Moms & Summer Business Helps!!!

This is information from a regional conference call at the beginning of the month, sent to me by my sales manager, Kathleen Quirk. Being a mother of 4 I really appreciated these ideas and hope some of you will, too!

Including your kids in your summer business:
*Do business at the park, the pool and other places you take your kids
Talk with host & recruiting prospects
Bring your laptop to return emails
Make customer care calls
*Meet prospective Demonstrators at McDonald’s where the kids can play in the enclosed playground while you interview
*Allow your children to experience the following so you can have extra time to do your business:
Vacation Bible schools
“Mothers Day Out” programs
Day camps—scouts, YMCA, summer school
*Gift wrap a Xerox box; (wrap top separate so it can be lifted off) Fill with inexpensive toys…tell your small kids, the only time they can play with this special box of toys is when you are doing business on the phone…when you get off the phone, have them pick up the toys and place them back in the box for the next time…keep rotating the toys to keep the box fun and exciting…

Summer Parties
· Vacation for your Senses party: Can’t afford a vacation this year? Join us for a 2 hour vacation experience with all of our tropical fragrances. Put display on a cute beach towel, wear a beach hat and carry product in a beach bag. Have the hostess serve drinks with tiny umbrellas in them and have tropical music playing.
· Emerge Spa Party: come pamper yourself and experience our fabulous emerge body care line.
· Unlit expressions party: You don’t have to burn candles to experience our wonderful fragrances. Come experience all of our unlit expressions: pod warmers, diffusers and much more. (Of course, candles are still for sale!)
· 5-1-1 Party: Tell the host she needs to invite only 5 friends and the each need to bring one friend and the party will only be one hour.
· Ugly Candle Party: Have the guests bring their ugliest candles. Give tickets for the sorriest ones.

Theme Parties
Pool Party—serve mimosas and light appetizers (with sunscreen)
Flip Flops and Fritos---or---Flip Flops and Margaritas
Play a flip flop game, example: have everyone put one of their flip flops in a large bag and hide the other flip flop in the bedroom. Pull out flip flops one at a time and people write down who they think the flip flop belongs to. Serve Fritos and dip or Margaritas.
Lawn chair party for an outside party. Ask everyone to bring their own lawn chair.
Game (points or tickets):
Aluminum chair—5 points or tickets
Torn or broken---10 points or tickets
Red---5 points or tickets
Blue---10 points or tickets
Cloth or plastic
Collegiate chair
Baked Potato Party—everyone bring a potato to bake at the party; (Put them in the oven after you play the game.) Host would have butter, sour cream, cheese and bacon bits. Can also add a salad. (To allow people that forgot their potato, the Host should have extra potatoes.)
Game (points or tickets)
Smallest potato
Largest
Most eyes
Shaped the funniest
Flattest
Wine and Cheese party: Game: have everyone bring their favorite wine glass in a gift bag…open the gift bag one at a time and everyone writes down who it belongs to. (Hint—without anyone knowing what you’re doing, take the bags to the bedroom and mix up the glasses and the bags because people will see the bag that their friends bring in.)

Why start a business in the summer? (Why sponsor in the summer?)
People are looking for summer employment
Key in on college students and teachers who are out for the summer
Mothers are home with kids
Become a Gold Demonstrator now so you can take advantage of fall fund raisers
There is no time like the present
Great promotions from Gold Canyon

Any of you who have one of these parties and submit pictures for our blog will receive a free gift. Start planning today - and have a wonderful summer!

Enhance Your Success and Your Income

"Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do."

--Pope John XXIII7

Do you realize how lucky you are? You are living in the land of opportunity. You are living in a time when everything is moving so fast, today's technology will be outdated tomorrow. That's exciting, because there is always opportunity in an ever-changing world. You can have anything you want but you may not want it bad enough to go after it. WOW!

I just attended an amazing training event (as a student) so I could learn about the new software we invested in last year. I was in a room with over 600 other entrepreneurs all eager to learn. It was awesome! Every one was so excited. It reminded me a lot of you and other direct sellers like yourself. You are excited to succeed in your business! You want to have a consistent "weekly income" but too often you let things slip through the cracks.

