Unseen Faces and Missing Leaders: A Recap of Our Baltimore Spring Launch

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses the recent Baltimore Spring Launch, focusing on the absence of certain leaders and top sellers, as well as the performances of new team members during the event. Participants share their observations and experiences regarding the event's dynamics and the individuals involved.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions noticing a new Marketing Director at the event but did not see her at the conference.
  • Another participant recalls that Tony, who was with Dan, is a Sales Marketing guy and has been with the company for about six months.
  • Several participants express missing Susie Lite, who has left for another company, and note the absence of top sellers as strange.
  • One participant shares that Tony is involved with the "Summer's Best" challenge and describes him as nice and excited.
  • Multiple participants comment on the humorous dynamic between Dan and Tony during the event, describing their performance as entertaining.
  • Some participants inquire about Duska Mills, with speculation about her absence being related to personal matters.
  • One participant expresses disappointment over David Meehan's absence and shares a positive past experience with him as a speaker.
  • Several participants discuss the challenges faced by team members in attending the conference due to family commitments.
  • One participant raises concerns about David's sales practices, suggesting they may undermine the integrity of the business.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ regarding the reasons for the absence of certain individuals and the implications of their absence. Some participants express nostalgia for previous leaders, while others focus on the new dynamics introduced by current team members.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a mix of personal experiences and observations from the Baltimore Spring Launch, highlighting the community's engagement with changes in leadership and team dynamics.

Who May Find This Useful

Participants within the consultant community who are interested in the dynamics of leadership changes and team performances during events may find this discussion relevant.

I understand the above..however, it is HIS business and how he runs it. If he is not breaking any policy guidelines than there really is no room to complain how he does it. We all get to choose how we run our business under and along the policy guidelines. Is that not the beauty of being a PC entrepreneur..doing what you love and what works best for you? He is not stepping on anyone's toes.(that is also an amazing tax write-off!!)
 
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I didn't get to "see" Carolyn =(
no hugs for me......
 
ChefCKHall said:
I understand the above..however, it is HIS business and how he runs it. If he is not breaking any policy guidelines than there really is no room to complain how he does it. We all get to choose how we run our business under and along the policy guidelines. Is that not the beauty of being a PC entrepreneur..doing what you love and what works best for you? He is not stepping on anyone's toes.
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Agreed. And he covers the cost himself so it's not like he is bilking anyone out of $$.
I don't think he has ever gone higher than director status. He did, however, earn excellence in 2 categories so he has to have a decent team. We fall under the same exec umbrella ( although my director is a NED, so we are not in the same exec groups at conference if that makes any sense.) And she, the exec, not my NED, sends her recognition newsletters to us as well. His personal and team sales are always listed and while his personal sales, as always, are amazing, his team sales aren't bad either.
 
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You also have to realize that he does 20-30 shows a month so that's how his sales are so huge. I don't feel like we can say much about him unless we know him personally even if it's what we've "heard". Sometimes that stuff isn't always true.On that same note sometimes these people have lives too and sometimes they interfere with things like conference. They cannot always help it just as we cannot help why we cannot make conference or other trainings. We don't know why David had to leave so quickly so we should quit trying to spread rumors around that may nor may not be true.
 
Sometimes people aren't happy unless they are complaining about something. same broken record...
 
ChefCKHall said:
I understand the above..however, it is HIS business and how he runs it. If he is not breaking any policy guidelines than there really is no room to complain how he does it. We all get to choose how we run our business under and along the policy guidelines. Is that not the beauty of being a PC entrepreneur..doing what you love and what works best for you? He is not stepping on anyone's toes.

(that is also an amazing tax write-off!!)
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Actually, there are limits. You are only allowed to claim $35 in "gifts" to one person per year. So he couldn't write off $200 of cookware to one person unless he's found another way to do it (if he's entering it as a "Gift").

Definitely not a method I would even consider. :D Too complicated. My NED (hosp) talks alot about splitting host specials, giving free shipping, etc, to get bookings and such. That's great, but it adds up too and my out-of-pocket costs become much higher than I want. It might work for her with 40% discount, but I'm not there yet.
 
esavvymom said:
Actually, there are limits. You are only allowed to claim $35 in "gifts" to one person per year. So he couldn't write off $200 of cookware to one person unless he's found another way to do it (if he's entering it as a "Gift").

Definitely not a method I would even consider. :D Too complicated. My NED (hosp) talks alot about splitting host specials, giving free shipping, etc, to get bookings and such. That's great, but it adds up too and my out-of-pocket costs become much higher than I want. It might work for her with 40% discount, but I'm not there yet.
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The thing is, we don't know that he's entering it as a gift. My guess is that he isn't. And although most of us aren't there, if he is willing to eat the incentive cost, which he makes 32% back in commission, then good for him. Like some have said, it's not for everybody. We all have different needs from this business and different approaches. His clearly works for him.
 
This practice of David's is used by many in the company. By no means is he alone. When you think about the added commission he receives by 'playing' with the numbers, it pays back almost all (if not all) of the out of pocket expenses he originally put up to close the show. I learned about this method from a VERY popular higher up when I first started with the biz 2 yrs ago. I was also taught (if I wanted to use it) by this Exec to offer all of my hosts unlimited 50% off items as a booking tool b/c after their discount and the commission, you don't really pay that much and hosts think they are getting 'a lot' and it sets you (whomever) apart from other consultants. (Don't jump all over me please for simply repeating his 'teachings')

As long as the host is not being scammed or paying more than they should have, I say, "Whats the beef?"

I think they announced for Circle of Honor that David's sales last year were $216,000.:eek: When any one of us has sales over $200k, then we have the right to criticize. :rolleyes:
 
ChefLoriG said:
I didn't get to "see" Carolyn =(
no hugs for me......
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but I saw you from several rows away during go 4 no...i was sending you air-hugs...that's gotta count for something ;)
 
I didn't see Becky D....and I looked everywhere!
 
ShellBeach said:
Just curious, how do you know he does this?
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because he told my director

I realize that numbers can be played with and as long as the customer is happy and PC gets their money nothing will be done. It does not make for a level playing field which hurts everyone else who can't/won't do that. That is my issue. I know they foot the bill themselves which is up to them, but just because you can do something doesn't make it right.

Honestly, I wasn't trying to stir up a hornet's nest. I was just pointing out how he got his great numbers. Yes, he is an excellent salesman and would have had phenomenal numbers regardless.
 
I wouldn't make the comment then that his success is because he's cheating. He really is not cheating, he's working his business as he wants to. So when I see a Sr Exec offering a kit rebate for anyone joining her team, does that make her a cheater too? She's just giving more incentive to her business and running it how she wishes to so she achieves the goals she has set forth for herself and her business. She is putting up the money too.

Running a business is not always about being fair (it's like life) but having the competitive advantage (while remaining ethical) will keep the business a head above the competition.
 
lt1jane said:
because he told my director

I realize that numbers can be played with and as long as the customer is happy and PC gets their money nothing will be done. It does not make for a level playing field which hurts everyone else who can't/won't do that. That is my issue. I know they foot the bill themselves which is up to them, but just because you can do something doesn't make it right.

Honestly, I wasn't trying to stir up a hornet's nest. I was just pointing out how he got his great numbers. Yes, he is an excellent salesman and would have had phenomenal numbers regardless.
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I disagree with this statement. I don't do that and he certainly hasn't hurt my business. There are several other top sellers in his area. The bottom line is that if you are successful working your business then you're successful working your business, regardless of what other people do. Those, as in Melissa's example, who are willing to risk more than what the company covers, reap bigger rewards. It's business and it's life.
And I understand you weren't trying to stir up a hornet's nest. I think it has made for a great discussion.:D
 
pamperedlinda said:
I didn't see Becky D....and I looked everywhere!
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I saw you in passing!
 
Tony Solis is the new Sales Manager-he started in February. I met him at a two-day training he did in June in Houston.

Where did Susie Lite go? She had been with PC for a very long time.

Suzy in Texas
 
wadesgirl said:
I saw you in passing!
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I didn't see you! You should have grabbed me....well, maybe hollered at me :)
 
Susie is with Rodan and Fields (skincare direct sales)
 
Melissa78 said:
I think they announced for Circle of Honor that David's sales last year were $216,000.:eek: When any one of us has sales over $200k, then we have the right to criticize. :rolleyes:
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Yes, to put this in perspective, if your show average is $600, you'd have to do 360 shows a year. Every single day except New Years, Christmas, Easter, July 4th, and Thanksgiving. Granted, I'm certain his show average is a wee bit higher that $600, but even at an average of $1000 per show that's 216 shows a year/18 shows per month.

We should be inspired. I know I am!
 
lt1jane said:
because he told my director

I realize that numbers can be played with and as long as the customer is happy and PC gets their money nothing will be done. It does not make for a level playing field which hurts everyone else who can't/won't do that. That is my issue. I know they foot the bill themselves which is up to them, but just because you can do something doesn't make it right.

Honestly, I wasn't trying to stir up a hornet's nest. I was just pointing out how he got his great numbers. Yes, he is an excellent salesman and would have had phenomenal numbers regardless.
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Am I guilty of the same thing since I sometimes pay for the shipping for a customer? It is out of my pocket. I have a friend who will order a couple of items if I need to get a show to certain level (she always needs something) - but since she just does a few items at a time - and it helps me & my host out, I pay for the shipping for her. It does go to my sales and I am almost "bribing" her to order.

Or how about the times when we offer a % off all orders? We are paying for the difference since it is a personal promotion - and it generates sales - maybe more than we would have gotten without that % off offering.

So, us offering things (shipping/% off or the kit rebates as Melissa mentions), is this considered wrong - or considered unethical?

Not trying to stir anything up...just curious.
 
kam said:
Am I guilty of the same thing since I sometimes pay for the shipping for a customer? It is out of my pocket. I have a friend who will order a couple of items if I need to get a show to certain level (she always needs something) - but since she just does a few items at a time - and it helps me & my host out, I pay for the shipping for her. It does go to my sales and I am almost "bribing" her to order.

