Convention Preparations - 7 Ways to Avoid Lost Luggage



 

Inspired by Mischelle Smith
This quick 4x4 card can be used for many occasions
by simply changing the sentiment.  Make multiples and
add the sentiment as needed.  Colors are Smoothie,
Sweetleaf, Slate and Crystal Blue.

The CTMH Convention is just around the corner and I am in full preparation mode including packing my bags with all of the supplies I'll need for the creative sessions with the NEWEST products!  The last thing I'd want to happen is to lose my luggage.  I found this great article to share with you.  The thing I will be sure to do this time is to take a photo of my suitcase(s).  Just in case.  Having been through it before, I know what a hassle it is and this simple tip would have made the process so much easier.  There are so many black Kirkland brand bags out there!  I attach some bright ribbons and a bright luggage strap to my bag as well.  Also I use neon cable ties to "lock" my bag.  They are easy for the TSA to cut off if they need to look in my bag and I can tell if it's been opened.  Just be sure you pack some kids scissors in an outside pocket so you can cut off the tie!

7 Ways to Avoid Lost Luggage 

Nothing undermines a well-planned vacation (or CTMH Convention) quite like no-show luggage. When your suitcase fails to appear on the baggage carousel, you're guaranteed a stressful experience filling out baggage-claim forms and futilely waiting. So how can travelers safeguard their stuff? The obvious solutions are to book a nonstop flight or pack everything in a carry-on, but clearly this won't work for everyone. If you need to check a bag, the following seven strategies will help ensure that your luggage stays on track.

(Photo: ReboundTag)

Upgrade Your Luggage Tag

Opt for a smarter luggage tag. Several high-tech brands of tags feature codes or microchips that travelers can use to detect lost bags. SuperSmartTags, for example, contain unique codes with which airline personnel can trace off-track luggage. (Many bags get lost when paper airport tags get ripped off.) ReboundTag, another sophisticated bag-tag brand, tracks missing luggage with an embedded microchip.

 

Check in Early

Travelers who check in late—whether they arrived at the airport with only minutes to spare or got held up in a meandering check-in line—are more likely to get separated from their bags. Baggage handlers need time to process luggage and load it onto planes. Many experts say that 30 minutes ahead of departure is the cut-off, but it all depends. In our opinion, the earlier you can check in, the better.

Place Your Itinerary Inside Your Bag

Luggage tags can easily be torn off in the rough-and-tumble handling process, but a copy of your itinerary, placed on top of your belongings inside your bag, will almost certainly stay put.  "Place a copy of your travel plans along with contact information in a prominent place inside any checked bags; if your bag gets delayed, this will make it easier for airline staff to forward your luggage to you. (Airline staff members sometimes open delayed bags when looking for contact information.)"

Ship Your Bags Instead of Checking Them

It sounds a little crazy. But it's not. This strategy kills two birds: By shipping your luggage, you diminish the chance that it'll get lost, and you also avoid costly overweight-, oversize-, and checked-bag fees. For example, American Airlines charges $100 for checked bags weighing more than 50 lb. on flights within the U.S. In comparison, UPS charges $66.24 to ship a 55-lb. bag from Los Angeles to Chicago. Sure, it takes longer to arrive. (In this example, the $66.24 fee is for four-day shipping.) But if you plan ahead and ship your belongings to your hotel in advance, you can save money and track your shipment, and you won't have to worry about your suitcase ending up in a warehouse somewhere in the Deep South.

(Photo: puroticorico via flickr/CC Attribution)

Take Some Photos

If your bag has gone AWOL and you're attempting to get it back, photo evidence will help. Take a picture of the outside of your bag to show the airline staff member who is helping you locate it. It's also wise to take a quick photo of your baggage-claim ticket, in case you lose it. Snap a picture of the inside of your bag as well; this will come in handy in case you need to file an insurance claim for your lost belongings.

(Photo: Luggage Strap via Shutterstock)

Use a Luggage Strap

Suitcases, unfortunately, sometimes suffer from a case of mistaken identity at the baggage carousel. This is especially likely to happen when half of your plane is traveling with the same slate-gray upright Samsonite. So give your bag a makeover with a colorful luggage strap, some neon duct tape, or whatever your creative little mind can conjure up.

Avoid Short Layovers

Tight layovers increase the likelihood that your bags will go missing. If your flight is late, the window of time for airport staff to transfer your bag from one plane to the next narrows. Pay attention to the length of your layover, especially when booking with an online travel agency (OTA) like Expedia or Orbitz. Often, these sites sell domestic multi-leg itineraries with layovers of less than an hour, which doesn't leave any wiggle room in an industry in which flights are frequently delayed.

If you have an international connecting flight, know that you may have to pick up your checked luggage at the baggage claim, clear customs and airport security, and then recheck your bag, all before boarding. This is also the case if you're arriving in the U.S. from an international destination and then taking a domestic connecting flight. For this reason, it's important to allow plenty of time—two or more hours, ideally—on international layovers. Confused? When checking in, ask airline staff if you'll need to recheck your bag at your connection.

