NFTE Students Embody Spirit of Entrepreneurship at DSEF Walkathon

NFTE Students Embody Spirit of Entrepreneurship at DSEF Walkathon

Students from the Dallas Chapter of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) embodied the real possibility and spirit of entrepreneurship and opportunity that each and every individual has the right to pursue, according to Connie Tang, President and CEO of Princess House, Inc., one of the nearly 100 direct selling executives who joined DSEF staff and members of NFTE for the Entrepreneurs in Action Walkathon.

The three-day event, hosted by DSEF, was held this month in Grapevine, Texas, during the DSA Annual Meeting. DSEF chose NFTE to be the recipient of its annual charitable effort for the work it does in helping at-risk students stay in school. NFTE, which was founded in New York in 1987, currently has 11 affiliate offices throughout the United States that provide programs that inspire young people from low-income communities to graduate from high school and to learn the necessary skills for creating their own business plans—in essence, helping to shape them into the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

During the Annual Meeting, DSA members had the opportunity to support NFTE’s goal of helping youth find their pathways to a brighter future through the walkathon, and meet some of the students who participate in the organization’s programs.

“Participating in the DSEF Walkathon was a wonderful experience that provided a firsthand connection to the children who benefit from the NFTE Program,” says Tang. “The program is proof positive that environmental circumstances and situations are not the be all and end all to a child’s future. Access and exposure to mentors, genuine care and quality curriculum in a challenging yet nutritive environment can foster the most amazing innovation in our future leaders. We saw it there in Dallas—from a shoe product, balloon-encased creations and eco-friendly lawn care to Spanish-language development for teachers to support ESL students.”

Karen Ezell, Program Director for NFTE, says the walkathon was a complete success for NFTE and her students. “The kids absolutely loved it,” she says. “They thought it was so inspiring to see so many successful entrepreneurs. They were so motivated by what people can accomplish when they put their minds to it.”

What was particularly inspiring to Ezell was to see the interaction between the NFTE students and DSA members. “It was a great event to teach young people how to talk confidently with an older generation, and to make that connection through business and business ideas. It was nice to see a group of young people confident enough to be able to do that. I think it is a testament to NFTE’s program and its teachers that they have trained young people to feel confident and secure.”

It is also a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of DSA member executives, who Ezell sees as mentors and coaches who can help inspire young people to be successful entrepreneurs. “That is what is so great about the direct selling industry and DSEF—the opportunity to have such a wealth of knowledge at young people’s disposal. These young people we are teaching and training to be entrepreneurs could be the next people running the Mary Kays, the Avons, the Pampered Chefs. I think there is a great synergy between the two.”

DSA members were appreciative of the event as well, particularly for the opportunity to meet the NFTE kids. “It was wonderful to participate in the DSEF Walkathon supporting young entrepreneurs,” says Cari Christopher, President of Signature HomeStyles, one of the sponsors of the event. “Seeing these young students take action and create a business of their own was inspiring!”

NFTE’s Youth Entrepreneur Challenge

NFTE helps students develop the skills necessary to become tomorrow’s entrepreneurs. As part of its curriculum, NFTE holds the National Youth Entrepreneur Challenge annually in which students are encouraged to develop business plans and create 30-second sales pitches to promote their businesses. Regional winners attend the nationwide business competition held in the fall.

The direct selling industry was well represented at the Dallas Youth Biz-Plan Challenge, held June 1. DSEF Executive Director Charlie Orr served as a judge along with Kate Gardner, Chair of the DSEF Community Partner Program and SUCCESS Foundation Executive Director; Allison Levy, General Counsel for AdvoCare International; and Kerry Tassopoulos, Vice President, Government Relations & Compliance for Mary Kay Inc. The judges had the difficult task of selecting the two regional winners who will go on to compete nationally this fall.

“Judging children on their fledgling entrepreneurial endeavors is a combination of daunting and gratifying,” says Gardner. “These kids were intimidating. They were brimming with confidence, which speaks volumes to the work NFTE has done with them.”

At Sunday’s brunch, 14-year old Guadalupe Gamino, the first place winner in the Dallas round of the Challenge, presented her plan for a business called Tranzparent Heel Holderz, which helps women who struggle with keeping dress shoes on while walking by providing clear bands to keep the heels in place.

