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Women’s Money Twitter Party

Women’s Money Twitter Party

Women's Money Conference in Nevada, 2014

Have you ever wished you knew how to manage your money better? Have you wondered how to save more of what you earn, pay off debt faster, and make sure you and your family have a bright financial future?

The Women’s Money Conference, held each year in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, is designed to help women with these financial challenges and more! (Click here to find out how DSEF is helping direct sellers attend the Women’s Money Conference for FREE!)

GinaAnd this Wednesday, you have the opportunity to ask YOUR financial questions and get the answers you need from Gina Robison-Billups, founder/creator of the Women’s Money System and program. Join us as Gina shares with us some of her best financial tips to manage your money and create a secure future for you and your family!

Women’s Money Twitter Party

When: Wednesday, March 19th, 12pm – 1pm EDT

Where: #WomensMoney on Twitter

How: Follow @TheDSEF and @WomensMoney on Twitter, and tweet with the party tag #WomensMoney. (Learn more about how to participate in a Twitter party here.)

Prizes: Five winners will each receive a $50 Visa Gift Card (giveaway is for US residents ages 18 and older, but everyone can participate in the chat!)

RSVP: Let us know you’re planning to participate! Just leave your Twitter ID (for example: @TheDSEF) in the comments below!

Blog

Six Telltale Signs You Found a Leader

Six Telltale Signs You Found a Leader
Six Telltale Signs You Found a Leader

Six Telltale Signs You Found a LeaderSurrounding yourself with successful people plays a large role in your business success. An effective leader can mentor, motivate, and inspire you to do great things. You can likely look back on your years in school and identify a teacher or two who did any or all of those things for you. What did you achieve during your time with that teacher? The same goes for the real world of entrepreneurship. When looking for leaders to add to your circle and your business, here are some qualities to look for

  • The person gets things done. Not only can she be relied upon to keep her word, but she finds the most efficient way to meet her responsibilities. You can learn from people who maximize their time in such a way, as it allows them to accomplish more and to do it faster.
  • He/she has good social skills and is likeable. Most leaders have a natural way of relating to others and possess a certain amount of charisma. Others enjoy being around them, and they make for good company in both their professional and personal social lives. This likeable quality helps them earn respect and trust from their colleagues. Someone who can understand and relate to others can more easily lead those folks to achieve success.
  • A leader wants to achieve more. A leader never stops raising the bar. This person seeks continual improvement, and in turn leads others to do the same. In business, this benefits everyone. If each person in your upline is motivated to achieve more and passes that inspiration and knowledge on to you, you will achieve and continue it on to your downline. It is almost instinctual for a leader to frequently assess his or her set of goals to achieve long-term success.
  • The person learns quickly. This requires a great amount of focus, good listening skills, and a willingness to try new things right away. The ability to learn quickly allows a leader to acquire and master a large amount of skills, providing versatility that will serve him/her well in all aspects of the business.
  • He/she is organized. Organization is crucial to maximize efficiency and make time for income-producing activities. For example, since tax time can be stressful, many people have adopted a system that they keep updated throughout the entire year. When April arrives, filing taxes is easy and can be done quickly and accurately. One direct seller recommends his system of keeping his receipts in order by type of purchase instead of by month, so reporting his deductions the right way is much easier. If organization is not your strong suit, look to these people for guidance.
  • A leader understands the power of working as a team. No one finds success without the help of others in some way. Every man for himself does not work in direct sales. Working as a team has the power to bring success to everyone involved, and a leader not only understands this concept, but knows how to facilitate collaboration to make this happen.

Consider these characteristics when deciding with whom to surround yourself and who to emulate. If you have a good leader in your midst, take his or her advice to heart and use that person as a role model for how to achieve your goals.

What are some qualities of the leaders in your life? Please share your comments below!

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 5)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 5)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014

UPDATE: Big congratulations to our Friday winner: Jaime Tucker! 

In answer to our question, We’d love to know…which of the resources on our Resources Page was your favorite?, Jaime shared the following answer:

“Mobile banking.”

And the winner of the iPad mini is Carrie Douthit!! Congratulations Carrie! Here’s what Carrie said was her favorite resource:

“The technology and privacy information was the most useful to me. Thank you.”

Thanks to everyone for playing! And remember, you can access all of our free 2014 consumer protection resources at any time on this page: http://dsef.org/what-we-do/consumer-initiative/national-consumer-protection-week/ncpw-2014/

It’s the 5th and final day of our National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) celebration! We’ve already given away four amazing prize bundles, full of amazing products from direct selling companies, and today we’re giving away one more! We’ve also been highlighting some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner.