Shout Outs:
In keeping with what corporate has planned, I'm going to hold out posting the Connected Hearts team convention year top 10 lists. I do want to say that there have been some AMAZING achievements this year - Congrats to everyone! I've scheduled the lists to post after the CTMH awards banquet on the evening of June 27th.

"The Ribbon™ for May-  In order to maintain the suspense and excitement of our annual awards ceremony at Convention, the May installment of The Ribbon™ will be posted on Monday, June 30. We look forward to congratulating our top performers in person and on stage at Convention, after which the details of May performance will be posted in Online Office".

 

The Direct Sales Mindset - Some Wisdom from Kristine Widfeldt

My June Stamp of the Month Card.

18 more days 'til Convention and the unveiling of our new 2014-2015 Idea Book!  Have you ordered your new Idea Books yet? 

1. Pre-Order Your Annual Inspiration Idea Books Beginning June 1, you can place your pre-orders for the new Annual Inspirations idea book! As part of this pre-order program, you can order the Annual Inspirations book in packs of 10. We will begin shipping these orders in coordination with the first day of Convention, June 25. Log in to Online Office and access Order Entry to place your pre-orders. Simply use the item number WC10151, add your desired quantity of 10-packs, and submit your order. Once submitted, the order will appear in your records as backordered until the shipment date. You can review details about the Annual Inspirations idea book and this pre-order program in the General Idea Book FAQ available in Online Office.

I used an Individual Order to place mine.  You will be able to order Idea Books all year on an as needed basis.  This will help with budgeting so you
don't get stuck with extra books next spring.


Team Convention News:
If you're joining us for convention - I hope you'll also join me for the 1st ever CTMH Disney 5K Walk/Run!  I was so excited that CTMH is not only giving us the tools to keep our businesses healthy, but our bodies too.  You need good health to keep you, your families and business running strong!

You're Invited to the Rise & Shine 5K Fun Run at Convention

We invite you to join us for our first annual Rise & Shine 5K Fun Run at Convention this summer! Close To My Heart staff is planning to run a 5K through Downtown Disney and the parks on Saturday, June 28 from 6:30-7:30 am, and we’re inviting all Convention attendees that are interested to run with us! In order to adequately staff the route we’ll be on, Disney requires a minimum amount of participants for events like this. Not a runner? No problem! There will be two groups going on the fun run – one will walk and the other will jog/run. Regardless of your fitness level, we would love to see you there! Registration for this event will be $35 USD, however, no payment is required today. Once we have collected all RSVP responses and we see that there is enough interest in the Rise & Shine 5K Fun Run, you will be emailed a link to register for and pay for your spot. All participants will receive a special ribbon in your registration bag. Please submit your RSVP here by Friday, June 13 to let us know that you’d like to join us on this adventure, and you can run or power walk next to Vice Presidents Monica Wihongi & Kristine Widtfeldt!

Many of us are ordering shirts to mark the occasion. 
Here's the tank link...this is the one I ordered in pink.
https://www.etsy.com/.../forget-the-glass-slipper-this...

Forget the Glass Slipper this Princess Wears Running Shoes Ladies Tank Top Ladies Tank Top

www.etsy.com

Tank Top for Women. The perfect gift for anyone who loves to run. Get on for a marathon event, or Just to style around in one!

Or a t-shirt if you prefer:

https://www.etsy.com/.../forget-the-glass-slipper-this...

Forget the Glass Slipper this Princess Wears Running Shoes Ladies T Shirt Women Tee Shirt Womens...

www.etsy.com

Womens T-Shirt Classic Fit Soft Style 100% cotton. The perfect gift for anyone who loves to run. Get on for a marathon event, Birthdays, Mothers

Business Bit:

Here is a great excerpt from Dana Wilde's interview with Kristine Widfeldt on the Mind Aware Season 5.
 

KRISTINE WIDFELDT: Well I think the ideal direct seller understands that she doesn’t have to compete with retail. She offers something that is hopefully unique, demonstrable, and consumable. And if she has those three things and has a real passion for the product, where she’s going to compete and build an amazing business and this is a part of the direct-sales mindset, is knowing, that I have a one-to-one connection. We are still a face-to-face business or person-to-person business because even if you’re conducting business online, it’s about the relationships that you develop with your
customers. It’s about the network of people who loves not just the product that you’re offering, but the way that you personalize it, customize it, and deliver it to them with care.  And you cannot find that in a retail store. It is worth more than the price tag, and so I love people who understand that
I can work as hard as I want to earn the money and the lifestyle that I want. I love the way that I meshed perfectly within your life, and I think direct sellers have a unique internal motivation that others don’t. They’re willing to set their own hours and then stick with it, and understand that they’re success depends on their own contribution rather than “Okay, this is my job. I’m going to show up and, you know, sit in a chair for eight hours a day.” So I love that unique perspective of “This is mine. This is mine to add
value to. This is mine to work if I wish.” I think that there is no better worker, partner, associate, and representative, than someone who understands the direct-sales mindset.

Choice or Luck? Determining Your Direct Selling Success



One of my May card class cards - quick and easy!

