You have finally made the decision that it is time to make some changes in your life. You know that the only way things are going to get better for you financially, spiritually and physically is if you sit up and take action. You know you have to put forth the effort in order to reap the rewards.

So how exactly are you going to implement these changes? You are going to have a “plan of action”.

A plan of action is crucial to your success. Without a plan it is merely a thought. When you add your thoughts to paper coupled with a desire to see them become realities and proceed to do everything possible to fulfill that desire you have a template for success.

A simple equation to use when creating a plan of action from your template is: Desire + Effort = Results.

Your first step is to write down what exactly it is you desire. Wealth, personal development or whatever you so strongly yearn for that you simply can no longer go without, write it down. Make your desires realistic. For example, if your desire is to lose 20 pounds, it is unrealistic to believe you can lose 20 pounds in 3 days. However, it is possible to lose 20 pounds in 3 months with a proper plan of action. It is important to note that there should be a time frame with regards to your plan. These time frames are the milestones to marking your achievements.

Now that you know what your specific desire is, list the ways in which you plan on achieving optimum results. How do I plan to lose these 20 pounds? What do I have to do each day in order to achieve my goal? What do I personally need to do to see this plan come to fruition?

Set up a schedule outlining each step that needs to be taken daily to achieve weekly goals. Be specific. Create a daily “to do” list. At the end of the week you will be able to see how much you were able to accomplish. Congratulate yourself for each accomplishment.

Make a commitment to yourself to “Work the Plan”. Stay focused on the positive. List all the reasons why you will be able to achieve your objective. Utilize the strengths you possess that will help you to complete your plan.

Know your weaknesses and make a concerted effort to overcome them. Incorporate both your strengths and weakness into your plan of action. Know what you are capable of and know what your shortcomings are.

Have your own personal reward system in place. Know what each reward will be for each accomplishment that you have fulfilled throughout your plan. With every desired result you achieve there should be a reward for having done so. An incentive plan customized to your wants.

Do not let yourself get disheartened. If you have a temporary lapse or deviation from the plan acknowledge it and continue to move forward with your plan. Keep the pedal to the metal or your nose to the grindstone, just keep on taking action. Remember, this is not a race to the finish line. Your plan is your future. Take the time to nurture and understand it.

We’ve all heard the phrase “Rome was not built in a day”. Your success regarding your plan of action will not be achieved in one day either. Success is a process and the process is something you have a long-term plan for.

“You and only you can determine if the reward is worth the price you are paying for it in effort”.

Oftentimes, in attempts to reach new depths, people challenge themselves by setting goals. These goals can either be intended for improving one’s career, lifestyle or even for building relationships. However, if these self-set goals are not met, getting frustrated and feeling disappointed with yourself is likely to happen.

You can avoid the agonizing feeling of self frustration by keeping in mind several pointers.

First, try to set reasonable goals; reasonable in the sense that achieving them is within the realm of possibility. This is the part where most people commit mistakes. As a result, they end up pining over loads of failed goals. Avoid that by setting goals which you think are doable within the time frame you want.

For long term goals, try and see if you can break them down into sub-goals with their own respective time frame. By doing so, you would feel less pressured.

Successfully accomplish things one step at a time. The goals you set, especially the big life-changing ones, cannot be met overnight. For example, if you want to lose weight, say 15 to 20 pounds, you can’t expect to wake up the next day feeling as sexy as your celebrity idol after killing yourself to death by starving and working out the previous day.

In relation to taking it one step at a time, you need to be disciplined and patient before you can see your goals slowly getting achieved.

Give yourself some incentives to serve as motivation. Achieving the goal itself and earning the sweet results should do the trick to stimulate you but if that’s not yet enough, think of some rewards to give yourself once you have successfully carried out your goals.

Lastly, remember not to push yourself too hard. Work your way until the end of the line without pushing yourself to the extremes. Things will go as you planned as long as the reasons behind what you’re aiming for are clearly embedded in your heart and mind.

Every year there are many men and women all over the world signing up with direct selling businesses. Just to name a few you may be familiar with Melaleuca, Amway, or Ardyss hoping to make money enough for a new car,a new house, or maybe even some new clothes. They sell a little products or merchandises to a few relatives and close friends.

Then they are quick to say ok I’m done now.Before they even give themselves the ability to learn the basic skills of success in business. No one is born a salesperson, any more than one is born a doctor or born a lawyer.

Sales is a profession. To be successful in any profession one must learn not only the basic techniques, but also how to apply the right techniques. Success in sales makes use of all the abilities one is born with, plus all those acquired through the law of education and experience.

If you are looking for an opportunity to help with your family budget, direct selling offers you unlimited possibilities. However, you must give yourself time to learn the techniques of business overall. Ask yourself. “How long does it take a doctor,cosmetologist, or lawyer has to study to be the best in their profession?”

WHAT IS DIRECT SELLING?

Direct selling is marketing a product directly to the consumer with no middleman involved. Most reliable firms are members of the National Association of Direct Selling Companies. They bring to the public fine products that are modestly priced in order to insure mass consumption.

