Is the Sell A Thon Requirement Fair for Consultants? Let's Discuss!

[Intrepid_Chef]

... that Sell A Thon stinks this fall?(Drops match on gasoline ... wooooosshhhh!)Last year, they changed the SAT so you didn't get the 2 shows level unless both were held AND SUBMITTED by the 15th. This was continued into December and June and was the start of a campaign to "go green by the 15th."Now the two shows level is GONE (unless you count that apron promotion, which to me is not the same as SAT ... no spring products, we get it right away, and it totally overlooks the fact that we have MEN among us as consultants and hosts.)Apparently, we get NO spring products unless we have $1,500 in sales.I've been doing this for three years now, and have only had sales that exceeded $1,500 three times in my entire career, and every time it was because I had a show that exceeded $1,000. It can be done, but it's not always attainable.My previous director in my previous product line (now my pastor's wife) taught me that goals should be S.M.A.R.T.SPECIFIC
MEASURABLE
ATTAINABLE
REALISTIC
TIME-BOUNDTo me, a goal should be a bit of a stretch beyond where you are now.Don't get me wrong ... I would LOVE to have $1,500 in sales in November or more, that would push me closer to reaching my goal of $15,0000 in career sales by January. But I am not certain that this is going to happen.When I first joined, I was impressed that many goals could be reached simply by submitting 2 shows. My previous product line had goals that none of us could seem to reach. Now it seems like they only care about the full-time consultants. The rest of us can pound salt.

 

[jessinthekitchen]

I totally hear what you are saying (we were kind of discussing it in the chat box...) but have you done an open house or anything like that with your new Fall products?

I'm doing one in Oct 16th and I'm also raffling off some prizes...and they can earn the most raffle tickets for booking. I'm hoping to get November bookings to increase my November sales. Maybe you can try that?

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

I do have plans to do something, maybe in November, maybe another time. Frankly open houses have never been big for me.I do have a show on Nov. 13 and am working the weekend prior.Frankly don't see the point of busting my behind for this. I've had too many SAT's where I had four shows and fell a few hundred short of $1,500. At least that year I got two spring products. This time I'd have NOTHING.

 

[dannyzmom]

... that Sell A Thon SUCKS this fall?

(Drops match on gasoline ... wooooosshhhh!)

I've been doing this for three years now, and have only had sales that exceeded $1,500 three times in my entire career, and every time it was because I had a show that exceeded $1,000. It can be done, but it's not always attainable.
.

Have you ever considered that maybe your negative attitude has something to do with this?

 

[chefsteph07]

I do have plans to do something, maybe in November, maybe another time. Frankly open houses have never been big for me.

I do have a show on Nov. 13 and am working the weekend prior.

Frankly don't see the point of busting my behind for this. I've had too many SAT's where I had four shows and fell a few hundred short of $1,500. At least that year I got two spring products. This time I'd have NOTHING.

Then whose fault will it be that you don't reach level 1?

 

[colegrovet]

I do this part time, and on average reach $2000+ a month. I only do 4-6 shows a month.

Remember you get back what you put in..

 

[cookingwithlove]

Negativity is bad for your business and it is not productive. Spend your time constructively. Also, the time you spend posting on ChefSuccess takes away from the time you could be working your business by make phone calls for bookings and host coaching. You have posted almost 4000 times in 3 years. That is almost 8 times what I have posted in 6 years. Spend your time wisely and stay positive and anything is possible.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

I'm not negative, just firmly, firmly, firmly realistic. And I work full-time. I'm well aware that my sales would be bigger if I was doing this full-time.I just wish that there were a lower "carrot" for us to chase if we're not full-time. Frankly, that's one of the things that always has impressed me about this company. I know I wasn't chasing the $1,500 carrot in June. I was thrilled that it happened but I was more concerned about helping my host be successful ... and it was a show that broke ALL the rules. I'm NOT blaming anybody when I don't have huge sales ... except that I COULD have blamed my hosts that particular November when one host canceled her show after I drove 2 hours in a blizzard out of spite (party switch from heck) and another refused to get me a guest list, then wondered why nobody showed up! Frankly, it's just a reality of the business when you work it part-time on top of other full-time responsibilities.Wow! I didn't think I'd posted this many times but now ... I can simply say that most of these posts have happened either while I was at work or late, late, late at night. Both times that it is impossible for me to be on the phone for the side biz.Back to work now ...