I hope all the Mom's had a wonderful day on Sunday!  Here in Washington the sunny weather made our day extra special.  I finished getting the deck ready and we celebrated the opening day of "Deck Season" on Mother's Day with a special brunch in honor of my 82 year old Mother-in-law.  I've been enjoying my "stay-cation" and will be back to a regular work week on Monday. 
 



Business Bits:
There have been many questions regarding the new Idea Book program that was announced back in January (seems like a long time ago) and another update given last week in the Company Updates.  Here is a link to the information video that may help clear up some of the questions.  We can pre-order beginning June 14th so mark your calendars so you don't forget.

New Idea Book Information Video:

https://orders.closetomyheart.com/CTMHConsultants/toknow/instantinfo_media/1403-new-idea-book-prgm-kw/player.html


Here is a great article for all the new consultants or anyone who want to "step-up" their business.  Food for thought.... 

Choices:

Every day you make choices. Some big – some small – some are easy and some are hard. Some are scary and some are fun. You can say “yes” or “no” to every opportunity that is presented. The choice is yours.

The choices that you make on a daily basis affect the outcome of your successes in your direct selling business and your life. Your choices can also affect your attitude which sometimes affects other choices you make.

Have you ever thought about how many choices you make every single day?

Life is all about choices and in your CTMH business, because you are your own boss, you choose if, when and how many hours you invest.

You can choose to make recruiting, booking and customer care calls, update your blog, post on social media sites or you can choose to watch TV, go shopping or do nothing. You can choose to hold 1 gathering/workshop or 12 every month. You can choose to attend a Team or Corporate event or you can choose to miss it and wonder why your business isn’t where you want it to be. You can choose to set expectations, create strategies to achieve them, dream dreams, and make it happen. Or you can choose to sit back and watch others achieve their expectations, live their dreams and make the choices that create the life they want to live and say, “Wow they are lucky!”

I agree with Thomas Jefferson when he said, “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” I believe that you make your own luck by the choices that you make and the time you are willing to invest to achieve your expectations.

When you need to make a choice, ask yourself the following questions:

• What’s the worst thing that can happen if I do this?
• What’s the best thing that can happen if I do this?
• Am I willing to invest the time to make this the best decision for me?
• Will this move me forward so that I will achieve my expectations?

These questions can help you decide if what you want to do will be worth the outcome or if you should find another way.

Some people choose not to choose. But that really is a choice too. It’s the same as saying, “No”.

Some people let others choose for them. The reality is they made the initial decision to let their choices be made for them.

Having the direct selling business success that you desire is like a sporting event. You can choose to sit in the bleachers and watch others play the game and say, “Wow they are lucky.” Or you can choose to actively participate, play the game full out and make your own luck. It is your choice.

Adapted from an Article by Martha Stanley -Direct Selling Success Trainer, Speaker, Author and a Home Party Plan Business Coach

Shout-Outs:
I am SOOO Excited!!! Now that the official announcements have been made and the "cat's out of the bag" I can finally post your amazing achievements:

Top Promotions to Ex. Manager and above:

******drum roll please****

Congratulations to:
NOREEN PETTY the newest PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTOR!!!! 
Joy Tracey - Executive Director -  recruited an incredible 141 new team members!
Cara Miller - Sr. Director - added 82 to her team!
Susan Williams - Sr. Director
Mandy Petty - Sr. Director
Dawn Hinckley - Director
Debi Thomas - Director
Angie Hofmann - Director
Cathryn Oliver-Brown - Executive Manager
Judy Larsen - Executive Manager
Mischelle Smith - Executive Manager


The Connected Hearts team by the numbers - here are just a few stats.
1st - 4th downline grew by 33% in April.
192 downline promotions.
596 new 1st-4th team members!

Congratulations again to EVERYONE who made the April Team Building month such a success!

One More Day to Share! - A Great Article for Business Builders

This is a card I worked on today for my June
card classes.  It's hard to see in the photo, but
I used a Sharpie marker to color the Sparkles to
match the Crystal Blue paper.  I'm focusing
on quick cards in June.  The hat can be changed
to any image to fit your occasion.

Wowee!  What an amazing month our teams have had!  As of today, we have grown an incredible 36%!!!  My hat's off to all of you for your great work of sharing your passion for CTMH.  I'll post the stats next time.  There is still one more day, so keep on spreading the word. Call, email or text those last few people, sometimes the urgency of being the last day is what they need to act.

Shout-Out:

A quick update on Susan Hopkins who I've been posting about this month.  I'm proud and so pleased to announce that she has gone from Consultant to Manager in less than 1 month and is super excited to continue to build her team and attend Convention, but to also qualify to attend Leadership Day too!  Way to go, Susan!

 

 

Business Bit:
This is a great article to share with anyone who wants to make CTMH a business.  They are 5 great tips for working from home.  I do all of these things and I think they have been key to my success with CTMH.

Work at home businesses are a great way to earn money on your own terms.
You work your own hours, take vacations when you want, hire who you want to work with, and work in whatever attire you wish.

