Friday, April 13, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
No Man (or Woman) is an Island
Teamwork is vital to the success of virtually any business – a restaurant, retail store, huge corporation or a network marketing business. No one stands alone and expects to accomplish all that needs to be done. In retail and corporations, each person serves a specific purpose, and if one person is not holding up their end, the remaining people must pick up the slack. In most situations, the “slacker” would not last very long with their company. They would be fired.
In network marketing, teamwork is a bit different. Unless a team member violates company rules, they generally cannot be “fired.” There are a few elements that are needed to keep a team running smoothly.
· A common purpose. With network marketing, each individual in a team is an independent business owner, but each joined the network to achieve success. Yes, I know that not all the team members will ever be successful, but I’m talking common purpose.
· Interdependence. Each member of a network marketing team depends on at least one other person to reach their goals. They depend on their sponsor to train them and support them along their path. Team leaders depend on each of their members to work their business, thus helping both the member and leader to grow their businesses.
· Roles and contributions. Each person can play more than one role in network marketing. If they are recruiting a team, they are a team leader. However, that leader also has their own sponsor, and they are a member of that person’s team, helping their own sponsor by making sales. How much each individual contributes to the team can greatly effect the success of many.
· Accountability, both individual and mutual. Each individual within a team is responsible to themselves to grow their personal business. At the same time, they are also accountable to the team as a whole. It is true that, in network marketing, there are always going to be those who do not take this responsibility seriously, either to themselves or their team. These people never succeed.
· Empowerment. Independent business owners have the power to create an empire, make a decent living or supplement their income. They are empowered to make their choices and work their businesses accordingly. There is both freedom and challenges that come with empowerment.
Those individuals in network marketing who do not consider themselves part of a team are rarely successful. Working together to achieve that common purpose drives each individual to work harder to help themselves and the team.
· Team meetings, Webinars and conference calls can help members of a team to see how important they are to the team as a whole.
· Competition between different teams can inspire team members to work harder to earn the prize and to help the team at the same time.
· For those who have team members residing in the same area, having local team events can help to strengthen a team.
No matter how we do it, those leading a team must encourage their teams to work for the benefit of the company as a whole, for the team and for themselves. They are all intertwined, and when everyone on a team works for the same common purpose, they are helping to create and maintain both a strong team and a successful business.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Quitters Never Prosper
During the several years I have been in the network marketing industry, I have seen far more people quit than succeed. They did not fail. They quit without ever putting any real effort into their business.
Far too many people are MLM hoppers. They hop from one MLM to another, thinking they’ll do better at the next one. Why they ever expect to be successful, I do not understand.
>> They put out a few flyers and were disappointed, because their phone didn’t ring off the hook.
>> They placed a few online ads, but no one ever joined their team.
>> They didn’t attend training calls or Webinars, because they thought they knew how to work an MLM business. After all, they had worked in the industry before.
>> They didn’t work with their sponsor who may have actually been able to teach them something.
>> They quit after a couple weeks, or maybe even stuck it out for a few months, and they blamed the company or the product or their sponsor for their lack of success.
>> They carried their negative attitude with them to the next business.
Then there are the network marketing stars. Those are the people who dive head first into their business.
>> They know from the beginning that they will be successful. Their positive attitude is contagious.
>> Some of them – maybe even the majority – don’t make many sales right away, but they are not discouraged, because they realize it will take time and effort.
>> These people attend every training call or Webinar offered by their company. If they have to miss one, they’ll listen to the recorded version.
>> The network marketing stars know that staying in contact with their sponsor is vital to their success.
>> The stars participate in as many online forums as possible, soaking up knowledge from their online connections.
>> It may actually take them a while, perhaps as long as a year, before they are earning a full-time living with their business. Two, three, or even five years before they earn the “six figure” income everyone talks about.
>> The stars carry their positive attitude everywhere they go, and they eventually achieve their goals and set new ones.
The quitters never achieve success, no matter how many companies they join.
The network marketing stars soar and set an example for everyone else.
http://julie.xpressabo.com/xhc1?=blogger
Taking People and Things for Granted
A dear friend lost his father last week. I did not know his father, but I know my friend, and I am sad knowing how much he must be hurting. He never imagined a few months ago that his father would be gone so soon.
It is so easy to take people and things for granted. I am very spoiled. I know it. I have a husband who I adore and who treats me like a queen. I have two healthy children and four beautiful grandchildren. I have a beautiful home, and although I’m not wealthy, I’m not struggling to pay my bills.
I have a wonderful brother and a sister. I used to have two sisters. My “big” sister died a few years ago way too young, and I miss her every day. I am so glad that while she was with us, I didn’t take her for granted. We spoke every day, at least once, until the day she died.
I do take some things for granted though. I know I will always have food to eat and a roof over my head. I have never had to truly struggle to survive, and I seldom think about it.
Most people don’t give much thought to what’s happening around the world, and Americans may be the worst. I am saying this as an American myself. I KNOW there are people starving, who are in pain, who are suffering and living in unimaginable conditions. But most of the time, I just go on living my life, taking it for granted.
Sure, I give my time and money, but not enough of either. When I take the time to really think about everything I have, I am very grateful for where I was born, for the family that raised me, and for the good health that enabled me to work hard to be able to afford what I have today.
So, today, I’m taking some time to be truly grateful for all the things I normally don’t give a moments thought. I have to clean my house, but I have a house to clean! I have to put expensive gas into my car, but I have a car and the money to fuel it. I have to prepare dinner and clean the kitchen afterward, but I have the food to cook and a place to prepare it.
Perhaps you too would like to take just a little time today to be grateful for those people and things you normally take for granted.
Praise, the Great Motivator
Giving praise to others is a great motivator. When we perform a job well, we all appreciate being recognized for our efforts. One of the top reasons employees leave jobs is lack of recognition.
Whether we’re praising our children, a team member or an employee, there is a right and wrong way to praise someone.
It is important to be specific. “The XYZ project you completed was great. You finished it on time, and it included everything I asked for.” Or “I see that you grew your team by 10 this month! That was an amazing accomplishment. You recruited some quality team members, and more than anyone else in the company.”
Don’t save praise for the weekly staff meeting. Deliver the praise immediately when you observe positive behavior. Certainly you can repeat the praise during the staff meeting, which may indeed encourage others to strive for recognition as well.
Praise is powerful when it is used properly, but certainly not when it is not genuine or truly earned. Instead of criticizing those who perform poorly, in many situations, encouragement may raise them up to work harder. Look for small things they are doing right, and let them know you noticed it, no matter how small, and tell them how much you appreciate it.
When someone is doing their job properly, even if it isn’t exceptional, acknowledging their performance and letting them know how glad you are to have them working with you can spur them on to put in even more effort.
Leaders should always be developing new leaders. Don’t wait for something great to happen, look for positive behaviors throughout the day. Don’t take work performed well for granted. Seek out those who are stepping beyond their job description or those who are helping others without being asked to do so. It can also help to praise people in the presence of others. It can help the recipient of that praise to feel as though they truly matter, and it can encourage others to want to earn that praise as well.
If you use praise often and properly, it can help to grow your child into a responsible adult, help you build a strong, quality team or improve employee retention and performance at your company.
Are You Leadership Material?
When growing a team of powerful leaders, it helps to know what you believe qualifies someone to be a leader. The following is what I look for in a leader.
· The main characteristic of a leader – and of a good team member – is that they are coachable. If you ask 10 people if they’re coachable, they will all answer yes. In reality, many are not. Those who are coachable are open to new ideas, to what works for others. They are willing and able to step out of their comfort zone to grow their business.
· My team members who have imagination, creativity, self-determination and self-motivation are making sales and growing their business.
· I don’t believe we can motivate someone to work who is not self-motivated. We can, however, inspire our team members by doing what we have taught them to do.
· We can lead by example, so our team members can see that what we teach them to do actually works. The top team members don’t need someone to hold their hand every step of the way. They watch, listen and learn from the leaders, and then they get to work!
· We all run across prospective team members who tell us how great they are. That doesn’t work for me. As the old adage says, ‘action speaks much louder than words.” Show me! We need team members we can count on to do their part, without having to remind them or urge them on.
