Seven Qualities of Leadership by Jim Rohn

Seven qualities of a leader

If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Because leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as a sponsor, as a manager, as a friend… I call leadership the great challenge of life.

Therefore, what’s important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics:

  1. Learn to be strong but not rude. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader. Sadly, some people mistake rudeness for strength… It’s not even a good substitute.
  2. Learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake kindness for weakness. Kindness isn’t weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell somebody the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.
  3. Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you’ve got to walk in front of your group. You’ve got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble.
  4. You’ve got to learn to be humble, but not timid. You can’t get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility… Humility is almost a God-like word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we’re part of the stars. So humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease.
  5. Be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to win the day. It takes pride to build your business. It takes pride to accomplish much. But the key to becoming a good leader is being proud without being arrogant. In fact I believe the worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from ignorance. It’s when you don’t know that you don’t know… That kind of arrogance is intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that’s just too much to take.
  6. Develop humor without folly. That’s important for a leader. In leadership, we learn that it’s okay to be witty, but not silly. It’s okay to be fun, but not foolish.
  7. Lastly, deal in reality…deal in truth…and save yourself the agony. Just accept life as it is. Because life is unique. For example, I’ve found the methods that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. And yet the fundamentals of leadership always work well for just about everyone: in life, business, in the community, and at home.

Jim Rohn (September 17, 1930 — December 5, 2009)

To Your Success,

Twila Jacobs

July 28, 2010  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Self Development  5 Comments

How To Handle The Objection “I’m Not Interested”

We as Network Marketers come across objections on a daily basis.

How we handle them can make us or break us.  As long as we know we are going to run across them and how to handle ourselves, it can make a difference in how our business grows.  Here is a video by Tim Sales on the objection “I’m not interested”.

What do you think?  Do you think we get so hung up on what we are saying that we don’t see the verbal or non-verbal cues from our prospects?  I would love to hear your thoughts on this video.

To Your Success,

Twila Jacobs

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July 14, 2010   Posted in: Network Marketing/Direct Sales  10 Comments

How To Handle The Objection “I’m Too Busy”

Have you ever struggled with handling the objection from prospects that they are just too busy?

I ran across this video by Tim Sales and thought I would share it with you.  There are different “versions” of ‘I’m too busy’ than we need to be aware of.

So remember the next time a prospect tells you that they are too busy, they really could be at that moment, or they are using it as an excuse and you will be able to handle the situation in a more confident manner.

To Your Success!

Twila Jacobs

P.S.  Please feel free to leave a comment.  If I don’t answer quickly like I normally do it’s because we are going to be leaving for vacation soon.

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July 14, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Network Marketing/Direct Sales  2 Comments

What Happens When Direct Sales Goes Retail??

Direct Sales Retail Store Now Open For Business!!

Have you ever thought about what you would do if suddenly your direct sales company started allowing reps to open retail stores?

Most Network Marketing and Direct Sales  companies have strict rules against reps selling products in stores.  If it is allowed, there are normally strict regulations imposed like maybe you can only sell it in a “mom and pop” store or even as strict as only in private members only clubs such as the Elks or a golf course.

Most companies will not let you open a “Julie’s Juicy Juice” store.

About a month ago I had to go to Indianapolis, IN.  I was a little early so I stopped in Plainfield, IN which if you are going to Indy from the West, is the first suburb you run into.  The population as per the 2000 census is just  a little over 18,000 people.  But they have some kick butt shopping there!!  The new Metropolis outdoor mall ROCKS!!

Now, my family and I currently live in a town of about 20,000 people.  Prior to this, I lived in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Nashville, etc.., so I’m no “small town girl” to say the least.

HOWEVER, in all my moves and travels, I had never run into an actual Avon retail store until that day in Plainfield.

I pulled into a strip mall to  waste some time before I could pick up my skates from having some work done on them, and as I was cruising through the parking lot looking for a parking space I almost took out a row of cars when I saw it!

I just stopped in the middle of the parking lot and stared at it like a deer caught in headlights!

I just couldn’t believe what I saw!

One of the pioneering companies of direct sales allows their representatives to open retail stores if they so choose.

All I could think was “I’m glad I don’t live in Plainfield and sell Avon”!

Now I have nothing against the company so don’t think I’m bashing them.

I’m looking at this from a business perspective.

Let’s say “Jill” is an Avon Rep. in Plainfield.  ”Jill” has worked very hard building up a loyal customer base.

Now “Amy” decides to open an Avon retail store.

Avon runs a “campaign” every two weeks.  So let’s assume that after the two week campaign is run, Jill places her customers’ orders and it takes a week to get  to Jill and delivered to her faithful customers.