However, there are some inherent problems that may arise when working at home. The most common problem experienced is how stay focused on your work.   When working at home, it may be easy to get distracted. Instead of working, you may think about cleaning the house, walking the dog, going to the gym or doing some extra gardening. To get anything accomplished in a home business, it is essential that you stay focused on your work and not get distracted by all the home chores that need to be done.

5 Tips To Stay Focused While Working at Home

1. Do a few chores at home before you work.
When you do a few of the more pressing household chores before you begin your work day, you will not feel as pressured to do household chores while working.
Start your day 30 minutes later than normal, and use that extra 30 minutes to clean the dishes, walk the dog, vacuum the house or go for a run.

2. Use a to-do list every day.
One of the best ways to stay focused on your work is to have a specific list of items that need to be done each day. Without a to-do list, it is easy to get distracted or to not dedicate the proper time to important tasks.

3. Do the simple tasks first.
There are certainly people who prefer to do the most difficult tasks first, but those people are the exception rather than the rule.
Most people procrastinate at some time and put off difficult tasks. When you perform some of the easy tasks on the list, you can cross those items off and feel good about what you are accomplishing. With a few items crossed off, the list will look less intimidating and overwhelming.

4. If you have to deal with deadlines in your work at home business, it is important to stay ahead of those deadlines.
Putting everything off until you have a tight deadline is often a recipe for disaster. Waiting until the last minute also takes away any flexibility you would have in performing various work duties. Something that needs to be done immediately will take precedence over everything else.

5. Have a comfortable and dedicated work space.
Your environment has a significant amount of influence on your concentration.
When you are working at home, it is crucial to have a dedicated work environment.
A private room with a door is the best choice. However, an area that is separate from other living areas should work as long as the space is used only for your business.

A work at home business is a business; treating it like one is an important ingredient in success and prosperity.

 

Spring Fever

Update:  Sharing Works!  A Success Story:

Tuesday afternoon, I posted about sharing the April Recruiting Special - Discover the Art of Business.  That evening at 11:30 pm I sent an email out to my 1st Downline with an incentive for promotions. 

Wednesday at 5:35 pm I received an email from Susan Hopkins a Consultant from South Dakota:

"I sent out e-mails and a Facebook post to many people on the April promotion to join CTMH. I just did that this morning, and it looks like I have 2 ready to sign up and a 3^rd strong possibility. Cool!" 

At 6:00 pm Susan sent me another email:

 

"I just got off the phone with prospect #1 and she is all signed up. I expect to sign up #2 either tomorrow or Friday. I don’t believe either one of these gals are “kit grabbers”…I think they will stay in as at least hobbyist consultants. I’ve been wanting to build a team and I’m so excited that the company is helping to make that happen. Thanks so much for your e-mail earlier today. I’ll keep you posted!"

Congratulations to Susan!  She is now a Supervisor!  You are VERY INSPIRING!   Keep on sharing and building your team!

This is the power of simply sharing this awesome opportunity and your passion for CTMH.  I'd LOVE to hear of your successes - leave a comment so we can celebrate with you :)
 

Business Bit: 
Today is "Siblings Day" so it was very fitting to spend the day hiking with my sister, Kathy.  As many of you know, I LOVE to hike and get out and enjoy nature.  Here in Washington we are famous for our rain and the beautiful green trees and mountains.  When the sun comes out, as the stamp set "Do Your Best" C1573 says "The mountains are calling and I must go."  Spring is a time that seems to derail my best laid plans.  There are so many distractions.  For me, some are business related, like planning for our convention team gathering, and others are of a personal nature, like hiking and gardening that are seasonal and weather dependent.  This article really "struck a cord" with me.  I hope you'll find a reminder that you can relate to.

Subject: Time…

It's spring and in most parts of the country that means - for those of us with children - baseball and soccer season are in full swing. It's time for ACT and SAT testing, college searches, end of the school year recognition ceremonies, plays, recitals, dances, senior celebrations, graduations, confirmations, etc, etc, etc; Even if you don't have children, there is the call of dirty windows, lawns that need a winter facelift, gardens that yearn for attention, closets screaming to be cleaned out, etc; etc; etc;

There is just something about spring that can be a major distraction from our businesses, wouldn't you agree? If only we had a 36 hour day instead of just 24 hours (some say sleep is overrated).

So, if spring has not completely side-tracked you and if (hopefully) you are reading this article, here are some reminders about how to get more out of each day this spring and anytime of the year.

Pockets of time are crucial. Take advantage of the early morning or late evening hours of the day to do a load of laundry, make lunches for the next day, do a quick house pickup, load hostess or recruit packets, or clear email. Often it is easier to be more productive with these things when the house is quiet…this email is being typed at 6am!

Enlist the help of your family. Kids can help too. There are lots of little jobs they can do - from 8 years old ours did their own laundry!

Let go of the perfectionism and resist starting too many “spring cleaning” jobs all at the same time. Make a to-do list and chip away at it in 15 minutes increments here and there.

Carry your “to read” file with you at all times so that you use those unexpected pockets of waiting time (Dr's offices, carwash, etc;)

Stamp catalogs and brochures while sitting at your children's ball games. It's a great use of time and you may spark some interest in your business.

