To Do and Not To Do

You’re in business and you want to know how to effectively grow your business, right?  In today's post, I will share five things you must do and four things to not do if you want to grow your business.
The good news about growing your business is that it’s simple if you have a few skills.  Notice I did not say that it is easy, but if you work at it, you only have to master a handful of skills and actions in order to find success.

Here are five things you must do if you want to succeed in your home based business.

1.Get Training

As mentioned above, there are a few skills that are needed in order to succeed and you need to spend time and money to get the training you need.  If you’re in a good company they will provide lots of entry level training.  They will set you up and get you started.  You want to master the skills of inviting, prospecting, recruiting, closing and team building.  These skills are a must if you want to succeed.

2.Put In The Effort

You can easily acquire the skills it takes and most people are willing to learn the skills.  Where most people miss the boat is the amount of effort they put in.  You have to commit to a certain level of activity that focuses on prospecting and team building if you want to grow a massive team.  Taking action only when you feel like it or on occasion will not cut it if you want massive success.
What kind of time and effort are you willing to give in order to create a life of time and financial freedom.  Are you all in all of the time.  Or are you some in barely some of the time.  Your results will answer that question.
Set up a time that you can dedicate to your business every day.  If you look around, you’ll see top earners who have created success in their business by consistently working two hours each day.  Put in the effort and the results will follow.

3.Work In The Right Place

Do you spend your time pulling your hair out trying to get certain team members to see the potential of the opportunity or even trying to help them see their potential.  Now trust me, I know it takes some longer than others to get it but you need to spend your time with those who get it, who want to run and with those who are hungry and those who want to invest the time needed.
I’m not saying to avoid the rest of your team, I’m simply saying invest your time in those who are running and creating activity.  You’re spinning your wheels when you try to get people on your team to see what they have.  Invest your time with those who are putting in the action.
Sounds a bit harsh doesn’t it?
But you are running a business that thrives when you help people who want to be helped.

4.Have The Right Attitude

Attitude is everything.  How you respond to the rejection, how you respond to each day, how you look at your success and your failures, how you see others, how you build others up, how you inspire others… your attitude is going to make you or break you.  A big dosage of self development on a daily basis will have a great impact on your attitude and how you engage with the world around you.
What are you doing on a daily basis to keep your attitude in check?  For me, I read and listen to a ton of personal development audios.  I’m also blessed to be part of a company that distributes excellent mindset trainings.
Do what it takes to develop a good and positive attitude.  My biggest suggestion:  Run from the negative!

5. Have A Powerful Vision

You always hear you need to have a powerful why – a why that will make you cry.  A why is something that is commercially digestible that will quickly communicate what has you currently motivated.  A Powerful Vision goes much deeper and much of it is highly personal.  It’s all about who you want to become and the impact you want to make.  It can include the house you want, the places you want to travel and the lifestyle you want. It encompasses it all – it’s all about the vision of where you are headed.
You have to have a powerful vision that is going to pull you and one that will help you get through those days you feel like quitting and those days where you have a bad attitude and those days favorite team member tells you they are quitting.  Your vision will keep you “full steam ahead” and in action.

And here are 4 things to NOT do when you are building a business: 

1. Do Not Try To Explain This To People

First, you do not want to try to explain your opportunity to people.  Use your company tools and let it explain it for you. Use a video, DVD, Magazine, Opportunity Call, Hotel Meeting,…whatever it is that your company has in place to share your product and opportunity.  You can spend hours trying to explain what company tools can do in minutes.  Follow the system and you’ll see major benefits because you’re using a system that is in place, you’re being more duplicatable, and you’re spending your time with people who get it.

Some people will get it, some people will not.  It’s life.  It’s just the way it is.  Spend your time with those who get it and can see an opportunity with you and your company.  There are too many people out there who will get it to spend your time trying to convince those who do not.  Let the tools do the explaining for you.

2. Do Not Plaster Your Company All Over Social Media

Too many people are using social media to replace the relationship and networking aspect of network marketing.  Social Media is not “Sellcial Media.”  If you are plastering your link, opportunity and products all over social media, you are doing it wrong.

Learn how to use social media properly by creating curiosity, crafting posts that people like and engage with and that give people a reason to reach out to you.   You know when you are annoying friends and family.  Your social media strategy in Network Marketing should attract people to you and your business not turn people away.

If you feel like you are being Spammy, you are.

Here are some resources that will help you with Social Media and growing your network marketing business:

3.  Do Not Whine Or Complain

Aren’t you amazed at the number of people in our profession who keep their social media full of whining and complaining?  How appealing is that?  When you whine and complain guess who you attract – whiners and complainers and who has time for that?  I know I don’t!

IF you do feel the need to whine and complain, NEVER do that to your down line.  You are there to be their leadership, you are there to be their rock and their encouragement, not the person who drags them down.  If you must, go to your upline… but seriously, do they need that energy from you?

Try to develop the kind of mindset that avoids whining and complaining.  Beth pointed out in her training that you can not be both a whiner and a winner.

Choose to be a winner.

4  Do Not Wait On Others To Build For You

Yes, this is a home business and we are in this because of the leverage it holds for us.  But you can’t wait for others to build your business for you.  Take action as if it’s all up to you.  If you go out there and recruit and prospect like crazy, you will inspire your team.  If you go out there and take action like it only depends on you, you will keep your calendar full and get results.

When you wait on others, you are teaching them to do the same…then you have a team full of people who are waiting on others.

Have you ever heard the quote “If it is to be, it is up to me.”

This quote definitely applies in the home business industry!

Success comes from consistency in doing your money producing and profit producing activities and consistently NOT doing these too.  Sometimes it’s good to do a bit of personal reflection to see how you are doing when it comes to avoiding these items you should not be doing!

I hope you enjoyed this post. Feel free to share it with your team. If I can help you with anything, please let me know, you can reach me directly at 612-562-8219.

Believing in you~

Is it really that difficult?

