There is always something you can be doing in your business.  Are you more of a paper-pusher or a people person?   Would you rather be on the phone connecting with prospects or booking your next show or recruiting someone new or filling, reworking documents, ordering new address labels, sorting inventory, etc.?

I tend to fall into the 2nd category.  I love to do the work behind the scenes and the thought of getting on the phone will convince me to do even the most disgusting of household chores to merely avoid calling.  This has been a downfall of my business and one that has hindered my progress long enough.  I am seizing the day and determined to get on that phone.

A saying that has helped me lately has been “I call because I care”.  I care enough about people to follow up and follow through.  While it may not be eays, I WILL succeed with this.

So, my advise to you…examine your To-done list.  What things are you completing regularly in your business and what are you putting off.  Are the things you are putting off costing you?  What can you change to get those items completed that you are avoiding?

Get those ToDo’s in order and then get ‘um done.

Awnya Boam

Time4Felt.com

Would you like to shed some extra inches and/or pounds? Do you feel like there is a happier, healthier you hidden behind some extra weight? SlenderMargo is here to help!  While this blog is still really new, I have known Margo herself for years and years and I am amazed and truly impressed with her journey.  She has been trying for years and years with many other diet plans with little or short lived success.  But now, she has found Take Shape For Life.

As and independent representative, she has lost an impressive amount of weight for her son’s wedding last year and continues to do wonderfully as she is shrinking almost daily.   At one point, I went to visit and didn’t even recognize her because she had lost so much!

On her blog, SlenderMargo she will be talking about her weight loss journey.  It will be a place where you can find support and encouragement as well as a solution to any extra pounds that you may have in a safe and effective way.

Go visit now and see what you think!

Awnya Boam

Time4Felt.com

“If you have only two pennies left in the world, with the first penny, you should buy rice to feed your family. With the second penny, say the wise Japanese, you should buy a lily. The Japanese understand the importance of dreaming…”
-unknown

Awnya Boam

Time4Felt.com

We have all heard it -”A Journey of 1000 miles begins with 1 step”. What things are you stepping towards today. Do you have set goals and a path charted on how you will get there? What safety nets do you have in place to make sure that if you do stumble and fall that you will be able to pick yourself up again and continue on? Is the goal small enough that you can get there, but large enough so that you have to stretch and push yourself?
Recently, I set a goal for myself to go to the DSWA Leadership Retreat. This is an elite group of individuals that are dedicated and truly successful. I have figured out what I need to do to get there and I’m working towards it 1 step at a time. (BTW- if you haven’t heard of the DSWA check them out right now…they are WONDERFUL).
Decide RIGHT NOW what is the 1st step you need to take and then take it before you go to bed tonight. You will feel much more accomplished AND be that much closer to the goals you want to achieve.

Awnya Boam
http://www.time4felt.com

I know its been suggested before, but I’m going to say it again.  Find a buddy for your business.  It doesn’t matter if they are in the same company as you or not, but if you connect once a week at a designated time and each set goals for the week, I believe it will help you to accomplish more!

I have recently been doing this with a group of women and have found that simply because I don’t want to go on this conference call and admit failure, I complete the goals that I have set for myself!  When I do, I feel more accomplished and my business is growing and progressing!

It only makes sense.  I don’t mind letting myself down…I can reason that away, but looking bad in front of others is completely a different story!

I wanted to share with everyone this wonderful opportunity that has been put together for us by Sarah Robinson and the Direct Selling Leaders.com.  It is a fabulous call series entitled “Profit, Purpose and Beyond“.  To Join up for these amazing topics, visit the links above.  The speakers and trainers are:

All calls are at 1pm ET and last 1 hour.  The information is invaluable and this is a opportunity of a lifetime for each and every one of us in the Direct Selling profession.

Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments section!

Enjoy!

