Monday, January 30, 2012

Two Tips to Build a Sustainable CTMH Business

Greetings Connected Hearts!  Where oh where did January go?  We have had quite a month here in Western Washington!  It began with a snowstorm, then an incredible ice storm that knocked out the power, cable and internet at my house for 5 days.  It's an interesting experience to be "off the grid" for that long.  I actually got a lot done.  I made 32 cards for a swap and had a customer over to stamp in my cold kitchen with just the light from the window.   It really makes you appreciate technology, simple heat and light.

I hope all of you are having a productive January and have had fun playing with all of the newest papers, stamps and accessories in the Spring Summer Idea Book.  This month can set the tone for the months ahead.  How does your calendar look?  Do you have the business you need to meet your goals?  I have often been asked about how to build a sustainable business.  What that means is a business that is repeatable each month and you don't struggle to keep it going.  A good analogy is a fire that keeps burning and you don't have to constantly fan it to keep it going.

Here are two quick tips:

My 20 years of experience has taught me in order to achieve this you need a minimum of 3 money making events each month.  These can be gatherings, classes, workshops, online sales or crops/expos.  The reasoning is, if you have 1 cancellation then you have 2 events left to rebook from.  If on the other hand, you have just 1 or 2 events on your calendar, then a cancellation like I had, due to unforeseen circumstances, leaves you with either no business or just 1 chance for a new booking for next month. 

The other practice I highly recommend is, if at all possible, schedule your events toward the beginning of a month or quarter so that you have cushion time to make a few calls to get any extra orders you need to meet your quarterly minimums if you are a hobbyist or monthly minimums to earn downline commissions.

If you need help with this, I'm here for you, just give me a quick call or email.

A SPECIAL INVITATION FROM TEAM MEMBER, SR. DIRECTOR LINDA STURDIVANT
This is a wonderful opportunity for some incredible FREE training from some of the BEST Direct Sales gurus, many who have been featured speakers at our Conventions and Leadership Conferences! 

