Today is a new day!

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

SuziQ wrote: »

Hi Positiveand focused,I haven't got to the end of your thread yet as I am reading it slowly (you really are an inspiration-I feel like cheering sometimes in your thread!) but if you are on DLA have you heard of the direct payments scheme? I know someone who uses some of their DLA to fund help with her daughter as she hertself has severe epilepsy and is worried about being on her own at home with her child. The helper does childcare,school run etc and my friend is no worse off money wise. I don't know enough about it and can't ask her at the moment as she is away,but you maye be able to find out through local authority.social services or CAB.

Hi Suzi

Thanks for this advice. I was advised by Social Services that I could receive help with getting dd to school etc if I am on Incapacity Benefit and stopped working. The irony being that any help would be great because I am working. I wouldn't need it so much if I wasn't! The system to my mind does not take into account people in my bracket who are able to work. It assumes that if you are disabled you need to live a life differently without aspiration or dreams or goals and I have all three. So, the choice Ive made is to work and cope on my own and in doing so be true to the person I am, if the only other option is to not work in order too get the very help that would be lovely to make working so much easier, thats not for me. I am not interested in giving up the right to choice, not while I am mobile enough to be able to choose! I have reached a point where I am very grateful for the help and support I do qualify for, and I just want to do my best to give my dd and myself a secure future, be able to earn more than I need and I know I will do that with Kleeneze.

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

MissOptimistic wrote: »

Hi Positive and Focused
The message from the clairvoyant must be very comforting to you, although I have no doubt that your DH is up there somewhere watching over you, he is the one that is giving you the positive vibes.
Your sales for this week are great, can I ask, how many brochures do you put out each week, and do you lose many? I can't decide whether its worth going down the road of brochure drops, mine cost 30p each - what do you think?
P.S - thanks for your comments on my diary - much appreciated

Hi Miss Optimistic

I do have a large customer base now, around 1300 customers I see over a 5/6 week period. I drop anything from 200 to 300 catalogues a week to customers. I aim to pick up £500 for every 100 to 120 customers I visit. To find those customers I dropped off catalogues door to door, around 100 at a time, and built it up that way over 6 months plus. (You may be able to do more in one hit, 100 is my limit because of my walking.) So, it wont happen overnight. Yesterday, I put catalogues out to 77 of my customers, and 100 door to door to find new customers, so its an ongoing process. I collected 94 catalogues door to door on mon, and picked up 3 orders, with about 12 of those 94 still to collect tom. From the 96 customer catalogues I collected on mon I currently have £420 worth of orders with more to pick up tom from the stragglers. Losing catalogues does happen, it can't be helped if say you put one through a door where the property is only lived in for 6 months of the year and you didn't know, or the dog got hold of it or the kids drew over it, or its got soaked in the rain that sort of thing. I always maintain, you will lose catalogues in the main if you do not go back for them, simple as that. Some people will only go back a couple of times. My best customers have come from the stragglers - the books I dont collect first time round. One of my best customers who gives me £50 or so orders each time I see her, who also gave me my largest party total to date of £600, she is now a lovely friend, however at first it took persistence to get the catalogue off her as I always seemed to go round there at the wrong time. Without that persistence I would never enjoy the lovely friend/customer relationship we now have, and of course the orders she gives me aswell. I always give prospective customers the benefit of the doubt, I always aim to go back, and have been rewarded with individual £100 orders at times. So, I would say to you if you decide to put catalogues out, give them to as many people who are interested, also try the local businesses, I have for eg a local hairdresser, beauticians, my Bank on my customer list. Also, perservere with any given area you go to. I have found some people will place a small order just to meet you so they can assess if they want to deal with you in the future, once you have established a good service to them, they place larger or more frequent orders with you.

The beauty of this business is that you are your own boss, you can decide how you move your business on, how many sales you want to achieve etc. So, I would say to you devise a plan, and just go for it. Do not give up.

