In the world of personal business ownership, a level of understanding must develop.  For people to take you seriously, and for you to expect adequate returns on your investment of time and effort, it is necessary to think professionally regarding your business. 

What do I mean by thinking professionally?  There is a big difference between a hobby and a profession.  A hobby requires no commitment, no sustainable effort, and is whimsical and fleeting.  A profession requires constancy of purpose, adherence to a goal, and proper conduct. 

The problem for most people with independent business ownership in an endeavor such as LIFE, the kind they run out of their home, the kind that doesn't require much initial investment (peanuts compared to "real" businesses where you can look sexy for a season, mortgage everything, and escape to bankruptcy later), is that they never really treat it like a business.  Instead, they dabble at it and treat it like a hobby.  As the saying goes, "put in hobby effort, expect hobby results.  Put in business-like effort, expect business results" (or was the saying, "don't pick your nose during church."  I can't determine which one fits best here.  I'll just leave it to reader choice).  Anyway, to expect your business to act like a business, you must treat it like a business.

The first category in which to consider this is that of activity.  In previous posts, I already wrote extensively (and excellently, I might add) about the dangers of self-deception.  People think they are working hard at their business because they think about it all the time, or they talk about it all the time, or they dream about it all the time, or they spend hours on the virtual office website waiting to see if others do something.  When in actuality, they do everything except WORK it all the time.  In fact, their calendars usually show that they hardly work their businesses at all!  In view of that, the results that they do accomplish are quite remarkable!  Just imagine if they would actually pump work ethic into the equation!

The next category is that of being properly prepared.  I can tell who is out showing plans and doing the minimum recommended monthly amount of fifteen (called "go getter") by simply looking at their product flow.  With a few computer clicks, it is pretty easy to tell who is self-deceived.  There is no way to show and share the product without the product.  "Imagine, if you will, a great tasting functional food beverage.  I'll have some for you to try as soon as my order comes in . . . ."   It just doesn't work.  So if most people are not ordering even the basic quantities of product required to properly share it with new people, then it is pretty safe to say they aren't really acting like a professional.  As the saying goes, "If you're out of product you are out of business," (Or is it, "better to get carried off with your coughing than in the coffin they carry you off in," again, you get to choose).  The lesson?  Have plenty of product on hand.  Have plenty of product on hand.  Have plenty of product on hand.  Customers are going to want to continue with the product immediately after you allow them to sample some.  And my experience has been that nearly everyone will buy a bottle or a case to start off.  New distributors are going to need the product right away if they are to have any chance of sharing it with new people.  It is your job, as a consumate professional, to maintain a proper amount of product stock to allow for both of these situations.  Remember, lead with the product.  And you can't lead with the product if you don't have the product.

The final category is one of conduct (although, I am quite sure I could come up with more categories if I felt like it).  A professional makes proper product claims and proper income claims.  All income claims must be accompanied by the official Mona Vie Income Disclosure Statement.  All product claims must stick to the corporately approved guidelines.

There.  That's quite enough already.

In summary?

Do the work!

Have enough product on hand to supply customers and new distributors.

And conduct yourself properly.

That's it.

Simple right?

THEN DO IT!!!!!

Update: I am getting a lot of comments from people realizing they have to get out and lead!  I didn't say those words in this article, exactly, but many of you got my drift.  If everybody waited around for their people to do something, (which thousands of you are), then nobody would do anything.  Don't get me wrong: there are a LOT of people just absolutely jamming out there right now!  They are the smart ones.  And they are the ones being rewarded.

This business is fast, fun, straightforward, customer-driven, in pace with today's trends, and rewarding.  I guess some of you will just wait around for something better!  (Oh, I think I just hurt myself laughing).