Work out carpools for your children's activities - split the driving so you only have to do drop off -or- pickup.

DO NOT FORSAKE YOUR OFFICE HOURS! You may need to adjust office hours when factoring new activities - but remember adjust, don't omit!

Handle it once. Open mail over the garbage can, act on email as it comes in (vs. saving and thinking about it), and return phone calls promptly.

Keep a written to do list (vs. an `in your head' to do list) - it will cut down on your stress.

Keep phone calls efficient. Don't be afraid to say, “I'm dying to catch up, but for right now, I'm on the run and I just needed to go over a few quick things with you.”

Finally, with regards to volunteering, remember every time you say NO you are giving someone else the chance to step up and volunteer. You can't do everything!

 

Quote of the Week:

Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.
                                                                                                                            - Jim Rohn


Copyright 2014 by The Success Factory All Rights Reserved

What does your profile picture on your social networks say about you?

Business Bit:
I subscribe to a number of blogs and online newsletters and pass along articles I find to be particularly applicable to our CTMH businesses.  This one I found to be very timely and made me think.  Because our team is diverse in locale and size, unless I've had the pleasure of meeting you at convention on other team events, you may not know who I am or what I look like.  It's the same for many of your current and potential future customers or team members.  Your Facebook page or other social media sites become a place for that all important first impression.  In this day of easily accessed information, if a customers goes on to the CTMH consultant locator and has a choice of consultants, they might "google" the names to see what they can find out about you.  What is the first impression they would get of you?  What does your profile picture say about who you are?  Do you need to update/change it?  Try asking your friends to see what they say. 


I had a professional headshot taken and used a photo from the Costa Rica incentive trip as my cover.  I change my cover from time to time.

 

What does your profile picture on your social networks say about you?

By  Jennifer Fong

 

What kind of a first impression does it make? In direct sales, these are very important questions to consider. Far too often, direct sellers don’t give a lot of thought to their profile pictures. And it can wind up harming their businesses.

For example, someone I know was considering joining a network marketing company. This was a pretty experienced person who could build a large team fairly quickly. It was one of those people you hope you can find for your team. They were matched with a potential sponsor who would be this person’s upline. When checking out this potential upline, my friend noticed that their profile picture was pretty off-putting. It was a photo that was a visual representation of a cause this person was very passionate about. And while my friend was on the same page as the potential upline about the cause, he found the profile photo to be a bit disturbing, and it caused him to reconsider joining this person’s team.

First impressions are a big deal.
Now this potential upline only used this photo for her personal profile picture. Her business presence had a different photo. But because she connected with my friend using her personal profile, and because of Facebook’s algorithm, my friend saw her mainly online through her personal profile. Every time my friend interacted with this potential upline, it was with this photo. And every time it turned my friend off.
You may think your business and personal profiles are separate. But if you intend to interact with potential customers and recruits online at all, what you do on your personal profile still matters.

Here are some tips for choosing an appropriate profile photo:

1. Choose a Good Headshot – Your profile photo is your first “face-to-face” contact with someone online. It is the picture people will see EVERY TIME they interact with you. Choose a good photo of your face. It just makes sense. If it’s your personal profile you might include family members in this photo too, if you want to. But make sure your face is prominent.
2. DON’T Use Your Logo – People connect with PEOPLE, not logos. Help people feel more connected with you by using your photo instead of an impersonal logo.
3. DON’T Use Celebrity Photos – If you are doing business online, using celebrity photos makes you look unprofessional. If you are crazy about Justin Bieber, share a photo on your timeline, but help people connect with YOU by using your own photo as your profile photo.
4. Save Your Cause for Your Posts – Of course you’re passionate about certain causes. Everyone is. But use your timeline posts for these causes. Let people connect with you first, and then you can share your cause once they get to know you.

Choosing a good profile photo matters a great deal when you plan to do business with online contacts. Make sure you consider the impression you’re giving. What tips would you give for profile photos? What have you seen that has turned you off? Would love to read your comments below.

Copyright © 2014 Direct Sales and Social Media | Jennifer Fong's Blog

Even More Awesome Skylark Artwork and my April Stamp of the Month Card - 10 Success Tips - Part 3

..Creative Corner:

I'm back in the groove of work again!  It seems it takes at least as many days as I'm away from my office to catch back up and get my creative juices going.  I've been looking forward to creating with the April Stamp of the Month - Balloon Talk from the first time I saw it!  Many of the sets are easy to use in scrapbooks but can be more of a challenge on a card.  I use Ruby, Lagoon, Honey and Whisper as my color combination. 

 

Artwork by Michele Kunigk
A great use of bulk paper and accessories!

 

  

Here is a beautiful 12x12 Skylark layout by the very talented
Tamra Pope.  This is from Karen Morris's Awesome Artist Swap


 

Team News:
Quick Reminders:
* Next Monday is the end of the 1st Quarter/ Jr. Consultant Program
* Finalize your April customer newsletters
* Register For Convention and make your airline and hotel reservations

Business Bit: 10 Success Tips  - Part 3
This is the last of the 10 Success Tips - I decided to divide them up because I want everyone to pay attention to each one.  While they are all important, I think these last three are key!
 