Lately, I have heard so many people say how difficult direct sales is.  "Its hard." "I can't get any opt-ins." "I can't get people to sign up." "This just isn't for me." "I didn't  know how difficult it would be."

It is difficult always having to lower your dreams to meet your means. It  is difficult to miss your son's football game because you have to work. It  is difficult knowing the rust bucket you call a car is eating you alive in  maintenance, but you can't afford a new one. It is difficult to realize  that someone else is going to watch your daughter take her first step or  have your son say mama to the preschool teacher.

It is difficult knowing that you have spent 40 years of your life working for someone else, only to realize that you will be retiring on one-third of what you can live on today. Or, worse yet, it is difficult knowing that  you have diligently worked all your life, only to be given an early retirement and replaced by someone younger, more capable.

I will tell you what is difficult. It is difficult waking up one morning and realizing that your children, the most precious things imaginable, no longer need bottles, diapers, have tea parties, or are shorter than the baseball bat they are trying to swing. It is difficult realizing it is too late and that the time frittered away can never be retrieved. It slips through our fingers one second at a time.

It is also difficult watching the spark in your partner's eyes fade because both of you realize the house you have been wanting is just a dream because someone else is controlling your finances.

We have bad habits about rationalizing, procrastination and skirting important things, rather than facing the issues. Too often we allow others who do not pay our bills, who do not share our dreams, to direct our futures.

As children we have absolutely no freedom; we rebel in our teens and scream for freedom. We reach adulthood and are finally free, only to relinquish that freedom because we think it is too difficult. We do not want to take responsibility. We do not want to make a wrong decision, so we obligingly give that awesome power to someone else. We wake up too late. We hear ourselves uttering phrases like: "I wish I had only . . ." and "If I could do it over again."

You have no one but yourself to blame. You had the chance. Perhaps the opportunity was presented many times and each time you elevated the trivial to a higher priority than yourself.

Let me ask you: Is this business really difficult?

Is it so traumatic to show someone an exciting product or idea? Is it so difficult to understand that if you work this marketing idea for three to five years, you just might finally be able to send your children to a college chosen by excellence, rather than one chosen by price? That you could finally put your family in the home of their dreams?

Would you work really hard for eight to ten years, so you could mold a lifestyle of your choosing, so your family could live a lifestyle of their dreams, rather than trying to live how someone else thinks you should live?

How difficult is it to pick up the phone and call your prospect? How difficult is it to place ads? How difficult is it, really, to share what you love with others? Think about it.

Realize the awesome power you have in your hands with your business. There are people out there working three jobs. There are people drowning in debt; or agonizing through bankruptcy, realizing they only needed a couple hundred more dollars per month. That is difficult!

This business you have chosen has the ability to change lives. The home business industry cannot do anything. But YOU can change lives with it. You are the one with the life-changing ability. What are you waiting for?

There is difficulty and pain in success, and there is difficulty and pain in failure. Difficulty and pain in success will last a short period of time; but pain in failure lasts a lifetime. Which one is really more difficult?

You will pay a price for your actions, and your choices.

Which choice will you make?

Feel free to share this with your team. If I can help you with anything, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219.

Believing in you ~

Love, Serve & Care

Today's post comes from the book The Carpenter by Jon Gordon. Enjoy! 

We often make life more complicated than it needs to be. Simple is powerful. The closer we get to truth, the simpler and more powerful the principles and lessons become. There’s nothing more powerful than Love, Serve and Care. In a world filled with complicated and expensive success programs these are the 3 greatest success strategies of all. 

 

LOVE

It all starts with love. Steve Jobs said it best, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.” 

When you love what you do you will embrace all the challenges, adversity and rejection to keep doing what you love. If you don’t love it you won’t persevere through all the obstacles to become great at it. The key then is to do what you love and love what you do. If, in your current job, you aren’t doing what you love then you can find things to love about what you do. 

Love is also the greatest leadership and team building principle, customer service strategy and sales technique on the planet. Regardless of title or profession to be human is to love and want to be loved.

Love is what separates good and great. Good teachers know their lesson plans. Great teachers also know and love their students. Good coaches know X and O’s. Great coaches also know and love their players. Good sales people know how to sell. Great sales people also love their clients. Good leaders know their vision and purpose. Great leaders also know and love their people. 

It’s simple. Greatness is built with love. 

SERVE

Because you love, you serve. Serving is love in action. Service takes many forms. You can wash feet, march for civil rights, serve sandwiches, help the needy, feed the poor, build schools and wells in Africa, assist the elderly, serve your customers, patients, and students, and coach others to greatness. The ways are endless but all acts of service put the needs of others before your own. 

Great leaders serve the people they lead. Great companies serve their clients. Great hospitals serve their patients interests before their own. Great schools know they exist to serve the growth and development of their students. Great coaches serve their players. Great leaders don’t succeed because they’re great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others. 

You don’t have to be great to serve but you have to serve to be great. The ironic part of serving is that when you serve and help people improve and grow, you improve and grow. When you lose your ego in the service of others you find the greatness within you. 

CARE

When you love and serve you find ways to show that you care. You make people feel important and let them know that they matter. You focus on all the details because everyone and everything matters.

When you care you stand out in a world where so many don’t seem to care. You do more, give more, become more, and create more. People sense your care and they flock to you and your work. The world takes notice and you inspire people around you to care. 

When you care you become a craftsman/craftswoman instead of a carpenter. A carpenter builds things but a craftsman/craftswoman puts their heart, soul, spirit and passion into their craft. Instead of creating something ordinary a craftsman/craftswoman creates and builds something great. 

LOVE. SERVE. CARE

Many people say to focus on growing your business. But I say to focus on loving, serving and caring and your business will grow exponentially. Focus on loving, serving and caring one person at a time and people will be drawn to your business, service, school, hospital, etc. When you love, serve and care you not only change your heart and mind, you change the hearts and minds of the people around you.

