Although my team has helped me claim the rank of Diamond seven months in a row and counting, it still seems new and surreal. My enroller interviewed me for a team call, and then a leadership magazine writer interviewed me for an article. Since I haven't said much about achieving that rank here, I thought I would just share the answers to some of the questions my interviewers asked. If you're also building a business, I hope it helps and inspires you in some way. Following the interview transcripts are some of my favorite team photos from this incredible journey. Enjoy!
Upline Interview
How has your journey changed your life?
My eyes welled up with tears when I read this question; many emotions and thoughts flooded my heart and mind. How has it not changed my life? I'll name just a few of the primary and most profound ways.
We approach taking care of our bodies and health differently, reaching for the oils and supplements first and finding them to be all that we need 99% percent of the time. That gives me such comfort as the nurturer in my home.
I get to be in business with my childhood best friend (also the person interviewing me), and this business has brought our lives closer together even though a couple thousand miles separate us. I look forward to seeing each other more in the years to come because I made this choice.
I have a team that is more like a community, helping one another even when it doesn't benefit the individuals involved. My life has been enriched by the amazing people who have chosen to be on this journey with me.
And, of course, my husband is home! He got to quit his job, and we are figuring out our schedule with my work, his projects, and home-schooling, but it is wonderful.
All of this, and so much more, has happened because I wanted to use oils and then took the leap of faith to commit to this business.
At what point in your journey did you realize that Diamond could be in your future? And at what point did you realize that Diamond WOULD be in your future?
My highest goal for a long time was Gold. When I looked at the average incomes, I thought Gold would be awesome, and it seemed challenging yet attainable. I imagined it might take a couple of years and then I would decide if I wanted to reach for a higher goal. When I decided I was "all in" (August of 2013), I set my Silver goal for December and my Gold goal for June. I ended up hitting Silver in November and Gold in February, quickly followed by Platinum in March. I think that was when I realized I needed to figure out what it took to get to Diamond. My head was spinning! It hit me that I had other team members who wanted me to coach them to get to Silver, Gold, and beyond. When I started looking around at people's goals and saw how many were shooting for at least Silver, I realized Diamond wasn't just probable or possible; it was inevitable! In actuality, my family didn't really need me to get beyond a strong Platinum rank to reach our goal of getting my husband out of his job, but my focus began to shift. I wanted to hit Diamond for my team, to show them that it's possible and to encourage them to dream big, too.
2014 brought a huge surge of growth to your team. What factors do you think contributed to the momentum your team gained?
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what started the momentum. I guess I think of it like a snowball rolling down a hill and gathering more snow and momentum and speed as it goes down the mountain. It all started with a single snowflake, and then another, and another. The snowflakes in my business were quiet, small steps that I and some leaders on my team took. We shared oils consistently. We offered classes regularly. We followed up faithfully. We set goals. We had team meetings. We decided to learn how to mentor and help others build businesses. More leaders joined us, and we kept doing the same things. I was the first to enroll, but I wasn't the first to start teaching my own classes or commit to the business, so I have to give my team credit for deciding to start making their own snowballs. I jumped in soon after, but I have learned at least as much from them as they have from me, and I'm very grateful to them. I think one other thing we did was to create a team identity. Doing so in a social media setting was Lacey Grim's brilliant idea before I jumped on the bandwagon and created a Facebook group for my oil users and team. She and I, along with several others on our team, wanted to create a community of oil users who would help and teach each other, always keeping serving and enhancing lives as our primary goal. We strive to keep that identity as our team grows, and we have so many leaders with a high level of integrity and character who help keep our team true to that service mission and goal. I also think trainings like Aromatouch training, the East Coast Convention in D.C., global convention in Salt Lake, and also the Rank Advancement Academy that my uplines offer have contributed a lot to our growth.
You began to act like the Diamond for your team long before you were a Diamond. Can you explain what that means and what it meant for you and your team? How can someone who is an Elite or a Premier be the "Diamond" for their team?