8. Attend everything. Go to all area functions that are available to you and get on any conference calls that your company or manager offers. This will help you to stay positive, enthusiastic and less isolated.

 

9. Work towards company incentives. Company incentives keep the job fun and are designed with your success in mind. Working towards incentive trips, free product and company rewards will provide goals and keep your enthusiasm and your income HIGH.

 

10. Treat your business like a business and not a hobby. Hobbies cost money and businesses make money. If you want to take advantage of the tax benefits of owning your own home business the IRS wants to see that you are making money. That means it is important to track of your income and expenses and file your annual income taxes. Find an accountant who is well versed in the areas of filing taxes for small businesses; particularly those in direct sales.

More Awesome Skylark Artwork - Part 2 of 10 Success Tips

Happy first day of spring!  The sun is shining here in Seattle and the first flowers are starting to peek their heads out.  I've been busy in my studio creating artwork for my April classes.  When I get them finished I'll share them with you.  In the mean time, I'm sharing more from the Rediscover CTMH event swaps.  Enjoy!

Creative Corner:
Today I'm featuring more artwork from 2 talented team members.  I love the way these 2 cards by Joanie McCall and Mary Thomas really showcase how well our papers coordinate with our inks, cardstocks and accessories to create a cohesive feel.  That is the strength and beauty of our product line that is hard to find through craft stores and online outlets.  These cards can easily be recreated for your customer clubs and workshops.




By Joanie McCall - Oregon



By Mary Thomas - Washington

Business Bit:  Part 2 - Today's Tip - From The Success Factory

I loved the tips in this article since it pertains to our type of business - Direct Sales. It's different in so many ways from traditional jobs. It has it's special challenges that if we can find systems to overcome, has rewards of flexibility that far outweigh the challenges

Subject: Ten Success Tips for your Direct Sales Business. Part 2of 3

4. ASK don't TELL. Sometimes we are so excited to talk about our product or our business opportunity that we can leave our prospect with 'hurricane hair'. Be sure that you are taking a breath and asking for the appointment or the sale.

5. A 'NO' is just one step closer to a 'YES'. Don't take a 'no' personally. If someone says no to you they are saying no to what you are offering, they are not rejecting you as a person. We are in the business of sorting and not convincing. Statistically you will need to ask ten people to join your team to get one recruit and you will need to ask five people to book a party before one says yes. When you are first beginning your business and refining your technique, those stats might vary a bit. However, knowing that you will need to work through several 'no's' as you edge closer to a 'yes' will help to keep things in perspective.

6. Schedule office hours. Some kind of structure is important; especially when working from home. Depending on your season of life (especially if you have young children) these office hours will change over the years. However setting and KEEPING office hours assures that you not only GO to work, but that you can also GO HOME from work each day.

7. Have a work area. If you have a separate room that is your designated office that is always the ideal situation. However, your 'office' may just be a closet or desk and file box for your business supplies that goes with you to your gatherings or classes.

 
Quote of the Day:

 

Awesome Skylark Artwork - 10 Success Tips



Hi Everyone!



I'm back in my office and back to work.  I hope you found some useful information and creative inspiration in my posts these past 2 weeks.  

Team News: 

The Rediscover Events are incredible!  I would encourage everyone, especially those who have never been to a corporate event or are unable to attend convention this year to register if there is one in your area.  Kristine had a message about the power of network marketing - how to find new customers by working with people you already know.  They may not be interested in CTMH but they may know someone who is.  I have done this with my hairstylist and my nail gal.  When people ask me about my hair or nails and I give them Michael or Julie's card.  Both of these people have lots of potential customers for me!  I challenge you to ask someone in your life to become your referral partner to help each other build your businesses.

 

Reminder:  There are just 13 days left in the quarter.  Be sure to check your quarterly minimums to be sure you hit your $300.  For leaders, contact your team members to remind them.

Creative Corner:  

As part of our brief team meeting at the Seattle and Portland Rediscover CTMH events, we did an art swap with Skylark as our theme.  Here are the 3 winners from the Oregon meeting.  Congratulations to Tarina Holloway, Tera Boring, and Nancy Reding!  

 

1st Place- Tarina Holloway



2nd place - Tera Boring



3rd Place - Nancy Reding





























Business Bit: Today's Tip - From The Success Factory 
I loved the tips in this article since it pertains to our type of business - Direct Sales.  It's different in so many ways from traditional jobs.  It has it's special challenges that if we can find systems to overcome, has rewards of flexibility that far outweigh the challenges

Subject: Ten Success Tips for your Direct Sales Business.  Part 1of 3

As a longtime volunteer in an organization in my community; one of my jobs is to help to replace women who leave their positions with the organization. This year we lost one of our most valued leaders. Her family finances had become challenging due to down sizing in her husband's company and so she was off to get a job herself to help make ends meet. She decided on direct sales; immediately asking me to join her in her business (I declined). However, I congratulated her on her enthusiasm for her new venture and asked her to sign up for our free email tips!

