I Confess! Follow-up...

For those who read my PR yesterday, you know I was planning to step out of my comfort zone and attend a business networking meeting with a new group. .  If you missed my PR from yesterday, I have a fear of face-to-face meetings and sales, so I was nervous about the meeting.  I had never seen or met any of the members.

I went to the meeting.  I was a few minutes early, so I waited for others to arrive in the lobby.  The meeting was at a restaurant.  I had no idea what any of the members looked like or exactly how many people would be attending.  Five people had accepted the invitation and said they would be there.

I waited as the scheduled time for the meeting passed.  About ten minutes after the appointed time, a man walked in the front door looking lost, so I asked him if he was there for the MeetUp group meeting.  He said he was and introduced himself a Keith, and he sat down with me.  He told me that he had received an email from the founder/creator of the group saying she would be unable to attend.  He and I sat and chatted a few more minutes, and when no one else appeared, we took a table.

Keith and I discussed our own businesses, which were totally unrelated.  He works only face-to-face, with no internet or relationship marketing.  I, on the other hand, work 90% on the internet.  We chatted about some of the methods we use to promote our products and recruit team members.

Keith seems to be a nice man and is having some success with his business.  We agreed that we would meet again in about a month, and hopefully more group members would attend.

I really don’t know how I would have felt if the other people had shown up, but meeting face-to-face with Keith was easy. My anxiety and fear I felt during the day anticipating the event was gone. 

This meeting was a good experience for me and will help me in the future.  I may still be nervous if a larger group is there, but I don’t think my anxiety level will be nearly as high.

Thank you all for your encouragement when I shared my fear, and thank you all for your great IBO Spirit!

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

I Confess

Those of you who have known me for a while may be surprised to learn that I am nervous about speaking to prospects face-to-face.  My business promotes discount health plans.  Where I live the population is nearly all either in the military or works for a large corporation defense contractor.  Therefore, they all have benefits enabling me not to have to work locally.  I am fine on the phone, just not speaking directly to prospects.  So, for years, my business has been about 95% online.

As a team leader, my hesitance to speak to the public is a poor example for others.  I teach my team members to step out of their comfort zone.  I have done so in many ways, but not yet face-to-face marketing.  I have used the excuse about this being a military town, but in reality, we now offer discount plans for non-medical services as well (LifeLock™, legal services, roadside assistance, etc.), so my excuse is no longer totally valid.

It is strange that I am hesitant to speak to prospects, one-on-one or in groups, because I am not shy.  I have belonged to various groups (not business related) and even been the speaker for a group.  I believe my fear applies only to business.

I love my company, and I love our products.  I know them all inside out and teach them to my team.  Silly me, I have this fear in my head that when I go talk to a stranger about it, my mind will go blank.  That has never happened to me, so I don’t know where this anxiety comes from.

Well, I am proud to say that I am meeting with several network marketers (not with my company) to discuss how we can promote our businesses locally and support one another.  For those who are familiar with "Meet Up" groups, this is a brand new one.  We will each briefly share about our own business and have a discussion about local marketing. 

So, tonight I am stepping out of my comfort zone and will face my fear.  By telling you about this, I am committing myself to attend the meeting.  I shall not back out.  Tonight, Julie goes local!

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

I Need Help

Asking for and accepting help.  For most of us, it is not a difficult thing to do.  For some, however, it can be very challenging.  Some people have a mindset that by asking for help they will undermine their sense of independence or ability to cope.  They see it as a sign of weakness.

For some asking for help in our personal lives is more difficult than asking for help in our professional lives.  For others, it is exactly the opposite.  Various individual characteristics can “get in the way,” preventing people from asking for help.  Perhaps they doubt their ability to remain independent; they may be frightened of rejection; or they may be perfectionists, and by asking for help they believe they will be seen as less than perfect.  

Some believe that anyone who cannot handle all their own affairs is incompetent, so they will not reach out.  In the world of business, a person may believe that needing assistance represents lack of professionalism.  Due to upbringing or bad experiences in their lives, someone may have distrust issues.  They do not believe they can trust anyone to help them.

How we ask for help can make a huge difference as to whether we will receive the help we request.  Sometimes people “demand” help, rather than asking for it, perhaps believing they “deserve” assistance.  When presented in that manner, of course, they are less likely to receive the assistance they desire.

There are sometimes societal ideals that imply that seeking help is a sign of weakness.  For instance, in movies, books, etc. – even historical events - the hero is often portrayed as someone who faces crises after crises, but with no one’s help, they are able to overcome all problems.  What often is not shown in those movies and books is that the “star,” the leader, had help along the way, perhaps advice and support that was largely never acknowledged or mentioned.  Even Isaac Newton wrote, "If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."

There is a tendency for many to believe that each of us “should” be able to cope with all obstacles in our way, manage completely on our own.  This is unrealistic, even unhealthy thinking.  No one knows everything, has every skill or talent, although I have met a few people who believe they do.  In fact, it is rather arrogant for a person to help others, but never ask for help in return.  These people will never learn about reciprocal give and take.  Everything we need to know is not on the internet, in books or in our heads.  

To enable us to seek help, we must be wise enough to know we have weaknesses, everyone does.  We must trust that there are people willing, even eager, to provide assistance.   Of course, we must be willing to provide help as well as accept it, but that is for another post.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook