Choosing a Company and a Leader

Often times I get asked How did you choose the company you are partnering with and How do you choose a leader?

The two really go hand in hand. When you are choosing a company there are so many facets to consider. Don’t think emotionally or sign up to help someone else. You can’t make a decision without really doing your research. You can obtain so much information on DSA.org and just by doing a search… but alas don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Scour the professional articles that have been written not opinions based on a few people. They just recently published an article why companies fail and what they said was spot on.

According to the DSA, the number one thing they said was companies losing focusing on their people. The Field is the most important commodity for a company. So when looking for a company the field has to be their primary focus and they have got to have a niche market product. Many times when companies start failing they offer too many products or they lose focus of their core product. Great programs and training are imperative.

In my opinion, the comp plan should have a very generous payout. Comp plans that are shallow or will severely affect paychecks across the board and that does not create a long term productive team. A company flat-out has to pay their people well and pay their people on time. It is so very important if a company is a start-up or newer they have good capital.

I have been through two company closings and I have found there are things to look for AND not to look for. You can not start a direct sales company or any company on a wing and a prayer. It has to be efficient, planned out and they have got to have backing! Whether it is their own or someone else…this is critical. If it is someone else, make sure they have full execution of decisions. Trust your instinct and intuition.

What are the company’s future plans? They should be talking about this on business opportunity calls on future plans: Expansion, Incentives-i.e. a car program, Travel, Free product, jewelry etc. They should have a recognition program. This is so important because people want and need praise. Some companies might not have any of these BUT they will have cash bonuses. What kind of quick or fast start program do they have for new consultants? Is there a cap to the comp plan? Meaning is there a cut off to making a certain amount of money? Do your research and ask these questions.

Bottom line…

• Align

Aligning yourself with a good leader or a good team is really important. They should have a system in place that is duplicatable. They should show you and teach you step by step how to do what they did.

• Work The system

Having a strong system has a tremendous trickle-down effect: people start to sponsor and then their people start to sponsor. Even if you found out about a company through someone new. If they are plugged in and working with a leader, that leader will help you as well.

• Teamwork

Being together in a team atmosphere and having a wealth of support is imperative. It is important that you find a leader to teach what they did so you can go and do the same exact thing.

• Do your research

Have a checklist. Interview the company and the leadership. Align yourself with someone you identify with. They should welcome you checking them out to see if they are a fit. Also, a great leader will match their time with your efforts. The work has to be done by you. All a great leader can do is guide you.

Trust your instinct and intuition. If something feels off or not right, that is exactly what it is. If it is meant to be you will know it in your deepest self. That is how I knew I had found the right company. Since my last direct sales company, I had been looking for a long time and I knew when I found it. And most importantly… Make sure you have PASSION for the product line!!

ARE YOU READY TO START???