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What Does it mean to "Give your business the respect it deserves"?

One of the things I tell my downline all the time is

"Give Your Business the Respect it Deserves"

And after years and years of sayng that I still get the:

What exactly does this mean?

 

Well, here is the deal.

When we sign up for a direct sales compnay it is because we love the product.

In fact, a lot of us have signed up for more than one compnay because we love getting a great discount on products we love.

that is totally cool, nothing wrong with that at all.

Some demonstrators and consultants make the jump from just loving their product to wanting to build a business around that particular product and company.

 

And this is where things need to change.

Businesses make money

They know where their money comes from

Businesses are profitable

They don't exist just for a trip or some free product

 

 

So one of the tricks of being a business is identifying where you money comes from and how to make more of it.

Do just this one thing:

Keep track of how much money you make at each event.

Not how much product you sell, how much profit is in that event.

Once you have figured this out, it will change how you run your business COMPLETELY

 

 

If this idea entices you, intrigues you, makes you say "Hot Damn, I want to learn more about this!"

Then you need to join us for summer school.

I will not teach you how to earn a trip, promote or get free products.

I will teach you how to make more money

(I just got a vision of the Jimmy Fallon/baby commercials. Everyone wants more money....lol!!)

So if you're down with this new way to think of your business, you know, that it actually makes you money, check out summer school.

We have hundreds of consultants on board and would love to add you to the party!

Be Inspired!

Lisa

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Big Changes, Big Risks= Big PayOffs!!

This past weekend Katt and I had the pleasure of training a group of Stampin'Up! demonstrators on both business basics and incorporating social media into their direct sales business.

 

It was an amazing group of women who were very committed to learning and growing their business. They were engaged, focused and asked awesome questions.

 

But as always, the best chat happended in line in the bathroom, in line for lunch and the casual conversation during breaks.

 

And those casual conversations all led to the same theme:

People were scared/nervous/anxious/intimidated to embrace making changes in their business.

 

And I get it, I totally get it.

 

Everyone is scared at times.

But if we let the fear paralyse us, our business is headed for trouble.

So here is what I want you to know.

Change is always scary because we are walking into the unknown.

But we have done scary things before.

We have gone to school, gotten married, had kids, started new jobs. That is all scary stuff because it is big change and big risk.

But we do it BECAUSE IT IS WORTH IT.

 

And we need to embrace that same bravery when we work our business.

The end results of growing and changing our business, staying relevant has HUGE payoffs.

 

So embrace the fear, acknowledge it.

But know that if we work thru it we can build the business we have always wanted, and have the lifestyle that allows us to do big things, the things we were meant to do.

 

I am excited to walk this path to success with you.

I hope you are excited too

And if you haven't signed up for our new trainings beginning in June, you can check them out on our sidebar

Be Inspired!

 

Lisa

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Inspiration and Success, it is all around us

 

For those of you who have sent your kiddos off to college you will relate that today is a great day as Elizabeth is coming home from her freshman year of college.

She did awesome, I knew she would.

She is coming home with a little more independence, a clearer vision of her career goals, dear friends and a new beau.

 

She is also coming home with some pains of disappointment and joy of perseverance.

Elizabeth has played soccer her whole life, really truly, her whole life. Her first word at 6 months was "ball" and she was off and running.

 

She is one of those kids who has always been recognized her her hard work, determination, dedication to herself and her team.

She has played for the top travelling team in our area and been captain of that team for as along as I can remember.

She made the Varsity high School team as a freshman and was captain of that team her senior year.

She went off to college with the assurance of the college coach that she would get lots of time and he was looking for her to beome a starter.

 

Well, that coach left.

New coach.

A couple of injuries

And a season of frustration and disappointment.

 

I would lose sleep after those post game phone calls when she would be in tears of frustration as once again she didn't get any playing time.

 

The girl worked hard all season, she committed herself to off season work at the level she knew it would take to get a chance to compete.

She kept herself ready so that when she was given a chance she would be able to step up to the challenge.

 

This past weekend they had their Spring Scrimmage.

Elizabeth started that game, playing most of the 90 minutes.

And the emotions in the post game phone call to her me were as strong as they had been all fall.

Except this emotion was joy

"Mom, I played more in this game than I did all fall"

"I started! I didn't even play one minute on our home field in the fall" 

 

It is tough to get knocked down for a whole season and keep going.

It takes a lot of mental strength and belief in yourself to keep getting up each day.

When you have always been viewed as a winner and someone questions your strengths, it can really hurt.

 

But Elizabeth had  the tools she needed to succeed:

a great work ethic and belief in herself

 

I love finding inspiration from the people around me.

