Business Building Books and Tapes
MLM Woman Issue 84
January 2004This FREE monthly newsletter is made possible by our advertisers and customers. We thank them for their support!
From the Desk of the Editor
Welcome to the 84th issue of the MLM Woman Newsletter.
This month we feature articles with tips on how to work at home and keep your sanity, how to stay motivated in your business, how what you say can make a difference in your business and your life, and how to make customer service a priority in your business.
Enjoy!
Linda Locke, Editor MLM Woman
How to Work at Home
and Keep Your Sanity!
© 2003 Terri Seymour
Working at home can be a blessing and/or a disaster depending on how you are able to handle it. A home business or job is not for all of us. I know a lot of people who much prefer to "get out in the world" to work.
I absolutely love working at home. I did enjoy working outside the home as well, but I am a homebody and much prefer working at home. It does have disadvantages and problems though as well.
* Isolation - This can be a tough one to deal with for some people. Sitting in your lonely little corner or home office hour after hour can get you down. When you start feeling isolated and lonely contact an online friend and chat awhile. If no one is available, take a break and get outside. Take a walk to visit a friend or family member. Just getting out in the fresh air can make you feel rejuvenated and alive again. Even a phone call to an old friend or your spouse, if possible, can do wonders.
* Self-discipline - This one can be a tuffy. Having
your own business can tend to make us lazy once in awhile. I know
it does me. ;-) What I do is go over my goals and the reasons I started
my business in the first place. I also think about all my readers/customers
who are counting on me. This helps me get back into focus and to get
motivated to go back to work. You need to
train yourself to work when it is work time because you have no boss
to do it for you.
*Schedule Keeping - Making up a schedule is easy, sticking to it is not. I try not to have too strict of a schedule because it probably will need to be changed now and then. Try a daily schedule instead of a hourly one. This will make it much easier to bend it when you need to. Not being able to follow your schedule can be frustrating to say the least, but preparing a flexible schedule makes it less stressful on you and everyone else.
*Family Distractions - This is one of the main reasons it is so hard to stick to our schedules! ;-) Make time for your family and make sure they understand that work time is for work and family time is for them. With me, my family comes first and I arrange my schedule around them and it works out very well.
*Lack of Respect - Although we know how important our business is, our family or friends may not. They think we are playing around or just doing a hobby. You need to sit them down and explain that this is your job and it is very important to you and they need to respect that. Be firm. They will get the message. ;-)
*Organization - Although we might be very organized, we just might not have the space when working at home. Some people might have a office, but some of us have work stations or corners. I have a corner. Although, I don't have much room, I am able to stay fairly well organized. I have a shelf, a desk and a drawer - with a file cabinet in another room and this is all I need.
Most of the organizing is on the computer so I don't need a lot of outside room. I print out pertinent records and file them accordingly. I have a 4-story paper tray which holds all my "need now or soon" papers. The shelf holds my printer, answering machine and phone. And I also have a junk drawer ( we all need one of those)! ;-) This works out with very few or no problems.
Although working at home does have some disadvantages, I would not want to give it up for anything. I love the freedom of it, the excitement of it, the pride of it, and all the wonderful people I have met.
If you feel you are a candidate for a home business or job, I say go for it, but I wish you much success in whichever path you choose!
About the Author
Terri Seymour and her husband
Terry offer a no-cost, non-MLM home business opportunity. They strive
to help you build a successful home business. They also provide
a website building service. Take advantage of the gifts, resources
& more provided for your home and business at http://www.seymourproducts.com
FREE ecourse at:
business-building-ecourse@getresponse.com
What
Happens When You Never Give Up?
Copyright © 2003 by Sue Seward.
All Rights Reserved.
Network Marketing takes time and effort. It's a business just like any business.
It doesn't happen overnight and you'll not get rich in a few short months.
Does that discourage you? If it does you're not alone!
Are you ready for the truth? If you are you're on the right track for true success my friend!
You'll go through the proverbial refining fire and walk on a few hot coals that will burn your feet at times but when you get to the other side it's all going to be worth it!
It takes years to develop and grow a successful business career.
