Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

Blog / The 360 Blog for C-Suite
Salesforce

As the world’s leading customer relationship management (CRM) software, Salesforce helps businesses track customer interactions and sales data. So it’s no surprise that the brand is also a thought leader in the business world, publishing key insights on their popular site, The 360 Blog. Posts aimed at the C-Suite cover timely subjects like leading through change, the future of work and incorporating data into your business strategy to drive performance. You can also sign up for Salesforce’s free newsletter to have targeted content sent straight to your inbox.

Book / Collaboration Is the New Competition
by Priscilla McKinney

Since complex business issues can be solved faster and more efficiently as a team, collaboration is displacing competition as an avenue to success. In her groundbreaking book, Collaboration Is the New Competition, author Priscilla McKinney explains how to create the ideal environment for strategic collaboration; establish rules of engagement; decrease frustration; and amplify wins.

AI Tool / Qloo

When launching your brand into new countries, it can be challenging to understand your new market. Qloo is a “privacy-first cultural AI” that decodes global consumer taste—which provides businesses with predictions to help customize products and marketing assets to each culture’s wants and needs. The platform has a deep understanding of over 575 million cultural trends and preferences, including brands, media, travel and more. Detailed compound queries on demographics, psychographics and buying patterns to improve international expansion and customer experiences.

BOOK / The Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today
by Lewis Howes

Mindset is everything—but that’s easy to forget as a new entrepreneur struggling with impostor syndrome. Using science-based strategies, personal stories and a step-by-step approach, best-selling author Lewis Howes helps readers make a mental paradigm shift in his book, The Greatness Mindset. Through defining a mission to enhance purpose; identifying root causes of fear; ending self-sabotaging thoughts; and manifesting greatness, Howes can help your field design the life of their dreams.

Website / Psychology Junkie
Susan Storm

While personality tests like Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or Enneagram are helpful in self-discovery, applying the results of these personality tests in the office can give your organization an edge. The Psychology Junkie website provides free tests to help you discover your results—but more importantly—the site hosts a treasure trove of meaningful content to help you understand the meaning and application of your results. The Psychology Junkie offers fascinating articles to help you hire, train, lead, communicate with and understand your team in new and effective ways.

Podcast / Selling Made Simple and Salesman Podcast
Salesman.com

Looking for personal development on the go? Most episodes of Selling Made Simple have an average runtime of 4-15 minutes, making it the perfect learning tool for even the busiest entrepreneur. Host Will Baron teaches how to find buyers and win business using modern, effective, ethical strategies. Popular episodes discuss crafting the perfect elevator pitch; reducing anxiety; understanding your prospects; and closing the sale.

From the January/February 2024 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post January 2024: Qloo, Psychology Junkie and more! first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

AUDIO BOOK / The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business
By Patrick Lencioni
In his first non-fiction book, New York Times best-selling author Patrick Lencioni presents his case for the biggest competitive advantage he believes a business can have: organizational health. Through consistency and the unification of management, operations and culture, Lencioni suggests that a company can avoid mediocrity and become a healthy business—abandoning politics, fostering achievement and outperforming the competition. The Advantage will encourage leaders to reevaluate their metrics of success in business.

TECH DEVICE / KODAK Luma 150 Ultra Mini Pocket Projector
If an impromptu meeting or presentation has ever left you scrambling to queue up your deck or print a leave-behind, the KODAK Luma 150 Ultra Mini Pocket Projector has you covered. With this incredible device, you can cast your screen onto the nearest wall, turning any surface into a 150” projection screen for up to 2.5 hours! Not only can you share presentations with this portable projector, but the built-in speaker also enables you to watch HD video, play games and share photographs.

MAGAZINE / CEO Today

CEO Today seeks to inspire, motivate and inform the C-Suite with the latest corporate developments, news and tech innovations. While a print subscription is paid, the magazine’s digital subscription is free and sent straight to your inbox each month, along with a newsletter and exclusive content. The magazine is distributed to over 150,000 of the world’s most prominent executives, but the content housed on CEO Today’s website is equally rich with news, interviews and features about the world’s most successful companies and leaders.

PODCAST / Sell or Die
By Jeffrey and Jennifer Gitomer

In this candid podcast, best-selling author and self-proclaimed “King of Sales” Jeffrey Gitomer and fellow sales expert Jennifer Gitomer discuss the art and science of selling. The couple interviews leaders in business, sales, marketing and personal development to break down topics such as “The Three Sales Mindsets” and “How to Leverage Tech and Build a Seven-Figure Sales Organization.”

BOOK / Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential
By Matt Higgins

In this brand-new book by Matt Higgins—a Harvard Business School executive fellow, guest shark on Shark Tank and renowned angel investor—the ancient strategy of boat burning is examined in relation to success. Historically, boat burning motivated invading troops to win by destroying their option of retreat, forcing an all-or-nothing approach to war in which victory was won through sheer desperation. Higgins argues that removing our own “Plan Bs” is the best way to achieve our dreams.

WEBSITE / FutureLearn

FutureLearn is a cleverly designed, intuitive education platform, and class topics are as diverse as they are plentiful and inform the user of exactly what they can expect from the course. They are free; users only pay for completion certificates (if desired) or credits to use toward degrees. Your field can dig deep into any topic from business and entrepreneurship to digital marketing and social media—without digging into their pocketbooks. 

From the April 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post April 2023: CEO Today, FutureLearn and more! first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

VIP PROGRAM / FoundersCard
FoundersCard is an exclusive community offering generous benefits and high-profile networking opportunities that are curated specifically for entrepreneurs. Founder Eric Kuhn created FoundersCard back in 2009 as a way of rewarding other value-creators with the kind of VIP treatment that top executives at large corporations typically enjoy. The company partners with major travel, business and lifestyle brands like Audi, Hilton, Hertz, Virgin Atlantic and Dell to offer inside access to 500+ benefits, including significant cost savings on services and products alike.

BOOK / It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy
By Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
Although this New York Times bestselling classic recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, the lessons contained in this book are as timeless as they are essential. It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy is the fascinating true story of how Captain D. Michael Abrashoff turned a dysfunctional ship with an unproductive crew into a model of naval efficiency. Abrashoff shares the leadership strategies he employed which can help you change course—or even turn your ship around completely.

DOCUMENTARY / Downfall: The Case Against Boeing
Netflix

The next time you’re aimlessly scrolling on Netflix, check out Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, a business documentary that illustrates what happens when a corporation values financial gain over the safety of its customers and the wellbeing of its employees. This cautionary tale examines two major airplane crashes involving Boeing airplanes and the subsequent fallout—all of which was seemingly preventable. Covering themes of greed, negligence, secrecy, blame and toxicity, this highly rated film is a case study of how not to succeed in business.

PODCAST / The Mel Robbins Podcast

New York Times bestselling author and motivational coach Mel Robbins is back with a new podcast. As the top educational podcast in the world, Robbins tackles relatable topics like confidence, mindset, business, relationships and more, employing her trademark vulnerability, energy and humor along the way. New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday, with each one containing personal stories, research-backed advice, practical tools and the inspiration needed to create a better life.

AUDIO BOOK / Anxiety Rx: A New Prescription for Anxiety Relief from the Doctor Who Created It
By Russell Kennedy, MD

Anxiety is unavoidable—suffering is optional. So says Dr. Russell Kennedy in his audio book. Once a burned-out physician, Dr. Kennedy saw 50+ medical practitioners over the course of 30 years until he finally learned how to calm anxiety at its source—a place most doctors fail to explore. His high-impact solutions to relieve worry are shared in this book, which illustrate what happens to the mind and body under stress and how to overcome it.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL / marieTV
By Marie Forleo

Dubbed by Oprah to be “a thought leader for the next generation,” Marie Forleo is also a New York Times bestselling author and global online trainer. She has reached readers in over 195 countries and has trained over 66,000 entrepreneurs. Forleo also hosts an award-winning online show called marieTV, which can be found on YouTube. Through a variety of life hacks and insightful interviews with prominent influencers like Brené Brown, each episode is designed to help the viewer realize their greatest potential.

From the March 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post March 2023: FoundersCard, MarieTV and more! first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

BOOK / More Than a Bag: Celebrating the First 20 Years of the Thirty-One Story
By Cindy Monroe

Thirty-One Gifts is one of the largest direct-selling, woman-owned companies in North America with over $5 billion in total sales. And now, founder Cindy Monroe shares her secrets to success in this, her first book. Delving into the origins of the business, as well as its ups and downs over the years, Monroe intended for this book to help other business executives and entrepreneurs discover nuggets of inspiration—as well as pitfalls to avoid.

VIDEO / TEDx Talk: Lead and Collaborate Like an Orchestra Conductor
By Troy Peters
In this fascinating analogy to organizational leadership, orchestra conductor Troy Peters discusses lessons learned from his vocation and how they can help leaders operate and collaborate more effectively. Peters illustrates these lessons with a small group of live musicians who react to various styles of conducting. In this entertaining TEDx Talk, Peters points out key takeaways about leadership and attempts to unleash the maximum potential of each musician on stage—while helping you do the same.

WEBSITE / CEOWORLD

If you aren’t already following CEOWORLD Magazine online, you’re missing out! The website is chock-full of free news, articles and updates that are written specifically for the C-suite, senior executives and other high net-worth individuals. With topics ranging from business to politics, finance to economics and travel to lifestyle, your world is covered in this carefully curated website.

PODCAST / The Sales Gravy Podcast
By Jeb Blount

As the author of 15 of the most popular books ever written about sales, Jeb Blount also boasts the number one downloaded sales podcast on iTunes. Blount believes that “sales professionals are the elite athletes of the business world” and trains them accordingly. With practical topics like “Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Sales Leaders,” The Sales Gravy Podcast teaches listeners how to open more doors, close bigger deals and generally master the art of the sale.

SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER / @TheKetoDadLife
Nick Martinez

Want your field to become experts in social selling? Check out Nick Martinez—an ideal case study on the subject. Martinez joined Prüvit as an independent distributor in 2015. Looking to boost sales, he launched The Keto Dad page on Facebook. Building an online presence as The Keto Dad provided Martinez with a platform to stand out, publish his own content and sell Prüvit products alongside his personal brand. Encourage your field to learn from the master on all things social: strategy, content, brand awareness and sales.

AUDIO BOOK / Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
By Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D

It is said that “mindset is everything.” World-renowned psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., categorically proves that to be true in her updated classic, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. In it, Dr. Dweck illustrates how whether we have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset can determine how successful we become. In this edition, new insights are offered into her now widely accepted concepts.

From the January/February 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post January 2023: CEOWORLD, Mindset and more! first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

BOOK / Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ
by Daniel Goleman

In this updated classic, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ, internationally renowned psychologist Daniel Goleman redefines what it means to be smart by providing insight into our
“two minds”—the rational and the emotional—and how they shape our world. Goleman delves into the factors that contribute to our emotional intelligence (or EQ), including self-awareness, self-discipline and empathy, which can be developed throughout adulthood—meaning it’s never too late to grow one’s EQ.

VIDEO / TEDx Talk: How Your Brain Responds to Stories—and Why They’re Crucial for Leaders
by Karen Eber
In this entertaining TEDx Talk (with more than 1.8 million views!), leadership consultant Karen Eber asks, “How do the world’s best leaders and visionaries earn trust?” The answer might surprise you. While analytics and data are measurable, they don’t change behavior—but emotions do. Eber suggests that leaders must tell great stories in order to impact emotions, generate trust and influence behavior. In less than 15 minutes, Eber explains how to tell stories effectively, as well as how to leverage them to elicit an emotional response and inspire action.

TECH DEVICE / Ovou

In this digital age, it should be no surprise that even business cards are getting a technological makeover. Enter Ovou, a smart business card that uses NFC (Near-Field Communication) and QR technology to effortlessly share your information with new contacts—no apps or leave behinds required! Your personalized card can be scanned with a smartphone to virtually share your customizable profile. This hi-tech business card isn’t just a conversation piece—it’s also tool that helps you connect with people on the go!

