If we break that down to a much smaller market like Australia… Did you know that there is in excess of 400,000 people in Australia who are involved in the Direct Selling profession, according to the DSAA (Direct Selling Association of Australia)?

Have you taken a moment to stop and consider what kind of impact we could have on our own industry simply by choosing to support our fellow direct sellers? In doing so, we are choosing to support small business owners like ourselves who each contribute to our communities.

I have found in the past that many direct sellers do not think of other direct sellers first when making buying decisions. Yet, we feel rejected and upset if others do not support our business.

If each direct selling consultant was to make a new years resolution to divert just $100 per month from regular retail stores to our direct selling partners, we would inject $40,000,000 into our profession each month in Australia alone!! Yes!  You read that correctly!  If each of us who call ourselves direct sellers in Australia, would divert $100 of our spending to fellow direct sellers, we would inject $40 million PER MONTH into our business.  Who would like some of that????

Imagine the impact if 91.5 million direct selling friends right across the world did the same thing? I cannot even count the zero’s on that number! HUGE!

I have had a look around my home and thought about my spending this past year…  I use Send Out Cards for my cards and gifts; I take Juice Plus capsules daily; I have my washing powder and some kitchen staples delivered from Amway; I cook on Chefs Toolbox cookware; my cupboards are full of Tupperware and my daughter received some for Christmas; my cleaning cloths are all from Enjo and my husband uses that same brand in our cleaning business; my new bras and underwear are from Intimo; my current favourite lippy is from Nutrimetics; yesterday I tried the wrap from IT Works; my linen is from Lorraine Lea Linen;  I use my Thermomix daily; I have some lovely garments of clothing from Postie Fashions; there are Mary Kay products in my bathroom; and I use Talk Fusion for my video emails and am sure others that I have forgotten about.

Is it difficult to make the change?  No, you are after all spending the money anyway.  It is simply a matter of asking yourself a question before choosing to buy something… can I get this product from one of my direct selling friends?  I am not saying that if you can get a better product elsewhere that you shouldn’t do that… just that you stop and think before making your buying decision.  Generally, I have found direct selling products are definitely of high quality and offer great value.

So… my question for you is… can you make a New Years resolution to divert some of your normal spending to your direct selling collegues each month?  Let’s share the joy and wealth this year and support one another in 2013!

That is exactly how I have been feeling these last few days after seeing the epidemic of copy and paste status updates about privacy on Facebook!

The voice inside my head is hearing my mother ask me in frustration… 

This usually followed me doing something silly that I tried to explain away with ‘but Mary did it!’

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I totally understand how those of you who are new to Facebook may be misled by these updates… so, for you, I am going to share a few of my top tips on Facebook for beginners.

But, for those of you who have been around for a while and are still falling for this kind of nonsense I say… STOP JUMPING OFF THE BRIDGE JUST BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT!  Seriously!  

And in the spirit of motherly advice here are…

My Tips on Facebook for Beginners

(and those who insist on jumping)…

1. Don’t share copy and paste status updates.  Simple really… just don’t…  They are rarely accurate and never from any official source.

2. Don’t fall for the sentimental images posts.  You know the ones… we have all seem them.  They are accompanied by a promise to donate $1 for every like, save a child’s life for every share etc.  Just don’t… someone is usually just trying to generate mass engagement using images that are going to tug on your emotional heart strings.  Don’t fall for it!

3. Don’t fall for the guilt trip posts.  The ones that try and trick you into believing the whole ‘you are a bad person and bad things will happen to you if you don’t share this’ posts.  Nonsense!… again, someone trying to psych you out to get lots of shares and likes.

4. Don’t click on 3rd party apps you don’t need.  Especially the ones that promise to tell you who is stalking your profile etc.  If you don’t need it, don’t use it and that includes games.  Understand that everytime you click on one of those apps you are giving the developer permission to access your Facebook account details.  YOU are doing it… not Facebook.  So, STOP IT!

5. Think before you act.  Yes I know it is a unique concept and one we don’t seem to have so much trouble with anywhere else, but when it comes to Facebook we just… forget?  Apply the good old… Stop. Look. Listen.. before you cross the street otherwise you are likely to walk into oncoming traffic.

