When is the last time you worked on a day or evening that you had set aside to do something with your family and went to an appointment or party instead? How did you feel when you were there? Did you feel a little angry for letting the people who are most important in your life down? It's not a great feeling is it?

One of the most important things I took into consideration when I was beginning my job in Direct Sales was that I needed something that I could work around my family and other obligations. It would be a lot different from what I was accustomed to which was working my family and other obligations around my job! This is what draws a lot of people into the Direct Selling business! Yet, there are so many consultants that are so afraid to set limits with others for fear of losing business if they don't work when the customer or hostess wants that it absolutely amazes me!

I consistently held three to four parties a week for approximately 48 weeks of the year (4 weeks vacation wasn't bad) for over 22 years! Yet I never worked a day or evening that I didn't want to. Every party I booked was on a date that I had pre-selected and one that fit into my schedule. You too can set yourself free when you take back control. Here are some of the ways I kept in control. 

1. Identify how many times per week you want to go out for your business. Remember, even if this is your part-time business you still need to leave the house once in awhile and go to work! If you are holding parties the average party takes approximately three hours plus some time at home for preparation and closing the party. A part-time consultant should be holding a minimum of two parties per week and a full time consultant should be holding three to four parties per week. (Would you believe full time with four parties is actually only 12-16 hours per week?) Makes you wonder, doesn't it? 

2. Identify the days of the week that you want to go out to do your business. For example, my goal was to work my business on Monday through Thursday evenings. I took Friday, Saturday and Sunday off for myself and family. If you attend church on Wednesday evening, mark off every Wednesday on your calendar and work around them.

3. Each month schedule in all of your business meetings as well as any of your family's events that you want (and need) to attend. If your upline has a monthly meeting it is your responsibility (if you want to be successful) to be there if you want the information. If your daughter has a dance recital mark off that date on your calendar.

4. Book your parties one week at a time, beginning with your first available week on your calendar. It makes no sense to book parties four weeks away when you still have dates available that are two and three weeks away. List these dates on your "Open Date Card" (available in "It's a Party Out There - Keeping the Fun and Profit in Direct Selling" Workbook) For info on Workbook check out the website listed below. Make sure you only list dates for first available week, Avoid listing dates from two or three weeks on the same side of the card!!! Most people who are booking will look at the dates and select the date that is the furthest away instead of the closest. When you list dates one week at a time you take control of your calendar. Here's an example: Susie wants to work on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings and she would like to do three parties per week. Currently she has parties for August 2, 3, 5, and 12. Susie's Open Date Card should have Monday, August 9'th and Tuesday, August 10'th on the front side and on the back side she should list; Monday, August 16'th, Tuesday, August 17'th and Thursday, August 19'th. If she really wants to book on the 9'th and 10'th she could have a special bonus available to Hostesses who select her "special dates". 

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