SMART GOAL SETTING

My favorite phrase about goal setting is, "a deadline is your best motivator." Such a true statement. Without a deadline, procrastination sets in and nothing seems to get accomplished, right? For me it's true. I love daily deadlines, weekly deadlines, monthly deadlines and 90-day March Madness Blitzes because it creates that urgency to accomplish goals within a specific time frame. Then when that goal is accomplished I always celebrate in some way and say out loud - "I'm smokin'!"

SMART goal setting stands for S - Specific, M - Measurable, A - Attainable, R - Realistic, and T - Timely. Bottom-line with this one word description is to be crystal clear with your goals (and your why) and give them deadlines to be accomplished. In order to achieve your goals, you have to write them down and determine what you are going to do daily, weekly, and monthly to get them accomplished.

Let's start with just sampling two people a day, and sponsoring two new Associates a month. For the part-time person, that is attainable and very realistic. For the serious business builder who wants to see career-altering monthly bonus checks, you need to sample five people a day and sponsor five new Associates a month. With a hot diet pill that elevates the mood, gives you a burst of energy and slams the appetite, this is very attainable and realistic. If we were pitching water filters, this wouldn't be realistic at all! Not for me anyway.

Start SMART and simple. Sample two people a day - and never leave home without samples, a couple of bottles, business cards and a few product fliers. By the way, talking diet is easy because everyone wants what you have. So don't be stingy with your secret weapon with weight control. Be SMART. Tell everyone you know and meet that you have a hot, "magic" pill, then get their business card and give them a sample.

Have fun with your business building. Celebrate your victories every step of the way. When you accomplish your daily and weekly goals, treat yourself to a trip to the spa or nail salon. (Sorry guys ... not sure what you do to celebrate?) Just love the journey and let everyone you know, including yourself, that you are "smokin'" with the business and working very SMART!

In-Home Events Make it Happen!

I've been leaving little post hints on the how to's and why's with In-Home events, i.e. Skinny Pill Parties, meetings, team gatherings, open houses. Call them what you want, they are all basically the same thing. They are fast-paced meetings to share, sample & sponsor people into your business. Fast-paced means get them signed, sealed, delivered in 45 minutes. Don't bore and snore with these meetings. Have fun. You want people to say two things ... "I can do this." "I want to do this now!" And...keep it fun!

Four points are covered to include: Company - Product - How to Get Involved - Timing. Team-up so you have double the guests and a couple of ready-made testimonials. Keep things simple - like the chips, chocolate chip cookies and bottled water for starters. Simple with presentation.

1) The company is in pre-launch, is brand new, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, backed by a publicly-traded company.

2) The product is rock'in roll! Handles all three major challenges of the dieter - elevates the mood, boosts the energy and slams the appetite. Then have anyone that has lost weight stand up. Here's where you do a Weight-loss Count Down. Have people continue standing as you count up. Who has lost 5 pounds or more keep standing ... 10 pounds or more, etc. Then pick 3 (only) testimonials to share their success. Done.

3) Now tell everyone how to get involved ($25) and handout the flyer with the packages. Describe the benefits and encourage all to go with Professional Package (listing the outstanding benefits!)

4) Now talk TIMING. This is the most important factor. Eight year void in the marketplace. We fill that need. Buh-duh-bang Buh-duh-boom! Now...get them signed in and working on the checklist - Your First 48 Hours in the Business!

When Someone Cares :-)

How many seminars, meetings, trainings and conventions have we "Network Marketers" attended when the speaker quotes from the stage, Don Swartz, "No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."

Wow, I felt that special friendship and care from our Associates and team today. I was up all night with a very scratchy, sore throat (not great when you are a voice teacher), and had to spend the entire day resting, drinking every Network Marketing product I had in the refrigerator - mostly the latest and greatest "jungle juices"- crystal C packets from Costco, lots of purified water, cough drops, throat lozenger's, etc. But, it really came down to me having to take the day off and rest. Because my phone, IM, email, text messaging is non-stop since the pre-launch opening of our new Voyager company, I sent out a couple of simple messages to personally sponsored team members that they should contact Ken today for questions and 3-ways. And then the "love" and care was felt from coast to coast. I received so many Facebook messages and emails of "get well" that it warmed my heart. I needed that love with being an "empty nester", and having Ken on the road doing meetings. Knowing someone cared boosted my spirits, even though my head hasn't been able to lift off the pillow.

