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Hey friends,
Not doing much blogging today. Just maxing and chillaxing in weekend mode. I'm playing around with twitter a little trying to make myself a little more familiar with it. A friend of mine turned me onto it recently. If you're not understanding the whole twitter thing yet, Stand By
Mike and I are going to be doing a very special podcast in the next several days with my good friend Julio Ricardo Varela, (Julito77) who is really building a huge following on Twitter. He is going to explain the power of viral marketing on Twitter, what to do, and what definitely not to do. You are not going to want to miss this one. I can't wait to interview him. It's gonna be quite an education. If you want to make sure you have access to the very special podcast, email me by clicking on the link to the right. Or you can sign in to follow this blog and get instant access.
If you already have a Twitter account set up, follow me at fbomb428. If not go get one. Let's have some fun!! Have a great weekend everyone.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Six Sigma for Network Marketing ?
What do you do if you are working your business and for some unknown reason not achieving the results you think you should be, or know you can? The problem for many is we don't have any real problem solving skills to help us establish a practical system for operating our business. Or if we have a system in place, we don't know how to identify where in our system something may be off track and need adjusting.
Corporate businesses do a pretty decent job in my opinion of taking their best and brightest and sending them out to formulate problem solving methodologies, that can be taught pretty easily, (duplication) and then implemented to help solve a wide array of problems from cutting unnecessary costs to improving and streamlining processes, to increase profitability.
Unfortunately, they do a pretty bad job (generally speaking) of sticking with one tool or program long enough to reap the benefits. Companies like people, have short attention spans and are eager to move on to the newest and shiniest fad on the market.
I have been trained in Six Sigma for 8 years now and find that the model is very helpful and can be used in almost any application you can think of. The reason for this is because every conceivable action in your life or work is in the basic sense a process. Anything you do, has process steps involved to achieve the desired outcome. For example, making a pot of coffee- you put a filter in the holder, add a specific amount of coffee, fill the water reservoir, and mash the on button. That is a process.
Six Sigma was designed to look at a process and improve it. There are different Six Sigma models of course. I would like to share with you the D.M.A.I.C. model to help you in your Network Marketing Business. The letters in this model represent the different steps in this problem solving tool.
Let's say for example, you have been working your business for 1 month now and have only recruited 1 person. You expected to have 3 people in your down line by now.
Phase 1. D=Define. Define your problem statement. In this example, it would look something like this:
In 1 month, I have only recruited 1 person.
Now we must establish a future goal for improvement. Make it realistic. and quantify it.
In March, I will recruit 2 people into my organization.
Phase 2. M=Measure.
Now we must measure as much as possible our previous results up till now. We want as much information as we can get. It would be very helpful if we kept some type of records as to how many people we offered our opportunity to in 1 month that only resulted in 1 new recruit. If not, I recommend you start this practice from now on. This will help you establish a ratio or percent that you can use as a benchmark for future improvement goals. Let's say for example you spoke to 10 people in 1 month and only got one. That means you only have a 10% success rate for this time period.
Phase 3. A=Analyze. This is the hardest part. Especially if you don't have some accurate data or stats to go back and look at. Going forward in your business, it would be helpful if you kept some type of log for you to track your daily business activity and the results of those activities.
For example, if you know that you have been devoting approximately 65% of your time focused on recruiting friends and family, 25% of your time placing ads online, and 10% of your time marketing on FB or another Social Network vehicle, now you can quickly identify where your efforts have been directed.
Although it's a little difficult in this simple example to make all the points that are worth mentioning on this subject, the next step would be to identify what outlet you found your 1 prospect through. If it was on FB, you might want to increase more of your time and efforts toward FB marketing. To find out where to cut some of your time and efforts, you want to probably cut from the vehicle which is sparking the least amount of activity. If you were able to speak to 4 potential prospects through Craig's List advertising, but were unable to recruit them, you probably want to either increase your efforts in this area or keep it the same for your first try at this. If you couldn't convince any friends and family to take a look at your opportunity, this is the obvious place to cut your efforts.
Phase 4. I=Improve The improve phase is the organization of the changes you intend to make to improve your outcome. Example would be- Friends and family recruiting- 25%, online advertising- 40%, and Social Networking Marketing- 35%. Based on your business time/effort analyses, this might not be a bad start to making your adjustments. Try this new model of activity for a specified period of time. (1-2 weeks should be sufficient) If things start to improve slightly, you may want to go back and adjust this model again to support your new results. If it gives you your desired outcome. Then you are on to the control phase.
Phase 5 C= Control When you find the appropriate breakdown of your maximum effort efficiency, it is important that you continue to work your business in this model. It is just important to maintain good records and frequently make sure that you aren't subtly regressing in your desired results. If you decide to try to improve your results, start the process over and monitor and control.
Although this is a very shallow simplistic look at Six Sigma, it is a nice structure to help you keep your business activities and the results you are getting documented and easy to see. It will also help you to develop some good disciplines to help you build your business and reach your goals quicker.
Corporate businesses do a pretty decent job in my opinion of taking their best and brightest and sending them out to formulate problem solving methodologies, that can be taught pretty easily, (duplication) and then implemented to help solve a wide array of problems from cutting unnecessary costs to improving and streamlining processes, to increase profitability.
Unfortunately, they do a pretty bad job (generally speaking) of sticking with one tool or program long enough to reap the benefits. Companies like people, have short attention spans and are eager to move on to the newest and shiniest fad on the market.
I have been trained in Six Sigma for 8 years now and find that the model is very helpful and can be used in almost any application you can think of. The reason for this is because every conceivable action in your life or work is in the basic sense a process. Anything you do, has process steps involved to achieve the desired outcome. For example, making a pot of coffee- you put a filter in the holder, add a specific amount of coffee, fill the water reservoir, and mash the on button. That is a process.
Six Sigma was designed to look at a process and improve it. There are different Six Sigma models of course. I would like to share with you the D.M.A.I.C. model to help you in your Network Marketing Business. The letters in this model represent the different steps in this problem solving tool.
Let's say for example, you have been working your business for 1 month now and have only recruited 1 person. You expected to have 3 people in your down line by now.
Phase 1. D=Define. Define your problem statement. In this example, it would look something like this:
In 1 month, I have only recruited 1 person.
Now we must establish a future goal for improvement. Make it realistic. and quantify it.
In March, I will recruit 2 people into my organization.
Phase 2. M=Measure.
Now we must measure as much as possible our previous results up till now. We want as much information as we can get. It would be very helpful if we kept some type of records as to how many people we offered our opportunity to in 1 month that only resulted in 1 new recruit. If not, I recommend you start this practice from now on. This will help you establish a ratio or percent that you can use as a benchmark for future improvement goals. Let's say for example you spoke to 10 people in 1 month and only got one. That means you only have a 10% success rate for this time period.
Phase 3. A=Analyze. This is the hardest part. Especially if you don't have some accurate data or stats to go back and look at. Going forward in your business, it would be helpful if you kept some type of log for you to track your daily business activity and the results of those activities.
For example, if you know that you have been devoting approximately 65% of your time focused on recruiting friends and family, 25% of your time placing ads online, and 10% of your time marketing on FB or another Social Network vehicle, now you can quickly identify where your efforts have been directed.
Although it's a little difficult in this simple example to make all the points that are worth mentioning on this subject, the next step would be to identify what outlet you found your 1 prospect through. If it was on FB, you might want to increase more of your time and efforts toward FB marketing. To find out where to cut some of your time and efforts, you want to probably cut from the vehicle which is sparking the least amount of activity. If you were able to speak to 4 potential prospects through Craig's List advertising, but were unable to recruit them, you probably want to either increase your efforts in this area or keep it the same for your first try at this. If you couldn't convince any friends and family to take a look at your opportunity, this is the obvious place to cut your efforts.
Phase 4. I=Improve The improve phase is the organization of the changes you intend to make to improve your outcome. Example would be- Friends and family recruiting- 25%, online advertising- 40%, and Social Networking Marketing- 35%. Based on your business time/effort analyses, this might not be a bad start to making your adjustments. Try this new model of activity for a specified period of time. (1-2 weeks should be sufficient) If things start to improve slightly, you may want to go back and adjust this model again to support your new results. If it gives you your desired outcome. Then you are on to the control phase.
Phase 5 C= Control When you find the appropriate breakdown of your maximum effort efficiency, it is important that you continue to work your business in this model. It is just important to maintain good records and frequently make sure that you aren't subtly regressing in your desired results. If you decide to try to improve your results, start the process over and monitor and control.
Although this is a very shallow simplistic look at Six Sigma, it is a nice structure to help you keep your business activities and the results you are getting documented and easy to see. It will also help you to develop some good disciplines to help you build your business and reach your goals quicker.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Did You Make Any Bad Decisions Today?
A buddy of mine told me a story a few years ago that changed the way I think. It's amazing how that happens. One simple story you hear on occasion, can create a paradigm shift in your life.
He told me of a job he used to have where he worked in a steel mill, with a few other guys who were challenged by the new owner of the shut down plant to reassemble the union and the workers and re-open the once failed facility, and make it profitable under new ownership. The new owner was very involved in the day to day operations when it first started up. (as you might expect) The new owner would frequently call into the plant from out of town to see how things were going. On this one occasion he called the Melt Department where my buddy Mark was working and Mark answered the phone.
The owner started the conversation by saying "Good morning Mark. How is everything?"
Mark replied- "Good Sir. Everything is fine"
Owner- "Great!! Tell me Mark, did you make any bad decisions today?"
