 MLM
Woman Issue 120
January 2007
From the Desk of the Editor
Welcome to the 120th issue of the MLM Woman Newsletter! This
month we feature 5 more articles from successful and savvy businesswomen
who generously share their knowledge and expertise with you.
If you enjoy this month's issue, please be sure to let your
friends know about it too and invite them to come and visit us.
Also, if you have comments, questions or something to share
after reading this month's issue, please visit our MLMTalk
Discussion Forum and join in the lively conversation!
And also be sure to check out our new MLM
Marketing Blog for lots of additional tips and resources which
are added throughout the month.
Happy New Year!
Linda Locke, Editor MLM Woman
 Three
Ways to
Pursue Your Dreams
by Lisa Martin, The Working Mother’s
Coach
Have you ever wondered what it would be like
to live the life of your dreams? To wake up every morning
feeling excited, inspired and passionate about your life?
If you want to be more engaged in your own life you need to
find the courage to pursue your secret hopes and ambitions.
Perhaps you want to run a marathon, write a book, give a speech
or start your own business. What’s stopping you? What’s
getting in your way? Chances are your number one obstacle
is you…your shoulds, beliefs and fears. Want to blast
away these roadblocks to your happiness? Then it’s time
to get out the dynamite.
1. Unplug Your Shoulds
For many of us, should is one of the most commonly
used words in our vocabulary. “I should call Linda.”
“You should put your sweater on.” “I really
should go to the gym.”
Shoulds may have been ruling your life for so
long that they are almost invisible. They exist in the background
of your mind, directing your choices and decisions. Shoulds
get in your way.
They can make you feel miserable; they can make
you feel guilty. They stop you from focusing on your passions
by imposing an outside set of priorities that may or may not
be what you want to be doing. To stop shoulds from blocking
your path to fulfillment assess which of your shoulds can
be eliminated and which are really wants or can be transformed
into wants. Aim to become a “should-free zone” by
using this four-step formula:
Stop. Realize you’ve said “should.”
Look. Assess your choices.
Listen. Differentiate between wants and shoulds.
Learn. Understand the consequences of saying no to the should.
By following this process, you will notice that
you start saying no more often to your “shoulds”
and yes more often to the things you want to do, which in
turn allows your wants, passions and dreams to blossom.
2. Blast Away Defeating Beliefs
What you think can propel you forward or keep
you stuck. Limiting and negative thoughts, about you, your
abilities and the possibilities open to you, are best described
as defeating beliefs. They are often very simple, even simplistic,
yet they can have a profound effect on your life.
To liberate yourself from defeating beliefs
you must first identify them. Pay attention to your words.
What do you tell others and yourself you cannot do? Often
a defeating belief lurks behind an excuse or a fear—particularly
concerning the things you are most passionate about. “I’m
too old to start this now.” “I won’t be able
to make any money doing that.” “I have to be in
much better shape.” “I don’t have time.”
“It will never work.” When you explore your excuses
and fears, you will discover your defeating beliefs and be
able to create a plan to eliminate them.
3. Face Your Fears
Fear, in all its forms, makes most of us feel
unprotected and insecure. It exposes our vulnerability. We
become susceptible to the risk of success or failure, to the
thoughts and comments of others, to loneliness or to our own
inner critic. Yet feeling frightened can also be enlightening.
Becoming aware that fear is playing a role in your life is
often a gift. It gives you a chance to assess what is holding
you back.
Don’t be afraid of fear. Instead, expose
your fear to the light and determine whether it is real. Fear
definitely evokes real physical responses and emotions, yet
ironically the fear itself—the source of your trepidation—may
not be real, it may be imagined or the product of worry. When
you identify which fears are getting in your way, you can
then take all proper and possible precautions to move safely
through them. Understanding your fears will help you minimize
them as you aim to pursue your dreams.
You have all the wisdom and power to blow-up
any obstacle between you and your best life. When you use
your dynamite to dispel your “shoulds,” overcome
defeating beliefs and understand your fears, you gain the
courage it takes to pursue and realize your life’s ambition.
