Happy Friday!
What is the first thing you think of when you see the sign “gone fishin’? How about: vacation, rest, fish smells, bait, boats, lakes, fishing poles. Got the picture? Well, that is NOT what I am talking about.
How often have you heard fellow DS consultants or your team say “No one wants to have a party” or “All my friends are tired of hearing about my business!” Did you ever think it might be time to go fishing? I mean if you were REALLY fishing and weren’t catching anything in that spot, would you stay there? Would you continue to go back to the same spot time and time again expecting different results? Isn’t that what they say insanity is – “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”?
Just as you would change fishing spots when the fish aren’t bitting, you should also change things up when people seem uninterested. Hmm… maybe that is scary for you. Stepping out of your comfort zone to share your business. I have to admit, there are days that I struggle with starting conversations with new people. I don’t want to be seen as the pushy sales person or the one that is just looking for party bookings. I am participating in a Soaring Stars training with my upline and she issued us a challenge – “Tell 10 people a day what you do”. She didn’t say “book more parties” or “recruit new team members” or “make sales”. She gave us a simple task of telling 10 people over the next 10 days about what we do.
I know you are thinking “everyone knows what I do”. I am a walking billboard, right? I thought so too until I met someone at the airport in Charlotte last week. We were in line patiently waiting for the ticket counter to open. She had a Thirty One bag and I had everything Thirty One. Seems like a no-brainer, right? We chatted back and forth about traveling, the holidays and family. I asked her how she liked her sling-back bag and she told me about the catalog party that she was having at the moment. She asked “do you know someone who sells ThirtyOne”? I was a little surprised because I am a walking billboard or so I thought. Didn’t she notice my rolling tote or my Jewell bag, my JK necklace or even my tee-shirt? Then I realized that just because we think we are a walking billboard – we leave the door open for doubt. I mean how many Hard Rock Cafe tees do you wear or Old Navy logo shirts or sports teams or (substitute any other logo) on your shirt. Does that mean that you work for them or are a part of their organization?
It was then that I realized that the challenge was not so far fetched. All you need to do is hand someone a mini catalog or a treat bag or a business card then tell them that if they are ever in need of personalized gifts, please give you a call. You are not asking for the sale. You are not asking for the booking. You are fishing for new contacts and new customers. Ask them if they would be interested in being on your mailing list? If not, it is okay they still have your information and may contact you. If so, you have a new contact! It is that simple.
So, just as I have been challenged, I am challenging YOU to fish in another pond. Expand you customer base and tell more people about what you do. Imagine telling 10 people a day for 10 days, that is 100 new potential customers or hostesses.
Who is up for the challenge? Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 