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 / Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life
By Nir Eyal
What could you accomplish if you could stay focused and overcome distractions? International best-selling author, former Stanford lecturer and behavioral design expert, Nir Eyal, reveals the hidden psychology driving us to distraction. He describes why solving the problem is not as simple as swearing off our devices. Abstinence is impractical and often makes us want more. Eyal lays bare the secret of finally doing what you say you will do with a four-step, research-backed model. Indistractable reveals the key to getting the best out of technology, without letting it get the best of us.

PODCAST / HBR IdeaCast
By Harvard Business Review

A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management. Harvard Business Review covers important leadership topics in HBR IdeaCast. Financial, professional and psychological content mixes with CEO interviews for an intriguing blend. With featured topics such as the business origins of emotional intelligence and the looming impact of AI, this podcast keeps an eye on the future of business.

BLOG / The Counterintuitive CEO
By FORRESTER

The Counterintuitive CEO provides ideas, observations and analyses that help drive the success of other CEOs. Recent posts feature information on GenAI, revenue operations, open banking and low-code applications. Forrester helps business and technology leaders use customer obsession to accelerate growth. That means empowering you to put the customer at the center of everything you do: your leadership, strategy and operations.

VIDEO / TEDx Talk: “How to Multiply Your Time”
By Rory Vaden

Everything you know about time management is wrong. In this challenging and counter-intuitive video, self-discipline strategist and New York Times bestselling author, Rory Vaden, shows you why you can’t solve today’s time management challenges with yesterday’s time management strategies. More importantly he explains why procrastinating on purpose is the key to being able to multiply your time.

AUDIO BOOK / Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
By James Clear

New York Times bestselling author and expert James Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. In Atomic Habits, he draws on proven ideas from biology, psychology and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Your team will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft.

APP / Descript

Nothing grabs potential customers more than a stylish, sleek and compelling video. Sometimes the ideas for exciting, innovative content come much easier than the ability to produce a professional looking video that captures the look and feel you are going for. That’s where Descript comes in. Descript is a simple, powerful and fun way to edit videos. It’s a great tool that will have your field writing, recording, transcribing, editing, collaborating and sharing videos and podcasts in no time!

From the November 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post November 2023: Multiple Your Time, IdeaCast and more! first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are transforming the way businesses engage with their customers. In the realm of video marketing, AR and VR videos have emerged as powerful tools to create immersive experiences and captivate viewers at a new level. They transport viewers into a virtual world and provide interactive and personalized experiences. These technologies are constantly in flux, so keeping up with how they are evolving business and customer interaction is key. Here are five AR/VR video marketing applications to consider leveraging.

1/ Immersive Experiences

AR/VR videos offer a unique opportunity for businesses to transport viewers into a virtual world, allowing them to experience products, services or virtual tours in a more realistic and memorable way. Businesses can go beyond traditional video content and create interactive experiences blending physical and virtual worlds.

Car manufacturers use AR/VR for virtual test drives, allowing potential buyers to explore features and putting them in the driver’s seat without ever leaving their homes. This experience fuels curiosity and offers a unique way for customers to visualize themselves interacting with the product.

2/ Enhanced Customer Engagement

Traditional video marketing often struggles to capture and retain viewers’ attention. However, AR/VR videos have the power to captivate audiences by offering a more interactive and engaging experience. Viewers are active participants rather than passive observers, resulting in increased engagement and longer interaction times. Companies can let customers try on clothing and makeup or visualize furniture in their own space. This interactivity helps customers make more informed decisions and helps reduce hesitation.

3/ Amplified Brand Awareness

AR/VR videos provide businesses with a cutting-edge approach to stand out from the competition and create a lasting impression on their target audience. By incorporating these technologies into their marketing strategies, brands can show they are innovative and forward-thinking. AR/VR videos attract attention and generate buzz, leading to increased brand visibility and awareness.

When customers have a memorable and immersive experience with a brand, they are more likely to share it with their networks, amplifying the brand’s reach and potentially attracting new customers. A Nike’s AR sneaker campaign involving dance artists allowed customers to preview shoes. It generated 32 percent more sales of the shoe model and 22 percent more visitors to the website during the AR experience.

