Incentive Trips No Opportunity for Some

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the recent changes to incentive trips offered by Pampered Chef and the impact these changes have on consultants, particularly those who work part-time or have other commitments. Participants express a range of feelings about the new structure and its accessibility.

Discussion Character

  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shares their disappointment over the elimination of lower-level incentives, noting that many consultants feel overlooked and discouraged.
  • Another participant expresses mixed feelings about their ability to achieve incentive levels, highlighting the importance of attainable goals for motivation.
  • Several users mention that some directors have created additional lower levels of incentives, which they find more achievable and motivating.
  • One participant reflects on the historical context of incentive levels, expressing frustration over changes that seem to favor higher achievers while leaving others without rewards.
  • Another participant notes that the new structure may make it more difficult for part-time consultants to earn significant rewards, while acknowledging the existence of smaller monthly incentives.
  • One participant emphasizes the need for more accessible trip locations and lower point requirements to allow more consultants to participate.
  • Another participant mentions a general sense of dissatisfaction among attendees at a recent meeting regarding the new incentive structure.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ among participants regarding the effectiveness and fairness of the new incentive structure. Some express agreement on the challenges faced by part-time consultants, while others highlight the potential benefits of smaller rewards.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and feelings about the changes, reflecting a range of perspectives on how these changes affect their motivation and engagement with the Pampered Chef business.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants who are navigating the changes to incentive structures and those interested in understanding the diverse experiences and opinions within the community may find this discussion relevant.

  • Thread starter
  • #61
I am done here. It looks like it is about a 50/50 split. So... Anyway, I am not worried about the levels personally. It is not like I do not have enough time on my hands to make a go at it. It is a matter of doing something about getting there and no action gets no results. Now, in closing I was not accusing anyone in fact Carolyn drove home very valid points as did everyone on both sides. The only thing was that we did what we always do here. We argue two sides, we all gave valid points. The resolution is simple. We all do what we need to do to go where we want to go. Our choice on what and how. I also wanted to thank Carolyn. In her argument she helped me immensely. Even without the obstacle of time, I still had the negative thoughts about achieving a goal set so high. I was copping out! I was using other peoples excuses to cover up my own fears. What a fool I am at times. (No comments Ann!) I doubted myself and what I can do. By having a lower expectation for myself set by the company, I could "excuse" my way out of it most of the time. So now I have a new problem. I have the time but can I really push myself enough to get a BIG pat on the back. Yes, I live for those! Can't help it. I have been working for 39 years. I rarely have ever heard the words Great Job or Thank you. PC is the only place I get that. And no, I will not accept it from myself. I can't validate my own work. I have never been able to do that. Just call me needy. Now I have to take a good look at myself and decide where I want to go with this business. No I do not mean Muai or Toronto. I mean as a career! And if you do not think I am not scared to death of that, think again. I have wanted it for years but to fully trust myself in this endeavor scares the crud out of me! Thanks everyone here. I had a sneaky suspicion that this was all about something else and you all found it for me. Now I can get to work on it. I have got to find that Help Whip Cancer Over achiever and make him work all the time!!! I gotta get off my fat A*# and get to work! THANK YOU EVERYONE for your thoughts and input. I betcha didn't know you could all put SHRINK on your resume did ya? So it turns out that the incentive really is NO OPPORTUNITY for some but for others, it may be the start of something great! Wish me luck!
 
pampered1224 said:
I am done here. It looks like it is about a 50/50 split. So... Anyway, I am not worried about the levels personally. It is not like I do not have enough time on my hands to make a go at it. It is a matter of doing something about getting there and no action gets no results. Now, in closing I was not accusing anyone in fact Carolyn drove home very valid points as did everyone on both sides. The only thing was that we did what we always do here. We argue two sides, we all gave valid points. The resolution is simple. We all do what we need to do to go where we want to go. Our choice on what and how. I also wanted to thank Carolyn. In her argument she helped me immensely. Even without the obstacle of time, I still had the negative thoughts about achieving a goal set so high. I was copping out! I was using other peoples excuses to cover up my own fears. What a fool I am at times. (No comments Ann!) I doubted myself and what I can do. By having a lower expectation for myself set by the company, I could "excuse" my way out of it most of the time. So now I have a new problem. I have the time but can I really push myself enough to get a BIG pat on the back. Yes, I live for those! Can't help it. I have been working for 39 years. I rarely have ever heard the words Great Job or Thank you. PC is the only place I get that. And no, I will not accept it from myself. I can't validate my own work. I have never been able to do that. Just call me needy. Now I have to take a good look at myself and decide where I want to go with this business. No I do not mean Muai or Toronto. I mean as a career! And if you do not think I am not scared to death of that, think again. I have wanted it for years but to fully trust myself in this endeavor scares the crud out of me! Thanks everyone here. I had a sneaky suspicion that this was all about something else and you all found it for me. Now I can get to work on it. I have got to find that Help Whip Cancer Over achiever and make him work all the time!!! I gotta get off my fat A*# and get to work! THANK YOU EVERYONE for your thoughts and input. I betcha didn't know you could all put SHRINK on your resume did ya? So it turns out that the incentive really is NO OPPORTUNITY for some but for others, it may be the start of something great! Wish me luck!

Hey...
GREAT JOB and THANK YOU for being an active participant on this forum and sharing your thoughts, ideas and feeling with all of us. :D
 
  • Thread starter
  • #63
Carolyn, thank you too! You made me see things very clearly!
 
John, I would never think you were a fool. I have been working 35 years and the "good job" comment is hard to come by. I have been that four letter word...a boss now for 21 years. I like to support my staff at every opportunity, but I think every boss is guilty of not praising employees enough.

PC is what I call, my therapy...except instead of paying a shrink...I get paid. PC parties need to be just as much fun for me as they are the guests.

Carolyn is great and I bet she is excellent to have as an AD!

So John, if you, Carolyn and I made it to Hawaii...you have to promise us that you will have one of those drinks with an umbrella in a pineapple with us to toast your success! Maybe Carolyn and I can get you to do a hula dance with us!!! :)
 
Hey John....when we see each other in Hawaii you will get a lei from me :eek::cool: I love you boyfriend! :love:
 
Wow! Great thread. I think John clearly was venting as he was reflecting what he observed with other consultants. And I think he is also able to see it from another perspective after all of the posts. Don't be sorry you started this John... I think it can be very inspriational and constructive for many. :)
I totally agree with Carolyn on the reality of the situation. ( no surprise.. sometimes I think she is me somewhere else.)
Negativity is contagious. It really is. And truly is it ever productive?
What we did at our Back to Business meeting was a dream board... with quarterly goals. This was not centered around the trip. It was about each individual's goals.
Know what? Several see themselves in Hawaii. And I totally believe they will get there. I certainly plan to go.
Just to add to the no excuse pile... I earned Level 4 this year with points to spare. ( several)
I am a full time teacher. I have been asked to add an additional endorsement this year, so I have also been studying quite extensively.
I am a mother of 4. Four children- one who is 14 and involved in extra curricular sports. A five year old who is involved in dance. And two 3 year olds... one involved in gymnastics, the other karate. We are also verrrrry active in our church.
Did I mention that my husband travels?
Does my life get a little hairy sometimes? Absolutely.
Did I have a goal to take my family to Disney? You betcha. So yes we have sacrificed a little, but overall we have all worked together to make this trip a priority. And it paid off.
If you are constantly saying, " I can't," examine your reasons why. Is it that you can't, or that you don't want to work that hard? You want it but you want it to be handed to you?
That's not how life works. Here's a little formula I shared with my team ( after we talked about the seven habits of highly effective people)
Change= Function ( pain, potential, practicality)> cost or sacrifice involved to change.
In other words, change only happens if the want is greater than the cost.
If it isn't, don't complain. Because the fact is, only you can change your outlook, habits, etc. If you want it badly enough, you can and will find a way to make it happen. No one else can do it for you.
And ps... my other job gives me a Christmas card. PC gave me the opportunity to take my family to Disney. I am extremely grateful for that!
 
beckyjsmith said:
Wow! Great thread. I think John clearly was venting as he was reflecting what he observed with other consultants. And I think he is also able to see it from another perspective after all of the posts. Don't be sorry you started this John... I think it can be very inspriational and constructive for many. :)
I totally agree with Carolyn on the reality of the situation. ( no surprise.. sometimes I think she is me somewhere else.)
Negativity is contagious. It really is. And truly is it ever productive?
What we did at our Back to Business meeting was a dream board... with quarterly goals. This was not centered around the trip. It was about each individual's goals.
Know what? Several see themselves in Hawaii. And I totally believe they will get there. I certainly plan to go.
Just to add to the no excuse pile... I earned Level 4 this year with points to spare. ( several)
I am a full time teacher. I have been asked to add an additional endorsement this year, so I have also been studying quite extensively.
I am a mother of 4. Four children- one who is 14 and involved in extra curricular sports. A five year old who is involved in dance. And two 3 year olds... one involved in gymnastics, the other karate. We are also verrrrry active in our church.
Did I mention that my husband travels?
Does my life get a little hairy sometimes? Absolutely.
Did I have a goal to take my family to Disney? You betcha. So yes we have sacrificed a little, but overall we have all worked together to make this trip a priority. And it paid off.
If you are constantly saying, " I can't," examine your reasons why. Is it that you can't, or that you don't want to work that hard? You want it but you want it to be handed to you?
That's not how life works. Here's a little formula I shared with my team ( after we talked about the seven habits of highly effective people)
Change= Function ( pain, potential, practicality)> cost or sacrifice involved to change.
In other words, change only happens if the want is greater than the cost.
If it isn't, don't complain. Because the fact is, only you can change your outlook, habits, etc. If you want it badly enough, you can and will find a way to make it happen. No one else can do it for you.
And ps... my other job gives me a Christmas card. PC gave me the opportunity to take my family to Disney. I am extremely grateful for that!

