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One of the most common challenges of being an independent consultant with a home party plan is the ability to get constant bookings. If you can’t keep your calendar full, it’s difficult to have success in a home party business. Below are three widespread reasons for less than stellar results in getting bookings. Keep reading, as it is also followed with solutions to overcome these challenges.
1. The people you talk with aren’t the party-hostess type. It may be that simple. They’re just not into having people over while someone tries to sell them something. Have you ever tried to convince your grandma to try skateboarding? Or tried to sell someone who only buys products made in the USA to purchase a foreign car? There are times that no matter what you say, you will not cause a cat to change her stripes.
2. You predetermine who would and would not be interested. You’ve decided in your head, “oh so and so wouldn’t be interested.” You don’t even give her the opportunity to consider it. You’ve already decided that her answer will be, “No.” If you have these psychic abilities to read minds, this may be another career more suited for you, Oh Great Swami.
3. Maybe, just maybe, the words and phrases you are using make those you talk with want to run! You may say the words “home party” but the person you’re speaking with hears “root canal and IRS audit.” Perhaps saying the same thing with different words may be more palatable.
The Fix:
If you recognize yourself in any of the above scenarios keep reading:
1. Your direct sales company may permit you to sell in ways other than home parties. Assuming you can, it may be a better fit for you to sell at craft shows or county fairs. More and more companies are allowing some degree of internet marketing; or maybe fundraisers might be your niche. If you’re getting nowhere trying to book home parties, try some alternative methods before you frustrate yourself to the point of “this doesn’t work, I’m quitting!”
2. Stop pre-qualifying everyone and give people a chance to say yes, no or maybe so. Under no condition should you ever, ever, use the word “favor.” Your host wouldn’t be doing you a favor by agreeing to have a party. You would be doing her a favor by giving her the opportunity to earn free and discounted products. To think otherwise gives the message you’re representing a company that has nothing of value to offer.
3. Rewrite your script. Omit the words Home Party from your vocabulary. Which sounds more inviting: “Do you want to host a home party and earn hostess benefits?” Or “Free (cosmetics, jewelry, kitchenware) for large orders” ? Both are offering the same benefits. Maybe “Open House” might bring more favorable results.
If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to keep getting what you’ve been getting. It may be time to change it up a bit.
Do a search on home party ideas or home party themes and you’ll likely find a number of existing lists of ideas. Many of the lists contain the same standard beach party or chocolate lover’s party ideas. These are actually some fun ideas, but you’ve already hosted or considered one of these parties, right? Now you are searching for something different that not everyone is doing; time to spice it up a bit. If you want a fun, memorable party, do a “Tacky Party” theme.
Think tacky, tacky, tacky – the tackier, the better! Tell guests to dress tacky, but if they question what that means, don’t elaborate. This is the fun part. Some may arrive mismatched, some a little promiscuous, and others just bizarre and weird. Seeing their individual interpretations of tacky is just part of the fun. I’ve heard of one guest who refused to participate in the tacky dress portion, but came to the party anyway. Some of the other guests really thought she’d put an effort into dressing tacky, when actually she was wearing her every day clothes. Whoops!
The winner of the tackiest outfit will get a prize, which is also tacky, such as an inexpensive sparkly lawn flamingo from a local craft store. I note this goes against everything I preach, about if you’re going to give away anything to make sure it is a product from your own catalog. I’m assuming you probably don’t sell tacky items. So, this is one exception to the rule. You can still send your guests home with a swag bag containing samples of your fabulous products, though.
Print the invitations on scrap paper left over from the neighborhood yard sale or from someone else’s sale flyer, such as what you may find in your weekly free newspaper. Just put a big “X” on the back to cross out the other sale information.