4/ Personalized and Targeted Experiences

AR/VR technology allows businesses to deliver personalized experiences tailored to each viewer’s preferences and interests. By collecting data on viewer behavior and preferences, businesses can create customized AR/VR videos that cater to individual needs. For instance, a travel agency can use VR to offer personalized virtual tours based on a customer’s travel preferences or showcase specific destinations they are interested in. Events can be previewed by immersing yourself in the experience from a specific perspective.

5/ Measurable Results and Improved ROI

Texting may seem impersonal, but it’s being used for building customer relationships with its potential for two-way conversations. It’s often faster and more convenient than calls or online chats. There’s no hold time or waiting to receive a response. The overall experience matches today’s customer expectation.

From the October 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post New Realms of Reality 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.

WEBSITE / First Round Review
First Round knows a thing or two about turning startups into successful corporations and founders into skillful CEOs. First Round has gleaned a wealth of knowledge and shared it via First Round Review, a website committed to letting experts speak directly to the reader about their biggest business insights. Each article highlights strategies and tactics you can use to improve your company and career on topics such as self-awareness, scaling and product-market fit.

BOOK / Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results

By Rob Biesenbach

Everyone loves a good story. And while “storytelling” is a popular marketing buzzword, it also happens to be a powerful tool that can help you persuade, teach and inspire. In Unleash the Power of Storytelling, author Rob Biesenbach lays out a five-step roadmap for crafting your stories, plus six ways to ensure their relevance. It’s a “how-to” guide that will teach you scientific reasons why stories work, story structure, the role of emotion, delivery tips and much more.

COURSE / Full Focus Goal Setting Course

By Gary Chapman & Paul White

Now is the perfect time to get a jump on your goals for 2024. The Full Focus Goal Setting Course is a science-based, self-paced program designed to be completed in less than a week. With five lessons comprised of several short videos, you can do the course as you have time or in one sitting. Using the latest research in goal achievement, this system helps you define a clear path and follow exact steps to arrive at your destination—as Full Focus states it’s “like Google Maps for your goals.”

VIDEO / TEDx Talk: “You are Contagious”

By Vanessa Van Edwards

In this entertaining and informative TEDx Talk, interpersonal intelligence expert Vanessa Van Edwards explains how we as humans are contagious. From body language and tone of voice to emotions and energy, we rub off on others—whether we realize it or not. This means we have the power to influence how we’re perceived and how others feel when they’re around us. Van Edwards uses scientific studies to illustrate why this is so and how we can make a memorable, positive impact on those around us.

PODCAST / Every Day is Saturday Podcast

By Sam Crowley

“Daddy, is tomorrow Saturday?” When Sam Crowley’s young daughter asked this question, he realized she really meant, “Daddy, will you have time for me tomorrow?” Crowley quit the corporate grind to spend more time with family and pursue his passions. As an executive turned coach, speaker and author, Crowley’s biggest project has been his prolific podcast, Every Day is Saturday, which inspires listeners to have the best day ever. Since launching in 2006, it has achieved over 20 million downloads!

INFLUENCER / Victor Antonio

Rated as one of America’s Best Sales Speakers in 2023, Victor Antonio is also an author and founder of Sales Velocity Academy. He puts his experience as an international trainer to work by pumping out an impressive stream of content—most notably via his YouTube channel, which hosts educational podcasts, trainings and live streams…over 1,600, to be exact! Topics are timely and practical, such as how to close virtual meetings and how to handle being ghosted.

From the October 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post October 2023: Goal Setting, Storytelling 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 / In Your Face: Meeting Reminder
By Martin Hoeller

Inspired by a co-worker who consistently ran late to meetings, app developer Martin Hoeller created In Your Face: Meeting Reminder as a way to ensure that calendar notifications would not be easily missed. The app links to your calendar and pushes a full-screen reminder to your computer before your meeting—making it impossible to miss. It also detects video conference links in your calendar, providing easy access to virtual meetings. Custom alerts for critical tasks can also be added.

WEBINAR / Business Accelerator Training

By Michael Hyatt

After finding balance in his chaotic life as CEO of a $250 million publishing company, Michael Hyatt realized the innovative system he created could positively impact the lives of other leaders. So, Hyatt launched Full Focus, a corporate training and strategic planning company that helps the C-Suite “achieve extraordinary results without compromising their most important values.” Full Focus offers a wealth of insightful content for free; including 5 Building Blocks to a Company that Runs Itself and 5 Keys to Run Your Business Without Your Business Running You.