6. Question everything. If you don’t know… ask someone who does.  Find someone who will either know the answer or will know where to go to find out for you.  Don’t just be a mindless sheep that follows the masses…. remember, remove the ‘M’ and who are you following?

7. Take responsibility. Yes, I know… it sounds like a lot of hard work.  But honestly, if you want to use a free platform like Facebook don’t ‘jump on the bandwagon’ by sharing all of these updates or get on your high horse about your privacy if you haven’t taken responsibility for educating yourself.  Facebook actually provides very detailed and transparent resources that outline everything you need to know…  so set aside some time and educate yourself on the tools you are choosing to use.

To get the facts on your Facebook privacy you can head to the Facebook Terms and Policies Page where Facebook have very conveniently put everything you need to know together in one place.

So, in closing…. when you see Mary jumping off the bridge…  STOP!  And think of me… scowling at you… pointing my finger… and in my best ‘motherly’ voice asking you the question….  AND DON’T JUMP!

You can’t be blaming Facebook if you do!

PS.  Please note – I really don’t mind sounding like my mother.  She is one of the most genuine, kind-hearted people I know and if I can be half as generous in spirit as she is, then I will be extremely proud of who I have become.

The more thought you invest in planning and setting priorities before you begin, the more important things you will do and the faster you will get them done once you get started.

The more important and valuable the task is to you, the more likely you will be motivated to overcome procrastination and launch yourself into the job at hand.

The ABCDE method is a powerful priority setting technique that you can use every single day. The technique is so simple and effective that it can, all by itself, make you one of the most efficient and effective people in your field.

The power of this technique is the simplicity. You start with a list of everything you have to do for the coming day. Think on paper…write it down.

You then place an A, B, C, D or E before each of the items on your list before you begin the first task.

An “A” item is defined as something that is very important. This is something you must do. There would be serious consequences if this task was not completed. If you have more than one A task (and consider it carefully) then list them A1, A2 and so on.

“Shoulds” versus “Musts”

A “B” item is defined as a task that you should do. It only has mild consequences if not completed. These are the tadpoles of your work life. It may mean that someone will be unhappy or inconvenienced if you don’t do it, however it is nowhere near as important as an A task.

The rule is that you should never do a B task if there is an A task left undone.

A “C” task is defined as something that would be nice to do but for which there are no consequences at all.

A “D” task is one that can be delegated to someone else. The rule is that you should delegate everything that anyone else can do, so you can free up your time for your “A” tasks that only you can do.

An “E” task is something that you can eliminate altogether and it wont make any real difference to your results. This may be a task that was important at one time but is no longer relevant to you or anyone else. Often it is something that you do out of habit or because you enjoy it. However, every minute you spend on an “E” task is time taken away from a task or activity that can make a real difference in your life.

Take Action Immediately

The key to making the ABCDE method work is for you to discipline yourself to start immediately on your “A1” task and then stay at it until it is complete. Use your willpower to get going and stay going on this one job, the most important task you could possibly be doing.

If you would like some assistance in making your first list we have an online Eat That Frog mini coaching course that can be referred back to coach Celine for some pointers. It is $19.97 and you can register to receive it here.

One of the most powerful of all words in time management is the word “NO!”.

Say it politely and courteously. Say it clearly so that there is no misunderstanding. Say it regularly as a normal part of your time management vocabulary.

Say “NO” to anything that is not a high value use of your time and your life. Say “NO” graciously but firmly to avoid agreeing to the something against your will. Say it early and say it often.

Remember that you have no spare time. For you to do something new, you must complete or stop doing something old. Getting in means getting out. Picking up means putting down. Creative procrastination is the act of thoughtfully and deliberately deciding upon the exact things you are not going to do right now, if ever.

Most people engage in unconscious procrastination. They procrastinate without thinking about it. As a result, they procrastinate on the big, valuable, important tasks that can have significant long-term consequences to their lives and careers. What important tasks do you procrastinate on that will have a negative effect on your direct selling business?

Continually review your actions to identify what tasks are ‘no or little return’ and what tasks are giving you results. I especially like to do a time audit on a yearly (if not more often) basis. This means writing down everything I do from the time I get up in the morning until the time I go to bed, over a 10-14 day period. I find this a very useful task as it shows me what I am really doing rather than what I think I am doing!!

Eat that Frog

1. Practice a zero-based thinking on every part of your life. Ask yourself continually, “If I was not doing this already, knowing what I now know, would I start it up or get into it today?” If the answer is no, then maybe it is a task that needs to be deleted.
2. Examine each of your personal and work activities and evaluate it based on your current situation. Select at least one activity to abandon immediately, or at least, deliberately put off until your more important goals are achieved.

What things do you need to learn to say no to?

Louisa is also a published Author of Don’t Tell Me To Get a Real Job.  A book that shares how to get started, overcome challenges and grow your own thriving Direct Selling Business.

Our very own Celine Egan, has known Louisa for many years and shares her thoughts…

Louisa is certainly very well liked and respected amongst those who have worked with her and has a reputation as  ‘an incredibly astute business woman with high standards, humility and sense of humour and adventure.‘

Louisa featured in the ‘Millionaire Mums’ Home Parties segment on making money in the Direct Selling Business on Channel Seven’s ‘Today Tonight’.

We are very excited at DSEN to introduce our members and readers to Louise Clarke and look forward to sharing her expertise with you as one of our Expert Entrepreneur Panel members.

Creative procrastination is one of the most effective of all personal performance techniques. In fact, it can change your life!

When I first heard Brian Tracy say this I was confused. Hadn’t I been learning about not procrastinating?

The fact is, you can’t do everything you have to do. You have to procrastinate on something!

Therefore, procrastinate on small tasks. Put off eating the smaller or less ugly frogs and eat the biggest, ugliest frogs before anything else. Do the worst first!

Everyone procrastinates. The difference between high performers and low performers is largely determined by what they choose to procrastinate on.

For example, in our direct selling business, if you choose to procrastinate on making calls and talking to people about your products and opportunities, or host coaching before a party, then guaranteed, your business is not going to grow. This is a task we MUST NOT procrastinate on!  Whereas we can procrastinate on doing other tasks like stamping catalogues, filing etc.

Since we all do procrastinate, make a commitment to procrastinate on the low value activities. Decide to procrastinate, outsource, delegate and eliminate those activities that don’t make much of a contribution to your business growth. Get rid of the tadpoles and focus on the frogs!!

How can you implement creative procrastination to be more effective in your business?  What ‘tadpoles’ are you spending time on because they seem easier to ‘swallow’? Please share in the comments below.

Celine

Your focus on Pinterest as a direct selling business owner needs to be on connecting with those who have similar interests to you both personally and related to your product.  The key to doing this starts with creating Pinterest boards that are going to attract followers.

Avoid Starting With Self-Promotion

One of the mistakes I see direct sellers making is starting with boards about their products. Pinterest Etiquette guidelines ask users to ‘avoid self-promotion’, in other words, Pinterest is about sharing other people’s content more than it is about promoting yourself.  So, before you get started, switch your thinking from what you want to promote, to what you can share that is of value to others.

I recommend starting with some boards that reflect a little about who you are as a person and what you are interested in. Here are some examples…

Places I Have Been; Bucket List; Vision Board; Clothes I Love; Wish List; Ideas for the Home, Garden, Home Office; People I Admire; Eating Out; Our Trip to…; Planning Our Holiday etc

The list really is endless.  Once you have decided on some topics you would like to share, you will need to visit some of your favourite websites that have images you can Pin.  Make sure you have added the Pin It Button to your Firefox Browser as many websites have not yet added Pinterest Buttons and Widgets.

Once you have created some personal boards you can then think about the topics your followers may be interested in that relate to your product.  Again, this is not when you start to upload and share your product.  This is about attracting followers who are interested in topics that relate to your product.  Here are some examples…

Cookware / Kitchenware – create boards to share recipes; kitchen gadgets; seasonal or local produce; ways to organise your kitchen; and home decor ideas for the kitchen.

Skincare / Makeup – create boards to share make up tips; seasonal looks; how the skin works; and ways to pamper yourself.

Crafts – create boards on ‘how to’ topics; ways for storing crafts; or craft projects you are working on.