Guadalupe will travel to New York City in October with second place winner Oliver Gomez to compete for up to $10,000 in the nationwide competition. Oliver, who is also 14, created a business called Why Can’t We Talk, which is aimed at teaching Spanish to teachers and other community leaders to more effectively communicate with parents.

“So many people came up to me and congratulated me,” says Gomez. “It made me feel good about myself. They asked me questions about my business, and they told me that to be a successful entrepreneur you have to take risks and go for your main goal—not let people bring you down and just keep doing what you’re doing.”

Entrepreneurs in Action Makes Headlines

Coverage of DSEF’s Walkathon appeared in the Dallas Morning News, on NBC’s Dallas affiliate station NBC5 and on Univision.

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Conversations That Help Improve Your Business

Conversations That Help Improve Your Business

Maintaining relationships are essential to the success of your business. In this era of social media, it is easy to send a Facebook message or text to a contact instead of having a face-to-face conversation. However, there are times when interacting in person is appropriate and more effective than other methods. The following situations are opportunities for you to have conversations that will improve your business.

Face-to-face conversations to have with:

Clients – Once a month, you should meet with your clients to discuss the future as you continue doing business together. Even if it is just to touch base on a recent project or transaction, regular meetings with clients demonstrate your commitment to their satisfaction. Additionally, these meetings will give you both a chance to analyze and reflect upon where you see the business relationship going. For example, the owner of a local coffeehouse should meet with his baked goods supplier about once a month to go over possible new menu options, changing dietary demands of his customers, and price points. The supplier can then use this time to suggest new recipes and delivery schedules. Tip: Meet with clients to ask for suggestions. Talking solely about matters relating to sales will only show that you are thinking of how the relationship affects you and your business.
Prospects – Connecting with prospects can have many benefits. If you’re a direct seller who has discussed your opportunity with a prospect, schedule a face-to-face follow-up meeting where your prospect will prepare any questions he or she has thought of while considering a decision. It can also be a chance for you to alleviate fears, build confidence, and share materials. Meetings conducted in person have an advantage over phone calls because they show prospects that they are high on your priority list; they also allow both parties to rely on visual cues, not just verbal ones. Prospects should feel comfortable with a possible sponsor, and face-to-face meetings help them get to know you.
Mentors – Even if you are operating a successful, profitable business, it is a good idea to meet with your mentor every now and then. Pick the person’s brain about the industry, their experience with changing economic climates, and ideas about how to grow your business even further. Most industries are always evolving, and a mentor will be able to give you useful information and help you stay on top of what is current and relevant for your business. If you get to a point where it seems your mentor cannot teach you anything new, it’s time to find a new mentor. When your business changes, your needs also change.
Other salespeople – Whether it’s someone else in your field, or just another local business owner down the block, reach out to other salespeople to brainstorm ideas about how to work together to improve business. Contacts like these are also great for motivating each other to continue despite setbacks and sharing ideas about common goals. Surround yourself with other businesspeople who strive for success, and you will be consistently motivated to strive to reach your potential.

Making time for face-to-face conversations is not always easy, but failing to do so will cause you to miss out on some wonderful opportunities for business growth. What other types of conversations do you think will improve your business? Please share your ideas below!

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Executive Spotlight: David and Bianca Lisonbee, 4Life Research

From the DSEF: We’re excited to continue our blog series featuring top executives in DSEF-supporter direct selling companies today! Every few weeks we’ll introduce you to another top executive, and they’ll share their thoughts on Direct Sales, Ethics, Social Good, and why they support the DSEF.

Today we’re thrilled to continue this series with David Lisonbee, 4Life Research Founder & CEO, and Bianca Lisonbee, Co-Founder & Chairwoman of Foundation 4Life. 4Life Research has been a big supporter of the DSEF for many years, and we’re thrilled to have the Lisonbees share their thoughts with you today. Enjoy!

Executive Spotlight: David and Bianca Lisonbee, 4Life Research

David and Bianca Lisonbee

What is the name of your company, and how did you become involved with this company?

We launched 4Life Research in 1998. Looking back, it’s more apparent to us now than ever that “Research” in our company name was no mistake. With a background in direct selling and health and wellness, we knew that in order to succeed, 4Life distributors would rely on our corporate commitment to scientific integrity. At the end of the day, product efficacy and differentiation play important roles in distributor success.

With this in mind, we have a Health Science Advisory Board comprised of doctors, researchers, academicians and scientists who inform our Research and Development Department led by 4Life Chief Scientific Officer Calvin McCausland, Ph.D.

