No day-long corporate strategy session or weekend retreat can survive for long without two things being forced upon everyone to ponder and pander over: Mission Statement Vision Statement I’ll confess, I’ve never had a strong grasp on the differences between them. Most vision statements I’ve seen would pass for mission statements and vice versa. But then I heard them both explained this way, and it made all the difference in the world. I first saw this expressed by Christopher S. … [Read more...]
“Turn-Arounds” Are Hard to Do!
Perhaps the hardest task any management team can undertake is turning around a long successful company that’s declining. There’s simply nothing easy about a turn-around. The process is always disruptive, often painful, and requires setting a plan and sticking with it, even if it takes time to show results. A Change Plan More important, getting it done requires a clear-eyed ability to see the reality of the situation, then assessing what needs to be done. In other words, coming up … [Read more...]
How to Create a Marketing Roadmap That Works
Marketing at a direct sales company can mean a lot of things, and it’s difficult to stay on top of it all, which is why Brett Duncan is giving away his 6 practical approaches to creating a marketing roadmap. And a roadmap that actually works. In this training, Brett will help you define your objectives and match your projects with your resources. Get Instant Access to this webinar and many others. Create your free account now! To start off. Brett asks, “What is marketing?” Marketing is … [Read more...]
Stress Less About Your Software
Before you purchase a new software program, do your homework upfront in order to streamline the process. Too many people contact a company without even knowing what they need. Take the time to ask yourself some questions, which are clearly lined out in this webinar. First Things First. This webinar is NOT promoting a certain software platform This webinar is NOT pinpointing the specific type of software you should implement This Webinar WILL Provide you with questions … [Read more...]
How to Avoid the 5 Biggest Mistakes New Direct Sales Companies Make
Every company has their own challenges, opportunities, advantages and disadvantages. But there are some patterns that become pretty consistent across the board. Whether your company is new, established, mature or in the climb, this is true. Alan Luce, who has been in the direct selling industry for over 40 years, and Brett Duncan walk through the most common obstacles new companies face, and what you can do to avoid them. While this webinar is focused on NEW companies, the principles apply to … [Read more...]
Does Your Target Audience Really Want It?
Benjamin Franklin once said, "Our necessities never equal our wants." Which is exactly why the first and most important question of great marketing is NOT "do they need it?" Many a well-intentioned yet shamefully-confused marketer has started with a concept he thought was a need of a certain group of people. It's why that first question is "Do they WANT it?" No need. We're talking about "want" here. If you're not clear on who it is you are serving, and how what you have satisfies them, you … [Read more...]
The Power of “The Outbound Call”
In 1979, AT&T promoted its telephone services with their famous “Reach Out and Touch Someone” ad campaign. Today, almost 40 years later, much has changed in the way we use our telephones. But one thing remains the same—reaching out to your sales force members (rather than waiting for them to contact you) is still one of the best ways to build sales force loyalty and assure productivity. Why Not Use Technology? Please note–I’m referring to “real” outbound calls, not robo-calls—a … [Read more...]
Better Recognition Starts with a Better Stage
This article is part of an ongoing series by Dick Wilson, titled “Awards Night." View the rest of the series HERE. My last article offered ideas on how to streamline your awards night by carefully scrutinizing your award categories and qualification criteria. Now it’s time to move on to the presentation itself. Let’s begin with a few “before” considerations—what needs to happen in the weeks and days leading up to your big event. And the first item on that list should be the size and shape … [Read more...]
The Only Marketing Questions You Need to Answer
Marketing can be a really simple thing if you let it. Think about who you want to reach with your product, service, idea or message. It may be customers you already have, or it may be someone you’ve targeted but haven’t quite connected with yet. Can you see them in your mind? OK, now get a clear picture of what it is you're marketing. Your idea. Your message. Your product. Your service. Get Clarity & Ask Yourself These Questions Now keep your customer and your idea at the … [Read more...]
Are You Just Strategically Wishing?
The next time the strategic planning season is upon you, don’t do what most smart, well-meaning people do. My experience has shown me that most people confuse the words “strategy” and “wish.” They’ll bellow decrees of how 2018 will be the year we increase sales, or boost recruiting, or retain more customers. Sounds great; who doesn’t want to do any of that stuff? But it’s not a strategy. Difference Between Wishes & Strategy Wishes usually encompass only the “what.” They answer the … [Read more...]
8 Reasons Your Promotions Don’t Work (and what to do about it!)
As you know, direct selling is a very promotionally driven industry (and I mean that in every sense of the word). And unfortunately, I am seeing so many of our companies falling short in their own promotional efforts. This is why I want to talk through some of the most obvious areas that I feel need to be addressed, and encourage you to take the necessary steps to overcome these mistakes quickly and correctly. I recently shared these ideas in a featured article for World of Direct Selling, … [Read more...]
Midyear Resolutions for Direct Selling Companies
It is common to make New Year’s resolutions, right? But why not make resolutions throughout the year? I mean, what's so special about January to think that's the only time we can be clear on our resolve to improve, right?!? It is always a smart move to make new goals, analyze our habits and look for blind spots. If you feel like you’re at a standstill or have plateaued, don’t let this year pass by without making a change. Brett Duncan, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Strategic Choice … [Read more...]
5 Critical Mistakes that Plague New Party Plan Companies
“What are the mistakes I should avoid?” At Strategic Choice Partners, this is one of most common questions we hear from a start-up or young party plan company. I’d like to say that the best answer is “Avoid them all!” But unfortunately, by the time we’re brought in to help, it’s often too late. Avoidable mistakes have already happened. It doesn’t have to be this way. Alan Luce, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Strategic Choice Partners, recently outlined five of the most detrimental … [Read more...]
Time for a Compliance Check Up?
Many companies that have become significant in size may have copied their contract from another company when they first launched, as well as their policies and procedures, and simply given a rewrite to make them fit the terminology of their Company. This is not a good thing to do. "Why?" you ask. Dan Murphy, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Strategic Choice Partners, recently shared some insights from being an expert witness on four separate occasions that led him to ask an important … [Read more...]
Motivation – It’s a Tricky One
As a long-term training consultant, I’ve had the pleasure of presenting quite a few Leadership Seminars. I discovered early on that the liveliest and most productive sessions are ones where I contacted each leader a couple weeks in advance to get a feel for her personality and find out what she hopes to gain from the experience. The Questions to Ask I ask questions like, “What drew you to the company?” or “What do you enjoy most about being a leader?” and “What are your long-term business … [Read more...]
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