If you run into a whackadoodle consultant don’t assume the whole company is like that.
I admit it. I’ve been guilty of not heeding my own above advice. A couple years ago while I was a vendor at a local school craft show, another vendor from another company practically assaulted me, slapped some lotion underneath my eyes and proclaimed, “Here, this will help with your wrinkles!”
Ok, a couple things wrong with that. Number one; don’t touch me unless I’ve given permission or act like I’m up for unsolicited fondling. Number two; I could have been highly allergic to whatever magic lotion you were applying near my eyesballs; and number three, I’ve been told more than a few times that I already look much younger than approaching half a century, so insulting me by pointing out almost non-existent wrinkles is not going to get you sale. Whackjob.
So how do you think I felt about this particular company she represented from that point forward? Exactly. Any time I would see a consultant or booth for that company I put my Kevlar on, looked at my shoes and retreated in the opposite direction whenever the possibility existed for a repeat performance. Did the company teach all their consultants that little sales technique? Or did I just happen to be accosted by some rogue nutcase?
Oh I’m not naïve enough to think these unique creatures don’t exist in every direct sales company; I’m sure my own company, correction, I know within my own company there are some humdingers with whom I definitely do not want to be associated. I go out of my way to make sure any potential customer, recruit or host knows “˜we’re not all like that’. Which brings me to the whole point of this post:
We’re not all like that.
If you find a great consultant who is responsive, knowledgeable and truly a delight to do business with, hang onto her/him, because we’re not like that (though I humbly say I am!) Likewise, if you had the distinct pleasure of interacting with one of the bad apples, give us another try, because we’re not all like that.
Some companies still teach the 1980s mentality of being simple and duplicatable. So it is possible that if you run across one who is behaving a bit unorthodox, they could have been trained that way and are unaware they have the power and authority to be unique. However many companies are now leaning toward a more 2012 mentality of still keeping it simple, but making it your own. Find ways to work your business that, while still within the policies and procedures, but gives you plenty of discretion to be unique to stand out from the plethora of other consultants.
Most successful direct sales consultants know that it’s imperative that we take care of our customers – because if we don’t, there are plenty of others waiting in line who will.
Just remember – good, bad or indifferent: we’re not all like that.
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a Michigan work from home mom who started her first direct sales business in 1988. She is currently a Superstar Director with Scentsy Fragrance and President of Income Wax, Inc. She enjoys helping men and women start and maintain a home based business throughout the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Germany, Ireland and the UK. You can learn more about her at https://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com
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