Is being Self Employed On YOUR New Year Wish List

Have you ever dreamed of being your own boss?  According to “theselfemployed.com“, there is a list of 55 reasons it’s better to employ yourself but these are just a few of mine:

1. Set your own hours.
2. Opportunity to make unlimited income.
3. Can work from home.
4. Can work literally anywhere.
5. Are able to put family priorities first.
6. You don’t just work for a paycheck.
7. Able to do something you are passionate about.
8. Can work in your pajamas if you want to.
9. Take vacation or sick time whenever you need to.
10. In today’s economy, being self-employed can have more job security than a traditional job.
11. True flexibility in everything you do.
12. Work doesn’t feel like work.
13. Every day can feel like an adventure.
14. Only you need to believe in yourself. You don’t have to sell your ideas or vision to higher-ups.
15. You can set up your office however you want.
16. You are not limited to the money you earn each paycheck.
17. Every day is like a new challenge – a chance to grow as a person.
18. You will be able to spend more quality time with your family.
19. You can take control of your own personal and career development.
20. The more you put into your business, the more you will get out of it.
21. You will have more freedom to work, play or rest when you want to.
22. Being self-employed is the ultimate DIY project.
23. You can be yourself.
24. Get to meet new people that you might not have in a typical job environment.

For some, direct sales may be the answer to your self-employment goal.  For $99, the Thirty One enrollment kit changed my life.  It not only allowed me to make my own hours, it helped me to find a confidence in me that I had lost so many years ago.  When I am doing a home party with Thirty One, I am not “Belinda’s mom” or “Rob’s wife” or “Joan’s daughter” – I am “Hope, Thirty One Director and bag lady”.  I love all of my roles as wife, mom and daughter but I also love that I have my own identity too.  Did it start off that way?  No, I wanted the discounts (25%) and maybe to make some extra money.  It is so much more than just a purse.  

Thirty One may not be for you but it may be for someone you know. Share this link with them giving them the opportunity.  If your passion isn’t bags, try some of the other wonderful direct sales companies around – Mary Kay or Beauty Control or Dove Chocolate.

Share with us your reason for wanting to be self-employed..

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

H.O.P.E.

I can’t believe that the week is almost over….  the days are quickly passing which means it is getting closer to Belinda’s trip home.  Yes, I AM counting with 15 days to go before Belinda and Ashley arrive in Jersey for a whirlwind week of friends, family and making memories.

Since I started my consulting business many years ago, I used my name as an acronym since people very rarely used my last name.  Believe it or not, when I was working in the trenches for HIV/AIDS, when someone mentioned my name (only the first one), everyone seemed to know who they meant. That isn’t to brag it is just that I almost NEVER used my last name when I introduced myself.  To this day, I find when I introduce myself at networking events, I usually just say my first name.  I know, I would definitely fail any networking test on introductions.  H.O.P.E. always stood for Helping Others Plan Effectively for my consulting business.  I was writing grants, working with clients and just generally helping individuals and organizations to plan programs and funding strategies. It worked!

When I began blogging, I automatically leaned to the “old” acronym.  Basically, I thought people would recognize the “old” name and just jump on the bandwagon.  Life changes though.  Have you ever noticed that when you change the field you work in, your contacts change?  The people you always connected with somehow change.  The things you always talked about change.  The “new” job takes shape in your life and your focus starts to shift.  I know I am not alone especially in the world of social services or social work.

In my journey with Thirty One, I have met am AMAZING energetic Mary Kay Consultant, Katlyn who had the word HOPE as an acronym in her team name.  As we were looking over the new Thirty One catalog and finding the perfect eye color for me; we began talking about team names.  She shared that she was shortening hers and taking out the “HOPE” acronym.  At which point, I asked her if she would mind if I “borrowed” her wording which seemed so much more relevant to my work today – blogging and Thirty One.  Katlyn was shocked that I even asked, then laughed and said of course… so thank you Katlyn for the NEW

Helping Others Pursue Excellence

It is my goal that through my blog and my leadership role with Thirty One, I am able to help individuals reach their out level of excellence.  I love the quote by Zig Ziglar:

What is your goal?  What are you striving for?  Share your goals with us and let us know how we can help.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

To Call or Not to Call

My road trip this past week was AMAZING!  Not only did I get to spend time with leaders from who are part of my Thirty One upline, I got to know another Thirty One sister, Luana AND learn some mind altering things from Shari Hudspeth about growing my business.  The trip to Floyd, VA was fun and full of laughter but I have to tell you the training was riveting.

For anyone in direct sales, we have heard FOREVER that you need to pick up the phone and make calls. Get over your fear, doubt, hesitation and just DO IT!  Shari says “that is not the way to get bookings”.  Now, I don’t mean you should stop making those customer care  calls where you make sure that everything arrived as it was ordered or simply ask them if they like their product – I mean those dreaded warm calls to get them to book a party.  I mean, let’s be honest, how many of us actually book parties from these calls.  I know that I can’t be the only one that doesn’t, right?