Honestly, if I hadn't decided to become a leader, my team would have grown without me. I could decide to become the leader my team needed and benefit from that, or I could be left behind to wish I had figured it out sooner. It took some sacrifice, but I would rather have the pain of sacrifice than the pain of regret. So I decided to start offering team meetings, online business trainings, mentoring, circle mentor calls, and any other kind of support my team needed around the time when I was a Premier working on Silver. Even as a new team member, you start becoming a leader as soon as you enroll your first team member. By following up, finding out what others need in their lives, and connecting the dots to how you can help meet those needs, you become a leader. If you only have a couple of people on your team, and even if they don't know whether they want to share or build yet, you can start offering business opportunity meetings and then business trainings as people decide to share and build. You need to be the leader for your team. Don't wait for your Silver or Diamond to have a meeting or offer a training. Decide to be the Diamond for your team, even if it is a team of 1 or 2 or 3. Model leadership so that those few will become leaders of their own teams, and you'll see the beginnings of the pipeline we talk about building and the residual income that happens with duplication. Focus on your downline and not your upline. You technically don't need an upline to reach your goal; you need a downline.
In your opinion, what is the one thing that stalls business growth the most and what is the one thing that accelerates business growth the most?
I think the thing that stalls business the most is making excuses. For several years I've noticed that one man's excuse is another man's why. Let me explain what that means. One person says, "I am so busy! I have no extra time. I work 10 hours a day and then have to feed my family, take kids to gymnastics and soccer, walk the dog, pay the bills, do the dishes and laundry, and I barely have time to sleep, but even still we are barely paying our mortgage. There's no way I can afford an essential oil kit, and I can't imagine fitting in another thing on my already full calendar! That's why I can't do this business." So busyness and a lack of funds are that person's excuse. Another person says, "I am so busy! I have no extra time, and even for all the work I do, I barely have enough to pay bills and never have any time to myself. Something has to change. I don't want to live like this for another 20 years. I want to stop hauling buckets and build a pipeline. So even though I'm busy, I'm going to find time and make sacrifices for the short term so I can build a business that will help me have a more fulfilling life for the long term. I don't want to be this busy; I don't want to haul buckets anymore; that's why I need this business." For this person, being too busy and not having enough money have become the "why" that fuels the decision to make a change. It is a mind-set change, a difference of perspective, and the choice to let circumstances dictate your life or regain control of circumstances and be in charge of your life again.
Something that I think accelerates business growth is viewing what some might see as obstacles or setbacks and turning them around to be opportunities. Rather than being defeated, know that obstacles are a normal part of growing and progressing and that learning how to overcome them will make you a better person and a better leader for your team when they face their own obstacles and setbacks.
All of this boils down to ditching negativity and embracing a mind-set that focuses on the positive and choosing an attitude of gratitude no matter where we are on the journey. It takes time, work, and discipline. It can happen quickly, but there aren't any shortcuts. Comparing your business to someone else's is futile; you need to focus on your own journey and encourage others in theirs.
Tell us how you have managed to build a successful business while juggling your busy life.
It certainly hasn't always been easy, but I saw the potential and decided to make the sacrifices needed. The scary thing for a lot of people is that the very things you're working toward are things you may have to sacrifice while you're building toward your goal. So if you want more time with your family, you may have to give up time with your family in order to start building your business while not yet being able to quit your full-time job. If you need extra money, you may have to take the risk of spending more money to invest in your health and invest in your business for a while before you start seeing a profit (although with enough activity you can make up your expenses in your first month). For me, I had to give up time with my children and husband and invest in babysitters for my classes, wellness consults, and team meetings. For several months, I had babysitters coming a few times per week so I could conduct my business and also squeeze in an occasional date night with my husband. He was working 60-70 hours/week and traveling a lot, so I was taking care of everything at home, including home-schooling. I knew it would be worthwhile. It always makes me a little sad when someone isn't willing to give up their favorite TV show, girls' night out, or an expense that really isn't necessary. It's a short-term sacrifice that can pay off for the rest of your life and even change your life. As Dave Ramsey says, "Live like no one else so later on you can live like no one else." I love my enroller's story of how she had to get up at 5 a.m. to work on her business a couple of hours early in the morning because there wasn't any other free time.
If you could have known one thing when you first enrolled that you do know now, what would it be?
I wish I had known how quickly this would grow. I wish I had known how fulfilling this would be. But on a practical level, I wish I had known how valuable the Success Challenge (and Academy for Rank Advancement, which we didn't have then) would be! I wish I had done that earlier. I was Gold when I took the time to do that, and it is such a great foundation for anyone who is sharing oils or building a business. It teaches you the ins and outs of the company, the business, and even using oils and gives you accountability and lets you know what you need to do on a weekly basis to grow. I highly recommend it even if you're new or maybe especially if you're new!
