Celebrating Money!

No, I have NOT won the lottery!  No, I have NOT lost my mind (I’m sure there are some that would debate that).   🙂

I have often talked about the Law of Attraction…. BUT I had some doubts.  I mean could that one little inner gremlin who shouts for an hour really play havoc on all of the blessings that the Universe is waiting to share with me.  So, over the last week or so, I have been repeating some money mantras:

• I feel Rich
• I love money. Money loves me.
• I attract money now
• I am very happy & grateful that money comes to me from many sources on a continuous basis
• I am receiving money now
• I have more than enough money
• I am willing, ready and able to receive money
• I see abundance everywhere
• I am a money magnet
• I am grateful for what I already have and for all that I receive now.

I have not let any inner gremlins even squeak!  The result is some really exciting things are happening- personally and in my business.

Still feeling a little skeptical, why not try some of these tips to get your finances in order:

Refrain From Impulse Purchases 

I know that it is Spring and you want to shop for some new clothes BUT trust me, make room in your budget for treats before you splurge!  I have even avoided the mall so that I am not tempted.

Make A List – Stick To It 

Lists are AWESOME, especially when it comes to shopping.  No matter what the occasion or if it is simply grocery shopping – always stick to a list! Check out this article on motivational lists to see just how important they are!

Don’t Be Drawn In By Offers 

Admit it!  We all LOVE a sale…ANYTHING that is buy one get one free, or half price on Ben & Jerry’s non-dairy treats? STOP. Don’t be drawn in by offers on things you don’t actually need.

Set Up Savings 

I can hear the groans…. but there is a definite need for a separate savings account.  It doesn’t matter how small the direct debit is from your everyday account to your savings, it all helps!  I started with $5 a pay period and now it is up to $25 PLUS I put aside a portion of my bonus every month.  Remember baby steps.

The Law of Attraction WORKS!  There is a multitude of  people who will tell you how it worked for them.  Still a non-believer?  I challenge you for 30 days to say (with conviction) one, two or all of the money mantras.  Then come back and share the results.

I am not saying you will win the lottery.  I am not guaranteeing that you will be debt-free.  I WILL guarantee that you will have a healthier approach to money and that with a more positive attitude, more positive things will happen!

Are you up for the challenge?  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Business Marketing

It is Friday and for many of my Thirty One sisters, they are headed to National Conference in Columbus Ohio.  This is  my favorite time of year for so many reasons but the BIGGEST one is that as Thirty One sisters, we are better together.  Together we celebrate our achievements.  Together we encourage each other through the hills and the valleys of our business.  Together we reward each other with hugs and high fives.  Although I have always been a team player, working solo (especially in my grant writing days) seemed to be my favorite mode of working – that is so different now.  I thrive when I am surrounded by the love and support of my Thirty One sisters.  I will be with you in spirit this year as I celebrate, encourage and reward you from a distance.

I started thinking about some other things that are better together like peanut butter & jelly, wine & cheese and sugar & spice.  Then I start thinking about the different ways that we can market our business.  I know a strange transition but it happens that way some times.

For many in direct sales, we have lean business budgets because our goal was to make money when we joined NOT spend it right?  But we need to keep ourselves front and center with our potential customers.  What makes them think of YOU when they are ready to buy?  Is it that they carry your products or use them on a daily basis?

 

Here are some inexpensive ways to advertise your business when you are out and about:

 

1. iPad, iPhone or laptop “skin”

I think this is a great idea.  I am always either on my iPhone or my iPad.  My phone currently has a plain cover and doesn’t tell anyone what I do.  My iPad is the same.  I am going to create a skin for my iPad and cell phone, so no one will miss a chance to know what I do.  I mean I usually wear a Thirty One shirt and I ALWAYS am carrying a Thirty One bag but by using my visual brand, what a great conversation starter!