It’s not complicated but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s easy to be scattered. It’s easy to focus on the outcome instead of the process. It’s easy to focus on the numbers instead of people. The path to greatness isn’t easy but it is simple. Do what you love. Serve others. Show you care. Do this day in and day out, one person at a time and the impact you have and the legacy you leave will be truly great. You won’t just have success. You will help others be successful and this is the true measure of success

Hope you found this as inspiring as I did! Feel free to share it with your team. If I can help you with anything in your business, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219.

Believing in you~

Mindset

If you want to be successful building your business online then you have to understand one thing…. MINDSET!

About 95% of everything you do is totally dependent upon how you think and act toward the actions you take.

What is mindset?

Its basically the way you think about your business. Its the way you execute the necessary takes related to achieving your goal.

Mindset is a broad topic but I want to break it down into 4 parts for you so you can see just how important the way you think is related to the success of your business.

1.There Is Nothing Special About Achievers
That's right. Most people hold achievers in their niche in high regard. The look at them like they are untouchable and its simply not true.

Successful people have fears and apprehensions the same way you do… But they do one thing that many unsuccessful people don’t do….

They push through those fears and apprehensions until they reach the goal.

Successful people aren’t “lucky” they just choose to be successful, there is a difference.

But understand, there is nothing special about them that can’t be emulated or done by others, that includes YOU!

2.You’ve Got To Think Bigger…. WAY BIGGER!
If you want to achieve your wildest dreams it takes thinking way bigger than what you think now.
To think bigger takes stepping out from the herd and into the world of the unknown at times.
An example of thinking bigger is…

Most people would be happy making an additional $500 per month in their business. But they can’t envision making $10K per month.
 
This is usually because they are not thinking big enough.
I believe thinking bigger comes down to really three basic points.

1. Having Vision – The ability to look beyond your current circumstances
2. Getting Courage – It takes courage to step out on the vision you have for your life.
3. Developing a Thick skin – When you endeavor to better yourself, others around will express their doubts and apprehensions in an attempt to bring you “Back to reality”. If you are ready for it, you can overcome it.

3.Focus On Income Producing Activities
Just being busy doesn’t mean you are getting any closer to your dreams and goals.

Many people mistakenly think that because they are always on the go or doing something “business related” they are getting closer to their goals.

In your business there really is only a few things that make the difference when making money.
Figure out what those activities are and do them over and over and over.

If you are not sure what they are,  hire a coach or find a mentor that can help you get where you want to be.

You should knock out the most important tasks first thing in the morning that make the most difference in your business.

4.Focus On Solving Other Peoples Problems
Yes that's right.

Entrepreneurship is about solving other peoples problems and that is how you make money. Find a problem in the marketplace, and fill that need with your product. This is how people make millions even billions as business owners.

Remember this…. Its not about YOU! Its about THEM. Every person on planet earth speaks one universal language and its called “WIIFM” what that means is “Whats In It For Me?”

People will do business with you when they are confident that you have something to offer them. No other reason.

Do you want to make money? Do you want to build a six figure empire online or offline for that matter?

Then work on solving your markets problems. If you can do that, you can be very successful.

Never allow others to steal your dreams. Never allow what others can’t see, to knock you off of the path that you can clearly see.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Please let me know if I can help you with anything. You can reach me directly at 612-562-8219.

Believing in YOU~

15 Business Building Tips

Today, I want to share some business building tips with you. Use these wealth tips and create an empire for yourself!

1. Be aware and conscious of upfront expectations of people joining your business. Don’t just look to “get a signup”, actually find out what the person believes it takes to build a business and adjust accordingly.

2. Do what you would want your team to do. This means that even when you reach the top of your payplan you should still be recruiting, promoting events and running events (webinars or meetings).

3. Never apologize. People cannot tell you are nervous or that it is your first time..unless you tell them.

4. Imagine a power suit. Before your presentation, imagine in your mind that the outfit you are wearing is a magical suit that makes you powerful. Really feel the energy surging within you once you have it on. This is a fun way to feel more powerful for your presentations.

5. Get interaction. Ask your audience why they are here and what they hope to learn. If you can get the guests to voice pain before you present, you are going to have hotter prospects.

6. Get in the mind of your target prospects. Know what they want and what their problems are so you can answer them and have the appearance that you know exactly what is in their head.

7. When writing an email, speak to an individual instead of the group. This means using the word “you” more than “you guys”, etc.

8. Always provide value. Even when you want to sell something, provide some form of value which is defined as ways to help your target prospects gain their desires or solve their problems.

9. Stay consistent. .

10. Have a marking schedule. Write it out.

11. You NEED to know how to close before you prospect.

12. Don’t be addicted to the outcome. When someone tells you no, move on, it’s really not a big deal and IF you are to become wealthy, you have to learn to get over the little stuff.

13. Get around the people that have the lifestyle and skills that you want. This tip will change your life if you let it.

14. Don’t permit you or your mind to see any excuses. There are no valid excuses to not becoming wealthy, stop giving excuses any energy, they don’t serve you.

15. Have fun! Enjoy what you are doing. We are serving others and truly helping them change their lives. Remember that :) 
 
I hope you enjoyed these tips. Feel free to share them with your team. If you have any questions or if I can help you in any way, please feel free to reach out to me directly at 612-562-8219.

Believing in you~

Ask VS Tell

You all know how important recruiting is to your team growth and income. Yet it can feel so daunting at times!

It’s important to present your products/opportunity effectively, but that’s where people trip up.
Maybe you get nervous approaching total strangers – or worse, people who know you (sometimes family and friends can be the toughest). You want to say the right things, but you feel so awkward you become totally tongue-tied.

Or maybe you go into “presentation mode” – throwing company facts, stats and too many details at your prospects, driving them away instead of drawing them in. In both cases, you feel incredibly awkward because you know you’re not doing your biz opportunity justice.

It doesn’t have to be this way, and this simple shift will make recruiting A LOT easier (and people will respond better, too!).

