Ok it’s getting towards the end of the month.
Quota time for many direct sales companies.
You know….quota: the thing you have to meet in order to stay active in a direct sales company.
Some are $100/month, others are $150 or more, some are only $25 or $30.
Regardless, most companies have quota’s because well…they want to make sure their reps/consultants make an effort and work the business.
I mean the company has invested in product, advertising, marketing, training reps, materials, etc. etc. so it’s part of business.
If you have no vested interest in the company, you’ll most likely not work, be lax or just not care or do much with it.

But, wait quota time and month end also bring up excuses and ‘reasons’ why people just can’t make quota.

I mean, I could be wrong here but people go into business to make money…or not??
I mean I’m in it to make money, I have bills to pay, things I want to do…all of which take money!
Seriously, aren’t people in business to make money?

I could be wrong about that though, from what I’ve been hearing for about 5 or 6 months though.
Yes, I own a direct sales business.
I own Affordable Mineral Makeup as well as Teen Mineral Makeup.
I offer people a few different ways to make money…one way is to be a quota consultant which means they have to have a certain amount of retail sales in a month or they’re deactivated from the company.

Now, I assume that when people become consultants they do it so they can make money. I know some people join direct sales companies to get the discount for their own purchases and that’s totally cool too. The only problem with that is, if there’s not enough product you want every single month in order to meet your quota then what do you do? In the case of my business if people just want to take advantage of a discount without any monthly obligation they could just join the buyer’s club and not worry about quota’s or anything but still enjoy the nice discount.

What I’ve been hearing a lot of lately (not just from people who work for my companies but on a lot of wahm boards, wahm networks) are stories about how or why these reps can’t meet quota and how they want to be waived from having to meet it.

Example:
Jane: I lost my job, so I can’t meet quota. Can you excuse me for two or three months until I find a job.
Jane 2: My hubby was laid off so I can’t meet quota.
Jane 3: Jane Jr has to go to girl scout camp so I can’t meet quota.

You get the idea right?
Excuses….

So, let’s get this right….
You get the pink slip from your normal FT job and then you want to not have to work for the direct sales company you have quota with… Is that right?

Your husband got laid off and now you can’t spend his money to make sure you meet your quota…is that right?
You have other family obligations therefore you can’t spend money on product so you meet your quota…is that right?

Now, here’s a thought…
if you’re with a direct sales company to make money then GO MAKE MONEY!
Do not rely on your own purchases to meet quota.
That’s not profitable for you.
You need to advertise, market, network, be active, solicit, hold home parties, hold online parties, communicate with others, post on forums, be active be active be active!!!!!!
You’re in business to make money, not buy product for yourself month after month after month.

So…you lost your job….well then you have TIME to promote your direct sales business…get out there…get orders!
So…your hubby got laid off…quit spending his money and go advertise and make some money to help your family out!
So…your kid needs something…go get some orders so you can get the money for it!

If you’re hit with financial hardship, I’m sorry.
But to me, that’d be all the more reason for you to bust a move, get off your tush and work your business, get those orders, meet quota, make money and help your household!
That’s not the time to sit around and plea for your quota to be waived.
Nor is it the time when the owner says “no sorry, either meet quota or be deactivated”, to start bashing the owner or being upset about it.

Stop and think about this….if all a business’s reps decided they simply couldn’t meet quota for whatever excuse how would that affect the business?

If businesses don’t have orders, they don’t make money, if they don’t make money, they go out of business…

So, instead of excuses and “reasoning” (which makes no sense really) about why you ‘think’ you need to be waived from quota’s… get up, be bold, be strong and go get CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS and quit relying on your own purchases…that’s not what business and money making is about!

On a side note, my 20 yr old son and I were just talking about this and his response “Mommas (yep that’s what he calls me) if these people lose their jobs or whatever why don’t they just work harder to make money with their other companies”
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH that’s my boy!!!!!!
Now, if a 20 yr old male can figure that concept out surely grown women can?!

There are many people who are independent consultants, reps, distributors (whatever you want to call yourself, you’re all in the same category). You all work for a company selling their products and/or services for commissions.

In being an “independent” that means your income is based on your effort. This also means that you must know what’s going on within the company and be aware of any changes in policy, product or otherwise.

If you don’t keep abreast of what’s going on in the company because “it’s a waste of time”, then do not act surprised when you have no clue as to what’s happening. If you’re not willing or able to invest a few minutes a day to read updates, participate in training or other company announcements, then you really shouldn’t get all bent out of shape and throw a tantrum because you “didn’t want to waste your time” reading the notices about changes.

Though you are independent you are still part of a company, most companies assist their independents by supplying them with training materials, opportunity to ask any and all questions, offer incentives and other benefits. So, while you’re independent you are part of a bigger picture but you and you alone have to make the decision to be active or simply not “waste your time”. Not sure how some people view reading updates and company announcements as “wasting their time” but then again those are the same people who have to be constantly reminded to meet company quota’s (if there is a quota), the same ones who get in a tizzy because months after the fact they discover a policy has changed which had they “wasted their time” and read their email 3 months prior they’d have known about it.

So, basically the point is this…as an independent consultant/rep/distributor you are responsible for knowing the business, knowing about the product, about company policy and keeping up to date. If you don’t…well, you only have yourself to blame as you go on about your way to join another company where you’ll do the same thing because you just don’t want to “waste your time” reading.

According to Dictionary.com the word independent means:
working for oneself or for a small, privately owned business.
not relying on another or others for aid or support.
not subject to another’s authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free: an independent businessman.

However; in the direct sales business world, independent should really mean something more like:
separate from main company, yet still under the authority of main company though responsible for making an effort to promote the business or you will fail on your own, though you have support and guidance and marketing tools provided to you from main company.

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