If you’re a work at home entrepreneur with kids, summertime is one of the hardest times to find any kind of rhythm to work on your home based business, on a consistent basis. Having your kids home for the summer really messes up with the routines you had while your kids were in school.

Instead of having a block of four hours to myself, that block of time is now reserved for summer sports camp, dance, or any other summer activities i.e. family trips or hitting the beach.

Yep, summertime is not my ideal time to work on my business BUT that doesn’t mean you should close up shop either. It’s too easy to use this as a reason to excuse yourself from working on your business.

So, instead of trying to do it all – work and family – it’s necessary to modify your schedule in the interim. This makes life easier on you and enjoyable for your family. Understanding that it’s a short term process and to give yourself permission to be okay with your new schedule.

#1 Modify your schedule

Instead of writing in the morning when my kids were in school. I find time to write whenever I can. That means, sometimes I’m writing in the car waiting to pick up my kids. Or when they’re at a playdate with friends. And sometimes, while I’m sitting at the pool or at the beach with them.

Sure, the start and stop process can be a bit annoying because I like to finish what I’ve started, but hey,  being an entrepreneur means being flexible, willing and able, to adapt to change.

#2 Access to data on my mobile phone

This is one of the easiest ways for me to stay in touch on social networks and having instant access to emails or phone calls so I don’t miss a hot lead.

It also helps me do the small things while on the go so I can use my time wisely. I can easily check Twitter or LinkedIn updates a few minutes through out the day. Or respond to a potential customer’s inquiry by email right away.

#3 Meeting new people

With every new activity that my kids are signed up for, it’s another opportunity to meet new people that I wouldn’t meet otherwise. I use every chance to meet new moms or dads wherever I go. It’s a great way to meet new people and get to know people in your local community.

It’s a lot easier to close up shop during the summer months because the excuses NOT to work on your business is easy to justified. But it’s important to use this time to get something done instead of doing nothing at all. Being in momentum is important. Instead of writing once a week for my blog, I’ve modified for every other week.

Whatever changes you need to make for the summer months, it’s important to be okay with your modified schedule while your kids are home for the summer. Be creative and find time to work on your business. The key is to do something, even if it’s one thing, instead of nothing at all.

How are you using the summer months to work on your business? Would love to hear your thoughts and tips.

’til next time,

Janette

The other day my neighbor and I went for a walk and she told me that she was looking for something part-time to do at home. A few years ago, I would be all over her with this kind of opportunity to “share” my business, but I know better these days.

Not because direct sales isn’t a good business to get started in but without knowing anything about what she’s *interested* in, I don’t make any assumptions.

In doing so, I’m not making the decision for her, but using the opportunity to listen. This is a tough one for some networkers to understand because they’re more interested in talking about their opportunity instead of listening.

Seasoned direct sellers are not surprised because they know direct sales isn’t for everyone. But newbies are when people don’t rush to join their business. Remember, only you think you have the best products/business.

It might surprise you that most of the time, people are NOT interested in starting a network marketing/direct sales business. More importantly, they don’t think you have the best products or even business. The more you ramble the more ridiculous you sound to them.

During the walk, I felt like a career therapist in a way, listening to her talk about what she did before she stayed home with her kids, and what her current interests are. I must admit listening intently is still a work in progress for me. Most people think they’re good listeners but really aren’t that good, including me.

I’m not sure if I was of any help to her but I know listening to her, without waiting for an opportunity to tell her about what I do, ended up helping me.

At the end of the conversation, she asked “what do you online anyway?” I mentioned I work online but didn’t offer any specifics. Perhaps that was enough to  intrigue her.

Whether or not she starts a direct sales/network marketing is not the point because people will do what want. The point is, it’s a good feeling to know that you’re able to listen and hear someone else out, without an interior motive to gain something from it.

Maybe it’s not a good recruiting strategy on my part and some of you might even think it’s idiotic NOT to use the opportunity to tell my friend how awesome direct sales/network marketing is. But there’s a way to tell others about what you do without losing friends.

Besides, we don’t need another person to think network marketing is a scammy business. It can be a great business but it starts with the networker.

It’s time to do more listening, whether you get anything from it or not, and stop with the incessant business sales pitch which also includes spamming other people’s Facebook walls and social networks.

What do you think?

’til next time,

Janette Stoll

P.S.  Let’s use our time and build real friendships with others.

I let my racket do the talking. That’s what I’m all about, really. I just go out and win tennis matches. Pete Sampras

It’s officially the start of the French Open Tennis. One of the reasons I love tennis is the individual effort involved with tennis. It’s very much like being a solo entrepreneur or direct sales consultant.

When you’re  on court, there’s no one to rely on but your game. And the game of tennis is as much a mental sport as it is physical prowess.

I’ve been an avid tennis fan since I was a teen and the one thing that’s missing in top tier tennis players is mental toughness. The mental toughness to hang in there, point after point, and match after match.

It takes that kind of intensity and focus to reach the top tier level. The same could be said about your direct sales business.

Tennis is a lot like being in business for yourself but not by yourself. Tennis players have an entourage of coaches and trainers, just like a direct sales consultant has the support of the company she/he represents, sponsor, and colleagues in the business to bounce ideas and share challenges.

But when it counts the most, in this case, making sure you’re selling products and/or sponsoring, it’s an individual business. YOU, are responsible for coming up with the goods, and only you.

Knowing you have the power to come up with the goods is one thing. Being disciplined, day in and day out, and DOING the work is the reason success eludes most people. It’s not lack of talent.

