Lisa Wilber – Avon Top Income Earner Interview
Lisa M. Wilber is currently the # 5 money earner in the United States with Avon Products, Inc. and has a team of nearly 3,000 Representatives whom sold more than $8 million in 2014.
With cumulative earnings over $4 1/2 million dollars, Lisa is referred to by Avon as the best known Avon Representative in the world.
Lisa was the first Senior Executive Unit Leader on the USA East Coast with Avon's multi-level marketing program entitled Leadership in March 1994. She is often asked to speak at functions around the country and is proud to be a serving member of the Board of Directors for The Academy of Multi-Level Marketing (www.academyofmlm.com).
Lisa created a line of products to help her own team and has turned that into a business to help anyone in direct sales, network marketing and party plan. The line includes her own authored books, her View from the Top series of books and audio flash drives co-authored by Avon's top producers, promotional buttons, sales aids and many of her favorite author's materials as well.
Lisa Wilber has been a professional member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) since 1998 and has conducted hundreds of seminars worldwide including presentations in Canada, England, Ireland and all across the United States.
Ted Nuyten had to honor to interview Lisa.
Lisa, how did you discover Network Marketing, I guess a friend invited you years ago?
When I first joined Avon they didn't offer network marketing. I joined Avon in 1981 when I was just 18 years old and I lived on Guam.
I sold part time for a few years and didn't realize it could be a career until I had moved to New Hampshire, gotten laid off a secretarial job and couldn't find another job but needed the money. I had to turn my part time Avon involvement into full time work or I wouldn't have money enough to live on.
That was in 1987, and it took me a while selling full time to replace my secretary pay — but I did it. Avon introduced their network marketing program in 1991 on the west coast but it wasn't available to me on the east coast until 1992 — and then I wasn't interested in it. I had heard bad things about network marketing. My only exposure had been a friend that invited me over their house for dinner only to be pressured by an opportunity presentation.
I thought that was how all network marketing people did things. Once I realized that didn't have to be how I did it — I jumped in with both feet! I decided to join Avon's Leadership program in January 1993 and made it to the top of the pay plan in March 1994. I have retained my top of the pay plan status consecutively since then.
Lisa Wilber on the move
You made over $4 1/2 Million in career earnings with Avon, how did you do that, thousands of parties?
When I first joined Avon they didn't offer network marketing. I joined Avon in 1981 when I was just 18 years old and I lived on Guam. I sold part time for a few years and didn't realize it could be a career until I had moved to New Hampshire, gotten laid off a secretarial job and couldn't find another job but needed the money.
I had to turn my part time Avon involvement into full time work or I wouldn't have money enough to live on. That was in 1987, and it took me a while selling full time to replace my secretary pay — but I did it. Avon introduced their network marketing program in 1991 on the west coast but it wasn't available to me on the east coast until 1992 — and then I wasn't interested in it.
I had heard bad things about network marketing. My only exposure had been a friend that invited me over their house for dinner only to be pressured by an opportunity presentation. I thought that was how all network marketing people did things. Once I realized that didn't have to be how I did it — I jumped in with both feet! I decided to join Avon's Leadership program in January 1993 and made it to the top of the pay plan in March 1994. I have retained my top of the pay plan status consecutively since then.
The Rich & Famous of Avon – Lisa Wilber
Can you explain in short Avon's compensation plan, it is a party plan?
I have never done an Avon party — we are not generally a party plan company. The 4 1/2 million in earnings you are referring to is my commission for my network marketing team. I get paid to find people that want to sell Avon, help them start their business, train them, recognize their achievements and help them along their business journey.
Some of my team members are full time, many are part time — so my level of involvement is different with each person. I offer support to my team much like any other manager with sales people would do: I send welcome packs when they start, I offer training conference calls, I have a group team Facebook page and post ideas and tips, I send out award certificates to my top sellers. Just like with most other companies, I get paid based on what my team produces for sales.
By the way: the 4 1/2 million in earnings does not include other money that I have earned from Avon for profit from personal product sales, car allowance (I have earned a car allowance consecutively since March 1994), bonuses or the value of the over 30 all expenses paid trips that I have earned.
Team Avon – Lisa Wilber
What is the key for your success?
There isn't *one* thing that has made this work for me – it's been a lot of little things, consistently over time. Avon was known for door knocking when I first started, but I knew that wasn't something I wanted to do, so I found a way to market myself and still build a big business without door knocking.
I didn't want to invite people over for dinner and then bait and switch them into hearing my opportunity presentation, so I found other ways to get people interested in joining my team. I think it's been important that I found what works for me, found what I was comfortable doing that produced results.
If my actions didn't produce results, I keep trying new things until I found what I was comfortable doing that produced the results that I needed. Plugging into a way someone else was doing this wouldn't have worked for me and I don't believe it would work for most people. You have to think and try things until you find what works for you and produces results.
Is personal development important for you?
EXTREMELY! I have found that if I am not prepared inside to earn bigger money, it won't happen on the outside, either. I have to know that I provide the value to go along with those earnings — or the earnings won't come.
I'll hit my own self-destruct button! I personally have to do a lot of reading, attending workshops, seminars and trainings and seeking out everything I can find on making myself better — in general and in business — or I start feeling that I don't deserve the income I receive.
That can sabotage your business in a big way. I am always trying to learn more and grow — to be a better leader, a better marketer, a better parent, a better example to my team, a better daughter.
Any Killer tip for a newbie?
When you increase your value and become a better salesperson, a better marketer, a better leader — it helps everyone around you. A rising tide lifts all boats. Be the tide.
Contact details Lisa M.Wilber