In today’s changing market, there are 4 ways that booking parties can be done (besides at the ideal spot –  at a party) in order of booking success:

1. Facebook
2. Text message to those who expressed interest
3. Email – blast information about a FUN, FAST, EASY Girl’s Night Out Party and then follow-up with phone calls.
4. Phone

While most of us get voice mail when we call our customers or a potential hostess, it is often difficult to think of a quick, catchy message that will get them to call back.   On the other hand, 95% of text messages, regardless of the message get answered within 15 minutes.  Many direct sales companies, like Thirty One, has Policies and Guidelines about soliciting business on Facebook but there is always chat, messaging and leaving fun pictures with clever captions to entice people to book a party with you.   According to Shari, we are actually setting our team up for failure when we push the “warm” call solicitation.  WOW!   Most people don’t answer their phone to numbers they don’t know or “think” they know what the call is about so why stumble over the message.  Why not just make a Customer Care call, leave a message that pertains ONLY to their current order and be done?

The phone is NOT totally off limits but it should be used to make those calls that will grow your business and set you apart from other direct sales consultants.  There are going to be two responses to this blog:

1. She is CRAZY and her business is going to fall apart.
2. THANK YOU! Now I can work on things that I like and where I get business instead of stressing over calling those warm leads that quickly turn cold.

I know an energetic Mary Kay consultant, Katlyn Reid,  who has built a LARGE part of her business using social media – particularly Facebook.  I am in awe at the growth of her business each month so it does work.

This was my first of many AHA moments during this 8 hour training.  Yes, I have heard this before but Shari put it in such a way that it made sense.  Let me know what you are thinking when it comes to the phone!

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

#hope  #hopes31

You Are Who You Associate With

Gloria Mayfield-Banks was a guest speaker on Friday at Thirty One‘s National Conference.  She is an Elite Executive National Sales Director with Mary Kay, Inc. appearing on CNN, ABC-TV and CNBC.  She is an expert in the fields of motivation, and self-esteem, sharing invaluable tips to help you revitalize your business!  She was AMAZING!

Her confidence, grace and eloquent speaking made me sit in awe since public speaking is not one of my strong points – especially in a room with 16,000 screaming women.  The first thing she said that SMACKED me in the head is “you become who you hang around with”.  Okay, I guess I always knew this however in the midst of all of the noise, I sometimes forget about it. Satan gains a stronghold in my life casting fear and doubt then before long, I am with all of the Negative Nellies and Debbie Downers.  As a result, negative attracts negative and then there is more negative than positive in my life.  I saw this happen during National Conference – as people complained, said hurtful words and were just plain grumpy, I saw my mood change.  I may say that the words “I TRUST and BELIEVE” when in reality fear and doubt are sometimes the guiding force.

Gloria’s FOUR basic tips made so much sense for me and my business:

1.  Time Management.  As simple as putting your keys in the same location every time you return home.  Basic, right?  How many times do we lose our keys? Misplace a file? Forget to follow-up with someone?  Time management involves having some basic systems in place to help you reach your goals.  I always thought that I was good at time management but when I listened to Gloria, I realized I had some definite flaws in my systems.

2.  Money Management.  Credit card debt, buying things we want instead of need, buying extra product just because someone may want it or to help us reach a goal?  I am sure at some time in our lives we can all relate to this.  I know this is NOT one of my strong points and as a result this is where Satan tends to hit me the hardest.  Growing up, I never really learned how to save until my parents divorced when I was 18.  My mom then became an amazing money manager and saver.  Unfortunately, this was a trait that I never learned and still struggle with on a daily basis.

3.  Emotional Management.  WOW!  The thought that I can choose a different emotion or journey always gets lost when Negative Nellie comes around unless someone else brings it to my attention.  I need to increase my focus and decrease my distractions.  Step 1 of this was by changing some things on Facebook.  Not only did this affect my time management but also affected my emotional management.  I am sure you have those people who show up in your news feed with the “negative” or indirect hurtful words.  I am sure I am not the only one.  I have decreased my distraction by eliminating them from my news feed – they are still friends but they will not be the ones that I see when I open my Facebook page.

4.  Skill Management.  Invest in your personal development.  Read at least 10 pages a day to help in your business growth (Thank you Lynette for this suggestion).  I have been blessed with an amazing up-line that has Shining Stars University which is a custom designed training program based on your skill and selling levels.

What area do you need to work on most to be successful in your business?  This may change on a regular basis but pick ONE that you can focus on to start.  It is a tie for me between Money Management and Emotional Management.  I would love to hear your thoughts on each of these management areas?  Please share your tips to help others.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!