Recently I had a chance to visit with her and ask how her (3 month old) business was going. Her business, she told me, had come to a screeching halt. Another volunteer commitment was in crisis and was now taking ALL of her time and so, she was not currently working her direct sales business.

The story was familiar. I experienced it all too often in my own direct sales organization. As a leader, I never did get over the feeling of disappointment each time it happened. Someone with amazing potential who was a fast starter was gone before they'd even gotten started; LIFE had taken the place of her business.

The field of direct sales can be exciting and given today's current economy, many people are giving it a try. No resumes or interviews are necessary; just a small amount of capital to purchase a kit. So then what is the secret to success in direct sales? What steps can be taken to ensure one's success?

1. Have goals and find a buddy for accountability to those goals. Whether you want to make enough money for your child's college tuition, a car payment or a kitchen remodel; working towards something tangible is important. Break that goal into bite-sized chunks. What amount of work will it take in order for you to earn the amount of money you need to attain your goal? Share your goal with your spouse, your manager or a friend and ask them to hold you accountable for your weekly and daily activity.
 

2. Make lists. Working in direct sales means that you are your own boss. That means there will be no one but YOU to tell you what to do each day. If you are reading the daily email tips from The Success Factory, that is a great start as we always endeavor to help you with ideas to help you grow your business. However, making a daily 'to do' list will keep you on task so that the distractions of working from home do not side-track you.

 

3. Stay positive and enthusiastic. Make a decision to always look at the positives in every situation. When you experience difficulties, DECIDE to look at them as challenges that will help you to grow stronger. If you are having a hard day, always DUMP UP to your upline or recruiter. Staying positive for your team members is an important key to success as they will follow your lead. ALSO, do not complain to your spouse about your business as they may just encourage you to quit. Having the support of your spouse is another important key to success.

 

 Quote of the Day:

Success is not dependent on your ability to do this business well, but your willingness to do it regularly.

 

Easily Interactive Card - 5 Things to Avoid for a More Productive Morning

Creative Corner:

The card I'm sharing today is another one from my Awesome Artists Board Swap organized by my upline, Karen Morris.  I love participating in this swap because, although it takes a LOT of time and I feel pressure to do my very best work, I end up with great artwork for each of the new paper packets to share with my customers.

This is a simple interactive card. All you do is to cut your cardstock at 11x 41/4 fold it in half then fold the front back on itself.  I paper pieced the cake to easily make it 3 colors.  I am teaching this card this month as well. Here is the recipe: 

Happy Birthday Cake Card

X7183B Lollydoodle Paper Packet

C1581 Inspiration Flourishes

B1442 Belated Birthday Wishes

A1139 Congrats Graduate

X5666 Twilight Cardstock

X5929 Whisper Cardstock

Z2173 Slate Ink Pad

Z2197 Pear Ink Pad

Z2164 Sorbet Ink Pad

Z2193 Cotton Candy Ink Pad

Z2164 Lagoon Ink Pad

Bulk338- Flamingo Dots

Z1263 Bitty Sparkles

Business Bit: More about Time Management

Five Things To Avoid In The Morning For A More Productive Day

By Stephanie Vozza

If you’ve ever woken up on the wrong side of the bed or been frustrated in rush hour traffic, you know that mornings can set the tone for the rest of the day. While the morning is comprised of several hours, Hillary Rettig, a productivity coach for entrepreneurs and author of The 7 Secrets of the Prolific (Infinite Art, 2011) says the way you spend the first 15 minutes could make or break you.

“For many people, the morning holds our freshest, most energetic hours,” Rettig says. “Good time managers value ever smaller amounts of time. Those first few minutes of your day – both at home and when you get to the office – are vital.”

Doing low-value work during this precious time can put your day off course. Here are five things you may be doing in the morning that will sabotage your productivity:

1. Going online. Checking email or social media when you wake up is a common way to start the day, but those few minutes you think you’ll spend online often turn into an hour or more. Rettig suggests staying offline until 10 a.m.
“It’s easy to get sucked into the vortex of the Internet,” Rettig says. “Protect the morning for the work that’s important to you, then be available for others later in the day.”

2. Turning on the television. For many people, the morning routine looks like this: Take a shower. Watch some TV. Eat breakfast. Watch some TV. Walk the dog. Watch some TV.
“The television stretches out our morning ritual and distracts us from our mission,” Rettig says. “Don’t get anesthetized by the TV – leave it off.”
If you need background noise, she says music on the radio is better. Save talk radio for your morning commute.
3. Skipping a workout. Procrastination begins in the body, says Rettig, and deskwork helps foster it. Morning exercise gets the blood flowing and makes you more alert. If you don’t like to sweat or can’t fit in a long routine, simply start your day by stretching, twisting or dancing.
“It’s important to work out the stiffness in the body, especially if you sit all day,” she says.
4. Answering the phone. With caller ID, most of us have some idea who is calling when the phone rings. Unless you’re someone who handles crisis work or makes sales calls for a living, get the most out of your morning by turning off the phone, suggests Rettig.
“The phone can be highly interruptive,” she says, adding that even short calls can distract you and take you off track.
5. Tackling busy or dreaded work first. While it can be tempting to “warm up” your day with busy work or your least favorite tasks, Rettig says it’s a better idea to start with something important that’s likely to yield a positive outcome.
“For example, make the one or two sales calls you think are the most promising,” she says. “Accomplishments motivate you for the rest of the day.”