My Best Tip For Recruiting: Ask vs. Tell

Sure, it’s tempting to “tell” prospects about the science behind your products or what’s interesting about your company. But “telling” or giving a “big presentation” doesn’t usually influence them.
There’s a better way to go about it: ASK

Becoming skilled at asking questions is THE #1 KEY to effective selling and sponsoring because…

• When you ask questions, you get to find out WITT (What’s important to Them). You’ll pick up important info about your prospects’ problems, needs and wants – and get invaluable insight regarding how you can help them with your products/biz opportunity.

• People love to talk about themselves, so when you spend more of your time asking (instead of being in full-blown presentation mode) recruiting feels so much easier and more comfortable!

• When you “present” your products/biz as a sales pitch, it is human nature for others to doubt if what you’re saying is really true. By asking questions, you make it easier for people to recognize how your products/biz can help them – letting them come to those conclusions on their own. It’s a more elegant way to (respectfully) influence them.

What questions should you ask? Well, it depends on the situation. 

When you meet someone for the first time, just be curious! Asking general questions makes it easy for people to interact with you.

To get into a conversation, try these strategies:

• Break the ice with compliments. Ask where they got that beautiful purse/shoes/necklace.

• Talk about the children. If they have little ones in tow, ask about them.

• Ask for advice. If you’re in a store, ask someone if they can recommend a particular product such as yogurt, baby food, exercise clothing, etc.

Your goal is not to sell or get an immediate business lead. Instead, you want to make a personal connection, perhaps get enough rapport or conversation going so that it feels natural to share business cards or personal contact info and stay in touch.

Ideally through your conversation, you’d also want to be listening for a problem or opportunity to serve this person (with your classes, products or even your biz opportunity).
Here’s how conversations can work for you:

• At the park, a mom you’ve just met mentions she’s been crazy busy with the kids, work, etc. This might be an opening for you to mention that through your business, you offer a spa party, skin care classes, makeover nights – and you’d be happy to do one for her and her friends.

• At a networking event, a new acquaintance says how stressful her job is, and how little time she’s getting with her family (or for herself). This could be the perfect opportunity to bring up how helpful your biz has been for people who want to create money, have more free time and so on. End by saying you’re happy to share more information if they ever want to talk about it.

See? Asking questions is a FUN way to get to know people while creating openings that make it easier and more natural for you to INVITE them to meet you for coffee or visit your website to check out your products/biz. 

And I promise the more you do it, it WILL become second nature.

Ready to test this out? Here are some simple ways to get started mastering the art of question asking:

• Each day this week, strike up a conversation with a stranger. This is not for business but to practice casually asking questions to improve your connecting skills.

• Create a list of questions to ask people. A list will give you more confidence when starting conversations. Remember, get them talking about themselves – look for natural openings that give you the opportunity to invite them to meet with you for coffee, share your products or business opportunity, etc.

Hope this helped you! Feel free to share this with your team members. If I can help with anything, please feel free to contact me at 612-562-8219. 

Believing in you~
Theresa Swendra

True Grit

The key predictor of success is not talent, title, wealth, or good looks. It is Grit: the ability to work hard for a long period of time toward a focused goal and keep moving forward in spite of challenges, obstacles and failures. 

Grit is passion and perseverance for long term goals. It's a marathon not a sprint. It's actually a marathon and a series of sprints combined with a boxing match. You are not just running but getting hit along the way. Grit keeps you moving forward through the sting of rejection, pain of failure and struggle with adversity. When life knocks you down you may want to stay down and give up but Grit won't let you quit. 

 

This begs the question, why does Grit keep you moving forward? How does it work? If Grit drives you what drives Grit? 

I believe True Grit starts with knowing what you truly want. When you know what you want and you can see it, you will work hard and persevere in order to achieve it. 

True Grit is also driven by clarity of mind, purpose, passion, optimism, faith, love, hope and quite honestly... stubbornness. Knowing your why, refusing to give up, ignoring the critics, believing in the possible, loving what you do and showing up day in and day out keeps you on the path towards your vision. 

I also believe that the desire to prove oneself is also a part of Grit. I know there's something inside of each of us that wants to feel worthy and be someone of value. This desire fuels us to succeed but can also be unhealthy and sabotage us if it doesn't give way to humility and a bigger purpose. 

Not everyone will share your vision and believe in your project. Always remember that the circumstances around you and the opinion of others don't create or define you. Life is never created from the outside in. You create your life from the inside out. The grit and spirit you possess on the inside will create the life you experience on the outside. 

If you have a vision, keep it alive. Remember your purpose. Show up every day and do the work. Stay the course and keep moving forward in spite of the rejection and obstacles you face. 

You'll be glad you did. True Grit leads to true success. 
 
Hope you enjoyed today's post. If I can help you with anything, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219. 

Believing in you~
Theresa Swendra

Negative VS Positive

Who do you surround yourself with? Negative people or positive people? It’s funny, when you see the choice, you know the obvious answer is to choose to surround yourself with positive people in your life.  But why do so many choose to stay around the negative influences?  Why do people choose to stay where they are?  Why do we choose not to take action?

Wanted to this video with you, it is one of the most powerful I have seen…. take a moment to watch if you have ever felt stuck in the pursuit of your dreams.

“You are the star of your life…. you get to decide whether or not it’s a smash or whether it’s a flop.”  You get to decide.

What is your choice...

Hope this video inspired you. If you need help with anything, please feel free to reach out to me directly at 612-562-8219.

Believing in you ~

Theresa Swendra

Staying Consistent During the Holiday Season

 

Can you believe it's November already! Wow! Where has the year gone?!! 

Can you believe we’re starting the holiday season of  Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years?

Did you know that this is the time of year that home business companies traditionally see a spike in sales and recruitment?  As people begin planning for next year, they begin to think of ways to increase their income, health, lifestyle, etc.  And that’s where we are able to help, right?

How many times have you heard that consistency is key when it comes to home business success?  I bet it’s more times than you can count!

It’s vitally important to consistently prospect, consistently share your presentation, consistently bring on new customers and consistently bring on new reps. But, don't let the distractions get in the way.

Today you’ll get five tips for staying focused and avoid distractions during the holiday season.

