By Dana Phillips.
My dad was a handyman. He did most of the work building our first home in 1955. He did plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, and my brother tells stories about laying the hardwood floors with him after school.
Some of my earliest memories were in our garage “helping” Dad. I learned a lot about tools. My dad died when I was 14, so these memories are significant to me. I remember the smell of the K and K Hardware store on Grant Street when we went to pick up supplies. To this day, if I walk into a hardware store, I smell the memory of Dad.
Here is the thing about tools. You’ll be more successful if you remember three things.
Know what each tool does. Dad taught me the names of the different wrenches, hammers, screwdrivers. As a direct selling leader, you want to know the various tools for recruiting that are at your disposal. Brochures, webinars, videos, social media, live events, one-on-one meetings, three-way calls, and opportunity calls are just a few ways direct sellers reach their potential new team members. These are your tools.
Use the tool in the right way. Dad taught me how to use a tool. He was keen on using the right saw for the right job. I learned that a mallet (which looked like a hammer) was used differently from a ball-peen hammer for metalworking. In the same way, once you know the recruiting tools you have at your disposal, make sure you are using them correctly. Some tools are excellent for introduction, some for conversation, some for research, and some are better for closing.
Be patient if you don’t get results right away. Dad had a deep reservoir of patience with me. He would let me hammer a nail and pull it out because it wasn’t straight. He taught me to measure twice and then cut. He waited for me to find the right tool, and when I didn’t, he smiled and said, “No, get the one that looks….” In your business, be patient with yourself and be patient with your team as they learn the tools of our profession.
You will create success as well as memories.
Want to learn to use your tools?
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