Looks Like I'm *Just* Going to Make It This Month

[chefkathy]

Whew...Dec was month 1 of relinquishment. My team is MIA and I had 2 cancellations this month. The shows that I have done have been low low low.

So, it wasn't looking good for the $4k. We need about $700 more. I have one more catalog show coming in and I have a show tonight. I told her we need to close by Saturday. She has 10 people coming.

I looks like we'll just make it. Whew.

 

[chefkathy]

Ooh! And as I was writing this, I got an email with Online Activity. $36 for a rectangular baker. I'll take it!

 

[Koolotus]

Good! Glad to hear you will make it
How's everything else going?

 

[finley1991]

December was month 1 for me too... we are $354.97 away from the $4k (but who's counting! ) I know there are some other shows going in so hopefully we'll make it. I'd hate to miss it 2 months in a row. Next month we will be fine, I'm sure. My show from last night was snowed out and we moved it to next Wednesday... otherwise I wouldn't even be worrying... I hate the frustrations of the *R*!!!!

 

[Gagescorpages]

December was Month 1, January will be Month 2.
I WILL have an awesome Feb...I MUST!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chefkugler]

I didn't think we would make it this month, but it looks like we will. My cluster tends to shock me at the last minute.
Janauary was such a bad month for me. But back on the horse I go for Feb.

 

[Mel5497]

This is month one for me...and Feb may be month two (since I'm essentially starting over again.) Fortunately, I have a very large fair in two weeks that should generate some bookings. **sigh**

Debbie, here's crossing my fingers for you and hoping your next on-line order is for the bamboo block knife set!

 

[icerneaccorie]

Right now my cluster is at about $600. We might break $1250 Not a good month but our Feb should be fine.

 

[PampMomof3]

That's great Deb!!!

As of right now, it doesn't look like we're going to make it. My team has $501 turned in and I have $1156 with a bomb of a show last night and another one tomorrow with at least 10 guests. I'm hoping to make it but it doesn't look like it.

 

[BethCooks4U]

We're $1200 short right now but I have at least $1100 myself to go in IF my hosts don't ignore my call to close their shows tomorrow and 2 consultants said they have small shows to go in so it looks like we should make it. I hate when it gets down to the wire.

 

[pamperedlinda]

whew! I'm at 4056....and if the waiver is accepted for my dead-beat consultant then I'll be okay there too. Or, if my fence-sitter will sign this week instead of next week I'll be peachy-keen!

I absolutley cannot wait for the new system!!!!!! I want desperately to start the system as a director and not a team leader. If my team doesn't recruit I know I'll be paid as a TL, but that's okay for a while (I'll proabably bounce around for a little while anyhow). I'm just so excited about not having to worry about losing my team to my director. I cna relax a bit more and concentrate on growing them instead of stressing about losing them.

 

[jwpamp]

Good news, Linda!As for me, I refuse to sit and worry about the state of my business when I really don't have control over other people. I had a slower-than-normal January, so will end with around $1250 in personal sales -- and with my team's sales, our total will be around $3500. If we make the $4k level, fine. If not, fine. I find it much less stressful when I don't worry about it.....not that I don't try, I am still working my business as I did before, I just don't care if I am at a Director level or not. I know that I will still make overrides as a Team Leader, and I don't plan on working as hard for it.I am working on my personal sales more instead of worrying about trying to convince my team to work on theirs.

 

[jwpamp]

February is looking good....what are you getting for your Jan-Feb sales incentive????

 

[BethCooks4U]

Just got off the phone leaving messages for my team. I did talk to an unqualified recruit of a recruit who got catalogs from me earlier this month. She said she submitted this morning but I don't see it! With that and ONE of my 2 shows that I plan to close tomorrow we have made it once again!

If we were in the new program I would have been paid as a Senior Consultant:
1. FD and both of hers submitted
2. Consultant (at least she said she's submitting) and her one recruit submitted
NO OTHERS SO FAR. That is unusual but still...

Edited to change: No, I'd still only have 3 unless someone surprises me.
3. Another consultant might still submit - I know she did a show but she's usually much quicker at getting them in, is out of town (with her computer) and has told me she's been trying to close this for a week already but the host is MIA.
4. Edited to change: the consultant I had here is counted in #2


I see the new system as more stressful to make the requirements.