Nice.. I like your way of thinking!:chef:
 
Here's something I found on CC regarding why the free conference registration & merchandise items were taken off of the levels. I found it under the irresistible destinations > earning rules & requirements

Why did you eliminate the award for National Conference registration or merchandise?
Our objective is to make the incentive program a true travel program. We want to focus our efforts on offering the best possible travel program. That’s one of the reasons we’re calling the program Irresistible Destinations. Additionally, promotions throughout the year recognize excellence in selling and recruiting, and offer various rewards which may include free and half-price National Conference registration.
 
pampered1224 said:
Carolyn, thank you too! You made me see things very clearly!

Bet ya didn't know I was a psychologist before I became a Mommy. I am trained to heal people see things more clearly.
My bill is in the mail ;)
 
Becky....WOW!!! I am not worthy!!! Totally impressed and I would love to see some of your tips for balancing your business with your incredibly full plate.

Carolyn...I didn't know you were beautiful AND smart!!!:D (side note...Carolyn and I know each other well enough that she know that I already knew that about her...we is buds!!!)

And Linda knows my mantra this year...help me get lei'd in 2011!!:eek: Ok...I can't use that theme with too many people, but sometimes I can sneek it in! :D

Yes, John, I too am glad you started this thread. My postings have tried to help you see that there is understanding of your feelings of being overwhelmed, disappointed that the bar has been raised higher and all other feelings you have described. But it is also to help you see that if anyone of us want this...it can be done. Knowing full well that the "Murphy's Law" of life could either knock us off track or change our course...we vent here in hopes of gaining support and ways to hopefully make our way around any obstacle.

It all goes back to...how do you eat an entire elephant? One teaspoon at a time!!! We're hear to support you and Carolyn will set us all straight with her awesome help.
 
baychef said:
Becky....WOW!!! I am not worthy!!! Totally impressed and I would love to see some of your tips for balancing your business with your incredibly full plate.Carolyn...I didn't know you were beautiful AND smart!!!:D (side note...Carolyn and I know each other well enough that she know that I already knew that about her...we is buds!!!)
It all goes back to...how do you eat an entire elephant? One teaspoon at a time!!! We're hear to support you and Carolyn will set us all straight with her awesome help.
Um...just to clarify...I ain't eatin' no stinkin' elephant (unless of course it's dipped in chocolate)
And yea - we IS buds!!!! xoxo
 
  • Thread starter
  • #72
My problem is not trying to get there. My problem is failing to get there. Like I said, I feel like I can not self validate. Getting something for my hard work is self validation. I am sitting here realizing for the first time in my life that I have always gone the extra mile to please everyone else. Some where along the line I found myself to be extremely unimportant. Especially to my self. The last couple of months I have been tearing down curtains, scrubbing floors, vacuuming cobwebs, washing blinds and fixing sinks and all sorts of other things so I would make sure Pat felt like I was worth having around. I have also realized that my life sort of stinks and I made it that way. I scare me. I do not know how to do something for me that is so outrageously wonderful as going to Maui or Toronto. So I do what ever it takes to NOT set myself up for disappointment. So I guess that means using every excuse NOT to do well in my business. Wow. I got rid of the "welcome" mat along time ago. I guess though that I replaced it with a "Kick me" sign that only I can see. OK. Now I really do think I need a shrink. I gotta figure out why I think that way and fix it. Or now that I realize it, see what I can do about it. Boy, I think that is enough for now. Talk to you all later. Thank you!
 
Shiela,

I'd love to be on your team!
 
burtonfour said:
Shiela,

I'd love to be on your team!

:D Awe, thanks! If you ever decide to re-sign, come on over to the fun side! ;) I'm LOTS of fun and ... according to my husband ... I'm a new adventure EVERY day!!! LOL
 

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