Company Interview
How were you first introduced to (the company)?
I was introduced to (the company) when I started seeing my childhood best friend posting some testimonials about her oils on Facebook. I ignored it at first but was intrigued over time and contacted her after a few months. I trusted her opinion on high-quality products but also thought I might purchase a couple of oils as a courtesy to support her business. As I began to research and learn more, I became obsessed with learning all I could about essential oils and was excited to start using them in my home.
Were you familiar with the direct sales industry prior to being introduced to (the company)?
I had a business with another network marketing company for 8 years and had been successful in it, but it had stagnated. I was starting to feel burned out in it but had a steady stream of income from loyal customers and felt conflicted about abandoning that business. I also felt hesitant to believe I could succeed in another business since I hadn't attained the level of success I had hoped to achieve with the other company. Eventually I did resign from the other business and committed to (the company) primarily because I loved the product so much and was receiving such wonderful testimonials from friends and family with whom I had shared the product.
What were your feelings towards direct sales?
I believed in the industry but wasn't sure I had what it took to be as successful in it as I had dreamed.
Did your previous careers, whether in the industry or without, in any way prepare you for building a business?
Prior to starting my first network marketing business, I had jobs in the publications industry, such as being a newspaper reporter and magazine editor. Those jobs did teach me to connect and communicate well with others. My first network marketing business taught me a lot about overcoming fears, getting out of my comfort zone, talking in front of people, and believing in the industry of network marketing as a whole.
Were you fully on board with the business aspect, or were you a product user first?
I was a product user first and then a product sharer for several months before I committed to building a business.
What made you consider this as a viable business opportunity?
I had seen profound results with the products and felt responsible to share these amazing gifts of the earth. I didn't know I would grow to Diamond just 16 months after committing to building a business, but that wasn't my goal. I just wanted to help others with the product and also help friends who were beginning to commit to the business so that they could reach their goals, too.
When did you decide to become a member of our team, and why?
I joined in December 2012 to use the products in my home. I began sharing shortly after that to help empower others with natural solutions. I committed to working the business seriously in September 2013.
Why would you recommend the business opportunity to others?
It is very rewarding to help others both with natural solutions for their health and to achieve their financial goals, whether those goals are just to pay for their oils, supplement their income, replace their income, or beyond. More people are turning to informed self-care before seeking medical intervention, and we have so much information available to educate ourselves about essential oils as well as to validate the science of essential oils now. Many people are hearing about essential oils but need someone to help them be empowered to use them.
What advice would you give to those who are just starting their new business?
Don't be afraid to jump in and reach out to others. You may be the answer to their prayers and help them more than you or they could have imagined!
A new business venture can be taxing, who is in your support system? (This could be family, friends, upline, downline, etc.)
My upline is extremely helpful, and my family lovingly supports my business venture. My downline is also an important source of support. We have worked hard to create a community of people who care and help each other, regardless of being upline, downline, or sideline to each other. We love the company's culture and attempt to carry on that legacy within our team however we can.
Why are they your chosen support system?
I have learned what I needed to know from my upline, gotten the love and belief I needed from my family, and been inspired by the dedication and goals of my team members.
Do they in any way contribute to the building of your business?
I have taken full responsibility for my business, but I couldn't do it without their support, belief, and inspiration.
What are their strengths and why do they push you to be better?
My upline has helped me to break through an invisible ceiling of success that I had unknowingly put in place. My family has helped me stay determined because of our goal to free my husband from a taxing and time-consuming job. My team members all have different strengths, and together we can be so much stronger than any one of us could be alone. My team inspires me to be the best that I can be, and they are inspired by my success to believe they can do more in their businesses, too.
Does your spouse support you or take part in building the business?
My husband is supportive and a great sounding board for me when I need advice or help thinking through scenarios. He doesn't take an active part or play a visible role in the business, but he willingly helps behind the scenes as needed.
Were they always onboard or did it take some convincing?
