We're moving.... Please read!

Hello. VERY IMPORTANT! I won't be posting any more articles on this site. I've copied all of the blog posts from this site to a different blog page (because I can customise it much more than this one). All of my current subscribers (bless you) will get this last posting as an email.

So what do you need to do?

You need to subscribe to the news feed for the other site.

I would do this for you, but I don't believe in spamming people and I'd rather have you reconfirm your interest and fill in the subscription form. Sorry to make you do it again. I promise to stay put for quite awhile. :)

Most importantly, I won't be posting any more articles on this site. So to find me - just click here: Wendy's Profitable Party Plan Website!

Thanks for reading! Bye bye.... WLC.

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.profitablepartyplan.com

Hosting a Home Show

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com

Mornings and To Do Lists

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com

Smart Money: Your Payment Terms are Critical to Your Business

What are your payment terms?

Many party planners don't think about things like this, but cash flow is very important to any business.

The company you work with likely uses the standard practice that you pay for your orders when you submit them.

The bottom line is that you should match your company's payment policy.

Here are my payment commandments:

1. Always collect payments at the event. Chasing payments after the event is time consuming and unprofessional (not to mention awkward). Even if your company allows COD, make it your policy to collect payments at the time of sale.
2. Never pay for an order without collecting the payment from the guest or host. You are not a lender. You are a seller. If someone cannot afford to purchase your products today, but can pay for them in their next pay cycle, then you have 3 choices:
1. Have the host pay for their purchase and they can pay the host later.
2. Take their order now, but process it in a separate order when they can pay for it.
3. Book a party with them in that next pay cycle.
3. Process the orders the next business day. This will ensure that guests receive their products in a timely manner.

For your clients, these terms enable you to provide excellent customer service and to deliver orders more quickly. For you, these terms improve your hourly rate (by eliminating calls to chase up payments), make your hosts happy (because they don't have to collect money for you), and keep you from going into unnecessary and risky debt.

Promote your payment terms at your party. If you have not had a policy like this before, or if you have been slack at enforcing it, make a few calls to your next hosts to inform them of your new payment terms.

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an expert in Profitable Party Planning

http://www.wlcenterprises.com/

Business Networking

As a party planner, ongoing learning is an important element in your business strategy. This is why I read books, listen to CDs, and attend networking opportunities.

Yesterday, at one of those networking opportunities, I learned that I didn't know what networking is.

If you've met me, you might disagree with me, 'cause I'm a pretty outgoing and easy to talk to person.

But until yesterday, I really didn't know how to network.

The breakthrough came to me at the Flying Solo Live event during a presentation by successful businesswoman, Kim McGuinness. You can read some of Kim's Flying Solo article contributions here.

So, what is the breakthrough?

Previously I didn't differentiate the two, but I now understand there is a big difference between selling and networking. I know that there is a time and place for each one. When selling, I should share my products and business opportunities, focus on the customer needs, listen to their feedback, and ask for the sale. When networking, I should ask what they do, tell them what I do, and listen carefully to their answers (not plan my next sentence). I should get to know them. If I enjoy their company, I should follow up with them and see them again. If they need information or a contact, I should give them what they need. I should expect nothing in return. When networking, I do not ask for a sale.

Before this breakthrough, I thought that if I left a networking event without business related appointments or sales, that I had wasted my time. I also counted my cards to see how many people I had met. I now realise that even if I only meet one person, discover I have something in common with him or her, and uncover a genuine reason to get back in touch, that I have made a new friend AND grown my network.

Give. Your network will give back.

Do you agree with me? Or do you think my new found networking strategy will be a waste of time? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Make it a great day!

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com

Do You Walk the Talk?

You need to use your products daily and be a visual supporter of the company and the products to be an effective sales person.

Why?

When you have first hand experience with your product line - not because you should, but because you want to - then you can easily refer people to your products and to your company.

Are you your best customer? Do you use your products? Do you know how the linen feels? Have you personally experienced the benefits of drinking the daily juice? Are you a walking billboard for the clothes? Is your house as clean as it can be with only your product line? Do you make more long distance calls than anyone else you know because your rate is so low?

Moreover, are you passionate about the products? Does it make you happy to see others using the products properly? If someone doesn't have your products, do you have an almost uncontrollable urge to share the benefits with them so that they, too, can see them the way you do?

I know there are some exceptions to the rule. Places where testimonials from others will need to take the place of a personal recommendation. But these are the exception.

You must use your products to effectively sell them.

This has strong implications in your sales techniques.

You want to know something else? If you are personally experiencing party plan (or direct selling) as a real business opportunity, you will sponsor more people. Share your truthfully positive attitude about this business as a profitable, flexible, risk-free, and achievable program and you will attract people to your business. Especially people who love (and use) your product line.

Believe it and it becomes true.

Do you agree with me? Or do you think you can separate personal use (and personal passion) from the business and be successful? Share your opinion. Leave us a comment.

Make it a great day!

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com

One Step at a Time

All the flowers of all of the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.

~Chinese Proverb

Building a successful business does not happen overnight. It takes daily discipline and small steps.

Today, I invite you to plant some seeds. Simply make 10 phone calls in a row to people you've sold to in the last 30-90 days to ask them if they are 100% happy with what they bought. If they are not, fix it. If they are, thank them for being a customer and let them know you love to get referrals from happy customers. Then tell them to have a great day and say good-bye.

Hmmmm - you didn't ask for anything. You didn't upsell. You didn't ask for a booking. You didn't give them a rundown on the specials. No. You followed up just to make sure they were happy. What a breath of fresh air!

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning
http://www.wlcenterprises.com/

We Need to Provide Better Customer Service

The reputation of Party Planning overall needs to be improved. I've just recorded a video to explain how and why. I'd love your feedback.

Make it a great day!

Be a Mum!

If you are wondering how your children got so old so fast, you should think seriously about making a change for the better.

When I grew up, my mum was at home with my brother and me. She played games with us, made us art and craft projects, and planned dinners. She took us to parks, taught the dog to sit and stay, and cleaned the clothes. She took us to soccer practice, softball practice, swimming lessons, and rehearsals.

She was a mum. We were lucky.

A Party Plan mum can do all of those things. She never needs to miss a game, a performance, a first day of school. She can walk the kids to school and be there when the kids get home. She can spend quality and quantity time with her children.

Party Plan enables distributors to work from home, schedule their appointments at times convenient to them, and spend time doing the things that are really important.

Some people think that by starting a Party Plan business that you give up your income. On the contrary. By starting a Party Plan business you only give up bosses, rosters, employee reviews, employees, and (sometimes) alarm clocks. Your target income might actually be lower than before (because you can save lots of money by being at home), or you might want to earn the same as you did before, or you might want to earn more than you did before.

The best part is that Party Plan actually enables all three of these scenarios.

So be a mum! It's the most rewarding job in the world. Party Planning is next. And you can do both!

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com

From the Guest's Perspective....

Recall the last party plan event that you attended as a guest.

Before the party

Did you get a personal invitation from your host or were you brought by a friend? Was it by SMS, by phone, by email, or in person? Was she excited to invite you or casual or indifferent? Did she tell you why she wanted to host a party? Did she invite you to invite a friend who might also like the products on offer? Did she send you a reminder? Did you want to go? Were you excited or dreading it?

At the party

Was the party fun? Did it start on time? Was the demonstrator well-groomed, on time, in control, and knowledgeable about what she was selling. Did the host have fun? Did the guests have fun? Did you learn something? Did it drag on longer than you wanted it too? Was it organised? Were you surprised by anything? Did you buy more or less than you thought you would? Did you pay then or were you allowed to order and pay later? Did you enjoy yourself so much you decided to host a party yourself? Did you talk someone else into hosting a party so you could go? Did you get a receipt? Did you keep any literature? Did you win a prize? Did you leave happy?

After the party

Did you get your product quickly? Did you call your host to ask when the products were arriving? Did you worry about products that were missing? Did you have a complaint about what you ordered? Did you get an email from the demonstrator with information about how to buy more? Did you get a phone call from the demonstrator asking you if you were happy with your purchases? Would you recommend the products to other people who weren't at the party? Would you pass on the phone number of the demonstrator? Are you 100% satisfied with the entire process?

By thinking about how you have been treated at parties, you can develop your own style and your own rules for how to run your business. Before the show it is important to work with the host, so that she is enthusiastic and informative when inviting her guests. At the show, it is important to guide the event, to listen to your host and your guests, and to be professional. It is also critical for you to set the customer expectations around what will happen once they leave the party. After the show, it is important to live up to those expectations, to inform your host and your new clients if those expectations will not be met, and to make sure your clients are all 100% satisfied.

Make a change

So, think about it, consider how your current procedures are working, and make changes if you need to. Be the best party planner that they've ever had and you will have a strong customer base, you'll develop a full diary of parties, and you'll meet lots of people who will want to do what you do.

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an expert at profitable party planning.
www.wlcenterprises.com

Why did you get involved in Direct Marketing?