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

BTW, "only" 4-6 shows would be a HUGE amount for me ... four shows is the most I've ever done in a month. 2-4 is really about the most I can handle, and I'm fine with that, really. Everybody has different goals and for most of the time I've done this those were accepted and encouraged.

 

[vanscootin]

Negativity is bad for your business and it is not productive. Spend your time constructively. Also, the time you spend posting on ChefSuccess takes away from the time you could be working your business by make phone calls for bookings and host coaching. You have posted almost 4000 times in 3 years. That is almost 8 times what I have posted in 6 years. Spend your time wisely and stay positive and anything is possible.

Really? This is a place where we are supposed to feel welcome to come for advice, support and guidance and vent when one feels like they need to.

 

[chefsteph07]

Well, it is what it is...I don't think PC is "punishing" those who only do part time. $1500 is totally attainable if you prepare. I did 4 shows in Sept and I did a little over 2k. (my Sept sucked for me, I usually do about 8 shows a mo) You can also start padding your cooking shows w/ a couple book shows. No sense in always complaining about something that doesn't make you happy. Sure, there are things that I'm not happy about all the time, and I do vent, but after that, you have to get over it, pick yourself up, and move on. I did a little venting when we found out about the DCB going to host only...but after a few months it hasn't really affected much as far as my sales. I've picked up a few catalog shows even because of it.

 

[chefsteph07]

Really? This is a place where we are supposed to feel welcome to come for advice, support and guidance and vent when one feels like they need to.

Yes, this is true!
However, start being proactive about things rather than come up w/ "excuses" about why this or that does not fit into your mold of what PC is for yourself. It's perfectly normal to have a knee jerk reaction to something, but don't carry on about it, rather, prepare and accept things and make it work for you!

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

That's great, Steph. I'm happy for you. I did 2 shows in August and had almost $2,000.Not every show is a big one. And not everybody has time to do 4-8 shows in a month. For me, that would consume every weekend because I work 1 weekend a month and am involved in other activities! 2-3 is really my maximum though I CAN do more if my calendar permits.

Really? This is a place where we are supposed to feel welcome to come for advice, support and guidance and vent when one feels like they need to.

Thank you for saying that. But I knew whatever I said would be misunderstood because I dared to express my concerns. I'll be over it in a day or so. But today, it feels like they're putting the carrots further and further out of my reach. Just feeling a little disappointed today, because this company never used to do that. One of the things I always loved is that they had smaller carrots that we could reach easily, even for those of us who squeeze this in on the weekends!

 

[dannyzmom]

I'm not negative, just firmly, firmly, firmly realistic. I politely disagree

And I work full-time. I'm well aware that my sales would be bigger if I was doing this full-time.

THAT'S AN EXCUSE...So do LOTS of people in this business...as a matter of fact, the top seller on my team last month (also the highest show average and most shows held) has a full time management job as well as a husband, child and a very sick dog.

I just wish that there were a lower "carrot" for us to chase if we're not full-time. Why should the company spend $ rewarding less than superior effort? They'd go broke.Frankly, that's one of the things that always has impressed me about this company. I know I wasn't chasing the $1,500 carrot in June. I was thrilled that it happened but I was more concerned about helping my host be successful ... and it was a show that broke ALL the rules.

I'm NOT blaming anybody when I don't have huge sales ... except that I COULD have blamed my hosts that particular November when one host canceled her show after I drove 2 hours in a blizzard out of spite (party switch from heck) What do you mean by saying that you drove out of spite? or that she cancelled out of spite? did you coach this host?and another refused to get me a guest list without a guest list, there is no show. Take control of your business. Sounds like it's the consultant that is to blame, not the host., then wondered why nobody showed up! Frankly, it's just a reality of the business when you work it part-time on top of other full-time responsibilitiesNo, it's a reality about the impact one's attitude has on one's success. There are THOUSANDS of consultants in our company who work full time, have families, personal issues, personal tragedies, struggles, etc...yet still earn every incentive, earn the trips, even hit Elite Seller status,...attitude is EVERYTHING - you should really consider changing yours..

