In business, so many of the significant numbers we strive to hit start with a “1” and end with a “0” (or many multiple zeros!). When a consultant first starts at WineShop, he or she is usually jockeying to hit $1,000 per month in commissions. I call that the comma club, when the commission check from your new business gets that very exciting comma. That just happens to be an amount that can really impact the family’s budget (and it’s totally attainable even in your first 45 days if you’re willing to do the work).
When I started at WineShop, I had the same goal of course, to have a comma in my commission checks. I remember when I hit that goal… and then my new goal became to earn $10,000 in a month. I remember getting my first $10,000 check clearly: it went toward the down payment of our first house.
Every time I hit a goal, I looked out at the horizon for the next one. It went something like this: “Hey, Diane, what if you could earn $10,000 per month? Great, done. What if you earn $100,000 for the YEAR? Check! What if you earned $1,000,000 in total commission over your time with WineShop? WOW, did that in 2014. What’s next?”
It’s just the way I operate. Paint a picture, have a vision and pick a goal that stretches you and makes you a little excited (ask many of my team members and leaders, they think this way, too).
Now, once you get to a certain level of success, you have to start thinking even bigger. Bigger for you and bigger for your team. For instance… what if your team could have a million dollar month?
The Million-Dollar Month
Late last year was when I started really looking at what it would mean for my team to have a million dollar month. Just asking myself the question sent shivers down my spine, was is possible? – naturally, that became my goal.
Of course, I’m not including tax or shipping costs in this goal. This is just sales of wine, gifts and accessories and it counts the sales generated by my entire team, not just me alone.
Guess what? In November of 2015, my WineShop at Home team had a million-dollar month. I am so incredibly proud of them! WHOA!
When I realized we were going to hit $1,000,000 in sales, I did a little math. Our bottles typically range from $14-$35, but if you calculate that the average bottle costs about $20… well, that means that my team sold roughly 50,000 bottle of wine. 50,000 BOTTLES!
In one month.
Ten years ago when I started with WineShop, it never occurred to me that this company could grow so quickly and so reliably. Of course, we’ve had our ups and downs like any new company and of course I believed in the organization, but honestly? This accomplishment has blown my mind.
The lesson? Every order is important. Every bottle counts. Every connection you as a consultant make with a customer or potential new consultant has value because it’s part of this bigger mission.
WineShop at Home is helping women and men around the country do incredible things: consultants are sending their kids through college, going on amazing family vacations, paying off debt, having fun… you name it!
My question for you is this: if we hit $1 million in sales this November, what do you think next November will be like? Will we double in sales, or better?
Lesley Cannon says
Hiiiii!!!!! I’m brand new to the wine biz. Heck, I don’t even know much about wine!! I used to go to Kroger and buy wine by which bottles popped out at me!!! The fancier the bottle the better right?? Haha, no! Not so the case! Just in the month and a half I’ve learned more about wine than I have ever known before! Not going to lie, but I didn’t know the difference between a vineyard and a winery! LOL. Anyway Diane, you are my new idol!!!! ????☺️? Hahahah And I haven’t even met you yet!!!! I cannot wait for Sunday! I hope to be just like you when I grow up!!!! ☺️???. I’ll even take a third of where you’re at right about now! I can’t wait to learn more about how you started out and how you overcome the “direct sales” obstacles!!! One thing I’ve learned from doing direct sales is that it’s much much more work when you have actual goals in your chosen speciality!!! More obstacles to overcome! Literally, the moment I caught wind of a direct sales company providing WINE services, my only thought was WHERE DO I SIGN!!!!! And a few days later I signed ! On Nov 3rd to be exact! I didn’t start out how I had planned but I didn’t put in 100% either! Once I get used to juggling this along with working full time, 4 kids, school, kids school, I think I’ll be alright! I cannot wait to see where I never thought wine would take me!!!! I’m so glad I LOVE wine and the art of wine otherwise I would’ve passed this up for sure!