The Big O – Organization in Your Direct Sales Business

Many of us have trouble with our abilities to organize our days/weeks/months/years. We may think that we’re good at it, but we can always get better. Even if you think that your organized, check out this post for some suggestions for how to organize your business and STAY organized (the big one for some of us).

 

The Big O - Organization in Your Direct Sales Business

Your Space

Where you work needs to be organized. It needs to be at least visually “clean” so that you don’t have visual distractions while you’re working. My office can get to be a mess – I will completely admit that. What I tend to do is work for a few months then throw everything in a box that isn’t necessary and get it out of my sight, then go through the box. Many of the things in the box, I find, aren’t necessary, or simply need to be filed.

Setting aside 5 minutes before you start working every day to organize your space can be a time (and sanity) saver. If possible, always start with a clean/organized work area. That way you know where to find everything and you’re not distracted.

Your Time

Your business is just that, a BUSINESS. You need to work, just as you do (or would) for another job. You cannot simply assume the sales will come “rolling in.” So scheduling time TO WORK is going to be important. Look at your schedule ( don’t have one? Look at the next suggestion) and figure out where you can work in 30 minutes (or more if you have it) per day and block it off. That is your WORK TIME. Let it be known in your home that you will be working during this time – let your spouse, roommates, parents, whomever know that it’s time for work. Let your kids know too (I use a visual sign – red light or green light sign on my office door). If you have kids, you may also want to have a pre-planned activity so that they can “work” as you do. Play-Doh time is a big favorite around here.

Once you schedule your time, stick to it. Put it in your calendar. You are BUSY. Don’t let other things (social media, email, phone calls) disturb you unless, of course, that’s part of your work. But if you’re “working” on Facebook, don’t scroll – do you work, message contacts etc., but get it done and move on. You only have 30 minutes. Make it work for you.

Set a timer when you start to work. Some people use a kitchen timer, but I just use the clock on my phone. 30 minutes ends, I finish up what I was doing, and then I review what still needs to be done and put it on the schedule for later in the day (if I have time) or tomorrow.

Schedule

This is a big one. Keep a damned calendar people. I don’t care if it’s paper, digital, on your phone, whatever. I personally use a paper planner to keep track of my team and their goals and my phone to keep track of appointments and touch base calls. I use Google Calendar so that my team can use YouCanBook.me to schedule appointments with me (Ninja Leaders – this is a great tool to allow your team members to schedule a call with you).

Plan

What will you do with your work time? What needs to be done? Make a list of everything that needs to be done (i.e., hostess coaching, setting up a party in your online office, emailing customers, calling customers, messaging team members, social media post scheduling [I use and enjoy PostCron], follow up, Daily 5, this list could go on). Make your list then prioritize it. Tops are things that NEED to be done today. Then move on, sequentially, from there. Once your work time starts, start on thing one, do it, and check it off. I find that putting a line through it is so gratifying. “Annnnnd you’re OUT! Next!” Work through the list until your timer goes off. Then keep the list for tomorrow, add to it, then reprioritize. If you can swing another 30 minutes, do it! Take a break, get a snack, get a drink, walk around a bit, then start over!

Review

What did you get done today? What still needs to be done? Add it to the list to be reprioritized tomorrow. What would you like to learn more about that you haven’t done today? List. You may realize this list can get pretty crazy. I actually have a small notebook with tabs and one section is for my daily lists, one is for to dos that aren’t daily (“read XYZ book” or “XYZ blog”), and one is for customers to follow up with on the go. While I work during my work time, I also use my down time (5 minutes between meetings during my day job, while waiting for the kids to get out of school) to knock a few follow ups off my list. Use your extra time, no matter how small, wisely, and then you can use the larger chunks for other things such as time with friends and family (or watching the 2^nd season of The Blacklist…wait that’s me).

So that’s our daily organization – but what about some other tips?

• Database – create a database of your customers and use it to follow up (more on this next week)
• Prospect database – keep a list of contacts who haven’t purchased, how to contact them, and what they may be interested in
• Leadership Database – create a database of your team, their sales, their trends, what skills/strategies they need help with, and when is the best time to contact them (and when was the last time you had a touch base call with them)
• Recruits – Again, a database of people who have expressed interest in your opportunity will be useful. Keep their name, contact info, last contact, and what they said last time you chatted about the opportunity handy so you can know when to follow up with them.

Keeping your databases up to date is definitely part of your work, so work it in every day. What else should you schedule every day? YOU TIME. Everyone needs it. 30 minutes (at the least) to read your current favorite book? To meditate? To do what interests you? To draw? To hang out with friends? To scroll around Facebook? To scan Pinterest? We all need down time. So make sure you get it. It rejuvenates you and makes you a better YOU.

What’s your favorite organization strategy? Share it with me below! I’d love to hear some of your ideas!

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