Mark replied proudly- "No Sir!! Of course not!!"
What the owner said next was fascinating. "You didn't?! Well then you didn't make any good ones either!!" He then slammed the phone down and hung up on Mark.
Mark was obviously confused. What the owner was teaching Mark, was contrary to everything he and most of us all had been taught by authority our entire life. Don't make any mistakes, or bad decisions. In other words, Failure is unacceptable. Don't screw up no matter what you do!
Only this very successful businessman was teaching his young manager what he had already experienced in life and business. He was teaching him a valuable lesson that that had brought him to his present station in life.
The lesson is "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained." Without failures and mistakes, there is no wisdom or success. You can't have one without the other. This is tough to remember sometimes.
When you screw up or make a bad decision, try to embrace it. Make sure you figure out where you went wrong and learn the lesson. Make the adjustment and move on. Continue process until desired outcome is achieved.
The next afternoon, the phone rang in the chaotic Melt office again. Ironically, my buddy Mark answered. It was the owner again:
Mark- "Good afternoon, Melt Department"
Owner- "Mark! How are you?"
Mark- "Fine Sir. How are you?"
Owner- "I'm good Mark. Mark, tell me. did you make any bad decisions today?"
Mark proudly replied- "Yes Sir! I made a whole bunch of them!"
Mark learned the lesson.
He told me of a job he used to have where he worked in a steel mill, with a few other guys who were challenged by the new owner of the shut down plant to reassemble the union and the workers and re-open the once failed facility, and make it profitable under new ownership. The new owner was very involved in the day to day operations when it first started up. (as you might expect) The new owner would frequently call into the plant from out of town to see how things were going. On this one occasion he called the Melt Department where my buddy Mark was working and Mark answered the phone.
The owner started the conversation by saying "Good morning Mark. How is everything?"
Mark replied- "Good Sir. Everything is fine"
Owner- "Great!! Tell me Mark, did you make any bad decisions today?"
Mark replied proudly- "No Sir!! Of course not!!"
What the owner said next was fascinating. "You didn't?! Well then you didn't make any good ones either!!" He then slammed the phone down and hung up on Mark.
Mark was obviously confused. What the owner was teaching Mark, was contrary to everything he and most of us all had been taught by authority our entire life. Don't make any mistakes, or bad decisions. In other words, Failure is unacceptable. Don't screw up no matter what you do!
Only this very successful businessman was teaching his young manager what he had already experienced in life and business. He was teaching him a valuable lesson that that had brought him to his present station in life.
The lesson is "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained." Without failures and mistakes, there is no wisdom or success. You can't have one without the other. This is tough to remember sometimes.
When you screw up or make a bad decision, try to embrace it. Make sure you figure out where you went wrong and learn the lesson. Make the adjustment and move on. Continue process until desired outcome is achieved.
The next afternoon, the phone rang in the chaotic Melt office again. Ironically, my buddy Mark answered. It was the owner again:
Mark- "Good afternoon, Melt Department"
Owner- "Mark! How are you?"
Mark- "Fine Sir. How are you?"
Owner- "I'm good Mark. Mark, tell me. did you make any bad decisions today?"
Mark proudly replied- "Yes Sir! I made a whole bunch of them!"
Mark learned the lesson.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
2/24/09
Good evening all.
I just finally got the blog up and going and am really excited about the fun stuff I'm planning on putting up here and I hope you are as well. There is a wealth of knowledge out there in our industry and it's our job to find it and share it.
It has been written, (unfortunately, I can't remember where right now) and I paraphrase:
if you want to learn something, and I mean really want to learn something, (not just read it, memorize it, and take the final test and forget it, like I did all through school) you must
1- Read it, see it or hear it
2- Do it
3- Teach it.
This is the process of mastering any topic of your choosing. I have practiced this approach a lot of my career and it works. So let us now go out on our search for good, accurate, applicable information to learn, put into practice, and then share with our fellow Network Marketers so we can help each other reach our goals. See you all at the top!
Good evening all.
I just finally got the blog up and going and am really excited about the fun stuff I'm planning on putting up here and I hope you are as well. There is a wealth of knowledge out there in our industry and it's our job to find it and share it.
It has been written, (unfortunately, I can't remember where right now) and I paraphrase:
if you want to learn something, and I mean really want to learn something, (not just read it, memorize it, and take the final test and forget it, like I did all through school) you must
1- Read it, see it or hear it
2- Do it
3- Teach it.
This is the process of mastering any topic of your choosing. I have practiced this approach a lot of my career and it works. So let us now go out on our search for good, accurate, applicable information to learn, put into practice, and then share with our fellow Network Marketers so we can help each other reach our goals. See you all at the top!
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Merry Christmas To All
Tis the season for giving
