Begin with the End in Mind

"To begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen." - Stephen Covey

In a home based business or direct sales of any kind you have to begin with the end in mind.  Where are you going and how will you know when you have arrived?  Look down the road several years and see your destination point.  Now you have something concrete that you are working towards...so get to work.  You won't get there over night, but you can begin making progress.  Keep learning.  Keep pushing. Keep believing.  Keep working.  Make sure your activities each day are moving you closer and closer to your desired destination.

It's a Marathon, not a Sprint

Was out running this afternoon when the thought hit me that getting started in direct sales takes a marathon perspective, not a sprinter's mindset.  Most of us get started in this business because we need a change...and we need it now!  We dive into whatever company appears to give us the best opportunity and immediately begin telling everyone we know about it.  But often times, the results don't appear immediately and the natural tendency is to grow discouraged and often times quit or chase the next opportunity.

To succeed in this industry, you must think like a marathoner.  Yes, it would be great to be able to sprint out of the starting blocks and achieve great success overnight, but most of us must have the mental toughness to settle into a pace and remind ourselves that the race (this new opportunity) takes time and it will cover a great distance.  Think in 3, 5, and 10 year increments.  Be steady in how you approach it and continue to talk with new prospects.  Build your business year over year and in 5-10 years you are going to be glad that you ran the race like a marathon and not a sprint.

Choose Wisely!

It always pays to listen to those who are currently more successful than you are in the direct sales industry.  Here are 2 great quotes from a leader in our particular company that apply to any entrepreneurial venture.  

"When many people think of starting a business they tend to look for ideas or industry's where there isn't any perceived competition. This is backwards. If you're in an industry with a lot of competition that means there's also a lot of customers. No competition and probably no real market demand for your business."

"Remember when analyzing any business venture or investment opportunity. There are 2 risk/reward factors to evaluate. a) The risk of doing it is the obvious, but usually measurable b) The risk of NOT doing it. Which could cost you considerably more, usually immeasurable. Both angles must be considered. Choose wisely."  Wes Bewley

Why Consumables Make Sense for a Direct Sales Business

With so many options in the home-based business market it is often difficult to decide which business to pursue.  Let me suggest that you consider one that has quality consumables.  Why?  Here are some key reasons:

1. Quality consumables means "purpose".  If you are personally using quality consumables, it makes it much easier to sell them too.  It gives you a clear purpose.  "Here is what that product did for me" or "this is how it made me feel" or "this is how much weight I lost or energy I gained".  It becomes a personal testimony and people respond to stories that are compelling.
2. Consumables means "re-orders".  By definition, consumables only last for a brief period of time and if the customer likes them they are going to reorder.
3. Consumables means "cash flow".  Now to be fair, even if you are selling widgets or products of any kind, every time you make a sale you have cash flow.  But with consumables it is a recurring cash flow as long as your customers like the product.
4. Consumables means "time freedom".  Once you get customers on product and they like it, it almost becomes an auto-pilot kind of business.  You don't usually have to re-sell those customers on why they need to keep buying.  They just do.

You can take a look at which consumables company this author chose by following this link:  www.KnoxChampions.com 

Who do you know?

"Compiling and constantly updating your "List of Names" is essential for many reasons:

• If you don't write the names on paper, you'll be inclined to forget some.
• If you don't add to your list, it won't be long until you'll feel you've talked with everyone you know, and that can cause you to lose your momentum.
• A good way to keep your list growing instead of shrinking is by asking the people you do share your story with to give you 'referrals', such as people they know who want to lose weight, look better, perform better, and who want a better sense of well-being. Remember, if you don't ask, you won't receive.
• Few things are as important as this list; having lots of names will "keep you in the game"." 

(From AdvoCare's training)

WIIFM

Anyone involved in direct sales knows that while you may love your great products, and the business opportunity may have been exactly what you were looking for, your prospect is primarily thinking one thing...WIIFM.  What's in it for me?

If they are a product consumer prospect, they need to know it is going to give them more energy, or help them lose weight, or get stronger in the weight room, and/or look better overall.

If they are a business builder prospect, they need to hear that your opportunity has the ability to not only meet their needs but exceed them.  They want to know that it can help them pay off their debts; go on that family vacation they have been putting off due to a lack of funds; buy that new toy that they can't afford on their current budget; fund the college account for their child(ren); etc.

So tell stories!  If you don't have your own personal stories yet because you are new in the business, learn the stories of others in your company.  Weight loss stories; increased energy stories; amazing income stories; etc.

WIIFM.  Your prospects want to know.

College guys turn part-time business into 6-figure income

Listen here:  How college men turned a part-time business into full-time income