Since 1998, 4Life has been granted nine worldwide patents (six from the USPTO) and more than 500 product registrations.

With a mature sales force, charismatic product line, global charitable organization (Foundation 4Life) and an opportunity that has produced significant growth every year since our inception, we feel we’re uniquely positioned as a global leader in the marketplace.

What do you love about your company?

Our distributors. Our employees. Our partnerships. The people. In fact, our corporate slogan is Together, Building People. Science is an integral part of our opportunity but it isn’t science for science’s sake. We commit ourselves to one-of-a-kind products in order to engage entrepreneurs with an opportunity to succeed. And in this industry, none of us go it alone. It’s a great honor to share and build successful lifestyles with people, and we’re blessed by the opportunity to build these lifelong partnerships with people here in our home state of Utah and in countries on the other side of the world. No matter where we go, we encounter people who dedicate themselves to our mission of improving lives in the areas of science, success, and service.

What makes your salesforce amazing?

Our network of global distributors spans 5 continents with corporate offices in 22 countries. As such, we enjoy a salesforce of great diversity. But wherever we go and whomever we build business with around the world, there seem to be numerous core values that we all share. Faith, for example. Our 4Life family encompasses great diversity. We break bread with people of all religious backgrounds. But no matter the religious backgrounds from which we each arrive, the distributors of 4Life tend to believe, not only in the importance of belief but also in the importance of respecting the beliefs of others. Then there’s the singularity of vision that we see in the actions of our leaders. 4Life distributors are committed to improving their own lives, as well the lives of others and because of this, they tend to be active and contributing members of their communities.

Ethics is an integral part of DSA membership. How do you ensure your company maintains the highest level of ethics?

We train and promote the importance of ethical leadership. This year, 4Life was recognized with the Code of Ethics in Action distinction at the DSA Annual Meeting in Grapevine, TX. The Direct Selling Association created this symbol of consumer protection to select companies who go above and beyond the standard of commitment to communicating the importance of our industry’s Code of Ethics. We’re honored by this acknowledgement because it recognizes our commitment to the highest level of ethics in all areas of business.

Social good is another essential element of direct sales. What kind of social good campaigns does your company participate in or run?

We launched Foundation 4Life® in 2006 to build people, families, and communities wherever 4Life® conducts business, with a particular focus on the children of the world.

Today, we conduct work in more than 20 countries. Our projects are driven by the field so we always have people on the ground in communities where we work. This is important because we’re more interested in developing philanthropic partnerships than we are in one-off donations.

One example of our Foundation’s strategic initiative: We’re in the process of identifying specific communities around the world with 200-300 children each to develop a 5-6 year relationship. During that time, we’ll implement a sustainability program in conjunction with Feed The Children to focus on four primary areas: food and nutrition, health and education, water and sanitation, and skills for income development.

Your company is a Direct Selling Education Foundation supporter. Why do you think DSEF is important?

Support of the Direct Selling Education Foundation isn’t merely important – it’s essential. The primary function of the Direct Selling Association is to lobby and defend our industry’s market position.

The DSEF focuses on building public trust and understanding through partnerships, education drives, media initiatives and that kind of high level brand campaigning so important to the general perception of what our businesses are all about.

The DSEF works for each of us to preserve and improve a market climate of trust, which helps direct sellers prosper and thrive. Perhaps we should end by pointing out that DSA Membership does not include support of the DSEF’s work. 4Life’s support of the DSEF is an important responsibility.

Thank you, David and Bianca Lisonbee, for sharing your inspiring story with us. We are grateful for the support of companies like 4Life Research, that help us to spread the message of ethics, entrepreneurship and integrity around the world. We appreciate you!

From the DSEF: Free e-book “Business Owner’s Road Map to Success.” It has over 50 pages of techniques for everything a small business owner needs to master, from business planning and ethical selling to a success mindset. It’s all there and it’s free for you. To get it, just “Like” our Facebook Page here: http://on.fb.me/KsIN6P Pass it on!

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How to Make Real Self-Improvement

How to Make Real Self-Improvement

Many direct sellers and small business owners are committed to growing their businesses and taking steps to achieve their financial goals. This often involves some degree of self-reflection; after all, every decision about the business falls solely on you. By making some improvements on yourself, you will be able to reap the benefits in your business.

