The power of focus is one of the truly astonishing abilities of the human mind. When dialed in, people are capable of extraordinary things.

In Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan torched the Portland Trailblazers for an NBA-record 35 points in the first half, including six three-pointers. When asked to describe his performance after the game, Jordan couldn’t really come up with a concrete explanation as to how he did what he did.

“I couldn’t miss. The threes were like free throws; they just kept dropping. I didn’t know what was happening,” said Jordan, who later added that the rim looked as big as a peach basket. “I was in a zone. What can I say? I don’t know how to explain it.”

Jordan is an outlier, possibly the best basketball player who ever lived, so it’s easy to dismiss his achievements as an aberration. The average person cant do what he’s done. Maybe not on a basketball court, but in business, focus and determination—knowing what you want and how to get there—is often the difference between success and failure.

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power,” leadership expert Anthony Robbins once said. “Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.”

Most people start a home business with the idea that they want a big income and complete independence from the corporate structure. The goal is there, tangible and ready to grab. Conventional thinking suggests that having a goal is enough—if you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, you know how to get there.

But more often than not, working from home feels like maze, not a tunnel. It’s not a direct path. You may be able to see the light, but you don’t know how to get there. Walls and dead ends litter the landscape. You feel your way through, making mistakes, doubling back, testing each path before finding the right one.

And it’s frustrating, right? Trial and error can be an important teaching tool; learning from our mistakes is one of the best ways to discover what works and what doesn’t. But when you’re working from home and each day spent without a sale pushes you further from your goal, why waste time?

Which brings us back, ironically enough, to focus. Take whatever goal you have—a six figure monthly income, time to spend with family, a schedule that doesn’t require reporting to a boss—and take some time to chart your course before setting forth on your journey. Once it’s plotted, find out what you need to do in order to stick to it.

In other words, what steps can you take to remove the guesswork and jump right to the front of the line?

Prospecting and lead generation is the most important factor in determining success from home. If you cat get people into your business, you’re going to fail. It’s as simple as that.

So most networkers talk to their coworkers, reach out to friends and family, canvass the neighborhood, host parties, and see modest results. Once the warm market is tapped out, the trial and error begins, and after wasting money on expensive marketing techniques that don’t pan out, the well is dry and the temptation to throw up your hands and walk away grows by the day.

Furthermore, many home-business owners don’t know how to effectively talk to a prospect so that he or she joins the business rather than stalling or walking away.

So, what can you do to stay focused and avoid the traditional pitfalls?

First, find a lead generation company and make building a relationship with them one of your first priorities. A good lead generation organization, such as Peak Impact, will give you a steady, reliable source for custom leads, bulk leads, targeted leads—basically, any sort of lead you need.

The more leads you work, the more prospects you turn into clients. Forget local advertising and expensive marketing campaigns. Let the leads come to you. It’s one more blind alley you don’t need to turn down, and with a constant stream of leads coming in, you won’t get frustrated and can stay focused on the larger goal.

Peak Impact also has a new feature that will help you turn those leads into sales—Live Lead Calls. Remember how most networkers don’t know what to do on the phone, and thus make mistakes that kill otherwise promising leads? Well, now there’s a solution.

Every week, Peak Impact offers its clients the chance to listen in as industry professionals make sales calls. They feature several regular hosts and a few special guests each month who are all top-earners in their programs. You can tune in and see just how easy calling prospects and developing long-lasting, prosperous relationships can be…once you know the right techniques.

Remember, it all starts with focus. If you’re not spending time worrying about sales techniques and wondering where you’re next lead will come from, you can stay driven and keep your eyes on the prize. You may not ever me Michael Jordan, but you focus—and succeed—like him with just a little effort.

]]> http://blog.peakimpact.com/?feed=rss2&p=172 http://blog.peakimpact.com/?p=167 http://blog.peakimpact.com/?p=167#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:50:39 +0000 support http://blog.peakimpact.com/?p=167 We would like to introduce you to Kevin Brewer, he’s our customer of the month!

Kevin is an Independent Associate with Pre-Paid Legal:

http://www.kbrewer.com

Kevin has has most his success with the Real Time Short Form Leads and is a frequent user of our convenient Live Chat system.

This is what Kevin has to say:

I have been involved with Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc for 3+ years! I have used a few lead companies before and really didn’t believe in leads until I started using Peak Impact! Thanks to Mr. Ben Murphy. He told me just don’t get involve and try it for a month or two. Do it for at least 6 months and if you don’t like it then forget about it! I said okay I will do it for 6 months. I can tell you for sure there is not one lead company that I know of that has the quality of leads. There not over sold and it’s not the yes’s and no’s that I wanted at the time. I just wanted to talk to someone on the phone that hasn’t been called by more than a couple other companies. The custom care people seem to really “CARE!” What a great company! “Peak Impact!

