Ten Things You Need To Know To Succeed In Your Business
Hey everyone,
A new month has started and our business is growing! We are so excited about our company’s new promotion. Ken and I are going to win a laptop computer this month! It was a decision we made to go for the laptop instead of the Wii that is being offered. Our grown son wants us to choose the Wii, we love him a lot, but told him he would need to open accounts for 8 people and he could win the Wii himself. So we’ll see what he does!
What I want to share with you is information I received on an informational call the other night. I hope this helps you in having a successful home business like it has helped us.
Ten Things You Need To Know To Succeed In a Home-Based Business
by Karla Taylor
I have been in Network marketing for almost 3 years now and started like many of you probably did, looking for an extra income to pay bills. What I found, however, was much more then just a few hundred dollars. It was time freedom and eventually financial freedom. I want to share a few things I have learned along the way that have helped me not just in my business but in life in general.
When starting a home based business or any type of business for that matter you need to find something you are passionate about. If you love what you do, it will show in the way you run your business.
Here are ten things you need to know to succeed in a home-based business:
1.) Set your goals & the plan to reach them – these goals need to be both short term and long term. On your short term goals you need to establish were you want to be in your business in 30 days, 60 days etc. For long term goals where do you see yourself in a year? For example my 30 day goals were reach my first pin level and I set the steps needed to get there. For long term I set my financial blueprint.
2.) Treat your business like a business - get business cards, labels etc to portray you business in a professional manner. If you want to appeal to not only potential recruits, but customers as well, they need to see how serious you are about your business. If you go to vistaprint.com you can find affordable marketing materials there to promote your business without breaking the bank.
3.) Network - speak about your business to everyone you meet. Leave a business card or brochure with your tip when going out to eat. When waiting in line at the post office start a conversation with others waiting, that eventually leads to the question what do you do for a living? If you can, join your local Chamber of Commerce, believe me this is a great way to get not only business exposure but referrals. I met my Mary Kay and Discovery Toys reps there and I got 7 customers referrals in one month. Attend local meet ups go to meetup.com and search your area for local mom groups/work at home moms & dads, etc.
4.) Know there will be sacrifices to be made -Know that every business requires some sacrifices from you to get it off the ground. Sometimes you may have to miss your favorite show, or eat out of paper plates so you can have the time dedicated to doing dishes to put towards your business. If you have a grandma or dad or friend willing to trade baby sitting use this time to prospect. Eventually your business will grow to where you can sit back and relax because your team is duplicating your efforts. Remember they learn by example. If you are not doing it don’t expect them too. I have a gentleman that joined my team and asked me, “What did you do to get to where you are today?” I answered his question and said everything I am saying here and he promoted to the first level within 9 days.
5.) Be consistent – It is going to sound harsh, but the difference between those who make it and those who don’t is that the ones that made it where willing to do the things others were not. Even if you are sick and can only talk to 4 people a day, consistently work your business. Small steps over time create results. To quote Nike, “JUST DO IT!”
6.) Take advantage of your company’s tools – Have a sizzle call? Scripts? Training site? Use them!!! Do not ever try to reinvent the wheel. I did and it took me 3 months to make a paycheck, when I stopped and put my ego aside and started to follow the path laid in front of me by those that had succeed before me I started seeing amazing results! If you are currently reinventing the wheel get in touch with your sponsor and say okay I am listening what do I do now? And actually listen and apply these concepts, I promise you will start to see the results those before you have seen. Remember, there is a reason why such tools are in place.
7.) Be willing to grow – I am a big fan of self development. If you are willing to grow, you will notice that not only will you grow financially but in all other areas of your life as well. If you just started your business I encourage you to read “You First Year In Network Marketing” by Mark Yarnell. This book offers you a way to structure your first year. As many of you probably know by now the first year is very critical – most people will have either made it or quit within the first year. I always encourage my new teammates to read this and one of them said to me recently that had he not read this book he might have let things get him discouraged and quit, but now he feels he is not only better prepared but aware that to everything there is a learning curve.
8.) Seek professional advice – No, I am not referring to a psychologist or a lawyer. I am referring to tools out there that you can use to make your life less complicated specially your business life. Do you sometimes lack motivation? If you are in Direct Sales (and honestly even if you are not) I encourage you to visit karenphelps.com and subscribe to her monthly newsletter, not only is it free but it will give you pointers for holding and booking parties, hostess coaching. Even if you are not in Direct Sales she does hold teleconferences and gives you team leading pointers that can be beneficial to you as well. Need something to keep you on track that you can have access to everyday? Go to danijohnson.com and sign up for her free work at home profit zone. Not only will she help you grow your business but she can help with training your team! Be sure to take advantage of these tools. If you need a conference line to hold team meetings through go to www.freeconferececall.com. Need leads? Just Google your type of lead and there are literally tons of places to find them!
9.) Never Manage, Always Lead - This is a big one. 90% of people involved in a home based business make this terrible mistake. I know I have. When you recruit a new teammate send them the training info and refer them to your company training methods, be it a conference call and/or training site. Make sure to let them know you are available if they have question, but never and I stress NEVER, hold their hand through the process. It is their own home business and their success depends on them and their ability to follow the path that is already in place to get off to the right start.
I am going to tell you about my experience with this: I was eight months into my business I had over 40 teammates personally recruited, I got a new recruit and did the most horrible thing anyone can do to their business, I went into management mode. I spent three months holding her hand and training her, I even did three-way calls for her and after she cashed her check not only did she quit, but I had lost 35 of my teammates because I spend all this time with her and completely forgot to keep leading my team and I did not frontline recruit for those three months. You know what a horrible experience that was? I felt like I had failed, like I had nothing good to offer my business and I almost quit. You would think I had learned me lesson but a year and a half into my business I did it again. This time I had rebuilt my business and had leaders popping all over the place and then I went again into management mode and spent way too long with one of those leaders know what happened? Yep, she made a big fat paycheck, my team disappeared, and she left the company and took one of my other leaders with her. That was my wake up call. I did it and I am not doing it again. Please make sure you never ever do that. Is bad for your self esteem, your team and your business in general.
10.) Be willing to ask for help if you need it – I always stay in touch with my upline/sponsor and I encourage my team to keep in touch with me. Even after you reach your goals you will always need a place to brainstorm, ask for guidance in reaching your next goals and so on. If ask you shall receive so make sure you keep in touch with your sponsor, if he or she is hard to reach remember you can always go to his/her sponsor and get the same kind of help. If all else fails, seek a group of like minded individuals to connect with. Be sure, however, not to get involved with company gossip or bad mouthing. It will drag you down along with everyone else.
About the Author
Karla Taylor has been in Network Marketing for 3 years. She enjoys being a leader in her companies of choice. Her biggest passion is educating women and men alike on how having a successful home based business can give them not only financial freedom but time freedom as well. She is the mother of a wonderful 5 year old boy and a precious 2 year old girl who adores the color pink. Her and her husband and their two children live in SE Kansas and are currently helping individuals and families fulfill their dreams.
To Your Success,
Ken and Sherry