My husband knew I could succeed if I put my mind to it, and he encouraged me to do so even though it meant walking away from a business I had built for 8 years and was afraid to quit. He helped me see that I could be even more successful in this business because of my passion and love for the product and company. I don't know that I could have made the decision to commit without his support.
How do your children feel about the products?
My children love the products. They ask for oils when they need them, and they remind me that I need to give them their vitamins and supplements if I get busy and forget.
Do they use them regularly?
Yes. They all take the vitamins and supplements daily, and we use oils on them topically daily as well. They have diffusers in their bedrooms, where we diffuse oils each night. During the home-school day, we diffuse oils to help with boosting immunity and increasing focus.
Do you think they'll grow up and join you?
I believe they will always use and love their oils and incorporate them into their lives in many ways. I would be proud to have any of them join me in the business, too.
Are they already sharing the products?
Yes. If we are around someone who mentions a health concern, my kids encourage me to share my oils with them -- even if it is a stranger in the grocery store. They also ask their friends if they use oils.
How do you balance working your business and taking care of your family?
Balancing my business and family can be challenging since I also home-school my three boys, but we knew that being somewhat out of balance for the short term would be worthwhile in the long term. Now that my husband has been able to walk away from his job, we have more time together than ever, and it was worth several months of being extra busy. We are getting ready to embark on an RV adventure as a family, something we only could have dreamed of doing before but is a reality because of this business. It certainly hasn't always been easy, but I saw the potential and decided to make the sacrifices needed. I would rather deal with the short-term the pain of sacrifice than the long-term pain of regret.
What tactic have you found most effective when sharing the products with others?
I like teaching group classes, but regardless of how one chooses to share, it is important to make a personal connection with the listeners to help them see how essential oils and doTERRA could make a significant difference in their lives. Some of the information should be catered to the actual needs and interests of the people so that they engage and feel a spark of hope and excitement.
When and how should you follow up after sharing a product?
Regular follow-up classes, meetings, e-mails, and phone calls are an important part of what we do to ensure that people understand the benefits of their wholesale membership and are confident in using their products. Facebook groups have been a great connecting resource for users, sharers, and builders on my team.
For most team members the products are easy to share, it's the business aspect that is difficult. How would you suggest team members approach sharing the business?
Remember that the business can make as profound of a difference in others' lives as the products do. If you don't share because you're not sure if the other person is interested or you wonder what that person might think of you, then fear and pride are getting in your way. You don't have to say a lot, but do let others know how the business is changing your life and the goals and dreams you have. If you understand someone's needs, you can help them connect the dots to see how doTERRA could be the answer to their prayers. I often tell my team that "one person's excuse is another person's why" -- meaning that the reason that makes some people say "no" or "not yet" can be the same reason that compels another person to say "yes!" Whether you're stuck in a job you don't love, don't have any extra time in your life, or don't have enough money to pay the bills, you can choose to make this your excuse or your "why"," -- and you can also help others realize that any obstacle can become an opportunity. The business is about impact and income -- impact on others' health, which is priceless, and income that frees from debt, allows dreams to flourish, and changes lives as we choose to give back and meet needs around us.
What do you think are the key benefits of the compensation plan that should be highlighted when sharing the business?
I love how Fast Start and Power of 3 help even very new team members make up the cost of their own products and business tools quickly. Many companies pay well on the direct sale but not as well on organizational volume, whereas other companies pay well for building a large team but offer minimal compensation for sales and sign-ups in the beginning. I am so grateful that (the company) is generous both on the front end and the back end. New team members should focus on fast start and Power of 3 but should also know that large unilevel and profit shares are in their future, even if they don't quite understand how that works yet.
What sets the business opportunity apart from other direct sales companies?
Many companies say "the product sells itself," but with this business it is actually true. We do need to become confident in showing others the business opportunity as well, but we have many excellent resources to help us do that, including the magazine you're holding in your hand. We also have an exceptional culture that has trickled down from caring leaders who focus on the mission of helping others and not just the bottom line.
What motivates you to continue building your business?
Seeing others' physical and emotional health improve is a huge motivating factor for me, and equally important is mentoring and cheering on my team members to meet their goals. Because of this business, my family has a different life, one that includes having my husband home with us, and I long for others to live their dreams as well.
Many individuals don't understand how to structure in order to be successful. What tips would you give a new IPC on structuring successfully?