Was it to make a little extra money for a vacation? Was it because you had a family at home and thought you could fit it in? Was it because you loved the products and wanted to get exclusive access to discount prices and consultant specials. Was it because the company offered a reward to start that you couldn't resist? Did you just want to try something new?

No matter what your reason was for starting, I bet over the course of a few months, your reason for staying involved is different.

Both of these elements comprise your personal story and should be shared.

Your Personal Story

If you are in Party Plan, the strength of your business relies squarely on the strength of your personal story. There are three elements to cover. Tell people why you started because that is a powerful and truthful motivator. Tell people why you have stayed because it shows that the company is supportive, that you have the ability to book shows after your first few, and that you find value in what you do. And finally, let people know that they also have the opportunity to give this business a go and see if it's for them.

Make your personal commercial last 30-45 seconds. Cover all three areas. Your story will resonate with some people in your audience.

Develop Empathy Through other People's Personal Stories

Listen to other people's personal commercials. Uncover the motivations for starting that are NOT the same as your own. Then, as you meet people who have different motivations to you, you can share the personal commercials of other people. Their stories will resonate with some people in your audience.

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning

www.wlcenterprises.com

Give Yourself a Raise

You need more money.

You already have a "day job." A good one. Maybe you're an office worker. Maybe you're a doctor. Maybe you're a teacher. Or a nurse. Or a mechanic. But the thing is you already have a job.

And you need more money.

Here are some options:

• Ask for a raise. Sure to be a crowd pleaser. Even though the Australian economy is better off than many other economies, companies are experiencing slowdowns and are working hard to keep employees on staff. Layoffs are being avoided in many cases because employee wages are holding firm or going down.
• Work more hours. If you get paid more for working more, you can simply add more time in the office, get more done, and take home more money. Easy, right? But layoffs are also being avoided because employers are cutting back hours to match the lower demand.
• Switch companies. A great way to increase your salary is to change employers. However, unemployment is on the rise, and people are competitively applying for the same jobs. So it's a employers' market. This means less money, not more. In some industries, it could work, but in most cases it will take a lot of door knocking to move companies and your chances of a big increase are slim.
• Go back to school. Many people might take advantage of this economic downturn to retool, retrain, and reinvigorate their careers. Of course, this doesn't make you any extra money.... And that was the point.
• Get a second job. If you've longed to start a business or try another career, and you need extra money, now may be the perfect time to add a layer to your day job. Keep your day job. Enjoy it. And add something else to satisfy yourself, to earn extra money, and to experience a world away from your day job.

My recommendation is that you should get the second job... add a layer... expand your horizons. I don't just mean work for someone else, there are heaps of options here.

In today's economic climate when the other options just aren't options, and even in good economic times, there is a distinct and meaningful satisfaction available to you for doing something different. You'll be surprised how much more you can fit into a day. You'll be happy to have something different to do than your day job. You'll be able to try your dream job without eliminating your core income stream. You'll meet new people. You'll expand your horizons.

How much extra money do you need? This is a key question. If you can figure it out, you should be able to determine the right second job for you. If you were to make an extra $500 per week, would that make a difference? Would it be worth it? $500 per week is $2000 per month and $24,000 per year. That's a pretty good raise.

So give yourself a raise and expand your horizons at the same time.

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com

What is a Pyramid Scheme?

Often when being told about a multi-level marketing (aka MLM) business opportunity, people inevitably say, “Oh, I get it. It’s a pyramid.”

I suppose that they’re right from one perspective; structure-wise, a successful MLM person has a downline (i.e. people they’ve recruited) and when you draw out the organisation chart (though there is no organisation per se) it could look somewhat like a pyramid. But from both a legal and imagery perspective, MLM is not at all a pyramid.

Legal

The real difference is in how money is made. In pyramid schemes (which are illegal), people pay money (a joining fee) to get involved, and they make money by recruiting other members who pay a joining fee to be involved (and so on). In pyramid schemes, real value is not being created at all – money is not being exchanged for goods, it is simply changing hands and the joining fee is being distributed up. The people at the top and at every step down along the way get part of the joining fee every time another person pays to join. "Smart" schemers have tried to make their activities look legitimate by pretending to sell something. According to the ACCC, “some pyramid scheme promoters disguise their true purpose by introducing products that are overpriced, of poor quality, difficult to sell or of little value. Making money out of recruitment is still their main aim.”

