Destination Ruby: Make the Perfect Pitch

by: Dioni Morales, Director of Stylists Services


I believe all of you have one goal in common: Ruby! Of course you want to be part of the Founder's Club. To reach that goal, you need to sign up new Stylists who also want to grow their business. For you to get those Stylists, you need to give them the "Perfect Pitch."

A great leader from Australia, who I had the opportunity to hear a few months back, talked about the "Pitch" -  those few choice words that must be practiced and perfected, because most times you will only have a few minutes to grab someone's attention.  It might sound like a cliché, but it will always be true that the first impression is always the most important.

Here are a few tips to create your own personal Perfect Pitch.

The Do's:

• Keep your goals in mind.
• Quality will always out-perform quantity.
• Have the right mind-set

The Don'ts:

• Don't pitch within your comfort zone - you are not looking for the many, you're looking for the qualified few.
• Never edit your pitch: stick to the full story.

The How's: 

• There are four parts to the pitch. Your pitch should include: 

1. Products
2. Company
3. Opportunity
4. You

• Tips to work on when practicing to perfect your pitch:
• Your enthusiasm
• Your belief
• Find out their hot point
• People buy YOU
• Seek referrals

Remember, cover all the bases but focus on what interests THEM the most. Your pitch will really influence the quality of people who join your team.  When you pitch only the product, you will get customers.  But when you pitch the opportunity as well, you will get entrepreneurs.  And that, my dear friends, is how you get to Ruby!

Improve Your Networking Skills

adapted from a Direct Sales Education Foundation article

Successful networking is a necessary part of growing a direct sales business and taking it to the next level.  It involves a certain amount of social grace and the ability to engage people in conversation and make them feel comfortable.  A few lucky people seem to be born with these skills, but anyone can master them with dedication and persistence.

Here are some specific ideas to help you improve your networking skills:

• Focus on building relationships.  This will allow for long-term planning.  Even if this contact can't help you in your endeavor right now, the opportunity may arise in the future for this person to offer something of value to your business.  Give something of yourself when establishing professional relationships.  For example, a dance studio owner / dance teacher looking to expand her clientele by offering classes for children under 5 years old holds an open house for prospective students and their parents.  When speaking with some of the parents individually, she asks each why they would like to start the child in a dance class and offers a free demo class, as well as a discounted private lesson for those interested in joining her studio.  The parents recognize that the teacher is giving her time and expertise so that they may have a risk-free trial before committing to a year of classes.  This also allows the teacher to get to know her future students and show the parents that she truly cares about their early dance education.  In what way can you be of service to a prospective customer or new downline member?

• Keep the initial conversation social and friendly.   An initial introduction is not the time to offer unsolicited advice on the topic at hand.  Make sure the conversation centers around common interests.  The dance teacher shares her own stories about how she got started at a young age, which helps prospects relate to her on a more personal level.  This is more effective than preaching her philosophy on why children should start their dance classes as soon as possible.  A light-hearted conversational tone is best in networking situations.  Telling a new acquaintance about why you love Vessel will be more powerful than telling her why she or he should. 

• Don't make people uncomfortable by digging too deep.  Although you do want to build a relationship and find out a bit more about the person, be careful not to pry into their personal lives at an inappropriate level.  One mother of twins attending a demo gymnastics class with her children finds herself being asked by total strangers if she used fertility treatments to conceive.  A seemingly innocent question made in social conversation is actually quite personal.  Don't make this mistake.  Let the other person guide you in how much they are willing to share, but err on the side of caution when asking personal questions.  Act interested, but don't grill them!

Just like any skill, networking take practice.  The more you do it, the better you become and the more relaxed and open you appear to the new people you meet.  You won't necessarily do it perfectly, but you will become much better at turning strangers into friends and becoming a networking success!

To Your Success!

Susan

This is the Best Time to Prospect!

by: Dioni Morales, Director of Stylists Services

It's the beginning of  a new year, so that means it's time to start putting action to your goals.  Hopefully, you've already determined your goals and have put them in writing.  I'm sure that one of your business goals is to talk to others about Vessel.

Remember that you are not the only one making goals at this time of the year.  There are many, many people who have evaluated their lives, what they are dissatisfied with, and what they are looking for ... something new, something different. And here you are, ready to do some PROSPECTING!  What you need to do is to find the right people to add to your Vessel team, without wasting time with those who are not right, or who are not yet ready.

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to hear Paula Pritchard speak.  Ms. Pritchard is a pioneer in the direct sales industry.  She has been involved with direct sales for nearly four decades, and is one of the first women to get to the "top" and make millions.  She is also an author and speaker. She gave really great points on Prospecting and I'm sharing those with you:

• There are only two ways to make money: Showing the product and showing the business. Success is in the "SHOW".

• Only 50% of the population is available to you, because only 50% are hardwired to be entrepreneurs. In other words, the other 50% are hardwired to work for others.

• Qualifying people is critical!  Be selective!  Some people will NEVER be entrepreneurs.  Don't waste your time! Go on a fact-finding mission.  Ask questions, such as what they want out of life.

• Being told NO is a requirement. There will be a time when you don't even remember the "no's." A lot of people walk into a store and leaves empty-handed, and it's alright.

• Someone said to Paula once: "Call me when you make your first million," and her response was, "I won't need you then."  

• If you were given 200 shells and you knew that there were 10 pearls, wouldn't you open all 200 shells looking for those 10?

• You need six legs to get to Diamond.  But don't just recruit six -  recruit more. Otherwise, it will be miserable for you and for your recruits, because you're putting way too much pressure on those six.  You can't try to turn a liter into a gallon, some people just want to be a liter!

• Fall in love with the process, not the result.  Detach from it, don't take it personally.

• The way you do the invite is their first training.

• Your biggest success will come after your biggest disappointment. 

• Preparation is 80% of recruiting! Get the story right and work on your own belief and confidence.  It needs to flow smoothly.  People will notice if you don't show confidence, even if you have to "fake" it at first.  

• Become a student of the invitation.  PRACTICE!

• Ask them: "Do you like selling?" If they say NO, you say: "Oh, great, you'll love this!"  If they say YES, you say, "Oh, great, you'll love this!"

Go out there and find the fifty percent who are hard-wired to be entrepreneurs, and who are just waiting for you to present them with the Vessel opportunity!

My Story Matters

In my June 2014 blog post I talked about the five Vessel “Scents” that convey our guiding principles and a sense of place and purpose for all those involved with Vessel. One of these guiding principles, “Scents of Service”, motivates us to contribute in meaningful ways to our society and those around us. We serve each other and support women and girl related charitable causes. One such charity is My Story Matters.

The mission of My Story Matters, founded by Amy Chandler, is "giving the gift of story to individuals in need by publishing uplifting, inspiring and motivational stories of faith, courage and talent for individuals who could not otherwise do so for themselves."  Amy is a wonderful woman with a heart of gold. She is an inspiration to me with the unceasing service she provides to family, friends, acquaintances and strangers.

Vessel partners with My Story Matters on their Angel Series.  As described by My Story Matters, “Our Angel Series is dedicated to preserving the life story of those sweet spirits who left this earth at a young age. We will focus on the lives of children who died before the age of 12. Although their stay with us was brief they definitely leave a lasting impression on all those they came in contact with.” My Story Matters provides a beautiful storybook to the families who have lost a child, and Vessel contributes to the mother a scented jewelry set, including the birthstone of her sweet child that passed away.

Here are a few notes of thanks we have received from these dear mothers and families:

“Dear Vessel, A package arrived at our house from My Story Matters last Saturday. Inside the package were a book about my daughter who passed away and a beautiful necklace! Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. It touched my hear to think that someone is trying to cheer me up. The scent is very calming, and also reminds me of my daughter who used to love scented lotions. Thank you very much for the wonderful surprise gift!”

“Dear Vessel, How generous of you to donate the necklace. Very special. Thank you for your compassion and kindness.”

“Dear Vessel, Thank you for the absolutely beautiful necklace to help our hearts when we remember our precious son. Your gift was a surprise to us and has such significant meaning to us. Thank you again for your kindness and selflessness.”

We are so grateful to My Story Matters for letting Vessel be involved in a small way in the special service they provide to these beloved families. For more information, to donate time, materials or money, or to nominate someone for a story book, please see the My Story Matters website. As we continue to work with My Story Matters, we pray for those families who loose a precious child, and hope to offer a special sense of remembrance with a piece of Vessel scented jewelry.

With love,

Karen

Why January is The Best Time to Book Home Parties

by Tracy Ralph, National Sales Director
Adapted from a post by Industry Expert Julie Anne Jones

The holiday selling season is winding down and I’m sure you are, like me, looking forward to spending some down time with your family during the second half of this month.

Since it’s only the middle of December, you still have plenty of time to focus on January bookings so you step into the new year with a strong business. Here are my best arguments for getting out there and getting bookings now.

While a new year is all fresh and shiny and new, it can also seem daunting to direct sellers. Too often you’re coming off of at least a two week break (if not longer) and facing a long month with few bookings. It doesn’t have to be this way and there’s definitely still time for you to turn your business around before you usher in a new year. In fact, many times January was the best month of the year for me when I was working my party plan business. Here’s why I loved January as a direct seller.

People Need a Reason To Party and You Party For a Living

Think about it. There are no real holidays to celebrate in January. People are coming off of the let down of the biggest holiday season of the year and what do they have to look forward to? A long, cold, dark month! If you’re making phone calls to book home parties, offer them something to look forward to with some fun themes. Remind them that your parties are all about fun and connection.

A Girl’s Night Out is Definitely In Order

Just like in September, January is a great time for moms to take an evening and do something just for themselves. Think about how much the average woman does for other people from Thanksgiving through the Monday their kids go back to school after the holiday weekend. A break is overdue for you and your women friends and you can capitalize on that to book parties as an excuse for a girl’s night out.

Your Company Offers Great Incentives in January to Get You Moving

Because January is historically a slower month for direct sellers, chances are good your company is offering some awesome hostess incentives to help you book parties. During this time of year, your corporate office tends to “give away the store” and you can certainly take advantage of that to get more parties on your schedule.