I love it even more when I find it in my own child.

 

Be Inspired!

 

Lisa

 

 

 

Hey, help me get my downline to ......., PART 2

Alrighty, so yesterday I shared with you one of the big reasons your downline is struggling.

One of the things they do is look at you, their leader, and think "Do I want that life?"

 

And if you are so busy, so stressed, and complain about how hard you have it the answer is heck no!

You can read all I share on that topic here.

 

So today I want to share with you the other big reason your downline might be a hot mess.

It's that dirty word: Money.

But I am guessing it's not what you think.....Check out my thoughts here

And if I just described you, or your downline, I want you to know that our Summer School is all about creating a business that is profitable.

It is a totally different take on direct sales and I will bet you big that it will help you be more successful and help you build a downline that kills it.

Read about it here, and fyi, registration ends May 30th

 

Be Inspired!

 

Lisa

Hey, Help Me Get My Downline to .......

So here is the deal.

A lot of the consultants I work with are struggling with their downline.

Those of us ho are building businesses in direct sales know that at some point we are dependent on the success of our downline to keep our businesses growing and profitable.

And that creates kind of a funky relationship between upline and downline.

Well, I think I can help you out.

 

Here is video one of a 2 part series : "Hey, Help me Get my Downline to....."

leave me a quick comment below and let me know if this hits home for you

 

Be Inspired!

 

Lisa

Dogs, Baths, and Pinterest: How I Get it All Done

Those of you who read us daily know I am a huge fan of systems.

Systems do what I call "automating" your business. You schedule all of your activities daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly.

This way you know exactly what needs to be done every day and you don't waste time spinning your wheels thinking about what needs to be done.

To me this is huge, because I know you can run a direct sales business that generates enough income to support your family in just a few hours every day.

I run my direct sales business, my consulting business, and my etsy store daily.

It is a lot to keep track of, but I get great "feel good" from each part and can't imagine giving one of them up.

And I have set up financial ear marks for the money I generate.

 We live on my direct sales income, my consulting business is my investment money, and my etsy store is my fun money for trips, shoes....

So organization is key, without I would fall behind. And I am the person who would wake up in the middle of the night thinking about all I have to do.

And really, that would make me cranky and not good for anyone

 

I am a busy and very productive girl, and I get a lot of questions about what my systems look like. What do I do everyday to run my business. So here is a quick overview:

6 am

Let the dog out, make coffee, get the dog breakfast, let the dog in

check email, business fb page and twitter

6:30 am

writing time: blog posts, fb updates, twitter, newsletters, emails to downline and customers, recognition cards, trainings

10:00 am

walk the dog

11:00

grab a shower and brunch

12:00

film videos

record audio trainings

1:30 pm

creative/crafting time

4:30

social media check in

5 pm

family/friend time

dinner

work out

8 pm

bath/learning time

9:30

last computer check: pinterest account

head to bed and read

 

So let's look at it a little closer

1) I am an idea girl so I wake up with lots running thru my mind. So I know writing frst thing lets me quiet the beast.

I have a master calendar that tells me what I will write each day: fb, newsletter, cards, etc. I stick to that very closely unless I have an idea that is consuming me

 

2) Exercise is so important to me. I don't think you can live a balanced life unless you take care of all of you. And moving every day is important. So I schedule it, otherwise I would work right thru it.

 

3) I like to "get in the mode" and will film a bunch of videos at once or tele trainings back to back.  It is one of those things that once you start going it is easier to do a bunch rather than one a day. I am sure you have things like that too

 

4) Both my direct sales business and my etsy store need some attention everyday and those ealry afternoon hours are the best for me

 

5) I can kill a couple hours on line like you can't believe. So I schedule my time. I hate ending a day and feeling like I haven't accomplished much, and that is what happens if I am not really strict with my computer time.

 

6) you can find me in the tub almost every night. I listen to all the tele trainings I download, watch training videos, etc. It is where I feed my business mind.

First, I love a bath. Second, I can get easily distracted so by listening and watching in the tub there really isn't a lot to distract me

 

7) Pinterest comes at the end of the day, I am sure I don't need to tell you why :)

 

Now, this is broad

There are a lot of specifics in my daily to do lists. My systems are what allows me to get everything done, work ahead and create the 2 big things that are important to me: flexibility and profitability in my daily life.

 

If you are struggling to get it all done

If you wake up every day thinking what should I do for my business today

or where do I start?

If you can't work out, go to  lunch, shop with friends, take vacations because you are "so busy"

 

or if you are just ready to really step into the life that direct sales can provide for you, join us for summer school.

8 weeks that will help you create systems based on what is revenue generating in your business and create a direct sales biz that is profitable and flexible.

Read about it here

And you know that if you just keep running your business, or letting your business run you, the same way you are only going to get the same results

 

Be Inspired!

 

Be Inspired!

Lisa

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All New mini Courses: coming your way

We hear you!!

And we are just about ready to give you what you want.

Our 2 awesomely popular classes: 30 Day InkBig Business Booster and our Pimp My Blog have been loved by hundreds of consultants in the last few months.

but here is what we heard:

"I love the 30 day program, but I want it all now!"

And trust me, I hear you.

I am a girl who wants it all now so I can read it, devour it and put it into place right now! Plus, I am just impatient by nature.

So we have turned these 30 day programs into "mini courses" and you can get it all right now! (well, right now starting in a couple weeks)

June 1st you will be able to download either program, in it's entirety, lickety split.

So no waiting for what comes next. you get it all, at your finger tips, ASAP

Now you can read aout each of these fab programs here and here

But here is the deal:

When they go live on June 1st each program will sell for $30

BUT you can preorder them today thru May 18 for only $45 for both

Heck of deal, and I know you need them. How do I know?

Because everyone needs to run their business smarter, more effiiciently, with intention and purpose.

Some of you are new to the direct sales world and some of you have been around FOREVER. But regardless of how long you have been in business, I know that my trainings will help you do it better, smarter, more efficiently and help you make more money.

I believe with all my heart that direct sales is the key to living a life that lets you live your BIG DREAM. With flexibility and profitability you can focus on what you were put on earth to do: make a difference.

So email me  lisa@inkbigacademy.com, by May 18th, and get the tools you need to build the direct sales business and life of your dreams!

Direct Sales: A New Way of doing Business

So today I want you to think about a new way of looking at your direct sales business.

I am telling you that when you embrace this new way of looking at your goals and successes, you will achieve a business that both feeds your soul and creates real opportunities for you to make a difference.

Most direct sales companies have very established incentive plans for their consultants that include trips, vip service, titles, free product and more. These are designed to keep you focused on the activities that the corporate office has deemed as important for their success.

And there is nothing wrong with this in the big picture. You can read more about how I feel about these "dangling carrots" here.

My biggest issue is how it affects how many choose to run their business.

When we focus on rewards and accolades as a definition of success in direct sales it can create a scarcity mentality. Only so many peple can be in the top ten, yep that's right only 10 :)

 

And how many of that number are in your downline? If you are lucky, one. For most people the answer is none.

My big issue here is it leads us to think that there is not enough success to go around. So if I find something that really works in my business I certainly am not going to share it. What if it gives someone else a step up?

I have even found this to be true in the clients I coach. They are hesitiant to share even with their own downlines, because this false "success" is so ingrained in them.

The other part of fousing on these recognition programs as a measure of success is that it can lead people to bad business practices in order to achieve the trip, the ranking, the title.

So many times I have been at events and heard people talk about all the discounts, giveaways, and incentives it took to get them there.

They may have earned a trip, a spot in the top ten, a new title, but they aren't making any money!

and this is where the problem comes in.

We need to start defining success as being profitable.

Here is why this works so much better:

 Everyone can be profitable.

this means everyone can succeed.

And when there is enough success to go around, we shift from a scarcity thinking to a feeling of abundance. I am eager and open to share what is working for me be cause we can both be successful.

Your success does not diminish my success.

We will create a culture of support, sharing, a sisterhood of success rather than rivalry.

And here is a real "big picture" thought:

Earning titles, trips, rankings, etc is very focused on what I can gain.

It is a "what's in it for me" focus.

but when you change your thinking to look at how can I be profitable, it opens up possibilities.

Because in each of us is what I call a BIG DREAM.

Maybe right now that dream is to pay the mortgage each month, or put your child thru college, or save for retirement.

And if you go even deeper I know we all have a greater purpose for being here.

Causes and issues that are very near and dear to our heart.

 When you focus on the 2 most important things direct sales can give you: flexibility and profitability,

 you will be able to create a lifestyle that truly speaks to your heart in which you can afford to give of your time and money to support, organize, become a voice in the issues that real touch your soul.

so what do you think?

you ready to change your idea of success?

You ready to create a business and life that isn't about achieving recognition, but is about living the BIG DREAM we all have in us?

You can listen to more of this idea here:

And I want you to know this is what Summer School is all about.

It is about creating that Big Dream, figuring out how to get there, building a business that speaks to your soul and gets you fired up everyday.

If you are ready to make the switch and live the life you were intended, then you belong in our Summer School.

Read about the details here

 

Be Inspired!

Lisa

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Direct Sales: Being an Upline, Focus on your Passion

I have been in direct sales for well over 12 years.

And I can say my learning curve was steep :)

 

When it comes to being an upline, the number one thing I can tell you is that you will never make everyone happy, so you better make yourself happy.

That sounds very self focused, but that is not how I mean it, so stay with me....

 

When I first started, I was like everyone who comes in to direct sales. I wasn't looking to earn an income, and the money I made was kind of fun money.

I loved the business more than the creative side, so that is where I put my energy.

When I did decide to focus on building a business I chose to put a lot of the money I was earning into building my downline.

This I where my heart was.

This was my passion

 

I set up a lot of incentives for them because I knew the quickest way to build a business was to built a downline that was both wide and deep, Iwanted them selling and recruiting. So a lot of the money I made for the first couple years didn't go to buying stamps for myself,  it went towards product for my downline to reward them for reaching milestones I had established.

My goal was to build my downline quickly so I invested in that process by setting up incentives, goals, rewards, etc that fostered selling and recruiting by my downline

 

I also spend a lot of time training. and I trained everybody :) I wanted everyone to have the tools to achieve whatever I set before them.

 

Well, 12 years later I am in a different place. With a downline of over 600, spread all over the country, it is not the cozy little family that I started with.

So now, while I still provide info and training to all, I only work one on one with those demos who are interested in working with me.

I love and appreciate all the demos in my Inkbig family. But most of them have an upline so they don't need me to hold their hand or be their emotional touchpoint in this business.

 

But I am here to offer assistance, share what I know, applaud their achievements, and give them opportunities.

 

Do they wish I was handing out stamp sets like they were water? Well, yeah, wouldn't you?

 

But I need to focus on what speaks to my heart.

I still get up and think every morning about what I can do for them to make their time in my downline fun and rewarding.

I love what I do and now my calling is to reach out and support all direct sellers. Because I believe  with all my heart this business is the answer to living the life of your dreams.

And there is plenty of room in the universe for us all to live an amazing life.

 

Be inspired!

 

Lisa

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Direct Sales: Want a Good Upline, then Be a Good Downline

I get a lot comments and question from consultants regarding what their uplines are or aren't doing

 

I hear from a lot of my clients that they feel their uplines don't give them the training, support, encouragement or recognition they would like.

 

The first thing I tell them is that your upline really owes you very little and has almost nothing to do with the level of success you can achieve in direct sales.

 

I am a great example of this.

I signed up and 6 months later my upline quit. And the people above her, her uplines, weren't really doing much.
So I was on my own. I don't think it slowed me down much, you can read about what I achieved here.

In fact blazing my own path is most likely what made me successful so fast. I didn't know how it was suppose to be done, so I really built a business that reflected my strengths.

So after I tell people that your upline doesn't "owe you" recognition, training, support (btw, no one likes to hear that) the next thing I tell them is that the key to having a good upline is being a good downline (which goes over even better!)

 

So here are the 4 keys to being a good downline

1) Embrace what is given you
When your upline does offer a training, an incentive, event, be apart of it. By becoming involved you can help shape the tone and conversation to create the environment. Participate, show up, lend your voice.

Complaining that is is not done the way you think it should helps no one.

2) Share your passion
If there is something you are good at, share it. Maybe your upline is good at business , but not meetings, maybe she can sell but she can't train. Maybe she is creative but not tech savvy.

How do your skills fit into what she is offering. It can be as simple as "hey Susie I just created this great hostess checklist, would you mind if I shared it with the group?"

Generosity is contagious, be the first to give.

3) Don't be critical
It is too easy to criticize the person above you for not providing what you think they should. You don't know their life, their goals, their dreams, their struggles. Your uplines job is not to provide what you think she should, rather it is to offer what she can.

And being a gossip, spreading negative energy thru the group will undermine your upline and you will in the end get less of an experieince rather than more. And you look bad, mainy because you are being bad.

If you are passionate about the way something should be done then build your own downline and create it with them.

And trust me, there will be people in your downline who think you are not doing it right. How would you want them to treat you?

4) Appreciate
Not everyone is a leader.

Not everyone got into direct sales to become a leader.

Often times people find themselves in a little over their head. So appreciate what is offered, say thank you.

Whether your upline earns $100 a month or $10,000 a month she doesn't owe you anything. She makes her money by following the plan set out by the company just like you do.

If you want more, then you need to do more


So bottom line:

get involved , be a positive voice, add value and be kind and you will get far more back from the experience than you think possible.

When we embrace life with a what can I give attitude rather than a what can I get attitude, we have the power to change not only our life, but the lives of those around us!

 

Be Inspired!

 

Lisa

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