Prep for the month

This will be my final post classified in  the New Year 2014.  Originally, I planned to only go 31 days, but it ran over a little. I hope it was helpful
Today is the day you should prepare for your February parties, interviews, and anything else you might not expect.  On the last couple of days of the month, I make a list of what needs to be done before my first party of the month.  I never want to run out of sample packets, hostess packets, or recruiting packets.
So, I started by setting a goal for how many of these things I want to have on hand at all times.  I made those numbers high enough that, if I run out, I've had a freaking amazing month!

• 50 Sample packets
• 20 Hostess Packets
• 20 Recruitment packets

Today is also the day that I prepare the binders for my next month.  Because so much changes each month, I start making my new documents for them.  I can't send out for printing until the first of the month because I always include the Sister Style for the month in it.

So, today, count how many of each of these you have and figure out how many more you need to meet your goals this month.  Either send out for printing (I often find sending everything to Staples is easier than printing it myself) or print it yourself.

Homework:  How many of what do you need to make?  Post it today and we'll encourage you through it!  Due today!

Time Pockets

The other day I was listening to a training that talked about time management.  During the training, she mentioned a concept that I use all the time, but I'd never had a word for it:  Time Pockets.  The concept behind Time Pockets is that, we're all busy and have full lives, but we have to find little pockets of time to make our lives flow best.

Since I found that quote, it's been my favourite thing because it's so true.  You can't claim you have less time than anyone else because you don't.  Is your life busier?  Perhaps, but you still have 168 hours every single week during which you can strive for your goals.  The point of this post is to help you find when your free time is.
First, I want to explain fully "Pockets of Time."  Finding Pockets of time means finding small amounts of time that you can use to meet your goals, even if they require lots of time.  If you have a large project that's going to take you two hours, who says it has to be done all at the same time?  Who says it can't be done in 8 segments of 15 minutes you find during your day?  Very few things require 2 hours without a break.
Think about everything you can do in 15 minutes - whether it be work, home, or play.  The speaker I was listening to broke it down into 10 minutes, but for now, let's just think about 15 minutes.  Things that take 15 minutes or less that can benefit you include:

• Empty the dishwasher
• Fold part of the laundry
• Clean a room (or a part of it, depending)
• Meditate (really you should do that)
• Pray (it you believe in this kind of thing, you should probably do that too)
• Read a religious or self help text
• Call your leads

There are tons more, but this is a starting list that gives you an idea of what you can get done in that amount of time.  I'd love to hear about what you can get done in 15 minutes!
Now, I want to give you this document.  Print it out, get a marker, and sit down at a hard surface.  This is something I used when I was studying Forensic Biology in College.  In my second semester, I began to feel like I had no time to study which resulted in me feeling hopelessly overworked and unable to complete my courses.  Then I had a brainstorm - what if I actually looked at the time I used and tried to see where my empty time was instead of trying to find it in the moment?  The method I'm about to outline worked for me and every single one of my friends who complained to me about not having the time to study, eat, sleep, and socialize.
The page you downloaded is your complete day, for any day of the week broken into 15 minute segments.  Start with any day you like.  I'm going to show you how I'd break it down for my friends when we were in University.  Your schedule will be different, count on it.

1. Start with scheduling time to sleep.  If you don't sleep enough, everything in your life will suffer.  Mark on the schedule when you need to wake up.  For me, it was 7:00 every morning.  Black out 8 - 8 1/2 hours before that.  If you need an hour to fall asleep, black out 9.  Because I woke up at the same time every single day, my sleep times were consistent from day to day.  Maybe yours aren't.  Customize it to your needs.
   
2. Look at times you know you can't move around.  If you have a job outside Jamberry, black out times you're actually working (don't black out lunch yet).  If you're taking classes, black those out.  At this point, only include the time you're actually there.  If your job is 9-5, that's all you should be blacking out (minus lunch).  What you see here is my Monday class schedule then my Monday work schedule (I worked on campus.)
   
   
3. Now add in the driving time it takes you to get from home to work and vice versa.  It took me about 20 minutes, so I scheduled a full 30 so I wouldn't be late.  You'll also note a driving time around 8 PM because I that's when I went to go pick up my daughter from gymnastics.
   
