This article, from Sales Moms Network, offers great tips to help you succeed when you hold online parties. Keep that energy up whether your event is in person or over the internet!

A once attended a ministers' training class designed to help become better speakers. During the week, various videos were shown to us featuring different speakers. One of the videos featured the then head of the Salvation Army. She was speaking in church wearing her uniform, including her hat. 

After we watched the video, I was amazed how many people commented on her hat. They found it to be a distraction. Such a simple thing yet it prevented some in the class from focusing on her message. Lesson learned. NO HATS!

Over the years, there have been many things I have learned as a speaker, trainer and business person that Mr. Diva (my hubby) and I refer to as HATS! These are often simple things, items we might on other occasions overlook but for some reason create a distraction. When I am speaking, regardless of the situation or venue, I want EVERYONE to focus on me and my message... ok, message first. They can focus on me after!  

That brings me to the point of this post. I have worked as an audio technician, not a trained technician but I worked in audio for a number of years. Mr. Diva IS a trained audio technician. This is a good/bad situation. It's great having a professional around when I need some audio work done. And, over the years, I have learned enough to create & edit my own material so it has a professional quality. Mr. Diva is also very good about making certain I have professional equipment to use for my recordings. Not high end equipment but better than using the built-in mic on the computer.

Unfortunately, this is not the case with many of the recordings I listen to online. Many of them sound as if they were recorded directly on the phone. I believe the problem is the quality of the microphone being used. This causes a tinny sound, creates a certain amount of distortion in the recording. Makes it impossible for me to listen to it.

I have found this to be a problem, not just with people starting out in the business but with professionals as well. I might overlook the newbie. Let them develop their craft before they purchase equipment. I am, however, absolutely baffled how professionals who are producing audio seminars on a regular basis can allow product with such poor audio quality to be sold or shared with their clients. This is such an easy fix.

As a result of this frustration, Mr. Diva & I are putting together 1-2 webinars to help everyone sharing audio online. The first covers basics like equipment, what you need & don't need and where to find it all. The second covers recording & editing. Believe me, it is much easier than you might think to create incredible audio programs & products. That's why it surprises me that more people aren't doing just that.

You would send out printed material with blurred images & typos, would you? Then why would you share audio material that is less than top quality. Watch this site for more information on the programs. We want your input & questions so we can cover your audio needs.

BTW, that's me with my custom Heil Audio microphone. Thanks, Bob!

We all know how excited newly recruited consultants are when the first begin their business. The fire burning inside them would heat a 3 bedroom home. Unfortunately, that fire can go out quickly if the recruit becomes frustrated & discouraged. How do we work to prevent this from happening?

I found this incredible idea on the Sales MOMS Network. They suggest you not only accompany new recruits to their first event, you should take it to a higher level by... well, I'm going to let them tell you all about it!

Increase sales when you create simple fabulous gift baskets & sets using your products & items from the Dollar Store. Perfect for Easter & Mother's Day.

Increase your success recruiting new consultants when you use the D-I-V-A Guide to Recruiting!

This great article is from my weekly Jeffrey Gitomer newsletter. Author Chris Cummins tells a story about customer service, or a lack thereof, that is astonishing. How does his experience apply to your direct sales business? Are there ways you can insure you are offering customer service, not just company service, to your clients? Something to consider!

In this article from Success magazine, they discuss the way small things make a big difference in your business. This list doesn't necessarily contain the things you think it might. I was surprised by some of the items. You may be too!

In this article, Sally Hogshead discusses the 7 fascination triggers and the ways you can create them, then use them in your business... and life!

The ideas in this video are priceless. Take a minute (all right, 4:22 minutes) to watch. Then apply the the ideas to work on your business. Very Diva! Thanks Party Plan Coach!

I have a collection of sales and leadership books I have gathered over the years. I take one off the shelf as the mood strikes and re-read them. I never fail to get something new out of each book every time I read them. Right now, I am reading Miracles Happen by Mary Kay Ash. In this book, Mary Kay shares the ideas & principles upon which she founded her "dream" company. A few of the ideas are dated simply because times, and the family dynamic, have changed. However, the majority of the book offers great ideas. More important, it motivates... well, at least it encourages and motivates me. I have taken pages of notes, ways to apply Mary Kay's advice to my own business.

While this book may not be available new, you should be able to find a good used copy. It is worth the time to track it down and the READ IT!