When you joined Gold Canyon you probably made a conscious decision to learn all you could before you got started and then when you were supposed to attend the first training something came up and you couldn't attend. The second training, another catastrophe struck and pretty soon you said, the heck with it, I'll just go out and muck my way through it and see if this direct selling stuff works.

A colleague of mine has often said, "I'm constantly amazed at how stupid I was last week." He is a constant student of learning. He reads one book a week, he attends trainings and workshops in his field and no matter how much he knows he said he always comes back from a training or meeting having learned as much if not more than some of the paid attendees. By the way, he is the speaker at the events.

Why is it, the people who already know a lot are always the ones eager to learn more? What are you doing to gain the competitive edge over other salespeople in your company? What will distinguish you from the "rest of the pack" when you are at a trade show or vendor show grabbing at the same people to get them to come to your booth?

Are you willing to go the extra mile for your customers? Are you willing to invest in yourself and your business? Are you going about your business in the same mediocre way because you are too stubborn or too lazy to change?

Some people have probably already quit reading by now. The sad truth is, it's probably the one's who need this information the most. I just have to say, I am really tired of the lousy attitudes of most people. I'm tired of hearing about the lousy economy (I live in Michigan so you can help us by buying a US made automobile.) I know people are out of work and I feel sorry for them, however I also know one man's misfortune is another man's opportunity.

Some people will go for another two or three years looking for the perfect job instead of trying something new and different. There is an amazing opportunity to earn an above average income with your direct selling company. How many unemployed people have you shared the opportunity with? Granted, this business is not for everyone, but are you at least sharing it with people to let them know what a fantastic opportunity it is?

Are you just like the others who are making excuses as to why they don't have the bookings, sales, recruits and money they want? Is it every one else's fault or is it your fault you don't have the income you want to take your family on vacation this year? Whose fault is it you don't have the money to pay off your credit cards? If you are in direct selling it's your responsibility to set goals, create and action plan and get off your bottom and go to work. I know you don't have a time clock to punch in to work (maybe you should) but don't you think you should show up for at least 10 hours a week?

If you are sold on being in this funky state of mind I wish you luck, since you'll definitely need it. If you are ready to step put of your recession and you want to take the next step toward financial independence and lifestyle freedom then continue reading.

Get out of your own way. Your negative thoughts are preventing you from having the success you desire. In his book "Success Principles", Jack Canfield suggests you put a rubber band on your wrist and every time you have a negative thought snap the rubber band and replace it with a positive thoughtI know many people who would be black and blue because they had to snap themselves so many times. I hope you aren't one of them. Do you find yourself doing just enough to "qualify" each month to reach your minimums. If so you will never rise above the mediocrity you continue to plan for and accept. Maybe it's time to "raise your own bar". You will never become better than your most dominant thoughts. If you have a severe case of "stinkin' thinkin" as Zig Ziglar would say, it's time to put some processes into action to change your thoughts to begin to change your life.

Face your fears. Are you one of the people who are afraid to take action because something might go wrong. GET OVER IT! I'm currently reading a great book that provides a whole list of people who went bankrupt at least once and then continued on to become very successful. If fear is preventing you from trying something new or taking the next step stop and ask yourself this question. "What is the best thing that may result from me taking this action." If the best thing that can happen is a whole lot better than the fear you are allowing to consume you then "put your big girl panties (or big boy boxers) on and deal with it" You will be instantly amazed at how much more you will accomplish in less time with less energy (worrying drains the heck out of you) and with much more enthusiasm.

Start Studying. How much time and money have you invested in yourself to increase your worth. Since January I have already attended one training and I have registered for two more to attend this year. The total cost for all three trainings including hotel and airfares will be approximately $12,000. Some of you are thinking, is she nuts? I guarantee you what I am learning is imperative for my success and the information I learn is passed on to the members of Direct Selling Doctor. I have been learning sales and marketing skills and have begun to teach these same techniques to our members to use in their direct selling businesses to help them keep the competitive edge over their peers. I also attend sales trainings, Direct Selling Association Events and other things that will help me to help you! You must be learning all the time! When is the last time you picked up a business book and read it from cover to cover?