 

2. Social media

Everyone is on social media – all or some but at least one if they are in business.  There is Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which offer space to say who you are and what you do. Then there is Periscope and LinkedIn.  Personally, why not use these platforms as an opportunity to remind your friends and family what you offer?  How about using business images or sayings on your profile headers, add photos of you at work (everyone loves a party), your company logo or a recent company training, instead of a photo of your dog or a pretty sunset.  I think personal things are important too but there should be a 80/20 split on your personal page.  Remember sharing is caring.

3. Social events

Step out of your comfort zone which can mean getting out of your current networking circles. Scary, right?  Find new events where media and decision-makers are mingling which might earn you some free publicity.  Get involved with causes that are near and dear to your hear.

 

4. Video

This is becoming something that I am more comfortable with the more I do them.  Practice makes perfect, right?  The use of video is growing every minute.  Make them short and to the point.  Think about the videos that you watch and what makes you click them or not.  Have real world videos like your team at work and play, highlight product demonstration or give virtual tours of your office.  Things that would let people get to know you and your company product.  I am doing videos on my Facebook parties and getting a lot of positive feedback.  Thank you to the Tag Team Peeps for their ideas.

 

In the past, it was sell, sell, sell.  Today, it is more about positioning yourself so that customers think of you when opportunities arise.  What is your best tip for sharing instead of selling?

Have  ThirtyOne-derful day!

Coupon Clutch and More

Happy Saturday!  I am off to St. John’s United Methodist Church in Hazlet for their fall fest and craft show.  If you are in the area, stop by and say hello.  I will be partying Thirty One style along with having my handcrafted angels.

Today, I decided to focus on one of Thirty One‘s “overlooked” products.  I say that because when customers see the words “coupon clutch” they immediately react with  – I don’t use coupons.  I have to admit, even though I use them – I seldom carry them with me unless it is a PLANNED shopping trip.  As you know, I have been talking about budgeting and Dave Ramsey‘s envelope system.  I have a friend who got an adorable cash envelope system from Daisy Lane Designs on Etsy which got me to thinking (since I am all about different uses for Thirty One products) what would work the same way?  ANSWER:  The coupon clutch.

The coupon clutch has 5 accordion pockets for each of your categories along with 5 colored tabs for labeling each dividing pocket.  You can even have it personalized to encourage your saving habits.

Not into budgeting?  Are you a commuter?  Do you gather lots of receipts when you travel only to have to try and sort through them when you get home?  Why not use the coupon clutch to store those receipts?  You can label the tabs as: transportation, food, business expenses, medical – or whatever other labels you need to keep your bookkeeping records straight.  You can either carry it in your purse OR leave it in the car and then on the first of every month, take those receipts, log them in and return the clutch to the car to start all over again.

One of my “mom” customers, uses hers to hold all of those loose things in her purse.  I would use a mini zipper but am always open to suggestions.  She says it is easier to keep band-aids, tylenol packets, shout packets (for those little messes), nail file and more in this clutch.  If she is going to the fields to watch her children play sports, there is a pocket for her id, money and even her cell phone.  Add a wristlet strap and she is ready for any minor emergency.

So, the coupon clutch isn’t just for coupons… what would you use your COUPON CLUTCH for?  Add your ideas here and who knows you might even win one of your very own.

Direct Sales Budgeting 101

This week has had a few AHA moments for me when it comes to money, budgeting and my business.  On a Thirty One Leadership call Monday morning, I learned how to figure out how much of my income was “recommended” to re-invest into my business PLUS how much is “suggested” to use for incentives for my team.  This was  HUGE so that I stop giving away the shop as my hubby would say.  For those who are in leadership roles in direct sales, you may have already learned this which is GREAT but as for me – budgeting is definitely NOT a strong point.  If you are not in leadership YET but are considering it, this may help you figure out your budget and your goals for YOUR business.

I am going to use numbers based on Thirty One‘s party averages – yours may be higher or lower but the formula is still the same.  The Thirty One company average for a party is $757 and most consultants have at least 2 parties per month which would make your sales total: $1,514.  Consultant Commission is 25% which means that you would earn an average of $378 per month.  Now multiply that by $378 by 12 months to get your annual income of $4,536.  It is suggested that you re-invest no more than 8% of your income back into your business which means a grand total of $362.  I don’t know about you but I have busted my budget each catalog season with my buying frenzy.  So, if you are ONLY reinvesting 8% ($362), you will have approximately $4,174 to pay down debt and cover other expenses associated with your business like phone service, copies, postage, etc.  Oh, did you want to get paid in there too?  Now, if you are in leadership, you have a team who you want to CELEBRATE – ENCOURAGE – REWARD, right?  How do you do that without breaking the bank?  Thirty One offers a 3% override on ALL of our team member’s sales. So, based on an average override of $150 per month x 12 months = $1,800 additional income per year.  It is recommended that you take only 3% of that override for team incentives, etc which is a mere $54.  Okay, another line item budget blown!  That would give you an additional $1,746 income per year combined with the base of $4,174 for a grand total of $5,920 to base your budget on AND pay down debt or save for that trip.

Have I totally confused you?  I hope not.  I also don’t want to discourage anyone from starting their own direct sales business by these numbers.  I only hope that it will help others to set realistic budgets and goals for their business.  It hasn’t discouraged me – it has done just the opposite by motivating me.  My goal is STILL to have my business play be integral part of my budget in becoming debt free so it is time to book some more parties, increase my party average and recruit new team members.  Where else can you PARTY about 10 hours a month and get paid an additional $4,000 a year?  Of course this doesn’t count all of the free products that you get from Home Office or the extra incentives along the way… so if you are still considering be a party of our Thirty One family, check out my website.

Love to hear your budgeting tips.  Have a ThirtyOne -derful day!

Are You Making Money?

Happy Hump Day!  I am sure that if I were to ask many of my friends in direct sales if they were “making money”, their response would be “of course” at which point they would tell me about all of the incentives they have earned, the free products and the nice commission checks.  I guess the real question is, “At the end of the year, does your business have a profit or a loss?”  Honestly, I am a hot mess when it comes to doing bookkeeping – the pile grows with receipts, notes, paid invoices, etc that need to be entered into my excel spreadsheet so I know if I have at a profit or a loss.  Budgeting has never been one of my strong points.  In preparation for the busy holiday season and the upcoming end of the fiscal year – yes, I am planning for tax time – I thought I would talk a little bit about money and budgets.  Some may walk away because “they got this” and I would ask that they share their tips with us so that we can ALL GET THIS!

I was never good with a budget so credit card debt and living paycheck to paycheck was a way of life for MOST of my adult life.  Of course, add in an addiction being a single parent and working for grassroots non-profits to the mix and I could easily justify the financial mess.  It seems so strange that I could easily manage agency money, do budgets, ensure that we did not overspend on those budgets and stretch dollars when I couldn’t do it in my personal life.  Now, I am married to a PLANNER – plans for the future, plans for a time when there may be a lapse in income, has savings – UGH!  Alright God, I get the message!

I took a course offered at our church called Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey.  The course helped ALOT when I had a regular paycheck.  Bills were getting paid and I actually saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Then life happened – I got complacent in my budgeting, started with Thirty One and went on a shopping frenzy to have EVERYTHING, left my full-time job of 5 years due to a 20 hour a week commute – BUSTED!  Budget went down the tubes.

So, part of my preparation for this busy season of selling was to get BACK on track with my budget.  I found several great articles and blogs that might help you too.  A fellow blogger who is also a H.O.T. (Husband of a Thirty One) shares about their families experiences with Budgeting for Direct Sales.  Dave Ramsey has some great budgeting forms on his website that are simple and easy to do.  I love his quote “When you spend your money on paper and on purpose each month with a written budget, you’ll actually experience more freedom than before!”

I ask you again – are you making money?  Do you actually know how much your business is costing you or are you going to have sticker shock at the end of the year when you do your taxes?  I would love to hear your suggestions and comments.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!