BOOK / The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People

By Gary Chapman & Paul White

Based on the New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages, this book is a bestseller in its own right—having sold over 450,000 copies! The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace helps you identify how your staff feels most recognized at work. Authors Gary Chapman and Paul White outline how to improve morale with your team, create a more positive environment and increase employee engagement—simply by speaking your employees’ appreciation languages.

PODCAST / The $100 MBA Show

By Omar Zenhom

Named one of the top business podcasts in the world by Forbes, Fast Company and Time, Inc., The $100 MBA Show offers short, actionable business lessons to aspiring entrepreneurs. Creator and host Omar Zenhom believes that anyone can start and run a business with the right information—and this podcast delivers! Not only does Zenhom publish a new business lesson five days a week, but he has curated his most popular episodes into collections.

YouTube Channel / Motivation Ark

With over 1.2 million subscribers and nearly a billion total views, Motivation Ark is a prolific YouTube channel that serves up inspiration and education from high achievers. Videos mash up original voiceover content from coaches and creators like Oprah, Jordan Peterson and Steve Harvey and display the words in subtitles over beautiful video imagery. The result? A moving motivational montage that pushes you to win. This vault of personal development gold provides a great way for your field to start their day.

AUDIO BOOK / Virtual Selling: How to Build Relationships, Differentiate and Win Sales Remotely

By Mike Schultz, Dave Shaby and Andy Springer

Thanks to the pandemic, business that was once face-to-face has largely become screen-to-screen. In order to succeed in the industry, distributors must now adapt to the world of remote sales. Virtual Selling offers practical advice and techniques to build rapport online, run effective virtual meetings, deliver powerful virtual presentations, boost productivity and much more. This audiobook will take your field step-by-step through mastering the medium and help them reach their sales goals without relying on in-person meetings.

From the September 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post September 2023: Motivation Ark, Virtual Selling 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 / Happiness is a Serious Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual
By Dennis Prager

Has someone’s sour attitude ever ruined your day? Equal parts personal development and moral philosophy, Happiness is a Serious Problem examines how our personal happiness (or lack thereof) influences everyone around us. Based on this premise, best-selling author, lecturer, nationally syndicated talk show host and columnist Dennis Prager thoughtfully proves that happiness isn’t just a sought-after state of being—it’s a moral obligation. This book will increase your self-awareness regarding the outlook you project to your team, resulting in a happier organization.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL / Leveling Up with Eric Siu

Leveling Up with Eric Siu is a channel that will help you level up your business skills and master the game of life. The channel covers various business topics, including digital and NFT marketing and features exclusive interviews with today’s leading entrepreneurs, including Codie Sanchez, Alex Hormozi, Leila Hormozi, Neil Patel and more. The mission? Provide insightful content designed to help you grow one percent better every day.

App / Deepstash

The best leaders have a growth mindset—but most leaders have limited time for personal growth. Enter Deepstash: a refreshing app loaded with bite-sized insights and thought-provoking ideas that can fit into even the busiest schedules. With access to summaries of over 200,000+ books, podcasts, articles and more on every topic under the sun, you can learn anything, get inspired, build habits and generally become smarter in just a few minutes a day!

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM / TUVU

Effective social media marketing is increasingly challenging for small business owners with minimal to no advertising budget. That’s because 42 percent of the content in your newsfeed is paid! So, unless you run Facebook ads, your posts are not even guaranteed to be seen. Enter TUVU, a new social media platform that serves up a totally ad-free experience, among other perks. For the direct seller, this means posts are guaranteed to be seen by your network.

Audio Book / Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance

By Jonathan Fields

When we dare to create, fear and anxiety can follow closely behind. How can we overcome those emotions and succeed? Author, lawyer, speaker and serial entrepreneur Jonathan Fields knows how… He signed a lease for a yoga studio in the heart of New York City—the day before 9/11. This experience helped him develop an innovative approach for transforming doubt and fear into catalysts for innovation and achievement. Fields draws on his vast personal experience, scientific research and actionable techniques to chart a path forward.

PODCAST / Social Media Marketing Podcast

Hosted by Michael Stelzner

Founder of the Social Media Examiner, the “world’s largest social media marketing resource,” Michael Stelzner helps millions of businesses discover how to leverage digital marketing to connect with customers, drive traffic, generate awareness and increase sales. Stelzner also hosts the Social Media Marketing Podcast, which has been published weekly since 2012. Through interviewing experts and relating his personal experiences, Stelzner offers new strategies and practical tips to help improve the listener’s marketing knowledge.