Each day this week, we’ve posted a question. When you use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, you’ll be entered to win an amazing gift tote full of products from a number of generous companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bundle of amazing products worth over $750 each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a bundle of products from over 20 DSA member companies, including at least one of the following from each of these companies:

On Friday, we will choose one name from among all entries throughout the week to win an iPad mini, donated by Mannatech. Winner will be announced Monday, March 10 on our Facebook Page.

Contest also sponsored by Nu Skin, who is generously providing program funding.

 

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: We’d love to know…which of the resources on our Resources Page was your favorite? (Find all the resources on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 4)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 4)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014

UPDATE: Big congratulations to our Thursday winner: Tammy van Dongen! 

In answer to our question, What does a marketer need to have in order to claim that their product is non-toxic?, Tammy shared the following answer:

“Marketers who claim that their product is non-toxic need competent and reliable scientific evidence that the product is safe for both people and the environment.”

Here’s the link to enter Friday’s contest: http://dsef.org/2014/03/07/national-consumer-protection-week-2014-contest-day-5/

It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year…National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)! It’s a time to highlight some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner. And since we love this week so much, we’ve decided once again to make it even MORE fun with a contest!

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing gift bundle full of products from a number of generous companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bundle of amazing products worth over $750 each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a bundle of products from over 20 DSA member companies, including at least one of the following from each of these companies:

On Friday, we will choose one name from among all entries throughout the week to win an iPad mini, donated by Mannatech.

Contest also sponsored by Nu Skin, who is generously providing program funding.

 

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What does a marketer need to have in order to claim that their product is non-toxic? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older, and ends at midnight ET, Thursday, March 6.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 3)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 3)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014

UPDATE: Big congratulations to our Wednesday winner: Courtney Cates! 

In answer to our question, What are two things you should do if you know your email has been hacked?, Courtney shared the following answer:

“Have extremely strong passwords including letters and numbers, make sure that you have security on your computer, and remove malware.”

Find the link to enter each day’s contest here: http://dsef.org/2014/02/26/national-consumer-protection-week-2014-contest/

It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year…National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)! It’s a time to highlight some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner. And since we love this week so much, we’ve decided once again to make it even MORE fun with a contest!

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing gift tote full of products from a number of generous companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bundle of amazing products worth over $750 each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a bundle of products from over 20 DSA member companies, including at least one of the following from each of these companies:

On Friday, we will choose one name from among all entries throughout the week to win an iPad mini, donated by Mannatech.

Contest also sponsored by Nu Skin, who is generously providing program funding.

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What are two things you should do if you know your email has been hacked? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 2)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 2)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014

UPDATE: Big congratulations to our Tuesday winner: Tammy Penny! 

In answer to our question, What are two things you should consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a service contract when buying a used car?, Tammy shared the following answer:

“Do you have to buy a service contract and does the service contract duplicate any warranty coverage.”

Find the link to enter each day’s contest here: http://dsef.org/2014/02/26/national-consumer-protection-week-2014-contest/

It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year…National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)! It’s a time to highlight some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner. And since we love this week so much, we’ve decided once again to make it even MORE fun with a contest!

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing gift tote full of products from a number of generous companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a bundle of products from over 20 DSA member companies, including at least one of the following from each of these companies:

On Friday, we will choose one name from among all entries throughout the week to win an iPad mini, donated by Mannatech.

Contest also sponsored by Nu Skin, who is generously providing program funding.

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What are two things you should consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a service contract when buying a used car? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog / Contest

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 1)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014 Contest (Day 1)

National Consumer Protection Week 2014

UPDATE: Big congratulations to our Monday winner: Ashley Burdette! 

In answer to our question, One of the ways to protect yourself when using public wi-fi is to make sure the site is encrypted. How can you tell if a website is encrypted or not?, Ashley shared the following answer:

“To determine if a website is encrypted, look for https at the beginning of the web address (the “s” is for secure). Some websites use encryption only on the sign-in page, but if any part of your session isn’t encrypted, your entire account could be vulnerable. Look for https on every page you visit, not just when you sign in.”

Find the link to enter each day’s contest here: http://dsef.org/2014/02/26/national-consumer-protection-week-2014-contest/

It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year…National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)! It’s a time to highlight some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner. And since we love this week so much, we’ve decided once again to make it even MORE fun with a contest!

