| Most of us know the tales of "The Tortoise and the | | | | month |
| Hare" and "The Ant and The Grasshopper". We may | | | | * Be realistic. If you have other obligations, allow time |
| have even told them to our children, grandchildren or | | | | for them. But be ruthless and focused during the time |
| god children. But do we realize that the lessons on | | | | you set aside for your business. Turn off the phone |
| focus, priorities, planning, diligence and goals in these | | | | and email, close your door, etc. |
| stories are the same principles we need to succeed in | | | | * Once you decide your time commitment, divide it |
| our home based businesses? Both the Tortoise and | | | | between learn, execute and follow-up tasks. You don't |
| the Ant had Daily Methods of Operation (DMO). | | | | have to do all three every work day, but devote half |
| Whether you're in direct sales or network marketing | | | | your time to execution tasks like generating leads, |
| you need the same: a solid DMO. | | | | writing articles, doing presentations, etc. Sharpening |
| You may be wondering how many direct sales people | | | | pencils, organizing papers doesn't count |
| or network marketers have even heard of DMO and | | | | * Prioritize your time. Eliminate some activities so you |
| if they have, how many use it. Who can be sure, but | | | | can add business tasks. |
| top earners in direct sales and MLM say that a Daily | | | | * WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN AND KEEP IT |
| Method of Operation can be the difference between | | | | HANDY |
| success and failure for home based businesses. It can | | | | Your DMO is personal so the framework here is basic. |
| prevent information overload, anxiety, guilt and even | | | | However, emphasize process oriented tasks over |
| shut down. This article defines DMO, tells why it's | | | | outcome based ones. For example, your task may be |
| important and provides a simple framework for | | | | to follow-up on ten leads daily. If you decide you must |
| crafting one. | | | | get seven recruits or customers out of the ten, you |
| DMO DEFINED | | | | are focused on outcome. You can set yourself up for |
| A Daily Method of Operation(DMO) is a time | | | | failure that way since your best efforts may not yield |
| management tool that has you focus on regularly | | | | those results. If you decide to do follow-up day after |
| completing small, simple tasks or components of | | | | day until you have seven new people, are you |
| complex tasks that directly contribute to your mastery | | | | deviating from your DMO if you should be doing other |
| of skills and your attainment of overall direct sales or | | | | tasks on those days that would move you forward? |
| MLM goals. It is a checklist you complete on a | | | | Consistency of your effort and process over time is |
| schedule you create. You chip away at the tasks you | | | | what pays off...along with the right mental attitude. |
| must do and skills you must master to succeed in your | | | | A simple spread sheet works fine for a monthly DMO. |
| business. | | | | You can create it by hand, but a computer does it |
| DMO IMPORTANCE | | | | easier and faster. Plus you can create blank forms for |
| A Daily Method of Operation is meant to be | | | | later use. The chart should be large enough to post in |
| habit-forming. We are creatures of habit: the better our | | | | a conspicuous place in your office or work area. Why |
| habits, the easier and better our success in what we | | | | posted? It's helpful to pass or look at it regularly. |
| do. There is a lot to do to have a successful home | | | | List the tasks you plan to do that month across the |
| based business. And the more there is to do, the more | | | | top of the sheet. Some examples are: write five |
| you need a plan of action that not only manages the | | | | articles, do regular blog and forum posts, attend |
| chaos, but moves you closer to your goals. That is | | | | trainings, update your website and social media sites, |
| what a DMO does. | | | | follow-up leads daily, prospect, etc. Down one side, list |
| DMO FRAMEWORK | | | | the days of that month by weeks. This will give you a |
| You've joined the network marketing business of your | | | | grid. Mark off tasks as you do them each work day. |
| choice and have visions of being a home based | | | | Give yourself gold stars on particularly productive |
| entrepreneur. Better yet, you imagine being a | | | | days. |
| SUCCESSFUL home business tycoon. This is the time | | | | That's it. Your spread sheet visually represents what |
| to craft your DMO. Consider the following when you | | | | you accomplish. Use it to gauge progress and correct |
| do: | | | | omissions. Keep it simple. You'll be doing it for some |
| * Set the goals for your business, reflect on them and | | | | time. |
| get feedback. You can amend them as time goes on | | | | Finally, realize there will be distractions and slow days. |
| * Decide what tasks will reach those goals | | | | Forgive yourself and start fresh the next work day. Be |
| * Decide how many days or nights per week, and | | | | the tortoise or the ant. And remember, you can work |
| how many hours per day or night you will work on | | | | your business part-time with success but you can't |
| those tasks. Take your business seriously, but build in | | | | work it sometime and succeed. Following a DMO can |
| days off. You can burn out if you go 24/7 month after | | | | stop the sometime. |