The hostess can serve tacky foods such as Pop Tarts, Slim Jim’s, prunes, Little Debbie snacks, generic, off-brand soda and wine in a box; even better if she has leftover party plates and napkins from her kid’s birthday parties. If not, these are usually available at thrift stores for pennies. Your hostess will love this idea because it’s so easy to prepare the refreshments. How much effort does it take to break up a few Pop Tarts and open up Little Debbie snacks?!
As the consultant, you should participate in the theme as well. Wear a skirt with gym socks and high heels; make a t-shirt using a Sharpie and every single home party slogan you have ever heard, such as “Earn Some Free When You Party with Me” or “Is Money Low? Book a Show” or “I wish I may, I wish I might, have all the products I see tonight!” You could try “Just Book a Show” or “Join My Team.” Individually, these slogans are not so bad, but when you have a dozen different ones, it is definitely tacky. Check out the stickers at: thebooster.com, if you need more ideas.
If your hostess really wants her party to be remembered for years to come, she can decorate her front yard with a clothes line featuring giant granny panties and a bra, broken lawn chairs, old tires, and an empty case of beer.
Fun times! If it’s a little too over the top for you, remember that theme parties can be as big or as little as you like. I personally think if you’re going to play, then play big. You can still have a fun “Tacky Party” if you scale it down a bit. If your guests are having fun, it’s contagious and they’re more likely to buy more. It’s win/win!
I was talking with a consultant recently as she lamented that she drove 50 minutes to get to a home party. When she got there, only the hostess’ mother-in-law showed up; no other guests. The mother-in-law placed an obligatory order totaling $12.
The consultant earned 25% off that $12 sale or a sum total of $3.00 commission. She drove 50 minutes each way and went through three quarters of a tank of gas for which she paid $3.52 per gallon. She also turned down an opportunity to do a vendor event that night because this party was booked first. And she had to pay a babysitter while she was at the party. It doesn’t take a math whiz to calculate that the consultant lost
money traveling to do this party.
The hostess spent the day cleaning her house, making cookies and chopping fresh vegetables, and setting up folding chairs around her living room to accommodate all of her expected guests. Imagine how she felt when she went to all this trouble and only her mother-in-law showed up. Talk about awkward.
This is an unfortunate situation. This is also a common scenario that many direct sales
consultants may fess up happened to them at one time or another. This is also a situation that could have been avoided.
What went wrong? From the outcome, it appears a number of things went wrong. Likely the hostess did not invite nearly enough people. She also very likely did not call those she invited to determine if they were coming to the party or if they wanted to place an outside order.
It also may be a safe assumption that the consultant did not properly coach the hostess. Some things are certain in this business:
1. Many people will not RSVP, even though requested
2. Some people will say they are coming to the party, but will not show up
3. Only a small fraction of those invited will attend a home party
If the consultant had worked with the hostess, there would have been a much better turn out or the hostess would have told her that she didn’t have any confirmed guests other than her husband’s mom. The consultant could have made an informed decision if she wanted to reschedule the party, turn the party into a catalog or basket party, or make the drive regardless of lack of confirmed guests.
Some consultants choose to make a personal policy that they won’t travel to a party for fewer than five confirmed guests. Others set a mileage limit for those parties where very few have confirmed attendance. You’re an independent consultant, free to set whatever policies you choose to implement for you business.
I hope you never have a party like the one described above. Of if you have, I hope you’ve made corrections to avoid it in the future.
If someone is described as a wallflower, it usually refers to people who are shy and fade into the background. Typically they are people who no one really knows or pays any attention to. We often think of loners hugging the wall at a high school dance.
If you are a direct sales consultant, you have no business being a wallflower at home parties. Some consultants, either out of nervousness or misinformation, tend to stand or sit back in a corner or hide in the kitchen while party guests are arriving. If this describes you, read on. You’re situating yourself in the wrong place.
You want to be visible, warm and welcoming. I’m not suggesting that you should be the one to answer the door and then get all in the guests faces before they even have a chance to put their purses down. Rather, as guests are coming in, you should be near the door. Smile, say hello and introduce yourself.
