Paul and Meg Lile of Pennsylvania were close to $1 million in debt, financially bankrupt and in emotional ruins when an acquaintance from a non-profit organization they both were involved with walked into Paul’s failing business office wearing a “Lose Weight Now…” button. Paul asked about the button and eventually he and Meg, through hard work and diligence, became President’s Team members. They are popular guest speakers and trainers at Herbalife corporate events and generously share the business techniques they developed through first hand experience.

Does anybody ever hear “Oh, I’d like to do Herbalife, but I don’t have any time.” or, “there are just not enough hours in the day to do everything I have to.” I hear it a lot, and I understand the feeling. What I hated was having the day speed by and I hadn’t finished, or even started, the things I needed to do.

I took a time management course and found it very helpful. I love planning my day because it allows me to effectively manage a household, children, and their varied activities, my hobbies (I am a figure skater), travel, taking other courses, and running our home-based Herbalife business. The first secret is knowing what you want to accomplish. The others are planning and doing it.

Set goals.

The first step in time management is becoming clear on your goals. Goals include all aspects of my life. I prioritize my goals in this order:

1. My spiritual connection
2. My family
3. Our Herbalife business
4. My hobbies

The goal section in the new Herbalife International Business Opportunity Manual is great. My husband and kids are also an integral part of goal setting. Include your family and set goals. Our family goal was to be President’s Team members. We accomplished this in the summer of 1994 after going full time in 1990. We designed the life we now live and love.

Use a planning system.

Put a system in place and use it every day. I use a day planner (the one in Herbalife’s Art of Promotion Catalogue is very effective).

At the beginning of each month I enter all the Herbalife events in a green marker: local Philadelphia Herbalife Opportunity Meetings, the HBN programs, the Success Training Call schedule, our local Success Training Seminars and Supervisor School(s). I also write my ice time and exercise routine in an orange marker and the kids’ activities in pink for my daughter and blue for my son.

Then I transfer the information from the monthly calendar to the day and week pages respectively. For each day I have appointments in time-slotted columns. Next to that I have a list of all my Herbalife things to do. I block out phone time for follow-up calls, new contact calls and downline calls.

Work from your goals.

For example, if you want to earn $2,000 a month profit from retail sales, break it down to $500 a week, or $100 a day (at the Supervisor level). Figure out how many people you need to contact to get a sale. If you need to talk to 10 people to make a “C Program” sale (which would give you $100 profit at Supervisor level), then schedule in when and how you will talk to those 10 people daily.

Use a script to save time when doing phone work. Scripts for talking to all new prospects, whether customer or Distributor, keep you on track and are duplicatable. If possible, have your new Distributors listen in so they can hear what you do and try it.

Use a card system when you are on the phone doing follow up. Begin the conversation with, “I only have a few minutes, but I wanted to check in and see how you are doing.” Record the results so you’re prepared for the next call. Also remember to ask for referrals. Referrals are a great way to get to talk to some of your new 10 people a day. If you have a lot of follow up calls, be sure to schedule them into your day. Before making important calls, it’s sometimes helpful to outline the script, then take notes during the call. I keep previous notes as reference for the next follow-up call.

Maximize your time.

While running errands, skating, at school, or wherever, I am always prepared with flyers, Herbalife Journals, brochures and products in my car.

My day planner has addresses and phone numbers so when I am driving I can make some calls. My book contains a goal section, contacts section, and our production bonus report (three-hole punched) so I can have our organization information with me.

Schedule time for family, friends and people who are important to you. When it’s homework time, dinner time, reading before bedtime, etc., I do not take phone calls. I let the machine answer and call back later. I love it and don’t want it interrupted.

Employ yourself.

I have a full-time attitude. Before you go to bed, review the day, check off what was done. Ask yourself, “What was my productivity today? Who were the 10 new people I talked to?” and “How much profit did I earn?”

Look in the mirror and honestly answer the question, “Would I have hired or fired myself today?” Then, set up tomorrow’s schedule and get a good night’s sleep knowing you’ve done your very best.