No one's structure looks like the perfect diagram in the opportunity brochures because the shapes and figures on paper represent real people with real lives. I don't have the ideal structure, and yet I made it to Diamond and am working toward Blue Diamond just the same. I highly recommend plugging into the resources and system offered by your upline and taking the time to learn the ins and outs of the business structure, but don't become so bogged down by it that you lose sight of sharing these gifts of the earth with the people in your life. Seek advice on placements when needed, keep people with relationships together whenever possible, go with your gut, and don't look in the review mirror once you've made the decision.
How does family play into structuring a successful business?
Incorporating family into the business and goals creates a team atmosphere and higher level of family support. My children helped me make a vision board, and they also knew that I was working hard on my business so that their daddy could be home with us. They have helped me make samples and gifts for others and enjoy being involved.
How do you motivate your downline to build successfully?
I try to inspire have a great attitude, build their believe, and solidify their commitment. I offer regular trainings and events as well as incentives and gifts, but I don't consider it my job to motivate them, which takes a lot of the pressure off of me. I want to inspire my team, but I know each person must be self-motivated to grow a solid business.
What do you feel is the most successful event topic?
I believe something along the lines of "essential oils 101" or "intro to essential oils" are the best event topics because the basic classes draw new people, and(the company's) goal is to get oils into every home possible. I do offer follow-up classes or meetings to help others understand their membership benefits and the business, and my team offers a group class that focuses on a different health topic each month. This has provided good balance for introductory and continuing education.
What are the key areas a consultant should focus on during an event?
Why, how, and what should be central, and making the information relevant and personal to the attendees is the best way to connect with and engage them.
How have you motivated individuals to attend an event?
I don't offer a lot of tangible incentives to attend events. I believe the best incentive is how the information attendees will learn could potentially change their lives. They won't know that unless I tell them, so an invitation always starts with a personal conversation.
How often should you hold events?
How often you should hold events depends entirely upon your goals. If you want to grow a solid business that can supplement or replace your income, I would suggest a minimum of one class per week. I went from Premier to Platinum in five months by doing a minimum of one class per week. I then decided it was worth increasing my goal to two classes per week to reach Diamond, which happened eight months later.
Why is it important to hold events often?
Regular, consistent activity builds momentum and enthusiasm. If you take an extended break, you'll likely find yourself starting over.
What is the best way to communicate with your team?
The best way to communicate with anyone is the way that they communicate best. For some, that will mean regular phone calls or face-to-face meetings; others will prefer text messaging, e-mail, or Facebook messages. The most important thing is to make yourself available to your team, but don't forget to set boundaries so you still have time for your personal life.
How often should you be communicating with your leaders?
I have a separate Facebook group for my leaders, and I try to communicate with them regularly and be available to them as needed. I also recommend quarterly events that are focused on leaders, even if an event is more social in nature.
What should you be discussing in those communications?
We regularly discuss building belief, keeping a positive attitude, mentoring our teams, placement decisions, goals, strategy, and dreams. I think it is also important to connect on a personal level and take an interest in our leaders' lives outside of their businesses.
What is the key to a successful follow up?
consistency
How soon after initial contact should a person follow up?
within 48 hours
Why is following up so important to building a business?
people need guidance
What made you decide to work towards Diamond?
I saw that reaching Diamond would allow my husband to stay home comfortably, but I also realized that my team needed to see someone they knew reach Diamond so they could begin to believe it is possible for anyone.
What were the key steps you took to achieve Diamond?
Holding regular classes, helping others learn to teach classes, following up, staying connected to my team, actively mentoring, attending conventions, and taking advantage of various training resources offered by(the company) and leaders in our company are some of the key steps I took that helped me achieve Diamond.
What advice would you give others who are striving to reach Diamond?
Decide that you will be the Diamond for your team, even if you are a new team member with a team of one or two right now, and never lose sight of your true mission of serving others because that is far more significant than any rank.
Our first big team meeting in Greensboro, NC: February 2014
Team members who attended a conference in Washington, D.C.: May 2014
Team members who attended our Global Convention in Salt Lake City, UT: September 2014
Team members who attended my first Spring Tour event in Kernersville, NC: April 2015
Team members who attended a business education day we held in Kernersville, NC: May 2015
Team members who attended an Educational Summit in Murfreesboro, TN: May 2015