WEBSITE / CreativeLive

Part MasterClass and part Coursera, CreativeLive hosts a wealth of educational content with an entrepreneurial spin. Not only are useful creative skills featured as major class topics (think photography, graphic design and videography), but business topics are prominent as well. Your field can learn about business, money, finance, self-improvement and more from a vast collection of free and paid classes, which are taught by the world’s top experts and industry leaders, including Richard Branson, Daymond John and Mel Robbins.

PODCAST / The Tim Ferriss Show

Often ranked as the top business podcast on all of Apple Podcasts, The Tim Ferriss Show has surpassed 800 million downloads. Bestselling author Tim Ferriss interviews world-class performers and creators in order to decode their success for the everyman and woman. Along the way, he extracts positive, usable strategies that anyone can use to win at life. With his A-list guests and desire to make a difference, Ferriss has been called the “Oprah of Audio.”

AUDIO BOOK / Fanatical Prospecting
by Jeb Blount

In what claims to be the “most comprehensive book ever written about sales prospecting,” author, keynote speaker and sales acceleration specialist Jeb Blount reveals the top reason for failure in sales: an empty pipeline—with the root cause being failure to consistently prospect. In Fanatical Prospecting, Blount outlines his innovative, proven approach to prospecting. Through this book, your field will gain the necessary insights to overcome fear, power through resistance and objections, generate more leads and close more sales.

From the December 2022 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post December 2022: Ovou, CreativeLive and more! first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Evolving technology and ever-changing market behaviors make it difficult to stay on top of the latest website design and functionality trends. Here are six strategies direct selling companies can implement to create a unique and effective website experience.

1/ Memphis Design

Some direct selling websites can feel a little too vanilla. One of the most popular design concepts to incorporate bold colors and out-of-the-box elements is Memphis design. It’s an art deco-inspired style with daring patterns and retro color palettes. Some designers refer to it as a bit gaudy, splashing some chaos and various shapes together. The overall look might bring some 1980s vibes since the style is named after a 1980s Italian design group.

“Memphis styles work exceptionally well for website design, particularly because they need to grab someone`s attention from afar. To put it simply, it`s fun. It`s a pop of color and vibrancy in a monochromatic, minimalist world,” explained Bashooka, a graphic and web design blog.

2/ Hero Typography

The bold but simple large hero typography works like a news headline, grabbing people’s attention with an impactful message. Focusing on hero type reduces or, in some cases, eliminates images on the page. They are typically sans serif fonts. Many sites incorporate dynamic scroll elements and animation with hero type. This is commonly used to slightly overlap images to create a sense of depth. It’s also terrific for highlighting quotes, testimonials or to convey a slogan. Here are five benefits of hero typography affording to Design Hack:

• Clear focus and understanding for the design
• Potentially more room for words
• Visually disruptive homepage that will catch attention because it is different
• Works on any screen size without having to think about different crops
• Can flow well with other design elements such as small animations, sound or bold color

3/ Visible Borders

The perfect example of zigging when everyone else is zagging is incorporating visible borders and grids. This design strategy separates sections and builds clear boundaries. It helps direct a visitor’s eyes like a traditional magazine layout. Borders pair well with retro tones, such as the Memphis style described earlier. It incorporates gridlines and is more prevalent for a widescreen desktop experience. While symmetrical grids are the most popular, erratic placement of borders can also create a unique experience. Images can float over borders in scrolling effects, combining the popular parallax style with a more traditional border layout.

“Thin gridlines are the most popular by far—they’re least obtrusive to the eye—but thicker lines can make a bigger statement if that’s on-brand for a company or product,” according to New Media Campaigns. “Thicker lines tend to read as more of a hard throwback, whereas delicate lines acknowledge the trend without having it define the entire design.”

4/ Interactive Elements

Video and drop-down elements are nothing new, but are becoming more popular with site designs meant to immediately capture a visitor’s attention and encourage them to interact with the site. A popular strategy for direct selling companies is to use a continual loop video of field distributors at events and incentive trips to communicate culture. Try placing a looping background video near the top of the homepage.

