Friday, November 23, 2012

Are You Ready To Join The Movement?

Upon making the decision to join the network marketing/direct sales industry, I set out on a personal mission to perform a great deal of research on several of the top network marketing companies. In considering which company would be the best fit for me, I compared products, support systems, customer impact, and overall compensation.

At the conclusion of all of my research, I settled upon a company called Visalus. Visalus, which sponsors the "Body by Vi" challenge, was very strong in each of the areas that I had factored into my overall decision.

Products

Visalus Sciences is committed to offering the highest quality, cutting-edge health and wellness products, delivered with the assurance to uphold maximum safety and quality standards.

Comprehensive research and development is critical to the success of Visalus products.  Top tier scientists who are completely dedicated to creating innovative science-based nutraceuticals, backed by a tremendous amount of research, are in place to ensure that Visalus customers are receiving the best nutritional health and wellness benefits to fit their everyday needs.

Support Systems

The most attractive component within the Visalus opportunity is the vast support system that is in place for new distributors, and/or customers. Visalus is not just another network marketing company. It's a place where distributors and customers connect, foster friendships, share with others, and help others establish healthier methods of living.


These relationships are fostered through extensive training and support, as well as national conventions, team building events, and a new online community called Vi-Net. This online community allows new distributors to communicate with more seasoned pros within the business, in addition to the support received from the individuals who have sponsored these new reps into the business.

Customer Impact

One of the keys to succeeding in any network marketing opportunity, is for distributors to have passion for, and confidence in the products and services that they are offering. Research shows that more than 300,000 Americans die each year, due to obesity. Visalus provides distributors with the opportunity to directly impact the health and lives of their customers.  This is a very satisfying experience.

Overall Compensation Plan

The compensation plan at Visalus is second to none.  The opportunity provides distributors the ability to earn money in eight different methods. The methods for earning income are as follows:
  1. Direct Sales & Personal Customer Commissions
  2. First Order Bonus
  3. Weekly Enroller's Pool
  4. Fast Start Bonus
  5. Team Commissions
  6. BMW Bonus
  7. Leadership Pool Bonus
  8. Ambassador Star Bonus
Summary

Visalus has experienced 6,000% growth over the course of the past 28 months, with 50% of top producers being under the age of 40. The numbers for ViSalus are certainly remarkable, and anyone who does their research can see how fast this company is growing. Network marketers who join now will be part of one of the fastest growing health and wellness companies in history.

Millions and millions of Americans are now realizing the freedom and opportunities that come along with network marketing, and home based business. I have personally achieved the rank of Regional Director with the company, which comes with a monthly residual income of $1,500-$3,000, along with a $600.00 per month BMW car bonus. I would like to invite you at this time to become a promoter with the organization. If interested, you can contact me directly at
wizzo02us@yahoo.com, or by phone at 517-262691.

I'll be looking forward to hearing from you.
Winslow Willis

Sunday, September 30, 2012

How To Have Your Best Year Yet

I serve as a Supply Operations Coordinator for the largest utility corporation in Michigan, in my full-time position. As was previously mentioned, the company is HUGE, and consists of thousands of employees, and a variety of departments. Each department specializes in a different work area.

Over the course of the past few years, I found myself aspiring to advance in the company, but failing to have any real luck in achieving my career goals. So I started connecting with other employees, airing out my dissatisfaction with my slow advancement, and seeking out their advice.

It has been said that "You are what you attract." Sure enough, it appeared that I was attracting every negative, miserable, unhappy co-worker in the company, because each time that I shared my negative stories, the individuals that I spoke to shared views that were much more negative than my own.

So over a period of time, I found myself taking on the same negative attitudes, and confrontational dispositions of many of the individuals that I had spoken to. I started to believe that I would never advance in the company, that no one cared about me, and that I was in a dead end job.

I found myself slacking a bit in my performance, and that burning fire of DESIRE & PASSION that had been a normal part of me prior to this period, was no longer there. There were at least a couple of occasions where I actually considered the idea of quitting my job, and seeking employment with different companies.

At the start of this year, I lucked up, and had a chance encounter with a woman who had just received a promotion to an executive position, which included a six-figure salary, and a great deal of prestige. I called this woman upon receiving the news of her advancement. I told her about my personal struggles, and I asked her to share with me how she had managed to achieve this high level of success in the company.

She said, "Winslow, I looked at Oprah Winfrey, and I said to myself that if Oprah (being an African-American female), could establish a brand, and build that brand up into a billion dollar business, then CERTAINLY I (also being an African-American female), could establish myself as a brand, and earn a six-figure salary with this company.

"So how did you do it" I asked. She said, "Well the first thing that I did was I separated myself from all of the negative people who made excuses, felt sorry for themselves, and used issues such as race, sex, etc, for their personal failures. I eliminated each of these factors as excuses, right from the jump. I started coming in early each day, and staying late each night.

I volunteered to serve on committees that provided exposure to members of senior management, and once I was on these committees, I did not just sit around. I established myself as a leader with valuable opinions and input with every given opportunity. This is how I advanced in the company, and if you do these same things, then this is how you will advance in the company. Do NOT allow ANYONE to tell you anything different."

I walked away from that conversation a changed man. I made a new commitment to being the absolute best at my job. I came in early, and I stayed late. I performed far above and beyond the required objectives of my job. I accepted the position of Chairman of a leadership committee, which resulted in my conducting several presentations to senior leaders within the corporation. I went to work establishing the brand "Winslow."

Just a few months after making this switch in my THINKING, my attitude, my approach, and my commitment; I applied for, and was offered a promotion, with a massive pay raise. Now here is the best part: I received a phone call from my supervisor's supervisor, telling me that HE had highly endorsed me to the hiring manager for my new position. He added that if I ever needed a mentor within the organization, that he would love to sign on as my personal mentor.

As you can imagine, I was literally BLOWN AWAY! It is AMAZING how negative communications with negative individuals who are failing for a number of  PERSONAL reasons can pollute our minds, sabatoge our performance, and cause us to miss out on opportunities to grow, to advance, and to perform at our absolute best; both in business, and in life.

Network Marketing Application

We are obviously in the business of network marketing, and so naturally, you're wondering what the heck this story has to do with you. Allow me to explain. You have joined a network marketing team and organization. Your future and that of both your corporate partner AND your team are linked. The corporation that you're with, AND the team that sponsored you would BOTH love to see you succeed.

Thus it is important that both sides establish and maintain good relationships, based upon mutual understanding, trust, respect, and loyalty. Each corporation is unique with it's own culture, products, plan, track record, and role models; all of which are living proof that the system works. From day one, you have access to this MASSIVE reservoir of resources. Seize this advantage.

You may not like everything that your corporate partner, and/or that your team does. Remember that there are THOUSANDS of individuals in both your company, as well as your team. Each of these individuals has different needs, skill sets, ambitions, circumstances, etc. It is unrealistic to expect EVERYTHING to fit your individual needs.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing is that we each focus on following the systems that are set in place within our organizations, AND that we cultivate good relationships with each member of our individual teams. If you wish to have a negative conversation, then you'd best believe that it will not be difficult to find a pile of losers, parked on the side of the road, just anxious for the opportunity to bring you down.

You will notice that the individuals who are following the system, making money, and breaking ranks are never taking part in these negative discussions. It is only when we attempt to re-invent the wheel, or we become idle, that the finger-pointing begins, and we find ourselves taking on negative attitudes, failing, and blaming others for our failures.


The Challenge

I woke up EXCITED this morning, and I'm looking forward to CRUSHING the month of October. I would like to issue a challenge to you this morning. You may not even be a part of Visalus, but this approach is GUARANTEED to produce success with ANY company within the network marketing industry.

I am going to leave you with a few suggestions for steps that you can take that will assure your success. I am making this journey with you, and October is IN FOR IT! So here are the steps that you will need to commit to, in order to make this (October) your best month yet:
  1. Work the system. If your company has PBR's, then book PBR's. If your company has challenge parties, then book challenge parties. Work the system to perfection for the month of October.
    2.   Be a leader. Take complete control of your business, and accept total responsibility for your team's results. Establish goals, as well as a plan of action for achieving those goals at the start of the month. This way, if you should fall short of those goals, you'll be able to go back to your planned actions steps, to identify why you may have fallen short.

    3.   If you need help, then ask for help. You should have the numbers for each member in your upline. These individuals are leading massive teams, and so it can be difficult at times, to identify who needs what. Grab a phone, and make a call. DO NOT allow the notion of "Nobody cares about me" to enter your head. This will sap your energy, and kill your business.

    4.  Stay plugged in. We all have the desire to feel like we're a part of something.  The best way to do this, is to stay plugged in. Jump on the team calls. Interact on the team website. Interact with teammates on Facebook.  ATTEND EVENTS. Stay plugged IN. When you feel like you're a part of things, then you can feed off of the positive energy of your teammates, which will propel you to success.

    5.  Stay busy. An idle mind is the playground for negative thoughts and IMAGINATIONS! Dedicate a block of time each day to working your business. This includes: posting ads on facebook, making phone calls, hosting parties or PBR's, sending out email marketing campaigns, etc.

Positive Energy

Last but not least guys; connect with positive individuals within your organization. You will not run into very many negative, depressed, angry, finger-pointing top income earners in your company. So seek out successful individuals. Seek out positive individuals. Seek out individuals who can catch you when negativity strikes, and PICK YOU UP with POSITIVE reinforcement!

Watch positive videos. Read positive books. Have positive conversations! Do not fall victim to the water cooler. The only things located near the water cooler are water, cups, and finger-pointing failures. We are on our way to MASSIVE success, and we will need all of the positive input that we can find, in order to complete this mission!!! Thanks for taking the time to check out the blog. Much continued success!

p.s. If you're interested in earning $1,000-$3,000 from home on a very part-time basis, then please feel free to contact me directly by phone at (517) 262-5691, or by email at wizzo02us@yahoo.com



Saturday, September 29, 2012

The #1 Killer of New Network Marketers: The "Waiting Game."

If you're new to the network marketing industry, then by now you've been through the training, and the individual who sponsored you has instructed you to create a list of your closest friends and family members.  You came away from that training FIRED UP, and I'm sure that you must have just been EXCITED prior to ATTACKING the phones with zeal, ENERGY, and visions of SPLENDOR!

Then it happened. What do I mean by "IT?" Well, reality started to sink in. Most of your friends and family members did not want to hear about the product, and/or service that you were selling, and the ones who were open to hearing about it did not have the money necessary to buy in.

So now as you're reading this, you're on the verge of panic, and you're searching all OVER the place for answers! This was NOT the dream that sold you on buying into the business. The plan all along was to drop a few hundred bucks, and to then mesmerize a few of your contacts over the phone with the BEST PRODUCT OR SERVICE ON THE PLANET; and to then return to your childhood neighborhood THE FOLLOWING WEEK, in a shiny new Ashton Martin.

So there you are now, scanning this blog, and thinking, "Dude, get to the main point. Tell me how to get that Ashton Martin by next Tuesday!"  Well, I have some good news, and some bad news. Which would you like to hear first?  Let's go with the bad news, and then we can just work our way up from there. That is of course, IF you have the time that will be necessary to complete thie reading of this document. Keep in mind that the shiny european ride waits for NO man, and that the lottery booth is just around the corner from your place!

Okay, so first for the bad news: You AIN'T gettin a new Ashton Martin next Tuesday! :)  I figured that I would just cut the cat's tail off in one swipe, as opposed to painfully snipping away inch after inch. Contrary to popular belief, network marketing takes time, effort, and patience.

The good news is that you absolutely CAN have that Ashton Martin, or any other luxury ride out there, IF you are willing to take the proper steps, DURING your waiting period. What am I referring to by "waiting period?" Well, the moment that your friends and family members hung up the phone with you, after listening to your presentation, each of the individuals that you called, turned around and called one another! Now that's not the part that sucks. This is: these individuals then placed running bets on just how long you would stick this thing out, prior to quitting, and showing up with a new flavor of the month!

So its your job to prove each and every single one of them wrong. You WILL NOT do this by quitting, and bouncing around to a bunch of other companies, seeking that JACKPOT opportunity! You will do this by committing yourself to the discovery of new methods to obtain leads, and to generate interest in your business.

Now I am going to provide you with a few ideas here, and then I'll leave you with the ability to analyze each of these suggestions, and/or avenues, to determine which ones work for you. Do not make the mistake of developing harsh feelings against the friends and family members that have rejected you. These people will come back to you at a later date. I'll have more on this in a bit. People tend to reject that which they do not know or understand. Most people who have never taken part in the mlm industry, do NOT understand what the industry is really about.

So from here I will leave you with a few suggestions for steps that you can take, if you do not have the luxury of having a large circle of influence, or a warm market that is willing to invest in your business.


Be a product of the product

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you're going to push a weight loss product, then you had better be in good shape yourself, OR in the process of losing weight by using your own products! You will serve as a walking model for your product.

If you're going to pedal really COOL telecommunication devices with video phone options, etc; well then be SURE to not only use your own products, but to do so in the presence of friends and family members. This will attract these individuals to you, and curiosity usually kills the cat!


Market your products on Facebook

One of the more creative ways to market your opportunity is by posting videos and/or photos of YOURSELF, using your products, and/or services on YOUR personal facebook page. I have written a separate blog that teaches more on facebook marketing, and you can find that article in my archives. The bottom-line is that if you're not marketing your products and services on YOUR page (and not just in network marketing groups), then you are literally leaving THOUSANDS of dollars on the table.


Meet new people

"Well Winslow, how do I go about meeting new people?" Get out into your COMMUNITY. Remember this, you are now involved in the NETWORK MARKETING business. It all starts with "networking." Volunteer at your local hospitals, colleges, or YMCA's. Join local business clubs. Go to your local Toastmaster's, and meet business leaders there, while also developing your presentation skills, etc. Expand your network to a new circle of people, outside of your immediate circle of influence.


Use other social media outlets

Gang, there are literally MILLIONS of people on Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook, along with various online business support groups. Utilize social media to your advantage. Connect with leaders in your company via social media. Seek out the advice and expertise of these leaders. Understand that these individuals have gone through the waiting game, just as you are now! These individuals stuck it out, and they are now top earners!


Work on self-development

I can't stress enough, the value of viewing videos on self-development, and reading books that will assist in your personal growth as a leader in your particular industry. There are books on network marketing, lead generation, personal branding, self-image, etc. Read these books, and use the information within these books to your advantage. Use this waiting period to develop your weaknesses, and to grow into the person that will ultimately produce those dream results that you had when you initially joined your current opportunity.

Benefits for those who survive the wait

You will notice funny things happening with each month that you stick this thing out. Soon you'll be earning $500-$1,000 per month, and you'll have some expendable cash.  From there, you will go on to earning $2,000-$4,000 per month. At that point, you'll be considering new cars, exotic vacations, etc. As you continue to stick this thing out, and as you begin to produce the results of effort and patience, then those friends and family members who originally turned their noses up at you, will start to reappear.

