Want More Clients? This One Tip Can Help

I just got back from Disneyland. I took my five and eight year old for their first visit. While I enjoyed the magic and wonder through my children's eyes, I mostly experienced it this time through a marketer and business person's eyes.

From the moment we walked up to the gates of the magic kingdom, I observed the 'cast members' and how they approached the guests visiting the park.

The person who checked our napsacks smiled at us and welcomed us. My son said, 'it's our first time!', and without skipping a beat, the bag checker said, 'Great! Welcome, be sure to go to City Hall right inside the gates to get a button that says, '1st Visit'. You'll get some special attention!'

My son then also mentioned that the next day was his birthday. Again, without skipping a beat, the bag checker said, 'Go back to City Hall inside tomorrow and you'll get a button that states it's your birthday. That's load of fun too.' All was said with a genuine smile on her face.

I was blown away at the customer service the bag checker had delivered without hesitation. From then on, I watched every cast member I came in contact with to see if they held the same attitude. And they did. Each one, no matter their job. Towards the middle of the first day, I started thinking, 'what job would I want if I worked at Disneyland.'

I thought of the experience they were giving the park's guests. The only people who presented sour attitudes were the guests themselves, often becoming disgruntled for instances such as the park shutting down a ride down due to safety concerns, or the lines were too long.

Not once did a cast member break their positive attitude. I think I was mostly shocked at the approach each one had because I was comparing it to the usual poor customer service received outside the magic kingdom.

I did some research on Disney and their employment practices. I discovered that it is a lengthy process to become employed by Disney. Disney wants to make sure that the cast member wants to work there as much as Disney wants them to work there. Once hired, cast members are trained for at least two weeks before appearing in front of guests. Amazing!

After we had left Disneyland and stepped back into life outside the magic kingdom, I continued to think about the amazing attitudes of the cast members there.

When I returned home, I attended to some errands with thoughts of how awesome the experience of Disneyland customer service was. My first stop was the bank. I was painfully disappointed with the poor customer service I, and other customers received, with one teller at the bank greeting a customer by saying, 'hey, how's it going.' Not once did she smile.

The next stop was at a bix box store, informing them that I was charged twice for a product. I was told the store would have to do a full inventory on the product to make sure that over charge was correct. Basically, insinuating that I was lying about a $12 over charge.

When my son's watch that he had purchased at Disneyland stopped working, I emailed the company Disney. I received an email within 24 hours with an apology, and directions on how to send the product back for either a refund or replacement, and to be sure I included the shipping costs so I could get reimbursed for that as well.

BIG difference, don't you agree?

I tell you all of this, so you know that your customer, client, or prospect's experience of you will make all the difference in the world.  If there is a choice between two distributors with the same company, I will always go with the person that is willing to offer me the best experience. No question.

Start offering the best experience to people. Step up and your business will explode.

I'd love to hear examples of great customer service that you've experienced! The more we share, the more people will realize just how important it is!

In Service,

~Jhanna

Bad News

My kids aren't here this week, so I turned on the tv this morning and watched national news for the first time in months. Yike.

It was mostly background noise for a bit, then I heard a story about a new website that is out there. I'm not giving the name, because I don't want anyone going there. Of course, since it's been on national news now I'm sure it will skyrocket in ratings.

The basis of the website is for people to be able to post criticisms about other people. People actually get to rate YOU. Heck, in fact they can create an account about you, so others can just rate you without doing much. Ouch. And, apparently, the only person who can take the profile down (aside from the webmaster), is the person who created the profile. You have no control over this profile.

Of course they interviewed someone about it and they stated, 'everybody has the right to criticize someone'

Doesn't that just shock you? How does this resonate with you? Personally, I'm disgusted. I couldn't believe people will spend their time and energy 'tattling' on other people instead of just finding people of a higher calibur to surround themselves with.

So, two things here. First, look around and if there is someone you just can't stand, stop hanging out with them! Step up the calibur of your friends. People don't realize that more than likely, if they are hanging out with wieners, there is a good chance that they wiener themselves, right?

Second, within five minutes of watching the news, I had turned that tv back off. It's full of crap. It's nasty stuff. Stay away from it and free your mind from what mainstream America wants you to think.

People will say to me, 'did you hear the news about...isn't it horrible? The world is CLEARLY coming to an end! The economy! What will we do! aacckk!!'

Talk about the sky is falling. Stop watching the news. Try staying away from the tv altogether for a while. You'll be amazed at how much time you have, and how much better you feel! Keep your head clear!

