| Heather's Helpful Hints | June 09 edition It’s Summer Time! What does it take to be a WAHM and have all the kids with you throughout the Summer time? Well, to start with, you are going to be a lot busier now that the kids are out and running all over the place, hanging with their friends, going to the pool and just going crazy with all their freedom from the long months of being in school! What does this mean to you? The WAH individual who spends so much of your time networking, working on your computer, making countless trips with your product for delivery, and then having to come home to make sure that things are taken care of there and pick up kids that have been left stranded somewhere by their friends when they were sure they would be getting that ride home so that you could get just a few more things done! With summer, I find that this is the perfect time to really get my kids involved with my businesses from stuffing envelopes to cataloging inventory. I also have them go with me and make cold calls, and drop off brochures and business cards to everyone that we come into contract with. You would be surprised the amount of catalogs and business cards that I have dropped off at those birthday parties that the kids get invited too, along with the occasional BBQ that we have all been invited to as well. Take this time in the summer, to not just enjoy yourself and your family, but remember to continue to look for those ways to get your businesses out there and seen. After all, those costumers are not going to be coming to you; you need to be going to them! And striking up a conversation while you are waiting at the checkout line is a great way to get a name and number and then follow up! Follow up with your calls with everyone that you come into contact with and you will see your business continue to grow throughout the summer!! | May 09 edition Spring: A Time for Renewal
We all think of spring as a time of renewal, that time of year when our flowers start to blossom and we look forward to warmer weather. For me, Spring is a time not only for enjoying all that it has to offer, but it also gives me time to reflect where I am with my businesses, where I want to be, and how I am going to go about it to be successful.
We have all made those New Year’s resolutions that we would push forward and be successful but as the days passed, turning into months, we sometimes get side tracked by our own lives and put our businesses on the back burner. As a WAHM, it is important to not only spend time with our family and friends, but to set aside time to concentrate and promote our businesses. After all, it is your business and this is why you have worked hard to be a WAHM. What I like to do this time of year is to go over all those clients and customers that I have made sales with or just shared my business opportunities too. What better time than now to get reconnected with our past and current customers. It has been said that most people will stop after their first sale with many of their customers, however, I say to you, push forward and keep in contact with them on a weekly basis, and a monthly basis. Get them on your mailing lists so that they can always be aware of the companies you represent and what your specials and sales are for each week and month. In order to be successful, you need to put forth effort in making the connection. After all, people are not going to come to you and if you want to make that sale and future sales, than it is up to you to make that first call, drop by and leave some catalogs or flyers showing the specials that you are running or just spending time sharing your businesses with those that you come in contact with. As I stated in last month’s article, I find myself talking to just about everyone about my businesses, especially when waiting at doctor’s offices or even in the line at the grocery store. Always keep business cards with you so that you can hand these out along with having catalogs. A prepared person is the one who gets the sale. Above all, do not forget to follow up with those who have expressed interest in your businesses or have placed an order. No one likes to feel as if they have been forgotten or worse yet, that you were only trying to make one sale in order to meet a quota. I find that it is imperative to have a great working relationship with your customers and to communicate with them often. This not only assures that you will receive repeat business, but your current customers are more likely to recommend you for their business needs rather than someone else. With that said, keep in mind you will want to always share the opportunities that your businesses offer. This is especially important if and when you decide you want to build a team for your business and maintain a customer base that is sure to bring you repeat business. When you do that, you are not just making a connection with people, but you are successfully building your business. Now is the time to revamp and re-evaluate your goals and where you are in your business. It is also the time to ask yourself what direction you want to go and set some short term and long term goals for making your business flourish. The key to any successful business is to follow through after there has been a sale, follow up with phone calls and emails and most importantly connect with your customers. When customers feel you are interested in them, they will be willing to come to you for all their business needs. They will also recommend you to their friends and family because you have maintained not just a professional relationship with them, but you have shown them that they are important to you and you are interested in them! | | |
| | Vicki's Helpful Tips
June 09 edition What's Cooking Sometimes as a WAHM we work hours that are not typical of those employed outside the home in a traditional work place. Here’s a recipe that can cook all day while you tend to your business and household duties. Here's quick & easy dinner plans for you that will keep you cool & allow you more time with your business & family. Check it out... Slow Cooker Round Steak
3 potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 onion, chopped
6 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1 inch pieces
2 lbs boneless round steak
1 envelope of dry onion soup mix
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup of water
Place the potatoes, onion and carrots in crock pot. Cut steak into 6 pieces, then put meat in top of veggies. In a mixing bowl combine the soup mix, soup and water pour over beef. And now that summer is here and the kiddos are out of school, scheduling can be even more challenging. Here’s a snack for the kids. Frozen Banana Pops on a Stick *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
INGREDIENTS:
3 bananas
6 wooden ice-cream sticks
1 cup orange juice
1 cup milk-chocolate pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup chopped peanuts (optional)
3/4 cup shredded coconut (optional)
Cover baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Slice peeled
Bananas in half crosswise and insert stick. Dip into orange
Juice. Place in freezer until firm. Melt chocolate pieces
And vegetable oil in top of double boiler. Spoon melted
Chocolate evenly over bananas. Chocolate will harden fast,
So work rapidly. Roll coated bananas in chopped peanuts or
Shredded coconut. Serve immediately or wrap in plastic wrap
And freeze.
Yield: Serves | May 09 edition It’s Not Easy Being A WAHM
Being a WAHM is not as easy as some think. Many of us become a WAHM and find ourselves running about chaotically and working all hours of the day and night. Often this behavior affects the dishes, laundry, and time with family and our overall sanity. The chaotic behavior only leads to us finding ourselves working on 100 things at once and not accomplishing anything or accomplishing the task later than we had anticipated. There are ways to get around this which I will be discussing in the next paragraphs. First, find a company or start your own with a mentor, upline or leader that has shown success in their business. Ask questions and always remember the only “stupid” question is the one that is not asked. And remember, there’s not much in life that’s free, so you will probably have to give some to get some. This could be money or time. You get out of your business what you put into it. Always remember when choosing your business to work from home, choose something that you are excited about and love, this will help you achieve your goals of success. Next and this is a biggie, get yourself a large desk calendar, use your Outlook or any other computer calendar and schedule your days. Be sure to include in your schedule, times for work only, laundry and of course other household chores. Follow your schedule, there are times where changes are made but try and stay within your hours set on your calendar. Depending on you, the schedule can be weekly, monthly or even daily if that works best for you in the beginning. Next be sure to have a designated area as your work area/office. This can be a room of its own or just a corner in an existing room of your home. Share your schedule with your spouse, children and anyone else living in your home. Show them your work area and explain the importance of your work and the boundaries for not disturbing you. If you have little ones, you may want to schedule your work hours when your spouse is home or when they nap. Until next time…Vicki Greene |
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