Stephanie Vozza is a freelance writer who has written about business, real estate and lifestyle for more than 20 years.

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/231407#ixzz2tKxl2E86

Creative Corner:

Today's card is an example of clean and simple - with a LOT of white space.  It's actually a card I created to feature the Lollydoodle paper packet for a swap.  The only thing I ended up using was the zipstrip so in the end I decided it wasn't a great way to show off that paper.  The colors are Buttercup, Whisper and Pear.  The stamp sets are B1452 Funky Blossoms, D1559 Geometric Backgrounds and D1542  For a Friend.  To make it FSE for a workshop you could use just Funky Blossoms and make it a "Thank you" card, use Honey ink and a strip of the Bulk Jubilee.  As I do with most of my cards, this one is cut down to 4 inches wide to save cardstock.  I inked the flower stamp in Buttercup and "rolled" the leaves in Pear.  A bit of 3 D foam tape and Creme Brulee Bakers Twine complete the card.

 

 

 

Business Bit:

I don't know about you, but remembering names has always been a struggle for me. I'm a visual person, so I can remember faces - but connecting the two is tough.  I found this article that addresses this issue and I'd like to share it with you.  I'm going to give this a try and see if it helps.   

5 Tricks to Remembering Anybody's Name

By Jacqueline Whitmore

 

                       

What's in a name? A lot, it turns out -- particularly when it comes to garnering new business contacts. When you remember somebody's name -- even after meeting them just briefly -- it sends the message that the interaction was important to you. Perhaps no other skill can make others feel as valued, or open as many doors to new connections.

While some people possess a gift for remembering names, for others, it's more of a learned skill. But every new introduction is an opportunity to practice recognizing faces, and, as you improve, others will begin to perceive you as a valuable connector in business and in life.
Use the strategies below to practice -- and make it a point to challenge yourself at networking events. My advice? Start slowly, and then increase your repertoire with each new introduction:
1. Repeat names throughout the exchange. Repetition helps your brain form the connections necessary to retain information. As soon as you're introduced, say, "It's lovely to meet you, Jane." Refer to the person by name upon greeting and then repeat it again in parting.
2. Make mental associations. Make a visual connection with a person's name to something memorable in your world -- the more outlandish, the better. For example, if you meet someone named Jay who happens to be a music producer, visualize a blue jay at a mixing board. The humorous image will imprint his name and career onto your memory.
3. Study names in print. Use your eyes as well as your ears. When someone wears a nametag, for instance, look at the nametag as well as the face to create an association. As soon as you receive a business card, glance at the name and say, "Thank you, John."
4. Ask for clarification with difficult names. If a new acquaintance has a name that is difficult to pronounce or happens to mumble their introduction, simply ask him or her to repeat it. Then say it again yourself for verification. In addition to gaining clarity, the extra effort will speak to your attention to detail.
5. If you forget a name, address it head on. If you absolutely can't remember a name, try to offer any information you can remember, such as where the two of you may have met. Alternatively, if you shake hands and introduce yourself, your contact will most likely follow suit.
If you think you know someone's name, but are unsure, venture a guess: "Bill, right?" Or you could simply apologize and say, "I'm sorry, I'm a little forgetful at the moment. Please remind me of your name." Don't worry, it happens to everyone.

Jacqueline Whitmore is an etiquette coach and founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach. She is also the author of Poised for Success: Mastering the Four Qualities That Distinguish Outstanding Professionals (St. Martin's Press, 2011) and Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work (St. Martin's Press, 2005).

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230997#ixzz2t9QZdIDh

Business Bit:Six Steps to Salvage an Unproductive Day - Creative Corner

Creative Corner:Today's artwork is a bit atypical for me.  It's super graphic and bold.  Do you recognize the B&T paper?  It's the bulk Jubilee.  The colors are Honey, Black and Tulip.  Again - super simple with the help of our Cricut Artbooking Cartridge and Cricut Craftroom.  I warped the word and welded on an exclamation point.  It's also stamped with B1418 Love Doily. It gives a completely different look to this "down-home" looking paper packet.

 

Business Bit:

Here in another great article on time- management.  It is perhaps one of the biggest challenges of running a home-based business and is critical to master if you want to succeed working from home.

 

Six Steps to Salvage an Unproductive Day



We’ve all had those days when we have a million things to do, but can’t seem to get ahead on any of them. Not only do unproductive days detract from your business’ success, it can also have an effect on your well-being, affecting your mood and stress levels. While simply throwing in the towel, heading home and returning to the office refreshed the next day may seem an attractive option, there's still a chance to turn around your day and boost your productivity.