Slow and steady ...

Since this has become a blog about my Scentsy (MLM) journey, I thought I'd share how my team has grown...

• 3/23/10 - I signed up.
• 4/9/10 - My 1st recruit signed up (I'd invited her to lunch to share the Canadian opportunity thinking she could refer me to someone since she is from Canada).  Tip:  Share your business.  You never know who'll be interested. 
• 4/17/10 - Recruit #2 signed up. (She pretty much decided at my launch open house --- she saw how fun and easy it was and thought "I could do that!")  Tip:  Keep your parties fun, but simple, too.
• 6/9/10 - My 3rd recruit signed up after researching Scentsy online.  She chose me over others in our zip code. (She mentioned that my story led her to believe that I'd be the most helpful).  Tip:  Make sure your personal story and/or bio reflects your knowledge and ability; not just your enthusiasm. 
• 6/27/10 - My 4th recruit signed up.  She was a former employee who kept in touch...  Tip:  Don't burn bridges.  (Either as employee or employer or...?)

Tonight #4 emailed that her 1st recruit should be signing up this week.  How exciting!  I'm to be a Scentsy Grandma!  (Get it?  2nd generation recruit!  {giggle})  LOVE this stuff!

Sooo, I'm building my business "slow and steady".  I could pressure more people to sign up, but I'd rather have people that are going to stick around for awhile.  I don't want to see people sign up just to drop off...  My downline energizes me just as much, if not more, than I energize them.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you'll peek in once-in-awhile to see if slow and steady really do win the race.

~~carleen

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrats!

The first month or so of Scentsy was joyful.  Fun stuff.  Learning.  Sharing.  Laughing.  All good.  I remember thinking that'd I'd need to prepare myself for some tough days, too, although it was difficult to imagine what could go wrong...

Fast forward 3 months:

Thanks to a Soccer Team's Fundraiser that a friend "found" for me, I was still "in the running" for the Scentsy April-July incentive (specific sales goal each month to qualify) and I was at a sales level that qualified for June bonuses (albeit little ones, but that's fun stuff)!  Bonus just sounds exciting, right?  And both without stressing out, whatsoever.  Sweet!  Because that's what Scentsy is supposed to be for me---all fun and NO stress (I've had enough of that these last 10 years...)
My 4th recruit had just signed up, as well, a friend that I was excited about working with. 

Aaaaah.  Nicey nice.  I like.

Then hubby decided to take the family to The Stratosphere.  I almost stayed home to collect the fundraiser orders, but then realized I would be missing out on quality family time---EXACTLY what I was trying to make MORE time for---so I rescheduled to pick up the orders the next day and felt good *great* about it. 

We had a wonderful time.  The children were adorably enthusiastic, the weather and views magnificent.  Brandon (our 2nd who is 7) and I had our picture taken on The BIG SHOT!  4 G's of pressure STRAIGHT UP.  The ride is ridiculously short, but it is also an extreme adrenaline rush.  I'd do it again.  Dad and our oldest son had "chickened" out.  lol  Oh, how Chris and I *adore* seeing how different our boys are!  One strawberry blonde with big blue eyes---curious, impulsive, and over-flowing with energy; a bit of a dare-devil and the other a red-head with lil green eyes---rational, mellow, calm; thinks his brother is crazy...  Love it.  LOVE them.  :)

The next morning I woke up to read a message sent from my SIL, my Scentsy sponsor, the night before, that she'd just got her order in.  WAIT!  Month-end order?  Quick glance at my calendar showed July 1st, but payroll cut-off is the last day of the month.

OH, no! 

I BLEW it! 
         I wasn't still "in-the-running". 
                       I wouldn't get my bonuses.  (pout)
Yes.  I want this Scentsy hobby/project/biz to be "all fun", but I'm finding that part of the fun for me is reaching my (realistic) goals.  It was *right there*.  BUM   MER 
So I had to come to reality---no way to change it... 
                  Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrats!
Quick!  Find the bright side...
The April-July incentive was a shopping spree of items selected by Scentsy; not really even any *thing* I was drooling over, but certainly drooling over *reaching my goal*.  Shattered. 
Ok.  Not helping...
SIL sponsor said she was kind of jealous that I got to start July off "with a bang".  lol  True.  True.  Its not like I won't get paid for the fundraiser.  I just won't get paid for another month yet...  nor will I get the small bonus I counted on. 
HOW IN THE WORLD did I forget the date?  Such an imporant date?  How could I make sure it NEVER happened again??!?! 
                                         OR
(finding my rationality again) do I not want to be so tied to "a" day?  Maybe its ok that I choose family over "work" sometimes; more like magnificent!