It’s your life, live it to the fullest.
© Copyright 2007. Lisa Martin.
All rights reserved.
About the Author
Lisa Martin is a certified coach who inspires working mothers
to achieve success that’s balanced. Author of Briefcase
Moms: 10 Proven Practices to Balance Working Mothers’
Lives, Lisa is a sought-after expert and speaker on work-life
balance issues. Known for her very personal and practical
approach, Lisa coaches working mothers to know what they want
and get what they want. A mother herself, Lisa’s powerful
presentations and programs have helped thousands of women
define success and balance on their own terms. www.briefcasemoms.com
 What
is Selling?
By Wendy Weiss
I looked up the word "sell" in the
dictionary. This is what it said:
"To persuade (another) to recognize the
worth or desirability of something."
This definition assumes value. It assumes that
you recognize the value of whatever it is that you are selling.
Inherent in the definition is the concept of worth or desirability.
I also looked up "salesperson," "saleswoman,"
"salesman," "sales clerk," and my favorite,
"sales talk." The definition for "sales talk"
was, "a line of reasoning or argument intended to persuade
someone to buy something."
Whenever I do a workshop or teleconference,
I frequently ask participants, "What are the words that
come to mind when you hear the word, 'salesperson'?"
Invariably, I hear back words like, "manipulative,"
"dishonest," "unethical," and "sleazy."
In the dictionary, however, when I looked up
all of the above sales words, none of the definitions referenced
"manipulative," "dishonest," "unethical,"
"sleazy," or anything particularly negative. The
language in these definitions was actually quite neutral and
several of them spoke of value.
Unfortunately, in our culture, the words "sales"
or "sell" are viewed with disrespect. The words
no longer simply mean to persuade someone of the value of
what you are offering. Instead they carry the baggage of images
of untrustworthiness and deviousness. This is a misconception
that does an enormous disservice.
Far too often, entrepreneurs and sales professionals
buy into this stereotypical image of sales and see the activity
of selling as negative and untrustworthy. They feel that if
they are selling (or being perceived to be selling), they
are doing something that is not quite right or that has the
potential to be not quite right. It's as if there is a line
drawn someplace, but they don't know where that line is or
when they've stepped over it. It causes them to be cautious
and careful and worry about how they are perceived. This anxiety
puts them, in their own minds, at a disadvantage and on a
lower level than their prospects and customers. This is a
difficult place to be. And it stops many from taking action.
Since the definition of the word "sell"
used the word "persuade," I looked up that word
in the dictionary. It said:
"1. to prevail on a person to do something,
2. to induce to believe; convince"
Again, nowhere in that definition do we find
the words, "manipulative," "dishonest,"
"unethical," "sleazy," or anything particularly
negative. As with the word, "sell," the language
is quite neutral.
The bottom line: Selling is persuading and convincing
people to buy your products and/or services. That persuasion
is based on value. If you cannot persuade and convince people
to buy your products and/or services, then you do not have
a business.
If you believe that selling is "manipulative,"
"dishonest," "unethical," and "sleazy,"
this belief will not support your ability to build a business.
It is very difficult to sell (persuade and convince) while
believing that selling (persuading and convincing) is wrong.
It is time for many business owners and sales professionals
to change their beliefs about the words "selling"
and "sales."
The truth is that most entrepreneurs, business
owners and sales professionals are honest, ethical and believe
in the value they have to offer. And that is where the focus
should be.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1. Do you believe in the value of your products/services?
2. Do your products/services provide a benefit
to your customers?
3. Do you believe in the value of what you are
selling?
4. Are you doing the best you know how to ensure
that your customers get what they need?
If you have answered "yes" to the
above questions, then you are proceeding with integrity. If
you are proceeding with integrity, then obviously you are
not being "manipulative," "dishonest,"
"unethical," and "sleazy." You can persuade,
convince and sell with your head held high.
If you answered "no" to the questions
above, then get out of the business. It's not a fit for you.
Find something else to do in which you can believe.
Let's reclaim the words "sell" and
"sales." Let's redefine the words to mean, "to
persuade and convince with integrity." Let's remember
that value is inherent in the definition. Then everyone would
understand that as long as they proceed with integrity and
as long as they believe in the value of what they are selling,
selling is an ethical and moral act.
© 2007 Wendy Weiss
The Queen of Cold Calling
Weiss Communications
About the Author
Wendy Weiss, "The Queen of Cold Calling,"
is a sales trainer, author and sales coach. Her recently released
program, Cold Calling College, and/or her book, Cold Calling
for Women, can be ordered by visiting http://www.wendyweiss.com.
Contact her at wendy@wendyweiss.com.
Get Wendy's free e-zine at http://www.wendyweiss.com.
 What
Are You Committed To? Prove It!
By Caroline Jalango
Have you noticed that when you are fully committed to issues
that affect your life or to an important cause, goal or even
a relationship; you become bold, decisive, gutsy and unstoppable
and are able to attract support and resources from people
who have the answers or the help you need? It’s almost
like you become a totally different person!
When you are committed, you have lots of energy and are driven
by a strong sense of purpose to achieve what you want. You
unlock the doors of your imagination, your vision expands
and your creativity is boundless.
When you are not committed to something, you hesitate and
are reluctant to move boldly toward the things you want. You
become indecisive about the actions to take and all you really
have are just mere wishes, promises, hopes and a fleeting
interest with no solid action.
If you find yourself dilly dallying about a project, ask
yourself, “how committed am I?”
There is an old joke: five frogs were sitting on a log when
one of them decided to jump off. Can you guess how many were
left sitting on the log? Five frogs — because deciding
to jump doesn’t mean jumping!
The lesson is that, your decisions to commit to important
issues must be backed up by some form of tangible action or
motion.
Take a moment and consider your life and all the commitments
you made to yourself this year:
Perhaps, when the year began, you made commitments to yourself,
saying, “I will do this and that, or I want to achieve
this goal by the end of next year, or I want to stop doing
this and start doing that” and so forth. Now, that the
New Year is fast approaching, chances are that you’re
still thinking along the same lines.
As you make plans and commitments for the New Year…
Here are 5 questions to think about:
1.What did you do about the things you committed to this
year?
2. What are you really committed to now?
3. How does what you are committed to fit in with your big
picture for 2007?
4. If people were watching you, how would they know that
you were committed?
5. What one action will you take to back up your commitment
to a 2007 personal goal?
About the Author
Caroline coaches women, provides strategies
and solutions, motivates and helps women who desperately want
to strike the match that sets them ablaze to live happier,
meaningful, positive, productive, improved and purpose driven
lives. Sign up and receive your FREE bi-weekly self coaching
question or tip, designed to inspire and challenge you to
become unstoppable and achieve your goals by visiting http://www.motivationzone.com
 How
to Do Hard Things
By Suzanne Falter-Barns
One of the harsh little realities of pursuing a
dream is that sooner or later, you're going to have to do some
stuff you don't like very much. It's just plain inevitable. Enter
procrastination. Dread. Meltdown. Complete inertia.
But the prospect of doing the tough stuff doesn't have to stop
you cold. To that end, I've been teasing out some different ways
you can keep going. Here are a few of my favorites:
* Play music. I learned this when I started running, or 'jogging'
as we called it back in the 70's. Clamping on the headphones made
it go so much better. Even today, as I pound the treadmill, it's
just so much easier if I've got country music videos playing along
while I work out.
In fact, I recently saw a movie in which a soldier talks about
overcoming his fear and going into battle by listening to heavy
metal music piped into his helmet. Neurosurgeons, emergency room
docs, and others in high-pressure operating theaters often play
lightly upbeat, soothing music to keep stress under control as
they work.
* 'Bookend it'. This is a phrase the 12-steppers wisely use for
calling up a supportive friend before AND after a tough task …
just so you're accountable out there to someone. Use the phone
or email and make that connection. You'll be less likely to procrastinate
your way out of it.
* Delegate. Got a task you just can't somehow do? I always have
three or four lurking around the edges of my desk, until the day
I rise up and give it away. Hire a local teenager, elderly person
who wouldn't mind a little light work, a family member, or even
a local odd-jobs person to come in one day and give you a hand
with all or your 'hard stuff.' If the problem seems to be ongoing,
hire a Virtual Assistant, from one of the on-line sources like
AssistU.com.
This is a person you hire on an hourly basis, usually in some
other part of the country, who helps you electronically with all
kinds of administrative needs. If you can't afford to find help,
buddy up with a friend and offer to do each other's 'hard stuff'
in an even swap.
* Plan a big, juicy reward. We're talking one you seriously want
…and the nastier the task, the bigger the reward. If you
must, combine this with book-ending, to make sure you not only
do the task, but reward yourself as well.
* Dare yourself to not do it. Really imagine life without this
particular task completed. Then see what the consequences are.
Truly dire? If not, maybe you can actually drop the hard thing
from your to-do list. On the other hand, will you be disappointed?
Will things just not seem right somehow? Better use that image
of disappointment to move your dream along.
* Jump in, first thing. We tend to be fresher, and less conflicted,
stressed or distracted first thing in the morning (post-coffee,
of course.) That's the best time to seriously seize the day and
do the hard thing. Success manuals all preach doing it first,
and they're right. It works.
* Envision the goal. Is it 1000 new subscribers to your ezine?
Is it a potential big sale that will change your business, or
leaving a job that will help you live your dream? Make a little
note and park it somewhere that's frequently in your line of site,
such as a Post It on your computer screen. (You can word it obscurely
to protect your privacy in an open office environment.) By keeping
you attention on the big picture, you'll naturally get less hung
up on the day-to-day small stuff.
* Impose a temporary goal. One of my dreaded tasks is vocalizing,
or exercising my vocal cords every day in an effort to keep my
singing voice in shape. Just about the only motivator I've found
that works is always having a small performance just ahead …
especially in times when I'm working on a long-term project that
doesn't 'need' my voice anytime soon. Knowing I have to perform,
even at a dinner party, keeps me interested in staying in shape.
Same would apply if you want to work out on a regular basis. Find
a charity fun run or walkathon you can get yourself in shape for.
That should give you some fodder for facing the harsh realities
of life, and getting on with those annoyingly procrastinated to-do's.
Feng Shui experts insist this 'mental clutter' keeps us small
and inefficient; once we actually go through the hard stuff, and
clear out our anxiety and procrastination, we thrive.
And guess what? They're absolutely right!
TRY THIS … Create a better to-do list
One of my little projects for the summer was to tame my unruly,
wildly unreliable to-do list. Somehow it spilled out of my date
book, spewing Post-Its all over my desk and computer, with another
undocumented stack of tasks always clogging up my inbox. What
to do?
First I read David Allen's book, Getting Things Done, and a little
light bulb went off in my head. Allen suggests organizing tasks
by the location where you do them. So you maintain lists like
'At Computer', 'Errands', 'Office Time' and 'Calls to Make'. That's
easy and efficient. Allen then has several suggestions on where
to keep these lists.
I choose the Tasks function of Outlook, on my computer, and boy
is that terrific! Every day when I turn on my email, there's my
task list staring me in my face. Productivity experts note that
a graphic portrayal of tasks is actually helpful in understanding,
and being motivated by them. Some are done, some are undone …
and I can divide them into location lists, check lists, a timeline,
or any kind of list I want at the click of a button.
Not only that, the computer actually gets me to put a time frame
on all tasks (if I want) and then reminds me when the deadline
is near or past.
This is just the kind of office structure a meandering, creative
mind like mine (and yours?) needs to keep focused and on track.
About the Author
Suzanne Falter-Barns free ezine, The Joy Letter, brings
you a crisp, fresh burst of inspiration for your dream every week
or two. Sign up at http://www.howmuchjoy.com/joyletter.html.
