Questions from a reader (if you want to “out” yourself and say who you are, you can! It’s up to you…)
-What strategies have others used to discipline themselves to follow a work plan?
-What schedule do they follow?
-Do others find that most of their MK work takes place in the evening, if not then how have they built a daytime business?
Well, I can only answer for myself, so I am hopeful that some others here will jump in and give their own answers!
For number one: I use the “two bookings a week” strategy. I want to hold at least 2 per week, so because of that, I always make sure I call my referrals and fishbowl leads to book! Think about the goal more than the small activity it takes to get there. That is what I am learning. Sure, I may not want to make calls, but I sure want the bookings…so I call.
For number two: Although I have my MK time as any early appt (12-2pm) and Thursday nights, I do sometimes book on Monday nights (meeting night) if I have to in order to do 2 appts per week. When I talk to a referral about booking, I ask, “What is better for you, afternoons or evenings?” If they say, “Anytime…or either one is fine”, I schedule them for early appt (12-2pm). That way, when I have one who MUST do a night, I have a day open for them. Rarely will I ask off of work to do a booking. I only do it if I know the hostess personally (as in a friend or relative) and I KNOW it will hold.
For number three: Yes, my better parties have been in the evenings. But many of the parties in my home (where I am the hostess) are during a Saturday afternoon or Sunday afternoon (rarely). I would stick to Saturday afternoons if they have a day job and you prefer to book during the day. They hold best. However, take each hostess into consideration. If she is a stay at home mom, she may have plenty of friends who are as well. They usually prefer to book afternoons when kiddos are at school. Maybe try a fishbowl in a children’s store?
I really feel we CAN make our own schedules and we should. We need to give choices that are ok for us (“I have some days available next week…Is Saturday afternoon better or would you prefer Thursday evening?”). Then we let them feel they are choosing, although we have in essence chosen for them. If a date cannot be arranged between our schedules, I offer a webshow for them to get the free hostess credit.
I hope this helps you! Ladies, what answers do you have for our reader’s questions?
9 Comments
May 23, 2007 at 12:32 am
Boy, thanks so much for printing my questions, . but in answer to your reply. I didn’t mean to suggest that I was sitting around all day doing NOTHING, waiting until the evenings or late afternoons to make business calls. I have a busy life , but by the time evening rolls around, I am tired and/or distracted and unfocused and it’s easy to watch the clock and say, “I’ll start at 6:30….. No how ’bout, 7:00 since they’re probably finishing up dinner, Wait! Maybe I should start at 8.. that gives them time to get the kids into bed… Sheesh it’s 8:30.. too late to call now. You all get the idea ( At least I hope there is someone here who understands what i’m talking about, lol)
So that’s why the questions: Do you all have set times to make calls? , What strategies do you use to make sure that you stick to your call times in particular and your MK work schedule in general?.
May 23, 2007 at 1:08 am
I did not mean to imply that you are sitting around!! I was simply saying that there is no reason to get up if you do not have a plan of action. So if you plan activities that will lead you to a goal, you are more likely to wake up earlier. I know if I have “nothing” to do (in my mind), I will stay up til wee hours and then sleep til noon the next day.
I tell myself that I must make calls by such and such day. And then I do it. If I find myself procrastinating, I imagine how happy I will be to tell my best bud or director how many bookings I got, etc. This motivates me!
May 23, 2007 at 2:25 am
About what you said about telling yourself it is too late, they just got done eating, whatever…those are legitimate concerns. I have found one of the best times to call on Sundays around 2pm. Most people are doing nothing at this time.
May 23, 2007 at 8:33 am
MK is my full-time job. I find that using the Weekly Plan Sheet (which can be found on LearnMK under “Forms”) and having at least 4 weeks of it going at all times. I basically use it as my calendar (saves me money on buying planners!). I put in my work-out times, household times (for cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.), faith time, everything. Then I put in MK time. I will highlight blocks of time in pink for MK, even if I don’t have appts there yet. Then when I’m booking new appts, I know exactly when I want/plan to work. My goal is to fill all those pink time slots. Because I work MK full-time, I hold a lot of day appts and find myself not doing as many evening appts. I have a minimum face and sales number each week (think quota vs. goal). I know that in order to pay my bills, I have to do X amount in sales/week. This isn’t a goal. This is a personal minimum. My goal is usually higher. So I have a minimum and a stretch number. As I get closer to the week, I look at my blank timeslots and fill in phone work time.
If you want to hold daytime appts, then get yourself out to meet women who have time during the day. Women who grocery shop during the day have time to meet with you then. I hold a lot of lunch time pamper appts where I will either go to an office and do a quick class in a conference room or women come to my house then. I’m also active in my Chamber of Commerce and attend networking events during the day (usually luncheons or breakfast meetings). Women who work in sales usually have flexibility to have a facial during the day.
I can lose focus easily if I’m not disciplined, so my last piece of advice is something I’m still working on. Stay off the blogs and unitnet during “people hours.” No offense to your wonderful blog MKRules, but it’s easy to lose time to reading blogs, browsing unitnet for the next “it” idea, exploring InTouch, and emailing.
May 23, 2007 at 8:37 am
Here is what I do:
1. I have my datebook highlighted in different colors to denote different kinds of activities. My color scheme is this:
)
Pink = MK office/meeting time
Green=MK money-making time
Blue=Non-MK time (day job/class time that makes me blue
Yellow=ME time
Orange=Hubby’s time (he feels important having his own color!:) )
I also put the MK weekly plan sheet on the fridge w/ the same color code. That way, hubby doesn’t forget where I am–and I write his schedule on there, too!
2. My schedule is pretty set, but now that I’m back in school, my MK time is much more limited. I typically keep Saturdays open for business. I used to have Wednesdays available for evening appointments, but now I have class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. (after working 8-5) so that won’t work anymore. So, my MK GREEN time is now Saturdays 10-6 and Tuesday nights which is my meeting night. I also keep Sunday as a backup in case someone absolutely cannot meet with me on my set days. I have designated Sunday evenings from 7-9 as my “power hours” for calling. I find that most people are home and finished with dinner at this time.
At times, I will call earlier. I never call anyone past 9:00 p.m.
3. I haven’t seen a difference regarding day time or evening appointments being more prosperous than the next. It depends on the people at the appointment, really. Most of my call time is in the evenings, but what I have done to get more “daytime business”–I think this is what the question was asking–is just talking at work. I work at a university.
I see LOTS of people! I have regular customers that I work with during the day. It’s nice. It’s like working 2 jobs simultaneously, but one is effortless. 
May 23, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Scheduling is so very important but oh so hard for me to do. For me the first phone call is the hardest one to do. When I have been the most successful at making phone calls it was because I set a starting time AND and ending time. I learned that if I would just do 30 minutes worth that would get me going. Sometimes I would use the “carrot” of some special treat to get me going for that half hour. (Believe me it was never a carrot. Needed to be chocolate!) One of the best things I ever did was a “30/24.” If you have never done one and would like to really have a break through with your business do one. This is how. Make 30 phone calls (or face to face encounters) in 24 hours. These are booking calls not sales calls although some selling may take place. (Darn don’t you just hate it when they want to give you money!) Keep track of what happens and who and when you called someone. Be persistent. Journal what you accomplish as you go and how you feel. You will be amazed at how your attitude changes about half way through the exercise. You get to the point that you don’t really care what they say, you just want to talk to that number 30 person. Leaving messages doesn’t count. You must talk to the person. If there are questions about the 30/24 ask and I will clarify! Make a list before you start with phone numbers, set your start time and go for it. Have fun!
May 24, 2007 at 6:17 am
fadingpink: I love the 30/24 idea! I’m going to give it a shot starting at 9:00 a.m. today.
It will definitely help me reach today’s goals. Thanks for sharing.
May 24, 2007 at 11:48 am
fadingpink, I did the 30/24 years ago, thanks for the reminder! I remember that I started it 3pm on a Sunday afternoon and by 3pm Monday…..You are absolutely right. I didn’t care what they said…I just wanted to be done, lol. I’m remembering now that I DID finish and had great results. I just saw on another Director’s Unitnet site that she has a form for a 15/24. ( fifteen calls in a 24hr period). Maybe I can get my feet wet by doing this again.
May 24, 2007 at 12:47 pm
15/24 sounds like a good plan to get your feet wet and sounds like a goal for me. Let us know how it goes and I will let you know, too. I love to hear successes and am here to listen and encourage when they aren’t so great.
Off to wash the car, then make some calls.