On the contrary, MLM is a legitimate (and perfectly legal) sales and marketing strategy. Rather than employ people to sell goods, a company sells at wholesale prices to distributors (also called associates, independent business owners, dealers, franchise owners, sales consultants, consultants, independent agents) who then onsell those products at retail rates. Distributors develop their own clients and can recruit additional independent distributors (i.e. their downline) to expand their reach. Money is made through legitimate sales of legitimate products. The distributor makes the wholesale/retail margin. The company makes a profit from their wholesale mark-up.

Imagery

If you think about it, a pyramid needs a strong base and then you build up. Once you've established the size of the base, you know how big your pyramid will be.

But MLM businesses are anything but fixed in size. They can be run for friends and family just to save money off retail rates, they can be run just to earn pocket money, they can be run to save a fixed amount of money each month for larger expenses, or they can be developed into grand organisations with unlimited income potential. And the interesting thing is that MLM businesses can change in size and scope over time. They aren't like rigid buildings; they're not like pyramids at all.

They're more like trees.

I can feel a tree post coming soon.... Until next time....

P.S. For more information about pyramid schemes, see Scamwatch, a website managed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com

My Layers

You may be interested in knowing about the businesses I am currently involved in.

• I run a successful MLM business with PartyLite Australia, selling PartyLite candles, exclusive fragrances, and home decorating accessories. I support my ever-growing team of independent PartyLite consultants on Wendy's Candle Website.
• Turning my hobby and passion of singing and music into a semi-professional career has been exhilarating and extremely fulfilling. It takes hard work to be a musician, and I love every minute of it. You can see more about my Sydney-based bands here.
• Investment property has been a lucrative and quite passive part of my income stream layers. Initially, I invested in property to reduce my taxable income through negative gearing. Over the years, I have developed a solid professional network of support and deployed a good strategy which keeps my risk and return in check.
• Providing my two cents' worth to other small businesses as an advisor is a very fulfilling role for me. My strategic, financial, project management, and marketing background combined with my own small business experience is helping other companies to develop successful growth, development and exit strategies.

My Background

I've worked in the hospitality industry, the telecommunications industry, retail sales, multi-level marketing industry, franchises, and the music industry. I've worked for businesses, started businesses, sold businesses, invented new products, researched and evaluated import/export opportunities, and advised small businesses. I've gone to university and gotten the credentials in business, but, more importantly, I've applied that book knowledge in many ways in real life. I've succeeded at much of what I've done, and I've experienced failure. Stay tuned....

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com

First Draft of my Logo

I thought I'd be creative today and create a concept logo for WLCE. I will use this logo on my websites, my business cards, my stationary. I think this concept captured in my "W" scrawl would make a good logo.

The concept is done, so what is the brief? I want it to include seven bold colours (for the Rainbows - my PartyLite unit name), candles (for the candle business), guitar (for the music), and a microphone (for the music and the public speaking. I want a white background.

Wonder if a designer will be able to make it sing? :)

What do you think?

Revamped and Ready

This is a business site dedicated to the businesses of Wendy Lloyd Curley (AKA WLC Enterprises). This week, I have finally taken the time to think my web strategy through. I thought I might share some of that information with you.

Content

I have merged this blog, WLC Enterprises, with my candle blog (for current and prospective candle consultants) and with my personal blog. This site also includes information about my music and public speaking businesses. The overall site is (finally) interlinked, looks the same and has the same menu structure.

Subscriptions

I have kept the subscriptions separate so that people interested in the candle business can subscribe to the Candle pages and people interested in my personal escapades can subscribe to WendEmail. For the rest of the content, RSS is available at the click of a button.

Purpose

The purpose of this site is (1) to disseminate information (2) to develop leads, (3) to motivate people to act, and (4) to keep in touch. If you're reading this, it must be working....

I have a layered life. I run my very different businesses from home. I am revamping this structure to provide clarity as to what I do, and to provide support to my overall strategy. I you are a client of mine in any aspect, I'd love to hear from you about what you might want to see on this site. Just write to me.

Onward!

Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant Congress

Presentation notes for delivery at the National EA PA Congress May 25 - 28, 2009 · Sofitel Wentworth, Sydney, NSW (Link to conference organiser IQPC). These notes are not a transcript.

Introduction

"Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance."

~Brian Tracy, Canadian Author and Professional Speaker on Self-Help

Thesis: To be a better anything... you need to be a better person

What we learned yesterday: We can’t change others: Responsible for moulding to our situation

What you’ll hear today: We are responsible for creating our own mould

Presentation Overview

So many of us fall into the common trap of ‘work, eat, sleep’ and life seems to be swallowed up in a monotonous pattern. This session evaluates the important activities you should be participating in for a healthy mind and body.