Wow! I didn't think I'd posted this many times but now Yes...you have. As a matter of fact, I wonder...if you took a few minutes to go through all of your posts, look & see how many of them are negative? I bet you'd be shocked to see it's likely more than half. I recall you even went so far as to change your login name because your posts stirred up such controversy in the past... I can simply say that most of these posts have happened either while I was at work or late, late, late at nightLate at night you can be sending out emails to your hosts,printing up invitations, making host packets, etc...YOU choose how to use YOUR time.. Both times that it is impossible for me to be on the phone for the side biz.

Back to work now ...

Change your attitude and you'll more than likely change you paycheck

 

[vanscootin]

Yes, this is true!
However, start being proactive about things rather than come up w/ "excuses" about why this or that does not fit into your mold of what PC is for yourself. It's perfectly normal to have a knee jerk reaction to something, but don't carry on about it, rather, prepare and accept things and make it work for you!

I totally agree with you... I'm not feeling to PC happy right now... but I'm not going to post my complaints or struggles or issues... cause they are mine alone to figure out how to fix. Plus it seems that someone is always getting attacked for any type of negative feeling.

But being scolded on how many times someone has posted on CS and being told they should work on something more productive, allbeit true, to me is a little out of line.

 

[dannyzmom]

Really? This is a place where we are supposed to feel welcome to come for advice, support and guidance and vent when one feels like they need to.

Yes but our dear intrepid chef does nothing but spew negativity - there's nothing good about that.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Wow. Taking a deep breath.I didn't say I DROVE out of spite. I said she canceled it out of spite after I drove 2 hours in a blizzard, all because orders from HER show were put on hold. (Long story I will not re-hash.)I know that people are trying to be helpful and so that's why I'm not coming up with an angry, knee jerk response to feeling ganged up on. Frankly, I should know that this is not a safe place to vent.(And if you knew the WHOLE STORY to why I changed my log-in name you'd probably say something different. Suffice it to say that it's not related to anyone here, but a misunderstanding that spilled over into real life. It was a question that someone took WAAAAYYY too personally. And I refuse to say anything public about it which is why I will not explain it here.)

 

[ChefBeckyD]

This quote runs through my head before I post, or make any statements. I've posted it before, but it does seem appropriate here. I cannot be responsible for things that are out of my control, and it does me no good to complain - or to let those things keep me from achieving goals I've set.

MY response is my responsibility. That's it.


ATTITUDE
by: Charles Swindoll

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

 

[Liquid Sky]

I love every incentive PC offers. I love how every month lately FedEx delivers a box to my door with whatever it is that I won and earned. :love:

I don't see how it's constructive to rant and complain about how PC's consultant incentives "suck".

 

[DebbieJ]

Have you ever considered that maybe your negative attitude has something to do with this?

took the words out of my mouth, Carolyn!

 

[chefcharity]

One of the things I have always LOVED about PC is that your goals are your goals and my goals are my goals. I have a goal of about $4000 a month. Yea me. If you have a goal of $1000 a month - YEA YOU!! I do agree with the 2 show thing. Some of my MOST consistent consultants on my team are hobbiest/part timers. And if you talk to the National exec out there, they will tell you that the part timers are just as important as the full timers. Not only their contribution to our company but to the NE commission checks as well.
I understand, Intrepid Chef, that you are just venting. And we all get over these things after awhile. You will decide if that carrot is important enough for you to reach. If it is your goal - go you! If it is not - go you! I think I might send a letter in to the company to ask why they decided to not reward my part time consultants for running their businesses 'their way' as we are all encouraged to do. If I am not mistaken, part of the joy of owning your own Pampered Chef biz is that you can work it along side another job, family or commitments.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Chef Charity and Becky ... I LOVE your posts and they are the reason I have not deleted this thread!Yes, I am just venting. I will be over it tomorrow to be certain, take a look at my goals, and if they don't match up with the company's goals for me, so be it. But frankly, it will be hard to get over the personal attacks being posted in this forum. Frankly, I would never say the things about you that you said about me. Maybe it's an overly optimistic belief in human nature, but it always shocks me that people can be so mean.