Clothing / Fashion – create boards on seasonal colours; current looks; body shapes; or fashion accessories.

Health / Wellness – create boards on healthy recipes; exercise; nutrition; or things to avoid.

And then you need to do the same as above.  Go to some of your favourite websites that share great connect and use the Pin It Button to pin onto your boards.

Be Specific with Board Titles

Another mistake I have noticed people making, is creating boards that are way to general, like ‘Food’ or ‘Crafts’ or even just ‘Stuff I Love’.  Whilst this may have some meaning for you, the more specific and creative your board titles are, the more likely people will be to follow them.  Remember, the object of Pinterest is to attract followers who are genuinely interested in the content you are sharing.  If they are genuinely interested, they will then repin, like or comment on your boards.

Here are some examples…

Instead of calling a board ‘Food’, create some boards that are more specific.  Eg  Favourite Recipes; Gluten-Free Cooking; Vegetarian Recipes; Eating Out; Delicious Desserts etc

Instead of calling a board ‘Crafts’ create more specific boards like Scrapbooking your Wedding; Cardmaking with Kids; Jewellery Making etc

Instead of calling a board ‘Stuff I Love’, get creative and group items into categories people will follow like Things for the Garden; Beautiful Bling; Ideas for Home; or Shoe-a-holic

The more specific your board titles are the more interested the people will be who follow them.

Share Great Quality Content

One thing to remember is Pinterest is not like Twitter in that the information you share does not disappear through the feed quickly.  People can and will take the time to go to your profile and browse through the boards that are of interest to them,  before deciding to follow them and repin your content.  The better the quality of the content you are sharing the more likely they are to follow.  They have to like what they see!

I would recommend you are pinning quality images from websites offering only the best information, so you build a reputation for providing quality content on your board topic.  This can help position you as an expert who knows where to find everything on that board topic and your followers will remember you.

Maximise Your Boards for Search

Pinterest users can search for imgaes based on Categories or they can type what they are looking for into the search box and then chose between pins, boards or people using those keywords.

Categories – When pinning or repinning, you can create a new board instead of selecting one of your existing boards, but doing this does not allow you to add that board to one of Pinterests Categories.  Be sure to edit each board and select a Category that best describes what your are pinning. This way when people select a Category your pins and boards may come up in their search.

Keywords – It is also important to add a Description to your boards using keywords people may be searching for.  If for example I was searching for Vegetarian Recipes I can type it into the search box and then select if I would like to see pins, boards or people who have used the words ‘vegetarian recipes’.  So, put some thought into what people may be searching for and use those words in your board descriptions.

Fill Your Boards

Take the time to fill your boards with images so your profile looks visual.  Busy boards will get more followers.  Boards that have one or two images and sit basically empty will not inspire anyone to follow them.

Sharing Your Product

Now that you are familiar with Pinterest and you have some creative board topics that are generating interest and followers, you can start to think about including your product.

I recommend dispersing your product amongst the board topics you have created, rather than creating a board that is ‘Your Company Name Products’.  Having a board exclusively for promoting your products will not inspire people to follow it. So, if your business is skin care and makeup, perhaps share eyeshadow colours on a board that is called ‘Makeup Looks Winter 2012′ or share your anti-aging products on a board called “Why Skin Ages”.  Be sure to be sharing other content that supports the topic so it is not all about you and your products.

You can then link your products to your consultant website and add a price so people can click through to find out more.

It is important to spread pinning your products over a period of time.  If you sit and pin product after product, even if they are shared across multiple board topics, you may annoy your followers with ‘self-promotion’ and they may unfollow you.  So use your discretion and put yourself in the place of those who are following your posts.

Feel free to share your Pinterest profile link in the comments below so we can follow you and your boards on Pinterest.  We welcome any questions you may have or any additional tips you can offer on how to make use of Pinterest in your Direct Sales business.

Larna

There are three questions you can ask yourself on a regular basis to keep focused on getting your most important tasks completed on schedule.

The first question: “What are my highest value activities?”

In other words, what are the biggest frogs you have to eat to make the greatest contribution to your business? To your family? To your personal development?  To your life in general?

Give this some thought. What are the activities that give you the greatest return in the area you are focusing on?

The second question: “What can I and only I do, that if done well, will make a real difference?”

This question comes from Peter Drucker, The Management Guru. It is one of the best of all questions for achieving personal effectiveness.

What can you and ONLY YOU do that will make a difference? What is this particular frog for you?

The third question: “What is the most valuable use of my time, RIGHT NOW?”

In this moment what is your biggest frog?

This is the core question of all time management. Answering this question correctly is the key to overcoming procrastination and becoming a highly productive person. Every hour of every day, there is some task that is the most valuable use of your time at that moment.

Do first things first and second things not at all!! As Goethe said…

The more accurate your answers to these questions, the easier it will be for you to set clear priorities, overcome procrastination and get started on that one activity that represents the most valuable use of your time.  The more accurate your answers to these questions, the more effective you will be at GETTING THINGS DONE!

How do you think asking these questions of yourself every day would have an impact on your productivity?

Celine

Here at the Direct Selling Entrepreneurs Network, we are very excited to introduce an inspirational and entertaining lady to our Expert Entrepreneurs Panel.

Sue Henry is a small business expert that refers to herself as the Business Stickybeak. She is a co-author of 2 books, ‘Accelerate’ & ‘Network or Perish’, and has worked in small business training, sales, and marketing for over 20 years.

Sue provides small business owners with information, education and programs in sales, networking, customer service, team building, communication skills and much more. She has been engaged as a Sales Manager, National Marketing Manager, Training Manager, Sales Representative, Trainer, Project Manager and all round trouble shooter across a range of industries for various companies.

Sue has trained and inspired many business professionals and small business owners across a range of industries to excel beyond their own expectations. Many of Sue’s clients report extraordinary results working with her.  In a recent and typical comment from one client…

Throughout Sue’s career she has been driven by big goals and rewarded by maintaining relationships. Her unique approach to networking, sales and innovative approaches to building business are what sets her apart.

Sue is an avid consumer of business literature and motivational text and is an exceptional networker. As a result, her strategies and enthusiasm for what she does and her ability to quickly assimilate new information make a powerful force for business owners to learn and benefit from.

We love Sue at DSEN because she brings not only incredible knowledge and experience, but a fabulous energy and great sense of humour to all that she does.  We know our members will benefit hugely from what Sue has to offer and we cannot wait to work with her!

Every man (or woman) has become great; every successful man has succeeded, in proportion as he has confined his powers to one particular channel.” – Orison Swett Marden

According to Brian Tracy… “The mark of the superior thinker is his or her ability to accurately predict the consequences of doing or not doing something. The potential consequences of any task or activity are the key determinants of how important it really is to you and to your company. This way of evaluating the significance of a task is how you determine what your next frog really is”.

Successful people have a clear future orientation. They think five, ten and twenty years out into the future. They analyse their choices and behaviours in the present, to make sure what they are doing today is consistent with the long term future they desire.

Rule: Future intent influences and often determines present actions.

Think about an incentive challenge that is currently running in your company. It may be a holiday or a car, or even a cash bonus. How much you want that incentive WILL determine on what actions you take today. The same with building your business for future income. If you have a five year plan in your business, this will determine what actions you do or do not take today.

The clearer you are about your future intentions, the greater influence that clarity will have on what you do in the moment. With a clear long term vision, you are more capable of evaluating an activity in the present and to ensure it is consistent with where you truly want to end up.

For each challenge or incentive put on by my direct selling company that I want to achieve, I will put a sign up in my office or on the fridge door (somewhere I am going to see every day) which asks… “What have I done today to get me to _______?” Then, my long term (or short term) goal determines my daily actions.

What goals are you aiming for that are influencing your daily actions?

To your success

Celine

The legendary Eat That Frog! (more than 450,000 copies sold and translated into 23 languages) provides the 21 most effective methods for conquering procrastination and accomplishing more. This new edition is revised and updated throughout, and includes brand new information on how to keep technology from dominating our time.

DSEN recommends The Book Depository.  FREE Shipping Worldwide.

You can purchase your copy here.  You are invited to read each chapter as you follow along with Celine’s articles and share you thoughts, experiences, success stories and challenges as we go.