Today's Thought

Seven Qualities of Skillful Leadership

by Jim Rohn

If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as a sponsor, as a manger, as a friend... I call leadership the great challenge of life.

What's important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective.

Here are some specifics:
1) Learn to be strong but not rude. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader. Sadly, some people mistake rudeness for strength... It's not even a good substitute.

2) Learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake kindness for weakness. Kindness isn't weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell somebody the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.

3) Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you've got to walk in front of your group. You've got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble.

4) You've got to learn to be humble, but not timid. You can't get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility... Humility is almost a God-like word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we're part of the stars. So humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease.

5) Be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to win the day. It takes pride to build your business. It takes pride to accomplish much. But the key to becoming a good leader is being proud without being arrogant. In fact I believe the worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from ignorance. It's when you don't know that you don't know... That kind of arrogance is intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that's just too much to take.

6) Develop humor without folly. That's important for a leader. In leadership, we learn that it's okay to be witty, but not silly. It's okay to be fun, but not foolish.

7) Lastly, deal in reality...deal in truth...and save yourself the agony. Just accept life as it is. Because life is unique.

For example, I've found the methods that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. And yet the fundamentals of leadership always work well for just about everyone: in life, business, in the community, and at home.

To Your Success,

Jim Rohn

P.S. To learn where to find—and also develop—more leaders for your business, follow this proven plan: STDL!

© 2005 by Jim Rohn International.

All Rights Reserved._______Jim Rohn is considered to be America's Foremost Business Philosopher, with a career that has spanned over 37 years and touched the lives of over three million people worldwide. He has been internationally hailed over the years as one of the most influential thinkers of our time and has helped motivate an entire generation of personal development trainers as well as hundreds of executives from America's top corporations. He's been described as everything from a master motivator, to a modern day Will Rogers, to a legend!

Today's Thought

Today I came accross this article about how to get more business. Now I know that we probably can't utilize all these methods in building our FG business. However, this is food for thought because I'm sure that we all can at least implement a few more ways to advertize & build our businesses. Read the article & see what you think. Post a comment & let me know-how you plan on building your FG business. If we all can add just1 more method, I'm sure our team will soar to the top very quickly!

10 Ways to Publicize Your Home-Based BusinessBy Yvonne Buchanan,

The PR Academy

www.learnpr.com

If you’re a member of the pajama set, dutifully plugging away at your job while wearing your raggedy bunny slippers, you're not alone. The number of home-based businesses is growing, partly due to advances in technology, and partly due to a slow-down in the economy. (If no one will hire you, you hire yourself.)

The advantages of a home-based business are obvious: no commute time, you can set your own hours, increased job satisfaction. One disadvantage is that it’s hard to achieve visibility in your market. (You don’'t have a storefront or a marketing department; it’s just you and your slippers.)

Following are 10 ways to get the visibility you want for your home-based business:

Press releases.
When you launch your business, gain a new client, offer a new service, you’re involved in newsworthy events. Write a press release, and send it to your target publications (those publications that your potential market reads).

Board of advisors.
Choose professionals in various disciplines to act as your informal board of advisors. Compensate in some way (either with monthly or quarterly lunches, free services or products, etc.) In addition to being your sounding board, these people can be great advocates for your business.

Web site.
Your web site is an excellent place to announce new products or services. If you don’t have a web site, several sites offer free or low-cost hosting of single web pages.

Newsletter.
Consider creating an e-mail based or off-line newsletter and mailing it to potential customers and current customers. Make certain it contains worthwhile information for your readers, not just marketing hype or you’ll do more harm than good.

Special Event.
Consider hosting a special event, either web based or onsite. A virtual “Open House” that introduces your market to your business site can generate interest and break the ice with potential customers.

Advertising.
Several free and low-cost classified advertising avenues are available on the Web. Make certain that any advertising you do is targeted (the readers are your target market).

Sig files.
Make certain that your e-mail messages contain a signature file that announces your business, its contact information, and a tag line associated with your business (e.g., “Makers of all-natural gourmet muffins”).

Giveaways.
A giveaway is a novelty item you give to customers and potential customers. To be effective, a giveaway must contain your company logo or name and contact information, and it should relate in some way to your business. If you’re a desktop publisher, you might opt for an attractively designed mousepad with your company logo, for instance.

Networking.
Join associations affiliated with your industry. Meet potential customers, partners and suppliers. Make certain you give your business card to everyone you meet. Take advantage of speaking opportunities.

Partnering.
Consider teaming up with another home-based business who offers complementary services or products. You’ll each double your contact list and can provide a more well-rounded package to your clients. Don’t forget to announce your alliance in a press release!

In short, getting the word out about your home-based business just requires a little ingenuity and effort. The rewards will come in increased customers and business growth.

Today's Thought

Natural Selling

From Michael Oliver

Only yesterday I had an email from Christin Shepard who told me about a recent experience...

"Last night I was closing out the orders on my hostess's party.There was a woman that made a substantial order. I asked her ifshe would consider hosting a party so that she could receive adiscount on some of the additional items she wanted to purchase.

She stated that she just had a home party and it was a real hassle.

I asked her if she would elaborate on why it was a hassle.

She proceeded to explain that she did not have the time to address, send, and follow up on the invitations.

I asked her if the addressing, sending and follow up were not an issue would she consider hosting a party?

She said that she would and we booked one for the following month.

The other guests had heard our conversation and they also booked parties. If I had not had Michael Oliver's training I would not have known how to pursue the issue and would have walked out of there with no future parties booked. Thank you so much!"

Great job Christin!

Let's just recap what Christin did (and did not do)...
1. She stayed calm.
2. Instead of trying to "overcome" the woman's "objection" she asked a non-threatening, non-manipulative question to find out more about the, quite legitimate, concern the woman had.
3. Once Christin understood the concern, she proposed a solution that worked for both sides.

My guess, as well, is that Christin was focused on her purpose and that showed through in her interaction with everyone. Shewas there to help others solve their problems and by doing so she achieved what she wanted.

To learn more about Natural Selling just go to: http://www.naturalselling.com/schedule.html

Today's Thought

Quote for the month: "Do or do not, there is NO TRY"

Yoda from Empire Strikes Back

How to Use the "Power of the Force" in Direct Selling

By: Karen Phelps

You have the "power of the force within you, use it wisely", Yoda the Jedi master says to young Luke Skywalker in the movie Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back". Yoda is trying to teach Luke the power of the force as he lifts and moves Luke's spaceship out of the water. Luke said, "I don't believe it!" Yoda replies, "that is why you fail"! Yoda has mastered the "Power of the Force"! He understands that his thoughts determine his actions. Yoda continues his teachings, "Don't underestimate the power of the force Luke"!

Imagine you are young Skywalker and you are about to venture into a new journey as you analyze and re-evaluate your direct selling business. When is the last time you used the "power of the force" in your Direct Selling career? How long has it been since you even realized the "powerful force" you have within you as a member of a direct selling organization? You have the power to become anything you want to be! You can possess anything you desire . You have the power to realize your dreams! Are you underestimating the power? Are you "settling for mediocrity" instead of using the force within you to excel? Are you "watching things happen" or "making things happen"?

Now, fast forward to “Star Wars, Return of the Jedi”. Luke returns to continue his training with Yoda and finds Yoda ill and dying. Luke is upset as he feels that he still has much to learn from Yoda and cries out, “You can’t die, I have so much to learn.” Yoda replies, “You have learned all you need to learn. Now Master what you have learned"

! Many consultants learn things but never master them. When is the last time you really thought about the things you have “mastered” in your career? Do your feel there are things you know but have not really mastered? How can you “master everything you have learned? By implementing and doing the things you have learned. Many consultants learn but do not implement and therefore never really master what they have learned. What can you do to become a “direct selling master”?