 

[chefsteph07]

IC, you know I love you...I see your point on a lot of things, and sometimes I agree, but I am sorry that you feel this thread is an attack. I think we are all just trying to get you to see that attitude sometimes creates your outcome. And I don't like anyone to say that anything PC gives us an incentive "sucks"...do you get bonuses from your job? You may, or you may not, but alot of people don't, and for just DOING your job you get add'l benefits other than a paycheck. I'm not real thrilled about the apron incentive, I already have way more than I need, but I will be giving that to a host, or a friend, or whoever...I'll still try to earn it. A bonus is a bonus. We don't HAVE to earn it. I know it's NICE to earn some little products along the way, but they don't HAVE to do that for us. You have already written yourself off as not earning anything w/ the 1500 level and I think that is very unfortunate. You were on such a high this summer with some great shows, and you never know what may await you in a few weeks, so start getting in gear NOW hon! You can do it!!!

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

I DID get incentives for my job. Then they changed them. I whined. I got over it. And I'm not saying I won't achieve that level. Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. I was reaching for the 2 shows level in June and didn't think I would get more. I was pleasantly shocked. I just don't want to hope too much and be disappointed. We all know what happens to a dream deferred.

 

[skaugchef]

I agree with you Intrepid_Chef. Although I'm being positive because I've got a lot of shows lined up. Fingers crossed.

 

[dannyzmom]

This quote runs through my head before I post, or make any statements. I've posted it before, but it does seem appropriate here. I cannot be responsible for things that are out of my control, and it does me no good to complain - or to let those things keep me from achieving goals I've set.

MY response is my responsibility. That's it.


ATTITUDE
by: Charles Swindoll

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

I have this exact quote printed and posted on the wall of my office for those days when stinkin' thinkin' is getting me in trouble.

 

[cookingwithlove]

Thank you for saying that. But I knew whatever I said would be misunderstood because I dared to express my concerns. I'll be over it in a day or so.

I really don't think anybody has misunderstood you. You are not expressing your concerrns, you are having a temper trantrum and frankly, I am just tired of it. It brings too many people down with you and that is not the point of this board.

I have not always been happy with the changes that Pampered Chef has made, but nobody has forced me to stay. I stayed because I wanted to and I believe in this company. You have the same choice, but don't bring everyone down with you because are unhappy with the FREE product(s) the company wants to give you. One more thing, everyone has issues and yours are not any bigger or smaller than anybody else's. You work full time, so what. Many people do. Some are blind, some are deaf, some work full time with young children and no husband, some are disabled, some can't drive, some live in an abusive situation, some have dying loved ones around them, some have cancer, for some this is their 4th job. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. If you want what the company is giving away for FREE, then figure out away to earn it, but don't just have a temper tantrum over it.

 

[dannyzmom]

I really don't think anybody has misunderstood you. You are not expressing your concerrns, you are having a temper trantrum and frankly, I am just tired of it. It brings too many people down with you and that is not the point of this board.

I have not always been happy with the changes that Pampered Chef has made, but nobody has forced me to stay. I stayed because I wanted to and I believe in this company. You have the same choice, but don't bring everyone down with you because are unhappy with the FREE product(s) the company wants to give you. One more thing, everyone has issues and yours are not any bigger or smaller than anybody else's. You work full time, so what. Many people do. Some are blind, some are deaf, some work full time with young children and no husband, some are disabled, some can't drive, some live in an abusive situation, some have dying loved ones around them, some have cancer, for some this is their 4th job. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. If you want what the company is giving away for FREE, then figure out away to earn it, but don't just have a temper tantrum over it.

I need a "like" button.:thumbup:

 

[Chef Kearns]

Man, OUCH! I don't come here that often anymore so I don't know the history, but I can see where she would feel attacked. I am not saying that I agree with her stance though. Good luck with your goals everyone. Do know that if you want it, you CAN reach it!

 

[AJPratt]

I can see both sides of this fence. I agree with Intrepid where it would be nice if PC continued to offer a level where by doing 2 shows you can earn somthing from the SAT. I know PC has its reasons. I do have to be honest and say that using the word "suck" was a bit much, but hey, when you're upset stuff like that comes out.

I have lots of excuses/reasons for why my business isn't doing better. One is that I work nights and my schedule is NEVER the same week to week. Ever. So, it is very difficult to date shows. I also only get my schedule about 1.5 weeks out. When I start to feel down I always think about the woman Consultant I saw with one leg. It was years ago, but she still inspires me. I always think "And I am complaining about what?" I have buckled down and am managing and I am very happy with my progress. Hopefully I will be on a regular schedule soon, but for now, I just gotta keep on keeping on.

While I LOVE CS, the tough thing is that it is difficult to convey emotion through typing.