~Namaste,

Jhanna

Renewal of Hope

Hi Folks. I hope you have a very peace filled Easter weekend.  Easter/Ostara/Spring, which ever you prefer to call it, is about  re-birth. Rebirth of a savior, the Sun God, the Earth, opportunities in life, renewal of hope and so on. It's a very beautiful time, when we let out a long soft sigh, knowing warm weather, and longer days are on the way.

Today, take a bit time today and observe yourself with the people you are around. If you can, discover your authentic self. How you speak with friends, and family.

Then, next time you are speaking with a prospect or client, observe yourself. Is this the same authentic self you were with friends and family? Or, perhaps, you have taken on the persona of 'sales' or 'network marketing' you. 

Many times, we leave the authentic self behind, thinking that is what it takes when working with clients or prospects.

Well, stop it. They don't want the network or sales person. People want to talk with you. Drop the act and be you. Use the FORM method as part of your conversation, all the time, so it becomes natural.

Then watch your closing ratios skyrocket.

Namaste,

~Jhanna

Can't Seem to Find It?

I talk a lot about MLM, Network Marketing, Transformation, and all sorts of other goodies on this blog.

Guess that makes sense, huh? I mean, MLM and NM IS about transforming from who you are, to who you can truly be in all your glory.

But there are times when we are just beat down. Lots of bad news on the media (I keep telling you, stop watching!), lots of 'no, I'm not interested', and giving giving giving (not that that's a BAD thing).

Well I found this little nugget of hope today and I want you to pass it along. Pass it along to EVERYone you know. Even better, bring them to this blog and have them link through from here. (can't hurt to ask spread the joy, right? ;) )

Anyhoo, it's a site called  Gives Me Hope. 

http://www.givesmehope.com/


GMH for short. I've started tweeting about it using the hashtag #GMH .  I'm sure on Twitter people think, for the most part, think it's a business link, or there's a price attached, or some sort of catch.

But if I can get even ONE person on my followers (which is now nearing 1,000 quality followers) to link through to it and be affected by it, AND create their own 'gives me hope' moment, then I'm happy.

Go take a peek. Read some of the very short, beautiful moments. Bring kleenex. Get ready for your heart to grow 1,000%.

~Namaste',

Jhanna

Don't Forget Your ABC's

Don't tell me you don't say them anymore? Hmmm, well, class, let's get to it then. It's probably gonna be a different version than what you learned at such a tender young age.

Now that I think about it. I'm going to teach my children this version of the ABC's. Keep on lovin' each other and keep on dreaming.


Remember Your ABCs:
by Wanda Carter

A -void negative sources, people, things and habits.

B -elieve in yourself.

C -onsider things from every angle.

D -on't give up and don't give in.

E -njoy life today: yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.

F -amily and Friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches.

G -ive more than you planned to give.

H -ang on to your dreams.

I -gnore those who try to discourage you.

J -ust do it!

K -eep on trying, no matter how hard it seems. It will get better.

L -ove yourself first and foremost.

M -ake it happen.

N -ever lie, cheat, or steal. Always strike a fair deal.

O -pen your eyes and see things as they really are.

P -ractice makes perfect.

Q -uitters never win and winners never quit.

R -ead, study and learn about everything important in your life.

S -top procrastinating.

T -ake control of your own destiny.

U -nderstand yourself in order to better understand others.

V -isualize it.

W -ant it more than anything.

X -ccelerate your efforts.

Y -ou are unique of all of Nature's creations. Nothing can replace you.

Z -ero in on your target, and go for it!!

What's With Your Company?

So, let's really find out why you joined your current MLM company. It's anonymous, so if your mom really did tell you which company to sign with, it's ok, go ahead and let us know. We won't know that it's you.

Then, if you want to expand on your answer, scroll below, hit the comment button, and give us the details.

We'll give the poll a few days for people to answer. Feel free to send it out to your team and upline, so we can get a decent idea. Tweet it, put it on facebook, and any other social media site. Let's get some numbers going here.

Then we'll look at the results and go from there.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Don't Fall Victim to This Day!

I was recalling with business rock star, Patty Gale,  about what it was like working in corporate America. I'm sure it's still the same in today's workforce (for those still employed), but I've been out of that workforce for almost 10 years, so things may have changed. And people in hell now get ice water.

Anyhoo, we were reminiscing about the days when upper management 'rewarded' the staff by having special shirt days, allowing the employees to kick off their heels, loosen their ties, and dig deep into their dresser drawers or into the back of their closet to find that crazy Hawaiian shirt, that seemed like such a good idea at the time or, in my case, the green shirt to wear on St. Patrick's day, or whatever else those wild and zany employee board members came up with.

