Thursday, June 18, 2009
Moving over....
Hi everyone...I have moved my blog over to leeanneruff.wordpress.com - please go check it out...it seems like it has more features and is easy to use (not that this isn't easy) but I like the themes and the stat tracker....so please join me over there...THANKS! LeeAnne
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
THERE IS NO BOX!
This past weekend I attended the closing ceremony of a leadership seminar that my high school sophomore attended. I happened to catch something one of the directors mentioned to the students in his remarks. He reminded them that there was no box. I sat there in the audience and had a ‘light-bulb moment’. I have been thinking and saying to sales consultants that they need to think outside the box when it comes to looking for growth opportunities. After thinking about it I realized that the most successful sales consultants run their business as if there was no box – ever! Imagine if you were to look at your business without any limitations, never allowing yourself to be boxed in by anyone or anything. What would that feel like to you? The only person who puts limits on what you can achieve with your business is YOU. Limitations are self-imposed because for every roadblock there is a detour that still takes you to your destination. So how do you have a THERE IS NO BOX attitude? Here is what I have learned:
If you want to have a prosperous and growing business you have to be committed to do what it takes. Commitment to the company mission and your own personal goals will help you ride the ups and down in a direct sales business. Commitment goes hand and hand with passion. Are you passionate about what you do? Are you having fun helping women enjoy the jewelry? Are you proud of what you do? Are you excited to share this company with others? There will always be challenges we face from time to time in our personal business and thankfully the growing pains we have experienced as a company are normal as well and will soon pass. Those who remain committed to our company and its mission will experience unlimited growth potential as we move forward. Choose to be committed to your business!
Be competent! This means that you need to learn all that you can about your jewelry as well as how to effectively run your business. There are so many opportunities to learn with Inspiranza that there simply are no excuses to not have knowledge. Don’t reinvent the wheel – learn from the leaders who are willing to share!
Commitment and competence lead to confidence! If you have ever been part of a team raising money for a favorite charity or cause you will know what I mean! When you are committed to raising money for breast cancer awareness because your mother has battled breast cancer - you are unstoppable. If your child is sick with an illness you do not stop until you have found the answers you need and the appropriate treatment – you are unstoppable. Get the picture? When you put that same level of commitment and competence into your business you will be confident and UNSTOPPABLE. You will not be thinking of ideas that are ‘outside the box’ because for you THERE IS NO BOX!
Shine BRIGHT and be UNSTOPPABLE!
If you want to have a prosperous and growing business you have to be committed to do what it takes. Commitment to the company mission and your own personal goals will help you ride the ups and down in a direct sales business. Commitment goes hand and hand with passion. Are you passionate about what you do? Are you having fun helping women enjoy the jewelry? Are you proud of what you do? Are you excited to share this company with others? There will always be challenges we face from time to time in our personal business and thankfully the growing pains we have experienced as a company are normal as well and will soon pass. Those who remain committed to our company and its mission will experience unlimited growth potential as we move forward. Choose to be committed to your business!
Be competent! This means that you need to learn all that you can about your jewelry as well as how to effectively run your business. There are so many opportunities to learn with Inspiranza that there simply are no excuses to not have knowledge. Don’t reinvent the wheel – learn from the leaders who are willing to share!
Commitment and competence lead to confidence! If you have ever been part of a team raising money for a favorite charity or cause you will know what I mean! When you are committed to raising money for breast cancer awareness because your mother has battled breast cancer - you are unstoppable. If your child is sick with an illness you do not stop until you have found the answers you need and the appropriate treatment – you are unstoppable. Get the picture? When you put that same level of commitment and competence into your business you will be confident and UNSTOPPABLE. You will not be thinking of ideas that are ‘outside the box’ because for you THERE IS NO BOX!
