First off- I apologize in advance for this being WAY long.....
Ok, here's something that has bothered me more than just about anything I can remember. I guess I need some neutral feedback. It's regarding a neighbor/friend ("Michelle") who has accused me of "aggressively 'working' the neighborhood" in regards to my business. As a little background, she's someone who has hosted a show (about 2 years ago) and has been to I think just one other show in my neighborhood. She's ordered a few other things from me. She's a nice, fun person but I was totally taken aback by an email she recently sent me. This never would have come up except that I brought mini BBQ pork tenderloin sandwiches to a neighborhood "fall" party/block party a couple weekends ago. People went nuts over these!! That felt so good to hear people say "WHO made these?!" So, as a follow up to some people who really wanted the recipe and the sauce recipe, I sent out an email about 10 days afterwards with the recipes to people who had been at the party that I could remember and talked a little about the DCB. I was trying to tone it down to not look like it was a major pitch for my products. MOST people in the neighborhood have been to at least one party of mine, whether I was the host or a neighbor was the host.
After I sent the email out, DH mentioned he thought I should have toned it down even more because it did look like a hard-sell for the DCB. So, I sent a very brief apology email just saying I got a little too excited and apologized if it was a hard-sell type of email. My biggest fear is seeming like I'm aggressive and always trying to push PC on people. I HATE that kind of hard-sell that many other types of DS companies are known for. I don't want to get a bad reputation for being pushy. A couple neighbors emailed me back and said they didn't feel that way at all and appreciated that I forwarded on the recipes. But, then I get this one from Michelle. It threw my whole entire day off and ruined many, many things for me. I was in tears every time yesterday I talked about it with my DH.
So, here's the email she sent me. I'd love to have some feedback as to what you all think. Thank God I didn't email her back yet because I've needed a LOT of time to calm down. At first I felt very personally attacked, but I think it's all because my BIGGEST fear is that I will be perceived as pushy and aggressive because that is not at all who I am. This basically confirmed my biggest fear. Just starting PC at all 5 1/2 years ago was a huge step outside of my comfort zone. But the opportunity has definitely helped me build confidence and be a more outgoing person. I haven't emailed her back and I really don't even "have" to but I want to. As my DH said, she is complimentary in some parts of the email and I don't feel she's trying to be mean, but it just hit a major nerve.
Here's the email:
"Becky,
I read your apology email prior to reading the original below, and I don't think you were offensive in your original email. With that said, I will say that there has been some talk among neighbors that feel you do aggressively "work" the neighborhood.
Obviously you are very successful with your business, and that is something for which you should be respected. Promoting your business among neighbors and friends might be better received if done so in a low key manner. For example, offer to do a show where you simply display your new products and then socialize with your guests. Emails promoting products and recipes would sound less agressive if you omitted verbiage referencing incentive trips and selling opportunities (I'm just talking about the emails to friends and neighbors).
We love your products and think you are a really nice person, so we would like it if you could leave your binder in your bag, take off the apron, name tag, relax, and have fun with us!
Respectfully,
Michelle"
Ok - so my first reaction was a BAD one. I felt she was telling me how to run my biz and criticizing me as a person. I mean, she has NO CLUE what it takes to earn a trip and run a successful business. She also doesn't realize that my emails go out to EVERYBODY and not just separate ones for friends and neighbors. I was pissed that obviously neighbors are sitting around and talking about me. Then it hit me that on the 25th, I'm planning to do a show in my home as a FR for Help Whip Cancer. NOw I feel that I shouldn't do that because people view me as agressive and basically a pain in the a** because I try to promote my business.
I've calmed down a little bit and still haven't decided whether or not to email her back. I don't think she's looking for a reply from me, but I feel like I need to defend myself in a way. And mention, just as a heads up, she'll soon get an invitation to a FR I'm doing for breast cancer in my home and she can choose whether or not to attend, but basically her comments have made me second-guess that.
Oh boy, you all should have seen me yesterday. My DH is great and supportive and sees my points, but also thinks maybe I should take some of her observations into account. The last thing I want to be seen as is pushy and aggressive, so part of me wants to not do anything in my neighborhood again. I love my neighbors and most of them have been supportive in coming to my shows and my neighbors' shows (I've probably had about 4 neighbors just on my street host shows over the past 2 years, so I'm very lucky. Neighbors are also mostly the only ones who come to shows I personally host as mystery host shows, etc).
Anyway, sorry for the crazy length of this, but I'd love others' feedback. How would you have taken her email? What would you say back? I'm not sure what to do, but it's really bummed me out about having the HWC fundraiser.
