The Home Connection USATM 
Use It or Lose It!
by Belinda Ellsworth
"It’s not what you’ve got; it’s what you use that makes a difference." – Zig Ziglar
What makes a person successful?
Talent? Skills? Resources? Think about it . . .
Everyone has at least one talent, and most people have more than a few. In addition to their talents, the majority of people also have many outside resources available to them -- everything from the investments they’ve made in themselves -- to those people around them who would gladly help out in their pursuit of success.
To that end, it would be fair to say that what separates the successful from the unsuccessful is what people DO with what they have, not just in what they have available.
In fact, the person with mediocre skills who does something with them will go infinitely farther than someone with higher skill levels who is too afraid to step out and use them.
This week, take an inventory of your skills, talents and resources – or those things that you can immediately draw from. Now, figure out how you can use these resources to better your life, relationships and career. Write these disciplines down.
Now, the difference maker: Go do it!
Have a great week!
Stick-to-itiveness
Becomes a Velcro Person
by Ilene Meckley
Ever wonder why some people seem to get all the breaks? They’re like “Velcro People,” good things just seem to stick to them wherever they go. It’s as if the “lucky ones” always come out on top. I for one, don’t believe much in luck. Dig a bit deeper and I think you’ll find that luck is more a matter of persistence and perseverance – stick-to-itiveness, if you will.
Starting the Race
At the Olympics games in 1968,
More than an hour after the top marathoner that day won the race, Akhwari, despite the excruciating pain, entered the coliseum in
Finishing the Race
Limping away he was asked by a reporter, why he had not quit. Akhwari answered, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race. They sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.”
In my mind, this heroic marathon runner was a winner. Refusing to give up, and despite the odds, he kept on going. He stuck to the assignment at hand. He refused to accept defeat or take “no” for an answer. He finished the race.
Having What It Takes
Do you have what it takes to finish the race? If you hear a “no” and keep on going until you hear a “yes,” then you have what it takes. If you experience an “off night” with low sales and no bookings, but come right back and try again, then you, too, have what it takes.
Whenever you are thinking about quitting, I suggest you take a couple of minutes to look at the YouTube video about John Stephen Akhwari.
Here is the link, http://www.youtube.com/watch.
Become Velcro Person
Having a business is like running a marathon.
The start is exciting. Everyone is there to cheer you on. But it’s along the course of the journey that you prove you have what it takes. Stick-to-itiveness is becoming a “Velcro Person,”
good things just seem to stick to them
wherever they go.
© 2009 Ilene Meckley, Reprinted with permission.
If you enjoyed this week’s Monday Motor-Vator®,
pass it on to friends and colleagues.
Let them know about Ilene Meckley,
the Success Coach, and www.ilenemeckley.com,
your first choice for motivation, inspiration,
and information about achieving success
in a home-based business.
Balancing Family and Business
From The Success Factory
Quick Tip #1 Office Hours – Set them and follow them. Office hours remind you to go to work, but also give you permission to "go home" from work. Even though this is a flexible business, you have to schedule time and plan when you are going to work.
Quick Tip #2 Be in the Moment – Try not to think about family when you are working or work when you are with your family. This takes practice but can be achieved. One practical tip for helping you with this challenge is to let your answering machine pick up calls when you are playing with your children; be sure to turn the volume down!
Quick Tip #3 Workspace - Whenever possible, have a separate workspace for your business. In some cases, this may be as simple as a portable file box that travels with you.
Quick Tip #4 Family Bills – By taking over at least one family bill as soon as possible, you will show your family that you are in business, not just playing office. This will also help you to take your work seriously and keep you accountable to a full calendar.
Quick Tip #5 Communication – talk with your family, especially your spouse, about your business goals. How will your family benefit from your new business? What do you need from them and what can they expect from you? When you work at it, a home-based business can be a great vehicle for enhancing your family's relationship.
Quick Tip #6 Check your priorities - Everyone has different priorities. Know what yours are and if you find you are out of order, then it's time to analyze and make adjustments as needed.
Taken from the Success Factory
© 2009 Anne Nelson,
How to Make Your Direct Sales Business Profitable in Your First Year
by Anne Nelson
The key to making your direct sales business profitable is to run it like a business, not a hobby.
Often times I hear HomeStyle Specialist telling prospects "you can work whenever you want to" which is true - if you want a hobby. In which case, you won't care if you make money. If however, your goal is to make money, here are some tips to help you do so.
1. Work Your Business Consistently.
Two shows a week should be standard.
2. Invest in Yourself with continuing education, ie: attend meetings, workshops, conventions, tele-seminars, etc. And USE what you learned!
3. Improve your sales skills and master hostess coaching.
4. Mentor right from the beginning,
don't wait to become a "success" first!
5. Write Out Your Goals and a plan of action.
6. Invest Back Into Your Business.
You need a sufficient amount of product samples to create a strong business. When new products come out, you should have some of those on hand as well.
7. Separate Checking & Credit Card.
Have a separate checking account and credit card and ONLY use it for business.
8. Pay Yourself from your profits each month
or twice a month.
9. Manage Your Profits
Don't use your profits on product for yourself that you want just to have and don't need. Those personal items should be purchased with your personal, not business account, since they will be for personal use and you want to be able to see your profit fairly.
10. Work with a CPA who knows the direct sales industry and can advise you on how to maximize your profit through wise tax management.
11. Be patient! It takes time to build a client base and repeat customers while you're learning the business. Expect to learn the business the first 6 months, and make money the next 6 months. Year after year remember that you are the determining factor if your business is making money.
12. Have fun! Watch your attitude. Get help when you are challenged and realize that there is always someone else who has been through what you are experiencing and fortunate for you, they're willing to share the info with you. Never take a complaint "down-line," always take a concern with an optional solution to your leadership and then, listen to their advice.
Reprinted with permission.
Anne Nelson, author of Find Your Joy Zone and creator of
the Master Business Series CDs for direct sellers is a keynote speaker and seminar leader. Anne's FREE Direct Sales Professional Newsletter, articles and contact information
can be found at: www.YourJoyZone.com.
Web Site Links HelpAmerica Foundation AtHome America® Hope4Mike Tri State Trek
ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI)
Decorating with Pat Blog
More Build It Big Book
Pat Dempsey contributing author
