Business or Pleasure Trips

I strongly recommend, as a Road Warrior, to plan trips for pleasure and ONLY pleasure.  Why?  Well, let's look at the flip side.

The Business Trip:
Some times you can be in a city for a few hours, a day, maybe a week.  During that time you usually work, maybe go into a satellite office, or just go from meeting to meeting.  Most companies don't want you there longer than necessary so you don't have any fun really.  This is why I recommending taking as many "moments" as possible on these business trips.
-In you taxi, look up at the buildings and around!  Don't stare at your blackberry the entire time.
-When you're done for the day, try to see or do one thing you couldn't anywhere else.

-Keep track of the places you eat and buildings you go to.  On your next time, try to venture out.

Doing it little by little each trip relaxes you enough, without stressing out your boss or your wallet.

The Pleasure Trip:

This is even more important if you aren't able to schedule your little moments on business trips.  Even though you are seeing the world, you aren't usually enjoying it.  This in turn, makes every trip a chore and a routine part of your job.  By ensuring yourself a pleasure trip, there is a little break in the monotony and re-excites you to go somewhere.  On these trips, do not do any work.

-Keep your phone off, especially during dinner, family times, or for romantic occasions.

-Do your best to not talk about work.  I think they will last without you.

-Keep emailing to an absolute minimum or none if possible.

-Take the time to think about you and your loved ones.

Whether you like it or not, if you are a serious worker it will come out in conversation, but keep that to a minimum.  The only except to the rule is networking because you never know if there is a good opportunity, but if the bell boy asks why you can afford such nice luggage...you don't need to give a pitch.

I went to the Oregon Coast for my last Pleasure Trip and was able to mix business with pleasure on my trip to Utah and Idaho.  You only need a day or two to rejuvenate you to keep going and sometimes you just need a moment.

Tips for a Successful Vacation

It is important to vacation every now and then, take a trip by yourself, with your loved one, or family. You need a little break every now and then. These are helpful tips I live by to get the most out of my vacations may they be grand or weekend getaways.

1. Turn off the Cell Phone. This is practically impossible since we are in an age where I use it for everything. I use it to schedule my days, find my local golfing course, call friends, check email, and play games. It’s so scary to shut it off because there is a sense of impending doom when you do. However, my most relaxing vacations are when I don’t have signal. No Bars = No Stress (at least on vacation).

If you know that you don’t have anything that is urgent, just turn it off. Re-learn how to use the newspaper if you want to be informed. Put down your iPad and dust off a book. Give yourself a rest from all these unnecessary electronics. If you want to play a game, find an old thing called “Chess.” It’s refreshing and rewarding when you can’t be disturbed by silly questions, or just electronic distractions.

2. Work balance. In the event that you do need to check some emails and do other necessary functions to keep your business afloat, balance it. Remember that you are trying to get away from work, so don’t let it consume your day. Figure out how much time you must have to work and keep within that time frame. A good rule of thumb is an hour in the morning, and follow up with emails once before dinner. Keep contact to a minimum. Even mark your emails with priorities so you can easily focus on them later.

The same goes for home balance. If you or your spouse is worried about everything that is going on at home, you miss the chance of really getting away. Keep emails and updates to a minimum. If there’s an emergency, people will find you.

3. Me time. Depending on your style of vacationing, you may or may not get “me time.” This is very easy to skip if you are traveling with kids. Always plan for a little me time each day, for at least 1 hour. Note that your me time is different then your 1 hour work time. For 1 hour, get a massage, read a book, take an afternoon nap, or watch a game. This should be time just for you. If you want your significant other to participate with you, that’s alright, but make sure they don’t cause any distractions that may ruin your time.

4. Plan Accordingly. If you know your family is happier when you are busy all day long, plan ahead to have lots of activities. If you know the point of the trip is to sit by a pool and do nothing, don’t try to squeeze in social activities. Preplan what you know you’ll enjoy and stick to it. Don’t bother changing plans because a friend was in town or another questionable activities was recommended. It’s YOUR vacation, do what YOU want to do.

5. Enjoyment. You know what you enjoy, so do something that makes you smile or something that is different that you can’t do in your regular days. Go on a hike, or lay by the beach. Don’t simply sit in front of the T.V. There are so many things to do for whatever activity level you desire. Preplan this of course, but enjoy yourself. I can’t stress that enough to just have a good time and don’t worry about the little things.

It’s your vacation, so enjoy the good things in life!

5 Great Reads

I thought I might recommend my favorite books that I feel have helped my business and my life.  In no order:

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.  Just a good book that really explains how to be successful.  Lots of great tips.

A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink.  I really like this one because it explains how the world is shifting out of the left brained workers (people who crunch numbers and do mundane tasks) to right brain workers (creative and artistic people) and how the people who use both sides of their brain will be the ones who succeed.

Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas L. Friedman.  This is a good economics and international business book that shows how the world is evolving in some ways but it trying hard to hold on to its traditions as well.