Implement new ideas as soon as you can. Within 48 hours of learning a new skill you will forget about 85% of what you have learned if you do not review it and implement it. Each time you attend a meeting, training, convention or workshop make sure you review your notes and write down the one or two things you learned that you feel could make the most impact on your business. Study the actions you need too take, then practice doing what you have learned so that when you implement the new idea into your presentation you will feel comfortable.

Most often when the new idea or strategy fails it is because we didn’t prepare enough before implementing or we waited too long after learning the new strategy before we began to implement it into our presentation. We feel uncomfortable with the new technique and when it doesn’t work well for us we flippantly discard the idea and say to ourselves, “that didn’t work for me” rather than reviewing, practicing and implementing again until we master it!

Control your thoughts. One of the most important things Luke learned is that his thoughts controlled his actions. When he learned to control his thoughts he became stronger and more powerful as a Jedi. The same is true for you.

There is a saying, "whether you think you can or can't, you're right"! What do you do when a negative thought or doubt pops into your mind? Do you give into the negativity or do you immediately catch yourself and change your thoughts into positive thoughts that will produce positive actions? Self-sabotage is one of the quickest ways to fail in direct selling. If a booking cancels or a recruit quits, oh well, "get over it" and move forward. Quit focusing on what didn't work and continue to seek ways that will work.

Continue your training. No one knows everything there is to know about everything! It is only when we continue seek to learn from those who know more than us that we will see our business improve. Most companies have a training program for new consultants but remember that most of that training is just "basic training" and you will continually need to train, implement and improve all of your direct selling skills. Often those who discard their need for continuing education find themselves on a downward spiral that may have been avoided.

My advice to you is not matter what, you should be at every meeting and training that is offered by your upline and company. ONE NEW IDEA could potentially help you earn thousands and thousands of dollars!

Master what you have learned. The only way to "master what you have learned" is to practice what you have learned over and over and over again. If you learn booking techniques then hold only one or two parties per month you never will perfect what you have learned. I became a "master" at what I did because I continually held 3 to 4 parties per week for 48 weeks of the year for over 22 years! It was only by actually doing the parties, the interviews, the training sessions, etc. that I became a "master" at them. You need to develop a "consistent" schedule of parties, interviews, trainings, etc and keep on doing the same things over and over and over again until you have mastered them. You probably already know most of what you need to know. Now, "master what you have learned."

There is a big difference between those who are mediocre in Direct Selling and those who are "great" in direct selling. The big difference is that they continually seek ways to improve in the business. They have learned that their direct selling education never comes to an end and they are continually seeking, new, different, better and faster ways to build their direct selling businesses.

PARTY ON!!!
Shoot for the Moon; even if you miss you'll land among the stars!
email: karen@karenphelps.com
phone: 248-673-3465
web: http://www.karenphelps.com

Today's Thought

Tough times force us to examine ourselves.

They burn outour weaknesses and flaws, and if viewed correctly, toughtimes prepare us for the future.

Tough times may make usstronger.

Tough times can force us to grow or change inways that "good times" allow us to ignore or cover up.

Tough times force us to discover what we are made of.

Today's Thought

"More Lies ... I Don't Have the Time"

When someone tells you he/she doesn't have the time to look at or be a part of your Network Marketing business, you should consider that to be good news to your ears.The very fact that someone doesn't have any extra time means they're probably working too many hours to begin with.

If they had their own business and achieved total freedom, they would have all the time they needed to do whatever theywanted to do. isn't that right? (If someone is not working too many hours and they're spending all of their time with family and friends, chances are they're not making much money.)

Regardless of their reason, here's how to respond to: "I don't have the time":

"I can appreciate that you don't have any extra time. When people tell me they don't have the time to do the things they want to do, it usually means they're working too many hours. Let me ask you this: If I can show you a way to have your own business, working out of your home, and it would give you enough time and money to do the things that you'd like to do, would you have any interest in knowing how?"

If he/she says "yes", you now have a qualified prospect in frontof you!

Until next time,
Hilton Johnson
The MLMCoach(r)

Today's Thought

LEADERSHIP IS ACTION NOT POSITION

All successful people became successful,because they gave some talent or ability in the service of others.You can contribute in some way to others,no matter how small your talent.You too, can become successful.

