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Finding Confidence

There are so many different factors that contribute to success in your direct sales business, but one of the most important is the confidence you project to others. Because your business functions on the relationships you build with others, your customers must know that you are the right person for the job. When you truly believe that you’re great at what you do, then your customers will know it too.

Practice makes perfect. If you lack confidence in your sales presentation for example, improving yourself can be as simple as practicing. Start by making your presentation in front of the mirror, and then move on to your kids’ stuffed animals. When you start feeling better about what you’re doing, get up in front of a few close family members to continue rehearsing. For the truly brave and ambitious, consider recording yourself on video. Watch it back and take notes on what you’d like to improve as well as where you excelled. This will give you a more accurate perspective on how others perceive you and will also allow you to pinpoint areas of strength and weakness.
Find a mentor. The mentor relationship can be extremely beneficial for both the mentor and protégé. The first place to look is to your upline, most likely the person who brought you into the business. If that person is unavailable, he or she can connect you with other experienced and successful direct sales consultants either within your company or others that can help increase your self-esteem through pep talks, professional development opportunities, networking events, etc. It may be a good idea to observe your mentor in action. If the person is always at the top of list in sales every month, ask him or her to take you along to a sales presentation or home party. You may come away from the experience with some fresh ideas that you can apply to your own method. The key to an effective mentor relationship is having someone that you trust and respect.
Find a partner. A partner, unlike a mentor, doesn’t have to be someone involved in the business. Sometimes the best partners are people already in our lives that can act as our personal cheerleaders. A close friend or relative that can share joy in your accomplishments and bolster your self-esteem after rejection would make a great partner. Identify first what you want and need in a partner and share your ideas with that person. It never hurts to have someone who you know will be in your corner no matter what.
Dress for success. This may seem obvious, but when we are self-conscious about the way we look, it affects our entire being; this lack of confidence can be sensed by others. Make sure when you leave the house for a sales demo or training event, for example, you are wearing something that makes you feel good. It should fit you well, be appropriate for the event (not to casual and not too dressy), and be put together with appropriate accessories and hair style. A put-together look exudes professionalism, competence, and of course confidence.

How do you find confidence within yourself? Does it increase your success? Please share your ideas with us in the comments section below!

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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Executive Spotlight: Joan Hartel Cabral, Vantel Pearls

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 Joan Hartel Cabral, the Founder and President of Vantel Pearls, a company that features parties where oysters are opened and guests purchase jewelry made with the pearls inside. Vantel Pearls has been a big supporter of the DSEF for many years, and we’re thrilled to have Joan Hartel Cabral share her thoughts with you today. Enjoy!

Executive Spotlight: Joan Hartel Cabral, Vantel Pearls

Joan Hartel Cabral

What did you do before you got involved with your company?

I lived in Spain for 3 years. I moved there for the adventure, to learn Spanish and to enjoy the lifestyle. It was in Spain that I started my first business. I opened an Aerobics Studio in Denia, along the coast. My students found it very funny when I said “toque sus hombres” touch your men, instead of “toque sus hombros” touch your shoulders. I instantly loved running my own business and inspiring others to believe they could positively impact their own lives. After only 3 months, the Town Government endorsed my business and offered me a rent-free gymnasium.

What do you love about your company?

I love that our Vantel Pearls’ oysters are a metaphor for Life. Inside every oyster, there is at least one pearl. A pearl is formed when an oyster defends against a grain of sand or foreign particle. The oyster secretes layers and layers of nacre or mother-of-pearl around the irritant. When we have a challenge, how many of us, as oysters do, find the gift in it-actually turn it into something positive? We can learn to embrace transformational opportunities. The pearl is a creation of beauty from adversity. How fabulous is that?!

What makes your salesforce amazing?

Our Sales Team is truly amazing in the way they see all things are possible. They strive for excellence. They give back generously. They express gratitude to Vantel Pearls because they have learned that their beliefs and attitudes directly influence their choices and actions. They are connected to each other and support each other. They transform the lives of others knowing pearls make a woman feel beautiful on the inside. They are empowered women who are inspired to live authentic, joyous and abundant lives.

How do you ensure your company maintains the highest level of ethics?

