How to get to where you want to be

The following is from The Prospecting Game by Wes Linden. This is the same book I referred to yesterday about prospecting and here is what he says in the beginning of his book.

"You'll never actually know everything before you start. It's only experience that will actually get you to where you want to be, and which will help you have a better understanding of the profession we are in."

I want to repeat what was said about getting to where you want to be. "It's only experience that will actually get you where you want to be." That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Activity is how you will get the experience you'll need for building the kind of business you desire. Just gathering information by taking notes won't give us the experience we need. We have to put ourselves in motion doing the basic fundamentals of this business.   

We need experience in the following areas. Getting good at asking questions, getting appointments, giving a simple presentation, learning how to follow-up, helping people by teaching and being an example for building this business, facing negative situations, solving problems, and learning to be a good leader. It takes time to become skilled in anything. It just does. It takes time and effort.

I remember so clearly the first presentations I gave. Not very good. My first meetings. UGH! I could go on and on with examples about my lack of experience in the beginning but I wasn't surprised, I knew I just had to learn what to do, then make sure I did it. I just did what others did, copied many people and got experience as time went by. By putting yourself in motion and doing the basics, six months from now you will have experience. You will be getting better and better in every area that you work at. You will get better!  

One year from today your business will be stronger and you will have many people to help get started. Two years from today you will feel confident that you will know that you and your business will continue to grow because you will be more experienced and confident.    

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Are you a reader? A book on prospecting.

As everyone in this business knows, prospecting is the major activity that makes our businesses grow. The following comment is found in the introduction of the book The Prospecting Game by Wes Linden. If you are a reader you will find this book very helpful as there are loads of ideas.   You can order this book from Amazon. 

“Without people we would have no business; no customers, no team members.  It follows then that finding new people is THE most important thing we can learn and then coach into our teams.”   

 

That comment is obviously known by anyone who is involved in the profession of network marketing.  It’s about people.  Prospecting is the major skill for building a successful business.

This book, The Prospecting Game by Wes Linden will help anyone who is willing to read, take notes and then apply what is learned.   

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Video of the Shaklee Opportunity

Master Coordinator Rick Seymour has recorded a excellent 10 minute video about the Shaklee opportunity. This short video would be a great tool to introduce your prospects to the opportunity, or a follow-up tool after a first appointment.  We want to thank Rick for recording this and allowing us to send it out to you.

Find 10 minutes today to view this excellent video on the Shaklee opportunity.

Enthusiastically,
Gary Burke

I wonder what the rewards are?

I’m kind of stuck this morning and kind of have a blank mind so I’m just going to start writing and see where we end up. One thing that might be of interest is what was your thoughts when you first were introduced to Shaklee? Was it the products? Maybe it was, what if it’s really true what a person can accomplish? Maybe it was the idea to help others. Maybe you were looking for more income. Something must have been of interest that helped you to decide to learn more about this new idea.

When I reflect back I think what really kind of created interest for me was it was a new way of thinking about what I might like to be a part of. I was looking for a job. I’ve had many jobs and never thought about having a business. I was a teacher and I did enjoy that, but this seemed to be about sales but I learned it was about building.   

As I think about what was it that kind of grabbed my attention, it was about the potential rewards for having your own business.  Maybe that was it for me, once I saw the potential rewards it was easier to be somewhat committed to learn more. Rewards such as earning more than I needed, helping other people do the same thing, travel, earn a car, health, lots of possibilities. But probably the biggest attraction was the idea for freedom. To be self-employed and to earn more than we would need would be amazing. I never thought about ever being full time. But that ended up to be the dream. Freedom!

It is now our 46^th year of being full time in this incredible business and I feel so fortunate to have been led to this idea of building a future. What about you? Do you have a dream?  Do you have a list of the potential rewards that are available for you? Why not take some time today and make your list of potential rewards that might excite you.                       

Don’t be afraid to think BIG!

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

It's about choices

I was going through some of my notes from a few years ago and I was just kind of skimming and I came across the following. Could the secret to success be all about the choices we make? I don’t know who said that but it certainly got my attention.  It’s obvious to me that everything revolves around choices I’ve made. The same goes for you.