Make a list of what you want to improve. The act of writing your goals on down on paper (or typing them, most likely) is the first step in committing to change. Put them in writing to help you identify what exactly you’d like to improve, and then prioritize them accordingly. Chances are you have some things you’d like to change right away, and others that may require some more time to work on. You are in charge of your list, so adjust it when necessary, but take the time to create it so you can get right to work.
Decide why you want to improve. Within your list of things to improve, write down why you listed it. Doing so will help you decide its level of importance and how it will enhance your life. For example, one of your items is to stop procrastinating. You may decide that by tackling tasks and projects right away and well in advance of deadlines, you will be relieving unnecessary stress and anxiety as well as performing better overall because of the increased time allotted to complete these tasks. Since these are some very important benefits of self-improvement, you may want to make this a top priority.
Implement deadlines. So you’ve made your list, prioritized the items, and identified the reasoning behind them. Now you need to create deadlines by which to complete them. Without deadlines, your list simply becomes another piece of paper or electronic file that gets pushed aside and forgotten about. Giving yourself a deadline helps you envision your endgame and draw up your plan of action. Don’t be too rigid, however, as you don’t want to set yourself up for failure. Give yourself enough time to realistically achieve your goal, but not so much time that you forget where you are headed.
Utilize your strengths to improve your weaknesses. Everyone has a certain skill set; you know what you can do well and are confident in your abilities. Use this to your advantage on your path to self-improvement. For instance, one thing on your list to improve is your tendency to procrastinate. If you are a detail-oriented person, that strength could help you stop procrastinating. Decide that when a task or project presents itself, that you will map out an action plan complete with all the details needed to perform the job well. Because you have now dealt with all the details, beginning work on the project right away will become much easier to do. Knowing your strengths is just as important as identifying your weaknesses when making self-improvements.

People don’t generally like to be told what to do or how to do it. Your commitment to self-improvement must come from within. Find your inner motivation, do some real self-reflection, and take the steps above to improve yourself and your business. What ideas do you have about making self-improvement? Please share them with us in the comments section below!

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Checklist to Improve Your Business Relationships

Checklist to Improve Your Business Relationships

Imagine this: you walk into a restaurant to have dinner and are greeted pleasantly by the host. After promptly being seated, your server introduces him/herself and proceeds to provide you with attentive service. In the middle of your meal, the manager or owner comes by to introduce him/herself and make sure you’ve gotten everything you’ve needed. You leave the restaurant with a full stomach and ready to recommend the establishment to friends and family immediately. This restaurant is no doubt successful because of the importance it places on business relationships, and the owners’ commitment to building those relationships shows in a positive way. Read on for some ways to improve your own business relationships.

Offer more than they expect. Going above and beyond your customers’ expectations will always make a good impression. For example, a customer is unhappy with her recent photo framing order because the matte was not mounted on straight. Not only did the owner re-do the job for free, but she put it first on her priority list and also offered the customer free shipping on her next order if she continued to patron the business. For many successful business owners, a satisfied customer is not enough; doing something to make a customer say, “Wow!” is something to strive for.
Anticipate their needs. The more attentive you are to your customers, the better able you will be to anticipate their needs and attend to them, possibly even before they do! If you have a customer who always purchases the same product every month, consider offering her an automatic refill service where she can set up automatic payments and receive her item regularly without having to actually place the order each time. Another idea would be to show her different uses for the product that she may be unaware of or to introduce her to products that would complement the one she likes. Getting to know your customers will give you the insight to anticipate their wants and needs.
Be yourself. Most people can easily detect when someone is being insincere. You always want to smile and be polite, but don’t be afraid to show customers your personality. If people are drawn to your sense of humor, incorporate that into your conversations. Don’t worry about what you think customers want to hear or who they want you to be; just be yourself and let your business relationships be built on your genuine desire to provide excellent customer service.
Be honest. If you are not honest, you are not reliable. Customers want to do business with those who are dependable and ethical. If you mess up, admit to your mistake and do everything possible to make it right. If you can’t deliver on something, don’t promise it. If you practice dishonesty or deceit, the fallout can cause irreparable damage to your business and your reputation. Always hold yourself to a high standard; business relationships require trust between both parties.

Improving your business relationships is not much different from improving your personal ones. Think of others before yourself, be honest, be sincere, and listen to the other person. What else do you think should be added to this list? Please share your ideas below!

