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I have an honest question here..... Why do some people join a direct sales business, but then won't respond to emails or phone calls from their uplines? Do they just want to be independent? Do they not want bothered? Or are they not really into the business?


I've been with a couple different businesses and I've had it happen with all of them. Many of the other leaders in the company say that it happens to them too. But I just don't get it.


I can't tell you how many recruits have signed on, very anxious to get started and seem like they would do awesome, but then you never hear from them again! It's like they drop off the face of the earth. Won't return emails or phone calls, never have a single sale.


I am not a pushy person. It's not as if I'm bombarding them with emails and calls, but I just send a note occasionally to ask if things are going well or if I can help in any way, and nadda... nothing...


On the other hand, one of my recruits has a downline who won't return either of our calls, but she still has really good sales each month! I've sent her notes congratulating her on her success and hoping to have some sort of contact with her, and she has never responded to me or my recruit! We have no idea how or where she is getting her sales because sheonly ever talked with my recruit one time before she signed on! lol! And no one has heard from her since.


Have you ever not responded to an upline??? And if so, why not?


Bev

I don't get it either!! I have someone who is supposed to do a fair with me this weekend and now I"m worried she won't show b/c i haven't heard form her!! and I can't do one of the days which is why I asked her to do it. She could actually be forced out of the co, b/c they paid for the fair!





anyway,, most of my team responds to me, some more promptly than others.. One comment one of the girls said to our founder is that she didn't want to disappoint me!! I was so surprised.. I never say you have to do x, y, and z, and I met with everyone to go over THEIR goals and how I can support them! so i make a point of letting everyone know how proud i am of them and offer what can I do to help them.


I personally think that whether its a team member, customer, another DS you are working iwth, whatever,, not returning phone calls/emails is just rude.. Just a simple no thank you or not now would be great!@

One thing that has made a huge impact with my team - was that I tell them from our very first conversation that their first two months will be spent working very closely with me. We do not even order their kit until they have six events scheduled,that time working together before they even order their kit carries over perfectly into the beginning of their business and forming a strong relationship between us. There are no minimims to be a consultant with DRMY!, but I do let them know, the first two months is 'training' and there are tahing s 'have' to do together during that time. Just last night at a brief meeting a few of my newer girls were talking about how glad they were that I worked with them to get their first 6 shows before they ordered their kits! Our company has now changed policy to have your first 6 shows scheduled before they ship kits, and I think it is great.


So, due to the above, the only people I still run into that with are people who join direct to company and then get placed on my team - they seem to be a little more independent it seems.





As Deb said above, it frustrates me so much when people, who ASKED me to call them, do not return my calls. It is just commoncourtesy to do so. Plenty of people do not have common courtesy though.


I have had two instances, through email.....very excited, this is perfect, I can't wait to get startedand then the don't return emails anymore. In another instance, one gal emailed me about a month after vanishing, and said..."great news! I joined DRMY!......but not on your team....because I needed someone closer....but now I do not know what I am doing....so I was wondering if you could help me get started..."


Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm.

I too do not understand this -I have 4 Biz and have this happen with all of them -it would be so simple to say thanx butI really want to be an independant - fine I would leave them alone - I guess this will be one of those questions that is forever wondered about smileys/smiley1.gif

Drives ya batty doesn't it?smileys/smiley5.gif

Happens to the best of us, especially if you have been around for a while.


Even if these people do exceptionally well in the beginning, they seem to later die down in their business and drop out. That's really sad, because obviously they did have what it takes to really make it in this industry, but if they don't embrace new ideas and make a connection with a team, they're almost certain to end up with a declining business.


I have no idea, but I think it goes back to that saying about how we (any one of us) has the ability to inspire others but not to motivate them. Motivation is a call to action, and it comes from within. We can inspire others to try, but if they are not motivated to actually take the steps put a plan into action, then it (whatever "it" is) will never be accomplished.


Gosh, I hope I'm not sounding as though I'm turning into a wannabe Zen Master smileys/smiley36.gif, but you all know what I mean!


Ultimately, we are leaders.....not bosses. Some people absolutely love that, embrace it, run with it, and take off......whileothers can't function in life without a boss standing over them and their idea of inspiration is thatfear of losing their job if they don't do what they're suppose to do. People can be odd, can't they?