Oh believe me when I tell you that if you stick it out, they will come. 65% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings, and research demonstrates that roughly 45% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. So your friends and family members NEED your opportunity. Your friends and family members have PRAYED for an opportunity like yours. However, it is now up to YOU to stick it out, and to serve as that shining example that this business WORKS!

At this time, I would like to wrap up by wishing you the absolute best of luck in your future business endeavors. I KNOW that you want this! I KNOW that you've created a MASSIVE vision board. I also KNOW that at this very moment, you're wondering if you may have made a mistake by ever getting started in this business! Stick it out! The wait will be well worth it in the end.

p.s. If you're interested in earning $1,000-$3,000 per month from home on a very part-time basis, then you can reach me directly either by phone at (517) 262-5691, or by email at: wizzo02us@yahoo.com Thanks for stopping by. I'll see you on the beaches of the world!

Winslow Willis



Friday, September 28, 2012

Facebook Marketing Tip: People Do Business With Those Who They KNOW, LIKE, & TRUST

Facebook seems like the perfect place for marketing a business.  Afterall, at any point in the day, we can jump online and pedal our products and services to hundreds and even thousands of people simultaneously. So why is it that your advertising via Facebook is receiving very little in the way of positive reviews, and next to nothing with regards to actual sales?

For years we have heard the saying that "People buy from those who they know, like, and trust." So what exactly does this mean, and how does this relate to you and your business.  Well to fully understand this, we will first have to come up with clear definitions for each of the terms mentioned here: know, like, and trust.

Know-Recognize; be familiar with; to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information

Like-Find attraction toward; to find agreeable, enjoyable, or satisfactory

Trust-Firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone; to have faith or confidence. Now that we have clearly defined the meanings behind each of these terms, as listed in the dictionary; let's delve into each one, to develop a clear understanding of how they could be potentially impacting your Facebook marketing efforts, for better...or for worse.


Know

You're on Facebook, and so naturally your next question has to be, "Winslow, how would I go about establishing relationships, or allowing people to 'know' me on Facebook?" Well, you've heard that first impressions are lasting impressions.

Well this absolutely applies in matters concerning your Facebook page.Whether you realize it or not, people are observing everything that you post on Facebook, and these people are forming opinions of you. People will primarily form their general opinions of you, based upon each of the following factors: photos, associations, posts, and the general mood behind your posts.

Photos-These are HUGE! Ideally, you will want to include photos that include travel, shopping, family, fun, and EXCITEMENT! People enjoy following and connecting with those who lead active and positive lives. Its also good to include photos of success stories in your primary business.

Associations-Connect with the leaders or the higher-ups in your business. When friends and family members observe your interactions with successful individuals, this adds to your credibility.

Posts-NEVER make negative posts on Facebook. If you're having a crappy day, then post your crappy thoughts in your personal diary! The goal for your Facebook page is to be the symbol of positive energy, and emotional stability.

Mood-Again, the idea here is to promote POSITIVE ENERGY! Customers, and/or promoters will be attracted to your ENERGY & MOOD first, and your business second.


Like

So what attracts people to your page, and causes them to "like" you as a person? It all starts and ends with a positive attitude. The fastest way to create enemies is to mix religion and politics into your Facebook posts.  Am I encouraging you to deny your faith, or to be ashamed of your religion? Absolutely not. What I AM doing, is telling you to hold off on condemning those who do not share your same views.

You should also get into the habit of engaging in dialogue with individuals who visit your page. Make a point to respond to EVERY person that visits your page. If your response is nothing more than "liking" a comment that was posted on one of your photos, this sends a message to your guests, and that message is: "YOU ARE IMPORTANT!"

People want to feel "important," and if you can develop the skill of making people feel this way each and every time that they visit your page, then they will naturally like you. If you come off as an arrogant prick, who only responds to certain people, and tells everyone else to take a hike; well then you will have a very difficult time attracting people to your business.

Trust
This leaves us with this issue of trust.  I'm going to provide you with two names, and you tell me who you would trust more with babysitting your kids: Marilyn Manson, and Joel Olsteen. Which would you be more apt to hiring for a babysitting assignment?

Common sense would provoke a response of, " Joel Olsteen, OF COURSE," right? Well in actuality, we know very little about Joel Olsteen or Marilyn Manson, outside of the images that they project on our television screens. For all that we know, Joel Olsteen could be a closet felon, and Marilyn Manson could be PERFECT at his core.

The fact of the matter is that when it comes to Facebook, perception is reality. So in essence, the best way to earn the trust of those who you are connecting with on Facebook is to establish a positive, successful image, and to maintain a level of behavior that supports your image.

Customers are attracted to EXCITING, POSITIVE, ENTHUSIASTIC people. Promoters or business partners are attracted to leaders. One of the best ways to establish yourself as a leader, is to provide useful information, that others can use in their businesses.

You can establish this presence as a leader by blogging, posting videos of YOURSELF, making status entries that display a certain level of knowledge and productivity, etc.  The bottom-line is that people are watching you, and many of these people will not ever comment on your page, UNTIL they have formed an opinion of you, and are then ready to invest in your business.


Conclusion

Well I certainly hope that this information has been of some benefit to you. I am extremely excited about my primary business opportunity. There are a number of promoters and companies currently being advertised on Facebook. By applying the steps suggested here, you will separate yourself from the majority of your competitors.
Thanks for taking time to check out my blog, and remember that people do business with those who they KNOW, LIKE, & TRUST. Keep this in mind as you're making posts on your page moving forward, and I will see you at THE TOP!

p.s. If you're interested in earning income from home, please feel free to contact me either by email at: wizzo02us@yahoo.com, or by phone at (517) 262-5691

Winslow Willis



Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Rejection vs. Objections, and How To Respond to Objections

Rejection-The act of dismissing something; refusing to accept or to acknowledge something;

Objection-The act of challenging or disagreeing with something; sales resistance.

As promoters of the Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge, we will inevitably meet with both rejection, as well as objection (s). It is very important that we understand how to clearly identify the difference in the two. Why is this? The #1 fear in America is said to be Public Speaking, but in actuality, this #1 fear is rejection.

This (rejection) is the fear that keeps young boys from dating in grade school. This is the fear that causes students to pass on applying to attend certain colleges. This is the fear that has 67% of Americans working in the wrong career fields. This is also the fear that is largely responsible for the turnover ratios in most sales related businesses.

So for the purpose of this blog post, I would like to focus our attention on OBjections. Objections are much more subtle than rejections, but are often mistaken for the former. When a customer rejects what you're selling, then he/she is saying outright that they ARE NOT interested in buying! However, when a customer presents an objection, this is simply the customers way of telling you that they are in need of more information prior to reaching a final decision.

Fortunately in our business of promoting the challenge, most individuals who object can be converted into sales when presented with the proper information, and many of the individuals who actually reject the challenge, end up coming back, and joining days, weeks, and in some cases, months down the road.

Although potential customers, and/or promoters could possibly present a wide variety of objections; there are really only three or four common objections that we will be presented with from the majority of the individuals who are not ready to jump on board after receiving our information.

Prior to sharing these scripts that can be used when responding to customer objections, I would like to point out that at this point, the individuals that you are speaking to should have already made their way through our sales funnel. This means that these individuals should have already viewed the challenge videos (part 1 & part 2), listened to the vi-line, and hopefully attended a challenge party. If the individual does not live in your area, and this dialogue is taking place via phone, or internet; be sure to expose him/her to at least two tools prior to reaching this closing point.

So from this point forward, I am going to list some of the more common objections, along with scripted responses that you can use when responding to each one. I'll start first from the perspective of speaking to CUSTOMERS. In each of these examples, (O) will serve as the symbol for "objection" and (R) will be your response.

O. "Thanks, but I'm already using (fill in meal replacement drink; SlimFast, etc)
R. "That's great. The best thing about our shakes is that they have less than one gram of sugar per shake. Our shakes are actually great for diabetics. Have you had the opportunity to check out the sugar content of your shakes?"

O. "I can't afford it."
R. "You are going to be eating breakfast and lunch each day for the next 90 days regardless. Our shakes are going to replace each of those meals at an average cost of $1.87 per shake. So you'll actually be saving money. We also offer an excellent 3-for-free program, which allows you to refer three people to the challenge, and to receive free kits from that point forward."

O. "What are the ingredients? Is this stuff even safe to drink?"
R. DO NOT go into rattling off ingredients at this point! The customer does not care about your ingredients. This is simply a stall tactic! Always remember that facts TELL, and stories SELL. You are SELLING. So here is your response: "I can email you a list of the ingredients. However, I know that my friend (insert name) has lost (x number of pounds) on the challenge, and she has tons of energy. There are now more than 150,000 people joining each month, just by word of mouth advertising."

O. "Do I have to exercise? What happens when I stop drinking the shakes. Will I get fat again?"
R. "You do not HAVE to exercise. However, each new challenge member receives a meal plan, as well as an exercise plan, in addition to our kits. The idea is to teach you how to eat healthy meals and to create an active lifestyle. This way, when your challenge is over, you can stick to your new healthy eating style, along with a more active lifestyle, and you will maintain your losses."

Keep in mind guys, that this entire process becomes MUCH easier in a challenge party setting, where you can simply blend shakes, play videos, and then ask if your guests are 1's, 2's, or 3's. We are NOT encouraging you to do away with gst. I am simply providing this information as a supplement to our system. I will now move along to objections from potential promoters.

O. "I don't know anybody"
R. "No problem. Our company actually has a phenomenal system that will assist you with creating your first list of 25 names. Remember that you only need to sign your first three people, and things will just snowball from there."

O. "Sorry. I've tried network marketing with several companies before, and I've failed each time."
R. "It's funny to hear you say that because, (insert name of upline) had that same experience prior to joining Visalus. Now as a result of using our simple system, he/she has reached the top of our pay plan. Just a sec, I would like for you to hear his/her story." (Stop at this point, and dial that person up on three-way).

O. "I'm just too busy for this right now. I would not have time for it."
R. "I can completely understand that. You're actually a prime target for our business, because when you're busy, this means that you know people, and the more people that you know, the easier promoting the challenge will be for you."

O. "I can't afford it."
R. "I can completely understand that. (insert story) "My friend (insert name from upline) did not have the money to get started. He/she actually borrowed the money. Fast forward to today, and he/she is a six-figure earner, driving a free bmw."

I will note here that providing these responses will not necessarily translate into IMMEDIATE sales. Some people need time to allow things to process. This is NOT a pressure sale. However, when you have scripted responses prepared for the objections that WILL COME, this allows you to maintain control of the conversation, AND this also allows you to avoid the habit of mistaking OBJECTIONS for REJECTION.

I certainly hope that this information has been of some benefit to you. If you have additional questions, you can reach me directly at wizzo02us@yahoo.com, or by phone at 517-262-5691. Good luck with your business.

Winslow Willis

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Underpaid, Underutilized, Unappreciated, & EXPENDABLE



 If you are one of the millions of Americans feeling underpaid in your current job, then you are likely also being underutilized in your current job.  If you are being underutilized in your current job, then chances are that you're also unappreciated at your current job.  If you are unappreciated at your job, then you are also EXPENDABLE. This means that if and when your employer should decide to make cuts, yours will be one of the first positions to go. Do I have your attention now? Great. Let's proceed.

Employees who find themselves being underpaid, underutilized, unappreciated, and EXPENDABLE in their current positions are really left with one of three options, and later on in this blog, I will cover each of these options in a more thorough fashion. The options are as follows:
  1. Maintain the current course until your number (for downsizing) is officially called
  2. Go to work IMMEDIATELY obtaining certifications, and/or JOB SPECIFIC skills that will enable you to be more marketable, and qualified to serve in positions that add value to the company
  3. Join a home based business opportunity that allows you to build passive income that matches your job income, and can serve as a "Plan B" in the event of a lay-off.
I will now address each of these three options, and to attempt to present information that may prove to be valuable as you are navigating the decision making process.



Maintain Your Status & Hope that it works out

The unemployment rate in our country currently sits at around 8.1%.  This number is a much higher 14.1% rate for African-Americans.  Recent studies have revealed that roughly 65% of U.S. residents have less than $1,000 in savings.  These studies have also shown that an estimated 45-55% of Americans are currently living check-to-check.

At the base of these factual figures, lies an issue of much greater concern.  Individuals who live check-to-check are in essence, one or two missed paychecks away from being homeless. I am sure that by now you've heard of a game called Russian Roulette. This is a game where participants take turns placing a gun to their heads, and pulling the trigger, HOPING that the bullet does not exit the chamber, resulting in the immediate loss of life.

As you can probably imagine, in choosing option #1, this is precisely the case for the millions of Americans, who sit idly by, placing all of their stock and security in the coming November elections.  The question then becomes: Are you willing to risk the security of your children and your future, by simply showing up to your job each day, where you are clearly viewed and perhaps even treated as the weak link; knowing that at any point, your number could be drawn, and your job could be eliminated? This naturally leads us to option #2.



Acquire New Job Specific Skills

We are currently living in a very technological age. As a result, many of the opportunities being posted with your current employer for job advancement will require job specific skills. These skills may include using computer programs such as: Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, SAP, Lotus Notes, etc, along with various drafting programs, and/or advanced machinery, depending upon your particular occupation.

Our country currently has millions of unemployed college graduates.  There are an unlimited number of factors that could potentially be impacting the unemployment numbers for college graduates, but one of the bigger factors is the lack of "job specific training." It is no longer enough to simply possess a college degree.  Employers are now looking for "specific" skills that can be transferred into the work place.

In order to go with the option of adding to your marketability, and/or job skills, there are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration. Factors such as: target occupation, location of training, cost of training, time needed to complete training, job outlook for newly acquired certifications, degrees, etc.

If after conducting research in this area, you should find that your training can be completed in an easily accessible fashion, you are able to cover the cost of the training, and there is a high probability of your landing a more advanced position upon the completion of your training; then this would certainly be a very viable option. This leaves us with one last choice to consider, and that is option #3.




Create a Home Based Business

"If I had to do it all over again, rather than build an old style type of business, I would have started building a network marketing business"-Robert Kiyosaski, Investor, Entrepreneur and Best-selling Author

There are literally BILLIONS of dollars exchanging hands on an annual basis via various direct sales/home based business opportunities.  There are literally endless opportunities in the direct sales arena. Companies like Visalus, Herbalife, Mary Kay, Primerica, and 5Linx, are just a few examples of the companies that are thriving in the direct sales industry.

According to recent studies, roughly 72% of the females in America who are earning six-figure annual salaries are currently operating in the direct sales/network marketing industry.  This is an industry that does not require educational credentials, and/or certifications.  The success or failure of those who participate in the industry is solely based upon personal effort. High school dropouts have earned millions in the industry, and individuals with Ph.D's have failed miserably in the industry.

By now you should be anxious to present the following question: "With the myriad of opportunities across the land, how does one go about settling upon one particular opportunity?" For this, I would tell you to identify a product or a service that YOU can truly believe in, and become passionate about. The desire to merely earn income should not be the focal point of your decision.