 

I remember when some of my friends heard I wasn’t going be to teaching and coaching anymore, and that I was going into this business full time. I heard what was being said but then they didn’t know what I had learned about what the future could be if a person really got committed. I was committed. My decision was made. I was excited. Part time or full time, I was going ahead with my choice. 

 

I know in my heart that I was led to this business and I was going to prove it by becoming successful. I met other people who made it work and of course my thought was, “why not us?” It seemed simple to me because I just had to learn the fundamentals and stick to a solid plan. That’s what I did. 

 

Fast forward 46 years. Faye and I have been full time for 45 years. I love everything about this company, the products, the opportunity and especially the people I’ve met because of this business. So many awesome people. I did enjoy teaching and coaching for a few years and somewhere in my first couple years of being in Shaklee it became clear to me that this Shaklee business is about teaching and coaching. Wow! I personally didn’t like selling but once it became clear that for me it was going to be about teaching and coaching.

 

That’s a little about our story. What’s your choice? Are you committed? Have you decided that you also are going to do whatever it takes? I know this: if you have decided to build your future with the Shaklee opportunity you will never regret it. It’s worth all the ups and downs.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Are you prepared?

I’m sure many of you remember the name of Johnny Carson who had a nightly TV program. The following is a quote from him about what it takes to become successful.  

 

“Talent or being at the right place at the right time will make you a success, but only if you are prepared.”

- Johnny Carson

 

Are you prepared, have you gotten yourself ready to build a great Shaklee business? Are you totally sold on the idea we have products to work with that will not let us down? Are you prepared to take advantage of the incredible business opportunity we have? That quote above is saying that preparing yourself is the key. 

 

When I came into this business in 1969 I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t know the products, I didn’t understand the sales plan, I didn’t know how to conduct a meeting. Very simply, I wasn’t prepared.  Once I attended some meetings, asked some questions, used a few products, met many people who were making it work and was building my belief, I knew it was a real opportunity.  

 

I started to prepare myself. I got serious. I decided I wanted what Shaklee was offering. I was ready to do whatever it would take to become successful in this business. Yes, it takes time and it takes work.  I had a couple mentors who had already been successful. I wanted to learn from people who were making it work. When I think back I learned from many people but Chuck and Joyce Hoffmann were really the ones I feel I learned the most. 

 

Are you prepared to start building your future? Do you have a mentor(s)? Are you coachable?  There really aren’t any secrets to building a very successful business, but there are things to learn and you have to put yourself in the right environment if you are going to grow.  

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Doing your best

I read something a few years ago that pops in my mind every once in a while.  It says it’s not very important where you’ve been.  Life is about where you’re going. What this has always meant to me is that the past is the past so get going and make things happen. The one great thing about this business to me is it always seems there is more to achieve. So maybe the message is just keep focused on the future.

 

Where are you going? Do you have plans of an exciting future? Are you ready to do your best at doing what it is you want to become? It’s not about being the best, it’s about doing your best. In this business it’s about talking to people and believing you have something to offer that can help lots of people. 

 

Think about it. Be active. Decide to make things happen. Go forward. Make progress. Do your best

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Prospecting is the Heart of Growth

Prospecting is the Heart of Growth

There is no problem with your business that new people won’t solve

Good seasons are planned in advance, they don’t just happen

• Talk to lots of people – about them
• Build new monthly volume
• Look for people who would want to build a business
• A good goal is to always be working with 2 to 3 builders
• Hold meetings – live or Zoom meetings
• Expect good results

3 Steps To Effective Prospecting

1.       Ask good questions

2.       Listen

3.       Discover needs 

If you are genuinely interested in people, they will tell you their needs, concerns, desires.

How to Create  Interest - (What leads people to want to earn money in Shaklee?)

1.       Use lots of products

2.       Attend meetings/conference calls – Online – Local – Regional - National

3.       Videos - Opportunity & Lifestyle & Product

4.       Income examples – show your Monthly Bonus Check & 1099s – also use the examples of your uplines

What Should I Focus On? - Having or Doing? – Results or Process:

Results                                                                                                     

Higher PV                                              

Bonus Car                                           

Incentive trip                                      

Shaklee title                                     

$$$$                   

Process                                                                                                     

Appointments

Presentations

Follow-up

Sponsor/Recruit

In-Home event

Success stories

Show proof of $$$$

Meetings

The Prospecting/Recruiting Process

1.       Create your prospect list

2.       Ask – Listen - Find needs!

3.       Make an appointment to present Shaklee

4.       Present the opportunity and the products

5.       Follow-up

6.       Sponsor

Go as far as you can see

I think this quote is something many of us experience as we get started building our Shaklee business.  We hear of an idea and we start thinking and dreaming “What if?”  “Why not me?”