No one achieves success without being of service.

Successful people don't use others,other people use the successful,for above all success is of service.

Everyone has to be someone to someone to be anyone.Service is the essence of success.

©2005 by Max Steingart www.maxsteingart.com

Today's Thought

Natural Prospecting By Todd Falcone

"No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to sponsor anyone!" exclaims Joe, the frustrated network marketer.This is a saying I hear all too often in this industry. Now, there can obviously be a number of reasons why this is the case, but let's look at one simple element: the mind.

You see...prospecting is really something that CAN come naturally, and it should. Most people make it out to be far more difficult than it really is. After all, it's just a conversation, a connection with another person, isn't it? Inevitably, many people falter and lack production in their prospecting efforts because they get in their own way. Their head, their mind plays games (tricks) on them that cause low production...or worse, no production.

If you are going to make any real money in network marketing, you have to get the prospecting game down...not let the prospecting game get YOU down. Over the past 14 years of my personal network marketing experience, I have seen hundreds of people fall victim to the dreaded disease: MindMess-alitis.

Natural Prospecting
Natural Prospecting is a zone that can be achieved by everyone in this business if they simply step aside and get out of their own way. Too often, people over-think or worry about what they are going to say, rather than simply flowing in the conversation. They need to simply let what happens, happen.

I am not saying that you get lazy about your words or your approach at all. I simply mean that you need to be natural...or "in the moment". Wherever you are, be there.

Book a Flight
Most of us have booked a flight over the telephone at some point in our lives. Did you use a script? Of course not! You knew exactly what you wanted. You knew your objective. What time are the flights? How many stops? Is there food on the plane? A movie? It was a simple, stress-free call where you didn't get in your own way. Your mind didn't play tricks on you. You knew EXACTLTY what you wanted.

You don't have to know the answer all the time. Why? There's not always one answer, one solution or one direction to go on a call. You have choices. Exercise them. When a network marketer gets jammed up in a conversation, where their words are jumbled and they fumble around feeling like a 3-year old, it's because they are THINKING too much. What should I say? What do I do? Where do I go from here? What did they mean when the prospect said this, that or the other?

Confusion takes place and another opportunity is lost. It's important to understand that in a free-flowing conversation, it is exactly that...flowing. It can flow in any direction, without force and without stress.
One Chance for an Impression
You really only have one opportunity to make a great impression on a prospect. People want to work with confident leaders that are in control...or, at least the right people do! Next time you pick up the telephone to call a prospect, take a deep breath and relax. There's nothing to stress out about. No worries. It's just a conversation with another living, breathing human being that probably has some level of dissatisfaction in their life or a desire for change. All you need to do is uncover it and provide them with a solution. It sounds easy, doesn't it?

Don't blow your impressions by letting paranoia and fear prevent you from letting it go. Let it happen. You'll be sure to make a better impression when you are working with relaxed intensity rather than stressed intensity.

What's your objective?
When you clearly understand the purpose of a prospecting call, it becomes very easy. If you go into a call confused and not clearly understanding of your purpose, your mind tends to over-think and cause you to flail.

When I make calls...I clearly know my objective. It's just like buying an airline ticket. I know EXACTLY what I want. I pick up the telephone and engage the person in conversation by asking a question. I am looking for someone open to an opportunity for change. I then probe and look for desires, dissatisfactions and strong character traits. If they foot the bill, I present my opportunity, answer any legitimate questions and collect a decision. Voila! The call is done. It's really that simple.

Get clear on what you want to accomplish in your prospecting calls. Don't worry about getting stuck not knowing what to say if and when they say something. You're already in a losing proposition when you do that. If a question or objection comes up that you are not prepared for, take a breath, pause, then go with the flow. Don't try to answer something that you don't know. Don't fear. Everyday something unexpected occurs and we deal with it.