1.Prepare For The Distractions

You know that during the holiday season there will be tons of distractions, but if you prepare for them in advance, it will give you the opportunity to remain productive during those times.

For example, you know you’ll be running errands for last minute parties and get-togethers.  Have your list with you at all times and when you have 10 minutes in the car running errands, make it a point to make a few calls.  By having your list prepared, your phone full charged and an intention of making use of those “free” moments driving, you are able to remain productive.

Another way to use these 10-15 time slots is by listening to personal development audios while on the go.  There is a vast array of training, personal development and motivation waiting for you in the form of audios and podcasts.

Take advantage of 10 and 15 minute windows when they appear.  And more importantly, schedule them to appear.

2.Protect Your Energy Levels

With the onslaught of traveling, parties, late night shopping and just trying to keep up with it all, sometimes we allow our sleep habits to suffer.  Your body needs sleep and if you want to make certain you are able to run on full speed, you need to make sure you don’t cheat yourself out of the sleep you need.

Plus, if you are fully rested, you’ll enjoy the entire holiday experience much more!
Along those lines – are there parts of the Season that absolutely drains you and you don’t enjoy at all?   Maybe it’s time to re-address these “traditions” and why they are a part of your calendar to begin with.  Maybe it’s time to remove them if they are non-serving.

3.Give Your Time Management A Gift

During this time of year, you have to stay organized.  Write everything down, keep your calendar, prospect list and good attitude close by.  Intentionally block out personal time and work time so you can do the profit producing activities you know you must do.

If it’s written on your calendar you are much more likely to actually do it.  So give yourself a gift by planning and scheduling time to be productive.

As you prepare for the New Year, spend some time vision casting… not just for next year but also for your future.  Have a clearly crafted vision that excites you and keeps you focused on your purposes.

4.It’s a Party!

With the holidays come parties!  You’ll be around old friends, family and new friends too.  This is your time to network and discover new people who may be open to your products and your business opportunity.

Do not go to parties to pitch pitch pitch.  But go with the intention to start conversations, to listen and to see how you may authentically help people.  Have leading questions ready.  Start conversations.  Meet new people. Go prepared to ask for introductions of new people you want to meet.

Get their contact information.  Follow up.  Schedule coffee or invite them to your Christmas party or put them on your Christmas Card list.

Learn how to speak to people’s greatness and learn how to help people understand and achieve their goals and purposes.  When you can call out people’s greatness and help bring out the best them possible, you’re on your way to growing your team in a mighty big way.

5.Enjoy The Season!

Take advantage of everything that Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years brings!  Take part in the festivities and allow yourself a mental break.

I don’t know about you, but for me, most of my best creative moments and exciting ideas come when I’m not sitting at the computer nor in my work zone.  When you free your brain, it has a way of being super creative.  You’ve probably come up with a great idea or two while jogging or on the treadmill or in the shower, right?

In the home business industry, so much of what we offer is lifestyle and Joy.  Don’t forget to take the time to enjoy your family, friends, the excitement of the upcoming Holidays and yes, even the food!

The next two months will be busy, tiring and exciting for most people.  But they can also be rewarding, fulfilling and full of business growth too.  If you’re going to be exhausted after the next two months, you may as well be fulfilled and full of growth in the process, right?


I hope you enjoyed these tips. If I can help you with building your home business, please feel free to reach out to me at 612-562-8219 or connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/theresaswendra

Remember you were created for greatness and I believe in each of you!

Theresa Swendra

Are you using Facebook?

Do you use Facebook for your business? If not, you should be and here is why:

1. Worldwide, there are over 1.44 billion monthly active Facebook users (MAUs) which is a 13 percent increase year over year. 
2. 4.5 billion likes generated daily as of May 2013 which is a 67 percent increase from August 2012 (Source: Facebook)
3. 936 million people log onto Facebook daily (DAU) for March 2015, which represents a 17% increase year over year (Source: Facebook as 4/22/15) 
4. There are 1.25 billion mobile active users (MAU) (Source: Facebook as of 4/22/15) an increase of 24 percent year-over-year.
5. In Europe, over 223 million people are on Facebook.(Source: Search Engine Journal) The Takeaway: This isn’t just a U.S. phenomenon – a worldwide market is available via Facebook.
6. Age 25 to 34, at 29.7% of users, is the most common age demographic. (Source:Emarketer 2012) What this means for you: This is the prime target demographic for many businesses’ marketing efforts, and you have the change to engage these key consumers on Facebook.
7. Five new profiles are created every second. (Source: ALLFacebook 2012) The Implication: Your potential audience on Facebook is growing exponentially.
8. Facebook users are 53% female and 47% male. (Source: Emarketer) The Takeaway: Since this isn’t a large statistical difference, you should be able to effectively reach both genders on Facebook.
9. Highest traffic occurs mid-week between 1 to 3 pm.  How this can help you: Since you have the potential to reach more consumers and drive higher traffic to your site during peak usage times, consider this statistic in determining when todo more frequent or important status updates, offers and other posts.
10. On Thursdays and Fridays, engagement is 18% higher.  The Implication: Again, use this information to determine when to post in order to optimize your social media marketing efforts.
11. There are 83 million fake profiles. (Source: CNN) The Takeaway: Nothing is perfect, so always remain thoughtful and strategic in your efforts. Also, fake or not, these are still potential consumers. There are various reasons for fake profiles, including professionals doing testing and research, and people who want to segment their Facebook use more than is possible with one account.
12. Photo uploads total 300 million per day. (Source: Gizmodo) The Implication: Again, this is an indication of engaged users; also, it is an indication that there are a lot of photos, as well as other information, competing for users’ attention, so target your efforts strategically.
13. Average time spent per Facebook visit is 20 minutes. (Source: Infodocket) What this means for you: You could have a short time period to make your impression, so use it wisely with relevant, interesting and unique posts and offers in order to get the most return on your efforts.
14. Every 60 seconds on Facebook: 510 comments are posted, 293,000 statuses are updated, and 136,000 photos are uploaded. (Source: The Social Skinny) The Implication: Again, there are a lot of engaged and active users, but also a huge amount of information competing for their attention, so quality and strategy on your part matter.
15. 4.75 billion pieces of content shared daily as of May 2013 which is a 94 percent increase from August 2012. (Source: Facebook)
16. 50% of 18-24 year-olds go on Facebook when they wake up. (Source: The Social Skinny) What this means for you: Facebook is important to these users, and potentially, if done correctly, so is the content you post on it.
17. One in five page views in the United States occurs on Facebook. (Source: Infodocket 2012) How this helps you: This is a huge market on the web; if you use social media marketing efforts on Facebook well, you could have huge returns to show for it.
18. 42% of marketers report that Facebook is critical or important to their business. (Source: State of Inbound Marketing 2012 The Takeaway: This is a crowded marketplace, but you can’t afford to sit it out, because odds are fairly high that your competition is there. The key is to use Facebook marketing correctly and make sure that your efforts stand out from the crowd.
19. 16 Million local business pages have been created as of May 2013 which is a 100 percent increase from 8 million in June 2012. (Source: Facebook)
20. 7.5 million promoted posts have been made from June 2012 to May 2013.

