Burke Hedges Speaks

Are you one of those people who runs around with so many ideas
and you have projects going all over the place yet you feel
like you’ve got so little time.  All those great ideas, but
nothing is really making it to completion.  You feel like
you’re spinning. 

Sound familiar?

As Network Marketing entrepreneurs, it’s common for us to have
tons of great ideas and projects rolling around in our heads -
with more popping up everyday! The problem is getting them
completed.

It’s not that you have a shortage of ideas - you’ve got
notebooks, files, post-its and lists of ideas and projects.
Rather, it’s that you have a shortage of projects that actually
get done.    

So what’s the solution?

Focus on only a handful of projects at a time.  Do less of them
at one time.  Sounds easy, and it is.  Here’s how it goes:
1. Keep a Running Project List

Keep it in one place, where you can get to it. Use a notebook or
your word processing program on your computer to get all those
ideas out of your head and in a place you know they will be when
you’re ready for them.

The first time you do this, do what I call a “brain dump”.  Just
sit down and think of every project you want or need to do, every
prospect you need to call, every person you could partner up with,
every idea you’ve got for advertising your business, and get it
written down.

Don’t judge what you’re writing.  This is JUST like writing your
“Warm List” of contacts.  Don’t feel one way or another about your
ideas, just get them listed.  Don’t start to write an idea down
and then stop yourself and think, “Well, I don’t have the money
(or resources, or time, or knowledge, and so on) to do that.  So
I shouldn’t write it down.” 

NO!  Get it all out on paper first and you can come back and edit
it later.

Once you have the list, go back and put a star by the most urgent
projects. Think of the starred projects as “on deck”.  These are
your best ideas that you’re able to start implementing right now.

2. Chart Out your Projects

Your next task is to start mapping out the tasks associated with
that project.  So, for example, let’s say one of your projects is
to start doing a weekly training call for your team.  You’d simply
begin making a list of everything you need to complete that project. 

Things like:

- Getting the group telephone line
- Writing down a list of topics to teach on
- Lining up guest speakers
- Determining the day and time for the call
- Promoting it to your team with emails, flyers and announcements
- And so on

After you’ve made your “to-do” list, pick out a task or two to get
done this week and begin working on it.

3. Keep it Down to No More Than 3 Projects

The key here is focus. Multi-tasking is not the best idea and if you
bite off more than you can chew, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and
discouraged and quit.  Your best bet is to underestimate your time
a little and half way through the week decide to add more tasks to
your list rather than constantly getting behind. 

Doing this allows you to focus in and not only get the important
things done, but do them to the best of your ability. You have more
creativity when it’s not spread out so thinly.

So, try it out, see what you think. Focus on a few projects, track
them and see where you end up. You’ll be surprised how you can
complete more projects by doing less.

Funny how that works…

Welcome back to another edition of the Monday Minute.  Let me
start off today by asking you a question: “Why should I buy what
you sell or join your opportunity, when I can buy it from one
of your competitors?”    

Now, this question might sound a little harsh, but I guarantee
you, every prospect you speak to is thinking this.  When you’re
sitting with them at your local Starbucks, showing them your
product line and the company compensation plan, they’re sitting
there wondering “why” they should get started with you. 

Yes, the product and opportunity sound unique - but why should
I get started today with you?  What makes a prospect want to go
into business with you?

A key ingredient to your success will be in your ability to
provide an answer.  That’s what a USP is.  It’s your Unique
Selling Point.  It’s what makes you stand out from your
competitors.   

If you’re in a health juice company, your USP will easily
explain to prospects what makes your company different.

If your prospect has been shown 4 other home-based businesses
already this month, your USP will tell him/her exactly why
you’re the one they should partner up with over all the others.

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Heck, having a strong USP will help if your prospect has already
been shown the exact same business opportunity you’re involved
in!  Have you ever had that happen?  You’re sitting there showing
someone the plan and they break in and say, “Yeah, yeah - I’ve
seen this already.  My neighbor Bob is in this.”  How are you
supposed to respond to that?
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With your USP!  You say, “That’s great Mr. Prospect.  I’m so glad
you’re already familiar with the opportunity.  Now, I don’t know
if Bob told you this or not, but what makes working with my team
really special is _______ (you fill in the blank with your USP here).

So, how can you find your USP if you don’t already have one? 
It’s simple, just ask yourself what is the main reason your
prospects either purchase your products on get started in business
with you. 

>> Is it because of the price of your opportunity?
>> Is it the special formulation of your products?
>> Is it the training, leadership and support you provide?
>> Is it your experience in the industry?
>> Is it because of the uniqueness of your opportunity?

Think about that for a few moments.  What are some of the things
that make you and your opportunity so unique?  Why should someone
choose to work with you in your opportunity over all the other
choices that are available?

>> If you’re in a health & wellness company…what makes you different?
>> If you’re in a technology company…what makes you different?
>> If there are 5 other guys sitting in Starbucks showing their 
   business to prospects…what makes you different?

Use this to position yourself against competitors. Often, at face
value, your business doesn’t look much different than your
competitors, so you need a strong USP that shouts to potential
customers “Hey, here’s why I’m better!”

Do this and I guarantee you’ll stand out from the rest. 

Have a great week!

Thanks for joining me again for another edition of the Monday
Minute.  I’m often asked “How do you do it?” - everyone wants to
know HOW to build this business.  And it got me thinking
about something that’s even more important than “how-to”.

We’re going to discuss that today.

Have you ever heard the saying, “If How To’s were enough we
would all be SKINNY, RICH and HAPPY”? 

We all want a list to follow and someone to show us all the steps
to success.  We all find ourselves asking “How did they do that?”

>> “How did she get to the top level so fast?  Didn’t she just start
a month ago?  What’s her secret?”