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When is the Right Time to Sell?

When is the Right Time to Sell?

The art of making a sale varies widely from person to person. Everyone has his or her own style of salesmanship, so it can be difficult to figure out how to approach the process, especially if you are new to selling. However, there a few basics to follow that apply to making a sale no matter what your own style of selling is. Read on to find out when the best time is to sell.

The right time is when…

A problem can be solved with your product. Part of your job is to educate consumers about why they may have a need for what you are offering. For instance, a business person that sells luxury bedding shares her expertise about the positive effects that proper bedding can have on one’s quality of sleep. This leads the customer to reflect upon how his lack of sleep has negatively impacted certain aspects of his life. He now sees that he has a need for the product because it will solve a problem and improve his mood and productivity. When your product is the solution to a problem, the time to sell it is now.
The problem can be solved immediately. The customer should be able to get instant gratification or something close to it when purchasing your product to solve a problem. Back to the luxury bedding example, the consultant gives the customer a list of ways he will notice improvements after just one night, 7 nights, and a month of sleeping on their line of bedding. Because these are tangible benefits that the customer will get right away, the product becomes much more attractive. It solves a problem and does it quickly, and when the customer agrees with that, then the time to sell is now.
You’re better than the competitors. You should always know where you stand against your competitors. It is not uncommon for a customer to make comparisons between your product and a competitor’s, and you may even be asked how yours differs from another. The luxury bedding business person would take this opportunity to point out her product’s higher thread count, its all-natural materials, and the company’s very competitive guarantee. When you can show the customer that he or she is making the right decision to buy from you instead of someone else, then the time to sell is now.
You can get it to them fast. After all this talk of luxury bedding and a discussion about how restful your nights will be, any customer would want to give the product a try right away. A customer never wants to hear that a product is backordered or will take longer than a few days to arrive. Even better than promising a fast shipment is having the inventory on hand for occasions such as these. Granted, it isn’t always possible or financially sound to keep a lot of inventory available, but there are advantages to doing so. Imagine being able to hand the bedding set to the customer that night and saying, “If you don’t sleep more comfortable tonight, I want you to send me a text and I will personally come to your house to refund your money.” When the customer can get a quick turnaround, the time to sell is now.

The above suggestions can apply to any product being sold by any type of personality. One of the keys to a successful career in sales is knowing when the sale is possible and likely to happen. How do you know when the right time is to sell? Please share your ideas below!

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Why Businesses Fail

Why Businesses Fail

When you start a new business, you’re naturally optimistic. You’ve got a great concept and have high expectations. But in order to succeed for the long term, you need more than that. 80 percent of new businesses fail within the first 5 years (source: NBIA). Why is this? Here are some of the reasons that businesses fail:

Lack of patience – Like with any endeavor, you have to put work into it, but for many new entrepreneurs they want instant results and that seldom happens. It’s more like gardening. It will take a longer than you think. There will be some trial and error, a little luck and a lot of effort before seeing growth. For most new entrepreneurs they often simply quit too early before seeing results. But if you’re willing to wait for it, your garden will bloom.

Wrong focus – People don’t really care about your business; they care about how your products/services will enhance and enrich their lives. Focusing on making your customers happy, giving them great value and acting on their feedback will keep your business on target.

Not developing relationships – Investing for quick returns, rather than building genuine relationships with customers, will set you up to fail. Relationships are based on honesty, caring, communication and doing the right thing for your people.

Not seeking excellence – If you don’t care enough to strive for excellence, your customers will go away. You must consistently want to do your best for your customers.

Personal weakness – We all have our weaknesses, but in business those weaknesses will keep us from success. You must be honest with yourself, surround yourself with a strong support group and/or partner with people who will help you overcome your weaknesses.

Most small businesses fail because entrepreneurs are not prepared, focus on the wrong thing and/or have personal shortcomings that will doom their business from the start. To avoid these pitfalls, keep a constant focus on delighting your customer, invest for the long term in your business, and always be willing to grow. This will help you ensure that your business will last for the long term.

Free e-book “Business Owner’s Road Map to Success.” It has over 50 pages of techniques for everything a small business owner needs to master, from business planning and ethical selling to a success mindset. It’s all there and it’s free for you. To get it, just “Like” our Facebook Page here: http://on.fb.me/KsIN6P Pass it on!