If you're a fan of saving lives, and of assisting friends and family members with obtaining better health; then Health & Weight Loss may be a field of interest. If you would like to save friends and family members money on cell-phone bills, then Telecommunications may be your ideal fit. If you have a vast number of female friends who are heavily into perfumes and soaps, then Beauty products may be your particular area of interest.

The beauty of this (direct sales) industry, is that you can get started today on a part-time basis, and this allows you the luxury of building your home based business, while also maintaining what little security you may have left on your full-time job.

I certainly hope that this information has been helpful to you.  My deepest wish is that you would prosper physically, financially, and in your career of choice.  I would encourage you to get started today. Bank of America recently announced the lay-offs of 16,000 underpaid, underutilized, unappreciated, and EXPENDABLE employees. Don't let this happen to you!

p.s. If you're interested in earning $1,000-$3,000 per month, while working from home on a very part-time basis, then I can be reached either by phone at (517) 262-5691, or by email at: wizzo02us@yahoo.com









Saturday, September 22, 2012

Reposition Yourself

The Jogger

As the story goes, there was once a jogger in a small town. Each day this jogger made his way past a tiny green house. On the porch of this house sat the owner, along with his old dog. On one particular day, as the jogger made his way towards the house, he noticed that the old dog was howling, as if he were experiencing a great deal of pain and agony.

The jogger continued towards the house, and as he drew closer, sure enough, the howls grew stronger. The jogger was disturbed by the sound of the dog howling, but he was equally stunned by the fact that the owner sat reading his paper, and appeared to be completely oblivious to the fact that his dog was projecting all of this noise.

The jogger decided to break away from his afternoon run, to make his way over to the house, and to investigate the situation. As the jogger approached the porch, the home owner looked up from his newspaper and asked, "May I help you?" "Why is your dog howling in pain," the jogger asked? "Because he's sitting on a nail," the owner replied." "Well why doesn't the dumb dog get up and sit someplace else," said the jogger? "Because it's not hurting him bad enough. When it gets to the point where it hurts him bad enough, then he'll reposition himself," the owner replied.

Real Life Application

Many of us operate just as that howling dog. We show up to the office ticked off on a daily basis. We curse, rant, and post angry outbursts on Facebook. We are impatient with our spouses, as well as our children.  We call our friends and bring them down, by dumping all of our negativity on them. Then we drink, party, smoke, and bury ourselves in television, in efforts to separate ourselves from reality.

We waste our days mourning over past mistakes. We have a very general idea of the lives that we would like to live, and of the things that we would like to accomplish; but we approach each day with lazy attitudes, and with the belief that others are to blame for the circumstances in our lives.

A Personal Story

Years ago I found myself in this same position.  I was a seven time college drop out. I was working for poverty wages. I hated myself. I hated my life. I hated my family. I hated the WORLD! I blamed my parents. I blamed God. I walked around each day TICKED OFF, and COMPLETELY dissatisfied with my life! I was broke! I was angry! I was pathetic! I was hopeless!

I finally reached a point where the nail that I was sitting on (laziness & lack of personal accountability) pained me to the point where I was ready to REPOSITION myself.  I can remember the particular day very vividly. I was locked in the restroom of my house, staring into a mirror, and talking to myself. I decided at that moment, that I would no longer settle for the miserable condition, and the pain that I had grown accustomed to living with.

I returned to the local university, 61 credits shy of my Bachelor's degree. My previous cumulative grade point average had been a pathetic 1.66. I had a full-time job, and I was also working part-time in a restaurant during the evenings. Yet with all of these obligations, I maintained a 3.8gpa, while completing my studies, and earning my degree.

From there, I landed a new full-time position with a major corporation, and I enrolled in graduate school. I resigned from my evening restaurant job, and started a new evening job as an Adjunct Business Professor at the local community college. I maintained a 3.7gpa in grad school, while earning my Master's degree. Upon concluding that degree, I acquired a position as an Adjunct Business Professor at two local universities.

As a result of my decision to accept responsibility for the circumstances in my life, today my annual salary is more than three times the amount that it was prior to my decision to REPOSITION MYSELF.  Please understand that in no way, shape, nor form am I sharing this with you to boast or to brag of my personal accomplishments. In fact, the purpose of my sharing this story, was to prepare you for the challenge that I will be sharing with you in the final portion of this particular blog entry.

The Challenge

I would like to encourage you to take a personal inventory of your life tonight. Examine your relationships, health, spirituality, finances, marketability, etc. As you examine each area of your life, I would like for you to answer each of the following questions:

     * What is my current status?
     * Am I happy with my current status?
     * What would it take for me to improve my current status?
     *Am I willing to do whatever it takes to improve my current status?

Once you have answered each of these questions, I would like for you to make a decision and a commitment.  DECIDE whether or not you are able to pay the price that is necessary to reposition yourself.  COMMIT to your decision.

If the answer is NO, then at this point I would like for you to COMMIT to living the rest of your life on that nail, and I would like for you to knock off the howling, yelling, anger, complaining, and depression, because YOU are solely responsible for your circumstances, and it is COMPLETELY unfair for you to punish the world around you, due to your own neglect.

If the answer is YES, then at this point I would like for you to COMMIT to creating the life that you have envisioned for yourself, your kids, and your future. I would like for you to release the past, and everything that came along with it. Today is a new day, and with this day, YOU are taking over the controls of your life, and YOU are GOING to REPOSITION yourself, which will enable you to create the quality of life that you deserve.

God bless, and I will see you AT THE TOP!



Sunday, June 10, 2012

How To Maximize Your 90 Day Challenge Results

In recent weeks, I have been contacted by a number of individuals posing the question of, "What can I do to maximize my Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge results?"  I would like to preface this by saying that the challenge is about a complete lifestyle transformation, and that it is more than simply living a sedentary lifestyle, and drinking a couple of shakes per day.

The ultimate goal of the challenge, is to assist each member with developing and implementing new habits with regards to exercise, diet, attitude, and discipline, which will allow individuals to not only achieve their desired weight loss goals, but to also maintain their losses after their personal challenge goals have been reached.

Each new member that joins the challenge, receives a personal website, which comes complete with a BMI calculator, a metabolism tracker, a meal plan, an exercise plan, and an online community of challenge members that provides the opportunity for each member to seek out accountability partners.  Research shows that success rates for weight loss programs drastically improve when participants attack their goals in groups, as opposed to going at it alone.

For the sake of today's blog entry, I am going to share some additional tips for lifestyle changes that will assist each member on the challenge in achieving consistent results, in minimal time, by simply creating new habits, and sticking with these habits on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. The goal is to highlight each new habit, and to then explain the reasoning behind these suggested changes.

Get Moving

The first and most IMPORTANT step in this lifestyle plan is to establish an exercise routine. Research studies have shown that exercising first thing each morning allows you to burn fat more efficiently.  The idea here is to begin with at least 30 minutes of cardio each day.  Something as simple as brisk walking should do the trick.  The most important note here is that the exercises should be consistent, and immediately upon rising each morning.

We want to move away from the idea of simply lying around with a television remote, chips, and pizza, and simply sprinkling in a couple of shakes each day.  The plan here is to strengthen the heart, which tends to a longer and a more healthy life, and to also speed up your metabolism, which is vital to any weight loss program.

Stay Hydrated

In recent studies, people who drank two 8-ounce glasses of water prior to each meal, lost on average 5 pounds more than nonguzzlers.  In addition to drinking two glasses of water prior to each meal, it is also a great practice to begin each day with two glasses of water. 

