Video Blog: Get Some Support!
February 13, 2010 by Julie
Filed under Home office, Life Balance, Main, Organization
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Video Blog – Get it All Done Every Week!
January 21, 2010 by Julie
Filed under Goal Setting, Life Balance, Main, Organization, Time Management
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Detox Your Inbox!
January 18, 2010 by Julie
Filed under Home office, Main, Organization
Krista Green is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur and one of our all-time favorite "Ask the Expert" speakers. Her first company, Organized for Life, went on to become the first professional organizing franchise system worldwide – and the first employer in the industry in Canada with three locations – in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. Krista is a Speaker and Coach in the organizing industry, and a co-creator with Julie Anne Jones of the brand new "Chaos to Clarity – Office Organization Edition," a Step-by-Step Solution to Office Organzation product (on sale this month! Learn more here.)
Krista will be kicking off our "Ask the Expert" calls for 2010 this coming Wednesday, January 21st at 9:00 am Pacific/12:00 noon Eastern time. Click here to reserve your space now!
Are you frustrated and overwhelmed by all of the emails in your inbox? Do you have trouble finding information when you need it? Are you frequently scrambling to get something done at the last minute because the email got buried in your inbox? Do you spend too much time drowning in emails and not getting things done?
The amount of email we receive has increased exponentially over the past few years, especially if you have your own business. And we are expected to read every single message! I have heard of people declaring email bankruptcy, but that’s really not an option (and it doesn’t really address the problem either).
Here are just a few things to help you make the shift from email overload to email under control…and maybe even inbox zero.
- Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.- Albert Einstein
- If you don’t make any changes to the way you look at, review, think about and act upon (or don’t act upon) your email, then how can you expect different results? Open your mind to a new way of thinking about your inbox, when to check it and how to process it. Consider that finding the perfect system can sometimes be about experimentation and tweaking.
- Set up a system. I am sure you have all heard what SYSTEM stands for…it is a process or set of steps that can Save You Stress, Time, Energy and Money. It doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the simpler and more repeatable it is the more likely you are to be successful with it.
- Streamline and update. Technology changes…and quickly. But it’s actually the technology that is slower to change that we have a more difficult time recognizing and changing.
Email folders are the prime example. How much time are you spending moving your emails into separate folders so you can access them later? And do you still have difficulty finding what you need? Why spend so much time on maintaining something you are not likely to use? I am sure you have heard of the 80/20 rule (Pareto’s Principle) which infers (loosely translated here) that you will only refer back to 20% of what you file. That means 80% of what you spend time categorizing and moving around will never be referred to again.
This is just the beginning…If you are interested in learning more on how to tackle your email overload, join Krista Green for our Detox Your Inbox FREE Ask the Expert call this Wednesday, January 21st at 9:00 am Pacific/12:00 noon Eastern time. Click here to reserve your space now!
The Problem with New Year’s Resolutions…
January 7, 2010 by Julie
Filed under Goal Setting, Organization, Self Development
Today really is the first day of the rest of your life, but not because it's January! I'm sure you're reading lots of blog posts and articles about New Year's Resolutions this week. Every year, we're encouraged to use the New Year as a fresh start, as if the calendar rolling over somehow magically transforms us into the person we've always wanted to be. I've always been curious about that. What makes you think you'll be any more resolved to actually do any of the big things you plan for yourself just because the calendar says January instead of December today? I think that's just a recipe for failure (and I bet you have dozens of stories, just like I do, of New Year's resolutions gone bad to back up my opinion). So, this year, I'm taking a different approach. Now, don't get me wrong. I have some huge goals for 2010 (many of which have come out of my annual planning sessions), but I know that if I focus all of my energy on achieving these huge goals, I'll probably feel overwhelmed and do what I've done in the past (which is give up). It's literally true the the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. So I've decided to think smaller. I'm choosing a few smaller actions I can implement every week that will move me closer to my bigger goals. For me, that means I'm going to:
- Create a weekly plan every Sunday with goals for the week and daily action steps
- Set some stronger boundaries around my schedule so I stay on track throughout the day
- Plan at least one full day every week with no appointments where I can focus entirely on implementation
- Find at least one new blog to follow each month and implement what I'm learning from it
While these action steps aren't resolutions in and of themselves, I know they'll support me in getting what I want by the end of the year (and then some, I'll bet). If there's one thing I've learned over the past few years, it's that action is the key. Grand plans and resolutions are great but if you don't do anything to bring them about, they rarely happen (and that's why you find yourself making the same resolutions over and over again every single year). Here are a few direct sales-related actions steps you could commit to take on a weekly or monthly basis that, if implemented, WILL change your business in 2010. Pick a few and start moving toward your goals!