Hmmmm I wonder what July will bring, Scentsy-wise...  ?  'sure started out awesome, don't you think?  :)

Merrily we roll along...

I had a wonderful visit with my brand new 3rd recruit today.  I like to think of her as my blind-date recruit since she selected me via the Scentsy website consultant finder.  lol  She has a pre-launch party set up tomorrow night to ease herself into presentations and then has big plans after that...  I just LOVED her and her daughter and am thrilled that they are part of our Scentsy team; now part of my life. 
I also dropped off packets for my first fundraiser today.  A friend "fell into it" for me when a co-worker casually mentioned that she wanted to have a Scentsy fundraiser.  My friend was on-the-ball enough to ask her if she knew a consultant --- so Michelle is officially my new BFF!   
Funny thing is both of these events came just days after I had emailed my sponsor (SIL) that I had nut'n going for June and had resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't make my goal for our April - July Scentsy promo/incentive... 
Sales is a big roller coaster ride if you let it be.  I'm working very hard to remember not to count my chicks before they are hatched.  Case in point: Last month I had a very strong possible recruit disappear, also a basket party hostess (along WITH a set of pocket testers ).  It is what it is and I just merrily roll along focusing on the fun; the good in this Scentsy adventure.  

You can't MAKE me.

I'm not really one for "sales".  I don't like being pressured, whatsoever, into buying.  To be honest, I've often chosen to go without rather than succumb...

(Herein the title comes into play...  Hey?!?  I am NOT stubborn.  lol) 

Nor do I ever want to pressure someone else into buying something they do not want or need. Meanwhile, my husband spent much of his childhood years in a flea market; selling.  He's quite talented at making 'most anything sound desirable; loves selling and being sold to; or is it the being schmoozled part he enjoys?  lol

He and I started managing dental offices 10 years ago.  At first I was uncomfortable "selling", but was pleasantly surprised listening to my husband asking our patients, "What do YOU want to do?" in regards to their dental treatment.  He wasn't "selling", he was first informing (options) and then helping them achieve their goals.  Nice.

Many of our patients in the beginning had *never* been to a dentist.  Many were missing FRONT teeth.  They told us they never smiled any more; always had their hands over their mouth.  These same people BEAMED when they had their new teeth and hugged us as they left; they couldn't stop smiling.  I wasn't selling.  I was giving people what they wanted and felt very good about it.  I needed this extreme to realize that I can offer goods and services and be successful without pressuring, without "selling".
Now I venture into direct sales; multi-level marketing even.  I'm "supposed to be" selling the millionaire dollar dream, selling to and recruiting everyone who will listen, and talking louder to those that aren't listening yet, right?  Not if I want loyal, long-term customers.  Not if I want a team of consultants who will still be around in a few months.  Not in my stubborn opinion... So I'm taking it slower---not pushing; just sharing my information, listening to what others want and enjoying the process (meeting some wonderful people that I wouldn't have otherwise). 

Like you, I hope. 

What are your thoughts on selling?

~~carleen

I Need Scents

scents/cents/sense

A fun play on words… Scentsy wickless candle customers need scents for their warmers. I need to make cents so a fun Scentsy "hobby" makes sense. Yes, I’m silly and grateful for my children who help keep me that way.

Soooo, on March 23rd, 2010, I DOVE into Scentsy. I love the products and I love the business model; my business grows as I help others grow their businesses.

'love it.

But now I need exposure. No one’s buying if no one’s knowing… More diving, but this time into Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and b-l-o-g-g-i-n-g. The former were relatively comfortable for me; short tidbits of info, but the latter is DAUNTING. A daily blog post? What do I possibly have to say that anyone would want to follow?

So far my favorite part of networking has been the social aspect; getting to know others and their stories. So tell me, how did you get here to blog world?