How To Create a Spark In Your Team

Whether you are in direct sales or are a manager in a traditional job, sparking excitement in your team or staff can be tough?  As a County Coordinator and then a CFO with non-profits, it was sometimes tough to get staff to see the BIG picture.  It was difficult to get them to buy into my crazy ideas.  In direct sales, as leaders, we (or at least I do) struggle with motivating my team forward toward reaching their dreams and goals,

I love this Vision recipe shared by Lynn Bardowski, the Million Dollar Party Girl, which is:

Mix 1/3 purpose with 1/3 passion
Stir in 1/3 crazy idea
Blend well and let it marinate overnight
Mix in massive action
Once you get clear on your vision ask yourself two questions: What does it look like? and How will I make it happen?

Here are some tips from the Party Girl, herself…

Empower: Empower your team.  Encourage them to come up with ideas, action plans, goals and most importantly…solutions. When people feel like they contributed to something instead of just following orders, they’ll be more likely to take ownership and act on them.

Educate: It took me a long time to get this one right.  As a boss, I was more about telling people how and what to do instead of teaching.  I eventually learned, it didn’t matter how it got done as long as it got done.  In direct sales, it’s the same.  Provide your team with the training to help them achieve their goal. There are lots to trainings out there, you don’t have to have all of the answers.  Use Zoom or Facebook Live so you can influence more people.  “When the student is ready the teacher will appear.” Just because you have been saying things for months, someone else may say it and the light bulb may go off and they think it is brilliant.

Delegate: This is when I usually hear crickets.  People lack confidence and as a result, don’t want to share.  I have been trying to delegate things to my team in the hopes of building confidence and increasing engagement which help them feel like they are part of the team. Believe it or not, the time you gain by giving up the reins will make up for the stress you feel as you let go. It will all work out. Trust me.  I have been there, and done that!

Recognize:  I love to send “happy mail”.  A way to recognize individuals for their effort, progress, and results. Did you know each generation reacts to praise/ recognition differently?  Millennials expect immediate recognition. Boomers might feel uncomfortable – and even embarrassed – by the attention. That’s me!  A great rule of thumb is safety in numbers when you’re giving praise.

Communicate:  I am are you have heard it a million times… “The key to being a great communicator is to be a great listener”.   To build stronger relationships with you need to be willing to listen to their struggles, and their triumphs.

I have learned to meet my team where they are, and not where I want them to be.  There are many ways people learn so you may need to use a variety of channels to communicate: Facebook messenger, live video chat, voice message, text, postcards and in-person coffee meet-ups.  Don’t forget about GIFs and stickers, which are fun ways to communicate an emotion.

Appreciate: Feeling appreciated is a human need…which makes it a much higher form of gratitude than recognition. [Source: Huffington Post]

Happy mail to me is a great (inexpensive) way to show my gratitude and let people know how much I value them on the team. I send happy mail to my customers too.  It not only helps you to stand out in the crowd BUT it lets people know you care.

Evaluate: We have all done it.  Waited until the middle or the end of the month, to see where we are on our personal goals as well as those of a team member.  Checking in weekly, helps everyone to make a plan to reach their goal.  I share my numbers with my team to let them know I am a consultant just like they are.  I am hopefully showing them how to take risks with new ideas, embrace bumps in the road and the idea of working together so we all are successful.

Discover: Look for the hidden gems on your team. Get to know Consultants who were sponsored by others – their dreams, their goals and help them make a plan to reach them. Believe it or not, they might just be your next super star.

This holiday season is a perfect time to spark some interest….What are your best tips?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

How to Improve Facebook Interactions

Happy Monday!  It has been a whirlwind twelve days since the launch of the $1 offer at Thirty One Gifts.  New recruits learning the ins and outs of growing their business through social media.  I LOVE the excitement and being able to share so many tips from so many different resources.

How many times have you posted a picture or a message on Facebook and you hear crickets?  No one comments.  No one “likes” it.  NOTHING!  I usually blame it on Facebook’s algorithms!  Wouldn’t it be great to get LOTS of likes, comments and better yet some shares?

At Thirty One, we are all about sharing and not selling on social media.  Yes, I will highlight this month’s customer special BUT I will leave out the price.  Yes, I will show how I use my products and share the excitement of them.  NO, I will not say “I need XXX in sales to meet my goal”.  NO, I will not say, “I need XXXX to reach an incentive.  Why?  Because then we look desperate.  Who wants to buy something from someone who is desperate to sell something?  Wouldn’t you rather get excited about the product and its uses?

Here are some winning Facebook Strategies:

1. Update your profile picture:   I know, a no-brainer, right?  The truth is that people connect with real people. Replace your logos or product pictures with your smiling face.  How exciting would it be to meet someone for the first time and they say “I recognized you from your picture”?  I love when that happens.  Use the same pictures on all of your social media sites.  I change them all every other month to keep things fresh.