From the June 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post July/August 2023: Deepstash, TUVU 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 / Irresistible: The Seven Secrets of the World’s Most Enduring, Employee-Focused Organizations
By Josh Bersin
Can companies be irresistible? By implementing seven simple yet profound management principles—such as “Growth, Not Promotion” and “Coach, Not Boss,”—renowned industry analyst and author Josh Bersin believes that yours can be. With the organization model and paradigm-shifting concepts proposed in Irresistible, Bersin helps leaders understand how to scale their businesses with agility, purpose and clarity. The result? An irresistible business that unleashes the power of the human spirit, fires on all cylinders and creates loyal employees and happy customers along the way.

BLOG / Seth’s Blog
By Seth Godin
Author, serial entrepreneur and marketing guru Seth Godin has written over 20 best-selling books. As if that weren’t prolific enough, he has also been publishing a daily post on his blog without fail… for more than a decade! Godin leverages his vast experience in a wide range of industries to share his thoughts on personal development, business, marketing, sales, philosophy and more. His observations and educational insights can spark truly creative team discussions.

WEBSITE / 16Personalities.com
Sometimes it’s hard to understand ourselves, much less others. In the workplace, this kind of emotional intelligence can mean the difference between a toxic culture and a healthy one. Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, 16Personalities offers a free personality test that explains how you perceive the world and make decisions. The questionnaire only takes about 10 minutes and details your strengths, weaknesses, motivators and more.

PODCAST / The School of Greatness Podcast
By Lewis Howes
A former pro-football player turned entrepreneur, business coach and author, Lewis Howes’ bio reads more like a fictional novel. Details magazine named him one of five “Internet Gurus That Can Make You Rich.” His top 100 iTunes-ranked podcast, The School of Greatness, has over half a million subscribers. The podcast features leaders like Dave Ramsey and Brené Brown who discuss topics such as business, mindset, inspiration and relationships. Growth-minded entrepreneurs are the intended audience of this podcast—making it a winner for your field.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL / Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu
As co-founder of billion-dollar brand Quest Nutrition, Tom Bilyeu knows a thing or two about success—how to get it and how to keep it. To help teach others how to develop skills that unlock their potential, Bilyeu launched Impact Theory, a weekly interview show that explores the mindsets of the world’s highest achievers. His YouTube channel hosts this content, which includes a wealth of videos that cover all manner of personal development, from business to health—it even includes Matthew McConaughey discussing how to master the art of living!

AUDIO BOOK / Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
By Gino Wickman
In Traction, author Gino Wickman explains that every great business is comprised of six key components: vision, data, process, people, issues and traction—aka the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). This system simplifies the process of running a business, as owners are typically overwhelmed with hundreds of concerns, creating a lack of focus and discouragement. With more than 80,000 companies having discovered the efficacy of the EOS, your field can also apply Traction to their businesses, eliminating frustrations and increasing sales.

From the June 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post June 2023: Irresistible, 16Personalities and more! first appeared on Direct Selling News.

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) companies succeed at the crossroads of agility, loyalty and authenticity. That’s why their content strategy focuses on building genuine relationships with customers who truly want to be part of the brand.

Today’s customers are used to buying directly from brands without the middleman of mass retail stores. The customer feels more catered to because they are. DTC companies can bypass the traditional PR firms and media gatekeepers and talk directly to customers. They turn push marketing into attraction marketing. They have complete control of telling their own story, and they can tell it many different ways through multiple channels.

“The benefits of DTC marketing are clear: through this direct relationship, these companies are creating strong relationships with their consumers, understanding them better and reaching a more specific, appropriate audience,” says Hubspot. “DTC brands eliminate the hassle of researching, browsing and choosing from hundreds of options, making shopping practically effortless.”

Building loyalty can require a multi-faceted content strategy focused on relationships, education and authenticity. Here are six effective approaches to glean from DTC brands.

1. Authentic Behind-the-Scenes Videos

Being genuine is the name of the game with behind-the-scenes (BTS) videos. These peel back the curtain and invite customers into intimate parts of the business, making them feel part of the brand. Successful BTS videos are more informal, personable and are often funny and humble—many often reveal some genuine struggles. These can include product manufacturing and teasing new releases; messages from founders and CEOs; casual in-office activities; live tours; and on-the-spot employee interviews. The raw nature of BTS videos creates a more authentic connection between DTC businesses and their customers.