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Reaching the Baby Boomer Market

When you pick up your smartphone, how long does it take you to unlock it and bring up your social media feed? Can you do it without looking at it? For most people, the answer is yes. Chances are, you either grew up with modern technology or have been using it for long enough that it is second nature to you. However, if your target market includes the baby boomers (people born in the years following the end of World War II), things like technology aren’t as easily mastered. Consider the following suggestions to make your customer relationships with baby boomers more effective.

Make sure your message is simple and clear. There could be a number of reasons why a senior citizen needs your message to be this way. As we age, it is more and more difficult to tune out background noise when having a conversation. Also, the brain may take longer to process information than it did in our youth. For reasons such as these, be sure to stick to the main point of your message and convey it clearly. Speak at a normal pace with good diction, compose written documents like emails with proper spelling and grammar (you should be doing this anyway!), and avoid using business jargon when choosing your words. Remember seniors are not less intelligent than others; they just may have different needs from you as their salesperson.
Be organized. This applies to all aspects of your customer interactions including emails, phone calls, and your general sales process. For example, when talking on the phone with a customer, make sure you have organized your agenda for the call ahead of time. There is nothing more chaotic and confusing than being on the other end of a conversation with someone who jumps from one topic to another with no rhyme or reason. It might help to either use a script to refer to or rehearse you end of the call before you pick up that phone. Other organization must-do’s include streamlining your sales process, making returns/exchanges easy, and simplifying paperwork by highlighting or flagging the sections that a customer needs to complete.
Be more personable. Much of our interaction with others comes in some electronic form: a text message, Facebook post, tweet, or email. As convenient as these methods of communicating are, they come with a disadvantage. We don’t have as many chances to talk with each other the old-fashioned way. It is a good idea to brush up on your people skills, especially when working with older clients who likely feel most comfortable dealing with someone in person. Make sure you have good eye contact, use appropriate body language (don’t cross your arms since it’s a non-verbal way of closing someone off), smile, and show that you are listening by responding to the other person when necessary. Making others comfortable and being able to provide pleasant customer experiences are extremely valuable skills to any potential customer, especially one who is a senior citizen.

As a direct seller you need to understand and connect with your target market. The “greatest generation” has much to offer in knowledge and wisdom; make sure you return the favor by giving its members an overall customer experience that is second to none.

So, how do you reach the Boomer market? Share your answers with us in the comments below. What other suggestions or comments would you like to share?

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Greater Dallas Youth Entrepreneurs, Direct Selling Industry Executives “Go the Extra Mile” to Benefit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

Greater Dallas Youth Entrepreneurs, Direct Selling Industry Executives “Go the Extra Mile” to Benefit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

(GRAPEVINE—June 3, 2012) In an effort to bring to life the Inspiring Entrepreneurs theme that marks the Direct Selling Association’s (DSA) 2012 Annual Meeting, the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) is today kicking off the Entrepreneurs in Action Walkathon to benefit the Greater Dallas Chapter of Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).

The walk promises to raise support and awareness for NFTE, which is dedicated to helping at-risk youth from throughout the greater Dallas region: 1.) stay in school; 2.) recognize business opportunities; 3.) plan for successful futures. Coming on the heels of NFTE’s Youth Bizplan Challenge, held Friday, June 1, 2012 the walkathon kicks off the DSA’s three-day Annual Meeting and allows NFTE program participants to share their business ideas with DSA member executives, most of whom are entrepreneurs who have built careers working with the world’s top brands.

“NFTE works to give disadvantaged youth the belief that they can positively affect their own futures, and the direct selling professionals we have met through DSEF have amazing entrepreneurial success stories that inspire our kids,” says NFTE Greater Dallas Executive Director Laura Maczka. “Because our kids learn that they have the potential to use businesses to change their life circumstances, we share so much in common with direct selling, which is driven by the spirit of entrepreneurism.”

At the beginning of the walk, participants will be issued pedometers to measure their activity not only during the official walk event, but also during the entire three-day period of the DSA annual meeting. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: Most Miles Walked, Daily Challenges and Most Pledges Collected. The grand prize is a 2-night stay at the Aria in Las Vegas with spa certificates for two. The first place winner will receive a 2-night stay at the Peabody Orlando, and the second place winner will enjoy a 1-night stay at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs with golf for two.