Or how about the times when we offer a % off all orders? We are paying for the difference since it is a personal promotion - and it generates sales - maybe more than we would have gotten without that % off offering.

So, us offering things (shipping/% off or the kit rebates as Melissa mentions), is this considered wrong - or considered unethical?

Not trying to stir anything up...just curious.
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in my opinion as long as we are following our agreements it is just fine to offer whatever specials we choose to and we can afford. I can't afford to offer the same deals others might and I can afford to offer more than some. My only objection to offering our own deals is that it could be saying that our company doesn't give enough and I feel that PC is VERY generous to our hosts and guests.

Some customers feel we should offer more deals because we get a discount and they want part or all of it. They think we get as much as 50% as some companies such as MK do. When we run across that we need to try to make them understand how it works. We get a good discount and have opportunities to buy or earn everything free or at 50 or even 60% off but we don't get that on a regular sale.
 
Yes, I agree Beth! Our company is VERY generous. I don't do them often since I don't want customers to expect it. And, yes, we can only offer what we feel we can afford.

I think I was just concerned over the "cheater" and "unethical" terms being thrown out.

What I have done in the past (% off sales / free shipping) are basically the same thing - just on a smaller scale. And I have never thought of it as cheating or doing something wrong. And I don't think any of us who have run % off sales have ever thought we were doing anything wrong. We are generating (hopefully more) sales and getting commission on those sales. And, yes, those sales boost our career sales.
 
kam said:
Yes, I agree Beth! Our company is VERY generous. I don't do them often since I don't want customers to expect it. And, yes, we can only offer what we feel we can afford.

I think I was just concerned over the "cheater" and "unethical" terms being thrown out.

What I have done in the past (% off sales / free shipping) are basically the same thing - just on a smaller scale. And I have never thought of it as cheating or doing something wrong. And I don't think any of us who have run % off sales have ever thought we were doing anything wrong. We are generating (hopefully more) sales and getting commission on those sales. And, yes, those sales boost our career sales.
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Exactly. Anyone who knows me or has read my posts is aware that I'm all about "ethical" (lol) and I can't see anything wrong with this.
 
Some of you mentioned the parade, and yes, it was long-but I got to march in it! Thought you'all might like to know a bit about it. This was PC's idea, and I was so surprised to be one of the top ten in sales in my NED's team. I found out at breakfast that day! I've been with PC for almost 10 years, have never earned TPC or a trip,and am so SO close to becoming a Director. So when I learned that I was in the TOP 10 and got to walk in a parade, it brought tears to my eyes. You can't even imagine how much this meant to me! And I'm sure it was a long parade and could have been boring (I probably would have been bored if I didn't know anything about it or anyone who was walking in it). But my NED seemed to be excited about this parade. Will they do it next year? That's anyone's guess:-)

Suzy in Texas
 
Suzy Englert said:
Some of you mentioned the parade, and yes, it was long-but I got to march in it! Thought you'all might like to know a bit about it. This was PC's idea, and I was so surprised to be one of the top ten in sales in my NED's team. I found out at breakfast that day! I've been with PC for almost 10 years, have never earned TPC or a trip,and am so SO close to becoming a Director. So when I learned that I was in the TOP 10 and got to walk in a parade, it brought tears to my eyes. You can't even imagine how much this meant to me! And I'm sure it was a long parade and could have been boring (I probably would have been bored if I didn't know anything about it or anyone who was walking in it). But my NED seemed to be excited about this parade. Will they do it next year? That's anyone's guess:-)

Suzy in Texas
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I agree that the parade was long but I also loved that they recognized the top 10 in all Exec lines. That gave deserved kudos to a lot more people and they all deserved it! :thumbup:
 
BethCooks4U said:
I agree that the parade was long but I also loved that they recognized the top 10 in all Exec lines. That gave deserved kudos to a lot more people and they all deserved it! :thumbup:
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I think it's great that they were able to recognize more people. The problem, at least from where I was sitting, was that the sound was poor, and so we couldn't hear the names, the commentary, or anything that was being said. It would've made a huge difference!

So glad you got to be recognized, though. It did seem like a worthwhile thing to do, just not implemented as well as it could've been.
 
The parade was very long. I was in it for my NED and we were one of the last groups to go. From the time we lined-up til the time we walked was over an hour of standing in the back of the room. What I didn't like about it was that we couldn't hear or see what was going on. We missed the entire scene with Dan and Tony (?). The good part was we had 2nd row seating :D for the remainder of the session.
 
It was probably longer for you guys IN the parade than the rest of us.
General Session as a RULE is long in my opinion!! :D parade or not, I don't care. It's too long without a "7th inning stretch". And Dan and Tony did make it quite humorous at times.
 
pamperedlinda said:
I didn't see you! You should have grabbed me....well, maybe hollered at me :)
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I think it was at breakfast and I was shoveling food in my mouth because we were late that day!
 
Yes, we did stand in line a long time-but it was great to sit on the 2nd row!

Suzy in Texas
 
Suzy Englert said:
Yes, we did stand in line a long time-but it was great to sit on the 2nd row!

Suzy in Texas
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Oh yes it was!
 
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