 

“Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.”

                                                                          J.P. Morgan

 

I remember the first time I attended a Shaklee meeting and heard this new idea about the kind of future that was available.  I was a young guy who had a job but didn’t have a future.   It was a good job as it was with a Fortune 500 company, but I didn’t see a future for me and I was looking.  All of a sudden this new idea brings on new thinking.   Wow!  What if this is true that I could learn how to build our own business.   The biggest investment would be my time.   I checked it out for 4 months and made the decision that literally changed our lives.

 

My goal was Coordinator.  At that time it took 4 first level Directors to be a Coordinator.  That was my dream.  I thought if I could earn a couple thousand dollars extra a month I would have it made.  At the time I was earning about $750.00  a month.  It took Faye and I two years to develop those 4 first levels working part time at this opportunity.  

 

My thinking changed.  We achieved our goal but once there we could see farther just as the above quote says.   As I was thinking about the success we had I just knew if we just kept doing the basic things we learned in those first two years we could continue to grow this business to higher levels.   We did exactly that.

 

It’s true that once you make progress you will be able to see a little further and start thinking different.  That new thinking will allow you to continue doing what you’ve been learning and once this happens you and your business will grow.   If you do the work this will happen.   Don’t allow anything to get in your way as you go after your dream.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

It's about having the desire

I read the following in the book Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt.  

 

“To accomplish anything, we have to believe we’re up to the challenge. That doesn’t mean it will be easy or that we even know how we’re going to accomplish it. Usually we don’t know. It just means we’re capable; we have what it takes to prevail. Why is that important? Because every goal has obstacles. When some people have trouble getting over those obstacles they doubt they have what it takes. But others are confident they will prevail if they just work harder or come at the problem from a different direction.”

 

I’m sitting here reading this over and over because it is so true to me and I’m sure many of you can say the same thing. The highlights for me are as follows. Are we up to the challenge? It won’t be easy but we’re capable? Every goal has obstacles. Darn, I wish it were easier. Of course wishing it were easier is not a good answer. It’s not about things being easier, it’s about getting better. There are no magic answers that I know of but there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the challenge is getting better not wishing it were easier.

 

The only way I know about getting better is I have to be willing to put in the effort in and learn what is going to work for me. Maybe it’s about asking myself some questions. Am I putting in the effort? Would I consider myself a hard worker? Am I wishing it were easier? What is it I have to change? My thinking? My attitude? My effort? My belief in myself?

 

This is what I know, whatever it takes to achieve your Shaklee dream is well worth whatever it will take. What is your Shaklee dream? Think about it. Write it down. Believe me, it’s worth it.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

It's about leadership

The following was in yesterday’s Minneapolis newspaper and when I read this short seminar on leadership it really reminded me of our business. This is a comment by one of the best coaches in the NBA and he was responding to a question he was asked about his team.

 

“We want to have a team of leaders, and the best leadership you could have are your actions. What are you doing?  It’s not what you say because oftentimes people say things and don’t do what they say.  It’s what you do.”

 

I used the word seminar above because it’s a great comment and I have been to a few leadership seminars over the years and this short comment is probably the most accurate comment describing leadership. What are you doing? Are you viewed as a leader? Remember, leadership is about taking action.   

 

Have a great week.  

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

It's about being determined

One thing we know about this business is if we just keep doing the right things and then doing them over and over, it gets easier. That’s experience. We just have to keep at it. Having experience doesn’t mean there won’t be any problems to solve, but it does mean we just have to keep at it, do the right things, get more experience.  

 

There were many times when I wondered if we could build the kind of business that we dreamed about. Those times usually seemed to appear when something didn’t go very well and it felt like failure but it was really just a test on the way to succeeding. Believe me, we will be tested. It can’t be avoided. Some people call the tests "failure." I have learned that obstacles will show up and it’s all a matter of being determined and keep at it. You just need more experience. There’s that word again!