4. Now we add in meals.  Think about the time it will take you to prepare and eat your meal.  If you're given 30 minutes for lunch where you work, but you always have extra time, it's probably only 15 minutes.  Breakfast is a 15 minute ordeal for me on weekdays.  On the other hand, I always budget an hour and a half for dinner - an hour to prepare and 30 minutes to eat with my family.
   
5. The white spaces are what's left.  Are you surprised with how much time you actually have to spare?  I know I was when I did this the first time. I stared at the sheet and said, "What do you mean I have almost 4 hours left on Monday?"  Even if I gave myself 30 minutes to get ready in the morning (and it never took me that long), I was left with 3 hours and 15 minutes of open, empty time with which I could study.

Now, the reason I'm having you do this is because you may not realize how much time you have.  When all was said and done, I had over 20 total hours left over on weekdays only.  My weekends were virtually empty.  Many of us never realize we have all the extra left over because we're spending it watching TV, surfing Facebook, watching kitten videos on YouTube, or any other number of things.  We stress over having no time when our time is sitting right there waiting for us.

How do we use this time?

Okay, now that you see all that extra time, you're trying to figure out how to use it.  Well, my first bit of advice here is don't use it all.  You don't need every second of every day to be filled with activity.  You work hard, so you absolutely deserve to be able to watch one TV show without having to do anything else.  However, you might not deserve to watch 3 or 4.  There are certainly things you can do sitting in front of the TV.  You can make hostess packets, refill your guest binders, fold your clothes, or write customer thank you cards (during commercials).  So, choose one TV show every night that you get to watch uninterrupted then do something during the rest of your watching time.  I usually take half of a show to do what's required of me then I relax for the rest of the show.  This probably results in more down time than I really need, but it works for me.

If you're guilty, like the rest of us, of spending hours on Facebook or other social media, set yourself a timer.  Let yourself surf like crazy on Facebook for 10-15 minutes then get up and do what needs to be done for 15.  Repeat as necessary.
Here's the last piece of advice - when you complete something that needs to be done, celebrate it! Seriously, we as women often feel like our accomplishments are not worth celebrating, but they are.  Who cares if you give yourself a mental pat on the back when you get the laundry folded.  No one's going to tell you that your success dance is uncalled for if you called customers for 15 minutes.  If they do, tell them where they can store that opinion.

Homework:  What can you do in 15 minutes that I didn't mention?  Let us all know!  Due today!

Hostess Packets

One of the most common questions I see asked, no matter what Facebook page or direct sales organizations, is "What should I put in a hostess packet?"  Your hostess packet sets you up for success for that party.  If you put too much in it, you risk the hostess feeling overwhelmed.  Too little can lead to an unsuccessful party.  I'm going to tell you what's in my hostess packet and why, then you can decide what you want.

• Catalogue.  I usually only put in one, but you could put in multiples.  Your hostess should know that she can always ask for more.
• Sample packets.  I put in 3.  My hostess knows that when someone says they can't come to the party, she can give them a sample to try.  That sample has all of the information her friend needs to order online.
• Booking letter.  This is something that I got from a woman in Phoenix.  She uses it to explain how to have the best party possible. 
• Hostess Planner.  I have used the ones you can order and had them printed from the workstation.  This is a great place for your hostess to create her guest list.
• Hostess Rewards table.  I know there's one on the hostess planner, but I made one big enough for my hostess to read. 
• Hostess Games.  I include games for my hostess to play that will help her have the most successful party.  I give her three and let her choose which, if any, she wants to use.  You can edit these however you want. 
       Hostess Tic Tac Toe  - I give her this grid with different goals for her party.  She gets an "X" in every square that she completes, and earns prizes for it.
       Hostess Scavenger Hunt  - I've seen a different one of these for every direct sales business.  This is one I found and made my own document.  Tell your hostess that, a woman can only count for 1 category (red-headed pregnant women can only count as a red-head or a pregnant woman).  If she tries to invite 1 of every kind of woman, she's totally going to have a great party!
       Raffle Squares - Before you do this, check to make sure there aren't any laws against it.  Give your hostess the grid and have her "sell" each square for $1 a piece.  Each person can buy as many or as few as they want.  She should write the person who purchased the square in its box.  Once all the orders are made and paid for, you draw one of the numbers that have been purchased.  The person who purchased that number gets the total sold in Jamberry product - up to $100!  This is a great way for your hostess to get a $100 boost to her party sales
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Vendor Events 101

When I started talking to Deanna about topics for the New Year's Tip blog-a-thon, she mentioned posting a Fair/Event 101 which was a great idea.  However, I didn't really know how to write it, and she really didn't either, so we turned to Tamara Busko Allen for her event checklist.  This is adapted from that!