Interactive cursors and drop-down elements that reveal hidden content create a unique experience that compel visitors to discover secrets, information and keep them on the site longer. Cursors can also move or rotate elements on the page, creating a game experience. GIFs that cycle through a sequence of images (known as “cinemagraphs”) can be eye-catching on a page paired with stagnant imagery.

“Interactive websites either respond to a user’s interaction or guide the user journey with captivating animations, videos and other interactive elements…” said a post by Hubspot. “This type of website does more than delight users—it helps keep them engaged on the site for longer.”

5/ Moving type

Animation and eye-catching movement are not limited to video images. Moving type, also called “kinetic typography,” adds to the interactive experience. Typically, this is when the text enters the screen as a visitor scrolls or when the text follows along with cursor movements. With some features, users can control the speed and direction of text movement, creating a unique animation of its own.

“Moving type is going to be a big trend. We live in a digital world and it’s cool to see some fun ways of taking advantage of this in the world of typefaces to create living breathing letters,” shared Arian Bozorg, Community Engagement Manager at 99designs.

6/ Scrolling Animations

Scrolling animations are becoming the norm instead of a rare feature, especially with web design software making it much easier to incorporate. Parallax effects, for example, create a sense of depth and encourages the visitor to keep scrolling. It creates an experience of the visitors controlling site as elements come together or activate as they scroll. These features work well with company timelines and detailing product benefits. (Example site from photographer Nolan Omura.)

According to Hubspot, scrolling effects “are increasingly used on interactive websites to intrigue readers to keep scrolling, signify a break in content, and create a three-dimensional experience.”

From the November 2022 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post 6 Website Design Trends for Direct Selling Companies first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

BOOK / The Road to Excellence: 6 Leadership Strategies to Build a Bulletproof Business
David Mattson

Even the most experienced leaders are likely to have blind spots. Simply put, it’s easy to miss something when you’re trying to account for everything. In The Road to Excellence, David Mattson identifies six strategies that help business owners and executives spot dangerous oversights that can derail any organization. Mattson, the CEO and President of Sandler Training, helps you determine what stands between your company and organizational excellence—and how to move forward.

TECH DEVICE / Logitech Litra Glow

Like it or not, video conferencing is here to stay. Investing in basic lighting can make a world of difference in helping you look your best on screen. Logitech Litra Glow is a well-reviewed full-spectrum LED light that discreetly clips to the top of your computer screen near your camera lens. Sensors adjust the light’s brightness for various skin tones while emanating a radiant glow rather than a harsh spotlight. With adjustable height, tilt and rotation, Litra Glow offers you an instant on-screen glow up!

PODCAST / First Person Plural: El & Beyond

Hosted by New York Times bestselling author, psychologist and emotional intelligence (EI) guru Daniel Goleman, First Person Plural: El & Beyond podcast focuses on how to create an emotionally intelligent future. Co-hosted by Goleman’s son, Hanuman and EI coach Elizabeth Solomon, the trio presents a collection of stories that will inspire you to lead with more intentionality and develop better awareness of the systems in which we live and work. The podcast covers everything from overcoming conflict to handling stress.

APP / Noisli

Background noise provides a constant blend of soothing sounds that masks other noises and helps us relax. Give your field an efficiency boost by recommending an app like Noisli, which allows the user to mix and match various sounds to create their perfect sound environment. Users can explore and layer 28 high-quality background sounds, adjusting the volume of each to customize an ideal soundscape and even adding a timer to stay on schedule.

WEBSITE / SCORE

As the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors, SCORE exists to help small businesses launch, grow and achieve their goals. Mentors are seasoned experts who meet with entrepreneurs locally at more than 250 chapters or remotely via email, phone or video to provide free confidential coaching. Most services are provided to entrepreneurs at no cost. Urge your field to take advantage of these valuable resources and expand their personal and business growth!

YOUTUBE CHANNEL / Behind the Brand
Bryan Elliott

As a writer, director, producer, journalist—and the Founder and CEO of The Goodbrain Digital Studios—Bryan Elliott is a Renaissance Man who also hosts a diverse YouTube channel called Behind the Brand. With a mission to help people discover their purpose and find joy and fulfillment, Elliott describes the video series as a show about innovators, entrepreneurs and the stories behind their success. Encourage your team to learn from leaders like Tilman Fertitta, Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuk.

From the November 2022 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post November 2022: Noisli, SCORE and more! first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

APP / Work & Rest: Focus Pomodoro Timer

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method popularized in the late 1980s, in which a kitchen timer is used to divide work into block intervals, separated by short breaks. The Work & Rest app utilizes this technique, which is intended to create focus and flow by reducing interruptions and scheduling breaks. Using the gamified interface, you can customize your goals and track your progress, thereby increasing your productivity through this simple time management strategy.

Audio Book / Leading with Emotional Courage
Peter Bregman

Based on author Peter Bregman’s popular blogs for Harvard Business Review, Leading with Emotional Courage posits that what really gets results and sets great leaders apart from the rest is emotional courage. This includes having the ability to speak up when others stay silent, remain stable through uncertainty and weather anger without defensiveness. Through practical, real-world advice, Bregman provides ways to build your “emotional courage muscle” as a leader.

BOOK / Radical Candor
Kim Scott

This New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller has been praised around the globe for decoding effective leadership. Author Kim Scott’s experiences working at Google and Apple inspired Radical Candor, which details how to build authentic relationships with team members through caring personally and challenging directly. Scott explains how to avoid common management pitfalls and create radically candid relationships that help you love your work—and those you work with.

APP / HabitBull: Daily Goal Planner

Building or breaking a habit requires training and repetition—and more often than not, powerful extrinsic motivation. HabitBull is a one-stop-productivity shop that keeps track of habits, goals, routines and to-do lists, providing inspiration, reminders and scoring along the way. Simply set up an action and track your progress. HabitBull allows users to compete with themselves in a gamified, private setting, which is also perfect for breaking bad habits like smoking or spending too much time on social media.

WEBSITE / Coursera.org

Founded in 2012 and boasting over 107 million users, Coursera is a proven learning platform that offers online courses from leading companies and universities around the world. Not only does the site offer degrees and professional certifications, but it provides thousands of free courses on just about any topic. Your field can sharpen a variety of skills or broaden their knowledge-base with classes like “The Science of Well-Being” from Yale or “Successful Negotiation” from the University of Michigan.

PODCAST / Rock Your Brand
Scott Voelker

From creating a sales empire on Amazon to producing digital courses, entrepreneur, author and professional coach Scott Voelker has made a career of building businesses online and teaching others to do the same. In his podcast, Rock Your Brand, Voelker imparts his knowledge of business ownership and brand building in free, bite-sized pieces. Podcast episodes cover relatable topics like staying motivated when results are slow and preventing burnout, while also providing marketing tips, such as how frequently to post content and how to generate more sales via email.

From the October 2022 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post October 2022: Radical Candor, Coursera and More first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

BOOK / The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues
By Patrick Lencioni

In this companion to his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni focuses on the individual, identifying three virtues that make an employee indispensable: being humble, hungry and smart. The Ideal Team Player defines and illustrates these traits through an easy-to-read fable, which is followed by a practical guide for finding, hiring and cultivating ideal team players—and weeding out those who are not.

APP / HealthyWage

Per the Mayo Clinic, weight loss study participants who receive financial incentives are more likely to lose more weight (and keep it off!) than participants who receive none. HealthyWage is an app that offers cash-based weight loss challenges to help end procrastination through competition. Corporations have jumped on this bandwagon as a creative way to encourage healthy habits among their teams. Get your team excited with a friendly competition that could result in better health—and cash bonuses.

Audio Book / Master Your Code: The Art, Wisdom, and Science of Leading an Extraordinary Life
By Darren J. Gold

In this thought-provoking audio book, executive coach and author Darren J. Gold asks the listener a simple question that requires a complex (and very personal) answer: “What’s getting in the way of you leading an extraordinary life?” Master Your Code helps the listener analyze his or her code—or programming—which Darren defines as a subconscious set of rules that drive the actions you take and limit the results you get.

