Time Management & Goals

Tonight our team had a conference call that focused on time management. This is one of my favorite topics, since I am all about scheduling your time. Here are some of the questions to ask yourself when working a home business:

• What are my goals for this month?
• What is my WHY?
• Am I truly putting in the time and effort to reach my goals?

We had a challenge to actually track our "work" time - the time that we are actually spending on our businesses - and then look back at our goals and see if the time corresponds to being able to reach our goals. I know for me, there are definitely weeks where I think I'm working x number of hours, but if I actually tracked it, it would be a lot less.

When someone can master the concept of time management, I think they can be really successful. There are people on my team who have 6 children, who homeschool, who work full-time, who are single - I could go on and on - but they still find a way to make this business work! Why? Because they are determined to make a difference for their family's financial well-being, and they have learned how to manage their time so that they can be with their family but still have a successful business. With a baby on the way, I hope to be able to do the same thing!

Interview

This morning I had an "interview" with my company! The other day my company called me and asked me if I would be willing to do an interview about my business. Being that things have been rather slow lately, I was rather surprised. But, of course, I agreed to it. So this morning I got to answer some questions about how I got started, what a difference it has made, etc. When I get the proof, I will probably post it here for everyone to read. I have truly enjoyed my experience with my business and enjoy helping others reach their goals.

End of the Month

The end of the month is always a busy time for me with my business. It's the time to make sure that everyone has submitted paperwork and wrap up loose ends. I love the end of the month, because it also is usually a time that my team is motivated to try and reach their goals before the month ends. Then, at the beginning of the new month, there is always a new promotion to find out about, which is very exciting.

The end of the month is also a time to evaluate and assess what I've done this month and see what I can do better next month. This month I have worked more than the previous two months, because I have finally been feeling better than I was in March and April. So I have accomplished more, but today I am still working on finishing up my month strong.

What I always tell my team is that you may not always reach your goals, but as long as you are working consistently, that work WILL pay off. You will see results, it just might not be until a month or two later. So I am hopeful that the work I have done this month will continue to pay off over the next several months. Speaking of which, it's time to get off the computer and get back to work!

Low Start Up Costs

One thing that I recommend when I am talking with people about starting a home based business is to find one with a low start up cost. Why? Because so many people get burned by spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on a business, and then end up with inventory sitting around that they never sell. Or worse, they find out it was a scam and have no way to recoup their money.

With my business, the most anyone can ever spend is $29 plus the cost of their products, which can range from $50-$299 to start. And that is fully refundable within the first 60 days. The best part about this is, the products that you get are all for personal use - not to try and sell at parties, etc. So you're getting something that you know you will use.

Right now, we are having a half-price enrollment special which means that the $29 is only $14.50. And, you can earn a guaranteed paycheck of $500 this month. That's a pretty good return on your investment, wouldn't you say?

Regardless of what business you choose to do, I definitely recommend a low start-up cost for everyone. You will avoid losing money and have the opportunity to start earning a profit right away.

The Anonymity of the Internet

As I do some of my business on the internet through message boards, etc, I am increasingly becoming aware of an issue that affects many of us. It is the idea that just because you are posting on a message board, blog, or elsewhere, you can end up saying things that you never would in person. I am finding this to be quite disturbing, as I read some of the comments that people leave about others. My question whenever I post is this - "If I were face-to-face with this person, would I say this?" Unfortunately, I think a lot of other people do not filter their statements this way. Or, perhaps, there are more rude people in the world than I originally estimated. I'm thinking, though, that it is because we have a feeling of anonymity when we post online that we do not have in real life.

As I consider working from home and attempting to build a business online, I recognize that maintaining a positive outlook - whether online or face-to-face - is essential. If you are looking to build your business, build relationships, or just maintain friendships, it is important to keep your online posts positive and encouraging rather than degrading or critical of others.

Handling Rejection

Part of any home business is knowing how to handle rejection. Oftentimes, we as business people take rejection personally. Instead, we need to recognize that rejection usually means that it is not the right time for the potential customer. Of course, our attitude, demeanor, and appearance can attract or repel people. But ultimately, rejection is simply a way of someone saying "it's not the right time."

So many people in my business have joined our company after literally years of being approached and then saying no, over and over. Ultimately, they saw the benefits of our company and that it truly is different. So when I talk to people and they say no, I have to remember that they may end up saying yes at a different time.

In addition, sometimes people continue to chase someone down after they say "no." Instead, it's important for us to recognize that we will continue to build our business regardless of that particular person. Therefore, we can have a more laid-back approach and realize that it is not the end of the world if this person says no or stands us up for an appointment. That's the importance of having a strong contact list and strong posture as well.

This is something that takes time and a willingness to learn from others. I am still learning, and I hope to continue to learn in the future. I also hope to inspire others and teach them how to handle rejection appropriately.

Upcoming Convention

I was already excited to go to Salt Lake City in August for the convention for my company. But when I got my little flyer in my paycheck last month announcing who the speaker is going to be, I was even more excited. Glenn Beck, host of the Glenn Beck program on the radio and host of CNN's Headline New, will be speaking at this year's convention. Being that my husband and I both listen to his radio program, I am already familiar with his comical, often sarcastic style. And I'm looking forward to seeing him in person!

Last year at our convention we heard from Chris Gardner, author of The Pursuit of Happyness. It's amazing the type of speakers that our company brings for us to learn from and be inspired by. We have some great leaders within the company, as well, who will be sharing their training and wisdom. Although it's a few months away, I am definitely looking forward to my trip out west!