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing gift tote full of products from a number of generous companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a gift bag of products from over 20 direct selling and network marketing companies, including at least one of the following from each of these companies:

On Friday, we will choose one name from among all entries throughout the week to win an iPad mini, donated by Mannatech.

Contest also sponsored by Nu Skin, who is generously providing program funding.

 

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: One of the ways to protect yourself when using public wi-fi is to make sure the site is encrypted. How can you tell if a website is encrypted or not? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Blog

What The Olympics Can Teach You About Business

What The Olympics Can Teach You About Business from http://dsef.org
What The Olympics Can Teach You About Business

What The Olympics Can Teach You About Business from http://dsef.orgWith the Winter Olympic Games having recently come to an end, it brings to mind how much these athletes have truly achieved. How do you think they got to the Olympics? The gold medal figure skater and all of her competitors surely couldn’t perform even the simplest jump the first time they got on the ice, just as those skiers couldn’t attempt more than a bunny slope the first time they put on skis. Each one of them completed a series of small achievements that eventually led them to the Olympics. As a salesperson, you should be setting benchmarks for yourself as well, small achievements that lead to great results. Here are our top three picks that will help you achieve your business goals.

  1. Find mentors to emulate. Who do you aspire to be like? Potential mentors could be people in your upline, or even in a completely different industry whose road to success is worthy of imitation. Identify your mentors’ work ethic, habits, education, or whatever it is that deems them worthy of your aspirations. If possible, talk with them about how you can achieve your goals by following in their footsteps. For example, if you are looking to transition from working your business “on the side” to making it your full-time job with a full-time income, an appropriate mentor would be someone who has done exactly that. Use the resources available to you in order to achieve your goals.
  2. Make adjustments to your business and its direction as quickly as possible based on facts and results. When things aren’t going well or as you had planned, take a step back and analyze why this may be happening. As soon as you realize that you need to make a change, consult with mentors and use the information you have to adjust. For example, if you find that you are not booking enough future hostesses at each party, identify what it is about your presentation that may be lacking. Test out a new approach, review the results, and adjust if necessary. There is no sense in repeating an action that fails to deliver your desired outcome.
  3. Build a strong foundation for your business by avoiding shortcuts. Your business must be built on ethical business practices, knowledge of your product and company, a desire to improve via professional development, and a commitment to representing your company and serving customers to the best of your ability. If you take shortcuts in any way, your business will suffer. When your upline conducts regional workshops once a month, asking a colleague for a brief summary instead of attending yourself is a shortcut. Make it a priority to attend, listen to what is being taught, incorporate relevant matters into your business, and always strive for improvement. You cannot expect success without hard work. The positive side is that by putting in the work and avoiding such shortcuts, you are more likely to rise above the fray and meet your goals more quickly.

With each benchmark that you meet, you are one step closer to realizing your dreams. Furthermore, such benchmarks help you stay focused, which is critical when your goals are long-term. What do you think about our benchmarks? What would you add to our list? Please share your ideas below!

Blog

How to Get Out of a Slump

How to Get Out of a Slump

How to Get Out of a Slump from http://dsef.orgThe natural ebb and flow of a career in direct sales will include the occasional slump. This rut of sorts could occur in any aspect of your business and for any number of reasons, but the important thing to remember is that as long as you have a strategy in place to get out of it, it is only temporary. Take a look at our ideas for getting out of a slump and moving forward with your business.

  • Start with a basic goal and revise often. The first step is to create a goal that is simple, does not take too long to complete, and is realistically attainable. For instance, if you find yourself in a sales slump, it may simply be because you’ve been going through the motions of the same sales presentation for too long. A simple and basic goal would be to implement one new element into your sales presentation and present it at least three times. This is a basic goal that is concrete and easily achieved. However, don’t stop there. Revising often is the key to making this strategy work. If, for example, after your three presentations you see no improvement, revise your goal. That could mean implementing something new into a different part of your presentation, or perhaps taking more initiative to ask for the sale. Revising your goal frequently will help renew your motivation to find a way out of your slump.
  • Create goals with predictable outcomes. There are many aspects of a career in direct sales that we cannot control, so when creating goals, try to choose those that have little room for guesswork. Even though you can’t predict the outcome of your next home party, you can predict the outcome of attending your company’s monthly training sessions. You know that you will always learn something new about your product line, a game to add to your presentation, or even an innovative approach to recruitment. Focus on what is guaranteed, and choose goals that will set you up for success.
  • Reward success and penalize failure. Self-discipline is a staple of being your own boss, so be strict about how you react to success and failure. This really works when you choose reinforcement tactics that will truly motivate you to get out of your slump. Figure out what you enjoy and how it can be used for reinforcement. If you’re a person who loves movies, focus your rewards and penalties around them. Did you exceed your goal for number of hostesses who committed to parties in one night? Time for a trip to the movies! Did you let go of a sale without asking all the right questions? Put down the remote tonight. Hold yourself accountable in meaningful ways, and be consistent to pull yourself out of your slump.

