) not to get pinched and 2) not to damage the crabs - they make sure the crabs are in the environment they're most comfortable/used to - water. What happens later on is a completely different story, what I wanted to drive home is how they handle them NOW while they have the crabs. In your direct sales/party plan business, what are your regulations? I'm not talking about regulations that your company has in place, I mean what regulations to you have in place as a real catch (pun intended again) for customers, hostesses & recruits? Have you compiled a list of what your ideal customer, hostess and recruit is? If they don't meet your "regulation", do you think they'll really bring you the business you need or simply cause headaches, grief and cost you money? If they're not a perfect fit, then you're basically trying to jam a square peg into a circular hole. If you haven't made a list of your ideal prospects, your "pot" has been coming up empty or with very few I'm sure. Like the experienced captain, scope out the area - where do the best ones nest? Where are your ideal prospects going to be? Go there. How will you handle them? Give them great service, be on time, etc so you won't "get pinched". (An angry customer, hostess or recruit can have really nasty pinchers!) For hostesses, are you invading their environment by barging in with your product hoping there are people and sales? Or are you partnering up with your hostess and doing what you can to make HER guests feel as welcome and comfortable as possible? Remember, even though it's your product, and your business, it's HER house and HER friends that she's been gracious enough to introduce you to. Be thankful for that. Her guests are not there for you and your product - they're there because the hostess invited them to see you and your product in her home.

It's time for you to perform, make something happen in your business. Don't just sit around hoping that the bait you cast out on one rod & reel trip is going to generate the exponential business growth you desire/deserve. Yes, cast the net, but cast several different nets to suit the different areas and people you're seeking. The Deadliest Catch crew doesn't use just any bait for their Alaskan crabs, they use what they know will work for exactly what they are seeking. You can too.

(photo courtesy http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/deadliestcatch/about/about.html )

© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com/.

*If planning to use photo as well, please give credit where credit is due.*

"If Not Now, When"

2008-12-31T18:20:00.007-06:00

On this final day of 2008 I want to not only extend my wishes to you for Success & Blessings in the New Year, but I also feel compelled to share this great thought as the world reflects on the past year & sets out to move forward in 2009.

Now more than any time throughout a given year, people from all over are setting goals - or at least have thought about preparing to set goals (tee hee!) - for the new year. Now is the time that commitments are being made to finally step up to the plate and make things happen, be it losing weight, business growth, etc. So why lose momentum halfway through February? Not enough pepper on that launch? Within each of us is the incredible ability to accomplish anything we set our minds to! Isn't your business worth great success?

In your party plan business - in your life - do you realize you're not the only one out there setting the goal to be #1, to be successful, to be extraordinary? January 1st offers a clean slate for everyone. Even the top leaders in your company have $0 in sales at some point on the first of the month. If you don't step up to the plate and jump on in there, somebody else will. If you don't stay committed to your goals - even halfway through February - somebody else will. If you don't get those bookings, somebody else will. If you don't get those prospects, sales, opportunities, events, recruits... somebody else will. If you don't get those things NOW, when? Why hurry up and wait? Worry and fear have never served anyone anything but bondage. (What a delightful picture, bondage on a silver platter.) When mid-February rolls around, will you remain on target? Ask yourself each and every day "If Not Now, When"? Your gain will be a direct result of your efforts; how great will your gain be? That is entirely up to you. Abundance is yours! You CAN be unstoppable - there are no limits. Make your life extraordinary - begin with today!

Wishing you a New Happy Year! Yes, a "New Happy Year" - because this and every year is a happy one if you make it so.

Success and Blessings to you in the New Year!

© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com/.

Are You Already Ready Already?

2008-12-29T22:23:00.006-06:00

I know, I know, redundancy abounds with me. But you have to admit - that title is awefully fun to say - and very thought provoking! So, seriously, are you already ready already for 2009? I've had to remind myself numerous times just this week that September has come and gone and the new year is literally around the corner. Talk of resolutions is in full swing both off and online, and I'm finding that many people are asking "will you have any resolutions in the new year?" or "do you plan to have any resolutions?" and this cracks me up. Let me ask this - why do we need to hurry up and wait? Why must the starting line for 'resolutions' be on the 1st of the year? Was this universal law written by the same people who said 'thou shalt not wear white after labor day'? (If that's really taboo then ignore my new handbag, mkay? Just sayin'.)

Now really, be an over-achiever and get a head start on the majority. Does your next step really have to wait until January 1st? You're extraordinary, and extraordinarily successful people rarely follow the crowd. In fact I think it's safe to say you'll find us extraordinarily successful people a good 50 feet ahead of that crowd. That crowd is practically chasing after extraordinary, wanting to know how they too can start an unbeaten path of their own.

Sure, I understand it's nice to start on an even (or in this case odd, technically) note - after all the beginning of a new year is a great & easy way to keep track of a beginning. New year equals new beginnings. Chew on this: just think of how great it will be to say "Oh I started that already back in 2008". Holy moley, you've already tacked on what seems like an entire year, even though it's technically the end of the year. It reminds me of when we were kids and people would ask us our age. Do you remember that? We'd tack on as much as we could for the sake of experience. "I'm 8 and 3/4." These next few days count as a jump start in your business experience. Funny to think about, I know, but it's so true.

What happens if after today your resolution takes a break? Hey, you still have Jan 1st as a springboard, am I right? (Tee hee!) But what happens after a January 1st resolution takes a break. "Oh, I guess it wasn't meant to be; resolutions never stick anyway..." and by January 15th 'tis but a vapor. I say jump on the opportunity now - today - get that puppy rolling! Why hurry up and wait? There's no need to wait for a date. Your resolutions/goals/dreams are ripe on the vine. You're already ready already! Go!

© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com.

Customer Service - Delight or Disaster

2008-12-16T17:00:00.003-06:00

I must say, customer service has increasingly become a thing of the past. Are you finding the same thing? It is becoming so obsolete we are almost accustomed to NOT having genuine service when we are out and about. From calling the phone company and getting their automated system ("press 1 to hear me say the words 'press 1' again, press 2 to hear other options NOT including the ability to speak to a live human being...") to cold attitudes at department stores; customer service as we know it is indeed a lost art.

Maybe it's just me - let's see if this scenario rings true for you.

Upon approaching the 'gates' of WalMart you're greeted with a grizzly "Welcome to WalMart" (interpretation: get your stuff and get outta here, I'm only saying 'welcome' cuz I have to). As the greeter is clearly glued to the official greeter stool/bench, you almost feel compelled to say "Hey, you know what, I'll get a cart for myself - thanks - don't get up" but you want to be polite so you bite your tongue. It doesn't take you long to realize they've completely rearranged the store from last week so everything as you know it is now flipped around and in completely different aisles. (It's actually a marketing strategy to keep customers in the store longer. Their hopes are that you'll come across something you didn't realize you needed until now, thus buying more.)

Discovering that locating just one particular item from your list will now be more like a scavenger hunt, you try to find an associate to help you. Lucky to have found someone after about a 10-minute search, you hear "Oh, that's not my department so I don't know" and they walk off. You feel compelled to say "That's ok, you could use that big ol' intercom system to find the appropriate associate (hey that rhymes) but, you know, I've been looking for that item for an hour and a half, I'm sure I'll find it eventually" and you decide you don't need that item today. (Hello - lost sale.)

Now it's check-out time. Well, sort of. Only 2 out of 22 possible check-out lines are open. (I ask you, why did they build 22 check-out lines when they were only planning on opening up a few at a time? Even around the holidays only half of them are open. We wouldn't want to interrupt the important discussion between the 4 or 5 teenage checkers hanging out around the courtesy desk by asking them to - I don't know - do their job? Ok, I digress.) Exhausted, paying customers are now pooling at the front of the store, making it nearly impossible for those who are still shopping to make their way through.

Woo Hoo - now it's your turn to check out! You're thinking you can brighten her day with a smile, after all you're the chipper one of the bunch and you're a professional. Too bad she's not making eye contact, right? You're lucky to even get a 'hello' from her, let alone a smile. Instead you receive a glare of inconvenience because she's not able to engage in the teen conversation at the courtesy desk, thanks to you. The glare returns if you're not taking your bags full of twice-beeped items off that spinning carousel of doom. (I kid you not - I once had a checker who stopped scanning my items and stared at me because I didn't take my bags right away to make room on her carousel for her. After saying "Ugh!" she stomped from behind her cash register and threw my bags into my cart. Nice.) You receive a complimentary, yet swift, kick in the behind when the checker hands you your receipt. The grand finale is: NOW the greeter is kind as you're leaving and says "Thanks for shopping at WalMart." Now in all fairness, not every WalMart I have ever been to has been like this, just our local store.

Where has all the service gone? It must be where lost socks go in the laundry. I mean really, don't they understand they're in the service industry? Let's look into that a bit. Herein lies the difference: Those who lack service are working there solely to pay their bills. That's it. They're not in it to improve their skills, reach a higher goal or fulfill a lifelong dream - it's just a J-O-B to them. It's all about their perspective. So why should it make any difference to them whether or not the customer is satisfied?!? This is truly their perspective, otherwise they would behave differently on the job. You can tell the ones who are truly thankful for their jobs. We as direct sellers have a GREAT opportunity to give unbelievable customer service. It's very easy for us because there is such a lack of service everywhere we turn; so even the tiniest snippet of customer service will go a LONG way! We are in our businesses to help people (and, oh ya, the paychecks are mighty nice too). That's where we can come from a place of service and really serve our customers! What a privilege! What an honor! It's about more than making money, we're helping people and making them feel good (which, in turn, makes us feel good)! We're making a difference, leaving a legacy and building on something that will outlive us! Doesn't it make sense that our business will flourish when we come from a place of service? I can hear it now: "Hello, Customer Delight Department, my name is Jennifer. How can I serve you today? Billing discrepancy? No problem, Mark in accounting will take good care of you as that's his specialty - my pleasure to connect you!" Aaahhhh... breath of fresh air! Next time you experience a lack in customer service, and it's almost a guarantee that you will, be thankful that you can enjoy what you do. Remember, others can tell whether you're thankful for your 'job'. Makes you think about sharing the business opportunity with that 'spinning-carousel-of-doom' checker, doesn't it? Hmmmm...

© 2008 Jennifer Stoll The Stand Up Coach All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?
Please do, as long as the following blurb is included in its entirety: Entrepreneur Jennifer Stoll, The Stand Up Coach, is Founder and Editor of “Info Buffet” a free ezine for professionals in the Direct Sales/Party Plan industry. An author, speaker, and success coach, Jennifer provides principle based resources in a fun & humorous way. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, make more money and have more fun in your business then visit Jennifer at http://www.thestandupcoach.com.

The Essence of Ferf

2008-12-15T18:03:00.003-06:00

I think it's only fitting to christen this blog with a Muppet video I found on YouTube. They've captured the hearts and laughter of many, and their goofiness is an inspiration. I just love the Muppets. I don't care who you are, they're fun! Enjoy!