 

Getting better takes time. The best thing is once you accept the fact that facing those obstacles isn’t a big deal. We’ve been there before. Now isn’t the time to stop moving forward just because of the various tests we all face as we build. Now is the time to become that determined person that is inside of you. You haven’t failed, you’re being tested. 

 

So here we are facing a new week so let’s be determined to make something happen.  Who will you call this week? How many meetings will you attend/conduct? Do you have some follow-up work to do? How much new PV will you have this week? Why not decide right now that this is going to be one of the best weeks you’ve had in months. Everything starts with a decision.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Notes from a conference

I think I’ll end this week with some simple ideas I got when I attended the Eric Worre conference in Las Vegas this last November. First of all, it was well worth the time and investment because when you’re at a conference like this you can’t help but get inspired. So the following are from my notes from the November conference. I’m not sure who to  credit as there were many speakers.

 

The purpose of this conference is to expand our vision.

 

What does it take to unlock your potential?

 

You need a clear mindset and a simple strategy.

 

What it takes to learn the skills is repetition.

 

Who is your mentor?  Follow your mentor.  You need someone who has accomplished what

It is you want to do.

 

Don’t compare yourself with others.

 

The purpose for attending events is to learn what you have to do to get better.

 

Your greatest asset is being consistent.

 

It’s worth the work. Success doesn’t just happen. You have to do the work.

 

Don’t just read this list once. Study it. Which idea seems to inspire you?

 

Enthusiastically, 

Gary Burke

It's about being consistent

When I think back to when we got started in this business I can recall there were many times when I just didn’t seem able to get myself going.   I had some goals but they seemed to overwhelm me and inspire me at the same time.  Getting started is different than staying started and the quote by Winston Churchill says it best.

 

“Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.”

 

We all have God-given potential and what that means to me is we are capable of doing so much more but it’s a matter of keeping at it with continuous effort.  I believe that if a person only has 5 hours a week but they commit to use those hours, they can build their personal PV and over time become a Director. The key is to use those hours every week and don’t allow anything to get in your way. Continuous effort is the answer many people are looking for.

 

Just think for a minute. What if you only have 5 hours a week, that would be 20 hours a month, or 240 hours a year. Just think of what you could achieve with 240 hours.  Continuous effort is the answer. Another example: what if you commit to 10 hours a week? That would be 40 hours a month and 480 hours a year.  Do you realize what would happen to your business? Your business and your future would explode!

 

Think about it.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Now is the best time!

I know that some people say things like the following. “I wish I had found this business opportunity when I was younger.”  I have heard that type of comment countless times and people who say that type of thing seem to spend time looking in their rear- view mirror. They seem to think that the opportunity has passed them by and it just isn’t true. Read this proverb:

 

The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.

 

I’m sure there will be many people who get sponsored some time today and they will be excited about the opportunity they see for the first time.  If they are ready and willing to do whatever it takes, some of those people who get sponsored today, March 6, 2018, will build themselves a terrific future. Why will they do that? Because it’s a terrific opportunity and they won’t look back and wish they saw it 20 years ago. They will do whatever it takes.

 

Are ready to change your future? Are you ready to do whatever it takes to build a successful Shaklee business? This is a great time to start and don’t allow any of those dream stealers to

steal your future.  

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

We have a great message

Those of us in this business have a lot to talk about and there are many excellent messages we have to tell the world.  SHAKLEE has been and still is one of the finest companies in this country.  Not many companies across this country have excelled for over 62 years like Shaklee has.

 

The stories about the products and how many people have been helped over the years would be stunning if we knew that number.  The business opportunity has changed many, many lives and has offered hope for a new future. It still does.

 

I received the following comments from Jeff Bowden who is a future Shaklee leader and I greatly appreciate Jeff sending me these comments.

 

"You cannot make someone understand a message they are not ready to receive."

 

The first time I read those words I immediately thought how that could be aimed directly at our business regarding prospecting for new members and builders as well as new customers for the products. We have a great message whether it is about the opportunity or the products.

 

The key to success in this business is simple. Talk to lots of people about some great ideas that we know will help them in many different ways. Your key is to understand and accept the idea that “You cannot make someone understand a message they are not ready to receive.” That’s exactly why it’s important to talk to lots of people.  Our job is to find those people who ARE READY to evaluate this new idea.

 

Believe me, the people are out there praying for a new future and we have an answer to that desire.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke