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How to be a successful direct sales consultant

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Have you been struggling with your Direct Sales or small business company? Do you feel like you need a kick in the pants about your direct sales business to get you moving in the right direction, not act all spammy and actually get some real customers, team members and sales? Trying to figure out the world of social media marketing can be confusing, conflicting and downright costly at times. The solution to this – The Elite Suite! How to be a successful direct sales consultanthow to be a successful direct sales consultant

That’s how I’ve been feeling for some of my time doing Direct Sales or MLM companies (I’ve tried a few over my adult years). There are some really big sellers out there that do all the stuff you hate to see -post on their personal timeline ALL the time, message all of your friends. SELL, SELL, SELL all the time and don’t worry if others unfriend them! Yes I bet you’ve seen some of those people around! They might do well short term, but they haven’t formed any relationships with their customer base and will burn out in the long term as everyone turns away from their spammy selling behaviour.

A good place to start

That’s where the Socialite Suite entered my life just after starting with Jamberry. It is all about learning how to market yourself without those irritating tricks that annoy all your friends. I lurked for a bit, bought a few courses at very reasonable prices about using different social media platforms better. And then this year, after being a Suite member for 18 months I decided to take the plunge and join their premium coaching group- The Elite Suite as I still felt I was struggling with what to do next.

I was just going to try it for a month! That’s all. But there is so much value with video tips 5 days a week, graphics, and the support of others who are truly trying to step up their game to be a successful direct sales consultant too! So I stayed another month, and another. I joined up in March, and it’s now August and I’m still there. Everything is self-paced too, which makes it easy to go work on the things I need help with!

Too good to keep to yourself

Then I invited my team mate who was struggling as well with our company going through some big changes. She was going to try for a month and ended up staying. That’s how great the value is of this group is to support you in becoming a successful direct sales consultant! You just don’t want to leave The Elite Suite! And of course Brenda is da Bomb and has her finger on the pulse of the Social Media world!

So if you are feeling like you need that kick in the pants to be a more successful in direct sales, then jump on in to The Elite Suite! It will give you the tools and strategy…but just remember you still have to put it all into place!

Jump into The Elite Suite, check it out for a month and see if it helps you. And you can cancel at any time.

What are the perks?

This is what you get with The Elite Suite membership:

  • Live, guided coaching every weekday,
  • Exclusive, monthly Planning Your Monthly Sales Strategy live training session,
  • A monthly graphics pack,
  • A highly-engaged and supportive community

So jump into The Elite Suite now! And learn how to the best! How to be a successful direct sales consultant that can rock their business!

Come learn more about Direct Sales here.

Like to see more of my stuff – My community hang out here, but I also use Pinterest and Instagram. (Who doesn’t, hey?).

This post was originally posted on Sassy Direct in August 2018. It’s now December 2018 and I’m still in the group, even without being in Direct Sales due to the fabulous community and support I’ve found there.

 

A peek at the Direct Sales World

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It’s a strange thing, the Direct Sales world. Companies may sell via catalogues only, websites, or through party plan. Some even do a mix of those three or even more ways. As the world has opened up more with the advance of the internet and social media, so have the avenues through which you can find a direct sales company. If you know where to look, they are EVERYWHERE!A peek into the direct sales world

As a consultant you are trying to find your footing in the world of sales based from home (usually), and compete with all the big businesses that have huge advertising budgets. As a small business that sells via party plan or website only, you can sometimes be seen as inferior to those bigger companies. And due to the nature of some people in the past, can be seen as spammy or ‘one of those annoying party companies’. So you try to find your own way and voice to be heard over the thousands of others out there!

Not all Direct Sales companies are the same. They all have their own brand values and conditions for consultants (and clients too sometimes). Such a vast range of products can be bought from a Direct Sales company these days too! Beauty products, clothes, food, jewellery…even toys for grown ups. Of course, not every company is available in every country (though potential customers wish they would do so! and soon).

Just as all companies are different, so can the culture of being someone’s ‘Only’ consultant. Those that carry the same products with every consultant strongly cling on to their customers, and it’s even frowned upon in the rules of the company to poach anyone else’s customers. But then there are companies now where each consultant has their own stock, which is likely to be different to any other consultant in the area. With these companies they are encouraged to share their customers around to be able to find items or patterns they are searching for. But whichever type of company, if you don’t look after your customers, they may not return ever again. It is essential to build relationships with them, and make them feel valued (which they are! Without customers, you don’t have a successful business).

Word of Mouth and great reviews can do wonders for whatever type of Direct Sales company you are with. So if you buy a product from someone who does right by you, let them know what a great job they are doing, and let your friends know who to go to. Your consultant will love you for it! Because you are not just lining the pockets of some big company director- purchasing with someone in direct sales  is helping them send their kids to dance lessons, to buy a coffee with friends, to finally have a family holiday together!  You are helping someone who’s trying to make ends meet and pay their monthly bills. You are helping someone just like you!

 

How to be an organised mum

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how to be an organised mum - young mother with arms around toddler sitting on a dock looking out to the waterWhen you first find out that you are going to be a mum you hope that will have your life together and be an organised mum like so many television shows have portrayed over the years. But not all of us ladies have those OCD tendencies to be super organised about every aspect of motherhood. So this post is for those who want to have a bit more structure in their mum life, but have struggled so far in life to get that perfection you’ve seen in so many others.  These are tips on how to be an organised mum from a mum who hasn’t got it all together yet, but knows these things can help.

Use a calendar

We all have things in our lives we need to remember whether we are a stay at home mum, have a career away from home or do something from home while juggling the kid stuff. This could be things from birthdays to medical appointments, date nights to when bills need to be paid.how to be an organised mum calendar options

There are so many choices with technology these days that you are not restricted to just pen and paper items. There are apps for calendars and planning – complete with reminder alarms that can be set to remind you of each event.

But first I would organise a calendar that is on display for the whole family to see. Whether you have an event involving the kid’s soccer training, your partner’s days off or when the electricity bill is due, they will all be visible to the whole household.

You can then keep your own personal events in a diary, planner or app of your choice that travels with you.

Write down all things that you need to remember for certain dates. This many include:

-school events
-play group
-medical appointments
– birthdays/anniversaries
-school holidays
-your holidays
-bills
-appointments

Have a place things belong

When you are not organised it can be so easy to misplace important belongings. My husband is forever misplacing things he needs and then panicking if he can’t find them when he’s running late. So find a spot for items in your house and ALWAYS put them back in that spot.

Some common things that will need their own spot are and suggestions where to home them:

Keys- key rack or bowl

TV remotes- spot on coffee table

Dirty dishes- on sink or in dishwasher

Shoes – place in wardrobe or under bed

Towels in use- towel rack

Toys – toy box or book shelf

 

Shopping Listshow to be an organised mum infographic

Shopping with children (especially toddlers) can be one of the most daunting experiences as a mother! But when you get to the shop, with child in the middle of the worse tantrum ever, and forget what you actually needed to buy, it can be super frustrating.

Get a notepad you can leave in the kitchen. I find a long one with magnets on the back that sticks to the fridge is perfect! Even if the bench gets inundated with dishes or other stuff, it can still be found.

Whenever you run out of an item from the fridge or pantry, write it down. If something is running low, write it down. Before going shopping, check what you might need or refer to a checklist.

This not only limits the ‘what else did I need’ moments, but also cuts down on the budget blowouts of impulse buying.

Don’t put things off

My last tip on how to be an organisehow to be an organised mum infographicd mum is not to delay too many tasks. Yes, there might be a few things we put aside as we have to wait for our pay to come in, but it shouldn’t be everything!

If a note comes home from school, fill it then. (If you have to wait for your payday for that excursion fee, put a reminder in your calendar about it NOW).

You see something out of place, go put it away now. Don’t keep stepping over it to leave for the next five months.

Hopefully following these simple things can help you become more like that organised mum you’ve always dreamed of. And don’t panic if you can’t achieve them all! Baby steps can help us in our journey to become a more organised mum.

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Being a mother is tough – working out this parenting gig (again)

How to apply Jamberry wraps- official method

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How to apply Jamberry wraps - official methodYour lovely new wraps have arrived or you just got a sample from your consultant. And you are not quite sure on how to put them on. Well here’s how to apply Jamberry wraps- official method. This is the officially recommended method advised by Jamberry.

What you will need:

(the first 5 are available in the application kit)

  • Purple cuticle pusher or orange stick
  • nail scissors
  • nail file
  • buffer block
  • alcohol wipe or nail prep cleanser
  • Mini-heater or hairdryer
  • Jamberry nail wraps

Step 1

Prepare your nails.

Wash hands with dish detergent, thoroughly going over each nail. Use an orange stick or cuticle pusher and gently push back your cuticles from your nails. (If you have a lot of cuticle built up on your nail, try Jamberry Cuticle Remover first by painting it over the nail and cuticle and leaving for 2 minutes before pushing back cuticle and then rinsing off).

Buff your nails lightly with a buffer block to get the shine off them. Then clean nails with an alcohol wipe or Nail Prep Cleanser/Wipe.

Step 2

Match the nail wrap up that best fits each nail. Aim for a smaller size than the nail to avoid overlapping the wrap on the skin and nail edges as that could cause it to lift.

Step 3

Cut the nail wrap in half. Use the orange stick to pick up wrap from the cut side and peel away from clear backing sheet.

Step 4

Warm up the sticky side of the nail wrap with a Mini-Heater or blow dryer for around 3 seconds. Avoid overheating it.

Step 5

Press the nail wrap onto your nail with the round edge at the cuticle. Smooth the nail wrap firmly down the center of the nail towards the tip of your nail. Then smooth the sides out starting at the centre and going out towards the edges. This seals the nail wrap to your nail.

Step 6

Trim off most of the excess wrap with nail scissors, so you can work on the other nails. Apply heat and pressure to each one till they are bonded to the nail.

Step 7

File off remaining excess with a coarse file using a downward motion at 90 degree angle to the nail. Keep filing until edge feels smooth and does not catch on clothing. If a finer file is needed, try the glass nail file.

Here is the official video link for application:

(If you find this official method does not work for your own nails. There are a few other methods you can try. The Cold 1, 2, 3 method is the one I use the most myself. Come check out my other posts to see this method).

Now you should have beautifully decorated nails that will last up to 2 weeks. You can brag to your friends that your fancy nails were easily done from the comfort of your home.

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10 Jamberry application tips to get a great manicure at home

How to apply Jamberry wraps- the Cold 1, 2, 3 method

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how to apply wraps cold 1 2 3This is my favourite method of how to apply Jamberry wraps – the Cold 1,2,3 method. If you have tried the official method of application (see here) and found it didn’t work well for you, this may be the answer to being able to wear those lovely samples you got.

Step 1

Prepare your nails as with official method.

Wash hands with dish detergent, thoroughly going over each nail. Use an orange stick or purple cuticle pusher and gently push back your cuticles from your nails. (If you have a lot of cuticle built up on your nail, try Jamberry Cuticle Remover first by painting it over the nail and cuticle and leaving for 2 minutes before pushing back cuticle and then rinsing off).

Buff your nails lightly with a buffer block to get the shine off them. Then clean nails with an alcohol wipe or Nail Prep Cleanser/Wipe

Step 2

Match the nail wrap up that best fits each nail. Aim for a smaller size than the nail to avoid overlapping the wrap on the skin and nail edges as that could cause it to lift.

Step 3

Cut the nail wrap in half. Use the orange stick to pick up wrap from the cut side and peel away from clear backing sheet.

Step 4

Lightly put the nail wrap onto your nail with the round edge at the cuticle. As it is not heated you can lift it up and re-position the wrap as needed. (I often find some fingers I can never get right the first time).

