Dear Archive Visitor, It's occurred to me that after more than 20 issues of my banter about ineffective marketing, some of my loyal readers just might appreciate an inspirational message. What can I say? I've been on a bantering roll, and now I'm finally taking a short break from it. Did I just hear you sigh with relief? If you had the chance to tune in to Tuesday night's teleclass (a free bonus for all my loyal subscribers) through the DSWA (Direct Selling Women's Alliance), you no doubt heard me on one of my rolls about ineffective marketing techniques. But heck, I was just getting warmed up, when it was time to end the call. By the way, the call was very well attended, and Jane Deuber, one of the co-founders of the DSWA and the moderator for my call that night, informed me that there was a good turn out of my subscribers. And I certainly recognized those of you who introduced yourselves! I'm so glad you took advantage of getting that free bonus. It's just one of the advantages of being a subscriber to The Sales Refinery Insights. So, one of the reasons there was a high attendance for my call was due to you, my loyal subscribers! But was that the only reason? Actually there was a high turn out of DSWA members as well, from what the chapter director of the DSWA told me on the phone today. If I had to guess (and of course I'm going to here), I would say the high attendance had everything to do with my add copy. Words DO make a difference! Now, if you asked each of the members who were on the call, "Why did you get on the call?" my guess is that not one would say, "Oh it was the add copy." No. But they would probably say something like, "Something just spoke to me, and I knew I had to be on that call." AH! You see, the words in my add copy spoke to them. I can't say it enough, how you say things does make a difference. Now, if you want a truly thorough workshop (ie. Tammy on a roll) on the subject of WORD-of-mouth marketing and how to craft a powerful 10-second introduction and 30-second commercial, my Irresistible Vocal Marketing for the Direct Sales Entrepreneur CD set is the best thing out there on this subject. Just ask me! All right, all right. So I'm a shameless self-promoter. Now that that's out of the way, let's get on with this week's lesson.

How to Shut Down the Inner Critic By Tammy Stanley One of my all time favorite cartoons shows a surgeon holding a little jar, walking into a patient's room and saying, "Mr. Jones, we've successfully removed your inner critic." Do you ever feel like there's someone following you around all day, critiquing nearly everything you do? Wouldn't it be nice if it could be successfully removed? Well, you may not be able to remove it, but my goal today is to motivate you to "shut her down." A good number of years ago I heard a woman tell a story about one night when she went out to look at the stars. It was an absolutely gorgeous night and she was truly fascinated by what she observed. Then without any warning, she heard something in her say, "This would be so much more special, if you only had someone to share it with." If she had not been vigilant, she probably would have exchanged the awe she felt for melancholy and/or depression. Fortunately, she was standing watch at the gateway to the thoughts passing through her mind, and she was able to stop the mutiny before it occurred. Just recently I heard Matt Furey (a marketing guru) talk about the need to obliterate every negative thought or fear based thought as soon as it's detected. He went on to say that by consciously obliterating those kind of thoughts frequently, it would eventually become a natural process. A week or two ago I recommended that you order and read a book by Noah St. John, Permission to Succeed. One of the reasons I recommended it is because St. John suggests a powerful way to prevent those mutinous thoughts from ever even getting started. Although St. John doesn't mention the Zeigarnik effect, which I've talked about before, his technique does indeed involve the power behind the Zeigarnik effect - the power behind asking your brain a question. A number of years ago I went to a very high priced seminar (you probably wouldn't even believe me if I quoted the price) and one of the things I'll always remember hearing about was the power in asking yourself questions. You see, if you present a question to your brain, you don't have to sit there and ponder the possible answer; your brain will do that for you while you go on with your day, or go to sleep for that matter. Let me assure you, <$firstname$>, the very fact that you are reading this ezine is proof positive that you want to improve your business, probably even your life. You're obviously open to new ideas. So here's the one I want you to open up to and implement this week. Start asking yourself questions that will get your brain thinking about why you're so smart, so successful, and so wonderful. One of the things I loved about Permission to Succeed is that Noah St. John shows how we're always asking our brains questions, but we're simply focused on the wrong questions. Come on. Haven't you ever asked one or more of the following: Why am I so stupid? Why can't I succeed at this? Why can't I remember names? Why is my calender always so empty? Why doesn't anyone on my team work? Now for those of you who remember what the Zeigarnik effect is, I ask you, why would you want your brain wanting and working to find answers to those questions? Ah Ñ the power of good questions! By asking yourself questions like: Why am I so successful at this? Why is it so easy for me to get new prospects? Why am I so smart? Why am I so irresistible? your brain will go to work (hopefully overtime) to find the answer to those questions, and you'll start to find yourself coming up with new ideas that change the course of your business, (dare I say it?) even your life. There have been times in my life that I've been really good at shutting down that inner critic inside of me. But the interesting thing is that it not only requires vigilant work to shut it down, it requires continual work. I say that because as soon as challenges present themselves, that silly critic always seems ready and rearing to give it another try. While I was on my way out to California this summer (remember when I had to jump in the car because our daughter was having an emergency appendectomy, when she was supposed to be having a blast at dance camp?) I made the decision to give up suffering. I don't know about you, but I can suffer over the silliest things - The chicken piccata has too much lemon (why, why, why did I add too much lemon?); The trashcan in the girl's bathroom is practically overflowing and none of them have emptied it (Oh, the horror, the horror!), and let's not forget... Where are we going to get the money to pay all these bills? Listen, I'll tell you a secret. It's really not that difficult to stop suffering or to shut down the inner critic. It's actually fun. BUT you have to be willing to laugh at yourself and have fun with the process. Here's a tip - when you realize that you've let that inner critic get the best of you, you can't get upset with yourself. That's what the critic wants. You have to do the unexpected - LAUGH. And then ask some wonderful question like, "Why am I so FANtastic?" WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR ON YOUR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Author, Sales Trainer, and Professional Speaker Tammy Stanley publishes the propelling 'Sales Refinery Insights' weekly ezine for direct sales professionals. If you're ready to jump-start your direct sales business, make more money, and create more value, get your FREE tips now at www.tammystanley.com/ezine/ezine_offer_ds.htm

I know, I know. I already recommended this two weeks ago. But I can't resist giving it another push. It's an easy read, but Noah St. John really makes some cool analogies and some "right on" suggestions. In addition to that, he has numerous exercises throughout the book that I found most revealing. Oh, and on top of all that, I did some of the exercises with my husband, Jim, and with our youngest daughter, Zo‘ (she's 14). After I did one of them with Zo‘, she said, "That was cool? Are there any more?" I call moments like those bonding. My children hardly ever remember the gifts we bought them for Christmas (okay, they DO remember the time Tess asked for a piano at age 7, and her daddy [yes, my husband - the cellist] went out and bought one) but they remember well the things we do together. Noah St John's book, Permission to Succeed, gave me some of those things-we-did-together moments. Click on the book image above to order your copy of this wonderful book today!

Tammy Stanley, founded and directs The Sales Refinery, a sales training company that assists direct sales consultants to generate more business and build long-lasting sales teams through powerful marketing, selling and leadership strategies.

Tammy has been coaching and training since 1994 and has a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of the independent sales consultant. While raising four children, Tammy built a multi-million dollar direct sales organization, reaching her company's Circle of Excellence 7 consecutive years in a row. She earned numerous sales and leadership awards, world travel, and promoted 11 offspring managers.

The Tammy Stanley Sales Refinery
Tempe, AZ 85283
Call Today: 480-775-4866
tammy@TammyStanley.com