The Law (in Plain English) for Small Business by Leonard D. DuBoff.  An easy read to help think about important issues when starting up a business.

Maps for Modern Magellans by Roger Anderson.  This is written by a friend's father and it's a great business book with lots of great insight.

Direct Marketing, is it for me?

In starting up my company, I have put a lot of thought into the different opportunities I could use to grow my business (ie: open a store, online sales, direct marketing, etc.) One of the ways to grow a business I feel is often given a bad reputation is Direct Marketing or sometimes known as Network Advertising. I put together my thoughts on it and what I feel makes it good and bad, whether it is or isn’t a “scheme.”

It’s a Scheme

Note:  This was not official research, just my thoughts on how to know.
1) You have to pay for training. If you were hired by a company, they pay you to train, so it should be the same of an at home business.
2) You have reoccurring fees to pay. The only time you should be paying reoccurring fees is if you’re a licensed professional. Otherwise, paying a monthly fee so that you can make money is nonsense.
3) You don’t know the products. If of a two hour party, you only spent thirty minutes talking about product, there may be something wrong with the focus. If they are pushing you so hard to sell something, you better know exactly what it is and why you would want to sell it.
4) You don’t know what you’re selling. I went to a Business Opportunity meeting and after an hour of discussing the business and how you make money, I finally asked, “What is it we are selling?” The man said, “Phones.” Further questioning revealed that he did not know, after being in the business for 6 months, if they were selling Phones or Phone Systems. He had simply been selling the Business Opportunity and worked on recruiting. Unfortunately, when he finally left he had “invested” $50,000 that he never came close to getting back.

5) Lesson One is Recruitment. Not all methods are bad of course. However, if the instructions are something like, “Call your Aunt and say…” or call your friend and say, “Remember you owe me a favor…” If the first step is recruitment or guilt-tripping your family and friends into something, I would avoid that tactic. The priority should be the product and the way to help the products to sell is recruiting and hosting parties. But keep the product at the forefront.

6) It’s not a Pyramid. Many people run when they see a Pyramid or think a company is one. If the company tries to hide this fact by showing you pictures of other networking shapes, be cautious. A company that is upfront and honest with what they are is where you want to be.

7) I’ll help you out. If the person who is trying to recruit you is so desperate to sign you under them, that they will pay initial costs, be wary. You may end up in a situation when you are doing under-the-table loans and get yourself into a lot of trouble. If they really want you to sign and it’s a good business, they’ll wait for you to be comfortable.

It’s Not a Scheme

1) They ask you questions you can’t answer with yes or no. This isn’t a con. It’s simply an effective way to get a direct answer. Example would be, “Which products are you getting today,” rather than, “Do you want anything today.” It’s a better selling tactic to ask the former.

2) They share with you a “business opportunity.” It is a business opportunity, but you have to be honest with yourself. You only make money by how dedicated you are and you CANNOT make money sitting on the couch watching TV. This is a way to make money and some are successful, but know the numbers going into it and set realistic goals.

3) Your friend wants to let you in on this great secret. That doesn’t make this evil. Again, an effective way of selling. You’re more prone to buy something if it comes highly recommended by a friend. Putting “secret” or “only by word of mouth” on it simply makes it more exciting and makes you feel that you are in the inner circle.

4) It’s a pyramid! Just because it shapes that way doesn’t mean you need to run. Think of an office and what shape you would put them in? Seems like a pyramid to me. You can make money from selling this way, but know that the top makes the most and if you want to attain success you need to work to have people sign under you. Double check the fine print of course, but if you are actually profiting from sales, it’s not legally a scam.

5) The products sell themselves. If true, this is a great thing. I went to a co-ed kitchen supply party and I didn’t know who was the sales representative. There were products and catalogs on the table and everyone was telling their success stories with the products and what they love. The key is the products and if this is the focus, I think the business will be fine in whatever medium or style they choose to sell in.

6) You don’t feel comfortable. Just because you don’t feel comfortable selling in this way or being apart of a business set up in a direct marketing fashion, doesn’t mean it’s scam. However, listen to your gut. If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t do it. You will only make money if you want to get out there and make money.

7) There is a minimal start up fee. I don’t enjoy the idea of having to pay $50 to start, however when you think of the business owners this is a very helpful strategy. The business owner, when you sign up, is going to send you samples, pamphlets, flyers, and all things branded. There needs to be some security that you will actual use what they send and that you will sell. So, think about what they are asking to start up and evaluate: 1) Do I believe and want to sell this product? 2) Will I get training or support? 3) Do I know where this money is going and can I immediately see what I am purchasing for this amount? 4) Does the amount requested make sense?All in all, NW Allen is NOT a Direct Marketing company. We felt it didn’t match our best interests. However, we feel that many people are confused on this issue and after our research of deciding if it was for us, why not share some of our findings with you?