Shine BRIGHT and be UNSTOPPABLE!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Motherhood and Direct Sales
My first job on this earth is motherhood. I take it very seriously. I have 4 fantastic kids. Direct Sales has allowed me to work right out of my home. I have always been able to go on all the field trips. I am always home when the bus pulls up. You understand what I am talking about. I have worked my home based business so that I can earn a great income that allows me to concentrate on what I truly value God's greatest gift - my kids. You just can't put a dollar value on that and I have never taken it for granted! My 4 kids are growing up very fast, and two of them are now away at college. Recently I was reminded of the flexibility of my business. My daughter attends college in a major city, 5 hours away from our home. On a Sunday night I got a terrifying call from her that she was extremely ill and needed medical attention. The EMT's were called and she ended up being admitted to the hospital. I was tormented about whether or not I needed to go to be with her. The nurses were telling me that she looked terrible but that it was probably just strep throat. So what to do? Well, I just couldn't stay at home knowing that she was in the hospital so far away with a high fever and no definitive diagnosis. In less than an hour I was packed up with my clothes and my laptop and I was on my way to Boston. She ended up in the hospital for 3 days with a high fever and was actually quite sick. It was a blessing that I could go and be there to take care of her. No one knows their own child like a mother....no one! Having a direct sales business like mine allowed me the flexiblity to pick it up and go with it! All my contacts are on my laptop. I was able to communicate with my team while she was sleeping and even held a training call on one of the evenings. If I had to work a 9 to 5 job I certainly would not have the flexibility to just pick up and go. I would need to ask for permission. I would have to deal with the repercussions upon my return. Working for yourself as a mother is just a wonderful opportunity - but it is work! I have worked hard over the years to have a base built up in my business so that when emergencies or family gets in the way - I always have a business to return to! I feel truly blessed and thankful for my wonderful family and my chosen career path.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Learn As Much As You Can
Wow! It has been a long time since my last post! I want to comment on the importance of training and finding good support with your home based business. Last month, my company - Inspiranza Designs, held their first ever National Conference. There were about 40 independent silver consultants in attendance. It was simply fantastic. I can't stress enough how important it is to do whatever it takes to attend your national conference or any home office sponsored events! Granted this was much smaller than the thousands I am used to seeing at a national conference, but I believe the rewards of attendance were as valuable, if not more! First of all, the home office brings in a very talented speaker and trainer. It is great to hear someone from the outside who can look in at your business and give you tips and techniques to make improvements. Also, a trainer of this caliber has the ability and knowledge to look at the industry at a whole and see the trends. It is always important to understand customer behavior. We may think we know our customers best, but in a changing economic climate it is always smart to listen to what the experts have to say.
Another perk to attending an event such as this is the ability to network with other consultants who value their business. Think about it, the consultants who gave up their time and some money to attend these meetings are truly serious about their business. Aren't those the type of individuals you want to associate with and learn from? You will have so many opportunities to mingle and chat with others and ask questions about what is working for them. I guarantee that there will be many 'light bulb' moments that go off over your head when you network with others who are working the same business as you and have big goals. If you want to be a winner, then act like one!
If cost is an issue. Start saving now! Put money aside from each show you hold and save it as your cash for conference account. It will be money well spent. We cannot assume that we have all the answers or know the right path to take. It is so easy to feel discouraged if a few things go wrong with your business. Attending a conference and connecting to others helps keep you motivated and gives you a network of support who completely understand your ups and downs They can applaud you when you are up and pull you up when you are down.
Finally, what do you do if you have to wait a whole year until the next conference (as is the case with Inspiranza!)? Well there are still plenty of ways to get and stay connected. Start holding your own sales meetings. Contact the other consultants in your area and ask them to join you for coffee at a local coffee shop once a month. Ask everyone to bring their best business tip from the previous month and one challenge they need help with. Share the tips and as a group brainstorm ways to address the challenges. DON'T sit there and wallow in the challenges - you actually need to say - 'okay, how can we fix that?' and then throw out ideas until a couple of them stick. Don't have local reps in your area? That's okay, join them in a web group. We are fortunate with Inspiranza to have a yahoogroup page so consultants can communicate back and forth. It is very easy to start your own. You can also go to freeconferencecall.com and get a conference call number. Ask your fellow reps to join you on a call once a month to discuss the things you would if you were to meet in person. The goal is to stay in contact, no matter how you do it. I promise you that it will keep you motivated and on track with your business!
Until next time, SHINE BRIGHT!
LeeAnne
Another perk to attending an event such as this is the ability to network with other consultants who value their business. Think about it, the consultants who gave up their time and some money to attend these meetings are truly serious about their business. Aren't those the type of individuals you want to associate with and learn from? You will have so many opportunities to mingle and chat with others and ask questions about what is working for them. I guarantee that there will be many 'light bulb' moments that go off over your head when you network with others who are working the same business as you and have big goals. If you want to be a winner, then act like one!