Thanks in advance!! You all are awesome.
Ok, here's something that has bothered me more than just about anything I can remember. I guess I need some neutral feedback. It's regarding a neighbor/friend ("Michelle") who has accused me of "aggressively 'working' the neighborhood" in regards to my business. As a little background, she's someone who has hosted a show (about 2 years ago) and has been to I think just one other show in my neighborhood. She's ordered a few other things from me. She's a nice, fun person but I was totally taken aback by an email she recently sent me. This never would have come up except that I brought mini BBQ pork tenderloin sandwiches to a neighborhood "fall" party/block party a couple weekends ago. People went nuts over these!! That felt so good to hear people say "WHO made these?!" So, as a follow up to some people who really wanted the recipe and the sauce recipe, I sent out an email about 10 days afterwards with the recipes to people who had been at the party that I could remember and talked a little about the DCB. I was trying to tone it down to not look like it was a major pitch for my products. MOST people in the neighborhood have been to at least one party of mine, whether I was the host or a neighbor was the host.
After I sent the email out, DH mentioned he thought I should have toned it down even more because it did look like a hard-sell for the DCB. So, I sent a very brief apology email just saying I got a little too excited and apologized if it was a hard-sell type of email. My biggest fear is seeming like I'm aggressive and always trying to push PC on people. I HATE that kind of hard-sell that many other types of DS companies are known for. I don't want to get a bad reputation for being pushy. A couple neighbors emailed me back and said they didn't feel that way at all and appreciated that I forwarded on the recipes. But, then I get this one from Michelle. It threw my whole entire day off and ruined many, many things for me. I was in tears every time yesterday I talked about it with my DH.
So, here's the email she sent me. I'd love to have some feedback as to what you all think. Thank God I didn't email her back yet because I've needed a LOT of time to calm down. At first I felt very personally attacked, but I think it's all because my BIGGEST fear is that I will be perceived as pushy and aggressive because that is not at all who I am. This basically confirmed my biggest fear. Just starting PC at all 5 1/2 years ago was a huge step outside of my comfort zone. But the opportunity has definitely helped me build confidence and be a more outgoing person. I haven't emailed her back and I really don't even "have" to but I want to. As my DH said, she is complimentary in some parts of the email and I don't feel she's trying to be mean, but it just hit a major nerve.
Here's the email:
"Becky,
I read your apology email prior to reading the original below, and I don't think you were offensive in your original email. With that said, I will say that there has been some talk among neighbors that feel you do aggressively "work" the neighborhood.
Obviously you are very successful with your business, and that is something for which you should be respected. Promoting your business among neighbors and friends might be better received if done so in a low key manner. For example, offer to do a show where you simply display your new products and then socialize with your guests. Emails promoting products and recipes would sound less agressive if you omitted verbiage referencing incentive trips and selling opportunities (I'm just talking about the emails to friends and neighbors).
We love your products and think you are a really nice person, so we would like it if you could leave your binder in your bag, take off the apron, name tag, relax, and have fun with us!
Respectfully,
Michelle"
Ok - so my first reaction was a BAD one. I felt she was telling me how to run my biz and criticizing me as a person. I mean, she has NO CLUE what it takes to earn a trip and run a successful business. She also doesn't realize that my emails go out to EVERYBODY and not just separate ones for friends and neighbors. I was pissed that obviously neighbors are sitting around and talking about me. Then it hit me that on the 25th, I'm planning to do a show in my home as a FR for Help Whip Cancer. NOw I feel that I shouldn't do that because people view me as agressive and basically a pain in the a** because I try to promote my business.
I've calmed down a little bit and still haven't decided whether or not to email her back. I don't think she's looking for a reply from me, but I feel like I need to defend myself in a way. And mention, just as a heads up, she'll soon get an invitation to a FR I'm doing for breast cancer in my home and she can choose whether or not to attend, but basically her comments have made me second-guess that.
Oh boy, you all should have seen me yesterday. My DH is great and supportive and sees my points, but also thinks maybe I should take some of her observations into account. The last thing I want to be seen as is pushy and aggressive, so part of me wants to not do anything in my neighborhood again. I love my neighbors and most of them have been supportive in coming to my shows and my neighbors' shows (I've probably had about 4 neighbors just on my street host shows over the past 2 years, so I'm very lucky. Neighbors are also mostly the only ones who come to shows I personally host as mystery host shows, etc).
Anyway, sorry for the crazy length of this, but I'd love others' feedback. How would you have taken her email? What would you say back? I'm not sure what to do, but it's really bummed me out about having the HWC fundraiser.
Thanks in advance!! You all are awesome.