Origin USA, co-founded by former Navy Seal and leadership trainer Jocko Willink, produces martial arts uniforms and durable workwear such as boots and jeans. Everything is sourced and made in America. Their motto is “Made in America. No compromise.” The company’s videos focus on accomplishments with sourcing and manufacturing high-quality products by American workers. They are often short, personable and to the point, showing the impact on local community and reactions to the quality of the products. Company executives and employees are featured in videos talking about the importance of revitalizing American manufacturing.

As a Marketing Revolution article pointed out, “You need to be authentic in what you promise customers. This means stating a clear mission, then following through on that mission. This will help customers feel like they’re not just buying a product but working toward a greater goal.” BTS videos are highly effective at communicating that message.

2. An Omnichannel Strategy

It’s never been easier to publish content in multiple forms to speak to different audiences. It just takes commitment to a strategy. Successful DTC companies often repurpose the same message or campaign for multiple platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. Each channel has its unique way of attracting followers and encouraging interaction. Tagging products in Facebook and Instagram posts is still an effective approach for many DTC businesses, especially when the content is more natural and less “sales-y.” This strategy also helps companies focus on building the brand and connecting with customers instead of pushing products.

“An omnichannel presence ensures that when your target consumers choose to engage with branded messaging, your product or service is readily available in the moment; regardless of channel,” shared Marketing Revolution. “In addition to being available, marketers need to build connections with consumers through branding efforts that create lasting, loyal customers. This is why we have seen a shift in campaigns to emphasize brand over products.”

Another growing trend is being a guest or sponsor on podcasts. These typically have targeted, captivated and highly loyal audiences who trust the podcasters. It’s a great way for company founders and leaders to tell their story and attract customers. Many podcasters only allow sponsors from products and services they use themselves, increasing the authenticity of the relationship.

3. Be a Storyteller

One of the best ways to build a brand is the tried-and-true strategy of telling compelling stories. DTC companies have the flexibility to tell their own stories without going through the traditional public relations channels and media gatekeepers.

Away, a luxury luggage company, took preorders before launching and combined the strategy with the release of an inspirational book titled The Places We Return To. Founders Steph Korey and Jen Rubio interviewed more than 40 creatives for the book such as writers, artists and photographers about their travel experiences. It was sold along with a gift card redeemable for a suitcase. The initial product line was sold out before it released, and the company reached $12 million in sales in the first year.

“Storytelling is a central part of our marketing strategy,” Korey said in a Shopify blog. “We think about what stories we can feed to the press and to social media—things that make people take notice, things people want to share and talk about. You don’t push your product. You create things that are fun to talk about, to write about, to share.”

The company leverages social media to encourage travel or posting funny scenarios instead of directly promoting products. For example, asking followers to post a GIF of their favorite movie to watch on a flight, or a tweet explaining why you need 17 pairs of underwear for a four-day trip.

4. Short, Vertical Videos

Even with the growing trend of longform podcasts that can run for one to two hours or more, the most popular and engaging online videos are getting shorter and shorter. With the rise of TikTok and Instagram Reels, people are more used to watching vertically oriented videos on their mobile device. Behind-the-scenes, employee profiles, product demos and various user-generated content are some of the most effective for DTC companies. Combining videos with a short music clip or voiceover adds to the appeal.

Bombas is a social impact company that began selling socks and matching donations to the homeless and underprivileged communities. They have grown to include other essentials such as underwear and T-shirts. The company’s short social media videos include a “Three Good Things” monthly message focusing on accomplishments and the people positively impacted. Employee shoutouts highlight volunteer hours, and other videos even teach followers how to make their own “care kits” out of sandwich bags and travel-size personal hygiene products.

The mission is woven into the message of the content. Videos are authentic and unpolished, as if you took out your phone and started recording what you saw. They are in the moment, inviting and show their commitment to the mission.

5. Leverage Customer Content

No matter what business you’re in, your customers are online every day letting you know what they want by the posts they make and the content they engage with. Leveraging customer content takes the guesswork out of what you should create and builds stronger relationships with customers who are proud to represent your brand.

Popular customer content for DTC brands includes unboxing videos; product reviews; trying on products; encouraging hashtags to increase brand awareness; and sharing customer posts to continue the conversation.