WEBSITE / Lifehack

“Lifehack” has become a popular social media buzzword, but it also happens to be an in-depth personal development website brimming with useful content. Articles range from topics like “How to Live a Full Life” to “How to Learn Faster and Smarter,” including science-based case studies to support solutions for improvement. Lifehack also offers free courses and a robust blog categorized by topics like “Goal Getting” and “Restore Energy.”

APP / The Habit Factor Pro

Recommended by top coaches, consultants, athletes and learning institutions worldwide, The Habit Factor Pro is an easy-to-use productivity app that helps the user set and track goals, change behavior and form meaningful habits. Using unique technology and algorithms, the app personalizes the user experience, allowing you to chart your progress, motivators, tracking periods and much more.

PODCAST / How to Succeed Podcast
Sandler

As the “World’s Largest Training Organization,” Sandler is known for founding a unique selling system based on behavioral psychology. To train this approach, founder David Sandler discovered that the correct attitudes, behaviors and techniques must be taught as well. With a proven system now spanning decades, Sandler’s organization publishes content based on their winning strategies. With episodes like “How to Succeed at Purpose” and “How to Succeed at Personal Branding,” this podcast will help your field master success in every form.

From the September 2022 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post September 2022: HealthyWage, LifeHack and More first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

BOOK / The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
By Patrick Lencioni

In this New York Times best seller, author Patrick Lencioni weaves an entertaining leadership fable that aptly illustrates The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. From “Fear of Conflict” to “Lack of Commitment,” these five issues are relatable to every team, no matter how seemingly successful. Patrick offers a powerful model with actionable steps in the second half of the book. This simple yet profound read is perfect for anyone striving to lead and develop an effective team of any size.

APP / Speechify
Audio Text Reader

Created on the premise that you listen faster than you can read, the Speechify app turns articles, PDFs, digital text and physical books into audiobooks—helping you save time, retain more information and stay focused. Framed as your personal reading assistant, Speechify allows you to customize your audio experience with HD voices in 50+ languages and adjustable reading speeds. The app also seamlessly integrates with various platforms like Google Drive and Dropbox, so Speechify can help you get more done, faster!

PODCAST / Believe!
Doug Devos

Renowned business leader and philanthropist Doug DeVos has spent his life encouraging people to become agents of change. As the former President and now Co-Chairman of Amway (and with nearly 60 years in and around the company), Doug has helped build the direct sales giant by empowering entrepreneurs. Doug’s lifelong passion for helping people turn beliefs into action inspired his new podcast, Believe! The podcast asks questions that Doug hopes will spark practical solutions within each listener, along with paths to action.

BOOK / SPIN Selling
By Neil Rackham

What makes someone a great salesperson? How can your field dramatically increase their volume? In SPIN Selling, author Neil Rackham answers these questions and much more, using the acronym “SPIN” to illustrate a unique sales strategy: Situation, Problem, Implication and Need-Payoff. The premise of this methodology is that deals are won when a salesperson truly understands the buyer’s problem—which can only be understood after asking specific questions. Share SPIN Selling with your field to help them discover their best audience and sell more strategically.

APP / Givingli
Send Cards & Gifts

Designed to make everyday connections with people simpler and more meaningful, Givingli is an innovative app for celebrating any occasion. Simply choose and customize a digital card from hundreds of options created by independent artists. Then add an optional gift from retailers like DoorDash and Uber. Finally, send your greeting to your recipient—all with the touch of a button. With Givingli being 100% digital, the company is proud to be both convenient and sustainable. This handy app can help you and your field leadership effortlessly recognize, encourage and reward others.

WEBSITE / HubSpot Blogs

HubSpot is a leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that helps companies market and sell more effectively. While many businesses utilize HubSpot’s paid services, a free benefit they offer is an extremely informative collection of five blogs: Marketing, Sales, Service, Website and The Hustle, which houses business insights. Readers can explore posts by topic, such as Customer Retention, Instagram Marketing and Sales Prospecting. Fans can also subscribe to the specific areas that are of most interest and have the latest news delivered to their inbox.

From the August 2022 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post August 2022: Speechify, SPIN Selling and More first appeared on Direct Selling News.