Posted by
liza
Setting Goals That Work For 2012
My newborn is now 3 months old and I’m happy to say I can finally come up for air and chat with you all again.
It’s that time of the year where I make my USANA resolutions (I do it at convention too but I take every opportunity I can get). The way I see it, there are only 3 possible goal categories: increase my weekly paycheck, increase my residual income, or rank advance by convention so I can walk the stage with pride. I invite you to read through the descriptions of each goal category below, pick the one that most suits you at this time and then work backwards from there.
Cash on Demand
If you’re struggling to make ends meet, this is definitely the way to go. Every time you make a sale, you’ll look at your current Volume Report and place the points in the spot that gives you the biggest bang for your buck. You can also use the Optimal Placement report in DLM to help you with this. This is the way to get the most cash you can out of each sale. This strategy takes into account your current carryover and your current volume to maximize your current income giving you the money you need to pay your bills now. This was the goal I set in Year 2, when we suddenly lost our family income in one fell swoop. We needed the cash.
Rank Advancement
If you are in need of some recognition, status validation, a pat on the back, or even some fire to refuel you after a recent burnout, go for the rank advancement. If there’s one thing USANA does well, it’s that they reward us so beautifully for our efforts. You get to walk the stage and feel like a star, you get to take part of more and more bonuses & incentives, you get to visit exotic lands and be pampered from head to toe. This goal requires team effort and massive recruitment. It’s all about how many associates you can sign up in a 4 week period. It’s a race. It’s exhausting. But oh, the glory that comes with star status. Don’t kid yourself, it’s a high like no other. I set this goal in Year 3 once I had my first real team and I wanted to be a true leader. I wanted to make sure my team knew I wasn’t all talk. And I really wanted USANA corporate to know who I was.
Sustainability
Five years into the business and feeling like a veteran I am now convinced that the most important goal I can set at this point in my life is for long term sustainability. I have experienced a major family emergency, an economic downturn and a new baby all within the time I’ve been a USANA associate. Without any warning, I was suddenly whisked away by something urgent, leaving me with no time to build the business. I know now that these are not so much isolated incidents, but life itself. Life happens. And it will happen to you too. So what to do?
Set sustainability goals. Sustainability is created by building a reserve of customers for life. These are customers on autoship, raving fans that spread the word, advocates that stick by you because the product works and they’re getting great service, and people that won’t sacrifice their health as soon as they feel a financial pinch. Customers for life are the bread and butter of any network marketing business. This is what pays out whether you are having an emergency or needing a well-deserved break.
This is my new goal. Long term sustainable income will carry me through the highs and lows of life and will truly give me the time freedom I crave. I will take nothing less than a life filled with free time to spend with my loved ones in whatever way I choose.
Working Backwards
Once you know the major goal category you want to work with, you can work backwards. What will it take to get there? How many points do you need? How many customers? What should be the average sale? What product line will you focus on? What do you need the most training in to get it done? What’s your first step?
Now that you know what you want to achieve and how you will achieve it, you must must must set aside the time and space to make it happen. Do you have a place in your house you can go to put in regular focused uninterrupted time? If you do, make sure the space is clean and ready before New Years Day. If you don’t, take time this week to create an inspiring yet quiet space where magic will happen for you this year.
Finally, can you take a good look at your life, your calendar, your schedule and determine once and for all when is the best time to work at home? What events should you attend to increase your network and meet new people? When is the perfect time for meetings with prospects? And if you’re doing any local in-person meetings, where’s a great place to meet? Pick a cafe, pick a table, and let it be your lucky spot where prospects come and learn about health and about USANA.
Of course, all of this also applies to recruiting associates, but you know that’s not my focus this year so I’m not mentioning it much.
Make it known.
Once you have your whole plan set in your mind, it’s time to get some help from the universe. Write it down, put it up somewhere very visible (your fridge or your office). Writing down your goals is so powerful and it can help turn ideas from dreams into concrete realities. Make sure your writing is specific and clear, then post it somewhere so you can be reminded of it often.
Now for the most powerful step of all. Tell someone. Make an announcement, make an out-loud commitment, tell lots of people. This gives you free accountability. Avoiding the embarrassment of being a flake will give you the juice you need to keep going for your goal when you’re facing a challenge.
My 2012 goals
If it’s okay with you, I’m going to announce my goals right here right now. I want 100 customers on autoship. With the new baby, I’m removing the pressure of a deadline but don’t worry, I have a very detailed plan. I’ve determined that the leg of my business most in need of some TLC is 3 Left so I’m setting a goal of getting 25 new customers on autoship in my 3 Left. Once that’s done, I will move on to 3 other legs in order of priority and acquire 25 customers on autoship in each of the main 4 legs of my business.
I want the average sale to be 100 points. I will accomplish this by sampling, giving USANA products as gifts when it’s gift time, getting out of my maternity hibernation phase and meeting new people, socializing, hosting parties, getting out there and above all by having the courage to speak up with pride about what I have to offer if and ONLY IF the opportunity presents itself (i.e. I’ve listened closely, and someone has complained about some aspect of their health or has voiced a health concern or health goal.)
I won’t be switching goals until this one has been achieved. So you may or may not see me on stage at convention, who knows. But one thing is sure, many more people will be taking care of their health and isn’t that the most important goal anyway?
If you feel ready and you need some accountability. If you want someone to tell your goal to. The comments below are waiting and the people who will be reading those comments are your biggest supporters. So don’t be shy. What are your USANA goals for 2012?