Tennis is a game of preparation and so is your direct sales business. Top players are prepared everyday. They practice daily and play to win.

Daily preparation takes a lot of work. Some days I don’t feel like putting in the work. I don’t feel like coming up with a topic for my blog. It’s common to have some down time. And when you’re down for a while it takes even more mental energy to get yourself back up.  

But you need to do the hard work to play the game of entrepreneurship. It’s a mental grind at times.

Before you make a sale, you need to do the prep work. You need to market your business to attract leads and this takes work. Joining the business won’t automatically bring customers and I don’t care how great the product is or how scientifically superior it is if you’re not marketing your business.

Blogging is one of the main ways I gain traffic to my site which helps build leads when people opt in by email. Loyal readers also help spread my blog by retweeting on Twitter, liking it on Facebook, bookmarking it, and so forth. This is one of the ways I prep for growth by consistently marketing my blog.

You don’t have to be a tennis fan to understand the analogy. Tennis is an individual sport that requires mental toughness and preparation. And so is being an entrepreneur.

My guess is that what’s missing in most people’s business isn’t lack of knowledge. Information is everywhere and it’s never an excuse to say you don’t know how to build your business. Whenever you’re feeling unmotivated, it’s good to take a look at what’s really missing in your business.

Your thoughts?

’til next time,

Janette Stoll

P.S. Anyone a huge tennis fan?

Recently I’ve noticed some direct sales companies discounting their start-up fees.  A basket/home decor has a $19 start-up, network marketing companies offering free pre-launch promotions, and others with similar dirt-cheap fees to join.

At these prices, it makes the skeptics question if you can even consider it a business. Is this good for the direct sales industry?

I don’t know the recruiting stats whether this is good or bad for these companies long-term but I do have my opinion on it .

The problem I have with these free, rock-bottom start-up fees, is that it attracts the throw-away mentality. You know, so what if it doesn’t work out because it didn’t cost anything to sign up with xyz company.

That said, the upside is that if someone loves the products, she/he can use the so-called consultant status to buy products at wholesale prices, which helps the sponsor’s sales.

A few months ago, I took advantage of Beachbody’s free sign-up to get a fitness video to save 25% without pursuing the business. The sale of my purchase certainly helped my friend’s sales volume for that period.

But the biggest concern I have is the saturation in one concentrated area. When your company offers free or sign-up fees for less than the price for lunch, you might get more sign-ups, but it comes at the expense of reducing sales activities from other direct sellers.

It’s a challenge when you have four consultants representing the same company at my daughter’s school.

You might think there’s plenty of business to go around and there is but most people tend to market to their “friends”. In this case, the circle of mommies, becomes quite small. You run the risk of alienating one friend over the other based on whom you buy from.

There’s also the risk of seeing your company’s products on Ebay, Amazon, and other sites when you have people using the wholesale discount and re-selling the products at retail.

To be fair, the number of sign-ups doesn’t mean they’re all active or building the business, far from it.  Plenty of people sign up purely for the product discount. And some sign up and do absolutely nothing.

I don’t know about you but I find value in exclusivity. I also value things more if I have to work hard to get it. Whether dishing out a few hundred to start a business or buying a piece of art that’s worth more than $10 bucks, there is value in scarcity.

Would you hold the same value for a business that costs $400, $500 or even a $1000 to start? Or one that you can easily enter for free, $10, $30?

I don’t know if the free or nearly free start-up fees is good or bad for the direct sales industry because there are clearly pros and cons to this.  But I’d love to get your take on it.

Your thoughts?

’til next time,

Janette Stoll

Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game. Service wins the game. Tony Alessandra (source: customerservicepoint.com)

I don’t know any direct seller or network marketer that doesn’t think their company has the best products. We get it. Let’s focus on something that’s more important than products and that is your customers and potential customers.

Here’s a recent experience of mine …

I emailed a consultant inquiring about her company product and it took five days, yes five days, for her to respond. Unfortunately for her, it was just easier to head on down to my local store to get what I needed. You see, it’s not about the products, because products are everywhere.

I wasn’t just buying products because truthfully, when it comes to products, there are more places that offer what I need than I could possibly do business with. My goal was to support another direct seller’s business because being in the business, it’s good karma. 

Not to mention, you generally (with the exception of this one), tend to get great service when you work with a direct seller. Most consultants are grateful for the opportunity to send you samples, a catalog, or whatever else you need to earn your business. But five days for a response? Enough said.

But it’s not about the products. It’s the experience you offer your prospects or valued customers, that keeps them loyal.

One of the reasons I love the direct sales business is the personal service you get. I love Target but there’s no one in the beauty area  to answer my questions or send me sample after sample to try.  The “personal service” is your unique selling position.

You need quality products at a reasonable price. You also need to go above and beyond because you’re a small direct seller.

There’s a reason people love Zappos, not because of their ”shoes” selection or thousands of other products they sell. People love Zappos because of their outstanding attention to personal service. I recall mentioning “Zappos” on Twitter and within seconds someone responded to my tweet.

If you don’t deliver outstanding, personal service and in a timely manner, you’re dispensable, as Seth Godin would say. You’re NOT going to be able to compete with millions of other companies that will be happy to take your customer’s business.

Instead of focusing on the products and how scientifically superior your products are, focus on your customers. Be responsive,  put a smile in your email, don’t send out a canned product script, be original, be you.

Your thoughts?

’til next time,

Janette Stoll

P.S. On a positive note, I have several friends that offer excellent service in skin care, beauty, home decor, if you need a referral. I’m not affiliated with their businesses or get anything for it, just pointing out some great ladies in direct sales .