Here is a Facebook training to help you with working your business on Facebook:

Please feel free to share with your team. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219.

Believing in you~
Theresa Swendra

Pursuit of Happyness

In today's post, I want to share 12 tips on reaching success in your home business. These tips were taken from the Pursuit of Happyness movie. Enjoy and feel free to share them with your team.  

1.: Get good at inviting not selling. Invite to live events,

webinars, face to face meetings and 3 ways calls. 

2.: "Home Business & Direct Sales Is Simple"

You have your training books, your training systems and 

your up - line list. Note - Will Smith said it was "simple"

he did not say it was EASY. " X amount of calls = X amount of

prospects. X amount of prospects = X amount of customers. X

amount of customers = X amount of money in YOUR pocket.

3.: It's a numbers game. Make sure you have your list.

Nothing will beat going through the most numbers. If you talk to some, 

you will get some. If you talk to a lot, you will get alot. It's that simple!

4.: Be productive. You can build your business part-time or full-time but you 

can't do it sometimes. Either way you need to be productive with your time 

whether it is one hour a day or 12 hours a day. 

5.: Sitting on Facebook chat unless building relationships in not productive.

Making phone calls is. Do in 6hrs what others are doing in 9 and win: 

Introduce an "Hour of Power" to your day everyday. How many calls 

can you do in one hour?

6.: Rejection will happen. People will say no. Just "Smile & Dial"

and go on to the next call. Some will, some won't so what, someone's 

waiting. NEXT!

7.: There it is - The BIG ONE - Concentrate on not only the numbers

but the Quality numbers. Go straight for your TOP 10. Go straight for the CEO, the 

big Entrepreneur and it will open a lot of doors for you and lead you to that ONE Big

Player that will ignite your business to the next level.

8: When would you quit? When would you not show up for work in your 

business. "Pursuit of Happyness" is based on a true story. What is your EXCUSE?

Show up for work every single day in your business NO MATTER WHAT. If you

think you can't, if you think things are bad, if you're not in the right mindset "JUST

WATCH THIS MOVIE FOR THE FIRST TIME OR OVER AGAIN" Get Over It

and then get to work. Half the battle is showing up.

9: Got a dream? You have to protect it. If people can't do something themselves,

they want to tell you that you can't do it. You want something, go get it. Period "Self 

explanatory!

10: Persistence wins every time.

11: It will be hard work. Remember it is 'SIMPLE" but not 'EASY" but it WILL BE

worth it.

12: Happyness: It will feel exactly like that when you reach for the TOP and never 

GIVE UP on your dreams. Keep going, keep reaching, never let someone tell you that

you can't do something because you will.  

Hope you enjoyed this and found value. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219. 

Believing in you ~

Theresa Swendra

Never Stop!

Happy Wednesday!

I ran across this video and wanted to share it with you today. It's short and very inspirational.

It is a little outdated but the message is still the same. Never stop, never stop believing, you were meant to be successful!

Wishing you a productive and prosperous day. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219.

Believing in you~

Theresa Swendra

Opportunity Ahead!

There are different ways to approach going into business and finding a service or a product that will speak to potential customers.  Some people look for very small niches to serve and because of “supply and demand,” typically these services or products end up being rather expensive, and can prove to be very profitable.  At the same time, they are highly risky when going into business and sustaining your business.

Then there are services and products that are aimed at the masses.  For example, toilet paper, socks, underwear and toothpaste – they are all products that people use.  When you’re looking to serve the masses, you have to think about what people need, what people want and what has a mass appeal.  If you can find a consumable product, that’s even better!  Repeat sales are key to most businesses.
Something that could be used and is needed by the masses was something that really appealed to me as I began looking into my business, which is in the healthcare industry. Healthcare is important to everyone and something everyone needs.
 
When looking for the right business opportunity, make sure you find something that people need, people want or people will spend their money on.  If people will not spend money on your product or service, you can’t expect to stay in business too long.  Yes, I realize that sounds very obvious, but it’s amazing how many people overlook this vital criteria.  It’s also vital that your service or product is something people keep coming back for time and time again.

Of course, finding the right need, product or service is just part of the process of finding the right business to go into. But I do believe finding the right massive need is pretty high on the list of considerations.

Hope this helps you out! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219.

I believe in you, you were created for greatness!

Theresa Swendra

Daily Routine

One of the topics that always seems to come up when talking with other home based business professionals, is daily routine.  It makes sense – if people who mostly work their business on a part time basis want to maximize their effectiveness and make the most money possible, they need to be strategic, have a plan and then work their plan.  In other words, you need to have a daily routine that is effective, efficient and consistent.