How important it is for us to care about the people we work with in this business. In our presentations, we need to look and listen with our hearts to discovering what is really important to our Prospects. Do they want more time with their families? Do they not like their current jobs? Do they long for recognition? Ask questions. Then ask another question about the answer they give you. The familiar sales training with presentations of F-O-R-M ... family, occupation, recreation, message ... gives us the starting point for caring, but only if we truly listen to their needs, and their answers. Get to know those you want to work with, and continue that quest with those added to your team. Help them write their "why". Then help them chunk down their goals into short term and long term goals. Be there to support these goals. They need to know you care, and that they are an important part of your team. Gather your teams together and recognize everyone - even those taking baby steps with business building. With each praised step, they are empowered, and will grow right before your eyes.

I could go on and on about how this Network Marketing business builds self esteem and confidence. And, trust me, that will be another post later on down the road. Just take the time to care as you share this golden opportunity with everyone around you. Know that what you have can make a difference with them, but more importantly, it will make you a better person because you truly cared. Again...thank you all for caring. xoxo

Chips, Cookies & Bottled Water

In-Home meetings and Skinny Pill Parties are where it's at with building a home-based business. The atmosphere is casual, fun, friendly and comfortable. The "do-me-a-favor" invite always works, especially when you ask them to bring something like chairs, ice, potato chips, chocolate chip cookies or bottled water. The chairs are obvious - you never have enough. The ice goes into the big bowl to hold the bottled water. What isn't so obvious is the secret weapon to In-Homes. You guessed it - potato chips and chocolate chip cookies. Who knew? But statics with Network Marketing leaders who have designed a career in this business with holding In-Home meetings have all verified this crazy little secret. Recipe for successful In-Home's ... potato chips, chocolate chip cookies and bottled water. Asking people to bring something will also help get them to attend.

Now that you've got that secret down with these simple refreshments, it's time to start scheduling lots of these fun In-Home Meetings and Skinny Pill Parties. (By the way, we women love parties. Think about Tupperware, Mary Kay, Princess House...candles, interesting underwear, etc.) These home parties have always been a great way to share products. So why not do the same thing with our fabulous diet pill? Just make sure your focus is on sharing the opportunity right along with the product, asking everyone to get involved on the spot. Create urgency and excitement right along with the fun. Your goal: to build your team, not just sell product.

Casual is key to success with these in-Home meetings. Have fun. Cover the 4-Point Presentation briefly keeping the pace of your event upbeat and exciting. Five points to cover are: 1) Company, 2) Product, 3) How to Get Started (and get to the Director position), and 4) Timing. Those who attend need to feel that important sense of "do it now!" urgency. Always over-invite. If you want ten people to come, invite thirty. Be consistent with holding your In-Home meetings every week - same time, same place. And team it up with other people in your area. The more fun you have as a team, the faster your area will grow.

Remember to have each guest bring something - chips, bottled water, chocolate chip cookies - and have a blast sharing something that you love, are excited about, and everyone wants (they may just don't know about it yet.) And make it your job to spread the word. And In-Home meetings, and Skinny Pill Parties, are where this is done the most effectively. Once you start this fun In-Home meeting ball rockin' and rolling in your area, it will spread like wildfire and you'll make money! Once you outgrow your home, find somewhere just as cozy to continue sharing your business. Potato chips, chocolate chip cookies and bottled water. Who knew?

I Am the Leader!

John C. Maxwell, a motivational speaker I just recently heard speak at the last Network Marketing convention I attended, said this about leadership -

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way."

Leadership qualities are often instinctive. I think back to my childhood and remember myself always taking charge with the neighborhood kids with organizing backyard carnivals, setting up lemonade stands, and planning sleepovers. I also remember gathering the cousins together at family parties and creating some sort of silly talent show or skit. Those of you reading this post probably relate to this, and did the same thing. The fact that you are involved with this type of business shows that you love the concept of being your own boss ... right?

Although some leadership skills seem to come naturally to some, most leadership skills can definitely be learned and developed, especially in this business of Network Marketing. I've seen people grow and develop into a leader right before my eyes over and over again. And these individuals that develop into great leaders all seem to have one thing in common. They were teachable. They attended everything. They took notes.They sat on the front rows. And they didn't try to re-invent the wheel with building their business. They simply followed their leaders guidance and duplicated those proven strategies.

When you have a leader emerge from the downlines, those of us blessed with that individual on our team rejoices big time! Why? Because we know that our workload has been lightened because our new leader will take the reigns with their group. They will do as we do, and they will lead their team. That's where the true "magic" in Network Marketing lies. Developing leaders.