The first thing you should know about vendor events is that you should not look at them as a place to primarily sell and make a bunch of money and success should not be measured necessarily by "if you broke even", especially at a big, more expensive event. Getting contact info from which future parties are booked and recruits are gained is by far more valuable in the long run than a few dollars on a single sale. Some sales, bookings and recruits my not be made until months later, but are people you otherwise never would have met. So you need to look at how you think about bigger events not so much in terms of immediate $$ made.

You do not have to spend a lot of money on expensive banners and things to be successful at an event.   A neat, professional looking table featuring the product and a place to do samples is the main idea.  When talking to the event coordinator ask if there is a way your table can get placed near an outlet so you can use your mini heater.  Your enthusiasm about the product and interaction with people is the most important part - get out in front of the table and talk with people, show them how great Jamberry is and have fun.

You can get a black tri-fold display board from Wal-mart for about $4.  It makes a nice backdrop and somewhere for you to post product pics and information.  There are 5 x7 display cards of wraps in the workstation.

I have found that having a “look-book” of pictures with the wraps on hands helps people to see what they really look like on.  You can use a 4x6 photo album or binder with photo refill pages in it.  You can also display wraps in those.

Ideas for displaying inventory:

• Clip and spin

• Pegboard from hardware store with tool hangers

• 2 plastic crates stacked up and use paper clips to hang

• Wire cooling racks and clips

• If you do not have a lot of inventory - do not worry- many people want to order what they like from the catalog and have it shipped to them. (Remember to bring receipts!)

Event checklist:

• table and tablecloth

• trifold display

• catalogs, host / join brochures, business cards

• survey cards from workstation and enter to win box and small prize

• look book

• heater, extension cord

• samples and application supplies

• calculator, pens, order forms

• calendar with your available dates for parties

• credit card reader is helpful or computer with hotspot

Try to have some form of booking incentive to give people a reason to book their party right there, instead of saying they will call later.  Some ideas are:  book to look boxes, a free half sheet for booking, roll dice odds are a prize, evens grab bag prize, spin the wheel for a prize, pop a balloon for a prize….. Something engaging works well - so many people ask me if they can spin my wheel.

Don't forget to get to your event early so that you can set up and do some statement nails!

Homework:  Ask any further questions you have about fairs and events on the group page.  Due any time.

Make a Party Packing List

Have you ever gotten to a party or event and realized that you've forgotten something really important?  Have you forgotten something that's not really that important, but you forgot it nonetheless?  Well, today, you're going to make a list that insures that never happens again.  You should have a list of everything you take to parties and have it ready to print and check off as you get ready for your parties.  Last week, we talked about organizing your week and having a day where all you do for your business is get ready for parties.  I have a hard time making any of these priority over the others, so I'm just going to write them in the order I think of them.  I'm also including a downloadable checklist you can edit for your needs.  This is a list that you use to make sure you can do that:

• I make Sample Packets to make sure I don't forget anything for application purposes, but if you don't, you'll need:
      Alcohol prep pads
      Orange Sticks
      Files
      Samples
      Business Cards
      Application instructions
• Even if you do have sample packets, you'll still need to bring:
        Nail Scissors
        Cuticle Pushers
        Heater
        Extension Cord
• I also have my binders that have my sample packets in them as well as:
        Customer Care Cards
        Catalogues
        Pens
• Include 5 Hostess Packets (or more!)
• Calendar
• Party Bank
• In case of guests with painted nails, I also bring:
        Acetone/Nail Polish Remover
        Cotton balls or pads
• Don't forget your Book to Look Boxes! (Make sure they're the right ones, haha.)
• You'll be lost without basic business supplies like:
        Calculator
        Receipts
• Hostess Gifts
• Party Prizes
• As a last look, make sure you're not supposed to bring something for refreshments (see Theme Parties).