In addition to drinking water first thing each morning, and prior to each meal, the best way to determine approximately how much water you should be drinking on a daily basis, is to take your bodyweight, and to divide it in half.  Your water intake should equal half of your bodyweight in ounces.  Ex. A man who weighs 200lbs, should be drinking at least 100 oz. of water each day. The water cleanses the body of toxins, reduces hunger cravings, and adds a general feeling of wellness, vitality, and energy.

Have a Vi-shake For Breakfast

Upon waking up in the morning, your body immediately begins to produce a hormone called, "ghrelin." This hormone is often referred to as the, "feed me" hormone. When ignored, the body will produce greater levels of this hormone, and the end result is often binge eating.

The best way to avoid this, is to have a shake for breakfast, within one hour of rising. Each 90 day challenge member receives access to more than 100 shake recipes, and this variety makes breakfast one of the more exciting things that you can look forward to with each passing day.

Eat a Normal Lunch

I'm throwing a bit of a wrench here, in terms of the usual advice for challenge members, which is to drink a shake for breakfast, and a shake for lunch.  One of the more common problems that I have observed is that individuals who are on the challenge, often forget to consume enough calories throughout the day, which pushes the body into starvation mode, causing it to actually retain fats.

The best way to avoid this, is to eat a normal lunch, but to focus on healthy meals, as opposed to traditional fast food items. The goal here is to consume 300-500 calories for lunch.  As you can probably imagine, this caloric allowance provides the opportunity to enjoy the delicious foods that you would normally eat.

Do Your Strength Training In the Evenings

Your body temperature reaches it's highest point in the evenings, and so naturally, this would be the time when you are primed for peak athletic performance. According to one particular study, individuals who did strength training in the evenings built 22% more muscle than those who chose to do weight training in the mornings.

This is also an excellent way to blow off steam from the job, prior to making your way home.  I have personally found that going directly to my gym from work places me in a tremendous state of calm, and by the time that I arrive home each day, I'm feeling refreshed, whereas before I would arrive home and crash for the evening, as soon as I touched the couch.

Eat a Full Dinner

I would suggest having dinner no later than 7:00pm.  If you're a drinker, then this is also the ideal time to pour a glass, as opposed to waiting until you're closing in on sleep time, as late drinking has been known to delay dream (REM) sleep.

Scheduling dinner at this time, also allows the body time to begin to breakdown the meal, preventing your going to bed with that full-stomach feeling each night, and eating late at night is also a recipe for disaster, with regards to weight loss.

Stay Active Following Dinner

Another excellent habit to establish would be to go for brisk walks following your evening dinner.  Keep in mind that the idea here is to avoid stuffing your body, and then hitting the couch for hours of television, allowing the foods and fats that you have consumed to slow down your digestive process.

Walking after dinner assists your body with the digestive process.  Walking is also a great way to clear your mind, and to have an opportunity to meditate, and to achieve an overall sense of calm, as you begin to wind down for the evening.  This walk does not need to be anything extensive. 15-20 minutes of brisk walking should do the trick.

Have Your Second Vi-Shake at Night

If you're anything like me, then I'm sure that you've been in this place that I'm about to share with you.  It's 9:00pm.  You're bored, and your mind is telling you to seek excitement, in the form of an unhealthy meal. Taco Bell, Wendy's, Pizza Hut, and Jimmy John's are all suggestions that tend to crop up at this time.

I have established a practice of having my second vi-shake at this time; between the hours of 8:00-10:00.  Why am I doing this? The vi-shake is an excellent replacement to junk food.  The vi-shakes are low in calories, and the healthy nutrition from the vi-shakes provides a healthy option for ending your day on a good note.

Sleep

Research studies have established the fact that going to bed each night at the same time, and keeping a regular sleep schedule, allows you to fall asleep faster each night, and to rise earlier each morning, feeling completely refreshed.

Poor sleeping habits can and will have a DRASTIC impact on your weight loss goals.  When you arrive to work tired, this often leads to binging on coffee.  As the day drags on, you're also more likely to skip gym workouts, and to have cravings for unhealthy foods, due to your overall drowsiness.

Most importantly, poor sleeping habits will prevent your metabolism from working in a proper fashion.  "Leptin" is the hormone that tells you when you've had enough to eat.  When you're sleep deprived, your body produces less leptin, and the end result of over-eating, and gaining weight, which obviously counteracts your 90 day challenge goals.

Conclusion

I certainly do hope that the information provided here will prove to be vital in your pursuit of your 90 day challenge goals.  If you have failed to produce the desired results up unto this point, then today would be the ideal time to begin to implement these steps into your 90 day challenge program.

If you are a current 90 day challenge member, then you can access meal plans and exercise plans within your personal website.  To do this, you must first log into your site.  Once you're in the site, one of the headings on the top of your page in the green toolbar, reads, "My Body by Vi." Hover over this heading, and scroll down to, "Transformation Tools." Under transformation tools, you will find meal plans, exercise plans, daily planners, a BMI calculator, and other tools that can be used in conjunction with your challenge.

Good luck to you as you continue to pursue your 90 day goals. The MAIN thing to stress here is consistency, and if you will consistently make these items suggested here a part of your daily, weekly, and monthly activities, then you will not only reach the goals that you have established, but I have reason to believe that you will blow your personal goals AWAY!!!

Let's review each of the topics shared here once more in closing, as we sign off.  The topics were:

* Get Moving
* Stay Hydrated
* Have a Shake For Breakfast
* Eat a Normal Lunch
* Do Your Strength Training in the Evenings
* Eat a Full Dinner
* Stay Active Following Dinner
* Have Your Second Shake at Night
* Sleep

If you are not currently a member of the Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge, and would like to receive more information, you can visit my personal site at: http://winslowwillis.myvi.net/freebmw/index.html

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Commit To One Opportunity & Give 100% Effort

"One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular."-Tony Robbins

The beauty of the network marketing industry is that it represents free enterprise. The industry truly does allow individuals to create products and/or services to be offered to the general public at competitive prices, with very little input from the state.

The industry also allows aspiring entrepreneurs the freedom to achieve unlimited earnings, with unlimited growth and expansion potential.  Any individual with access to minimal capital required to gain entry into the business, is granted the right to go as far in the business as his/her talents and work ethic will allow.

I believe then that the one thing that separates those who are successful in the network marketing industry from those who fail, is simply COMMITMENT. The dictionary defines the word "Commitment" as-The act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action.

There is a dangerous element that is ever-present within the network marketing industry, and that danger is the tendency of members within a particular organization to recruit individuals who belong to competing organizations.

For newbies entering into the network marketing arena, the act of being sought after can present a bit of confusion. I have personally interacted with numerous individuals who had no form of commitment to any particular organization or opportunity, but instead dabbled a bit in this one, and dabbled a bit in that one.

I would like to stress here that it is VERY important and even vital to your career within the industry that you do your research PRIOR to joining a network marketing organization. Check out the compensation plan. Meet with the leaders. Express your concerns. Inquire about the training programs, and/or support. When all is said and done, COMMIT heart and soul to working with ONE opportunity.

Once you have made this commitment, study the top producers in your organization. Learn the system. Develop the skills necessary to become a top earner. Read the books, attend the seminars, show up at the training events, and really devote your focus to being the best that you can be with that ONE opportunity.

The grass will always appear to be greener on the other side. The average newbie entering into the network marketing industry lasts less than 90 days, prior to either quitting the industry altogether, or switching to a new opportunity.

The truth of the matter is that in many instances, it may take more than 90 days for individuals to obtain a clear understanding of the business. Yes, there are stories of those who have reached the top of the compensation plan in 72 hours. Yes, your company may have recruited you with photos of six-figure checks, mansions, and exotic trips. However, you need to do your research to understand the background of these success stories, so that you can establish realistic goals and expectations for yourself.

Last, you cannot, and you will not succeed in this business alone.  Once you have settled upon the decision to commit WHOLE-HEARTEDLY to a particular opportunity (as a newbie in the industry), then it would be wise of you to seek out a top producer, or someone who has achieved the level of success that you desire, who is willing to also commit WHOLE-HEARTEDLY to you.

If you are unable to find THIS within your organization, then it would be wise at this point for you to seek other avenues.  However, the best way to assure your success in the industry, is to avoid operating as a jumping jack, bouncing from company to company; or WORSE, trying to work with multiple opportunities simultaneously, and to simply devote your attention, focus, skills, and effort to one particular venture.

Once you have made this committment, then ride it out. If it takes you six months, 12 months, or even 18 months to achieve your goals; ride it out. Follow your company's system. Most importantly, DO THE WORK!

There are more than 60 million people involved in the direct sales/network marketing industry throughout the world. Research shows that 80% or more of these individuals, dedicate less than four hours each week to running their businesses. You WILL FAIL in the network marketing industry, if you are not able, and/or willing to invest more than four hours each week into your business.

I certainly do hope that the information provided here has been of some value to you. I welcome your feedback. I would also encourage you to reflect upon this information, and to apply it to your business today.  By doing so, you will surely reap the benefits of your FOCUSED efforts.

"There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."-unknown

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Slow To Speak & Swift To Hear. Poor Listening Skills Will Kill Your Business

Years ago, I worked as a new and used car salesman.  I noticed very early on in my automotive sales career that there was one particular salesman who was producing double and triple the sales output of nearly every other salesman on the lot. Naturally, this peaked my curiosity, and I set out on a mission to find out what made this man so special, and how he was going about conducting his business.

I approached this salesman, and requested permission to shadow any future customer interactions.  I received his approval, and shortly thereafter, the two of us set out on a mission of earning and learning.

Later on that day, a middle-aged woman entered the dealership, and the man (who we'll refer to as Ted) informed me that it was game time. I was beyond eager to hear Ted's fancy pick-up lines. I wanted to listen in on guile and empty promises; which I assumed had to be the reasons for his success.

As I trailed closely behind 'Ted' I was literally stunned at what I observed. Ted was not selling this woman at all. He used no pick-up lines. There was no guile in his approach. In fact, Ted rarely spoke during this interaction.

Throughout the sales process, Ted presented one question after another, and after presenting each question, he became silent and listened as the customer provided answers.  By the time that we were done standing in the parking lot talking, for what seemed like close to an hour; Ted had finally settled upon two vehicles that matched each particular need expressed by his customer.

Ted walked the woman over to where these two vehicles were parked, and he then went through a brief presentation on each car, specifically making a point of only highlighting each of the features that the customer had identified as being important throughout his initial screening process.

The actual sales process was very short. In less than 30 minutes, Ted arranged for a test drive, negotiated a contract, and completed the sale. I was at a loss of words at the completion of this observation. However, I went away from this experience with the understanding that there were four steps that were vital for anyone with hopes of ever achieving success in the sales/marketing industry.

These steps were/are as follows:

  • Ask open ended questions that highlight the needs of customers.
  • Listen and take notes from each response.
  • Identify the products, and/or services that you have to offer that will meet each specified need
  • Present your findings to the customer                                             

Prior to this experience, I had one approach that I applied to every customer that I had ever interacted with on the lot. That approach was a quick greeting, followed by my leading the customer into the lot, and trying to convince him/her to purchase one of the vehicles that most appealed to me!

Ted's approach worked then, and Ted's approach still works today.  Regardless as to what your product, and/or service may be; slow down. Ask the right questions.  Allow your customers to share their goals and objectives, prior to going into all out sales mode, and chasing away potential business. LISTEN, and last; make a pinpointed presentation that addresses your ability to meet each need that has been specified by your customer.

Implementing these four steps into your sales process will dramatically reduce your stress levels.  This process will enable you to deal with less rejection, and you will also be able to control the sales process from start to finish.

Finding Success In Network Marketing After Exhausting Your Warm Market

The term, "Warm market" has single-handedly destroyed the hopes and aspirations of millions of ambitious individuals entering the direct sales industry.  Most companies within the industry have systems in place that train new business partners to create lists of friends and family, and to use these lists as the foundation for building business.

Although this method of marketing can be somewhat effective, it certainly is not without limitations.  The problem that I have observed within the industry, is that newbies often make the mistake of thinking that their marketing efforts should be restricted ONLY to the names of friends and family within these newly created lists. Once the list is exhausted, then the newbie burns out, and walks away from the business.

The truth of the matter is that although the list can and should serve as the foundation of all marketing efforts, working this list is just ONE of SEVERAL avenues that can be utilized when strategizing for business growth and development. Now that we've covered those bases, let's get into the meat of some of the other methods that can effectively assist with new business growth.

$100 drop cards

One of the more effective marketing tools used for decades within the network marketing industry, and still just as effective today are $100 drop cards.  These are business cards that appear to be actual $100 bills on the surface. You can purchase these cards on various sites across the web. The site that I've found that appears to have the best product for the most reasonable price can be found here:
http://www.queenofdropcards.com/order.html

Each time that we leave our homes for routine daily activities: shopping, gas, groceries, school visits, postal visits, library visits, etc represents an opportunity to effectively utilize this marketing approach. These drop cards are fail proof, and are SURE to result in maximum exposure for your business.


Social Media

Years ago, network marketers were trained to go out each day canvassing for prospects. These individuals would harass families in grocery aisles, stop traffic at lights, confront fellow members at church services, and even walk through shopping malls, stalking shoppers like prey. It was a very annoying and often confrontational method of marketing.

Enter the advent of social media. Today with just one click of a mouse, you can expose your business to thousands and even MILLIONS of people, who are actually interested and even LOOKING for the products and services that you have to offer.

Some of the most effective methods of marketing your business online include: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Weight Loss Forums, Blogging, and Youtube.  Yes, I said it: YOUTUBE! What you'll find in the network marketing industry, is that people don't often buy from companies; they buy from other PEOPLE. 

It has also been said that people tend to buy from those that they KNOW, LIKE, & TRUST.  One of the most effective methods for building the brand YOU, that people can grow to know, like, and trust, is creating, and posting videos on Youtube. I don't wish to get off on some tangent about marketing on Youtube, but you can find tons of information about the effectiveness of this approach on various internet sites.


Referrals

The last thing that I will touch on today for the sake of time, is the value of developing and implementing a CUSTOMER referral system. Afterall, the business is known as NETWORK marketing.  Each time that you sign a new customer, you are immediately introduced, and/or exposed to a new NETWORK.

Years ago, a friend of mine sold life insurance.  She was one of the best in her industry, and as a new client and policyholder, I had the opportunity to observe one of her most effective methods for producing new business.

Each time that this friend would sell a policy, she would request the names and numbers of three OTHERS who might be interested in purchasing her products and services. Keep in mind that although she would be contacting many of these referrals on a first-time basis, the fact that she had obtained these referrals from friends of friends, or family members created an extended WARM MARKET, and eliminated the discomfort of cold calling.

The follow-up call would go something like this: "Hello Mr. Willis. This is Lisa from State Farm Insurance. Your brother Tom purchased a life insurance policy from me on yesterday, and he mentioned that you might also have a need for the products and services that we have to offer. I was wondering if I could schedule an appointment to share some information on the services that we have to offer with you. Would tomorrow evenin be a good time for the two of us to get together?"

The person being contacted would then take two things away from this call. 1-My brother has purchased one of these policies, so the company must be credible. 2-My brother has purchased a policy from this INDIVIDUAL, and so SHE must be someone that I can trust.