If cost is an issue. Start saving now! Put money aside from each show you hold and save it as your cash for conference account. It will be money well spent. We cannot assume that we have all the answers or know the right path to take. It is so easy to feel discouraged if a few things go wrong with your business. Attending a conference and connecting to others helps keep you motivated and gives you a network of support who completely understand your ups and downs They can applaud you when you are up and pull you up when you are down.
Finally, what do you do if you have to wait a whole year until the next conference (as is the case with Inspiranza!)? Well there are still plenty of ways to get and stay connected. Start holding your own sales meetings. Contact the other consultants in your area and ask them to join you for coffee at a local coffee shop once a month. Ask everyone to bring their best business tip from the previous month and one challenge they need help with. Share the tips and as a group brainstorm ways to address the challenges. DON'T sit there and wallow in the challenges - you actually need to say - 'okay, how can we fix that?' and then throw out ideas until a couple of them stick. Don't have local reps in your area? That's okay, join them in a web group. We are fortunate with Inspiranza to have a yahoogroup page so consultants can communicate back and forth. It is very easy to start your own. You can also go to freeconferencecall.com and get a conference call number. Ask your fellow reps to join you on a call once a month to discuss the things you would if you were to meet in person. The goal is to stay in contact, no matter how you do it. I promise you that it will keep you motivated and on track with your business!
Until next time, SHINE BRIGHT!
LeeAnne
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Added Perks of Your Direct Sales Business!
One of the perks I have come to realize with my direct sales business is the amount of friendships I have gained. Working from home can be a solitary environment, but not when you are in direct sales party plan! There are so many avenues to reach out to the other women who are doing exactly the same thing as you. You may be living in completely different parts of the country with different circumstances but you have a tie that binds - your business. You have a connection with all the other consultants within your company! You belong to a huge family! With our company we have ongoing live training calls. Women from around the country call in so you get to 'meet' each other from time to time on the calls. It may be brief, but you begin to familiarize yourself with different names and voices. You look forward to hearing from the regulars on the calls as well as the anticipation of the new people with their excitement and enthusiasm. We also have a YahooGroup site as well. This has really taken on a life of its own recently as we continue to grow. It is wonderful to see women posting and asking and answering each others questions. The genuine support of each other is such a wonderful thing to see. A couple of months ago my 18 year old daughter created a Facebook account for me - wow - that has been amazing! I have been able to actually see the faces of many of our consultants! What I thought was for kids I am learning is a major networking resource for adults of ALL ages! If you haven't created a Facebook account - you are missing out! Not only can we now connect in a business sense, but it makes it even more personal if you can see pictures of each others family.
Creating this bond is essential to the success of anyone starting out in a home based business. It is so easy to feel alone and get discouraged at times. By joining the groups, participating in the discussions, it creates a network of support and friends. It eliminates all the distance and helps keep you motivated. You will create lasting friendships that surpass your business needs and bring value to your life in many ways. I know I speak from experience!
Shine BRIGHT!
LeeAnne
Creating this bond is essential to the success of anyone starting out in a home based business. It is so easy to feel alone and get discouraged at times. By joining the groups, participating in the discussions, it creates a network of support and friends. It eliminates all the distance and helps keep you motivated. You will create lasting friendships that surpass your business needs and bring value to your life in many ways. I know I speak from experience!
Shine BRIGHT!
LeeAnne
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Perks of a Home Based Business
I am a very busy mom of 4 kids. They are basically the reason that I ventured into direct sales many years ago. This industry allows for the ultimate flexibility in work schedule. Although it should be noted that work is not OPTIONAL. This past week was a perfect case in point.
I am an active member of my church. Every year for the past 5 years, I have helped organize and coordinate a huge benefit concert where a Broadway star comes from NYC and performs to raise money. The money goes to our Senior High Youth Group to fund their annual mission trip experience to work with the homeless in our nation's capitol. This is a huge undertaking as it involves finding a location, renting a piano, getting sound equiptment, putting together a program, selling tickets, and many other things. To add to the stress this year was the fact that my performer 10 year old was asked to sing with our featured star. Talk about stress - she wasn't stressed, but I sure was!!!!