If Funds are Short, Hosting a Home Party is A Great Solution
I hear often that “people don’t have any money in January.” If that’s the case, invite them to book a party to earn the items on their wish list. If they tell you their friends are all broke, let them know that your parties aren’t about asking people to come to your house and spend money. They’re about a chance to get together and have some fun. Focus on that and you’ll most likely find that your host didn’t know her friends’ financial situation as well as she thought she did (and lots of them will find a way to order something from you).

The Credit Card Bills From Holiday Shopping Start to Arrive

This is not just for you, but for the majority of the people you’ll meet at your parties, your hosts, etc. And wouldn’t an extra $500.00 – $1000.00 each month come in handy to pay those bills? I found, during this time of the year, people were very open to learning about how to earn some extra income and my sponsoring numbers soared. I planned an opportunity event every January so I had an event to which I could invite people who were interested. Even if only five people actually show up and you only sponsor two, would that really be so bad?

Hopefully you’re inspired now to get yourself moving and get some parties on your calendar prior to the end of the year. Even if you only book a few at the beginning of the month, January is a long month and you’ve got plenty of time to book home parties from those parties so your business takes off in 2015.

*Julie Anne Jones is a direct sales corporate consultant, coach, and trainer, and the CEO of Julie Anne Jones, Inc. She is known for her authentic and easy-to-use scripting and specializes in specific language and tools for success in direct sales. To learn more about Julie Anne and her products and services, and to read her weekly blog posts, visit her at www.julieannejones.com.

Versatile Vessel for the Holidays

I was looking back at some of our past holiday blog posts and thought I'd repost this one from 2012. I've had a lot of comments recently about how easy it is to create a variety of looks by investing in just a few Vessel pieces.

If you're like me, you probably have a few holiday parties scheduled this month. Coming up with various outfits and accessories can be challenging (at least for me!) both creatively and monetarily. Instead of spending a lot of money to buy separate jewelry pieces for each party, why not purchase one Vessel set, and change out Charms and ScentSpheres to match each outfit.

Here are some perfect examples of how the Alexa 30" Chain and Teardrop Locket in rhodium plating can work for any holiday party - whether fun, festive or formal.

FUN

First, you've volunteered your home for the family party and, even though you're beginning to feel overwhelmed with your holiday to-do list, you want to look holly and jolly for the relatives. You need a fun piece to wear with the holiday sweater grandma gave you last year. Insert a mix of Apple Green and Red (heart) ScentSpheres, and include a Ruby, Peridot and Star Charms and you're all set for family fun!

FESTIVE

Then, you've got your neighborhood party, and you know all the ladies on the block are eager to see the amazing ensemble you'll arrive in. You need a beautiful look with festive flair. Change over to a combination of White, Light blue and Blue ScentSpheres with Aquamarine, Sapphire and Snowflake Chrms, and you're ready to revel!

FORMAL

Finally, for your formal work party you want a gorgeous piece to wear with that little black dress. You need an elegant accent that guarantees all eye will be on you as you make your entrance. Select White w/Black Flowers ScentSpheres with Pearl and Heart Charms, and you'll dazzle your coworkers with your stunning style!

Vessel jewelry is so versatile, that just a few simple changes create a perfectly custom piece for any occasion. You won't want to party without Vessel this holiday season!

Love,
Karen

The Elevator to Success Is Out of Order....

by: Dioni Morales, Director of Stylists Services

About three weeks ago I was at a Conference listening to top leaders of the direct sales industry. So many things resonated with me, and I really want to share some in the next few blogs I will be writing.

Today I will share some important things that I heard from a man who used to be a policeman before someone presented him an opportunity to join this industry. After learning from many people and from his own mistakes, he's currently extremely successful.

His presentation was about focus and perseverance, doing what you have to do to make it and keep going.  Here are some of the most interesting points about his presentation:

1. This is NetWORK Marketing not NetTALK Marketing, you have to WORK it! Don't just talk, Do it!

2. Many years ago, after finding only a little bit of gold, a mining company decided to stop mining the gold and to sell the equipment to another company. The new company hired a geologist who used his skills to help the miners find a great deal of gold just three feet away from where the old company had stopped mining.  The new company went on to make millions of dollars. Many times we give up right when we are about to find our Gold.

3. Instead of just writing goals, he suggested writing everything we are dissatisfied with, as well as everything we want out of life. Doing it this is much more effective, because 80% of our success in this industry is based on our mind-set.

4. "The elevator to success is out of order, you have to use the stairs, one step at a time." If we are constantly moving and working toward our goals and dreams, imagine where we will be a year from now.

5. "There's a lot of room on the top, but the bottom sure is crowded."  Sometimes we get comfortable where everyone else is.  We don't do what needs to be done.  Like most other people, we don't make the extra effort to get to the top.

It's always great to hear from other leaders.  It's always great to read relevant and helpful information.  However, don't forget that you need to put everything to action!   You have to work.  You have to persevere.  One step at a time, you will not only find GOLD (like some Stylists already have), but with Vessel you will find DIAMOND!