This method of marketing is HIGHLY effective. You can create a list of hundreds and even thousands of QUALIFIED leads, utilizing this customer referral approach.  "Well Winslow, what if people are not comfortable with providing names of their friends and family members?" If a person trusts you enough to enter into a business agreement with you, then it's safe to assume that they will also be comfortable with providing you with referrals.

So in conclusion, let's review each of the methods shared here today. We covered $100 drop cards, social media and/or online marketing, and customer referrals. Well GEEZ, that doesn't sound like ROCKET SCIENCE. If you take nothing else away from this article, please go away with this: If you will commit to utilizing each of these three approaches to marketing on a DAILY basis; your success (long-term) in the network marketing industry is all but GUARANTEED!

Good luck, and I will see you at the TOP!!!

Monday, January 2, 2012

OVERCOMING SELF-LIMITING BELIEFS

“Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you'll see the way to fly.”-Richard Brach


When my now 13-year old daughter was just five years of age, she had a really hard time tying her shoes.  I had initiated the training process with regards to the tying of her shoes as early on as her third birthday.  Yet, whenever I found myself planning to leave my home after she had reached the age of five, I was forced to wait as she collapsed on the floor, crying, and telling me that she could not tie her shoes.

On the day that I finally reached the end of my rope, I stood in the door, and as opposed to breaking and tying her shoes for her as I had done for each of the previous five years, I told her that we would not leave the house until she figured out a way to tie her own shoes. At that moment, an amazing thing happened. Although my daughter's sobbing only intensified, in the midst of her tears she started wrestling with her strings. She failed with the first attempt. She failed again with the second attempt. However, her third attempt was a MASSIVE success. From that day forward, I never tied my daughter's shoes for her again.

"I CAN'T."  I am convinced that this phrase has single handedly destroyed more lives, families, marriages, careers, and dreams than perhaps any other phrase known to man.  You see God has equipped each of us to do and to perform above and beyond that which we could ever even think or imagine.  However, many of us learned to use this phrase as a crutch early on in childhood, and we have carried this crutch right along with us into our adult years.

A year or so ago, I took up the practice of exercising on the elliptical machine at my local gym.  For the first week or so of my workouts, I climbed onto the machine, and managed to last no longer than 10-15 minutes.  I was extremely disappointed with my calorie count each time that I cut my workouts short, because I realized that I would never achieve my desired results by running for 10-15 minutes.

The elliptical machine is not for the feint of heart. After five or six minutes on this beast of a machine, every muscle in the lower body appears to scream for dear mercy. I was experiencing numbness in my feet. My legs were burning.  My chest was heaving. My calves ached. I was close to retiring from working out on this "man-killer" altogether, when I made a decision.  I decided that I would block out pain.  I decided that I would focus my eyes on the football games that were blaring across the television screens in the gym, and that I would no longer allow fatigue or aching to cut my workouts short.

On my next visit, early on in my workout, I started to feel many of the same pains that had forced me into premature retirement on each of my previous visits.  However, I blocked out the pain. I was focused. After about 20 minutes on the machine, a MIRACLE took place.  My body kicked into a second gear!  The pain dissipated. I started to actually enjoy running. My mind entered into this state of relative calm, and it seemed as if I were the only person in the gym. I had entered THE ZONE, which was a new level that I had never experienced before as a result of my tendency to quit at the first sign of difficulty!

So how does all of this apply to you?  I want you to know that you have the ability to do and to perform ANYTHING that you set your MIND to do.  Your body is at the mercy of your MIND.  Change is never comfortable, and so naturally, anytime that you begin to make demands of your body, after living in a sedentary or lazy fashion; you will (at least initially) have to wrestle with your body, in order to establish the fact that there is a new sheriff in town, and that things will be different from that point forward.

We all experience desires and ambitions for things that we'd like to achieve in life.  These desires may vary from person to person, but may include: acquiring new jobs, finding new mates, losing weight, earning more money, traveling around the world, writing books, etc.  Whatever YOUR personal desire or ambition may be, I am asking you to take just a moment to make the following statement: "IT IS POSSIBLE." How do you know that it is possible? It is possible, because it has been done by OTHERS.

So as you go away from this reading, take with you the understanding and the belief that you have all of the tools, talents, and abilities necessary to manufacture, or to create the life of your dreams. Eliminate the phrase, "I CAN'T" from your vocabulary, and make this new year of 2012, a year of, "I CAN & I WILL!!"

"The difference between the possible and the impossible lies in a man's determination."-Tommy Lasorda


 

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Goals vs. Resolutions

Each year, at or around this time, we hear lot's of talk surrounding the term, "resolutions." The dictionary defines this term as-A firm resolve to do or not to do something. We tend to place a great deal of stock in decisions and commitments that are made on January 1st of each calendar year. I have found in my personal experience that goal-setting is a much more effective method of achieving personal development objectives. Within this post I attempt to highlight some of the benefits of goal-setting vs. setting resolutions.

For starters, whenever I hear the term, "resolutions" the first things that come to mind are: restrictions, bondage, misery, punishment, and forced behaviorial changes. It's extremely difficult to see the value in a particular lifestyle change, when and if we are only adhering to this change in EFFORTS to remain true to some nonsensical decision made under the influence of the annual holiday.

Goals, on the other hand, tend to come with some sense of accomplishment. A great deal of research and thought usually precedes the setting of goals, and upon realizing written goals, confidence tends to soar, we experience drastic boosts in self-esteem, and we live with the awareness that the achievement of our goals means that we are in fact successful.

Here is an example: John states on January 1st that he will give up smoking in the new year. John is stressed, bursting at the seams, and trying with all of his might to stick with the resolution that was established at the start of the year. However, there is a 99% chance that John will falter, and that he will break from his aim of giving up smoking.

In June of the same year, Dave establishes a goal of giving up smoking by the month of December. Dave wants to be alive to see his kids graduate from high school. At the time that he establishes this goal, Dave is smoking a pack of cigarettes per day. He cuts back over time to half a pack per day. He rewards himself for this cutback. He then moves down to five cigarettes per day. He rewards himself for this cutback. Last, in October of the same year, he goes cold turkey, and gives up smoking. To celebrate, he posts a status on facebook, and all of his friends chime in congratulating him on this achievement.

Will there always be a chance of Dave also reverting back to the practice of smoking? Absolutely. However, when tempted to do so, the sense of accomplishment, the feelings of pride derived from the compliments of friends, and the knowledge that he would be letting down himself, as well as those who have stood in his corner, will serve as a deterrent to his making a move in this reverse order.

This is not to say that resolutions cannot be effective. However, I believe that in order for a resolution to remain effective over a period of time, the resolution must accompany a goal. For instance: Mike's goal is to save $10,000 during the year 2012. In keeping in line with his goal, Mike resolves on January 1st, to eliminate fast food, partying, and clubbing throughout the course of the year.

When paired together, this resolution, in conjunction with Mike's long-term goal, is much more likely to stick, than had he simply vowed to give up eating out, partying, and clubbing, just for the sake of discipline. Each month now, Mike will be able to take an inventory of his bank account, and he will enjoy the rewards of knowing that with each passing month, he is drawing one step closer to his goal.

So as we move into the year 2012, I would absolutely encourage each of you to stick with the resolutions that were made when the clock hit midnight. However, I would also encourage you to attach your resolutions to long term goals, so that you have something to look forward to, and so that you're not forced to feel as if you're living in bondage to the hype of New Year's Day.

"Most of us serve our ideals by fits and starts. The person who makes a success of living is one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That's dedication."-Cecil B. DeMille