Just finally, when I first started Kl, I put out 200 books to begin with in my first drop and achieved £200 in sales, then I did the same and picked up a £3 order. Not good. If that happens to you do not let that deter you. Just go through the numbers, and the results will start to flow. It is with determination and persistence that has now meant I have the number of customers now, and that I can just about provide for my dd and I on my own with a small team. The business does work, it's a case of keeping your head down, and building your business with focus and determination. What excites me is that it has sustained me in the heart of a severe recession, and with currently building a team too, and helping those team members achieve their dreams, all our futures have never looked brighter. I am so so grateful for my business. It gives me hope and makes me feel anything is possible. Go for it Miss Optimistic!

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

So, a quick update on recent days.

My tax bill is paid. Hoorah!!
My account has money avail for the next bill! Hoorah
My sales to date for half a week are £420. I am hopeful of £750 to £800 tomorrow when I pick up, so I am intending to exceed £1000 sales this week.Hoorah!
My new team member is happily getting started. Hoorah!

On a more personal level.

Dd and I have been invited up to Newcastle with the NVA again in August for 5 days. We are just so so excited about that. I am absolutely certain my dh is looking out for us and ensuring these opportunities are there for us. Feel so so blessed that they want us there again. DD is so excited at the thought of seeing the little friends she made last year. We both are. We are not alone in dealing with it all.

Am going to the docs tom. There is something wrong with my eyes, and they want to discount diabetes. I may need a prism fitted in glasses lense to ensure my eyes dont lose focus. I dont feel alarmed, just want to get it sorted. I personally think my erratic sleeping, the stress of dh situation, coping with disability at times, just the busy life I lead are all contributory factors, and its a sign telling me to start taking more care ofmyself, and not worry so much.

Anyway, onward and upward, business things to do before I collect dd at 3, then four deliveries to do, then home and phone calls and supper. All is well!!

claire0788

We all know we shouldnt worry as much, but we cant help ourselves ! Just try not to let your worry rule your throughts

InaPickle

Well done PaF: glad to see that most things are gong so well!

I hope that your eyes are sorted out and that it isn't diabetes. Best of luck!

SuziQ

But my friend IS working and is getting help with direct payments. There was also someo0ne on here last year who was self employed who was getting help through the direct payment scheme. I trhink the thread was deleted as it became pretty abusive (can't remember the reason now) have searched but can't find it. You are right-why can't they help someone just a little bit so they can carry on working,and remain free of the benefit system?

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

SuziQ wrote: »

But my friend IS working and is getting help with direct payments. There was also someo0ne on here last year who was self employed who was getting help through the direct payment scheme. I trhink the thread was deleted as it became pretty abusive (can't remember the reason now) have searched but can't find it. You are right-why can't they help someone just a little bit so they can carry on working,and remain free of the benefit system?

Thats interesting. I will find out more in the coming days, and let you know. Thanks.

Take care.

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Well, some excellent news for one of my team. They have signed up not one, but two people into their team this week, and I am so happy for them. it just goes to show nothing can stop anyone building a business. My team member is approaching 80 years old, was once one of my customers who wanted to top up her pension, does Kl with the support of her daughter and grandchildren, but nevertheless, just goes for it. We often compare our walking sticks and in the recent snow how we coped!! Just goes to proove there have to be no boundaries in this life, only the ones we give ourselves. I am just so thrilled for her. Intend to continue to give her all the support I possibly can to ensure she achieves her dreams!

Doctors today at 9.20..... and then lots of orders to collect. Onward and upward!

InaPickle

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED wrote: »

We often compare our walking sticks and in the recent snow how we coped!! Just goes to proove there have to be no boundaries in this life, only the ones we give ourselves.

:rotfl:BRILLIANT! I now have images of a comedy sketch in my head with two old ladies trying to out-do each other on walking sticks. ("No, mine's better than yours: an umbrella comes out of the top when it's raining!") :rotfl:Sometimes you do make me laugh, PaF, even though needing a walking stick isn't something to laugh about.

On a more serious note, you are right about how the only limits that exist are the ones we set ourselves. I'm currently applying for new jobs etc. so I need to remember that for myself.

Best of luck for the day. x

MissOptimistic

Hi Positive and focused - so how has this week panned out for you - it is teaming it down with rain here and we have had snow to deal with as well - that can't make life any easier for you when you spend your days outside.
What do you have planned for this weekend? Have a lovely time whatever you do!