Ethics is an integral part of the Vantel Pearls culture. We adhere to principles of integrity, our 8 Treasured Gems, which are incorporated into our meetings, our catalog, our manner of doing business.

Our Sales Team is held to high standards. In the event that an individual is outside the guidelines of our standards, their Agreement is terminated. We keep things very simple.

Our general objective is to grow organically and from that we build enduring loyalty.

What kind of social good campaigns does your company participate in or run?

Vantel Pearls offers early intervention education to children in schools and YMCA programs. When we present an unopened oyster and discuss how “ugly” the outer shell is and then open the oyster and discover the ‘beautiful’ pearl, with a specific format, the children open up about the name calling, harassment, and intimidation that occurs when teachers are not present. We have a full discussion without ever using the “bullying” word! We transform the conversation into believing in your gifts, non-judgment of others and a whole lot more! It’s the most amazing program providing self-esteem awareness. We plan to expand on this program and change the world!

Why do you think the DSEF is important?

We have been an active supporter of the DSEF for several years. The DSEF significantly promotes and educates the public about direct selling. I believe that our business model of direct selling can allow others to have a richer, more meaningful life. I believe direct selling empowers individuals to set their own goals, choose their own working hours, have financial independence and fulfill their own dreams. College debt is rising and personal debt is increasing. We have a growing crisis. Rather than encourage widespread borrowing, let’s promote a simple entrepreneurial plan that offers financial security and confidence. The insurmountable debt of our society needs attention and direct selling is an answer.

Thank you, Joan, for sharing your inspiring story with us. We are grateful for the support of companies like Vantel Pearls, that help us to spread the message of ethics, entrepreneurship and integrity around the world. We appreciate you!

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No Sales? Tips to Make Sales

No Sales? Tips to Make Sales

If you are experiencing a lag in sales, the first thing to do is use your direct sales method to your advantage. Because your business model relies on person-to-person interaction, emphasize your genuine concern for customer satisfaction and the relationships you have built to generate sales. No matter what product or service you offer, here are some tips to increase your sales in everything from health food to handbags.

Refocus on what people are buying. Consumers’ needs are always changing. Consider the explosion of smartphones purchased in the last five years. Once the major manufacturers created a product so convenient and affordable, it became nearly impossible to live without. It’s important to always pay attention to the trends in consumer interest. As a direct sales representative, you may not have control over the product, but you do have control over how you market that product. For example, there is a big need right now for people to be able to add more fresh produce into their diets. When marketing your cookware, highlight those pieces that make recipes such as summer squash casserole and broccoli rabe salad easier and more fun to make.
Sell the benefits of your product instead of the product itself. Once you’ve identified what customers are buying, center your attention on marketing the benefits. This will help them understand why it is they want the product. For example, instead of just focusing on the aesthetics of long necklace, demonstrate that its various colors make it a versatile complement to any wardrobe; display all the different ways in which it can be worn for any occasion. When a customer understands the benefits of a product, they will place greater value in it, and therefore want to own it.
Offer something free. This is your opportunity to get creative. Offering something free with a purchase can come in many forms: a free gift on the spot, a free sample of a brand-new product, a voucher for a gift with a future purchase, etc. Again, the focus should be on what the customer wants. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different offers and promotions until you find the one that works best for your product and customers’ needs.
Minimize risk. Everyone can be hesitant before making a purchase, no matter how big or small. Alleviate that fear by minimizing the buying risk. Your company most likely has some sort of guarantee in place, but in certain cases, you can go above and beyond that if possible. For example, say your company offers a lifetime replacement guarantee on any handbag found to have a manufacturing defect. A customer asks you about this guarantee but is disappointed to hear that she would still have to pay shipping costs to return the defective item. Offer to foot the bill for the shipping or offer a complimentary pickup service to save her the hassle of a trip to the post office. The less risk there is in making a purchase, the more likely the customer will be to try it out.

The direct sales industry is all about meeting your customers’ needs. Once you can get in touch with what those are, use your strengths in customer service and your creativity in marketing to increase your sales. Happy customers will gladly share their positive shopping experiences with their friends and family, so satisfaction certainly goes a long way.

