Regularly Scheduled Meetings

The first key to a successful local meeting is to hold it regularly. Each week Linda Bedard holds at least two presentations where you can show up, bring a guest, and get someone enrolled. "We have a business presentation Tuesday evening," says Linda. "People can count on it. They can bring a guest or new customer so they can validate their decision to join Melaleuca." The other time slot is Friday at lunch. Linda's group meets in the upstairs of a local restaurant. You can show up with a Business Kit and a guest and build your business while you eat.

In addition to business presentations, Linda holds a monthly product and business training. "This is our Super Saturday. We rent the Sheriff's community room for a nominal fee, then do an hour of product training and two hours of business training." Linda makes sure that each new 3, 4 or 5 enrolled knows about these meetings, because the training provided will help a business builder make money.

Other regular meetings in Prescott are Fast Tracks (Linda just finished facilitating two), company meetings like a training by Lewis Rasmussen, Executive Director Perspectives and company launches.

At other times there are special events that create excitement among her group. "We just had a series of meetings that took advantage of so many Executive Directors being in town for SELC. We had an enrollment meeting on Monday, and a training on Tuesday so new enrollees could get a great start with training from these great leaders." Linda also appreciates all the help from her enroller and leader, Wayne Crosby. She had a small contest to earn an invitation to a barbecue with Wayne while he was in town. "Wayne's a great leader. He's been a huge part of the success here in Arizona."

Executive Directors Joseph & Daniel Tore

In New Jersey, Joseph and Daniel Tore also make sure there's always a meeting for their group to access. "We hold Fast Tracks once a week, and also hold a weekly conference call," says Joseph. "We get about 500 people on a call, and have a guest speaker talk about one of the seven critical activities."

"We have a power training every five to six weeks," says Daniel. "Joe and I mix it up a little, covering products and business topics. We also have Lewis Rasmussen come to town once a year, and make sure we're scheduled for a company launch."

And then there's a monthly dinner or barbecue that brings an element of fun and excitement to their business. Daniel, Joseph and Executive Director Bryan Lazaroff get together and foot the bill for a big dinner. They invite about 40 people to come-but they have to bring a guest. This helps their business builders meet new people and discuss business ideas.

At the end of September, Dan and Joe tried a new business meeting approach. They held a special day-long seminar with a "back to school" theme. They had home room, then different class periods, lunch and recess. A guest from the company held the "graduation exercises" and concluded with a call to action. "It was a powerful training," says Daniel. "It happened right after the attacks in New York when business had completely stopped, and yet it helped people realize there was a purpose for them and got them geared back up for business."

The Benefit for New Enrollees

"Our group doesn't have to utilize the weekly meetings," says Linda. "They often do in-homes instead. But it's great to give them a choice. When they are new, it's good for them to see a level of enthusiasm and success in others at the presentation that validates their decision to build the business."

"Melaleuca can't be taught, it has to be caught," says Daniel. "At meetings is where new enrollees catch the fever. When you enroll people, their only perception of success is how well you are doing. And if you're doing well, even just making $100, that success is inspiring to them. However, when they get in a meeting their belief factor will grow when they see neighbors, doctors, and teachers-people like the people they know-who are excited about Melaleuca. Meetings reinforce on a massive scale everything they were told on a small scale in the first presentation."

Meetings Help Build Unity

"You have to come to meetings," says Linda. "That's where you hear announcements, learn more about Melaleuca, learn to present better, and receive recognition. Meetings keep you connected with a nucleus of people who are interested about you and your success."

The core group of people that are involved in meetings in Prescott are the people Linda sees as becoming the new leaders. "My role is to actively encourage and support the leadership coming up, and give them more and more ownership. They need to be their own leaders; business will sink if it all depends on me." A couple of her new leaders include Sr. Director V Barb Womack, who recently took the lead in a product training meeting and did a great job. Another great leader is Sr. Director Jim David, who has been instrumental in reserving the community room, setting up for meetings and delegating responsibilities to make the meeting run smoothly.

Linda likens it to a football team. "What would happen if you had a team full of quarterbacks? Just like every good team, you need to find a role for everyone to play." And like a football team, the leaders often huddle to set up strategy. Linda's leaders meet every Friday for a low-key "mini Fast Track." They go over what the group needs, what works and what doesn't. "We want to know what's the best use of our time. If we go to meetings all the time, can we build the business? No. But if we use a meeting to leverage our time and create a balance, then the business grows."

The importance of local meetings is clear to Daniel. He knows that meetings prevent entropy. "Over time all systems break down," explains Daniel. "You can be a Senior, Executive or Corporate Director, and no matter how good your business runs, you'll get complacent and the system will break down. You need to be rejuvenated. Every week we hold a Fast Track, but even in Fast Track people start to get complacent. So every five weeks we hold a huge meeting, and that gets the excitement going again."

Another key part of meetings is building relationships among your organization. "It's a relationship business," says Joseph. "In my experience, working with people physically present works the best. That's why we hold dinners; to motivate our group and help them feel like they belong to a team. They can't have dinner over the phone or Internet."

Why Meetings Need Leaders

"At the start of a business, Marketing Executives will need meetings," says Daniel. "Once the business is established, the meetings need the Marketing Executives. It's not about the content that's being taught. It's about seeing the type of people who are there, networking with people, asking about their success, hearing what they think about the products. You need to go to a meeting every month, even if the topic doesn't change, because the people will change and you'll see new faces."

"I love Melaleuca's motto, 'Enhancing the lives of those we touch by helping people reach their goals,'" says Linda. "It doesn't say we reach goals by staying in our comfort corner. The very process of reaching is extending ourselves. Through meetings we can take a bigger role, become leaders and use our talents. I often hear people say after a meeting, 'I didn't want to come, but I'm glad I did. I became remotivated.' They stay connected with other people who can remind them why they are putting time into this business."

Take a moment today to look up the next meeting in your area. Find out how you can get involved. Stay connected with your local meetings, and you'll soon find it's a key part of your strategy for success.

Editor's note: This is the concluding article in the series of seven critical business-building activities.

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