As they are getting situated, hand them a catalog, door prize slip, order form and a pen. Don’t hold the catalog hostage. Be respectful of their time and allow them to start flipping through the pages as others are coming in. If there is a bit of a lull between guests arriving, go ahead and sit down among the existing guests and get to know them a bit. Don’t talk about yourself; ask probing questions about their day, their family, their work, and then just listen.
When it comes time for you to do your brief, and I do mean brief, presentation decide which location is best. Some prefer to stand up in front of the room and have everyone with eyes up front, listening. This is the student teacher school room format. Others prefer to remain seated among the guests and just talk from the heart. It’s relaxed and comfortable. Products are in the center on a coffee table or they’re passed around while you’re talking about the features of the product line.
When it comes time for the guests to finalize their orders, you would be okay being a mild version of a wallflower. Do not hover. Stay visible and accessible should they have questions, but you don’t need to be all in their face while they’re deciding what to order or how much to spend.
Whether you leave first, or the guests leave before you’ve wrapped up the party, make it a point to thank them for coming and leave them with parting pleasantries. Providing you don’t have to depart from a current guest you may be conversing with, try to make eye contact and shake hands with each guest as they leave.
Party guests are more apt to want to do business with, i.e. book a party or purchase product, from someone they know and find pleasant to deal with. If you’re hiding in the kitchen or blending in with the wall, you won’t be able to give them an opportunity to know and like you.
“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but ends up impoverished.” The wise Author of this Proverb teaches us that givers get.
You may be in business to make money (hopefully that is your goal, else you have a hobby), but you sometimes need to spend money to make money. You need to give some of your products away to get more sales. If you’re holding on too tightly you may end up with all that is in your hand and nothing more. You won’t experience additional growth.
Door prizes and giveaways at home parties is one good way to increase both sales and bookings. This should go without saying, but based on what I’ve read in the forums and have witnessed by attending other direct sales home parties, it’s does need to be said: When considering what to give away please make sure it’s a product prize from your company. It boggles my mind why some consultants give away chocolate bars, chap stick or other products that don’t even represent their own company product line!
The best way to determine who gets the door prize or giveaway is to know your hostess and the crowd. If you don’t know, then ask enough questions until you have a good feel for the audience. If you’re presenting to a group of guests who are open to some games, then play some. Some guests will be a little on the competitive side, so a game is a great way to get the party started. Additionally, it helps the guests relax a bit, have some fun and get to know each other better.
If you opt to play a game, do keep it brief so you can get onto the real business of experiencing your products. If you end up playing more than one game be sure give a disclaimer that each person can only win once. The winner, or winners if there is a tie, will get the prize. You can announce what they’re playing for or you can hold back and just tell them they’ll win something from the catalog.
On the other hand, if you announce you’re going to play a game, and you get moans and groans, or worse yet, scowls, folded arms and eyes rolling to the back of their heads, forgo the game altogether. Do a quick door prize drawing. Either randomly draw a name out of those selected or have them guess something, such as the number of jelly beans in a jar (if it is the Easter season). Closest answer would win the prize.
Door prize slips are a wonderful method to get potential leads. Be sure to ask for their email, phone number and whether or not they’d be interested in hosting a party or learning more about the business opportunity. Then after the party, make sure you actually use the leads you’ve collected to send out information about promotions and new products. Don’t just stick the door prize slips in a file or worse yet, in the trash.
Whether you choose to do a drawing or play a game, giving away prizes is a great way to introduce new people to your products and gain future customers. Everyone likes to win something!
Ah technology, such a wonderful tool. Email is such a time saver; such a great way to reach mass markets in a short amount of time. Email has surpassed telephone use in many circles. One recent study shows email or text to be the preferred method of communication and a growing population no longer even checks voice mail messages. All that said, email used too much in your direct sales business can kill your business or at the very least, stunt its growth.
