The Main Event

Just Like The Super Bowl
You do not have to be a sports fan to see the build-up of excitement leading to Super Bowl Sunday. It all comes down to the Super Bowl where you are able to see the best teams representing the NFC and AFC compete for The Vince Lombardi Trophy. Do you share the same excitement when your MLM/Direct Sales company, marketing system or a speaker holds their major events? Many have different opinions on what makes a network marketer successful.

One of the most important parts of your business is the events you attend. They build self confidence, give you an edge, enable you to try different methods and just like the Super Bowl you are able to hear how it’s done from the top producers in your field. I have listed some of reasons why I feel attending an event is very important for you as a business owner.

The Greatest Show On Earth
Did you ever hear someone in your group repeat the same statement every time there is an event?
This is going to be the greatest event EVER!
How come every event you will hear people say this same statement over and over?
Do you want to know why?
This is your chance to get up close and personal training from the top producers in your opportunity as they share their methods of success. They explain their exact blue print on how they used their methods of operation to achieve success. Each event brings a different speaker with a different training method and exactly how you and your team can implement their methods. Some methods are the same but each speaker will give you a different approach on how it worked successfully for them. This gives you the opportunity to test the same method of operation using two different approaches. The event is a chance to network with other distributors. This is your opportunity to meet others that do what you do and exchange ideas to find out which methods are working for them. You are adding self- value by networking and providing advice on what has worked for you. When I was attending an event in Atlanta, I met a young lady and provided some advice to some of the struggles she was experiencing. She had her notebook out and was writing every word I mentioned. When the conversation was over, she asked about the top position in our opportunity and I told her I was not there yet. She was SHOCKED!
Why?
I answered her question and gave her nothing but value. I made another contact at a different event and exchanged business cards. The card show an association with a local Chamber of Commerce. I decided to give it a shot and it has given my business the local value I was looking for. This exposed my business to people and businesses that I may have never been in contact with before.

 The Art of Promotion
Promotions are the easiest, fastest and more enjoyable way to accelerate your business. It done correctly can give you leverage.
How?
It gets people to do things that they ordinarily would not do. If you notice while at an event, the first promotion is the discount you receive for the next event. I will always buy my ticket in advance to save money especially since I attend events with my wife. You are now committed to attend the next event whether it is three, six or twelve month down the road, mark your calendar. If you are trying to get your team to attend events, you will need to promote it to them. When I talk to others about promoting the event within their group we all have to answer the same question. What is in it for me? It depends on what is being offered by your business, marketing company or speaker. If you are a leader create momentum by leading from the front, speak highly of the event and the promotions that are available. Explain exactly what needs to be done to qualify. Companies promote a qualification party, a vacation, meet and greet with your speakers, tour of the city where the event is being held, you will need to find out what requirements there are and promote it to your team. Make sure you talk to your team about what you already qualified for. Speak highly about achieving their goals and promote what you are going for. If you can show others what you are doing this will give them the motivation to go for it. Once you are there you need to define what you are looking to receive. I suggest arriving early, stay focused, take good notes and absorb the information as both the teacher and student. You have to remember the action you take will reflect on promoting the next event.

While at the event, answer these two questions to prepare for your next event.
• What excited you the most about what you experienced at the event (saw, felt or heard)?
• What strategy will you implement today from what you learned at the event?
• What are your goals and how have they changed since attending the event? A

Great Getaway
You can look at your event as a chance to get away for a few days and enjoy yourself.
Yes…it is all about the training and how to better your business, better yourself but you can enjoy yourself. There are also tax benefits available because you are on a business trip. You will need to keep track of all your expenses while you are away. These expenses are tax deductions so make sure you keep all your receipts. Here is a little secret for anyone on a budget. When I am away on business, especially when I go away with my wife, who is my business partner, we always stay in a 3.5 to 4 star luxury hotel. We utilize the Internet to find the best rooms through these different websites that allow you to name your price and bid on your room. Our last business trip was to downtown Philadelphia, PA and our suite was $172 a night, the price we paid through Priceline was $55 a night.

Bring Your “A” Game
If you really want to make an impression in the Industry and set yourself up for success. This is a key component for you to implement into your strategy. You will need to create great marketing material for yourself. This is going to position you as a leader.
How?
• Notes/Voice Recorder
Taking notes and using related examples, remember the part about duplicating yourself. How do you think these speakers became leaders? They are duplicating themselves by providing these training events to benefit you and help with your success. If you are not good at taking notes bring a voice or digital recorder. This will allow you to review the entire event and share with others some key training points you may of missed during the event. The education you receive at the event is passed on to your team. As a leader, you will want to schedule a comeback call to review your notes with your team. Set up your call with other team members who also attended the event or other events and praise them for attending and give them the stage.
• Camera
You will want to take plenty of pictures during the event. Take pictures of your group if they attend and pictures of the different people you meet for the first time. This is great motivational material and can be the incentive others need to attend the next event. You can create an online photo album which can be posted to a blog, website or even a social networking group like Facebook. You may have a Facebook group that has other distributors or other leaders as members.
• Digital Video Recorder
One of my favorite methods of marketing is video recording. With all the leaders attending these events wouldn’t it be great to get a recording of them saying a few words about themselves and about the event. Try to set up an interview, it is powerful. You post an interview with a leader in your organization or in your opportunity is HUGE. If you’re looking for attention, an interview is the way to go especially if you broadcast it out so other people can view it. All you need is 10-15 minutes of their time, have everything prepared and you will get noticed.

To attend an event whether it is for your primary business, for personal development or even for your marketing system it should always a positive experience. You want to refresh yourself and keep on track. Some of us need this type of boost because I do not care what type of road map of success you are following, every road has a bump. It is how you steer through it. Keep up a positive attitude and do not get discouraged. The information you receive is priceless, the relationships you build are priceless and the personal development you embrace is priceless. It is what YOU make of it.