How often have you heard, “Treat your business like a business, and it will make you money. Treat your business like a hobby, and it will cost you money.” Many new direct sellers come into the profession without business experience. Where will they learn to turn their passion for the products into a real business? They look to you, their leader, for guidance: what are you teaching them?
Take a look at your new consultant training. Are you teaching beyond book, sell and recruit? Do words like invest, plan, systems, income-producing, and return on investment appear? Do you discuss money?
By integrating business language and practices into training from day one, you create a business mindset and culture on your team. As more team members think like business owners, higher incomes and promotions will follow. When people make money, they tend to stick around longer.
Where to begin? One good place is the idea of investing. “Invest” is a broad business concept that includes:
- Invest time
- Invest money
- Invest in self
You can start integrating the investment concept right at the recruiting interview. Instead of asking, “How much time do you have to spend on your business, try “How much time do you have to invest in your business.” When we think spend, we think give up; when we think invest, we think return. Substitute money and self for time and ask the same questions. Soon the concept of investing will become part of your team culture.
The goal becomes learning to leverage your investment for the greatest return. Whether that is learning to invest:
- time on the high impact priorities
- money in inventory for a fixed profit
- time and money in personal development (self) for more effectiveness and efficiency
The result will be leveraging your resources for more significant results – investment!
Want to learn more about leading a team?
Being a leader is more than managing sales and recruiting. Being a leader tests your self-concept and relationship skills. The Direct Selling Leaders Network is the Facebook group known as a safe place to share questions and answers about growing your business. Leaders are curious. This is a great group to find out some answers.
The Direct Selling Leaders’ Network is the Facebook group for leaders like you. This social learning community is the premier online community for direct selling leaders, future leaders, and those who want to create their future. Leadership is a way of life, not just a position. Join us as we add new FREE content every week! Recruiting, Getting Your Team to Work, and Tips on Working Smarter, Not Harder. NOT A MEMBER? Please join some of the best leaders in direct sales.
