Maintaining Your Momentum

 During the summer and other holiday periods of the year our attention is more divided and distracted than usual, so what will keep our business momentum going and not slipping?

Challenge

One way to keep your business moving forward this time of year is to ask yourself: "Self! Where do you want your business to be - what do you want your customer base, your team, your check to look like - at the Nashville Conference in October (130 days away), or at year-end (7 months away)?"

Your answer to that question can keep you focused, will Keep Your Eyes On The Prize, if you have a clear picture and if that picture challenges you, inspires you.

What is your "Why"? It will be very personal to you; you will own it; it will inspire you, or it is not "Your Why"! It may come quickly, or it may take you years to discover. Your "Why" is a destination with many milestones (ie. interim Goals) - where you want your business to be in Nashville and at Christmas are milestones. Remember: "if we aim at nothing we'll hit it every time"! So be sure to aim at 'something' and make it worthwhile and challenging, as Gordon Hester says: "Aim high, work hard and enjoy the journey".

What you do today, this week, this month and next month will determine whether your business looks as you want it to in October and in December - much more than what you DO in October and December (which will determine the shape of your business 3-6 months later).

Consistency

So, however busy you are, or however you 'feel' like doing something else on this beautiful summer day, always do one thing (at least) for your business every day, no matter what. This is what Nicole Fletcher and her team do: talk to at least one person about Juice Plus+ every day.

Events coming up this summer are opportunities for us to meet people and share Juice Plus+, such as: sports events, pool parties, weddings, wedding showers, graduation parties, reunions, camping, county fairs, farmers markets, July 4th parties, garage sales, Jazz in the Park (or similar outdoor concerts). The advice "You never need to go out to work this business if you learn to work the business while you are out" applies perfectly to all these opportunities.

Choking

Sometimes we feel the pressure to talk when we just want to relax; that pressure can make us 'choke' (like an athlete underperforming) and either say nothing or say far too much.

Iif you feel this negative pressure, you should decide that you will NOT talk about Juice Plus+ at this next event (unless you have no choice). Surprisingly, you will often find yourself talking about Juice Plus+ when you said you wouldn't - just because the pressure was off.

Conversations

Instead (and this is important because I'm still suggesting you DO something positive and useful), I suggest you make the decision to use each summer event to practice, hone and master your conversation skills. Don't you agree we could all improve in that? What if we used every opportunity during the next 3 summer months to become better listeners? Wouldn't that improve our relationships, our lives, even our businesses? Of course it would! We'd even get more customers, get more members joining our team and get closer to achieving our goals and our Why.

How do we know we need to improve our conversation skills? Ask yourself if you are aware of any of these 'red flags' in recent conversations we've had (I confess to most of these!):

• talking too much

• talking more than listening (we have two ears and one mouth)

• talking about yourself (too much)

• not really listening

• giving inappropriate 'advice'

• being 'right'

• needing to 'be heard'

• distracted (your mind wandering)

• not paying attention (because you are preparing your response)

• not maintaining appropriate eye contact

• not smiling (when appropriate)

We often say "we are paid for talking to people", which is true; but perhaps it would be better to say "we are paid for listening to people", then responding appropriately. Michael Oliver teaches that a common mistake is to jump into giving your 'presentation' (telling your Juice Plus+ Story) before you have identified a need, the problem that Juice Plus+ could solve. That happens when we don't ask good questions and listen well.

When you want a good conversation with someone by asking good questions, try starting with the acronym F.O.R.M. Ask about their Family, their Occupation, their Recreation (hobbies), their Medical or Money status (ie their health and/or their finances - asking about these requires sensitivity or knowledge that they are dealing with issues in these areas). From their answers to these questions will flow a conversation that, if appropriate, will open doors for you to tell your story, to share about Juice Plus+ or your business in a way that feels natural and comfortable for you and for them. That's so important! It will happen that way, I promise!

Bottom Line

If you take this advice your conversations this summer will be a blessing to other people because you will Encourage, Empathize and Edify. The other person will go away feeling better, knowing they were heard and feeling that, IF they heard about Juice Plus+, it was appropriate and met their need. And you will know the same. How will that feel?!

If Juice Plus+ did not come up in the conversation, you could call them later and say "You remember telling me the other day about..." some health, nutrition or financial issue they are dealing with, and offer them a solution: Juice Plus+ (and the Virtual Franchise).

"Try It, You'll Like It!"