1. The importance of continuing education, volunteer organisations, health and fitness, and small business
2. Developing a checklist for self-improvement and building your skill base
3. Taking care of yourself mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally
4. Implementing ten actions that will improve your productivity, confidence, and self-worth

What is important to you?

Rock, pebbles, sand, water

A professor walks into the room carrying an empty 10-gallon water jug and dragging an obviously heavy bag. He places them on the teacher’s desk. Without a word, he begins placing white rocks, just big enough to fit through the mouth of the jug, into the jug until they reach the very top. "Is it full?" he asks. You nod.

"Maybe not," he says. He then stuffs tiny pebbles into the jug and the pebbles find their way through the cracks in the rock. "Full now?" he asks. The whole class nods.

He then shovels sand into the jug, occasionally shaking the jug, and the tiny grains sift through the rocks and pebbles. "OK," he says, "now is it full?" The class nods in unison.

He smiles. He then slowly pours water into the jug until a water glass is finally empty.

"The lesson here," he says, "is that there is always more room in our lives than we think there is. When you think you’re out of time, there is still more available if you look for it."

Time = Schedule = Manage = Prioritise

Here’s the time-saving payoff: The ROCKS are the important things we have to accomplish regularly to be successful. They go into our "time jug" first, because they are most important. The PEBBLES represent those things we may not like to do, but we must do. They go in next. The SAND represents things that we should do, we may even like to do, but they’re not as important. The WATER represents the few remaining things that make a difference. If you reverse the order, putting in the water, then the sand, then the pebbles, there will not be enough room for the rocks. So prioritize your activities and make sure the rocks go on your schedule first.

Candle Parties

When is the last time that you lit a candle?

Make a little part of every day all about you.

Balance

Discuss Balance – work on one side offset by life on the other – funny juxtaposition. Good and evil. Bad bacteria and good bacteria.

Barbara’s keynote – Get a life. Started exercising. Ran 1 half marathon = 21.097494 kilometers

“Life is best enjoyed when time periods are evenly divided between labor, sleep, and recreation.”

~Brigham Young, American Pioneer and Leader of the Mormon Church

Excellence – Your boss will love me for it

• Success at work is defined.
• Is success in your life defined? (Goals – Rocks of Life)
• Success at sleep. :)

Wendy’s Collective Wisdom To Date (May 2009)

1. “Do or do not, there is no try.” ~Yoda
2. Make promises – X by Y (and not just at work)
3. Tell Igor to Shut Up – actively listen
4. Make it up. Use your gut.
5. Smile and mean it. (“Have a nice day.”)
6. Put your friends and family in front of your fortune. They are the rocks.
7. Stretch
8. Breathe

List of Ten Actions

1. Learn - a language, craft
2. Move - walk, run
3. Parent
4. Pamper
5. Play - sport, instrument
6. Read – create or join a book club
7. Relax
8. Teach
9. Volunteer
10. Work - more than a hobby

Closing Thought

“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.”

~Lily Tomlin

WLC Public Speaking

The Pitch

Wendy is an accomplished public speaker, motivator, and trainer. Her style is casual, unscripted, and personal.

"Inspiring."

When your event calls for an MC or a facilitator who can easily guide the participants from topic to topic while providing entertainment and insight into the proceedings... Wendy is your choice.

"I loved Wendy's style. I got a lot out of it."

When you have training days and are looking for a speaker who will bring your business goals together with personal well being, balance, performance, and positive outcomes... Wendy is your choice.

"Honest approach, excellent...."

In her teaching and lecturing over the past 5 years, Wendy has developed her public speaking experience to deliver ongoing results for the participants.

"She brought an informed, “can do” attitude to her audience, giving them the ability to take the practical information and immediately put it into practice."

Short Resume

Wendy has a solid background in corporate business (marketing, business development, finance, and IT), significant experience running her own companies and partnerships, she sits on the advisory board for an international finance company, and she has music and stage performance in her blood.

Wendy has an MBA, MIM, BS, 10 years in the telecommunications industry, 5 years as an entrepreneur, 4 years in direct marketing (aka MLM), experience (and citizenship) in the United States and Australia, and advanced knowledge of the music, wine, and candle industries. Her real power is in marketing and strategy, but to those disciplines she brings a keen understanding of how businesses need to work as a whole.

Bring it home...

Never in a suit, but always professional, you should choose Wendy. Or at least take her out to lunch and see what all the hype is about.

Contact Wendy

wendy@wlcenterprises.com
home/work 02 9705 0915 mobile 0416 239 851