Awnya Boam

http://www.time4felt.com/  

Today we have a guest blogger! Her name is Lisa Smith has a BA in Psychology & is the Owner/CEO of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant & toddler company featuring organic clothing lines, educational products and artwork with ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on her website regionzkidz.com that discusses cultural diversity & children & is a frequent guest blogger on other blogs and websites regarding parenting and children’s issues.
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When you own your own business, sometimes it becomes difficult to maintain your productivity year round. Because we are usually a one-woman-show however, it is important to try to maintain some sort of momentum for our business even during the slow times of the year or times when we have a lot of personal commitments that can take time away from our business. The following tips can help us all to be more productive during the down-times.
1. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN – Nothing is more effective in keeping our business running strong throughout the year than an organized business plan. Sometime during the first of the year, sit down and plan out your year in advance. Take into consideration holidays, time off and slow times for your industry and then plan your activities around those things. If you wait until the last minute to write up your plan, you may feel overwhelmed and like you don’t have the time to get everything done. You may also feel like there is nothing to do during the slow times and if there is a plan in place, it can help direct you to productive things you can be doing in your down time.
2. Always Prepare for the Next Big Thing – Always try to be one step ahead of the marketplace and buying schedule. During the slower summer months, prepare your holiday line, pricing, marketing strategy, etc. as well as the spring products you want to focus on. Staying ahead of the curve allows you to be productive and gives you a bit of wiggle room for changes and the ever famous “things that come up!”
3. Do the Little Things – We all have a list of “things” to do with our business that never seem to get done because there is always something else that is more important that comes up. During the slow times or down-times, get this list out and slowly start chipping away at smaller items. Even though these tasks are not vital, they still need to be done and you will feel much better for crossing them off the list.
4. Keep the Momentum – There are times in our business when we seem to work 24/7 and we are productive and generating good momentum, customer contacts, sales, etc. When we get through those periods, there is a tendency to slow down, take time off and stop doing things that enhance and grow our businesses. While taking some time away and relaxing is necessary, I encourage you to keep moving forward. Do not sit back and think, “Ok, I’ve had a great month, I’m taking the next month off.” This attitude destroys momentum and after stopping what you were doing successfully, it makes is very difficult to resume the drive.
Here’s to our continued success – Let’s make this year the best yet!
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Thanks Lisa!

Ok, I’ll admit it. When I was like 6, all I wanted to be was a McDonalds girl. Sad, I know. BUT-I can say that I reached my goal! I worked at McDonalds a total of 3 years. There were many things that I learned there, but what I want to talk about today is up-selling. If you aren’t familiar with this topic, it is basically when someone suggests to you that you should buy something else. At McD’s the big one was apple pies. (I don’t know why…but it was). With every order that I took, I was to ask, “Would you like to try one of our hot apple pies today?” Every customer would then ponder this question and let me know. I had to have asked that question thousands of times and yet, I was never scared.

So why is it that I hesitate to do this in the Direct Sales Market? (*pondering*) All I was doing then is suggesting something that the customer might enjoy, so in that aspect, I would be doing the same thing.

My suggestion to you is to come up with some complimentary items, or just a hot seller or one that you know people like. When your cutovers are ordering, simply ask, would you like to add _ _ _ _ _ _ today? Then they will answer you yes or no. If they say no, you still have the original sale and haven’t lost anything. If they say yes, well, you just added to your total sale.

Easy, practical, financially beneficial.

Awnya Boam    

Story Time Felts Independent Consultant

http://www.time4felt.com/

I came to a realization last night while we were eating dinner…(which I will get around to telling you in a minute or two)…In my business lately, I have been doing many things that are perhaps a step or two above and beyond what I need to be doing.  For example, this week I have volunteered to take over one of the two weekly company wide chat group meetings that we have weekly.  Why did I do this?  I was really not sure!  My team consisted of 2 completely inactive consultants (until today, when I got another!) and because of our recent move, I really haven’t been selling in the volumes that I would be liking to…

So, here’s my realization—are you ready?

IF YOU WANT TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE, YOU DON’T CRAWL ON THE GORUND LIKE A SNAIL!

Meaning? Even though I don’t have the largest team, and I am not making the most sales (yet!) I am setting myself up for success and putting myself in a place where I have the potential to be successful.  If you have a mindset that you are going to be successful, then you will, right?
Well, although this may not have been an earth-shattering realization, it makes me think that I’m not crazy, which is good enough for me!