· Leaders are responsible for coaching, teaching, serving people, setting a good example and being available to those they lead.
· By setting a good example for our team members, we encourage them to grow.
· A good leader won’t pretend they’re experts in every aspect of their business, nor will they ignore the suggestions and ideas of their team members. Good leaders encourage their team members to make suggestions and to ask for assistance and problem solving help.
· Team members are always a priority to a good leader. If you work your business part time, be sure your team members know your work schedule. And, be sure they have contact information for who else they can call for help if you are unavailable.
I believe nearly everyone can – if they wish – become a good leader. However, they must listen to those who have been successful with the company. Creating your own unique path may seem like a good idea, but in reality, its best not to reinvent the wheel.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Advantages of Xpress Healthcare for Those on Medicare
I recently researched how my company, Xpress Healthcare, can help Senior Citizens in the USA who are on Medicare. For those who don’t know what Medicare is, it is a hospital and healthcare benefit plan offered to those 65 years and better. Throughout our lives, we pay into the Medicare fund, so when we reach 65, we will qualify for the benefits.
Medicare is a very good plan, however, it does not cover all aspects of healthcare all the time. During my research, I found that Medicare recipients have no dental, vision or hearing coverage. They have to pay out of pocket for these expenses, which do tend to increase as we grow older.
Medicare also does not pay for prescriptions needed by those on Medicare. Anyone who is on any type of maintenance medication for hypertension, high cholesterol or any other drugs knows how expensive they can be. There are many people who simply do without their medications, because they cannot afford them, thus jeopardizing their health.
There are Medicare Supplement plans available for seniors, which vary in price depending on the coverage they provide. Even with the supplements, if someone’s prescriptions exceed a certain dollar amount, there is a break in their prescription coverage. That break ends either at the beginning of the following year or when the member’s prescriptions reach a much higher out-of-pocket amount. We are talking about several thousand dollars here. Sadly, many seniors require several medications and do, therefore, reach that gap in coverage, often referred to as “the donut hole.”
Coming back to how my company’s discount benefit plans can help those on Medicare. We actually have two excellent plans that can save them a great deal of money.
Our Premium Plan offers discounts on dental, vision, hearing, medical supplies (like wheel chairs, oxygen), prescriptions and vitamins. The plan is only $19.95 per month for our member and their immediate family. So, if both a husband and wife, for instance, are on Medicare, it will only cost them a total of $19.95 per month for this plan.
Our second plan that can offer savings for seniors is our Lifestyle Select Plan. This plan offers some amazing savings on Life Lock® Identity Theft Protection, Pet Care, Roadside Assistance, Legal Access and a Cash Back Rewards Mall. This plan too is only $19.95 per month per family.
Seniors have often built more wealth and have higher credit limits than many younger people, but they’re less likely to guard their identity. So they are frequently targets of identity thieves. Unfortunately Seniors are also less likely to report a case of identity theft than their younger counterparts for fear that their families or caregivers may deem them incapable of handling their own affairs and try to take control. Identity thieves are well aware of this, so they take advantage of it as much as possible. With Life Lock® Identity Theft Protection, they are far more secure and less likely to become victimized.
Many seniors, of course, have pets, like the general population. Many are living on limited budgets, and Pet Assure, part of our Lifestyle Select plan can save them hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
Roadside Assistance is also a part of our Lifestyle Select, and since some seniors would be unable to change a flat tire, or taking trips to see their grandchildren, they may need help along the road, this too is a great feature for them.
Our legal assistance program can be invaluable to seniors who may be revising or writing new wills, selling their homes to move into a smaller one or a senior facility. Our Legal discounts offer nine free services for some of the most commonly used legal services. There are pre-negotiated discounts on other services.
Everyone can benefit from the Cash Back Rewards program. Since many seniors have health issues preventing them from shopping, this could be beneficial to them. In addition, everyone today is trying to save money, and the Cash Back Rewards Mall offer savings at hundreds of online stores.
I am so glad that Xpress Healthcare offers these two programs. Of course, they can help anyone at any age, but for Senior citizens on Medicare, they can be of ever greater benefit.
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