Crisis Of... Conscience? Motivation?

[jenniferp417]

I've officially been a PC consultant for 16 months, but I've only completed 7 shows. I love PC, I love the products and I *do* want to tell people about them, but I'm struggling.

I worked retail for 11 years, and I'm burned out. I don't want to sell. At all. On the other hand, I want to make money, I want to share the opportunity, I want to share these great products.

I just don't know how to reconcile my retail/sales burnout with PC. I've been out of retail for 14 months - I thought this would get easier as I distanced myself from it, but it hasn't.

I'm certain I'm not the only one ever to get caught in a mental quandary like this, and I wonder if anyone can offer me any suggestions? Advice?

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I spent many years in the retail sector - so I know feeling burned out...

I think what makes PC different for me is that I am actually teaching something at my shows - I give alot of good tips and cooking techniques, and so I'm not just selling to sell - people want to buy what I demo, so that they can recreate what we did at the show. I know, because I talk to them later, that hosts and guests use the products and that in many cases, the products have really changed their time in the kitchen for the better. So - it's more about teaching and helping for me than it is about selling.

 

[scottcooks]

Maybe that's why PC has come so naturally to me. One of the first things I tell people is, to put their checkbook away. I tell them I am not here to sell them on a product. I simply am following our founder Doris Christopher's lead - to share some great equipment and make it available to them if they choose. I tell people I will be following her model as well - in inviting them to consider joining our tremendous company. With benefits that range from "adjustability" -adjustable apron and an adjustable paycheck, to "stability in the future" -College savings program and retirement accounts, there is a place in Pampered Chef for anyone that wants it - or wants a better life. I then go on to tell how mine has improved since PC.

I am a teacher by profession, and am very wary of sales people. Whatever I'm doing works well - because my show average is high and I get 2-4 bookings at every show.

Follow your heart - let go of the sales aspect - read Doris and Jay's books Come to the Basement, and The Story of One Of America's Best Loved Companies TPC.

God Bless You!

-praying for Paige and her family-

 

[jenniferp417]

Thank you both! Your words have helped a LOT! Scott - I think I need to re-read Doris' book and will order "Come to the Basement" on my next supply order!

 

[pamperedlinda]

Maybe that's why PC has come so naturally to me. One of the first things I tell people is, to put their checkbook away. I tell them I am not here to sell them on a product. I simply am following our founder Doris Christopher's lead - to share some great equipment and make it available to them if they choose. I tell people I will be following her model as well - in inviting them to consider joining our tremendous company. With benefits that range from "adjustability" -adjustable apron and an adjustable paycheck, to "stability in the future" -College savings program and retirement accounts, there is a place in Pampered Chef for anyone that wants it - or wants a better life. I then go on to tell how mine has improved since PC.

I am a teacher by profession, and am very wary of sales people. Whatever I'm doing works well - because my show average is high and I get 2-4 bookings at every show.

Follow your heart - let go of the sales aspect - read Doris and Jay's books Come to the Basement, and The Story of One Of America's Best Loved Companies TPC.

God Bless You!

-praying for Paige and her family-

Good advice Scott.

Nice picture too - it's good to 'see' who you are chatting with!

 

[dannyzmom]

Maybe that's why PC has come so naturally to me. One of the first things I tell people is, to put their checkbook away. I tell them I am not here to sell them on a product. I simply am following our founder Doris Christopher's lead - to share some great equipment and make it available to them if they choose. I tell people I will be following her model as well - in inviting them to consider joining our tremendous company. With benefits that range from "adjustability" -adjustable apron and an adjustable paycheck, to "stability in the future" -College savings program and retirement accounts, there is a place in Pampered Chef for anyone that wants it - or wants a better life. I then go on to tell how mine has improved since PC.

I am a teacher by profession, and am very wary of sales people. Whatever I'm doing works well - because my show average is high and I get 2-4 bookings at every show.

Follow your heart - let go of the sales aspect - read Doris and Jay's books Come to the Basement, and The Story of One Of America's Best Loved Companies TPC.

God Bless You!

-praying for Paige and her family-

This is some WONDERFUL advice Scott!

 

[quiverfull7]

SUPER advise Scott. I loved this job and this company before I read both books but my whole attitude changed after I read them. This summer at NC I was up on the 4th floor in that big conference room and I stood looking out over the front area with the gorgeous pond etc. I was blessed to be in there with just one or two others and I just had such a feeling of amazement at how God had used Doris and how all this had begun in a basement and now look at it!!!!! NO dream is too small ... I stood there in tears ... and just let that amazement wash over me. It's a feeling that I know I'll never lose and it isn't just about me... and that feeling wasn't... it was about every person who got to dream and grow and be with their family instead of having their job drive them. I agree with all the advise in the posts above... we do get to teach in a fun way, pass on great tips that have nothing to do with PC and get to know some really cool and occasionally really kooky people but it's such a joy. I hope and pray that if you want to stay with PC that you can let the stress of the sales job of the past wash away with the knowledge that Doris wanted exactly the opposite of that stress for you with PC. You know... dial up Nancy Jo's message and take the 9 minutes to listen to that again... she's inspiring too! Thanks for posting... I think it's good for all of us to revisit our WHY and how look at where we stand to stay fresh. Keep us posted okay?

 

[Kitchen Diva]

Good advice Scott.

Nice picture too - it's good to 'see' who you are chatting with!

I look almost like Lucy from the Peanuts...plus she looks better in her snappy red dress LOL

Scott, that was good advice. I was a District Manager in the Retail world. My positions varied from Store Manager to DM. I have managed sales, or retail sales for 16+ years! Some days I struggle too with feeling like I'm "selling" again. However my past 2 shows, I treated it more like an episode from The Food Network, and I had an almost $900.00 show and a $1016.07 show!

Just hang in there- you are probably more burnt out on crazy/psycho customers than you are on "selling". I have to listen to "calming" music before I go to my shows- especially if I have a difficult host (which most mine have been) because it brings back bad memories from wicked retail customers. I think Scott's advice is the best!

You've been at it for this long, you just need to look at it from a different angle regroup and go out there and rock and roll!