Leaders follow to the letter what their leaders have taught them to do. They duplicate the 4-Step System, they promote the calls and events, and they get visibly involved. They never "hope" that success with the business just sort of happens. They make it happen. Leaders keep things simple. They don't complicate the business. The work the plan. Step One - Sponsor four ... qualify for Director. Step Two - Sponsor 6 and help them sponsor 4 to get to Executive. They gather their teams weekly to motivate, congratulate, update and have fun. They hold weekly in-home meetings and set the pace for the team. They do exactly what they want their team to do. They are positive, focused individuals who are a joy to work with. And they want their team members to succeed.

The time is now. The opportunity is golden. Make things happen, and step up and be the leader you were destined to be! Think like a leader. Act like a leader. Be a leader. As John Quincy Adams once said, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." Pave the way for your team. Say with all the conviction and confidence you can muster ... I Am the Leader!

WIRED TO WIN!

It doesn't matter how long I've been in this powerful Network Marketing business. I'm always learning. I had the privilege to work with a key Network Marketing professional with the last business endeavor and he taught me the importance of staying plugged in.

I always knew how important staying plugged in was. Taught the concept for years. But the week I started working with him, I got busy on a 3-way call during a scheduled company conference call, so missed the call. I justified it as, "well, I was doing the business." However, my friend called me right after the call ended and asked me if I had been on the call. I said, "no because I was on a 3-way call." He then lectured me on the importance of being on these calls and setting the example to the team - thus creating, teaching and doing the duplication thing.

He was not happy with me and he thought I knew better as a seasoned Network Marketing veteran of 40 years. That was the bad news. The good news is that I truly learned from that point on, what REAL duplication meant.

You see, you just can't tell your people to hop on those Monday morning Core Leadership Calls and Thursday Night 18 Minute Biz Briefing Live Calls. You have to be on these calls yourself, and promote it with your team. Then you have to follow it thru and check to make sure your team got on them. If they didn't get on or show up ... lecture them about being on those calls just like my sponsor did with me. That's duplication.

Staying plugged in with www.burgessbiz.com, emails, text reminders, calls, webinars, events, meetings - keeps you pumped and working the business and achieving your financial goals. Staying plugged in literally WIRES YOU TO WIN with this fabulous home-based business we call Network Marketing! Your staying plugged in keeps you on track and excited. Staying plugged in and participating with sharing your story with others listening, sets you a part as a true leader. Are you staying plugged in? Are you Wired to Win? If not ... do it now.

Laser Vision

I just spent a week in State College, PA with my oldest son, Ben, his wife and his five fantastic children. It was a very special time for me since I rarely see them. Of course, one night we had to watch the original Superman 1. Ben has always been a major Superman fan. His entire office area in his home is a collection of Superman memorabilia. He seems to know everything there is about this super hero. And, to tell you the truth, I'm not sure where this obsession comes from.

A couple of weeks ago I had to laugh at his and my son-in-law, Eddie's Facebook posts. They were bantering back and forth about Yoda's light saber penetrating Superman. Reading it, and chuckling out loud, I felt like I was reading a script from The Big Bang Theory (one of my fav tv shows.) Of course, Ben had the facts about Superman and his laser vision cutting through almost everything, including Yoda's light saber. Funny. So, as the story goes, reading that Facebook posting, looking at Ben's shelves of Superman collectibles, and re-watching Superman 1, it brought to mind the importance of laser vision and focus with building your home-based business.

You see ... you make the right decision to join the best company. You are excited. You anxiously await your Start-up Package of product to arrive. You've made your lists of people to contact. In many cases, your product is actually sold before it arrives. You're on fire! The key now is to stay laser-focused on your new project, seeing it through, until your goals are achieved. Laser-focused means doing this with determination and passion! Listening to the three trainings posted at www.burgessbiz.com, reading the team blogs, following the 4-step system, participating in, and promoting every Thursday night Biz Briefing call, sponsoring new people every week, talking the business everyday, and letting nothing stop you from achieving your goals and living your dreams.

Laser-focus means working this one business hard and strong, not trying to juggle other Network Marketing companies at the same time. (One horse over the finish line, as they say), will see a congruency with your recruiting and leadership efforts. Doing what needs to be done, personally, professionally, and with your team. Laser-focus in on your goals. Know what you want, then take the daily action to move yourself and your team towards achieving those goals. Stay excited. Stay plugged in with the weekly Thursday night live Biz Briefing Calls, packed with exciting product testimonials. Stay excited and have fun! Truth, justice and the American way means, in my book ... truly living the American Dream!