Become a student of success. "Those who perceive themselves to know the most often find themselves at the bottom of the success ladder."--Karen Phelps

Keep Marketing. As soon as you get a prospect, customer or hostess you can't assume they are yours for life. You must continue to market to them. There are many ways to market to your list including mail and email. Every time you market to your list you need to have a reason for contacting. It could be notification of a sale, special promotion or upcoming event. Keep your name, number and website in front of your list all the time and they will soon become your loyal fans.

Get to Work. I am utterly amazed at how lazy people become when the economy is unsettled. It's like they are looking for an excuse not to go to work. There is such a thing as "speed to market" and the bottom line is when you have a new idea, or learn a new procedure you must be ready to begin using it right away. I realize now, that is what distinguished me from so many others when I was in direct selling and that is what distinguishes me from others today. I never took time to overanalyze anything. If it sounded good and I thought it would get me results I went ahead and jumped in. Too many people find themselves waiting for the perfect time, the perfect situation, the perfect prospect or whatever other stupid excuse they can find to not go to work. NOTHING AND NO ONE IS PERFECT! We can all hope to be great at best but I will never pursue perfection. It is a useless and complete waste of my time. I will always keep studying and working to improve but perfection is not a goal of mine.

Go the Extra Mile. What have you done to provide extra service for your customer, hostess or recruit. I have an awesome consultant, Melanie H., with Gold Canyon, who did my show last fall. She has since called me at least 3 times to make sure everything was okay and to follow up. She even ordered a replacement for a damaged item that was not ordered from her. She wanted to make sure I am a "satisfied customer." DO YOU FOLLOW UP AS CLOSELY with your hostesses and customers? I've got to tell you, Melanie is on the ball! I've had numerous other consultants over the years and most have been pretty good, but no one, SO FAR has done such an exceptional job to keep me as a customer. You need to spend as much energy keeping your hostesses and customers as you do getting them in the first place. Satisfied customers will re-order, refer and book a party from you. They will not even consider dealing with someone else because you have taken such good care of them. I have a whole list of people I CHOOSE TO DO BUSINESS WITH, because of the good customer service. I have sales clerks in some of my favorite stores who contact me when things they know I like go on sale, (more stores could benefit by doing this), I have preferred waitresses at many of our favorite restaurants and we've been know to wait for a table in our favorite waitress' section. Do your customers look for YOU?

Get to National Convention. There is absolutely no reason for you not to attend Gold Canyon's Annual Convention. (Well childbirth and caring for ailing parents could keep you away) You should also be attending the leadership teleseminars if you are a leader. What could you possibly think you have to gain by staying home? Are you using the lame excuse "I can't afford it?" (Wow, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that from someone in direct selling I'd be wealthy.) Do you understand how important it is for you to associate with and be around other happy, motivated, successful people from your company? If you don't have the money, here is a homework assignment: BOOK SOME PARTIES! How many? As many as it will take for you to get enough money to pay for your registration, airfare, meals and other expenses. ARE YOU WORTH IT? I think you are! I think you should do everything you can to make sure you are at Gold Canyon's convention. I have heard so many stories from consultants who swear that attendance at their company convention changed them and their business. Sometimes you just have to do what you KNOW YOU NEED TO DO! Sometime you have to figure out a way to make it happen.

Remember, you don't get what you deserve in life, You get what you plan for and work for. Are you willing to work for what you deserve? Tough times call for tough people and you will find the strong will survive and even prosper with their businesses. If you are not on road to prosperity it's time to begin the journey. Your next best life is about to begin with a single step. What are you waiting for? Do something NOW!

The Economy and Network Marketing

Following is an article concerning the correlation between the economy and network marketing. Lots of reading but quite interesting. Enjoy -- and happy selling & sponsoring!!!!

