Sometimes our customers just don't take our business seriously. Have you ever picked up the phone to find it's a hostess calling to cancel her show that night, and thought to yourself, "Doesn't she realize this is how I earn my income? I won't be able to replace that show at this point!"<o:p></o:p>

Perhaps you've talked with a hostess on the day of the show, and find that she has only 2 guests coming and it's an hour and a half drive for you to get to her house.<o:p></o:p>

Like most of us, you might find yourself thinking at times, "Do they think I leave my family, drive to their home, and spend 2 hours with them just for fun?" <o:p></o:p>

It certainly isn't the way we want to feel. We DO want to share our product, make sure they have a great time and teach them something new. But, if we're honest with ourselves, I don't think any of us would do this 2 nights a week just for fun. We do it to earn an income and to enhance the lives of our family. <o:p></o:p>

So how do we get our customers and hostesses to take our business seriously; to understand that we count on their shows for our income? <o:p></o:p>

Here are 7 secrets that will help: <o:p></o:p>

1. When we take our business seriously, so do our customers. <o:p></o:p>

It's okay to think of your business as a business AND to work it like a business. <o:p></o:p>

We're all passionate about our products. We want to share it with as many people as possible, and of course we love talking about it.  <o:p></o:p>

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For many of us, it is truly a "mission" to get it into the hands of others. So much so, that we will spend hours talking to one person to get a $20 order. It may feel good, but this is not a good use of our time, and our time is valuable. In fact, time is our most valuable commodity. It's important that we value ourselves and our time as well as our product and our mission.  <o:p></o:p>

2. Highlight your show days in your planner and stick to them. <o:p></o:p>

When our customer or hostess sees our calendar with very specific show days, its a visual indication that you take your business and your time seriously. It shows them you have a plan for your business. It instills confidence and looks professional.<o:p></o:p>

3. Fill your show calendar quickly. <o:p></o:p>

When our customer or hostess sees a full calendar it is a visual indication to them that we take our business and our time seriously. It shows them that we have a plan for our business. It instills confidence and looks professional.<o:p></o:p>

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It also shows them that we are busy and in demand. When they see that we have limited dates available for shows, it says; "She's busy; I better book a date quickly before it's taken" and, "If I cancel, it's going to be a while before I can get another date." They actually feel more guilt about cancelling on someone who has a full calendar than they do cancelling on someone who appears to have a lot of openings.<o:p></o:p>

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Tip: Put other activities on your calendar. They aren't going to study it. When they see something scheduled on almost every day, you look busy and "in demand." It can be things like "lunch with Michelle" , "Dinner with Ron," "Dentist appointment," and so on.<o:p></o:p>

4. Dress professionally for your shows.<o:p></o:p>

People take us more seriously when we are dressed professionally. Nice pants and a sweater or nice shirt, a simple dress or skirt and top. Not a business suit, but nice.<o:p></o:p>

5. Set an expectation right up front.<o:p></o:p>

In your initial coaching we can say something like, "I'm so excited to work with you! I'm going to work very hard for you to make sure you have a successful show! I do share with all my hostesses that this is actually how I earn my income, so if for any reason you need to cancel, I really appreciate 10 days notice so I can replace your booking." <o:p></o:p>

I know some of you may be cringing right now, but that one line made a huge difference in my cancellation rate. It is a great way to communicate that you count on your shows for income. <o:p></o:p>

Tip:<o:p></o:p>

Just make sure you say it in an upbeat tone and with a huge smile on your face!  <o:p></o:p>

6. Have a professional voicemail on the number you give out as your business number. <o:p></o:p>

I have called consultants and leaders in the past and when I got their voicemail, I was greeted by their toddler leaving a cryptic, hard to understand message, or rock music, or even a sarcastic message. This is not entertaining for our customers and hostesses and it sends the wrong message. Think about what your reaction might be if you called Nordstrom or your bank and got a similar voicemail. <o:p></o:p>

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It's important that our voicemail is professional. It will communicate to our callers that we are running a real business.<o:p></o:p>

7. If you have young children, make your booking calls and coaching calls at a time when the children are napping, in school, in bed, with a sitter or with Dad.<o:p></o:p>

There are probably few people who love children more than I do. They are one of my biggest passions. I teach the 4 year old Sunday school class. Children are an absolute delight; except when we are on the phone working our business. <o:p></o:p>

It's child law, that when Mom is on the phone, it is their cue to be as obnoxious and annoying as possible!  No matter how much the person on the other end of the phone loves children, it is incredibly frustrating trying to have a conversation with a fussy or noisy child in the background. We are so much more effective and professional without the distraction of our children when we are on the phone with a customer or hostess.<o:p></o:p>

When we put these seven steps into practice we will see very different results in your business! When we take our business seriously, so will they!
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Believing in you!<o:p></o:p>