“Young people need inspiration and mentoring to show how entrepreneurism can lead to brighter futures, and we in the direct selling industry are uniquely suited to helping kids crystallize this vision,” says DSEF Executive Direct Charlie Orr. “Inspiring entrepreneurism is central to everything we do, and supporting efforts that give kids the necessary skills for creating their own business plans—in essence, helping to shape them into the entrepreneurs of tomorrow—is where we want to be. DSEF is proud to support NFTE’s efforts to make entrepreneurism a catalyst for positive change in kids’ lives.”

The Entrepreneurs in Action marks the first walkathon for DSEF, which in the past has hosted a toy drive and organized a beach cleanup as part of its annual charitable efforts. The event is sponsored by DSA member companies and suppliers Herbalife, ALHI, The Pampered Chef, Silpada Designs, Scentsy Family, VideoPlus, USANA, CUTCO, 4Life, The Hartford, John A. Parks Co., Inc., Team National, Mary Kay, Beachbody, Vantel Pearls, WineShop At Home, GNLD, Oxyfresh.com/21Ten and MaCher.

NFTE Background

Founded in New York in 1987, NFTE currently has 11 affiliate offices throughout the United States that provide programs that inspire young people from low-income communities to graduate from high school and to learn the necessary skills for creating their own business plans—in essence, helping to shape them into the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

About DSEF

The Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) was founded in 1973 to serve the public interest by advancing the direct selling industry’s support of consumer rights and protection, education about the industry, ethical leadership and individual economic empowerment. Through its partnerships with consumer advocates, educators and students, public policy officials, and members of the small business and entrepreneurship community, DSEF engages and educates the public on the ways direct selling empowers individuals, supports communities and strengthens economies worldwide.

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Creating Great Ideas For Your Business

Have you ever felt unable to come up with a new idea? It can be frustrating when you feel that everything has already been done before. Creating great ideas doesn’t have to feel this way, and it can be done by tapping to your own experiences and previous ideas. Read on for some ways to get started.

Break down your niche market even further and fill in those needs. Niche marketing is an effective way to stand out from your competitors. With some research and preparation, you can find a smaller segment of your market to focus on and provide solutions to those customers’ needs. For example, one direct seller of travel packages decided to create a niche out of her love of homeschooling by tapping into her family’s experiences combining travel and learning. This is a great niche since there are many families throughout the country who home-school their children, but at the same time, it is a very specific market and need that is being fulfilled. Start with what you know, do some research online and in person (customer surveys, interviews), and segment your target market.
Improve upon old ideas. Perhaps there is something you have tried in the past that didn’t work as well as you had hoped. Instead of scrapping the idea altogether, go back and evaluate exactly how or why it went wrong. Maybe you tested out a new activity at your home party designed to spark interest in your opportunity, but it fell flat. Consider your audience, your presentation, the level of difficulty, the fun factor, etc. How could you make it better? By improving upon old ideas, you may be able to come up with something completely new and much more effective.
Combine ideas. Sometimes our ideas don’t work well on their own, but combined with each other, can help some aspect of the business tremendously. Many direct sales companies ship all the products ordered at a home show directly to the hostess. From a guest’s perspective, it all becomes a waiting game about when the hostess gets around to contacting you that your order is in, or when she is available for the guest to pick it up or drop it off to her. In a lot of instances, the process of getting the product to the guest can be complicated and time-consuming. One consultant had an idea for the hostess to send a text message to her guests when the order arrives in the hopes that it would speed up the process. However, this idea relied too heavily on the hostess actually sending the text. Instead, the consultant combined this idea with another idea for a contest; she contacts the hostess around the time of the expected shipment to make sure it arrived, and then the consultant sends out a text to the guests that the first one to get her order receives 10% off the next purchase. Get creative by recycling and combining past ideas.
Collaborate with others. There is a multitude of ways to collaborate with others for a mutually beneficial outcome. Consider direct sellers from other companies as well as local businesses related to yours for a starting point. For example, a local weight loss center opened their doors to an independent makeup consultant to set up her table in their lobby once a week. Every time someone came in for a weigh-in appointment, the consultant had an opportunity to demonstrate some products and offer a “total makeover” to celebrate the customer’s weight loss. This helped the consultant reach a new and more populated customer base, and it helped the weight-loss center stand out from its competitor down the street by offering an extra service. Use your networking skills to join forces with others and brainstorm ideas that will benefit both parties involved.

How have you generated some great ideas? Please share with us in the comments section below!