It’s now summertime and the bugs are rampant and “Dawn” and her family are out of that famous bug repellent of Avon’s.  Dawn and her family look like they have a case of chicken pox from the bug bites and the kids are keeping Dawn up half the night complaining of itching.

Dawn has been a faithful customer of Jill’s for years, but the itching and lack of sleep are driving them all crazy.  Add to that the fact we live in a world of instant gratification.

Even though Dawn has one of Jill’s Avon books she religiously looks through and knows by heart when the order date will be, and even though Dawn has the option of going to Jill’s Avon website, placing her order there, and getting the product a little quicker than waiting for Jill to place the order, Dawn thinks, “just this one time”,  I’m going to run to Amy’s Avon store for that bug repellent.

Now unless Amy is stupid, you know she has a ton of that stuff stocked during the summer.

While Dawn is there, she browses around the store.  It’s like going to Wal-Mart…you run in for one thing and end up spending $50!

Now, Dawn’s subconscious has taken over and the next time Jill drops off a book, instead of sitting down and combing through the pages in a anxious manner, Dawn sets the book on her desk and thinks, “I’ll look at it later”.

Do you think that Dawn is now going to look at that book since she went to the Avon store and saw how Amy had everything Dawn uses?

Probably not.

Do you think Jill has just lost a customer?

Probably so.

Do you think Dawn is going to tell her friends about the store?  Most of which are Jill’s customers?

Probably so.

Is Jill’s business going to suffer because of the store even though she is an excellent rep., has outstanding customer service skills, and gives out extra samples to all of her customers?

Tell me what you think happens when Direct Sales companies start allowing their reps. to open retail stores.  I would love to hear your opinion.

To Your Success,

Twila Jacobs

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July 12, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Network Marketing/Direct Sales  9 Comments

Does Recruiting For Your Network Marketing Business Require Management Skills?

Network Marketing and Management Skills

Do you think recruiting for your Network Marketing business requires managemet skills?  Let me ask you this…

Have you ever stopped and asked yourself this question?  “Am I the type of sponser that I would like to be under?”

Say it out lound with me “Am I the type of sponser that I would like to be under?”

The reason I’m wanting you to ask yourself this question is this.  Earlier in the week I was talking to  one of my friends that has been in NM for quite a while and is quite succesful seeing as how we live in a sleepy little town.  She has lived here all of her life, I have lived here for almost 3 years so she knows more people locally in NM than I do.

She brought up the subject of people who recruit people under them, then have no clue what to do.  Let me just say, she had some WHOPPER stories from her circle of friends in Direct Sales and Network Marketing. 

 It was clear that alot of  people don’t understand that there is more to being a good sponser than just getting someone to sign on the dotted line, do a little “duplicatble training” and the job is done!

NO, THE JOB IS NOT DONE AT THAT POINT!

The job is just beginning!

What some people don’t realize is the minute you recruit someone under you, you suddenly become a trainer, mentor and manager.  Yes, I said manager. 

 You may only have one person under you and haven’t “officially” ranked in a management capacity as per your company you represent, but you better believe you are now a manager and better have some people management skills!

Here are just a few things she had seen people do over the years.

Never return phone calls and/or e-mails from your downline.  One lady couldn’t get ahold of her sponser for three months.  Can you imagine the frustration the poor lady felt? 

Sign someone up then admit “I have no clue what I’m supposed to be doing so you are just on your own.  If you figure it out, can you let me know?” 

The new recruit e-mails sponsor with question, but the answer back is short and makes no sense whatsoever.

There are way more, but you get the picture.

Now, you may be thinking “I’m a much better sponsor than that!”

But again, ask yourself the question “Am I the type of sponser I would like to be under?”

Do you favor only the people in your downline that are productive?  If so, do you automatically think the ones that aren’t are just lazy and not trying?  Have you picked up the phone and and asked the simple question “what can I help you with?”  Did it ever occur to you that maybe they are stuggling and need some guidance?  Maybe they have attempted to contact you, but for whatever reason you didn’t take them seriously?

I used to be in management and trained new hire flight attendants, and taught communication between pilots and flight attendants post 9/11 where the cockpit door stays closed and locked at all times. 

One thing I made a priority of doing was if someone was struggling with the training, I would try to help them as much as I possibly could by encouraging them and telling them that even though there is a lot to learn in a short amount of time, they had the capabilities to do it and would find alternate ways of helping them. 

Everyone is not on a level playing field in Network Marketing.  Each person has their own set of talents and challenges.  It’s your job as a “manager” to help them sort out the talents and challenges and help them when they get stuck.  Not blow them off for three months as in the above example.

So if you have been thinking about recuriting people, I hope you take some time to really give it some thought as to whether or not it is something you can follow through with.