That’s my slogan for you all.  “Peak is the Impact of my Business!”

Kevin P Brewer

Congratulations Kevin!

Peak Impact Family

Marketing your business. It’s such a broad, complicated, scary phrase to most work-from-homers in a digital age, isn’t it? New media opportunities have opened up so many marketing possibilities that the average home-business owner doesn’t know where to start. Or worse, doesn’t know how to separate himself from the static.

Relax. New media avenues are a positive development. It allows you to reach more people than you could five years ago, and it lets you reach them faster. If you know how to take advantage of these tools, the sky is the limit for your business.

Part 1: Get Noticed

Ads stare you in the face every time you pull up a webpage or open a magazine. Chances are, though, you’re so desensitized to advertising that their presence barely registers in your mind. Our brains, through years of training, are conditioned to focus only on the content we’re there for and ignore the rest.

So your promotional tactics, whatever they may be, need to stand out. And this is where new media comes in.

First off, keep it genuine. If you’re promoting your home-business opportunity, don’t just feature bland testimonials of members saying how exciting the business is; show visitors why it’s amazing. Film some testimonials, upload them to YouTube, and post them on your site. It’s cheap and it makes prospects feel connected right off the bat.

Encourage your team members to speak frankly and openly in these videos. Make sure they have an idea of what they want to say, but allow for improvisation and spontaneity—you want the testimonials to feel natural, like the person is simply having a conversation with the camera.

New media is great at knocking down the wall between marketer and prospect. By watching someone tell their story of success, prospects can see the smiles on their faces; they can feel the excitement in their voices. And that translates to positive thoughts. So the more authentic you testimonials feel, the more a prospect’s doubt melts away.

Part 2: Capitalize On Your Awareness

So, people know you’re out there. Mission accomplished, right? Eh, not quite. You’ve got them hooked, but you can’t reel them in too fast.

The next step is to take that mild interest and turn it into genuine excitement. And here’s another place new media can help. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, even blogs are great ways to make prospects feel like a part of the process.

When looking for a home business, people want to feel like they’re a part of something. They don’t want join and then suddenly be ignored. In fact, nearly every successful home-business owner I’ve ever met says the same thing about the company and the people they work with—it feels like family.

So make your presence felt. Send updates once an hour on Twitter, even if it’s just an inspirational quote or an update about someone who made a big sale. It shows prospects you’re involved on a constant basis and that people on your team are having success. Family, remember?

If Twitter’s not your thing, start a blog and encourage comments. Then, respond to those comments, answer questions, and get engaged. Find interested prospects on Facebook and send friend requests.

Little steps like these go a long way to making someone feel like you can give them the attention and support they need to start a business with you.

Part 3: Keep the Cycle Going

When all these techniques pay off and the people you interact with turn from prospects to team members, don’t abandon your efforts. Step them up.

Remember those testimonials from earlier? Grab a webcam and ask your new members to talk about how they got involved with your company and why they decided to join. Then post it on your site to attract even more prospects.

The same goes for social gatherings. If you’re going to a leadership conference or an annual event, take a camera along and film the fun. Show visitors to your site that your business isn’t just about making money; you can have fun here, too.

Also, make your site a portal for exclusivity. Meaning, if you have a new product or service coming soon, drops hints and early looks at whatever is coming down the pipeline to members on your website. Buzz is the number one method of generating awareness, and if you become the go-to source for news and product info, you’re awareness—and your business—will benefit tremendously.

Through it all, though, one job sector is experiencing massive growth—direct sales. People across the country are looking for alternatives to the traditional nine-to-five world, and the freedom, flexibility, and financial independence working from home offers is looking more and more attractive the worse the economy gets.

According to the Direct Selling Association, the number of people involved in the work-at-home industry increased by an average of 8.4 percent annually during the last two recessions. And it’s easy to see why.

Even for those still lucky enough to have a full-time jobs, a home business provides a steady, fun, reliable, and most importantly, low-maintenance way to bring in anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands dollars a month in extra income. Think of it as career insurance. In fact, the majority of people involved in direct sales work their business on a part-time basis.

“Even though it provides more than a full-time income, our business is really a part-time venture,” explains Mark Leitgeb, a leader in a direct sales company specializing in health and nutrition. “It’s designed to be a backup in case something happens, a way to earn three or four or five times what you’re earning at your traditional job and it works around your life. Two-thirds of Americans hate what they do, so we provide an option to change that. We’re thriving in a bad economy because people need a Plan B income.”

“People need alternatives right now. They don’t want to be in a position where they can lose their job and not have a way to pay the bills,” adds Dave Lipson, Marketing Director for Peak Impact, a lead-generation company based in Canada. “Network marketing and direct sales offer that cushion. It’s a career you can pick up if your current one fails or a bridge to get you through until you find the next job.”

These days, more and more people are making a go of it full-time. After all, with over a half a million workers being laid off each month, there are plenty of interested people with the time and motivation to give it a go (And if you’re already involved with a network-marketing company, plenty of prospects out there for you to approach about your business).

With the advances in technology and training that have swept the industry in the last five years, it’s never been easier to start a business from home and have immediate success.

Companies specializing in custom lead generation can put you in contact with hundreds of interested prospects a month. No more placing ads in the newspaper and waiting for strangers to come to you. Couple that with the top-notch training and support provided by the direct-sales companies themselves, and you have a path to success that’s brightly lit.

So if you’re interested in creating a better life, on your terms, check out a few opportunities and see if there’s one you like. Don’t put your financial future in someone else’s hands…especially when you can have so much fun and make so much money doing things your way.

Hello everyone. I would like to introduce Don Hinz. Don is our 1st ever Peak Impact Customer of the Month

Don is Independent USANA Associate and an active user with our leads.

http://www.totalfreedom.usana.com

Don’s prefered lead type: Real Time Short Form Local Leads

Don’s favorite quote: “Everybody stumbles across a golden opportunity at least once in a lifetime. Unfortunately most people just pick themselves up, dust themselves down, and walk away from it.”
– Winston Churchill

What Don had to say:
First of all I want to thank you for your assistance on the phone today. You made it so easy to business with you. I have bought perhaps $400.00 worth of leads over the last four months. I didn’t convert them into  associates immediately because I was learning how to qualify them, but just recently things are popping. One lead came in on a Thursday and he joined me by Monday. He has since sponsored three people and that one lead could be worth thousands. Today I received an email from a lead that came in 6 week ago and he wants to meet in person tomorrow. I think he is ready! I just doubled my lead order today. Thanking you for being part of my success. Don

So, without further ado…

NETWORK MARKETING IS A STRAIN ON MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Only if you make it one. Many networking beginners simply don’t have a wide enough circle of colleagues or connections to successfully grow their business, or they’re not comfortable talking about the business to strangers, so they reach out to friends and relatives to push their products and get started. Obviously, that puts loved ones in a tough position, but worse, it limits your growth options.

Here’s a tip: stay away from actively recruiting friends and family altogether. If they like what you have, they’ll find you. But then where will you go for prospects? Well, try a lead-generation company such as Peak Impact. They offer everything from targeted network-marketing leads to custom leads to business opportunity leads. If you want to find prospects for you’re business, they’re the people to see.

NETWORK MARKETING IS A SCAM. I’M JUST GOING TO LOSE ALL MY MONEY

Again, only if you try really hard. No, you can’t sit on the couch, watch television all day, go to sleep and then expect a $25,000 check in the mail the next day. However, if treat your business like a business, even working it part-time a few hours a day, you will see returns.

Remember, it’s a business, not a hobby. There are many perks to a home-based business—flexible schedule, time with family, no boss or commute—but don’t forget to place emphasis on the “working” part of working from home. Spend a few hours online marketing your website or seeking out prospects. Phone leads and talk to them about their goals. Check in with team members to make sure they’re motivated and don’t have any questions. A few hours here and there can increase your bank account tenfold in no time.

I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND DON’T KNOW HOW TO BUILD A BUSINESS.

Relax: you’re not the only one. In fact, more than 30 percent of all network-marketers are first-timers, and if no one who got involved with the industry ever had success, then how could there be an industry at all?

One of the main things to consider when searching for an opportunity is the training a business offers. Most offer support in some form or another—and everyone claims their business has a “turn-key system for success” or “unparalleled live training”—so do your homework and make sure you’re going to get the support you need to thrive.

If you’re interested in an opportunity, find some people who are already in the business and ask them how hard it was for them to get started. Find out what types of training they provides, if there are mentors available, if you can reach an actual person with any questions you have or do you have to go through email. Whatever you choose, make sure you’re comfortable before moving forward

I DON’T WANT TO HOST PARTIES OR SELL VITAMINS

So don’t. The number of network-marketing opportunities out there is massive and growing larger and more diverse every day. There are opportunities focused on food, jewelry, clothing, energy drinks, home furnishings, crafts, candles, travel, online marketing, and spa products. There’s a company that produces children’s books and one that offers memberships to a wine club. One opportunity even sells golf clubs and lessons to anyone trying to improve their game.

The point is, you can find something you like. Just don’t get involved with a company because you want to work from home. Freedom is a central theme of network marketing, so for goodness sakes pick something you like!

See, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Instead of being lectured, you’re now armed with all the knowledge you need to have success working from home. Now go have fun and make the best of it.

Because of the nature of our calendars, our minds always take a few weeks to adjust to the reality of a new year. Chinese astrologists, however, assign animal names to each year of the Zodiac calendar; January 26^th brings an end to the Year of the Rat and ushers The Year of the Ox (if you had to write that on a check, chances are you wouldn’t forget to make the change).

Since this is a network-marketing blog and not an online horoscope, you may be wondering why any of this matters to you. Well, in a nutshell, The Year of the Ox signifies a time to be strong, brave, and straightforward. According to the Chinese Zodiac, not many people can equal the resolution and fearlessness the Ox exhibits when deciding to accomplish a task or an objective. Oxen know they will succeed through hard work and sustained effort and find no truth or benefit in concocting get-rich-quick schemes.

Now apply this knowledge to the work-at-home marketplace. What’s the number one reason for not getting involved with a network marketing company? Fear. Fear of failure, fear of leaving the corporate world, fear of putting your success in your hands.

Since we’re focusing on our Eastern counterparts this week, there is an ancient Chinese parable about a man fleeing bandits in the woods. He comes to two rivers, one made of fire, the other of water, and between them, a bridge just six inches wide providing safety to the opposite shore. Fire constantly burns under the bridge and water passes over it without rest.

The man is scared. If he doesn’t cross the bandits will certainly catch him and kill him, yet the bridge appears too narrow and too dangerous to negotiate without death. Finally, the man decides to try and cross, rationalizing that since there is no escape from certain death, he had better take his chances on the narrow path that lies before him–since such a path exists, he thinks, one must surely be able to cross over on it. The man makes it across and escapes from his pursuers.

The point is a simple one—if there is a path to success, it’s surely there for a reason. It may look treacherous, but should one have to fortitude to take the journey, great things await.

This isn’t a time to be scared. Worrying about possible outcomes only delays a great result. There will never be a shortage of people trying to convince you that network-marketing isn’t worth the time; that corporate America provides the safest and most secure avenue to a rewarding career.

Don’t listen. Not this year. With the economy in ruins and stories of layoffs dominating the nightly news, the only real way to protect yourself is to put your financial future in your own hands, and what better way to take control than by starting a home business?

So are the stars aligned for you to succeed in The Year of the Ox? Well, at the very least, you couldn’t pick a better time to take a chance at discovering your dream. Welcome to the new year. Now make the best of it.

So the question becomes how to generate leads. There are several ways, but the best and most effective is to simply purchase them from established companies specializing in lead generation, such as Peak Impact.

I know, I know—it sounds too easy, right? If you could just buy leads somewhere and turn them from prospects to partners, why is network marketing’s failure rate stay above 50 percent each year? And why, if purchased leads are such an instrumental way of building a business, do marketing gurus and some networking veterans claim self-promotion and local growth are the best methods of finding success?

Well, the answer, like the question itself, is pretty simple. The trainers, gurus, and mentors who advocate lead generation don’t want you to think you can do it yourself. Otherwise, what would you need them for?

Generating your own leads can be costly, time-consuming, and most importantly, risky. Say you start a home business and want people go get involved. Where do you start? If you’re like most rookie marketers, you turn to friends and family, what industry insiders call your “warm market.”

The problem with doing that, however, is that the warm market is both small and shallow. You can only ask your close acquaintances for so much help; if they’re not interested, you can’t get very far. Furthermore, most people are hesitant to approach their friends and family for fear of putting business in between personal relationships.

So if you’re not going to tap into the warm market but you’re still set on generating your own leads, where do you turn? Well, many suggest canvassing neighborhoods, dropping small ads in newspapers, and talking to people in the grocery store, at the gym, or anywhere you interact with potential prospects.

The fact is, though, most people don’t respond well to these forms of advertising—think about how you react when a telemarketer calls your home with a business opportunity. If someone isn’t interested in working from home, they’re going to tune you out and continue about their day. It’s frustrating, and it consumes valuable time that could be better used elsewhere.

Lead-generation companies, on the other hand, provide qualified leads at reasonable prices. You’re not walking up to strangers in malls and restaurants and hoping they like what you’re pitching. Qualified leads are generally people who have worked from home before or displayed an interest in network marketing. They understand the challenges and opportunities available and in most cases are actively looking for a way back in the game.

Companies such as Peak Impact can provide you with as many or as few leads as you need, and keep them coming on a regular basis. So save yourself a lot of time and money and get connected with people who want to join your business….quickly, efficiently, and affordably. It sure beats approaching strangers or asking your aunt if she ever considered working from home.