I have 4 quick tips to help you with your daily routine: 

1. Work In Time Blocks – Each of us are built differently and I know for me, if I do not have it assigned to a certain time on my calendar it does not happen…or at least it doesn’t happen efficiently.  Let me give you an example:  Every morning, I get up at 5:15. I give myself 15 minutes to drink some water and eat a banana. Then from 5:30 - 6, I am working out. From 6-6:30, I walk my dog. My entire day is planned out in 30 minute time blocks. I work much better with time blocks than lists.  I feel like I get so much more done and it helps to stay on track! If you like lists, use list…but do something that will create activity.  And put money producing activities on that list.

2.Revisiting My Vision – I have a super spelled out vision of who I want to become, what I want my business to look like, the lives I wish to impact and where I am headed.  Each and every day part of my daily routine involves revisiting my vision in order to keep me on task, focused and mindful of my purpose.  It allows me to be diligent in my efforts.

3. Providing Value To The Market Place – If you want to improve your daily routine, you have to keep things in perspective and make certain that you are providing the marketplace with help and value.  Yes, this benefits you, but it’s also benefiting your prospects.  When I know I’m impacting others I am much more inclined to stay focused and produce through being intentional with my time.

4. Money Producing Activity – The best thing you can do for your daily routine is to make certain you include activities that are money producing.  In so many ways, I think that’s what people are truly asking when they ask about daily routine.  I feel they are asking “what can I do to make sure I will make money.”  So many people get 99 things right but forget to do the money producing activities. What this means how many eyes are you getting on your presentation?
How many people do you share your opportunity and products with daily?  That’s a number you need to add to your daily routine to grow your network marketing business.

Hope this helped you! If you need help or have any questions about building your business, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219.

Remember I believe in you and you were created for greatness!

Theresa Swendra

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone!

SO, You were introduced to your home business and immediately knew without a doubt that you could do it, had a few sleepless nights dreaming about the success you’ll have, sign up and then….. you stopped cold in your tracks!

What was it that stopped you so fast?  Was it fear?  Was it it lack of skill?  Was it ego?  Could it possibly been the need to get out of your comfort zone?

To get to profitability and to get there fast, you’re going to have to get out of your comfort zone!

Yes, I know, we like our comfort! The thing is, this world of home based businesses requires that we get out of our comfort level and learn to do some things we’re not comfortable with.  On the bright side, it’s never anything that’s going to kill us and once you learn to face your fears and get out of your comfort zone, you learn how to become unstoppable and unmessable! And that is powerful!

When you face your fears and do something that makes you feel awkward or uncomfortable, you gain so much confidence because you know you are not bound by fear. That’s an amazing place to be.  Learn to get out of your comfort zone and learn to do things in spite of your lack of comfort!

Hope you enjoyed this short post today. I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone today and do something that pushes you. I want you to become unstoppable! Feel free to share this with your team.

Remember I believe in you and you were created for greatness!

Theresa Swendra
Success Coach
Call/Text 612-562-8219

The Power of a Positive Educator

Want to share this article with you, it is about being a positive educator, which is very important in the Home Based Business Industry. 

When I think about the teachers who made a difference in my life I realize they were all positive. Mrs.  Years later as I think about the impact these teachers had on my life it’s clear that being a positive educator not only makes you better it makes everyone around you better. Positive educators have the power to transform lives and inspire young minds to believe they can and will change the world. In this spirit here are seven ways we can all choose to be a positive educator.

1. Be Positively Contagious – Research shows that emotions are contagious. Sincere smiles, kind words, encouragement and positive energy infect people in a positive way. On the flip side your students are just as likely to catch your bad mood as the swine flu. So each day you come to school you have a choice. You can be a germ or a big dose of Vitamin C. When you choose to be positively contagious your positive energy has a positive impact on your students, your colleagues and ultimately your school culture. Your students will remember very little of what you said but they will remember 100% of how you made them feel. I remember Mrs. Liota and her smile and love and it made all the difference.

2. Take a Daily Thank you Walk – It’s simple, it’s powerful, and it’s a great way to feed yourself with positivity. How does it work? You simply take a walk... outside, in a mall, at your school, on a treadmill, or anywhere else you can think of, and think about all the things, big and small, that you are grateful for. The research shows you can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time so when you combine gratitude with physical exercise, you give yourself a double boost of positive energy. You flood your brain and body with positive emotions and natural antidepressants that uplift you rather than the stress hormones that drain your energy and slowly kill you. By the time you get to school you are ready for a great day.

3. Celebrate Success – One of the simplest, most powerful things you can do for yourself and your students is to celebrate your daily successes. Instead of thinking of all things that went wrong at school each day focus on the one thing that went right. Try this: Each night before you go to bed think about the one great thing about your day. If you do this you’ll look forward to creating more success tomorrow. Also have your students do this as well. Each night they will go to bed feeling like a success and they will wake up with more confidence to take on the day.

4. Expect to Make a Difference – When positive educators walk into their classroom they expect to make a difference in their student’s lives. In fact, making a difference is the very reason why they became a teacher in the first place and this purpose continues to fuel them and their teaching. They come to school each day thinking of ways they can make a difference and expecting that their actions and lessons will lead to positive outcomes for their students. They win in their mind first and then they win in the hearts and minds of their students.

5. Believe in your students more than they believe in themselves – I tried to quit lacrosse during my freshman year in high school but Coach Caiazza wouldn’t let me. He told me that I was going to play in college one day. He had a vision for me that I couldn’t even fathom. He believed in me more than I believed in myself. I ended up going to Cornell University and the experience of playing lacrosse there changed my life forever. The difference between success and failure is belief and so often this belief is instilled in us by someone else. Coach Caiazza was that person for me and it changed my life. You can be that person for one of your students if you believe in them and see their potential rather than their limitations.

6. Develop Positive Relationships – Author Andy Stanley once said, "Rules without relationship lead to rebellion." Far too many principals share rules with their teachers but they don’t have a relationship with them. And far too many teachers don’t have positive relationships with their students. So what happens? Teachers and students disengage from the mission of the school. I’ve had many educators approach me and tell me that my books helped them realize they needed to focus less on rules and invest more in their relationships. The result was a dramatic increase in teacher and student performance, morale and engagement. To develop positive relationships you need to enhance communication, build trust, listen to them, make time for them, recognize them, show them you care through your actions and mentor them. Take the time to give them your best and they will give them your best.