“One of the tactics is to allow customers to test new products and then share their experience on social media before committing to a purchase,” according to an article by Profitwell.com.

Well-known DTC company Warby Parker noticed customers were taking pictures and videos of their eyewear, asking friends how they looked. The company started asking customers to post the content on social media with the hashtag #WarbyHomeTryon. Participating customers were paired with an online personal stylist. The company discovered that customers who shared content online were 50 percent more likely to purchase.

6. A Text Will Do Ya

According to Tech Jury, 75 percent of clients want to receive offers via SMS text, and Mobile Monkey says nine in 10 people open their text messages. Savvy DTC brands are utilizing texts more and more to send exclusive offers, welcome new customers or even send an impromptu thank you. Texts are often limited to 160 characters, so they’re simple to consume, and they make for a seamless mobile shopping experience. To enhance and entertain, consider adding images, GIFs or short video clips. Even restaurants are beginning to take orders via text.

Some DTC websites offer SMS as a lead-capture option, and customers are often sent a first-time purchase discount. The focus is on quick access to a discount or enrolling in a rewards club—no need to fill out a lot of forms asking for a bunch of personal information. Not all texts are offer-based. Some are personalized such as wishing customers happy birthday; thanking them for their recent order; and updating them on items they are interested in.

From the May 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post Magnetic Content 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 Deadly Sins of Employee Retention: New Edition to Solve the Great Resignation, Quiet Quitting, Burnout and More
By Mark Murphy and Andrea Burgio-Murphy, Ph.D.
Did you know that nearly half of employees are currently looking for another job? In a post-pandemic world with over ten million openings nationwide, it’s become much more difficult to find (and retain!) good people. Despite this challenge, New York Times bestselling author Mark Murphy has studied over a million leaders and identified seven common mistakes that destroy an organization’s efforts in employee retention. Consider sharing this book with your leadership and HR teams to form an airtight retention plan.

TECH DEVICE / Cubii Total Body+
The Cubii Total Body+ is a compact elliptical machine that fits under your desk, allowing you to burn calories while taking conference calls. With an LCD display, 12 resistance levels and a Bluetooth fitness tracker that syncs to the Cubii app, you can customize your workout and see your progress measured in calories, strides, distance and/or time. In between meetings, try the built-in resistance bands for an upper body, rowing-style workout. Best of all, the Cubii weighs less than 20 pounds for easy transport—which means no more excuses!

PRODUCT / The Unstuck Box for Teams
Utilized by thousands of top-performing corporate teams (including Google and Amazon!), The Unstuck Box for Teams is a collection of thought-provoking conversation starters, questions and ideas to get your team talking and collaborating on a deeper level. The box contains six individual card decks that cover different topics, such as workday wisdom, interviews, motivation, one-to-ones, team building and more. A QR code is included with the boxed set, which allows your team to download the decks digitally for easy reference.

BOOK / The Three Laws of Performance: Rewriting the Future of Your Organization and Your Life
By Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan
As organizational and management consultants, authors Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan have worked with hundreds of corporations across the globe. The two biggest issues they see leaders struggling with are lack of buy-in and absence of ownership among their employees. In their book, The Three Laws of Performance, the authors outline a system for rallying employees around a common vision and making it stick. Help your field engage their teams and boost performance with this practical guide.

VIDEO / The Science of Persuasion
By Robert Cialdini, Ph.D.
In this entertaining and informative 12-minute video, noted social psychologist and author Dr. Robert Cialdini narrates this overview on the concept of influence—the main subject of his bestselling books. In his decades of research regarding how we are persuaded, Dr. Cialdini identifies six universal shortcuts that guide human behavior: reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking and consensus. It’s easy to see why they are crucial to direct selling and how they could be leveraged by your field to optimize success.

PODCAST / Unbeatable with Jeff Struecker
As a decorated soldier and an inductee to the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame, Jeff Struecker knows a thing or two about overcoming challenges and breaking through to success. That’s why he launched the Unbeatable podcast: to encourage people to keep going instead of giving up. Through interviews with inspiring individuals who overcame the odds in business, sports, music, military service and more, Struecker’s message is clear: “When life becomes unmerciful, be unbeatable!”

From the May 2023 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post May 2023: The Unstuck Box, 3 Laws of Performance 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.