The beauty of my business is that I can work it in and around everything else that I have going on. I knew a weeks ago that this week was going to be busy so I booked my shows accordingly. It doesn't mean I didn't have a show, because I did, I just didn't book it for the night before the concert. I also planned my phone calls and errands in groups so that I could accomplish many different tasks at once. If I had to run an errand for the concert, I planned a business task as well. I will also highly recommend having a Blackberry. It is so convenient to be waiting in the line at Wal Mart with the ability to check your email! Another recommendation is Bluetooth for your car. Not only is it safe, but it is a great way to do business when you are on the road. I had to travel close to an hour to a show this week and I spent most of that time on the phone doing my Inspiranza business.
It takes a little bit of planning, but if you do it right you can fit any direct sales business around your personal life. Shows can be held anywhere at anytime. Jewelry is particularly easy because it is easy to carry and it doesn't recquire a long demonstration. Drop and shop! Fast, easy and FUN!
My kids have and will always come first, but they also see me working my business. They know I take it seriously and they see me devote time to it every single day. They have grown to appreciate the fact that their mother is a businesswoman with a bit of an unconventional schedule - one that I determine! They have witnessed first hand the success of my business and how it has shaped their childhoods.
I will encourage my kids to look at the direct sales model and the opportunities it presents when they are independent job seekers. There really is no greater joy in having a successful home based business that allows for flexibility and meets your household financial needs!
I am an active member of my church. Every year for the past 5 years, I have helped organize and coordinate a huge benefit concert where a Broadway star comes from NYC and performs to raise money. The money goes to our Senior High Youth Group to fund their annual mission trip experience to work with the homeless in our nation's capitol. This is a huge undertaking as it involves finding a location, renting a piano, getting sound equiptment, putting together a program, selling tickets, and many other things. To add to the stress this year was the fact that my performer 10 year old was asked to sing with our featured star. Talk about stress - she wasn't stressed, but I sure was!!!!
The beauty of my business is that I can work it in and around everything else that I have going on. I knew a weeks ago that this week was going to be busy so I booked my shows accordingly. It doesn't mean I didn't have a show, because I did, I just didn't book it for the night before the concert. I also planned my phone calls and errands in groups so that I could accomplish many different tasks at once. If I had to run an errand for the concert, I planned a business task as well. I will also highly recommend having a Blackberry. It is so convenient to be waiting in the line at Wal Mart with the ability to check your email! Another recommendation is Bluetooth for your car. Not only is it safe, but it is a great way to do business when you are on the road. I had to travel close to an hour to a show this week and I spent most of that time on the phone doing my Inspiranza business.
It takes a little bit of planning, but if you do it right you can fit any direct sales business around your personal life. Shows can be held anywhere at anytime. Jewelry is particularly easy because it is easy to carry and it doesn't recquire a long demonstration. Drop and shop! Fast, easy and FUN!
My kids have and will always come first, but they also see me working my business. They know I take it seriously and they see me devote time to it every single day. They have grown to appreciate the fact that their mother is a businesswoman with a bit of an unconventional schedule - one that I determine! They have witnessed first hand the success of my business and how it has shaped their childhoods.
I will encourage my kids to look at the direct sales model and the opportunities it presents when they are independent job seekers. There really is no greater joy in having a successful home based business that allows for flexibility and meets your household financial needs!
Monday, February 2, 2009
My FIRST post!
This is an exciting day for me! I have ventured into a world that is quite unkown to me....the web. I am pushed by the desire to help women live their dreams and have FUN with their direct sales businesses. I absolutely believe in this industry and how it can turn mediocre into amazing!
I also thought blogging might be a fun way to keep my consultant team up to date on the happenings in my world and what is going on with Inspiranza Designs.
So, this blog will be a combination of sorts...a look into my daily life as a busy mom of 4 and businesswoman as well as a vehicle for me to discuss topics pertaining to the direct sales industry.
I welcome your comments and suggestions for topics - so bring them on!
PS - Check out my recent article in Military Spouse magazine - the December issue! Tips on finding the right home based direct sales business!
Peace and blessings to you all!
Shine BRIGHT!
LeeAnne
I also thought blogging might be a fun way to keep my consultant team up to date on the happenings in my world and what is going on with Inspiranza Designs.
So, this blog will be a combination of sorts...a look into my daily life as a busy mom of 4 and businesswoman as well as a vehicle for me to discuss topics pertaining to the direct sales industry.
I welcome your comments and suggestions for topics - so bring them on!
PS - Check out my recent article in Military Spouse magazine - the December issue! Tips on finding the right home based direct sales business!
Peace and blessings to you all!
Shine BRIGHT!
LeeAnne
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