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Quick Start to Your Day

Quick Start to Your Day

As a kid, you probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. As a working adult, you most likely now realize how true that statement is! Just as eating a healthy breakfast gets your metabolism off to a great start, there are other things you can do to give your mind and body the head start they need for a productive day. Try to set up a morning routine for yourself that includes some or all of the following suggestions.

Avoid the rush. This may be especially relevant if you work outside the home. If you find yourself rushing around in the morning for whatever reason, consider waking up earlier. Even 10 extra minutes can make a world of difference. Usually when we are pressed for time, our bodies respond physically: increased heart rate, perspiration, headache, etc. Set your alarm for a few minutes earlier than usual, and try it for at least a week. Once you get an idea of how much better it is for you, you won’t want to go back to sleeping in.
Get inspired by the words of others. Motivational quotes are quick and easy ways to get an inspirational pick-me-up in the morning. Sometimes we get so bogged down in our own responsibilities that we forget to be thankful for what is good in our lives. Take a few seconds in the morning to read an inspirational quote; if you have a smartphone, there are several apps on the Apple, Android, and Blackberry platforms that provide one a day. However, if you’re more conventional, get yourself a mini desk-calendar with a motivational quote for each day of the month.
Use “positivity Post-Its.” The invention of the sticky note has allowed all kind of people to find creative uses for them in all aspects of their daily lives. Try taking out a stack and jotting down a few positive words or phrases that will motivate you, help you handle stress, and remind you of what you feel is important in your job or your life. For example, one man who took a part-time job so his wife could stay home with their two daughters put sticky notes around his home, car, and office that said three simple words: for my girls! Reading those words repeatedly throughout the work week motivated him to continue and reminded him of what was the most important thing to him. Find your positive thoughts in words and phrases and place them in plain sight so that you will come across them throughout your day.
Just breathe. Sounds easy, right? Of course, you’re breathing all the time and not noticing it. However, sometimes our obligations get the better of us and we just go through the motions of our day without taking any time for ourselves. When you first sit up in bed in the morning, try a 2-3 minute deep breathing exercise. Such an exercise can relax your muscles and focus your mind. The internet is full of descriptions of different techniques, and YouTube has a great deal of videos demonstrating these techniques, such as Quick Calm seen here. Give it a try tomorrow morning; you’ll notice the effects right away!

Starting your day off on the right foot will increase your productivity and improve your state of mind. How do you get a jump on your day? Please share your ideas with us below!

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DSEF & CBBB: 7 Ways That Consumers are Wasting Money

7 Ways That Consumers are Wasting Money

By Ryan Gillis

Wasting money doesn’t actually mean you are bad with money, it just means that like millions of other Americans, you spend too much money on things that can be easily made less expensive, reports MSN.com. MSN outlines the 7 most common budgetary mistakes:

1. Investing in expensive mutual funds

Mutual funds that charge high fees take large percentages of your returns, so it would be wise to look for mutual funds that charge a low fee rates annually. Any mutual fund that charges less than 0.5% in fees annually is a good number to look for.

2. Ignoring your credit score

A low credit score means less money in your pocket. In many cases, the lower your credit score the more money you will pay on interest rates, and other expenses such as auto insurance premiums. A low credit score can even effect whether or not you get job as some employers take credit score into consideration when hiring.

3. Failing to lower your rates

Many consumers just accept the interest rates that are paying when in reality if they only asked for a lower rate, especially on credit cards, it may actually be effective. In the case of mortgages, car loans and student loans refinancing is the best option for lowering rates.

4. Overpaying for car insurance

Reducing car insurance premiums is not very difficult with a little bit of effort. Auto insurance companies offer a lot discounts, and comparing rates of insurance companies online takes just a few minutes.

5. Buying brand name products

Once consumers get past all of the slogans and fancy commercials, the product that brand name companies put is basically the exact same same as off brand ones. Off brand labels can also save the company a great deal of money, and offer similar quality.

6. Buying too much life insurance

The key to buying life insurance is to only buy the coverage you need at the cheapest price. For this reason term life insurance insurance is more popular than a whole life policy. As lifestyle conditions change, it , may helpful to alter your coverage or even eliminate it all together.

7. Failing to take the company 401k match

Many companies have programs in place where they will match employees 401k contributions to a certain extent. In order to take full advantage of these contributions, it is necessary that the employee contribute a certain amount. By not taking advantage of these programs, employees lose out on free money.

