Don’t be the person who complains all the time.
Okay, here’s some context: I recently offered a workshop for consultants (side note for if you attended my September training in Springfield, VA, it WASN’T that one ha ha) but many of the people who showed up were upset with the company. They didn’t like what the WineShop at Home corporation is doing, how they’re running the business and the direction they’re headed.
I couldn’t believe how much complaining I heard! The funny thing is, as annoying as it is to listen to somebody complain, it’s actually much worse for the person complaining.
When you complain about something but don’t take any action to improve things for yourself, the complaint will eat away at you mentally and negatively impact how you show up as a rep, and heck, even as a human being.
The Complaining Trap
Complaining is a habit. That’s right! It’s a choice to think thoughts and say words that are negative and not constructive, and the more you strengthen the “complainer muscle” the stronger it will get until the urge to complain gets you every time.
It’s a trap. And if you find yourself in that trap, it’s so important that you stop yourself and say, “I’ve had enough. Let’s look for a solution.”
In my experience, the most successful WineShop at Home consultants don’t complain. Or if they do need to complain, they get it all out of their system to a trusted upline or mentor (certainly not to a member of their team or publicly on social media!) and then look for real-world solutions. No business is perfect. Not mine, not yours, not any.
Complaining will keep you stuck. And it will make other people wish they hadn’t answered the phone when you called.
Common WineShop at Home Complaints
As a leader, I hear a lot of complaining, and it’s painfully clear that this kind of bad attitude holds consultants back from the success they want. Don’t get me wrong, if I’m YOUR leader, YES, you CAN call me to vent and complain and get it out when you need it. We all have those days but we all need to work towards less of them.
Here are the things I hear people complain about the most – are you guilty of any of these?
Complaint #1: The company is doing a bad job.
Consultants that don’t see the results they want often blame their lack of success on the company’s policies or process. “If the company opened in this state, I could be successful…” or “If only they would have this catalogue/product/offering, then I could make money!”
Would those things really make you more successful? I don’t think so.
Other people are successful without having the things you say you need. When I hear people knee-deep in this type of complaint, I really encourage them to question their own actions within the business because chances are they’re skipping some vital sales steps.
Complaint #2: I haven’t gotten a promotion.
If you haven’t gotten a promotion that you think you deserve, have you really done all the work that you need to do? Sure, a consultant might get lucky and jump up a few levels instantly when they join the business, but the hard truth is that you will need to put in some effort if you want to get a promotion!
But the good news is, many, many people have done it before you and it is possible to earn your promotion. In fact, WineShop practically spells out exactly what you need to do in order to get there. Be smart and look at the areas where you’re seeing success and the areas of your business that need more attention.
Complaint #3: The business doesn’t work.
Ha! Ha! Really? This one always gets me because there’s such overwhelming evidence that the business does work! WHEN WE DO!
Consultants might rephrase this complaint as, “this business doesn’t work for me,” and that’s fine. There are people who just don’t quite vibe with our structure, and that’s okay. But please understand that WineShop at Home has given many opportunities to many consultants and yes, the business does work!
Look, I’m not perfect and I certainly have my moments of complaining. We all do. We all get frustrated and need to vent a little bit. But there comes a time when a little reflection and thoughtfulness about your words and actions is vital to your success as a consultant (in any company)… heck, your success as a human being in the 21st century depends on it!
Thinking about getting involved in a direct sales company? WineShop at Home might be a great fit for you. Click HERE to connect with me personally and find out!