Direct Selling Advice

Direct Selling is about social interactions and relationships. Since some of our first and most influential social interactions occured on the school playground… we will be exploring 10 Direct Selling Playground Lessons and 10 Direct Selling Strategies…

10 Lessons from the School Playground

• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #1 Acceptance
• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #2 Be Nice
• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #3 Play Nice
• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #4 Role Play
• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #5 Imagination
• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #6 Explore
• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #7 Bullies
• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #8 Friends
• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #9 Teachers
• Direct Selling Playground Lesson #10 Rainy Days

Jump into Lesson 8…

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“Danny… I’m so sorry…” I whimper leaning on the tree in back corner of the playground away from everyone else.

“Why me?” Danny turns to me with tears rolling down his cheeks.

“I don’t know…” I say weakly

“The doctor’s said I will have about 6 months…” Danny blankly states… “I’m scared.”

Mustering whatever strength I can, “Well… you’re MY best friend… and I will be with you… till the end.” I choke out trying to push back my own tears.

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Life is about our relationships.  They often casually enter our lives, many casually pass through our lives, but some… some transcend life itself.  These are the relationships that shape who we become; these relationships are forged through the fires of joy and tribulation.  Those that survive the longest are called friendships.

Direct Selling Playground Lesson #8: Friends and Friendship

When you look at a Playground you see children laughing and playing, many have built bonds with other kids, most are for fun and play… as they grow, they will either grow apart or closer.

I know many of my readers had either frequently moved or were shy and quiet… regardless… while you may not have experienced friendships to the level I share… understand the lessons are for anyone… and it’s never to late to find a best friend… at any age…

7 Building Blocks to Friendship

1. Common Ground-Mutual Disclosure

Playground – Kids are drawn to what they have in common.  When two kids both enjoy the same thing, they are more likely to overlook other elements and befriend one another.  It could be similar interest, similar experiences, similar

Direct Selling – What is similar? What is familiar?  Work at establishing common ground early on… If you are unable to discern obvious commonalities, then take a sincere interest in them and listen, learning and engage them in their passions… who knows, you might learn something new!

2. Laughter – Building Memories

Playground – Kids laugh at farts (as do many adults I know…) or people tripping or a dog chasing its own tail… they start learning jokes that to adults aren’t funny, but kids will laugh at about anything!  Kids laughter is also very contagious… one starts giggling then a whole group can erupt in laughter.  When they are laughing they don’t care what other people think of them… they are simply enjoying life at that moment.  (unless they are the subject of ridicule)

Memories are anchored more strongly proportionately to the intesnsity of the accompanying emotions… We retell the emotional event more in our mind than the factual event.

Direct Selling – Learn to build powerful memories with your customers and downline.  Learn to laugh together and enjoy life.  Today’s adult world we don’t laugh enough, we have pressure for work, bills, marriage, health, family, etc.. the list goes on and on… if you become the conduit to momentarily escape reality… you become a drug for them.  Now I am not saying to become a comedian, rather, build memories that stand out.  Know your relationships well enough not to offend them.  Laughter is simply one way of building a memory.

Direct Selling Strategy #8: Keep It Personal

Keeping It Personal is a strategy of deepening and extending your influence on your existing relationships.  It is positioning YOU as their ANSWER.  It is knowing and caring more about your team and your customers than they expect from you.  It is about raising the bar through providing very exclusive service TO THEM.

Direct Selling is about relationships.  From establishing, to cultivating; from nurturing to servicing the goal is to enhance the lives of people around you through your opportunity’s offerings.  There are 3 Progressive Tactics that can be implemented to leverage “Keep It Personal”

Keep It Personal Tactic #1: The Dossier

If we were to sit down face to face, what could you tell me about your best customers or downline? What about your newest customers or downline?  What do you know about them?  What are their goals?  What are their strengths?  What are their weaknesses?  What does their dossier contain?…

“Wait?!… their WHAT!?” 

A Dossier, or profile, is a collection of information you should have on each relationship of your business… It doesn’t have to be complicated or sophisticated… but have something! 

“Well, where do I get this info?”

Three primary sources:

1. Listen… they will tell you most of it…
2. Social Media, like Facebook… it is scary what some people reveal to the world!?…
3. 3^rd Party, talking to an associate, friend, family member will also reveal items of note…

I do an exercise with my team where I pass out four 3×5 notecards. I have them assign one card to their best customer, one card to their top performing downline, one card to their newest customer or downline and one card to their coach.

• Write 3 things you know about them.
• Write what is that person’s dream/goal?
• What is their most immediate need?
• What is the best memory you have created with them?
• What is the last memory you have created with them?

I give them 5-7 minutes/person.

Couple key things to point out…

1. How engaged are they in these key relationships?  What are they doing good? What can improve?
2. Are they creating memories or just a notation on a calendar?  How are they standing out or blending in?

This provides great insight on where they need work in developing their communication and marketing skills.

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For the remainder of this Lesson, watch for the upcoming release of the E-Book “Direct Selling Lessons from the Playground” with extended tips and advice for each of the lessons AND an additional 5 Lessons and Strategies not covered at the blog!!

 Sign up for the FRONTLINE NEWSLETTER and be notified when it is released!!

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Your Turn Readers…

How or where did you meet your best friend (or your closest confidant)?