For more information, visit http://finances.msn.com/saving-money-tips/6930544.

DSEF and Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) fosters honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers—instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all.

About the Better Business Bureaus
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. Visitwww.bbb.org/us for more information.

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DSEF & CBBB: Warning! Stay Away from Work-At-Home Scams

Warning! Stay Away from Work-At-Home Scams – Search Profit System & Money Mastery

By America Monge

The BBB cautions consumers to be wary of work at home scams and their too good to be true deals, according to Puget Sound Business Journal.

Two companies in question, Search Profit System and Money Mastery are bad news. Money Mastery promises to pay customers $186 a day, working from home. The other company, Search Profit System claims you can make money using search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN and Bing. What really happens is that once you sign up, consumers are charged almost $50 in monthly membership fees and canceling the service is very difficult.

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How to Run a Business on a Shoestring Budget

How to Run a Business on a Shoestring Budget

Running your business on a tight budget is not only possible, but extremely beneficial, even when times are good. You don’t even need a degree in business or finance to create and stick to a budget; all you need is common sense, organizational and planning skills, and motivation. Read on for some ways to operate your business on a shoestring budget.

Understand your cash flow. Cash flow, in its simplest terms, is the movement of money in and out of your business. It is of utmost importance that you know where every penny you spend goes, and where every penny you earn comes from. This may seem easy, especially if you’re the only employee, but unless you document carefully and review your cash flow frequently, you may find that too much money is being spent that does not contribute to your bottom line. If you need to tighten your belt, so to speak, it may be necessary to cut back on expenses that are not directly related to income. For example, that shiny new business card certainly looks nicer coming out of your pocket to hand to a prospect, but is the higher cost going to directly result in a sale? These are questions you need to ask yourself when creating and/or revisiting your budget.
Stick to your budget. This may seem obvious, but it isn’t difficult to underestimate your expenses and overestimate your income. When budgeting, be conservative. Before making any kind of purchase, ask yourself why you need it and how it will bring in money. Sticking to your budget and reviewing it often will help prevent cost overruns before they happen. Tip: Categorize each expense according to a pre-determined system that works for your particular situation. This will make it much easier to sort your expenditures and decide which ones contributed to your income and which did not.
Push sales. Starting and running on a shoestring budget means you lack capital and that’s not the ideal. To overcome the lack of capital you must be willing to quickly generate sales. You must clearly identify your target market and have prospects ready to buy. Make sure your marketing materials reach those who need your products/services and your sales presentation is effectively closing sales. For free marketing resources, visit the Small Business Administration website.
Establish a network. You will need to quickly establish a large targeted network of prospects that are ready to buy, a network of influencers that will help spread the word about your business, and a group of people who’ll support your vision. Having a large network of people is the key to running a business on a shoestring budget. The more people you and your business are connected with, the more sales you will have. This will allow your business to get established, maintain stability and create the foundation to a successful long term business.

If you do go this route you will need strong planning, organization, networking skills, and a commitment to push for sales to quickly generate income to establish your business. Operating on a shoestring budget is definitely achievable as long as you’re willing to put in the work. How do you run your business on a budget? Please share your ideas below!

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DSEF & Money Wise Women: Your Money Personality and Self-Employment

Today’s highlighted post from Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series (Click here):

Your Money Personality and Self-Employment

Mikelann Valterra is the founding director of the Women’s Earning Institute and is passionately devoted to helping women earn at their potential. She is also the author of Why Women Earn Less: How to Make What You’re Really Worth. She’s a nationally sought after expert on women’s work, money and earning issues. For over a decade, Mikelann has empowered women to overcome self-sabotaging beliefs about wealth, transform their relationship to money, and unlock their earning potential.

DSEF proudly sponsors the free Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series hosted by Marcia Brixey, Founder and President of Money Wise Women Educational Services and author ofThe Money Therapist: A Woman’s Guide to Creating a Healthy Financial Life. The series covers topics related to business and finances and provides women the opportunity to learn from professional experts in a safe, comfortable environment.

To find out about upcoming teleseminars, visit http://www.moneywisewomengetsmart.com/

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DSEF & CBBB: Nickeled and Dimed – Six Things That Used to Be Free

Nickeled and Dimed – Six Things That Used to Be Free

By Katherine Hutt

“Our free society is turning into a fee society,” says Bankrate.com, a website that (still) offers free rate information to consumers. “Many services and goods that were once freebies now cost money.”

On its blog, the online financial newsletter notes that lots of things – like free checking, hotel pillow chocolates, and free online news – are disappearing from the marketplace. Penn State marketing professor Fred Hurvitz chalks it up to creative price increases. “You can up your basic price and include all of the service as if it’s free,” he notes, “Or you can try to keep the base prices as low as possible — and charge separately for extras.”

No-cost banking is rare, according to Bankrate’s 2011 Checking Account Survey. Even noninterest checking accounts usually are not free, and average account maintenance fees are $4.37 a month, compared to $2.49 just a year earlier. And the average fee for a noncustomer to use a bank’s ATM? A whooping $2.40.

Other small fees that hit hard:

• Most pizza chains are now charging $2-3 for delivery (and, yes, you still need to tip the driver)
• Service station often charge to us the air pumps (which means you are paying for air)
• Snacks, headphones and blankets on airplanes now cost you…even seat selection can come with a fee

For the full story, go to Bankrate.com http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/freebies-now-you-pay-for.aspx

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How to Create an Effective Action Plan

How to Create an Effective Action Plan

Throughout the course of running a business, you will need to set goals for yourself along the way. These may be related to customer service, marketing, professional development, or anything else that will contribute to the success of your business. However, it isn’t enough to simply set a goal; you must create a plan of action that will guide you in achieving it. For most people, a step-by-step guide that includes benchmarks and due dates is effective. Here is a list of things to consider when creating your action plan.

Prepare for success. Think of an action plan like a race. Just like in a race, warm up your body and mind before you make your action plan. See yourself reaching the finish line, celebrating the win, and have a reward ready for once you complete your tasks. Successful people know they will win before they even start the race.
Prioritize. Most projects or goals require a multitude of steps to complete, often overlapping and dependent on each other. As with any other aspect of business, time is of the essence, and you likely will not be able to exclusively work on this project all day every day. For this reason, prioritize the steps included in your plan so you can work on the most imperative ones first. Tip: When deciding on an item’s priority level, also put the most difficult tasks at the top of the list. This is especially important if the list includes items that you dread. For example, if your action plan includes making follow-up calls to collect overdue payments from clients, it’s a good idea to put it near the top of the list. Asking for money, even money owed to us, is never pleasant, so instead of procrastinating, get a task like this out of the way.
Break down long-term projects into smaller chunks. If you have something that needs to be done within the next six months, for example, create more short-term checkpoints that will allow the project to be completed on time. This way, even if you don’t get to work on it every day or even every week, you will still have a plan in place for getting it done because the tasks involved are more manageable. If something seems too overwhelming, we tend to do nothing because we don’t know where to start. Breaking down projects into smaller tasks will prevent this from happening.
Plan realistically. Because you are the backbone of your business, you should have a very good sense of how much time you have to commit to all of your responsibilities. Keep this in mind when writing the action plan, especially when choosing deadlines and benchmarks. If you only give yourself three days to completely overhaul your entire filing system, you are setting yourself up for failure. Consider not only your other business responsibilities, but also your personal ones as well. If you are the one your family depends on to take your turn in the soccer carpool, have dinner ready when everyone comes home, or walk the dog every evening, don’t forget to factor those types of things into your day. Planning too much in too little time will only frustrate you, add stress to your life, and even prevent you from accomplishing your goal altogether.
Revisit and adapt as needed. Sometimes in life and in business, things do not play out as we had hoped or planned. To prepare for and deal with the unexpected, take the initiative to review your action plan and change it if necessary. Let’s say your goal was to implement online ordering by the end of the quarter. However, your local competitor has just launched a new website that includes this feature. You now need to go back to your action plan and re-work it so that you can get your website up and running by the end of the month so you don’t lose customers that want this convenience. As business owners, we must always be flexible, prepared, and willing to adapt to change and unforeseen circumstances.

How do you create an action plan for your business? Please share your ideas below!