Email and Your Home Party Hostesses
Don’t use email to communicate with your home party hostesses unless they specifically request that method of communication. In order for your home party business to be successful you need to build a rapport with your hostesses. You need to coach your hostesses and work with them. Building relationships requires more than just firing off a periodic email. She needs to hear your voice and vice versa. You need real time, two-way communication so that the two of you are on the same page. You want your hostess to be vested in her party. That is much easier to achieve if you actually speak with her.
Excitement is contagious. If she hears genuine enthusiasm in your voice, and hears that you care about helping her to have a great turn out, she will get more excited too. If you leave her alone or just communicate via email, you can’t hear intended tone, and it’s much easier for her to start second guessing herself. When she doesn’t receive RSVPs (and she likely won’t get too many, that is normal) she may start to feel defeated and retreat instead of talk up her party.
After you’ve scheduled the initial booking, follow up with the hostess by telephone two weeks prior to the party date. Encourage her to get outside orders and to think about her wish-list, including what items she wants to earn for free. Then also follow up with her again on the telephone one week prior to the party. Ask her how many RSVPs she has received, and remind her to telephone those who have not responded yet. Review the agenda, tell her what time you will arrive and get directions, because not all streets show up on GPS.
Once you’re at the 48 hours prior to the party, then it is acceptable to send her a quick email just to make sure she’s all set and doesn’t have any last minute questions. If you’ve done your job, and communicated with her a couple of times by telephone, she shouldn’t have any last minute questions or concerns. That is why email would be an acceptable method at that point.
If you’ve been using email and text for a majority of your communication lately, it may be more difficult for you to get out of your comfort zone and use the telephone. History and experience have shown us time and time again that those hostesses who received coaching over the phone vs. over email have higher attendance, higher sales and more bookings. Aren’t those reasons compelling enough to pick up the phone?
December can be difficult to get bookings. True it is the gift giving season, but many companies have holiday cut off dates during the first week or two of December. Many guests have their Christmas shopping done, or nearly done. November bookings are generally pretty easy to get – not always true for December. Versions of the “Twelve Days of December” have been around before. You may or may not have seen it before. It’s a great starting point to give you an idea how to get ideas in a month that is traditionally very busy for most.
You would pay for the giveaways and incentives, but depending on your individual company you may be able to use hostess benefits and get them for free, half off or discounted. If not, consider that the commissions you make by actually having bookings in this busy month would more than cover the investment. The example below is using a candle company, and you would clearly substitute the incentives with your own products. Use this as an incentive at your November parties to book your calendar for December.
TWELVE DAYS OF DECEMBER!
Book your show on any one of the first twelve days of December and receive the item listed assigned to the day you booked your party. * You will receive your item when you receive your party orders.
On the first day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me….one room spray!
On the second day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…2 air fresheners!
On the third day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…a 3-pack of candle bars for $10.00!
On the fourth day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…4 room sprays for $10.00!
On the fifth day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…5-Pointed Rustic Star Warmer at 50% off!
On the sixth day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…6-pack of candle bars for $20.00
On the seventh day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me… 7 room sprays at 50% off!
On the eighth day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…8 air fresheners.
On the ninth day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…9 Ways to Decorate with the Any Warmer for 50% off!
On the tenth day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…10-pack of a variety of samples
On the eleventh day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…11 air fresheners for 50% off!
On the twelfth day of December my [Your Company] Consultant gave to me…12 candle bars for 50% off!
* All prizes and awards are subject to having a minimum of $200.00 in sales at your show. These offers are in addition to the regular Hostess Program.
Think about a coach of a sports team. It is that person’s job to train or tutor. So when we talk about hostess coaching, the same is true: to train or tutor the hostess to ensure the most favorable outcome resulting from her direct sales party. You are the consultant; you know this business. Yet the hostesses aren’t expected to be proficient in knowing all there is to know about home parties, else she’d probably be a consultant.