Step 5

Warm up the centre of the nail wrap with a Mini-Heater or blow dryer for around 3 seconds. Avoid overheating it.

Step 6

Smooth the nail wrap firmly down the center of the nail towards the tip of your nail with your cuticle pusher or orange stick.

Step 7

Warm up one side of the nail wrap and then smooth the sides out starting at the centre and going out towards that edge. Repeat for the other side.

Step 8

Trim off most of the excess wrap with nail scissors, so you can work on the other nails. Apply heat and pressure to each one till they are bonded to the nail.

Step 9

File off remaining excess with a coarse file using a downward motion at 90 degree angle to the nail. Keep filing until edge feels smooth and does not catch on clothing. If a finer file is needed, try the glass nail file.

And there you go! You have successfully applied your own Jamberry nail wraps. Go show them off to your friends and brag about how they will not chip or smudge and last up to 2 weeks. And if they’d like to try them out some as they are so amazed, send them here to ask for a sample of their very own to try out.

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10 Jamberry application tips to get a great manicure at home

Getting ready for a happy new year- time to be consistent!

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Getting ready for a happy new year 2018- time to be consistent!It is nearing the end of 2017 and time to start thinking of what the next year will bring! A lot of people like to set themselves a new year’s resolution. The new year’s goal they wish to work on for the next year, and hopefully improve something in their life by being consistent with that. But what is a good new year’s resolution? What should you work on or hope to improve on? What should your new year’s resolution 2018 be?

What should your new year’s resolution be?
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I’ve known a lot of people to set a new year’s resolution that is standard to so many others out there. “I will lose weight. I will eat healthier. I will exercise more. I will quit smoking/drinking. I will get out debt. I will travel more”. They start January off very inspired and determined to keep going for the entire year. But a lot of these goals are often spur of the moment wants, and they don’t have the mindset behind them to keep going when it gets tough. And yes, generally people can get lazy about these new goals that will make their life so much better (or so it seems in their minds).

My new year’s resolution

This year I’ve followed the teachings in the Socialite Suite and had a guiding word to follow for the year instead of a goal that I might give up in a few weeks because it was too hard. For 2017 my focus word was ‘brave’. I wanted to feel brave seeing I took a second year of maternity leave from teaching to spend more time with my toddler and teen. I wanted to be brave and continue with my direct sales business and see where I could get with it (and I needed to be brave to do some tasks to help with that). I wanted to be brave and try something new, like learning how to start my own blog. And I think I’ve bravely faced all those challenges and more this year!

Be Brave!
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You then need to surround yourself with I reminders about your focus word. It could be photos, memes or images you’ve made. Maybe the word written on every page of your yearly planner/diary. But the more you remind yourself of it, the more consistent you will be in keeping with it, and following through on task that achieve it.

As having a focus word for my New Year’s resolution 2017 worked so well, I’ve decided to do it again for 2018. And it’s been a bit of a struggle to find the perfect word too! I want it to cover all the things I’d love to achieve in this coming year. Yes, like many women I want to lose some weight and be more active as that’s better for my Multiple Sclerosis. I also want to declutter my house (and life) which is so overflowing with things since my husband moved in a few years back and I brought my school stuff home when starting maternity leave. I want to regularly do work on my blog, as the last month or two have been crazy busy! And I want to show my teenage daughter how to not become overwhelmed with her senior high school studies.

2018 here we come!

My focus word for 2018 is Consistency
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The focus word I have settled on for 2018 is ‘consistency’. To be consistent with scheduling things for school, Jamberry and home into my planner (which I just picked up the other day from a friend’s place…I’m excited!). To establish routines to consistently do tasks around home and have everyone in the house contribute in these tasks. To follow up with customers in my Jamberry business in a timely manner and keep my Facebook pages and group running smoothly.

So I look forward to 2018, the year of consistency. Comment below with what your focus word will be for the new year! Let’s celebrate together what will focus on! And if you find this post a few months in, or at the end of the year, know it’s never too late to set your focus for the remainder of the year!

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