I'd like to ask you for a favor and I'm going to totally make it worth your while! I am going to be interviewed by Dana Wilde as part of her upcoming Teleseminar Series. You can help me out by signing up for the series and it will not cost you a single penny! Click on the following link to listen to a 2 minute video and sign up now:
Dana Wilde is an incredible trainer who teaches how to implement the concepts featured in the hit movie "The Secret" into life and business! So even if you aren't in direct sales, I recommend signing up for this series to learn more about her strategies and discover how to accomplish your goals with ease. It's completely complimentary -- no obligation what so ever! To learn more and to sign up click here:
If you are a direct seller like I am or if you know someone who is a direct seller, I bet you've heard the following questions:
* How can I add more people to my team?
* How can I offer my business opportunity easily?
* How can I increase bookings?
* How can I balance my business with my home life?
* How can I motivate my team members?
Make sure to forward this email to your direct sales friends and encourage them to sign up for this amazing seminar series! For answers to these questions click here:
That's why I want you to join me in an awesome teleseminar series I'm in - and the best part is, it won't cost you a dime!
It's called The Mind Aware and it's produced by Dana Wilde the host of The Mind Aware Teleseminar. Dana Wilde is the founder of The Mind Aware and the creator of Train Your Brain. She's known for taking her direct sales team to the million dollar mark in only 19 months.
Watch Dana's cool video and sign up here...
Dana will be interviewing me and 23 other of the world's top thought leaders about how to achieve the success you've always dreamed of having.
Here is a sampling of the amazing experts who will be a part of this series...
Linda Sturdivant
As a Direct Sales Master Coach Linda has helped her clients increase their businesses by 300+ percent including 2 who earned their company's incentive trips in 2011 and one who promoted from Manager to Director in just 6 months! As a direct sales leader for 16 years, Linda earned 7 incentive trips, developed company trainings and received numerous awards for sales and leadership. Linda credits her success to her unique Annihilate Your Phone Calling Phobia strategy which enables her to comfortably build her business by focusing on her customers and their needs.
Belinda Ellsworth
Belinda Ellsworth is the premier motivational speaker, sales trainer and expert for the direct sales industry. With more than 30 years of experience in direct sales, she has trained thousands of independent sales consultants, managers and executives. Belinda has worked with more than 100 different direct sales companies, many asking her back again and again. Why? Because she delivers. After she speaks, companies and organizations always see an increase in sales, bookings and, most importantly, recruiting.
Karen Phelps
Karen Phelps is an author, speaker and leading authority on direct sales. Over the past 25 years, she has experienced and overcome many obstacles and setbacks within the industry and now has vast experience in selling, sponsoring and being the kind of leader who knows the value of living a balanced life while maintaining a list of priorities. Karen is an expert who entertains and interacts with her audience while providing them with the basic systems and solutions for reaching their objectives. Her programs are simple and can be easily implemented to produce immediate results! She also is an active professional member of the National Speakers Association, and one who knows the value of continuing her own education. She has been recognized for her outstanding personal and group sales achievements, including Number One Regional Personal Unit Sales for 3 years in a row. Karen's powerful message, engaging style and proven ability to train at every level, guarantee a winning performance every time!
Mary Christensen
Mary Christensen brings with her the credibility of success. Mary is a much sought after speaker at direct selling conventions, as well as the author of four best-selling books on how to succeed in direct sales. She raised her family while being a direct selling entrepreneur, then founded her own company and sponsored over 1000 in her first year. But that wasn't all. Mary learned that wealth is not only measured in dollar terms, but also in quality of life. Yes, dreams truly can come true. Anyone can dream - and anyone can realize those dreams, regardless of his or her current skills, experiences, or circumstances. The answer is network marketing, the opportunity to own your own business without taking on the burden of going it alone.
Julie Anne Jones
As a former Direct Sales professional, Julie Anne Jones excelled in her party plan business, consistently holding three parties per week and winning national awards annually. Julie Anne specializes in easy-to-use-scripting and language and simple systems for success in direct sales. She combines her training in leadership, her natural communication skills, her coaching training, and her dynamic personality into a very direct, entertaining and fun training experience. Over the past six years, she has become a sought after corporate consultant and trainer, bringing her unique style to corporate events throughout the United States and Canada. She loves sharing her information, whether it's from the stage or through her webinar and teleseminar training platforms. Julie Anne prides herself on her ability to incorporate solid training concepts around personal development, coaching skills, direct sales leadership, party presentation and host coaching into a very unique style.
Shari Hudspeth
Shari Hudspeth is the President and Co-Founder of Average to Excellence, a company for party-plan professionals, and co-author of "Direct Selling Power", one of the most relevant and up-to-date direct sales guidebook available today, containing practical strategies which will help you take your business to the next level. As a leader in the field, Shari earned her stripes creating outstanding teams quickly. One Shari-led team skyrocketed from $0 to $14 million in only six years. Using the same training that she now offers, she personally developed and led a team of 140 leaders, including four Regional VPs and two Senior Regional VP's. As a Business Consultant, Shari has successfully led the creation and execution of countless training programs, incentive strategies, leader retreats, and national conventions, driving goal-exceeding results for the organizations and field teams she inspired. Her perspective and understanding of the issues that confront consultants today is fresh and on-target, and her solutions are practical and effective!
There are 24 speakers in all including: Dana Wilde, Kelly Brian Paull, Andrea Waltz, Pat Pearson, Shachena Gibbs, Sue Rusch, Karen Clark, Casey Eberhart, Lynsey Jones, Tammy Stanley, Deb Bixler, Dr. Steve Taubman, Becky Spieth, Jane Deuber, Lyndsey Baigent, Teresa Garrison, Julie Henderson, Steve Wiltshire, Anne Howie, and more. Wow!
And of course, me, Linda Sturdivant! You can hear me on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 -- mark your calendar!
We'll be sharing the best of the best strategies, tactics and processes we know to help you get from where you are to where you want to be faster and easier than ever before.
This three month weekly training is completely free to you!
All I ask is that you help us help millions of people by telling your friends and family about it and talk about it on your Facebook, Twitter and blog if you have one.
Seriously, take advantage of this and grab your seat before it fills up...
After you register, keep an eye out for Dana's email for specific details on accessing the interviews.
Also, be sure to click on the Bonus Gifts link in Dana's email and grab your Bonus Gifts. They're all yours just for enrolling in this free series.
Sincerely,
Linda Sturdivant
408 265-4147
P.S. Dana just told me that these interviews will be recorded and will be available at no charge after each show for a limited time so you won't miss a thing. We'll send you the web address of each replay recording as soon as it's posted on our website. Sign up right now, while it's fresh on your mind...
http://www.TheMindAware.com/Linda/invite



Monday, January 16, 2012

Where is the top of your desk…

Happy 2012 to all my CTMH friends!  I know I've been MIA for a while longer than I had planned.  My "bucket list" holiday trip to Hawaii was everything I dreamed of and much more!  I am super excited that I get to go back again in a few short weeks with my daughter on the CTMH cruise.  One thing about having your own business, like we do with CTMH is that you have to pay to play.  What I mean by that is there is so much to catch up on when you leave your business.  But it is also the ultimate luxury to be able to schedule your work to fit your life. 

BUSINESS BIT:
With that said, it leads me to a timely topic for the start of a new year.  Besides setting your goals and action plans for the coming year, another great thing is to start with a clean work space and a bit of organization.  One of the elements of my business that has always been a struggle is how to organize my accounting so I'm ready for tax time.  For years I had a gal who did my bookkeeping using Quickbooks.  A couple of years ago, she found a full time job and had to leave me :o(  I tried to learn how to use Quickbooks but it was a struggle and I messed it all up.  So, last year, I gave up and went back to my old method of a huge pile of receipts, bills and orders that I need to go through.  I'm sure by now, you're either nodding your head in understanding, laughing at me or wondering how I could be that disorganized!  As one of my 2012 goals, I am hear by telling you that I'm going to implement the following method to organize my financial files.  It comes from my very favorite website. The Success Factory. 