2. Update your cover picture:  I do this monthly.  WHY?  People check back when there are new pictures in their news feed.  Avoid too much text or using more than 3 pictures in your cover picture. Websites like picmonkey.com or canva.com are great to make your own for even the most non-tech person.

3. Enter a description for your super amazing new cover photo:  This is a great tip from Lynn Bardowski: “this is a secret trick that few people take advantage of. Click on your cover photo and you’ll see the description section on the right. I’m betting you’ve never filled it out. Enter a greeting like, “Hey, (your name) here. Thanks for stopping by,” with a call to action, like asking your fans to join your email list. End with a link to your contact form and SAVE. Now, here’s the cool part. Go back to view your page and hover over your cover pic. The description will pop-up. Boom!”

4. Be more social: Another no-brainer, right?  Social media should be social, right? Believe it or not, when you begin to interact with people instead of trying to SELL, you will get a response.  Ask questions, show your funny side, inform, inspire and be you. Social selling is about building relationships, not actually selling.

5. Use your EVENTS tab: I will admit that I didn’t use the one on my public page very often – okay, never!  Did you know that you can click on “Manage Tabs” and move it up near the top so your Events tab shows under your cover pic. AMAZING, right?  Use that to create events for everything from Facebook Parties to Vendor Events to Product Reveals to Opportunity Events. Since your biz page is public, all the events you create are searchable like in a Google search.  This makes the possibilities huge. Include keywords in your event title to maximize your reach.

6. Schedule posts at the best times:  I have to be honest, I have heard a lot of talk on the best time.  The truth is that the best time is what works best for your niche.  The general rule for posts on Facebook are typically in the afternoon 2pm – 4pm on weekdays, 10am – Noon on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm. I have found that mornings also work for my customers.  I use CinchShare to save time and it helps to post at the best times for my audience.

7. Create more albums:  Want to increase your ranking on Facebook?  It is based on the engagement on your page.  What gets the most engagement?  Photos and videos.  Albums can be themed for events, holidays, motivational quotes, customer favorites and more. You can also share the album link on Facebook Parties and Event pages to create a virtual catalog of your products.

So, who is ready to get visible on Facebook?  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Tips from the Million $ Party Girl

Halfway through November with only about 6 weeks left in the year.  YIKES!  Was one of your resolutions or goals to build your team?  Or maybe be consistent in your business?  One of the biggest struggles that most direct sellers have is getting out of their own way.  They think that leadership (and success) requires knowledge and ALOT of time.  Guess what neither is true.

I have been following the AMAZING Lynn Bardowski, the Million Dollar Party Girl and have been getting some great tips.  So whether you are a leader, working towards leadership, had a momentary thought about being a leader or just want to grow your personal business here are some tips from “How to Build Your Direct Sales Team“:

1. CREATE your vision. Successful leaders create their vision – before setting goals. Mix 1/3 passion with 1/3 purpose, add in 1/3 crazy and blend well with massive action. Vision will inspire you and others to act.

LEADERS LEAD BY MOBILIZING PEOPLE AROUND A COMPELLING VISION OF THE FUTURE.

2. BUILD belief. Lack of belief and confidence is the #1 reason people don’t start a direct sales business, or give up. Your belief in others is what will motivate them to take a leap and go for it. Send cards, texts and Facebook messages that let your hostesses, potential sponsors and team members know how awesome they are.

3. SERVE others. Successful leaders put the team before themselves. This is true for direct sales success as well. Plan on devoting your time, energy and sometimes profits to mentor and coach consultants. Don’t worry about the party chain you’re giving up to give a new consultant a great start, or the profit you just lost by helping a Consultant at their Grand Opening party. That’s small change compared to the lives you’ll help shape, and the bigger income that will come back to you in the future. Let this question be your guide: “Is what I’m doing serving myself, or serving others?”

4. ASK open ended questions. You don’t have to know all the answers, just the right questions. Here’s my top 5: 1) What interests you most about [leadership, the company, hosting a party, earning the trip, etc.]? 2) What is your BIG WHY? 3) On a scale of 1-10, how committed are you to making your WHY a reality? 4) Tell me about a recent success; what did it take? 5) What do you attribute that to?

5. RECOGNIZE effort, progress and results. Social media is your best recognition tool, and it’s free. Give shout-outs on your group page and create a wall post with a fun graphic. 

6. INFLUENCE with your attitude, actions and belief. Successful leaders are caring, empathetic and grateful. You are influencing all the time, even when you post on Facebook. Are you the dream consultant that you want to sponsor? If yes, keep doing more of that. If no, then work on being an awesome consultant first. Do what you want duplicated.

Lynn has some great tips on vendor event set-up which is especially great during this holiday season.  Stay tuned for an upcoming boot-camp with Lynn sponsored by Jersey Shore Direct Sellers.  A great opportunity to learn how she grew her business to be the Million Dollar Party Girl.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Holiday Bazaars – Love them or Hate Them?

