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I remember the days before cheerleading uniforms and karate tournaments consumed a large portion of my expendable income - you know the days when you could afford to purchase your wardrobe and makeup from department stores like Macy‘s, Dillard‘s, or Foley‘s. It was at that time that I became Dillard’s Department Store’s number one fan! I was a firm believer that there was no better mascara than Estee Lauder’s More than Mascara, which I faithfully purchased from Dillard’s every few months, and that you could not find a more fashionable, classy, and high quality suit anywhere other than Dillard’s. So, when Dillard’s was included in an upcoming career fair in Tulsa, I was certain a career with Dillard’s was in my near future. I was teaching Business English and Professional Development courses at a small business college, and because I was working evenings, decided a change of pace was just what I needed. The day of the fair arrived, and I donned my smart, navy suit (purchased from Dillard’s of course), updated my resume, and drove to the career fair. Smart move I thought since Dillard’s associates all wore navy! Once there, I landed an interview with the hiring manager and proceeded to explain to her that I was a Dillard’s fan through and through and accordingly believed a career with Dillard’s was my calling in life. You would have thought I was describing my favorite charity or NFL team by the way I talked! Even though I had absolutely no retail sales experience - or any sales experience for that matter - she hired me on the spot, embarking my short career with Dillard’s. That career was short lived because everyone, regardless of education or experience, begins on the floor, and standing for eight + hours a day was not for me. What I did take from that experience, however, is that your enthusiasm for the product you represent is the most important feature you can bring to your sales career. Enthusiasm is a magnet, and like a magnet, attracts like forces. What is more, enthusiasm is contagious and breeds additional enthusiasm. Mary Kay Ash, creator of Mary Kay Cosmetics said it this way, “A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.” After all, the best way to get someone excited about the product you offer is to be excited about it yourself. And we all know it’s impossible to ‘fake excitement’ for a product we don’t believe in. When we know without a doubt that we are offering a superior product or service that our prospect could truly benefit from, it becomes much easier to share that enthusiasm and excitement. Remember what I said earlier about enthusiasm, about it being contagious. Exhibiting enthusiasm about our product is the best way to generate customers who are also enthusiastic about our product. One must believe in the benefits of the product in order to successfully sell the product. I liken it to fundraising. As the former director of a non profit organization, I can’t imagine trying to persuade someone to support a cause that I myself did not believe in. If you don’t believe in your product (or cause), it shows. Would you want to purchase a product from a salesperson who didn’t believe in its value? No one else would either. By now you might be thinking, “Okay, I can agree with that. But how can I generate that kind of enthusiasm about my product?” Or, if you’re new to direct sales, you might wonder, “How can I find a product that I can truly believe in?” To start with, if you’re already marketing a product that you’re not excited about, it’s possible that you’re marketing the wrong product. Or, it’s also possible that you’re not seeing your product from the right angle. Ask yourself what you’re passionate about, what is truly important to you, and then come up with a way you can relate that to your product. Perhaps you sell makeup or women‘s accessories, but you’re really devoted to building self esteem. We all know that as women, when we look good, we feel good about ourselves. Of course, feeling good about ourselves builds self esteem, and wearing makeup and choosing the right accessories greatly increases the probability that we’ll like the way we look. See the way it works? You’ve got to find a relationship between your passion and your product. Once you make that connection, the process becomes much simpler. If you’re new to direct sales or are just in the market for a new product, the obvious question to ask yourself is, you guessed it, “What am I passionate about? What do I truly believe in? What do I enjoy doing or helping others do?” Then do your research. Find products that have a direct relationship to your passion. Is good health and fitness a soapbox of your’s? Then find products that improve health. There are numerous companies out there in this category. TriVita, Herbalife, and NutriSystem are just a few of the many great companies offering this type of product. Do you just love to cook? Then try companies like Pampered Chef, Tupperware, or Tastefully Simple. Do you have young children? Are you enthusiastic about quality items for them? Then be sure to research companies such as NestFamily, Discovery Toys, or My Precious Kids. Find companies that match your passion, and yes, there are companies out there that compliment just about any passion you might have. Then compare the company’s value and mission statements, the compensation plans, the training and tools provided, etc., and choose the one that best suits your needs. My husband and I chose Pre-Paid Legal because we recently spent a small fortune on a legal issue. I remember a casual remark I made to my husband one day: “What would someone who didn’t have the money or at least a way to come up with the money do in our situation?” It wasn’t until our situation was almost over (and paid for!) that we came across an answer. Because of our recent experience, we were sold! In a nutshell, our life experiences, interests, and talents combined with the expectations we have for a home based business should greatly determine which opportunity we choose. If you’re unsure where to begin your search, try using a search engine such as yahoo, and use key words that include your passion (i.e. home décor) and the words direct sales companies. You can also visit many of the great work at home websites for a comprehensive listing of companies. Again, you can use a search engine and type in the words ‘work at home website’ to find these sites. You want a product you can view as the key to your customer’s success or the answer to his problem. Believing in your product is the key to developing enthusiasm about your product. And we all know enthusiasm is contagious. Sprinkle it about like grass seed, water it, and then watch your sales grow!
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Teresa Carnes lives in Oklahoma and is a work at home wife and mother to two beautiful children. She is an associate for Pre-Paid Legal and Identity Theft Solutions, a company which provides individuals with affordable access to legal protection. To receive additional information about Pre-Paid Legal’s legal service plans or their full or part time business opportunity, you may visit her website, www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/teresacarnes, or you may contact Teresa at [email protected].
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