Developing into a leader takes time and patience.
It's not going to be easy and making mistakes and failing is a big part of the process!
If you're not making any mistakes or failing then you're not doing anything! It means you're playing it safe and sticking in a secure environment. What that means is you're working for someone else and you will never truly become financially free!
Here's some things that are important to remember when going through the FIRE.
Are you ready to take the first step onto those hot coals?
Be consistent every single day, no matter what happens, remember that rejection and discouragement is a good thing! Smile when it happens because that's a part of the refining process! Find out what other people want and need. If they are not interested or say no, that's ok!
They are just not ready to go through the fire with you yet! They want to stay in their safe cozy what they think is a secure environment.
Become passionate about what you do. Be on FIRE about it! Use your companies products yourself so ou will become passionate and enthusiastic about what you are doing!
Other people will see this FIRE in your eyes!
Walk your talk! Be fired up at all times! If you don't feel like it then find something to make you GET ON FIRE!
Be patient and stick with it. Be coachable.
Hang out with positive likeminded FIRED UP people and learn from those who have been through the refining fire themselves!
Stayed focused and constantly stay involved and in the loop. It's like being around a blazing camp FIRE!
Constantly strive to be a leader! A really fired up leader! Get involved with your leaders upline and speak up on conference calls even if you're nervous! Offer to host them too! Learn, grow, stretch yourself!
Be around successful people, watch them, do what they do, read what they read, go where they go!
Just DO IT and keep doing this over and over and over and over!
That means reading everything you can about your company, the industry, constantly developing yourself and talk consistently about the industry to people in your upline, your downline, crossline, and other colleagues in the industry and of course to people in general that you meet!
Listen a lot too! Ask a lot of questions!
This is how you'll learn about people and what sort of fire they have or want to have! How would you know if you never ask?
Go to every company event you can possibly get to! These will put the FIRE in you!
Go to leadership training seminars.
Read books on leadership and business.
Robert Kiyosaki's book 'The Business School For People Who Like Helping People, The Eight Hidden Values Of A Network Marketing Business' is one of my favorite teachings on business!
Here's some others:
Women's tapes from Upline and Jack Zufelt's training, Kim Klaver, Doug Firebaugh, Bob Burg, Network Marketing Times magazine, and MLMWoman.com.
Join organizations like the DSWA.
Form strategic alliances with other networkers in the industry!
Remember every experience, every failure, every mistake, every hot coal you walk on is a learning experience that propells you to ultimate success! It's happened for me and it will happen for anyone who NEVER GIVES UP!
Always Expect Success!
Sue
About the Author
Sue Seward
is an entrepreneur, wife and mom, and has been earning an income for
over six years from home on the Internet. She is also a published writer,
speaker, Internet Marketing trainer, and publishes a weekly Internet
Marketing Business Resource newsletter. Sign up for Sue's teleconference
training class and newsletter on how to market to REAL people online
http://www.heresthescooponline.com
You can find out more about Sue at www.WithTheClickOfAMouse.com
Your Words Can
Make the Difference
By
Michael Angier
"Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value
to its scarcity."
--Samuel Johnson
In his autobiography, My American Journey, Colin L. Powell tells of an experience when he was a colonel in Korea.
Powell had worked hard to carry out the wishes of his commanding officer, Major General "Gunfighter" Emerson. It was not an order that he agreed with. It was an attempt to impress a visiting dignitary and he felt it was a waste of time and energy for his men. Nevertheless, he dutifully accomplished the assignment.
When the ordeal was finished, Powell felt like a fraud. With his
head drooping, he was visibly embarrassed. A first sergeant fell into
step with him as he walked away. "That was a hoot, sir,
wasn't it?"
"It was stupid," Powell blurted out. "I hate to see the troops do stupid things. And I hate to be the one responsible for it."
The sergeant was quiet for a time. "Colonel Powell, don't worry. We don't know what that was all about. But the men know you wouldn't have cooked up something that dumb on your own. They trust you. They won't hold it against you. We went along because you needed it. Relax, sir."
It was this next paragraph in General Powell's story that struck me. "In all my years in the Army, among all the citations, medals and promotions, I never appreciated any tribute more than I did the sergeant's words at that low point."
Here is one of the most admired and respected men in the world, who was deeply affected by the kind and supportive words of a subordinate. I wouldn't be surprised if that sergeant doesn't even remember saying what he did to Colin Powell that night.
No doubt there have been people in your life who have said something
to you that inspired or encouraged you at an important time.
We all affect everyone else. And we rarely know when it's had an impact
on someone. What we say, what we do and how we are being, can make
a profound impression on others. If we're constantly looking for ways
to encourage and support others, we will surely make a difference.
Who can you encourage today?
About the Author
Copyright
Michael Angier. SuccessNet.org
and WorldClassBusiness.com
help you and your business grow. Get their free report 10 Pillars
of a World Class Business by sending an email to wcb@SuccessNet.org
No-cost subscriptions, memberships, eCourses, eBooks and more are
available at http://SuccessNet.org
and http://WorldClassBusiness.com
InfoPlease@SuccessNet.org
Customer Satisfaction
Is Your Business
Copyright 2004 Bob Leduc
Regardless of what business you are in - you are really in the business of satisfying customers. The degree of customer satisfaction you deliver determines the level of long-term success you will achieve in business.
Make Customer Satisfaction Your Top Priority
Don't just make sales. Create customers - satisfied customers. In addition to the immediate profit they provide on the first sale, satisfied customers help you build your business in 2 other important ways:
1. They become a reservoir of repeat buyers. For some businesses that means repeat buyers for more of the same product or service. For every business, it means buyers for additional products and services.
2. They automatically refer more business to you from their friends and business contacts. This is highly profitable business for you because it doesn't cost you any time or money to get it.
Never Promise More Than You Deliver
Never make any promises you can't (or won't) keep. Nothing alienates customers faster than getting something less than they expect from a business transaction. They won't do business with you again. And they will tell everybody they know about their unhappy experience - causing you to lose future customers.
Tip: Handle customer complaints quickly and with a positive attitude. Strive to preserve your relationship with the complaining customer instead of your immediate profit from them. They will reward you later with more sales and referrals.
Always Give Customers More Than They Expect
"Over deliver" on quality and service. Always exceed your customers' expectations. You will win their long term loyalty. It also makes it difficult for competitors to steal customers from you - even if they have lower prices.
Customers will not risk an uncertain experience with a competitor when they know they will get more than they expect from you.
Tip: Surprise your customers with unexpected value. If you sell products, include an "unadvertised bonus" with every order. If you sell services, get into the habit of doing something extra for every customer or client without charging for it.
Let Customers Know How Much You Value Them
Let your customers know you are always thinking about them. Communicate with them regularly. For example, create some special deals just for your existing customers. And announce new products or services to them before you announce them to the general market.
Tip: Convert your customers into publicity agents. Develop an incentive for them to tell associates and friends about the value of your products or services. An endorsement from them is more effective than any amount of advertising - and it is much cheaper.
For example, reward them each time they refer someone who becomes a customer. Your reward can be as simple as a credit toward their next order from you.
You are in the business of satisfying customers regardless of what products or services you provide. The satisfied customers you create will help you build your business by becoming repeat buyers and by referring new business to you from their friends and associates.
About the Author
Bob Leduc spent 20 years helping businesses like yours find
new customers and increase sales. He just released a New Edition of
his manual, How To Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards
...and launched *BizTips from Bob*, a newsletter to help small businesses
grow and prosper. You'll find his low-cost marketing methods at: http://BobLeduc.com
or call: 702-658-1707 After 10 AM Pacific Time/Las Vegas, NV
Are you ready to find your true calling? George Eliot said, "It's never too late to be what you might have been." Discover what it takes to create a more meaningful, rich, and balanced life doing work that feeds your soul. Learn how you can replace your job with work you really love... and gain the freedom, flexibility, and quality of life you deserve.
Back to the MLM Woman Newsletter Index
We want your feedback! 
Send e-mail comments to Linda
at: regent@west.net
Copyright 2004, Regent Press