Let me know if you agree or disagree that there are management qualities that you must utilize to be an effective sponsor.

To Your Success!

Twila Jacobs

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July 8, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Network Marketing/Direct Sales  17 Comments

How To More Than Just Get By In Tough Economic Times Part 2

Tough economy keeping you awake at night? Part 2

In a previous post I wrote about how to get by in tough economic times.

First off, I want to say if you are to the point that you are desperate, then you really need to find some other way to increase you income.  You need a second job.  If you can’t find a second job, then offer a service like cleaning peoples landscaping, cleaning out garages, mowing for the elderly who still live at home, but can’t do it themselves.

Why am I telling you this?

Because you won’t last!

Because you need money ASAP!

Because your desperation will lead to frustration and you will not stay in it to reap the rewards of the long haul.

IT’S NOT A GET RICH QUICK PLAN!

BUT, if you have had that “itch“, that “knowing” that something has to change and you WANT to do something about your situation, and have a ‘can do‘ attitude, but don’t want a traditional brick and mortar business, then a home based business might just be the answer.

First, let me clarify something. I’m sure you have heard the following three terms, “Network Marketing”, “MLM”, and “Direct Sales”.  In reality, they all mean the same thing.  You sell a product or service, and have the ability to build a downline and create residual income.

Basically, there are two types of Network Marketing business’

  1. A party plan business.  This is where you get someone to host a party and you make the majority of your sales through this channel.
  2. A direct sale type business.  I’m not contradicting myself here from the above terms.  This is where you sell your product or service just basically going about your own business throughout your day.  No parties, just talking to people.  (You are still selling your product and building a downline, just in a different way.

Don’t worry, if you don’t know how to approach someone about your business and you partner up with me, I’ll teach you to do that.

I also found an awesome way to introduce your new business without putting your friends and family on the spot.  I wish I would have run across this when I started mine!

Keep in mind that there are start up costs involved in any business.  They can range anywhere from less than $40 up to literally thousands of dollars, depending on what you get involved with.

Choose something you have a passion for!  I cannot stress that enough.

If you have a passion for something, and are able to find a business that compliments it, it won’t seem so much like work.   It will keep you going when the going gets tough, and believe me, it will.

But your reason for wanting things to be different, along with your passion, will keep you going!  And if you need a kick in the behind, I can do that too!  Just kidding!  Kind of….

You also want to choose an item that is consumable.  Part 1 and Part 2

Be sure to click on all of the colored/underlined words, as there are posts that explain more.  If I wrote it all out again, I’d be up for a while.

So if you think that Network Marketing is something that can get you to the point where you want to be in life and a way to more than just get by in tough economic times, then by all means give it some thought and consideration.  If there is anything I can help you with just contact me! I’d be glad to help you out.

To Your Success,

Twila Jacobs

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June 23, 2010  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: Network Marketing/Direct Sales  14 Comments

How To More Than Just Get By In Tough Economic Times

Tough economy keeping you awake at night?

Do you lay awake at night wondering how you and your family are going to get by in today’s tough economic times?

The bills are piling up, little Johnny is going to need braces, you need new tires for your car, and the tv is acting strange.

Oh, let’s not forget about college for the kiddos and retirement for you and your spouse, the credit card debt that you are up to your ears in and are never going to get paid off making the minum payment, and the second mortgage on the house! 

Sorry if I just burst your happy little bubble of denial, but if any of this sounds familiar, you are in way over your head in debt my friend.

And you probably haven’t even really given retirement a good thought because;

  1. You think you have plenty of time
  2. The thought of it scares the living daylights out of you!

If you have attended your 20 year high school reunion, I think most will agree that it’s a very sobering moment in life.  As I was standing there at mine I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone…geez that 20 years went quick!

If you haven’t been to yours yet, just wait!

So what is the solution?

First you really need to stop spending more than you make.  It’s common sense, but for some reason people just don’t get it.

Second, start selling some stuff around the house you haven’t used in a while.  If you aren’t using it regularly, get rid of it…you could use the cash to pay down some of you debt!  Start scaling back on things that are a luxury and not a necessity.  Do you really need 200 channels of “there’s nothing on tv tonight”?

Third, you are going to have to start bringing in more income, plain and simple!

You can either get a second or third job and be at the mercy of a boss that is not willing to work around your schedule, or you can start your own business and take control of your financial future.

The hubs and I have a plan…do you?

We are determined to own a certain type of business.  Not just one, but multiple ones.  What I can tell you from spending a Monday afternoon at the bank a couple of weeks ago is this.  Lending is tight these days!  Even for a low overhead business, you better have 20% to put down or you can forget it.  The business was even profitable with the current owner doing no marketing whatsoever….NO LOAN FOR US! 

Are we giving up?  NO!  We want a better life and want that 20% cash to put down!

So what is your alternative then?

Ever seriously given Network Marketing and Direct Sales a second thought?

It’s not your father’s MLM anymore!  CLICK HERE to get a FREE video series that will show you it’s not!

People that take it seriously and treat it like a million dollar business are making a great life for themselves at their convenience!

The reason I say “treat it like a million dollar business” is because if you do it right, continue to educate yourself and stay motivated, it can very well end up a million dollar business for you!

Heck, even the Donald started a Network Marketing company…what does that tell you?

Read about me, I’m a stay at home mom and my husband has an OK paying  job, nothing spectacular paying. 

BUT, I’m determined to change that and I will.  It’s not a ‘get rich quick’ scheme.  It takes hard work, learning, perserverance, and an “I will do this and get to where I want to be” attitude!

So the choice is yours! 

You can stay where you are stressed out and laying awake each night, or you can take control of your financial future, get involved in a legitimate  Network Marketing business that you can work around your schedule, and have a plan B to do more than just get by in tough economic times.

To Your Success!

Twila Jacobs

P.S.  A big shout out to Chris Owen for getting my blog restored after it was completely wiped out last week!  And to Michael Cole for helping me with the plugins…thanks guys!

P.S.S  Connect with me on Facebook or Twitter

P.S.S.S.  To get more information on working with me <<Click Here>>

June 21, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Network Marketing/Direct Sales  22 Comments

How To Make Your Blog Comments ‘Nest’

WP Plugin...nest your comments

Have you ever wondered how people get their reply to the original blog commenter to appear directly under it?  Geez, I wondered for a long time and didn’t even know the term.  It’s called ‘nesting’WordPress has this handy plug in that will allow your reply to be directly below the original commentators.  Even if you have a bunch of comments piled up because you have been away from your computer for a while, it will allow you to hit “reply”, and your comment will show up directly below the original comment.

It’s called WordPress Thread Comment

I was thrilled when I found this handy little gem!

My comment section looked like a twitter feed or something.

Now,  it’s all nice, neat, and organized.  My reply to the original commenter is directly below it and to a viewer reading the comments, it makes it look neat and they know who I’m answering.  Instead of there being a bunch of comments from guests then a bunch of comments below everything by me.

By the way, as a courtesy, I still address the person with their name.  Miss Manners says that would be rude to treat our guests without properly addressing them ; )

So, go get the plug in if you haven’t already, and get your blog comments to ‘nest’ properly so your blog can have a nice clean professional look.

To Your Success!

Twila Jacobs

P.S.  If you found this useful a tweet or share on your fav. social networking site would be appreciated!

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P.S.S.  Do you have a financial plan “B”?  Work with Twila and take it to the next level!

June 2, 2010  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Network Marketing/Direct Sales  32 Comments

How To Make A Free Website Using A WordPress Blog

Did you know you can make a free website using WordPress?

If you are already using WordPress to host your blog, then chances are you have a hosting account that offers you the ability to host multiple sites for one low price.

(If you aren’t using WordPress, check back soon, I’m working on a training document to show you how to set up a wordpress blog.)

So if you need a simple website for your business, all you do is follow the same steps as setting up your WP blog and instead of adding “Posts”, you will add “PAGES” since pages are static.

You also might want to disable commenting on your “website”, I did on mine.  Unlike a blog where you want interaction with your readers, a website typically is a static site that provides information.  Therefore, there’s no use going crazy with commenting, widgets, plug-ins, or social media sharing.

It’s a place where you can 1)send your readers to get more information  2) another way to get ranked in the search engines.

I made one  rather quickly over the weekend using a domain name I had forgotten that I owned,  and linked my blog to it, so if someone finds it using search engine terms, then they can hop on over to see what my blog is about.  Mind you I’m not done with it at the time of this post, but you can get an idea of where I’m going with it, and what you can do too.  Click here to see.

Sorry about the “dryness” and lack of personality I usually have.  Still not feeling back to my normal self after the surgery.  My hubs and son don’t quite know what to do with me…hehe!

It can never hurt to have a website, it’s just another way to be found on the net and you can do it for free using a wordpress blog.

To Your Success,

Twila Jacobs

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June 1, 2010  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Network Marketing/Direct Sales  14 Comments

Freedom Is Not Free

By LCDR Kelly Strong, USCG – Copyright 1981

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Service man saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He’d stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers’ tears?
How many pilots’ planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers’ graves?
No, freedom isn’t free.
I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant “Amen,”
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn’t free.

Please share a moment of honoring the soldiers who passed defending our freedom.

May 31, 2010   Posted in: Network Marketing/Direct Sales  2 Comments


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