One thing is certain: Without hostess coaching, you should plan on few people showing up at the party, few sales, and few, if any, bookings. Interestingly, the consultants who don’t coach their hostesses have admitted that they don’t do so because they think they are ‘bothering’ their hostess. If we know that hostess coaching results in higher attendance, higher sales and more bookings, how could this possibly be considered bothering someone?
Instead of thinking of coaching as bothering your hostess, what is more accurate is that if you don’t coach her before her party, you are cheating her out of her rewards and benefits. No one wins with this mindset. You certainly don’t earn the commissions, and she doesn’t earn any free or discounted products. So then, what was the point in holding a party?
For those who have tried to coach your hostesses with little results, know that coaching doesn’t always work. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make her drink. Still, just because your words may fall on deaf ears, doesn’t excuse you from attempting to coach your hostess. Train all of your hostesses the same each time; don’t take short cuts. The more opportunities you create to coach your hostesses, the better you’ll get and the easier it’ll become.
The guest list is crucial to the success of her party. Remind the hostess that frequently less than 10% of those invited will show. If she’d like 10 people at her party, she should plan to invite 100 people. That’s not difficult to do now with Facebook and Twitter. Equally as important is the following up with those who have not RSVP’d. In fact, most will not respond. Do not assume that no response means they don’t want to come. Your hostess should ask everyone who says they can’t make it if they would like to place an order.
Often more than any other factor, hostesses stress over snacks. This should be the least of their worries. Just tell her to keep it simple with something sweet, something salty and something to drink. If your hostess seems overly worked up about the food, offer to bring a batch of cookies and tell her you’ll even run the vacuum for her. Strongly encourage her not to obsess over her house and snacks. Really.
Close the party the night of the event or within a few days. Encourage the hostess to collect orders from those who can’t addend before the party, not after. This also encourages anyone who wants to place an order after it’s been closed out to host her own. If you absolutely cannot close it the same night, then make arrangements for the hostess to get you the remaining orders and money. Each time you need to make another trip to the hostess it eats into your profit margin – in both time and gas. Successful coaching increases attendance, sales and your paycheck!
As a direct sales consultant you may have been asked a time or two to remember your “why.” Meaning, if you remember why you started your business – to pay the orthodontist bill, to be able to stay home with your kids, to earn money to get a new car and make the monthly payment, etc – then it should help you keep going when the going gets tough.
That may be a good tactic if your “why” is still relevant. For example, if you started your business so that you didn’t have to pay full retail on the product then your “why” isn’t likely going to motivate you to go, go, go.
More importantly, your success as a home party plan consultant may be contingent on if you remember your role as an independent consultant. Is your outlook inward or outward? In other words, do you view your role as selling product? This is inward as your business is all about you and your needs and wants.
Or, do you view your role as one who serves others by solving problems or making their life easier? If so, your outlook would be outward. You may sell [insert your product here], but more importantly you’re helping women look younger, or you’re providing a safe environment free from open flames, or you’re offering healthy, organic seasonings.
If you view your role as a salesperson, one who sells products, then your actions will be driven by how many widgets you can sell. Get the sale, what can you do to sell, sell, sell? You’re all about bottom line, and you will do whatever it takes to get the sale. Some would argue those are good motivators. I would agree; you do need to be motivated.
Motivational speaker, Les Brown, talks about taking action and says, “You gotta be hungry!” If you have no compelling reason to get moving, you probably won’t. If you view your role as a salesperson vs. a sales consultant you will only be able to go so far in direct sales with your sales pitch. You may view it as splitting hairs, but there is a distinct difference between selling and consulting.
With regard to home parties to help define your role, remember who your customers are. You are there to facilitate the party and to help the hostess have a successful show. Let me say that again, you are there to facilitate the party and to help the hostess have a successful show. If you decide your role is to sell product, then you are your own customer.
If you remember that your role is to create a positive experience for your hostesses guests, your party totals will reflect that and your future bookings and referrals will also reflect that. They will see that you have their best interest at heart and they will want to do business with you.
If you’re having a party, any party, you need to invite people to attend. Otherwise no one will know when and where to find the shindig. One question that comes up repeatedly with new party plan consultants is, “Who sends the invitations for home parties, the consultant or the hostess?”
The short answer is that there is no right or wrong answer, and there are many options where invitations are concerned.
First you should decide if you (or the hostess) are going to mail invitations via postcard or evites, text or email. If you opt to use snail mail to send postcards, you need to decide if you want to supply the postage or if the hostess will be responsible for that.
Some consultants don’t mind mailing them on their dime, and will write it off as a business expense. Some even go so far as to request a mailing list from the hostess, and then the consultant fills them out and mails them. Others simply give blank invitations to the hostess and have her mail them.
Thanks to the ease and convenience of email, many hostesses just send email or text invitations. It’s also much easier for the recipients to delete an email or text; and then there is nothing tangible to stick on the refrigerator. Of course the countermeasure to that is that they may put the event electronically on their calendar.
You see, there’s really no set way to invite guests to a party. You may choose to use a combination of snail mail and electronic mediums. More important than how you send them, is to whom and when.
As far as whom to invite – always encourage the hostess to over-invite. Plan on maybe a 10% attendance rate. So if she invites 100 people, she may get 10 people at her party. Sure there are always exceptions to every rule. She may get one person or she may get 42 with that same 100 invitations; but as a guide plan on 10%.
Two weeks advance notice is a good time for the initial invitation. Then, within 48-72 hours make reminder calls. Encourage the hostess to pick up the phone to contact those she invited, it’s been proven to be much more effective. She should call those who said they were coming, just as a reminder. Those who have not RSVP’d should also get a phone call to see if they are going to make it to her party, or if not, to alert them they can place an order online or with her over the phone.
Don’t get too hung up on how to send invitations. The follow-up and reminders are much more vital to the success of the hostess’s party than any minor details surrounding the initial home party invitation distribution.
If you’re having a hard time filling your calendar and you really, truly are trying, maybe it’s time to take a close look at how you are approaching potential hostesses. You may be speaking up but not choosing the right words or the right delivery to encourage future bookings. If you are guilty of this, no worries; there’s no time like the present to change the way you are doing business.
I recently spoke with a party plan consultant who said that she averages 15 home parties per month. One month she actually had 35 parties booked. She said she frequently over books because she knows a percentage always cancels. This direct sales leader wasn’t just blowing smoke; the story was verified. She truly was very successful at getting home parties.
Why are some direct sales consultants able to fill their calendar and others can’t seem to get one booking to save their life? There isn’t just one reason. It’s likely a combination of factors, including geographic, one-income communities vs. two-income, unemployment, cost of living and other demographic aspects that can determine how likely guests are to want to become hostesses. Some issues you have no control over.
Change what you can control and don’t put effort into those things beyond your span of control.
Listen to yourself when you are asking potentials if they are interested in hosting a party. There are two major faux pas that will almost guarantee an open calendar (read: few or no bookings).
1. “…for me” – as in the consultant asks, “Will you have a party for me?” No, no, no, no, no. No. The hostess isn’t having a party for you, the consultant; the person who earns a commission from every item sold. The hostess would be having a party for herself. She would be the one who would earn free and discounted products. If the words “for me” are in your spiel, stop saying that.
2. “…do me a favor” – as in “Will you do me a favor and have a party?” This is similar to #1 above. In fact it often includes the words “for me” as well. “Will you do me a favor and have a party for me.” “Do me a favor” also falls under what not to say for the same reasons “for me” needs to be omitted from your vocabulary.
Change your mindset from what the hostess can do to help you to what you can do to help the hostess. In turn, your hostess’ mind set will change from “I have to have a party for [you]” to “I get to have a party.”