Hot Times Ahead
WHEN RECESSION HITS THE ECONOMY, NETWORK MARKETING BOOMS
By ROD COOK

If you're in Network Marketing, there's good news, and there's bad news - and the great news is that, for you, they're both good news.
In good economic times, people are less interested in career alternatives but they can easily afford to buy more consumer goods. In bad times, they crave new business opportunities. Today, we could soon be facing global recession - and tremendous worldwide opportunities for you.
The U.S. economy is cracking apart due to mortgage meltdowns and rising fuel costs (energy) that are causing great concern worldwide. Fears are that an American economic dive will hurt the entire world economy.
U.S. and worldwide, people are beginning to worry. Once they start worrying, they quit spending money. This "psychology of fear" fuels bigger recessions. I'm not saying there is going to be a depression, which is much worse than a recession. What I am predicting, based on surveys conducted by our company (which have proved exceedingly accurate over the past 20 years), is higher unemployment and underemployment - good people forced to work for less money than their qualifications would warrant. Translated: pushed to work for trashcan wages.

MLM - A Countercyclical Business
General economic theory holds that there tends to be a recession about every eight years. The entire history of the modern United States reflects this boom-and-bust cycle. Consistently, Network Marketing has grown during the "down" periods. PER CNBC CURRENT VIDEO click here
The oldest Network Marketing company we can track is the marine-vegetable (seaweed) supplement company, Wachter's, which started in 1937 near the bottom of the Great Depression. Nutrilite took off in 1945 during the economic decline immediately following World War II. Shaklee and Neolife fared well in the post-Korean War slump. Amway got a good start building with the slump in 1958. Mary Kay started with the downturn in the 1960s. This theory held true in 1992 when Alliance, Kaire, Life Plus, and a number of other companies started up and boomed (then later failed due to legal problems, partnership disputes, and mismanagement after the recession). Others like Herbalife (see chart below) went into hyper growth due to the same recession and became billion dollar companies.
Note that during the depth of the recession retail sales by major retail outlets took a dive. Direct sales (90% are MLM) jumped as store front retailing dropped like a rock! Today history repeats itself! Source: DSA and MLM Watchdog

When recession hits, those with any intelligence are going to scramble to find alternative sources of income. In their frantic searches, they are going to find that the best of all alternatives is Network Marketing.
Understanding the relationship between low-cost entrepreneurship and economics is important. During the past few years, the world economic boom has made people complacent. In the U.S., the jobless rate dropped to all-time lows of less than five percent. People had to be sick, lame, or lazy not to get a job. Hamburger flippers got higher-paying jobs, such as assembling computers, and their incomes rose. Rather than looking for an alternative to a job or seeking extra income, these folks sat around and watched television.
When recession hits, those with any intelligence are going to scramble to find alternative sources of income. In their frantic searches, they are going to find that the best alternative is MLM also known as Network Marketing.
We followed the increase in growth of several major Network Marketing companies operating during the recession of 1973-75. Companies that were not doing badly when the recession started, they had a fair amount of growth. However, when the recession came, they took off like rockets!
During the early 2000's recession (officially starting in November 2001), MLM company growth rates jumped higher than they were before the recession. See the chart below (November 2001 was the benchmark) and look at the following growth. This was due to two reasons: (1) Fear leads people to new income sources and they WORK the opportunity, not watch TV. (2) The doubt of the recession lingers in the minds of people so there is an "aftereffect". (3) During the recession the company grew a "feverant" distributor base, recruiting more new people that lead to exponential growth. Source: Alexa.com

PRESS RELEASE UPDATE 2008
Herbalife Experiencing Stellar Sales Despite Slumping Economy
3 November 2008 - Herbalife, the global multi-level/network marketing (MLM) giant reported its 19th consecutive quarter of double digit sales growth, according to a recent earnings report. The company grew sales 13.7% to $602 million in the third quarter.
The sales gains were attributed to the company’s global growth, including double digit sales gains globally. Profit margins were reported at 14.7%. Herbalife also has $33 million in capital expenditures, primarily in technology investments for distributors.
North American sales were up 23% over third quarter 2007, despite a worsening economy domestically. "In these turbulent economic times, we believe we're in a fortunate position at the intersection of health and wealth," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Johnson. Herbalife’s products are sold in more than 69 countries with more than 1.9 million independent distributors.
Another factor that fueling the growth in Network Marketing is that many Baby Boomers have put their life savings into the stock market. With the market's shaky up and down spirals, many Baby Boomers are slowing their high-flying, fast-spending ways due to meager savings except for shaky stocks. With the inevitable, cyclical decline of the stock market, they will see their retirement plan funds lose 25 to 50 percent in value. Will panic will follow? We hope not! But, Baby Boomers with good sense will be looking for secondary ways to build a secondary residual retirement income. A common phrase today is, "multiple streams of income."
Grab your hat and prepare for the next boom in Network Marketing. If you are a newcomer, study the industry closely (and quickly). If you are an old-timer, get out your contact lists for the last two to ten years. In a recession, they will be solid gold! All you have to do is get out there and help people out of their economic duress.
Now is the best time to grow your Network Marketing individual business or start your company! Whether you are a veteran or a beginning network marketer, the future is bright. Soon consumers will be looking for the best quality at the best prices. Where do they find it? In the quality products offered by your Network Marketing company .
Recession causes people to open their minds to gaining alternative sources of income. If they are still employed, they are worrying about the possibility of losing their jobs or having them downgraded. If they are unemployed, they are seeking ways to build their income without spending large amounts of money to start another business.

This writer has made millions in MLM - Network Marketing plus having owned large franchises, done business opportunities plus done import of exotic cars like DeThomaso Panteras, Lamborghinis and Ferraris. His analysis is:
MLM - Network Marketing? This field with careful selection (see MLM Detective at the MLM Watchdog) - is the last chance for the little guy to make money in America!
Heaven bless you - driven to your financial knees? MLM - Network Marketing is the ultimate "recession-proofing" for your economic life.

About Rod Cook B.s., M.A., M.B.A.: Rod is recognized as THE major researcher in the MLM - Network Marketing world on economics and MLM Compensation pay plans. His majors include many hours in mathematics giving him research tools no others in the MLM have. Rod keeps a list of over 1500 U.S. MLM companies (plus over 100 foreign companies operating in the U.S.) on his MLM Company World Directory (see www.mlmwatchdog.com) this alone is a research tool no one else has as far as what MLM compensation pay plans survive. As the MLM WatchDog, Rod can pick up a telephone and call a company owner and get a true reading. His reputation for honesty, integrity, and painfully blunt "telling it like it is" makes him an industry icon. Rod says, "MLM is the last chance for the little guy in America and for that matter the WORLD and I defend it to the death!"

Party Plans and the Economy

Kathleen Quirk, my regional sales manager at the home office sent this email. It addresses a concern many of you have shared with me about your businesses and the economy right now.

I have had several people ask me how I think the economy is affecting party plan or they have said, “My business is down because of the economy.” Well, I want to share my insight on our business and the economy.

Based on my experience, when the economy is in trouble, party plan grows. Why? Let’s think about what we or any party plan company has to offer. We offer opportunities:

-If people are out of work or need extra money, we have a great way they can work their own schedule and with a minimal investment start their own business. WOW! That’s an answer to a lot of people’s prayers.

-For those that may not have the money to purchase gifts for the holidays, they will love to receive our free Host rewards to give friends, mothers, sisters, etc.

-And guests…we can’t have a party without guests. It seems that no matter how tight money may be, Americans are going to purchase holiday gifts so why not support a friend’s party and buy their gifts from a Demonstrator?

All we see right now in the news is how bad the economy is. Well, let’s make this into a positive for as many people as possible. The economy is a mind-set. If you believe your Gold Canyon business is hurting because of the economy, you’re right. If you believe you have the answers to challenges people are facing and you can help them overcome their issues with our opportunities, you’re right. Which belief system is empowering you and your business? Which belief system is paralyzing you and your business? It’s your choice.

To support what Kathleen has just shared, Gold Canyon just had a record day in sales for the company since they have been in business! On Wednesday, GC had $1.7 MILLION in sales. WOW! That sounds like someone is holding parties and that the party plan economy is just fine! Congratulations in being part of such a promising situation.