WAHM Forums

I just wanted to comment about choosing the right company for your
business. I got a lot of great advice about choosing a the type
of product that you would buy for yourself, checking out the
compensation package, etc., but no one mentioned having a good match
with the "corporate" culture.



I just had my first training call and felt right at home. My new
company is laid back and low pressure and while that's not the best
environment for everyone, it's perfect for me. =} Having a
quota-free plan means I can follow my own sales goals and that I can
have a bad month, or a family emergency, without stress. I love
that it's a relatively small, new company because I enjoy being able to
be a part of the growth.



Anyway, I just wanted encourage folks looking for new opportunities to
look at the culture of the company as well. Do you prefer older,
and more established, or slightly risky, but ground level? Do you
want a household name, or one that makes people stop and say, "What's
that?" Do you like large with lots of perks and opportunities to
connect, or smaller where you can have some influence on the direction
of the company? We're all different, and luckily there are plenty
of companies to go around.



Hope everyone is having a great day!



=},

Christy

This is a good topic to discuss!While its good to go with a company that has been around for awhile and has stability,you also run the risk of oversaturation and competition.At the same time people recognize the name and usually know the quality of the products.Now on the other hand a newer company doesn't usually have over saturation and is not well-known so that gives you an advantage of new business.Everyone has different views of course!Of course this is my opinion and Im sure there will be people that will have a different view of this topic!smileys/smiley1.gif

Well I belong to a company that has been around for a couple years now however it is still somewhat new. I would say when going with a newer company you have to be willing to promote and really try different marketing tools to get the word out. I love it though and I did pick my company because of their style and moral values. I was with one other DS company before for two years. I loved the sales and it was well known, however I wanted something that matched my level of integrity and moral values. Afterall you are representing the company so it's good to have a same stance.

Those are very good points.


I will tell you though, quota's of some sort are not a bad thing. Human nature is to procrastinate. However, we need to make things happen. Often, without an incentive, we tend to take our time more and then quit when things don't happen. The companies with quota's actually have a much higher rate of success.


I think having some sort of incentive, like a Rocket Start, is important. Sometimes I wish Discovery Toys would increase their quota's. It's only $100 per quarter, so its easy to take a break. When that happens, you can restart, but mostoften won't.


That is why goal setting is huge! Be sure to know what You Want. Keep it in the front and work towards it.


Best of luck in your biz!


Debbie

That's a good point Debbie- We have incentives but not requirements. Which makes it nice smileys/smiley1.gif

That is a great point you make Christy. A healthy corporate
culture is so important. I also think that evaluating what is
important to you in a company and its history/reputation is key too.



I agree with Debbie. If the Consultants do not have a benchmark
to achieve....I personally like to think of it as the first step to
excellencesmileys/smiley2.gif...things are sluggish.
The Traveling Vineyard recently did some adjustments to its program,
nothing drastic but it did raise the bar a little. What is
amazing is that in making that slight adjustment everyone has
reevaluated what their business is all about, why they are doing
this. The big news is our company event average is
increasing! That is so exciting.



I kind of relate it to the Kevin Costner saying, "If you build it they
will come." If you set a realistic goal they will achieve it, and
in many cases exceed it! As a leader I really believe you and
your team members have to have goals if you all want to succeed.
I think that is true of any business.smileys/smiley1.gif

Good point Debbie and my sentiments exactly!

I have to tell you all something. I would not have gone with a start-up
company, normally. So when , and IF you are able to start with a well-
known brand, and they are offering a brand new company to be in at the
beginning, that is a rather unique situation.

"...While its good to go with a company that has been around for awhile
and has stability,you also run the risk of oversaturation and
competition.At the same time people recognize the name and usually
know the quality of the products." "Now on the other hand a newer
company doesn't usually have over saturation and is not well-known so
that gives you an advantage of new business..." nattiesmother

The ONLY reason I decided to go with my company is because they have
both the brand-name recognition (Reader's Digest and Taste Of Home
Magazine), and they are a new start-up. The very best of both worlds.

Nondy

Edited by: UltraSkinPro

Deb-


I agree with you 100% about goals and incentives. The companies that raise the bar for new consultants are some of the most successful.If you set the bar low, that's what people reach for, set it high... and all of a suddenly people are doing more.


SLAH doesn't have a quoto per say, unless you want to get paid on your team. We have more incentives. Trips, free product, free convention. SLAHis announcingnew incentives more and more now, which I think is great.Some run for 2 months, some4. And the bar is usually higher on these quick incentives.I find that it really works. People kick it into gear year round to reach these quick incentives.In the past,many team members would take some months off. Now, they always have something to reach for. Or... if they did take some time off, they do not have to wait very long for another incentive! They can hop on again!


I agree Deb, set a goal and go for it. Be careful about "Skimming" by. I have found those on my team who do this, usually aren't very happy with their business. They want more. So set that bar high if your company doesn't do it for you!


Susan Scarborough Smith / Star Director


Edited by: SusanwithSLAH

Hmmm... I can't tell if people agree, disagree, or missed my point altogether. =}



I was just saying that we're all different. While some folks may
need/want a high bar because otherwise they won't reach a high level of
success, some people are self-motivators. Think about it... if
you start your own business independently, there isn't anyone setting
goals for you. Sure, lots of businesses fail, and I think it's
because people aren't always good at pushing themselves to move forward.



Obviously many of you appreciate a company that has high quotas and a
lot of pressure because it has pushed you to be successful. That
was a turn-off for me when I was looking because I set my own goals and
don't want others imposed on me. Time will tell if I'm successful
or not, but I wasn't making an argument that quotas are bad or that
it's better to have a new company or an old company. I was making
an argument that they are factors you have to consider and make a
decision for yourself.



As sales people, we all need to remember that what might motivate one
customer to buy or sign on won't be the same for another
customer. Choosing a business is the same way. While there
are "right" choices for each of us as individuals, there isn't only one
"right" way of doing things. We should encourage each other to
find the right individual path. I love that there are so
many different choices in products, company culture, selling style,
motivational tactics, etc. It made it a difficult choice for me,
but it also allowed me to really look for the environment that will
best support my own personal style.



=},

Christy

We agree with you. smileys/smiley32.gifYou made some very important points that the feel of a company, such as mission and philosophy, and even feeling like you click with your upline, can make a difference in your success.


We are just saying, most people are not self motivated. As you build your team, you will understand more. When I first started, quotas met nothing to me. There was no pressure, and $100 per quarter is more then doable. I was driven by earning my kit for free, and if that hadn't been in play, I would not be where I am. I actually have a kit buyer, who now has 2 recruits and 6 parties because she is motivated at getting more free toys and her kit for free.


Most direct sales businesses do not have high quota's. Most are about $100 to $500 a quota, less then 1 party/event per month. That's not hard, but it keeps the toe in.


You will do awesome in your biz because you are self-motivated.


Debbie

Christy, I agree with you also. When I first joined my company, I was impressed that there was no quotas. I would not have worked well with that, because I just wanted a very small business at the time. There are so many different reasons that people join these companies. I truly believe, however, that the overriding factor is the relationship that you build with that person. There are many factors, but I have come to believe they take a back seat to the relationship factor. When I am interviewing people, I do notice that one of the prominent questions is "what is the quota for sales?" While I am pleased to be able to say that there is none for MK, I see that people generally get nervous about quotas. However, it does come down to finding your niche, and the person that you work best with. Take care, and Happy Easter!

Valerie
Senior Sales Director