I have had people sign up that I like to refer to as "kit-nappers". I, too, was very frustrated that I couldn't getsome of my people motivated, and I was wasting alot of my time and energy on them. My sponsor said something to me that was very interesting, and very true - "It is easier to give birth, than to try to resurrect the dead!"


Nora

Your sponsor is exactly right, Nora! That is why it is so important that we keep telling people about our businesses, because eventually, we're going to find other consultants who work as hard as we do. I've been lucky that I've already found one recruit who is doing awesome! But the others just kind of float on through smileys/smiley36.gif


Thanks for the replies ladies. I knew it happened to others, but once in awhile,it's nice to hear I'm not the only one smileys/smiley2.gif


Bev

i have a girl supposed to do a ashow sat and me sun.. i can't do the sat"!! and she isn't responding!! the company paid for us to do it, so they may boot her if she doesn't hold up her end, but i'm so mad b/c it makes me and the co look bad

Our VP always says "Coach the ones at the top up and the rest will just fall away". At first I thought that was kind of harsh, but now that I'm on the brink of management, I'm seeing her point. Some just don't want to listen no matter what and won't respond. I had an interview with a girl last week and invited her to an event with our VP tonight. I offered to help her with babysitting if she needed it and all that too. I've heard from her once since then and she still wasn't sure if she's coming or not, couldn't set up her pilot party yet and was supposedly working on some other bookings. But now she won't return my calls. It's very irritating. But some you just can't coach up so you have to just let them fall. I'd still send group emails and communication to them and maybe a personal note now and then especially if they are selling and not just doing nothing.


Honestly this isn't just a downline problem. It's a society problem. Manners and courtesy are non exsistant. People don't RSVP, they don't return emails or calls or even write letters. It's very sad.

you are right lisa.. it is a societal problem. It is sad

yeah, I don't get it either? smileys/smiley5.gif

Bev, it happens to me too and I don't get it. I would rather have them be honest and just outright email me and say they no longer want to work the biz, or maybe they decided to do it as a hobby....but they don't. There is really nothing you can do. :(

Yes, this happens to the best of us and no one is immune. My conversation with my new reps (and I have over 50) is I will match 100% of my time with YOUR efforts. No time-no efforts. Many people love to sign up to get the kit at a greatly reduced cost...I like the kit nappers saying because it is so true. I also find out their true reasons for signing. If they are signing up for personal use then I know immediately they have no plans to actually do the business and I note that in their file. Why waste my time?


I also know that 20% of my team will do 80% of the work. That is just a given.I communicate several times a week with the reps who do the business. The rest get weekly emails and monthly newsletters. This way I am communicating with them but not wasting my time. I wasted a LOT of time wanting the business for them more than they wanted it for themselves. I would get so frustrated and upset and now I don't waste my time or energy. They know I am there for them and they know how to get a hold of me.


I love the saying "if you can't change your people, change your people". It is SO true! Just keep recruiting and you will eventually find your gems. :)


Good luck!


Colleen

If you find yourself continually having to motivate someone is it truly worth it?


Wouldn't it be great if everyone that joined your team was smart, passionate and committed like you are?


And also had brains and a sense of humor.


Work with those types of people most like yourself.


How do you find out if they are committed?


It's like playing tennis~~~you hit the ball over the net~~~someone hits it back. It's no fun if they either keep missing the ball or don't bother to hit it back.


Just some random thoughts.


With appreciation


Arnold Hella


Former Workaholic

Sometimes, consultants can be very aggressive with recruiting and
people are afraid to say no. I met one consultant from MaryKay who took
it even further and ordered and paid for a kit and sent it to my house!
She actually spent $500 out of her pocket assuming that I was
interested! I was not. And sometimes people show an interest, change
their minds the next day and are just afraid to say that!



You will always have consultants that don't work-it's like this in
every single business out there. If you talk to everyone, your chances
of finding those that do produce are far greater.



I learned something from this post though..that I will use when
recruiting, and that is to make sure new recruits have parties lined up
first. What a great idea!

Debbie, just wondering how the fair went this weekend... did the girl show up? Did everything work out ok? I kept thinking about you on Saturday... hope it all went well!


Lauren