- Get your office completely organized so you love working there
- Set up one-on-one coaching times each week with your key team members
- Start a "Host of the Month" club (click here to read about how to do that)
- Commit to hold an opportunity event every single month
- Attend our "Ask the Expert" call every month (it's free and we have some amazing experts signed up for this year. Check them out here)
- Make it a goal to learn at least one new thing every week and implement it in your business
- Join a networking group or your local Chamber of Commerce
- Make at least five booking calls and five recruiting calls every week (this one action could literally double your business this year)
- Hold at least eight parties each month
That's just a start. Coming up with three or four should be no problem for you. If you're not sure what to commit to, ask yourself this question, "If I get to the last day of 2010 and my business is exactly where I want it to be, what will I have accomplished?" Then figure out what small steps it's going to take to make that giant leap and commit to them. And why not add your suggestions below? I'd love to hear from you. One last thing - With the brand new website, a few things have changed and if you've been receiving my blog posts in your e-mail box, that service may be interrupted. I'd love it if you take a second and go to the home page and click on "Subscribe to Direct Sales Success Made Easy" by e-mail to make sure you continue to receive my posts. And take a look around while you're at it. I love the new site! Thanks!
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Julie Anne Jones is a success language consultant, a direct sales coach and trainer, and the CEO of Julie Anne Jones, Inc. She is known for her authentic and easy-to-use scripting and specializes in specific language and tools for success in direct sales. To learn more about Julie Anne and her products and services, visit her at www.julieannejones.com or check out her blog athttp://julieannejones.com.
What do Direct Sellers Do December 15-31?
December 10, 2009 by Julie
Filed under Goal Setting, Life Balance, Organization
Have you noticed how direct sellers seem to take a holimonth instead of a holiday every December? It's like they neatly put their business on the shelf for most of the month of December (or at least from the 15th on) and hope against hope that it will be there, strong as ever, waiting for them come January 2nd when the world starts to turn again. Unfortunately, it's often more the case that their neglected business has withered and is in dire need of resuscitation come January.
It's important to make sure you're booking yourself solid for January in November and early December. (I wrote a blog post on that topic last week. You can access it here). But once you've done that, do you have any options besides just taking two weeks off at the end of December? Absolutely!
Remember all those business activities you've been saying you didn't have time for all year (like personal development, follow up calls, and planning)? Well, now you've got two weeks spread out in front of you like a gift. Grab it and rip it open!
Here are just a few ideas for how you might spend your work hours over the next few weeks. I'll start with some ideas for leaders (and just FYI, if you're a leader, this is a great opportunity to get yourself and your team set up for success in 2010!)
- Plan all of your meetings for 2010 (need help? Our "Smart Leader's Monthly Meeting Planning System" will give you complete outlines and trainings for 12 monthly meetings. Check it out here.) You can even include your team or downline leaders if you have them in your planning time. Throw a small party, put some cookies and coffee out, and have fun! You'll be surprised at how quickly this task will go when you're brain storming with others.
- Take 1/2 day and call all of your downline leaders and direct downline to check in and learn how you can support them with their goals for 2010.
- Make a recording (you can use Audio Acrobat or Freeconferencecall.com) for your entire team giving them ideas for how to succeed in the new year. Our client Codi Ayers does this monthly for her team and has had great results. She shares with them:
- Some fun ideas for theme shows in the coming month, complete with a themed invitation e-mailed to them
- An overview of the host bonuses for the following month
- A quick recognition of those on her team who are new consultants
- A booking incentive (like a drawing for a great item from your line)
- Some fun ideas for theme shows in the coming month, complete with a themed invitation e-mailed to them
If you're not yet a leader, here are some great ideas for using your time at the end of December:
- Call all of your September, October, November and December guests and make sure they're happy with their products. Come armed with some great reasons to host a party in January and make it your goal to book at least three parties.
- Commit to listen to/read at least one training program related to your business and write down at least three ideas you want to implement based on that training.
- Set up and launch a "Host of the Month" club. Here's a simple format:
- 12 participants are required, 1 Hostess for each month of the year.
- Each hostess is required to place a minimum order of $30 each month.
- Each member will have one month assigned to her as Hostess of the Month at the beginning of the year.
- The Hostess of the Month will receive ALL Hostess rewards for her month.
- If the Hostess of the Month decides to have a personal Home Party in her month, she will have the Monthly Hostess Club funds applied to her party! She begins with at least $360.00 worth of orders, thereby increasing her Home Party sales & Hostess Rewards!
- 12 participants are required, 1 Hostess for each month of the year.
Julie Anne Jones is a success language consultant, a direct sales coach and trainer, and the CEO of Julie Anne Jones, Inc. She is known for her authentic and easy-to-use scripting and specializes in specific language and tools for success in direct sales. To learn more about Julie Anne and her products and services, visit her at www.julieannejones.com or check out her blog athttp://julieannejones.com.
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