Actually, if I remember correctly, upper management had nothing to do with those ideas anymore than they had to do with 'bring your kid to work day', but I digress.

This was when 'casual Friday' was still in its infancy, (that's a whole 'nother post) so having an opportunity to wear something that didn't have to be dry cleaned was considered their best effort at throwing the dogs a bag of bones.

So my memory was this. We all got the notice (on green paper, of course), that St. Patrick's Day was coming up. (I should be saving this post for St. Patrick's day, but oh well, I'm feeling creative today.), and we all were 'given' the opportunity to get as crazy as we could in order to celebrate this one day furlough from pinched toe shoe hell.

For me, as much as I couldn't stand my job, my best idea to celebrate was to put as much Irish Whiskey in the sludge they called coffee and actually be happy during the nine hours I had to put in.

But I didn't. I found, in my extensive collection of crap clothes that I had yet to take down to Goodwill, a greenish shirt with hints of blue in it. I knew it was pushing the envelope, but hey, WHO is to say what 'green' is? So many shades, and what if someone is color blind? I figured it was good enough, and put it on with my best pair of Levis.

Ahhhhh, never mind the color, it was a T-SHIRT & JEANS day! YA, BABY.  The way I saw it, I was more productive than when I was in my 'office attire'. I was willing to be reprimanded if I could just be comfortable for once.

As I suspected, every one went stone cold crazy, wearing mile high hats with shamrocks on them, lime green and shamrock green shirts, socks, over sized clown sunglasses that were green and, dare I say, green pants.

About two hours into my workday, I was approached by the head of the 'employee morale board' (I'm not kidding) in my very official cubicle and started speaking softly to me.

"Jhanna", She leaned in and half whispered to me. "Ummmm, a few of the employee morale board members have come to me and have mentioned that your shirt really isn't (insert air quotes here) "green". You know, this is green." She gave the thumbs up to her own shocking green shirt with shamrocks emblazoned on it.

I leaned forward in my synthetic fiber office chair. "uh-huh. Go on." I said, squinting my eyes slightly to express that, perhaps, this news might actually have me concerned.

"Well, here's the thing. If you don't abide by the rules of the fun shirt day, well, we just won't have them any more. And I can understand if you don't, you know, have the (air quotes again) "funds" to purchase a real green shirt, then you'll just need to wear your normal professional office attire." (thanks for acknowledging how little the company actually paid me.)

She leaned back and stared with her head cocked to the side, and pinched her brows together, like a concerned cocker spaniel.

I wanted to pinch her arm until she cried.

I gave a sigh, slumped my shoulders a bit and said, 'I understand, and am truly, so ashamed. I mean, look at me.'

She cocked her head even further, to the point I thought it might fall off her shoulders. She gave a small smile and perked up.

"I'm glad you understand because, hey! This is supposed to be FUN! We work for such a fun company! (it was a bank), and we want everyone to have fun! Ok, then! Let's go have some green Tampico punch and shamrock cookies in the break room!"

I could not make this up if I tried. This is corporate America at its best. Or it's worst. I dunno. I'll let you decide.

As I sat in the bar that night, slurging down my beer with all the other lost business souls, I couldn't help but think, 'What the F*CK am I doing WRONG?! Why don't I get it? Why do I not fit in at ANY job I work?!"

I had answered my own question. "Why do I not fit in at ANY job I work". Because it's a JOB!

Corporate America is not intended for people to thrive. It's just not. They have a bottom line that they want to accomplish, and you are there to help fulfill that goal. their goal, not yours. You get paid a certain amount and, if you're in a 'good' job, you get two weeks vacation after exchanging fifty-two weeks of your life for it.

I'm sure some readers will say, 'Hey, now! My company is great!' Great. Live long and prosper. More power to you and 'your' company.

But the majority of people who work in a corporate J-O-B are M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E. It's where their dreams go to die. Nothing will kill your dreams faster.

The reason some one's dreams succeed while working at a corporate job is because the dream is to get OUT of the corporate work force.

Ok. Enough of that. Now go. Go work on your business. Go create your dream career. Go get to your MLM company's convention. Just promise me, you'll get out of the corporate world as quickly as possible.

If you don't have a social marketing company you're affiliated with, contact me. If you've got one and you don't know where to start, then contact me and we'll just talk. Just GO and release yourself from the pain of a possible Casual Shirt Friday.

If it's too late and you already have your story, let me know and I'll do my best to help you so you don't end up with another story.