By rephrasing the way you are offering the opportunity to friends, family and guests to host their own party, you may find it a little easier to fill your calendar. It could end up being a quick fix to an ongoing problem.
Most direct sales companies do not require the independent consultants to carry any inventory. Most direct sales consultants who carry some inventory will tell you it absolutely helps their business succeed. This article isn’t intended to discuss the merits and pitfalls of carrying inventory, but rather to talk about how to handle and process orders and hostess benefits if you choose to bring cash and carry to a home party.
If you want to purchase some inventory to have on hand at parties, it is imperative that you include all cash and carry sales in the party total so that the hostess still gets credit for those items. This is where some consultants get confused. They are just not certain how to write it up so that it is properly credited.
This example may help:
You’re a consultant who sells widgets. You have a pretty extensive catalog but you like to have an on-hand supply of Widgets B to cash and carry because they’re in high demand and the party guests like to take something home with them.
You’ve already paid for the Widgets B that you bring to the party, along with your catalogs, order forms and display set up.
Customer Laurie wants to order: one Widget A, four Widgets B and two Widgets C. Her order total, before taxes and shipping is $46. You happen to have on-hand two of the four Widget Bs that she wants. She can take those two items home that night, and will receive the remainder of her order when the whole party order arrives in approximately two weeks.
She wants to pay for the whole order by credit card. On the order form, next to the two widgets she is taking home, you somehow annotate that she already has those two items. Perhaps write an “H” for “has” or “home” next to those two widgets. Use whatever system you wish, so long as you are clear.
The hostess party total remains the same whether or not any customers take any items home that night. Your providing cash and carry is just a courtesy and an added perk for the customers. It gets a little tricky when you are back home submitting the entire party order into the computer. It’s tricky because it takes focus and organization; but it is not difficult.
Because you already paid for the cash and carry items, and because the customer paid for her order with a credit card, you will need to use her credit card to replace your cash and carry inventory. You would still charge Customer Laurie’s credit card $46. You could reorder the exact same items she took home, or providing the price remains exactly the same, you could choose to reorder something different for future cash and carry orders.
When the hostess’ entire party order is delivered to you so that you can inspect, bag and tag the items before delivery, omit the two Widget Bs from Customer Laurie’s order bag because she already took those home the night of the party. Instead you’ll put those two Widget Bs into your own personal stash of cash and carry inventory.
There is nothing illegal, immoral or unethical about this practice. The customer authorized you to charge her card for the amount shown on the order form. You’re not using her credit card for a personal purchase. You’re merely replacing the advance product you made available for her to take home.
If this seems too overwhelming and confusing to you, then don’t do it. Above all else the customer’s credit card needs to be charged the correct amount and the hostess needs to receive full credit for all sales at her party – cash and carry or those that were ordered.
When you have “convenience” food bombarding you from every direction, it can be difficult to choose options that give your body the nourishment it needs.
However, if you have daily reminders and effective tools at your disposal, you just may find that eating the right foods and feeding your body the best fuels becomes a lot easier.
Of course, there will always be temptation, but when you equip yourself with anti-temptation tools, you will be able to quickly re-focus your mind on your greater goal of getting healthy!
Using Affirmations to Make the Healthy Food and Nutrition Choices
When everyone around you at the office is indulging in burgers, fries, and sugary drinks, it’s awfully tempting to join in, isn’t it?
But what if you could stop that temptation in its tracks and actually choose to make a healthy choice? You don’t need me to tell you that fatty and sugary choices are not the kinds of food that your body needs – you need to tell yourself!
It can be hard in moments of temptation to make the right choice, but with the help of positive affirmations, you can re-train your brain to replace the desire for junk food with healthy choices.
Affirmations can help you stick to your diet, say no to temptation, and eat nourishing and satisfying foods. How? By replacing the negative spiral of thoughts in your mind with powerful, positive ones.
But first you have to believe that it is possible to gain control over your thirsts, desires, and cravings. The first step in making a lasting change in your life is to make the commitment to success. Are you committed? Do you believe that you can overcome your cravings?