7. Show you Care – It’s a simple fact. The best educators stand out by showing their students and colleagues that they care about them. Standardized test scores rise when teachers make time to really know their students. Teacher performance improves when principals create engaged relationships with their teachers. Teamwork is enhanced when educators know and care about one another. Parents are more supportive when educators communicate with their student’s parents. The most powerful form of positive energy is love and this love transforms students, people and schools when it is put into action. Create your own unique way to show your students and colleagues you care about them and you will not only feel more positive yourself but you will develop positive kids who create a more positive world.

If you commit to being a positive educator I encourage you to read and commit to The Positive Teacher Pledge.

The Positive Teacher Pledge

• I pledge to be a positive teacher and positive influence on my fellow educators, students and school.
• I promise to be positively contagious and share more smiles, laughter, encouragement and joy with those around me.
• I vow to stay positive in the face of negativity.
• When I am surrounded by pessimism I will choose optimism.
• When I feel fear I will choose faith.
• When I want to hate I will choose love.
• When I want to be bitter I will choose to get better.
• When I experience a challenge I will look for opportunity to learn and grow and help others grow.
• When faced with adversity I will find strength.
• When I experience a set-back I will be resilient.
• When I meet failure I will fail forward and create a future success.
• With vision, hope, and faith, I will never give up and will always find ways to make a difference.
• I believe my best days are ahead of me, not behind me.
• I believe I’m here for a reason and my purpose is greater than my challenges.
• I believe that being positive not only makes me better, it makes my students better.

So today and every day I will be positive and strive to make a positive impact on my students, school and the world!

Hope you found value and enjoyed this positive educator pledge. Please feel free to comment and share with your team. If you have any questions or if I can help you with anything, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219. Remember, you are worthy and created for greatness. I believe in you! Have a beautiful day and I will see you tomorrow!

Words are powerful

When you say you can’t recruit, when you say you can’t understand something, when you say so-and-so overwhelms you, you are in essence, speaking that into reality.  Your words are powerful.  Your words create your world, they really do! 

Words Become Thoughts, Thoughts Become Actions

The words you use, whether it’s in speaking with others or the self talk that you say to yourself impact your thoughts and your thoughts greatly affect your actions.  And when you take that one step further, you’re reminded that your actions become your habits.  In other words, your habits begin with your self talk and what you say to others.  Be very intentional to speak positive words that lead to productivity as you say what you can and can’t do.  When you say you can’t, you are waving the white flag of surrender.

Speak Positive Into Your Life

Choose the positive approach.  Instead of saying you can’t do something, phrase it in a positive, or even an affirmation.  You want to overcome the situation, not succumb to it.  You want to come out victorious, not be a victim of it.  Once you begin doing this, you will quickly see that the positive will move you into a better place to succeed.  I know in my life, this has always been the case.  It’s not a matter of “fake it ’till you make it” it’s more like “I’m bigger than this obstacle.”  Let your vision pull you through obstacles and into positive momentum. I personally like to use "I am". I am powerful, I am successful, I am worthy, I am created for greatness. Say it with conviction!

Your words are powerful, and they do determine your world! I was once told that you should think of your words like a genie in a lap. What you say, poof there it is. It is so true!

Hope you found value, feel free to comment and share with your team. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219. You are worthy and are created for greatness, I believe in you! See you tomorrow!

Fear of Rejection?

Have you ever struggled with the fear of being rejected?  I know I have! There was a time when the fear kept me from picking up the phone and calling prospects.

In the home business industry, we hear a lot of no’s.  It’s just part of the process of reaching and achieving success. But here is something to keep in mind, nothing of significant has ever happened without some sort of struggle occurring.  The struggle, the challenge, the difficulty, the fight, the perseverance…. these are the things that make an achievement significant.

If I told you I was going to run 10 feet today, would that impress you?  No, because it’s no big deal.  But if I told you I was going to run 10 miles, that’s much more impressive because there is more struggle and more difficulty involved.

Most of us in the home business industry want to accomplish something of substance, we want to impact lives and make a difference in the lives of others.  In order to achieve this, we must realize that we have to push through the difficult times in order to create something significant.

Did you know Walt Disney was rejected over 300 times when he was trying to sell the concept of Mickey Mouse, which then grew to the dynasty that is known as Disney now?  When you look at the billions that his company is worth now, it’s a no-brainer that he would go through 300 nos.  But at the time, can you imagine the number of folks who were telling him to give up?

What about Michael Jordan?  He didn’t make his high school basketball team.  He kept going, improving his skills, getting better and now he is a world-wide name.

Without people pushing through major rejection we would not have Harry Potter, Kentucky Fried Chicken, ….the lightbulb.

 Elvis was told by the Grand Ole Opry he wasn’t suited for the music world.  Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe – both were failure and experienced much rejection.

Why do we even know these names?  Because they worked past the rejection.  They did not allow a no to stop them.

Here are 7 quick tips to help you in overcoming your fear of rejection:

1) Keep The Big Picture In Mind – You Are Working For Something Bigger
2) Don’t Take It Personally – It’s Seriously Is Not About You
3) Move On – Don’t Focus On The No, Focus On Your Activity
4) Learn From The Experience – Look At Your Process, Look At Your Skills, Look At Their Experience
5) Realize You Are Not Alone – Every Successful Person Works Past Rejection
6) Have Goals That Keep You In Motion – A No Is Only A Stepping Stone To The Next Yes
7) Keep A Positive Attitude – Affirmations, Personal Development and Being Around Other Successful People Help!


I hope this post and tips helped you today. Feel free to comment and share with your team. If there is anything I can help you with, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-562-8219. I believe in you, you are designed for greatness! Have a beautiful day and we'll see you tomorrow :)