GET ORGANIZED! Where is the top of your desk – can you see it? Those of you who are fans of Flylady, know that she teaches skills to keeping your home organized but in bite-sized chunks beginning with a shiny kitchen sink. For a home-based business person, the “sink” is the top of your desk. 
Use small baskets or clear containers to group and organize CD’s, pens, and tablets of paper. File away bills and receipts for 2011. Put your 2011 files in a banker’s box with a lid so that you will be ready to prepare your taxes. Establish new file folders for 2012 using the same categories as you did for 2011.
If you need ideas for filing categories for this year – consider the following.
*One file folder for each month January – December (use these to file your party and sales receipts
* Alphabetically have file folders for business receipts in the following categories:
            Advertising & Promotion
            Auto Expense/Mileage
            Bank Statements/Charges
            Business Gifts
            Child Care Expense
            Computer/Cable
            Continuing Education
            Conventions/Seminars
            Credit Card Statements
            Home Office Expense
            Meals and Entertainment
            Office Supplies/Printing
            Postage/Shipping
            Telephone
            Travel Expenses
            Miscellaneous Receipts

Take a quick trip to the office supply store if you haven’t already. Make sure you have a 2012 calendar, a new spiral notebook to use as a 2012 phone log, a fresh phone message pad, file folders, labels and flash drive or CDs for backing up your computer files.

Leave me a comment and share how you keep your work space and files organized.

WELCOMES AND SHOUT OUTS:
The year has gotten off to an incredible start!  Our extended team has grown by 20 new team members since December 1st!  I'd like to give a warm welcome to the newest members and congratulations to the leaders for growing your teams.  January is such a great time to recruit.  Many have a need for extra money to pay off holiday bills and it's the start of a new catalog so the kit is full of all new products. 

DLLevel Consultant Name Date Signed Up State/Province Upline Name
Level 1 Linda Sower 01/05/2012 WA Naomi Smith
Level 2 Jackelyn Johnson 01/12/2012 MO Christina Eisenhour
Level 2 Judy Mason 01/14/2012 MD Linda Caler
Level 2 Kim Hall 01/04/2012 TX Adina Godin
Level 2 Linda Pantalone 12/01/2011 OR Tina Lovell
Level 2 Linda Van Ness 01/02/2012 KS Linda Caler
Level 2 Sarah Baker 01/02/2012 TX Adina Godin
Level 2 Susan Lennon 01/07/2012 WA Lisa Sargent
Level 2 Tisha Grindley 01/06/2012 WA Lisa Combs
Level 3 Amy Coursey 01/06/2012 TX Noreen Petty
Level 3 Kelly Herrera 01/11/2012 AR Patricia Ervin
Level 3 Laura Johnston 01/08/2012 TX Noreen Petty
Level 3 Lisa Florian 01/01/2012 TX Noreen Petty
Level 3 Roberta Gould 12/02/2011 WA Rebecca Cameron
Level 3 Sarah Bernardo 01/04/2012 TX Stephanie Turlich
Level 3 Valerie Hudson 01/11/2012 PA Debbi Harden-Young
Level 4 Jennifer Willcox 01/13/2012 Dr. Phil Wilhelm
Level 4 Louise Golicic 01/11/2012 FL Venia Joray
Level 4 Maggie Lemke 01/08/2012 TX Linda Norman
Level 4 Tarrah Vaupel 12/21/2011 IL Dr. Phil Wilhelm

 TEAM MEETING NEWS:
For those who live in Washington and Oregon, I hold regular team meetings that are open to my 1-4th downline.  Here is the schedule dates for 2012:

Oregon Team Meeting   Salem, OR – February 18th   
Washington Team Meeting -Kent, WA –March 31st 
Oregon Team Meeting   Salem, OR – July 28th   
Washington Team Meeting -Kent, WA – August 18th
Oregon Team Meeting   Salem, OR – November 10th  
Washington Team Meeting -Kent, WA – December 1st 

CREATIVE CORNER:
I have a 2 page retire list document for February 2012.  If you'd like a copy, email me and I'll send it to you.

I spent the past week, organizing my office and purging all of the retired product from my creative space.  I am trying to figure out a system to make it quicker and easier to do this.  I have decided to put a small label on my stamp sets and paper packets when I get them that tells me when they were new to the catalog.  I put  a SS2012 label on all my newest sets and papers.  It's interesting that I have so few stamp sets left.  It feels good and a bit sad to let go of some old favorites.

Below is a photo of my January Card Class artwork.  The Rock the Block LOVE Card is by Vicki Wizniuk with a tiny tweak by me.   


I am SO excited to start using all the newest stamps, papers and accessories that are in the Spring/Summer Idea book!
  Leave me a comment and share what your favorite paper packet is.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.
Author Unknown