Once you’ve set your commitment in stone, you’re ready to learn the top 10 affirmations to get you through moments of weakness.
Nutritional Affirmations for Top 10 Foods
Before reading the list below, you should know that affirmations are most successful when you internalize the saying and repeat it frequently. Whether you’re having a good or bad day, you need to be constantly repeating these positive statements in your mind. Temptation will strike when you least expect it, so it’s better to be prepared!
I can neutralize bad habits with good food, exercise, and healthy living.
I am proud to reach out to my support network instead of leaning on food for comfort.
I am losing weight for me because I love me.
I set aside time just for me.
My good health and productivity are the rewards for the nourishing foods I eat.
Weight gain happens over time, so my weight loss equally requires time, patience, and lifestyle changes.
I use self-care, not self-control.
The more I take care of myself, the better I feel.
I am firmly committed to staying active and healthy.
I deserve a healthy body and mind.
When you look at these food and nutrition affirmations, they may seem like ideals – behaviors and thoughts that you only wish you could have – but each time you reaffirm them by saying them aloud, you’re slowly changing your mindset. Over time, these ideals will become a reality through your thoughts and actions.
But remember, you must first believe you can change. Once you make the commitment to your success, you will change your attitudes about food and you’ll be thankful you did!
A leader is created and the whole process starts inside the most dangerous place you’ll ever encounter – your own mind.
How can you become a strong leader who inspires others, drives people toward excellence, holds people accountable, and instills a sense of trust? Learning what makes a great leader is your first step.
Here are some things you can do to become the leader you’ve always wanted to be:
1. Control yourself. Every great leader in history has had to become a master of self-discipline and willpower in order to stay focused on the big picture. If you don’t have a goal or the drive to achieve it, you can’t lead others to attain theirs.
Follow through in everything you do. As challenging as it may be, you need to be disciplined enough to be where you need to be, when you need to be there, whether you want to or not. By being strong in your resolve and resisting temptation to give up, you are setting an example for others to live up to.
Choose your emotional response to a situation carefully. Sometimes you’ll need to practice the art of silencing your inner thoughts when they’re not appropriate in order to set a positive example.
2. Project your goals. If the people you’re leading don’t completely understand the deeper meaning in their work, they won’t share your vision or work ethic. Every step of the way, communicate with your team to make sure they’re on the same wavelength and know what you expect of them.
Get your team involved in the planning process and the implementation of your ideas. This gives everyone a greater sense of ownership toward the end result.
3. Praise highly and criticize constructively. The way you praise and criticize others can make all the difference in being able to lead effectively.
Make sure you publicly praise the people who do excellent work for you. You’ll give the person a sense of accomplishment and the drive to do even better.
When someone does something wrong, offer constructive criticism and do it privately. Suggest solutions on how they can improve and take the time to answer any questions. They’ll accept your input more willingly if they know it’s done to help and not to harm.
4. Know your people. You can’t truly lead a group of people unless you truly understand their hopes, dreams, struggles, pains, and goals. All the good intentions in the world mean nothing unless you have a true sense of the people you’re working with.
Talk to your team and get to know them. Getting to know each other on a personal level will strengthen the bond between you. They’ll want to do better for you because you’re more than just a “boss.”
Be their leader, first, and their friend second. You’re their leader and that means that you have to make difficult decisions from time to time. These decisions cannot be affected by personal relationships.
5. Make the hard call. There are times when you have to bite the bullet and make some unpleasant decisions. Firing, demoting, and holding people accountable for their actions can be very hard at times. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to handle these matters.
Regardless of where your leadership role takes you, believe that you can be a strong leader. Remember that in order to lead others, you must be disciplined yourself. After all, your actions will speak louder than anything you can say.
In order to gain the respect of others, strive to lead by example in every area of your life.
When you follow these simple guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a true leader!