Most direct selling companies furnish their representatives with a starter kit and essential supplies below-cost prices. In many instances the investment is under $300.

Rewards For Direct Sales Professionals:

1. You are the boss
2. You set your own hours.
3. You own your own businesses with little or no investment.
4. You write your own paychecks.

It is only fair to tell you that there are failures in direct sales too.
There are people who will not work for themselves as hard as they work for others. When working for a boss, they rise early, are well-groomed, and get to the office on time. However, when they are their own boss, they are still in PJ’s.

If you can be your own boss and discipline yourself to do what has to be done when it has to be done, direct selling offers a most unusual earning opportunity.

YOUR TEN STEPS FOR SUCCESS:

1. BE A GOAL SETTER. What do you want to accomplish? Do you want to save for college education for your children? A new car? You can have whatever you want, but you must want it enough to do the things that have to be done to get it. Whatever your goal, write it down and set a target date for reaching it. Divide the time period into blocks of achievement that are reachable. Work consistently toward accomplishing each day, each week, each month what you set out to do. Goal-setting is a must in every area of life. Little is ever accomplished without definite goals.

2. BE A LIST MAKER. Each evening list all the things you want to get done the following day. That gives you an organized approach to each day. As each task is finished, mark it off your list. It is amazing how much gets done when one works with a “things-to-do” list. Also, have a notebook listing appointments, potential clients, repeat clients, and referrals, and keep it with you at all times. You will be adding to it constantly.

3. BE ENTHUSIASTIC. Enthusiasm is the high-octane “fuel” that salespeople run on. Enthusiasm generates its own energy. Energy and good health are synonymous with busy, happy people, people who are achieving.

4. RECOGNIZE THAT THE MAGIC WORD IN SALES IS “ASK.” In direct sales we don’t have to wait for business to come to us. We create our own business by asking for it. Ask for appointments, then you can do business. Ask for business, then you will close sales. Ask for referrals, then you always have a full list of potential clients. Be quietly, yet firmly aggressive.

5. EXPECT NO’S. Realize that no’s are not personal. In sales, as perhaps nowhere else, the law of averages works. Every no gets you closer to a yes. Keep track of your ratio. It will help improve your techniques. Are you getting ten no’s to one yes? Is your ratio five to one? Remember, the yes’s are your income. Also remember that “no” does not necessarily mean “no.” Often a “no” is simply a stall for more time to think. It may be a request for more information about your product or your service. What your client is actually buying is assurance. Assure here by your helpful attitude and your complete honesty, that you want what is best for her. She will most likely respect you and do business with you.

6. SCHEDULE TIME WISELY. A schedule is the road map by which salespeople travel. It takes the frustration out of the day. It assures that the necessary things get done and get done on time. Plan your work then work your plan.

7. BE POSITIVE IN YOUR ATTITUDE. Success in sales, as in all areas of life is 90 percent attitude and 10 percent aptitude. All of us must work at developing habits of constructive thinking. I am proud to be a salesperson. Sales make the wheels of our economy turn. Bernard Baruch, advisor to several presidents, is quoted as saying, “If every salesperson sat down and took no orders for twenty-four hours, it would bankrupt our country!” Every company that manufactures any kind of product depends upon salespeople to move that product. Without salespeople business would be paralyzed.

Remember, sales is one of the highest paid of all professions. Statistics show that good salespeople enjoy incomes far above the average.

8. HAVE AN OFFICE AREA. Most direct salespeople work from their own homes, but it is essential to have a place where you can work in a organized and efficient manner. An office plus a strict working schedule gives you dignity. Both are absolutely essential for efficient operation and accurate record keeping, so important to the success of any business.

9. BE INVOLVED. Most sales organization offer contests to stimulate production. Include winning contests as part of your business goals. Contests make your business fun as well as adding considerable dollar value to your income.

10. LEARN TO HANDLE MONEY INTELLIGENTLY. A regular nine-to-five job usually means a paycheck at the end of the second week. Direct sales “reps” handle money constantly. Direct sales is instant income and constant income. Therefore. it is absolutely necessary to become an efficient money manager.

Deposit every penny collected from clients into a checking account set up especially for its business. Since bank statements show an exact record of all monies collected, and business expenses can be verified by canceled checks, record keeping becomes simple and accurate. Everything except a few “petty cash” transactions can be directly
taken from bank statements.

Money saved regularly and put at interest, soon develops a second
income in addition to earned income. A long-term goal, which is realistic in direct sales, is to be able to live in retirement off the interest earned on savings.

Would financial security mean a lot to you? If so, ask yourself
these questions:

* Am I honest?
* Do I really like people?
* Am I willing to learn?
* Am I willing to work?
* Am I capable of being my own boss?

If your answers are yes,find a good product for the direct sales market, one that you like, one that fills the need of a lot of people, and go to work for yourself. It’s time to make your dream a reality!

About the Author:

Charlotte Howard is a Business Consultant and Founder of Charlotte Howard Consulting LLC. Grab Charlotte’s FREE click by click training for Traditional Business Owners and Home-Based Business Owners.

Copyright © 2009 Charlotte Howard Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved.