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Did You Pay Your Stupid Tax Yet?

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Stupid Tax is defined as an amount of money spent or owed as a result of a poor choice or honest mistake made in some aspect of your business.

Most business owners pay Stupid Tax at some point. Some pay it repeatedly; others only pay it once.   The thing to remember about Stupid Tax, is that when you pay it, don’t fret.   Don’t beat yourself up over it; and don’t get upset. Just know you’re not alone, learn from it and move on.

To know that you’re in good company.   I asked some consultants in the Direct Sales industry if they’d be willing to share some of the Stupid Tax they paid. below are some actual examples.

1. Under charged a customer for postage. Someone wanted to purchase some of our products but she lived in another country; a country that my company at the time, did not ship to. So I told her that I would order what she wanted and have it shipped to my house. Then if she wanted to pay postage for me to mail it to her, I’d repackage it and ship it to her. I think I charged her $10 to ship it. When I took it into the post office I learned that I it was going to cost me $32 to mail it! I had already quoted $10 to the customer and she paid it, so I wasn’t about to go back to her for $22.   It was my fault. I had to eat it.   Stupid Tax.

2. A well respected online radio host approached me about donating product for goodie bags for a very specific target market. I knew that she wouldn’t be involved with something unless it was a top-notch affair and the recipients were absolutely in my market. It was also a good cause, so I agreed to it. She needed a large number of individual donations (not samples), plus catalogs for everyone.   When all was said and done, I invested about $1,600.00 USD in this donation.   I never would have spent this much had I not done thorough research and felt confident it had a very good opportunity and high probability for return on my investment. However, I did not receive one single reorder or recruit, or one inquiry. It was a total bust. Zonked. Stupid Tax. [Read more…] about Did You Pay Your Stupid Tax Yet?

Overcoming Challenges of Booking Home Parties

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One of the most common challenges of being an independent consultant with a home party plan is the ability to get constant bookings.   If you can’t keep your calendar full, it’s difficult to have success in a home party business.   Below are three widespread reasons for less than stellar results in getting bookings. Keep reading, as it is also followed with solutions to overcome these challenges.

The people you talk with aren’t the party-hostess type. It may be that simple. They’re just not into having people over while someone tries to sell them something. Have you ever tried to convince your grandma to try skateboarding? Or tried to sell someone who only buys products made in the USA to purchase a foreign car? There are times that no matter what you say, you will not cause a cat to change her stripes.

You predetermine who would and would not be interested. You’ve decided in your head, “oh so and so wouldn’t be interested.” You don’t even give her the opportunity to consider it. You’ve already decided that her answer will be, “No.”   If you have these psychic abilities to read minds, this may be another career more suited for you, Oh Great Swami. [Read more…] about Overcoming Challenges of Booking Home Parties

What Does it Mean to Rebrand?

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Rebranding is a frequently misunderstood business term. If done properly it can send your business to new heights; however if done improperly or for the wrong reasons, it could be the start of the end for your business as you know it.   To further highlight this concept, I interviewed Kelly McCausey, who has made quite a name for herself within the freelance and work at home community.

One of Kelly’s many successful endeavors was WAHM Talk Radio. I say was because she recently rebranded.   What was formerly enjoyed as Work at Home Mom Talk Radio is now known as Solo Smarts.   Read below for insightful information on the recent, exciting change.   As you are reading the interview consider if it may be time to rebrand your own business.

TCB: I’ve known you for a long time, and when I need to give a quick elevator speech who you are when referencing your talent, skills and abilities I generally say something along the lines of Awesome Internet Marketing Coach, focusing on the WAHM community.   But now that your baby is grown up and moved out of the home do you still consider yourself a WAHM?   What is a good quick way to describe who you are or what you do?

Kelly: I fell in love with the WAHM community back in 2002 and feel grateful for my years as a work at home mom. When Sean first moved out, I didn’t feel that different about myself.   It wasn’t until this past Spring that I realized how much my life had changed and how little I could personally identify with the life of a work at home mom. I don’t juggle work with taking care of kids or car pools or late night feedings, it’s just me and me and me.

Of course I still have a big heart for moms who want or need to build a business at home and I still hope to engage and inspire as many as possible.

How long did you consider the idea of rebranding and was there something or someone who helped confirmed you were ready for the change?

I started feeling the need for a change about three months ago.   I have operated with complete authenticity from the beginning and felt I was losing that.   As I sat down to record Work at Home Moms Talk Radio, about 10 minutes in nothing I’d been talking about had anything to do with work at home moms. I stopped the recording, hit delete and started over – but it didn’t feel right.   I had to admit it was time to call it quits. [Read more…] about What Does it Mean to Rebrand?

You Get More With Honey Than Vinegar

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Watch your tone little lady. Try asking again mister, only this time a little nicer. I’ll be happy to speak with you when you can talk to me in a respectful manner. Do you hear yourself?

Chances are if you are a parent you’ve uttered the above words to your child – whether to a mouthy three year old or a too cool for rules teenager. I’ve said it myself. I have some great children, who don’t behave badly, but I have said on more than one occasion “˜that mouth is going to get you in trouble’.

The same thing is true in business. The tone you take when speaking to people will go a long way in determining the results you get in return. You can say the exact same thing, but depending on how you present your question or statement, you’re either going to get cooperation or you’re going to piss someone off. You must be extra vigilant when using email to communicate as we tend to misinterpret or add unnecessary or incorrect tone to words on paper or a computer monitor.

As an upline director of a direct selling organization it never ceases to amaze me some of the rude emails I receive from downline members. I know these concerns can and do work both ways, among up and downline members. Specifically, in this case I am referring to downline team members who need help but ask in such a disrespectful, entitlement approach.

For example, it doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to figure this one out but which email do you think would get the better response?

  1. Hi, I need your help please. I think my pay is wrong, or perhaps I don’t understand it. I looked in the manual but couldn’t find anything to help clarify. Can you take a look or let me know where to find the information or who to contact? Thanks.   Or:
  2. I’m sick of this, my check is wrong again.

Here are two more: [Read more…] about You Get More With Honey Than Vinegar

Surviving an Outdoor Vendor Event

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Ah, the good old summertime.   It sure is nice to be outside, especially after a long, cold winter. With so many festivals, state fairs and vendor events, one doesn’t need to look terribly hard to find a place to set up your wares to sell or display your direct selling products.

However, working an outdoor event in the heat presents some interesting challenges if you sell a product that could melt or discolor – such as candles. Below are a handful of tips to help you survive the doldrums of summer and still work your business in the warm open air.

  1. Make sure you have a system, such as coolers and zip lock bags, to keep the wax (or other product that could also get soft) from melting. Without the ziplock bags the labels will get soggy as the ice melts.
  2. If you have access to a generator or other power source, bring a fan, it’ll help keep you cool and customers will love it and want to stick around your booth longer.
  3. Bring plenty of water for you and any helpers. Don’t underestimate how dehydrated you can get working in the sun all day.

    4. [Read more…] about Surviving an Outdoor Vendor Event