And if you need extra help getting through the tough parts, check
out her Passion Connector e-course at http://www.howmuchjoy.com/passionconnect.html
©2005 Suzanne Falter-Barns LLC.
 Desperately
Seeking Simple
By Karen Singer
Those three
words became my mantra when I was searching for a home based business.
During my search, I spent many late nights bleary eyed in front
of my computer monitor, reading lots of hype, plenty of promises,
tons of information, much more then my brain could absorb, and all
the while I kept thinking, all I want is something simple, something
that I can see myself doing and possibly teaching others to do as
well.
Well, I found exactly what I was searching for and now, eighteen
months later, those three little words continue to be my mantra
and they have helped me to build both a loyal customer base and
my growing team of business partners.
Every one of us involved with a multi-level marketing company need
and is competing for the same thing, people who are interested in
purchasing our product and/or joining our team by signing up for
our business opportunity.
How different are those people than you or I? Are they not also
desperately seeking something simple?
Keep this in mind with all your interactions with perspective business
partners and customers. Whether you are communicating on the phone,
through email, or with an auto responder, simplicity is the key.
Remember, your prospect needs to see how they will fit into your
business. Unless they can envision themselves doing what you are
doing and teaching others to do the same, there will be hesitation
about joining your team.
Whenever you are contacting someone by email, simplicity is so
important. Everyone is
busy and will often just skim their emails, so here are a few tips
to ensure your emails
will be opened and read.
1. Use a clear subject line, avoiding flashy words. Only use urgent
if it truly is.
2. Make a good impression by always presenting a professional image.
Avoid the use of emoticons and never forward chain emails.
3. Keep your focus by sending only one topic per email. Attach
the original email when replying and limit use of reply all.
4. Be aware of the tone of your email, often the written word may
come across as anger or sarcasm.
5. Keep your email signature brief, your logo small and do not
include more then one or two website links.
Use the same tips when composing messages for your auto responder.
Your website must contain useful information that your potential
business partner needs or wants. Provide them with a call to action
step in order to obtain more information. Allow them to inform and
educate themselves at their own convenience.
Be clear on why you joined the business. Your potential business
partners need to be able to identify with you and your situation.
Many times your why will be the beginning of building a relationship
with others.
Again, keep it simple. Be honest. Write about your interests and
hobbies, your family structure, educational and work background
and your goals. People will want to connect with you first, before
they will consider being a part of your business. Building relationships
should be your number one priority.
Does your website have an upbeat tone?
Do you know how you can hear a person smiling over the phone? Well,
can people read and feel your smile and enthusiasm on your website?
Enthusiasm is contagious.
The more excited you are about accomplishing something that is
important to you; the more excited others will be about being part
of it and helping you to do it.
What about emotions? Can people read your emotions in your words;
can they feel your passion? When someone can read your passion for
your life, your products, your business, your team, and your activities,
they will want to partner with you and share in that enthusiasm
and passion.
Whenever you can convey your emotions, your desires, your passion
for your life and business, you are developing charisma. The more
charisma you possess, the more people will be drawn to you and will
want to learn from you and duplicate what you do.
Determine what people are looking for in their lives. Perhaps they
need an extra income, are looking to retire, take their children
out of day care, or build their dream home. You can provide them
that opportunity with your business.
So, what are your responsibilities?
1. Be a marketer of yourself first, not your products and business
opportunity.
2. Build a relationship with your possible customers or business
partners.
3. Streamline all your interactions, keeping them simple, with
no hype or promises.
4. Provide the information requested and then allow your future
partners to inform and educate themselves about your business.
5. Continue to update and tweak your personal website, keeping
the information fresh.
To summarize, when keeping in touch with current and potential
customers or business partners, keep all your interactions short
and to the point.
Provide useful information, updated news about your company and
any special offers you may have for your products.
Strive to be always seeking simple.
About the Author
Karen Singer is passionate about her customers and team
partners; she is coaching others to success using simple methods
of self-motivation, positive feedback and inspired action. To learn
more about Karen and her business go to: http://www.network-from-home.com
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Copyright 2007,
Regent Press
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