Getting out of a slump has as much to do with your mindset as it does with your actions. Commit to making real change by implementing these strategies until you are back on track. Only you can determine your success, so take control and keep moving forward on the path to achieving your goals.

Have you ever experienced a slump? What has worked for you to get out of it? Please share your ideas below!

Blog

Ten Tips for Leaders

Ten Tips for Leaders

MP900289528[1]Whether you are a seasoned direct sales leader in your company with a large downline or are just starting out as a consultant, it helps to adopt the qualities of an effective leader. For existing leaders, possessing these characteristics can help you maintain a profitable business. For direct sales novices, strengthening your leadership skills will improve your customer service as well as prepare you for any future aspirations you have for a leadership position within your company. Here are our top ten tips for being a good leader.

  1. Put people first. It isn’t always about the money. Putting people first is not only the right thing to do, but in the long run, it will contribute to your developing a good reputation as a reliable, trustworthy business person. For example, a consultant doing a home party booked several future parties with the incentive for those potential hostesses to have their own parties within the next three months. In doing so, the present hostess was able to receive a bonus in her rewards. When one of the potential hostesses had to back out due to a conflict, the consultant had to choose between rescinding the bonus for the original hostess or work to re-book the lost party. She decided it would be better for her business in the long run if she thought about her customers first; she kept her word, rewarded the bonus, and gained a loyal customer.
  2. Work cooperatively with others. In any sales career, you will likely interact with all different kinds of people. It is important to find common ground and cooperate to maximize your productivity. This goes for customers and colleagues alike, and it sets a good example for those in your downline.
  3. Maintain high positive energy. It’s normal to feel stressed or burned out once in awhile, but maintaining a high level of energy and positivity will work wonders for your own morale. Remind yourself why you started your business, what you love about it, and why you want to continue. Be your own best cheerleader; it will go far in helping to motivate others looking to you for guidance.
  4. Set clear goals. Any goals dealing with your business should be clear, specific, and challenging but realistic. Setting a goal “to make enough money to quit my full time job” is well-intended, but it could set you up to fail. It makes no mention of just how much money that would require or the timeframe involved to complete it. Decide exactly what you want and how you will go about achieving your goal to set yourself up for success.
  5. If you can’t measure it, don’t do it. Trying to accomplish a goal with no concrete way of measuring its completion will only bring you a lot of frustration. Part of what keeps us motivated is the knowledge that we are heading in the direction of accomplishment, but if you don’t know exactly what that looks like, then how will you know when you get there?
  6. Share your power with your people. Have you ever seen a movie you enjoyed so much that you can’t wait for your friends to see it too? That feeling of wanting others to share in your enthusiasm should play a big role in your business. You’ve mastered a certain set of skills that are bringing you great success; share how you do it with others. People under your leadership want to learn.
  7. Lead with action more than words. If you tell people one thing, but do another, you will lose your credibility. Words mean nothing when accompanied by actions that don’t match. Do what you say to earn and keep others’ trust in you.
  8. Use common sense. This is especially important when faced with a difficult decision. In the example of the consultant mentioned above, she was well within her rights to rescind her original hostess’s bonus. However, common sense told her that this would be unfair to the hostess who would likely express her frustration to her friends who were at the party. By following common sense, she avoided a tense situation and gained a loyal customer.
  9. Keep it simple, and don’t sweat the small stuff. When things get complicated, break them down into simple terms. There will always be obstacles, but be sure to pick your battles and don’t get bogged down with trivial things.
  10. It’s business, but make it fun! The wonderful thing about a career in direct sales is the flexibility it brings in allowing you to make the business your own. Add your own personal flair to your sales pitch, your professional development workshops, and your opportunity presentations. Find what makes you happy and integrate the fun stuff into your business. Your enjoyment will rub off on those around you.

Taking on a leadership role may or may not come naturally to you, but adopting certain qualities will definitely improve your effectiveness. What do you think of our list? Would you add anything else? Please share your ideas below!