Prospecting isn't any different. Let it come naturally and without force. Think about FLOW and let it go. Make it a Peaceful DayAbundance, success and fulfillment come through a relaxed, yet intense approach toward building your business. The term 'relaxed intensity' perfectly defines one who goes all out in their business, giving it everything they've got, yet doing so with a peaceful mind.

Success comes to those who work toward it, but don't stress about it. Let your mind work on other creative projects rather than what might happen in a conversation. Do this, and you will find yourself attracting and sponsoring more people than you ever dreamed possible!

Todd Falcone has been a successful field leader for over a decade. He is also a public speaker, trainer and personal coach to several top producing network marketers. He lives in Seattle with his wife, Carla, and new baby boy, Gianni. www.toddfalcone.com.

Today's Thought

Sometimes the simplest ideas work best!

Last fall I noticed my 7 year old daughter, Lexi, picking up walnut shells in our yard. After just watching her for awhile, my curiosity got the best of me and finally I asked her, "Hi honey, whatchayadoin?"

"Oh, just collecting walnut shells," she said rather matter-of-factly.

"What are you going to do with them?" I asked.

"I'm going to sell them," she proclaimed.

Now, I was really curious! "So, who are you going to sell them to?"

"Everyone, daddy," she said, as if it should be very obvious.

I had to ask just one more question: "So, tell me why someone would want to buy your walnut shells."

For a moment, she stopped picking up the walnut shells and looked at me with her big, beautiful brown eyes. Then she quite confidentially stated, "Because I'm going to ask them." Dumbfounded and basically speechless, I could only mutter, "Well, that's a very good reason."

What a concept! They will buy because she asks them. It's a proven fact that the #1 reason people buy is because someone asked them to buy. My daughter, who's never had any sales training, already inherently knows that. This week, apply that little gem of wisdom to your business. Double the number of people you simply ask to buy your product and see if it doesn't increase your sales. It worked for Lexi.

Are you like Tippy?

Our family pet is an adorable (and huge) lop-eared rabbit. Her name is Tippy. We keep her in a pen at the bottom of our yard. The first few years we had Tippy, she would gladly come out of her cage and play with us. But this spring, that changed. After a dreadfully long and cold PA winter in which she was confined to her pen for almost 4 months, we couldn't wait for the first nice day of spring to let Tippy out of her pen. As we opened her pen door, we just knew she would jump right out and bounce around the yard, as she had done many times before. Much to our surprise, however, she did not. Instead, she went over to the edge and gazed out at the yard. After a while, she retreated to her resting spot in her pen and plopped down. Even after many days in which we have opened her pen door, she still has not come out.

Although I cannot say for sure what may be going on between her big loppy ears, I have a hunch. I believe that over the long winter, Tippy grew so comfortable in her pen that she actually no longer has any desire to stray from it. In spite of a beautiful big yard for her to romp around in, she now chooses to stay where she is: in her secure little pen. It got me thinking about how many people are just like Tippy. Perhaps in their "younger years" they tried new and exciting things. But as they grew older (and wiser?) they became secure in their ways. In a sense, they have allowed themselves to be conditioned to avoid change and risk.

My training tip for you this week is to avoid at all costs becoming "set in your ways." Instead, embrace the challenges and risks that come your way. In fact, don't wait for them to come your way; seek them out.

Just yesterday I noticed a wild rabbit hopping around in our yard, not far from Tippy's cage. I couldn't help but think of the excitement Tippy could have been enjoying had she decided to get out of her pen. You know how rabbits are!

MARK HELSEL has been involved in network marketing for over 15 years; he is co-founder of Virtual Office Systems, a company created
to help network marketers find new customers.

Today's Thought

YOU HAVE TO GIVE BEFORE YOU GET

It's a universal law: You only get to keep what you give away. You must plant your seeds before you reap the harvest. The more you sow, the more you will reap. In giving to others, you will find yourself blessed.

The law works to give you back more then you have sown. The giver's harvest is always full. Those that obtain have little. Those who scatter have much.

Nature does not give to those who will not spend.

©2005 by Max Steingart www.maxsteingart.com