I currently have 10-12 that I recruited plus the 3 active who were recruited by my recruits. They all count toward my 5 now and most months I have an average of 8 of the 15 submitting.


I am planning to give this a good try and keep my attitude adjusted but...

 

[pamperedlinda]

Beth - wouldn't you be paid as a Team Leader?

 

[BethCooks4U]

Beth - wouldn't you be paid as a Team Leader?

You are right. I do have two with downlines submitting.

I guess I had it in my head that it would be less because I only have one who is recruiting - the other recruit's recruit hasn't submitted for 9 months, in fact she hasn't qualified yet, so I was thinking I didn't have two recruiters - I guess my brain still isn't working at full force yet. I'll blame it on those surgeries.

Thanks for making me feel less a loser tonight, Linda.

 

[BethCooks4U]

So if we are a director but have just one recruiter line active in a month we are down to Senior Consultant (for pay), right?

 

[pamperedlinda]

what's your definition of "recruiter line"?

Senior Cons = a consultant with 1 active recruit (who may or may not have any recruits)

Team Leaders need at least 2 active consultants - whether or not those consultants have recruited. You can be a TL with 8 cons if at least 2 of them have not recruited.

 

[BethCooks4U]

what's your definition of "recruiter line"?

Senior Cons = a consultant with 1 active recruit (who may or may not have any recruits)

Team Leaders need at least 2 active consultants - whether or not those consultants have recruited. You can be a TL with 8 cons if at least 2 of them have not recruited.

Recruiter line = at least a senior consultant - a recruit who has recruited.

So if I only have one SC or TL that is active that month I get paid as a SC, right?

 

[pamperedlinda]

I think that's right.

For those of us with a small, weak team, we will probably bounce around a little bit (I'm completely prepared for that to happen). Once we can get over the hump of that and start promoting our consultants we will be much better off. It might take a little while b/c we (or at least I) have not been practicing team growth that way....heck, I'm just trying to keep the ones that I do have active. It's a mind-set change and a team change. I'm still extremely jazzed that HO will not penalize me for not meeting my goals by taking my team away from me when I don't meet those standards.

 

[BethCooks4U]

You are right there. Keeping our team is a big advantage. I am just upset because in almost 4 years as a director I have only had one month that we didn't meet and exceed all 3 director requirements. I know I'm not a star director but I am consistent and I think credit should be given for that. Offer me perks for growing but don't make me be a loser if I don't.

I started my business training my recruits to recruit. In fact when I promoted (finally had my 5) I had 10 in my first line because they recruited too. My numbers have been higher but right now I'm back down to 15 (if they all stayed active at the same time) and only 1 is actively recruiting - a couple others are wanting to - wanting more training/info to help them recruit and I have that one whose recruit fell in her lap but then went MIA until now. So we are on the right track. I just worry too much. It's all in our attitude. We can all grow with this.

 

[PamperedChefDebi]

Right now my cluster is at about $600. We might break $1250 Not a good month but our Feb should be fine.

That's me exactly!!! Except, unless my Host tomorrow agrees to close tomorrow, we won't even hit $1250. This is the first month in my 17 months as a Director I've not hit my minimums. BUT, February will be fine all the way around so I'm not too worried.

 

[Koolotus]

I just want to say that our grace period is until JULY 1st. Until that time you will be paid at whatever level you achieve, or as a Director, whichever is higher.
It's January! There is no reason at all that we can't all have the structure we need by then if we want it. Currently your team may not be recruiting. So if you want them to, ask yourself how can I be proactive about that?
I asked myself that question
I too would be a Team Leader this month even though we hit the sales requirements, as of this morning there are only 3 active, according to the new plan.
What I am doing is working with the willing to get their show schedules consistent, that is my step program, in that I am helping them to recruit and to dedicate the time to their business to make it successful.
More importantly I am recruiting myself. I am actively seeking NEW team members and speaking at my shows about giving the Pampered Chef a try with a friend
I know that we can only control what we do. SO, I am doing what I would like my team to do. Going out and sharing this wonderful opportunity and doing it in a way that is helping me to build wide & deep We have 5 more months. It is nice to be able to come here and groan when things don't go the way we thought. I just felt the need to say something because it was starting to feel like some didn't have any hope. There is hope and we can all do this! (My opinion only )

 

[BethCooks4U]

I agree Cheryl and I am and have been working to grow my team. We have been concentrating for MONTHS on growing their show schedules and no matter what we train and how much they say "I can do that" and they say the right words at the meeting and in our calls they still aren't doing the shows (for the most part).

I am not giving up hope and I know we can do this but I do not like the pressure that we have to find recruits out of thin air (I have a lot of interest but not so many takers - we can't force them to sign) and the pressure the team has to recruit now to keep my directorship. I refuse to put that on them. I will do more recruiting training than I ever have but I will not make them feel that they are letting me down if they don't. It is their business. That's what I have always loved about this business - we can all do the business as we are comfortable with and still get rewarded.

I am not giving up and am stepping up to the plate. I was just saying that if we were there this is where I would be and I was wrong at first so it's a learning curve.

In fact one of my "I want to have more shows...." but isn't doing them is bringing a lead to our meeting this week. So they are getting the message. It will be a good change. It's just scary for those of us who don't already have the structure in place.

 

[Mel5497]

I love your post Cheryl. Thank you! I feel some of the same anxiety and concern voiced in the other posts. The new program is a huge change in mind-set. Like Linda, I anticipate bouncing around a bit...but love, love, love that I won't lose my team members.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I love this site. Those of us who post regularly seem to all be in about the same place in a lot of ways. Some are highly successful all the time and are a great support. Others have earned awards and reached high goals but still struggle with their teams at times and others are consistently doing okay but not excelling. And we can come here and vent or celebrate! We all have something to offer and help when we can. None of us have perfect businesses but we have all achieved.

We can be excited about the new program and embrace it - and be here to support each other when it's not going how we want or when we are celebrating.


Thanks guys! :love0010:

 

[Koolotus]

Thank you Beth & Kris! We all know that you never know how your posts will be read.
I do mean to be supportive, and I do understand. I just know that sometimes if I let myself go down a certain road....I can just keep going and not do anything productive! I was trying to help prevent that for you guys (an myself!)
I love the support on this site, and am thrilled beyond belief when I get to meet and chat with some of my DCS rockstars

I am excited for the changes, and apprehensive but I will continue to be proactive. Glad to hear you will too

 

[pamperedlinda]

Thanks Cheryl. Yes, I'm excited about the grace period until July. That's why I'm really working on my team and myself to NOT go into relinquishment before April. If you are in relinquishment on 4/1 you will not go into the new program as a Director.

I know it can all change in a flash and I'm working towards that. It's just that when you get down to the end of the month and your team didn't perform (again) that you start to think about the 'what ifs'. I also tend to think more as a realist than a dreamer.....maybe I should just keep dreaming - huh? I am working towards building a stronger team. I'm pretty much done with the ones who don't return calls or work their biz either. What's that saying "It's easier to give birth that to revive the dead"

I have a couple of fence sitters that are just about ready to join - dang I wish they'd just do it!

 

[Koolotus]

What's that saying "It's easier to give birth that to revive the dead"

QUOTE]

LMAO!!!
Ain't that the truth.

 

[PamperedChefDebi]

What's that saying "It's easier to give birth that to revive the dead"

QUOTE]

LMAO!!!
Ain't that the truth.

Cheryl, I just gotta say, after meeting you, I absolutely LOVE your attitude! Sure, we only got to chat that one night, BUT you strike me as the type of person who is all about having fun and staying positive, BUT you stay focused in the process! Hope I'm getting into words what I'm thinking, but I personally find this VERY encouraging and the kind of attitude I want to duplicate. We all have our rough patches (I'm having one now) but being able to follow that negative statement with a plan of action or a statement reflecting the fact that we have NO doubt it will turn around is the most important thing, IMHO. Getting lost in the negative drives me NUTS! Anyway, thank you Cheryl, Beth, Linda, and everyone else who is always reminding us that WE have control over the path our businesses take!!