Happy Saturday!  It is the first Saturday in November and the first of many weekends filled with Holiday Vendor events.  I LOVE doing vendor events well they used to be called craft shows.  I have about 30+ years experience in craft shows.  I am now an “Angel” crafter.  I love making angels – with bells, as ornaments, and in plastic canvas. This is just one of the styles…

Yes, I squirreled.  Today I am in Farmingdale sharing the gift of Thirty One:

As a direct seller it is a great way to meet new people, expand your customer base, book a few parties and who knows maybe even recruit a new team member.  Did you notice that I didn’t say “sell some products”? I know it sounds crazy but the truth is that I never go to a vendor event with the thought of “selling”.  Thirty One – like most direct sales companies – is a party plan business. Yes, we love the retail orders.  Yes, we love to sell at events.  The truth is that “face to face” is “heart to heart”.  The more people we share our products with in the form of a party, the bigger our business will grow.

According to Lynn Bardowski, Million Dollar Party Girl, here are some basic questions to ask BEFORE you commit to doing a vendor event:

1. Is this the first time you’re holding the event?  If not, how many attendees did you have last year?
2. Who attends (Moms, families, etc…)? Note: Pets and children are big distractions.  If you decide to do one with children, have something for them – stickers, coloring sheets, etc.
3. What kind of marketing are you doing for the event?
4. Do you have a Facebook event page I can share and post my website link on?
5. How many vendors total (be wary of too many vendors)?
6. Will you provide a table? If yes, what size is it? 
7. Is there a fee? Note: Most will ask for a table fee ($25 – $30 avg) or a % of sales, and  a $25 door prize donation. I prefer a % of sales because it only costs you money if you make money. Everything is negotiable. Ask if you can donate a % of sales instead of an upfront fee before you say yes.
8. Are you going to have duplicate vendors (more than one of a product type or industry)? This is a no-no in must direct sales companies per their Policies and Procedures.
9. Tell me about your school/group/charity…how many active members do you have? (The more active members, the more successful the vendor event will be.)
10. Do you have access to electricity and/or wireless internet?

For me, the most important thing is foot traffic.  If there is foot traffic then I have an opportunity to share the gift of my business with everyone that walks by my table.  The truth is that when I changed my perspective from “getting sales” to “making contacts”, I found that I had sales.  Relationships are the key to every direct selling business.  You start building those relationships at the event and then continue them as you do follow-up.  Remember the “money is in the follow-up“.  If you don’t plan on following up with people, why are you taking their information, right?

Did you know that 70% of direct sellers will make 80% of their money during the holiday season?  Don’t get me wrong, that is GREAT but wouldn’t you like that business to carry throughout the year?  Use vendor events as a stepping stone to build relationships and your business so that you can make money all year long.

What is your best tip for a successful vendor event?  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Are you Unstoppable

Happy Monday morning!  Yes, I am this perky and I haven’t had any coffee yet.  The truth is, I have been meditating (or at least trying to) every morning for a few minutes.  I was skeptical but it does work!  I am ready to face the day and my head is clear of all of those “negative thoughts”.

When I get “blog block”, I go through my list of articles or blogs that have touched on something for me so that I can share.  Yes, I do get blocked!  Since I was feeling “unstoppable” this morning, I decided to share this with you.  Thank you, Lynn Bardowski for these three tips.

Are you “unstoppable” in your business?  I need to grab this book that Lynn referenced which is “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Trail” but Cheryl Strayed.  It sounds like something that I need to read – I will add it to my list which seems to get longer instead of shorter.  UGH!

Just because I am sharing the 3 important lessons that are in the book, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it:

1. Unstoppable Women Change Their Story.  Strayed writes, “Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell myself a different story from the ones women are told. I decided I was safe. I was strong. I was brave.”  Are you changing YOUR story?  I am working on it every day and I have to admit, it is not always easy.

2. Unstoppable Women Keep Walking.  Strayed’s journey was never about getting from point A to point B. For her, it was about doing the thing she least wanted to do because she had no other choice. She writes, “…I considered my options. There were only two and they were essentially the same. I could go back in the direction I had come from, or I could go forward in the direction I intended to go.” Over thinking can stop you in your tracks, or worse, send you spiraling backwards. Being unstoppable requires less thinking, more forward motion.  Not to self: STOP THINKING and move forward!

3. Unstoppable Women Take Detours.  Webster’s defines a detour as “the act of going or traveling to a place along a way that is different from the usual or planned way.” I don’t want to live a “usual or planned” life. The truth is – I like Detours even when we are traveling.  When I look back on the detours in my life, I feel blessed because without them, I would not be the person that I am today.  Okay, so there is still some work to do but overall, I like who I am and where I am going.

Are you an Unstoppable Woman?  Some days I am and then there are others where I just want to have a “pity party”. On those days, the unstoppable woman is beginning to take charge a little quicker ready to conquer any challenge that comes her way.

Are you ready to consider the detours in your life as a blessing?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!