>> “How does he schedule so many meetings?  Man, I wish I had that
many people to talk to!”

>> “How did they get all that money?  Aren’t we in a recession?”

>> “What did she do to lose all that weight?  How do they have such
a great relationship?  Why are their kids so well behaved?”

…and the list goes on & on… 

We look at what other people have and if it’s something we desire,
we figure they must have some hidden secret to get it.  They must
know something we don’t know - otherwise, we’d have it too.

No matter what it is, we all want to know HOW they did it.  What
are the steps?  Can you write it all down for me, so I can follow
the step-by-step system, and have the same success you have?

Well friend, let me suggest to you that it may not all lie in the
‘how-to’ but rather in the WHY. 

I could give you a step-by-step list of “how to’s” to take you
from a brand new distributor to a Top Income Earner in your organization
in 365 days.  And although that list would be very helpful to you, it
still wouldn’t get you to where you want to go without a powerful reason
WHY.

Why did you get started in your business?  What motivates you?  What
is going to happen to your family this year if you don’t do something
to turn things around?

Your why is something only you can answer for yourself. It’s what burns
inside of you everyday.  It’s a powerful driving force.

Some people are motivated by fear.  “If I don’t turn things around
quickly, my family may lose our home.”  Or, “My children are going off
to college in 2 years and I have no way to pay for it.”  These are very
powerful reasons why.

Other people are motivated by desire.  “If I work really hard this
month, I’ll be able to go on that trip with my family.”  Or, “Once I
reach the next level, I’ll be able to quit my job and go full-time!”

No matter what your burning desires are, once you’ve discovered and
connected with the reasons WHY you want to succeed, then you can
start planning HOW you’re going to do it. 

You didn’t join your organization because the company has great
offices. You joined because you saw an opportunity out of the rat
race.  You joined because you envisioned spending more time with
the ones you love.  You joined because you wanted to design your
own life instead of living a life on the defense where you simply
react to everything. 

I encourage you this week to take a serious look at your motivation
and the desires of the heart.  I think if you start looking at
everything this way, you’ll quickly realize that all those people
you meet who have what you want got there the same way - They
started FIRST with a very strong and powerful reason WHY.

Be your best & have a great week!

Welcome back to another edition of the Monday Minute!

Have you ever been frustrated and wondered why people who are
the Top Income Earners in your company seem to just get more
and more successful and prosperous (and they make it look so
easy too), while other people seem to keep trying and trying,
yet it seems like they’re going to be stuck forever?

The reason is simple- and it’s something you’ve heard many
times before, especially if you’ve been involved with direct
selling for a while. 

Your thoughts come before actions.  What you think about will
come about.  So, in order to be “at the top”, you’ve got to think
and act like a Top Income Earner before you’ll BE a Top Income
Earner.  

Today, let’s take a look at some of the characteristics and the
‘thinking patterns’ of Top Income Earners and see how you measure up. 

1. They don’t have a limited self belief

Top Income Earners believe they are destined to be at the top and
there is nothing that can stop them from achieving that financial
freedom goal. They’re convinced.  They will do whatever necessary
to reach their goals including doing things that they dislike or
taking on tasks that seem impossible to complete.  They live right
outside of their comfort zone because they honestly believe not
only that they CAN do it, but that they’re WORTHY of it as well. 

2. Time is #1

Top Income Earners recognize that time is their most important
asset and a very scarce resource. They don’t waste it sitting in
front of a TV watching entertainment programs.  There is an urgency
to their efforts.  Like trying to get a plane off the runway, Top
Income Earners know you’ve got to run quickly in this business in
order to soar. 

They’re also experts at using the power of leverage to achieve
maximum results with minimum efforts.  So, instead of driving an
hour to sit with one prospect, they’ll make several phone calls
and organize a series of meetings or one large meeting in the
same location.  Same effort - double the results.

3. They recruit “up”

Many networkers only prospect people that are at the same financial
level as they are.  They’re either afraid or have a limiting self
belief that hinders them from prospecting people who they consider
to be “higher up” in life. 

Top Income Earners do the opposite. They want to network and learn
from others who have achieved more and are wealthier.  So they
purposefully look around for the heavy hitters and recruit those
folks into their business.

4. They invest in themselves

To many people who are struggling financially, the best way to
manage money is to use less of it.  And spending money on training
or their business is considered an expense.  However, Top Income
Earners have a different viewpoint. To them, spending a certain
amount of money to acquire an asset or skill is an investment.  An
investment that they know they’ll get back tenfold. 

5. They have strong self-confidence

Top Income Earners have a high level of self-confidence that is
often contagious. They’re optimists who keep a positive outlook at
all times and they don’t allow their confidence to be easily shaken
by external factors.

6. They manage their money well

In order to really live the dream, a successful Top Income Earner
not only earns a lot of money, he/she also learns how to invest
and manage that money.  They don’t spend their money aimlessly
buying things that have no real value. 

Many Top Income Earners started studying and learning about managing
their finances BEFORE they had any real finances to manage!  This
goes back to not having limited beliefs.  Top Income Earners are
prepared to handle the additional income and wealth that success
in this industry brings.

7. They give back 

Top Income Earners are generous and care about others.  That’s
the nature of our industry.  You’ve got to help others become
successful so you can be successful. 

You don’t get to the top overnight.  You face many setbacks and
challenges to get there.  To Top Income Earners, setbacks and
challenges provide valuable lessons that help them find the
way to great wealth as well as strengthen their ability to face
adversities in life.

Because of this they give back to the people on their team and
in their communities.  They have a passion for helping others.

I hope this helps you as you plan your week - I look forward
to seeing you next week for another edition of the Monday
Minute!