Homework:  Tell me what your checklist has on it, or what I forgot!  Due January 26.

Organize Your Week

Every week on this day, you're faced with a fresh start. Seven days of opportunity lie in front of you, gleaming with potential!  Well, why don't you know what you're going to do on each day?  Is it because you haven't thought about it?  Is it because you haven't planned?  Is it both?  Well, today, let's look at your weekly calendar and figure out what you need to have on it!

Remember when we set up your calendar how I said you needed a day off?  Well, that's your day off from Jamberry.  It's not your day off from life, cleaning, or family obligations.  So sorry.  If you can actually schedule your life so that you have one day that you do absolutely nothing other than eat, please tell me how that works.

Each day of your week should have at least one family/cleaning/organizing requirement and (except for your day off) a business requirement.  These shouldn't be "every day" goals like "take a shower" or "make dinner," they should be tasks you know you have to do every week, but don't need to be done every day.  For example, when I sat down to write down my family requirements, these were things that need to be done at least once a week:

• Plan dinner for the week
• Do laundry (I broke this into my daughter's laundry and our laundry.)
• Fold laundry (yeah, those are two separate things for me too.)
• Change bed linens
• Vacuum

Now, this isn't a complete list of everything that needs to be done in my house, but it is 7 different things.  Now, I assign each task to a day.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Do adult laundry	Fold adult Laundry	Do child laundry	Fold Child laundry	Vacuum	Change bed linens	Plan dinner for the week

If you think that I've spread out my laundry too much here, I think you misunderstand how much I hate it.  I could probably put it all on one day and find other things to do on the other days, but that's not something I can do right now.

Now, list at least 6 things you need to do with for your business every week.  For example:

• Deposit money
• Make orders/deliveries
• Prep for parties
• Coach hostesses/recruits
• Prep for parties
• Write thank you notes (we'll talk about that tomorrow)

And organize them into days of the week as well.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Deposit money	Make orders/deliveries	Coach Hostesses/recruits	Prep for parties	Talk to recruits	Write thank you notes

Now, you have one business and one home thing for every day of your week.  If you can find one of those neat dry erase week runners that stick on the wall, write down what you're supposed to do on it, so you can't forget what your requirements are for the day.  Note:  these do not count as your most important tasks!

Homework:  Post what you have to do each day for next week on the team page.  Due next Sunday.

The 6 Most Important Things

Feel like your to-do list looms over you?  Do you feel like you get nothing done because you're daunted by obligations?  Do you look at it and feel like going back to bed?  Well, this post is all about organizing yourself so that you can feel accomplished every day.  When you feel accomplished, you accomplish more!  Instead of having a never ending cycle of dismay, you're going to get into a feeling of cyclical positivity!

You'll need several pieces of paper and a pen.  Optional:  White board & Pen.

Here's the hard part.  The part that makes you hyperventilate.  Write down everything you need to do.  Your laundry, cleaning your bathroom, making dinner, everything.  Look at that list and fight the urge to tear it up.  If you're like me, this list can be pages long.  I told you this was the hard part.  Maybe you're super organized and you have problems coming up with a huge list.  I hate you, but keep making your list.

Now, look through your huge list and find 6 things you absolutely must get done tomorrow.  If your laundry basket is going to explode, put the laundry on the list.  I always have dinner on my list.   If you need to schedule exercise, put it on your list!  Include 15 minutes of client calling on your list.  Try to make at least 3 of your tasks related to work every day.

You might need to go through several drafts, but once you have your six most important things written down, number them in order of easiest to most difficult.  This is your measure of difficulty, not anyone else's.  If laundry is your most difficult task, make it a 6!  If it's calling customers, who cares?  If you have a white message board, this is a great time to write them down in order of difficulty.

Now, tomorrow morning, when you get up, look at your list.  Start with number 6.  You heard me.  Start with the most difficult task on your list and work your way backward.  Why?  Well, if you start with the easiest task on your list and work your way up, you're stuck with that most difficult task looming at you as you progress toward the end of the day.

Homework:  List your 6 most important things for tomorrow on the team page.  Due tomorrow.