I have found a secret weapon that I have been using since January to build and bond Team Avilanche. It would be fun to say I discovered the secret formula myself, cracked the code, and developed a brand-new, never-tried-before plan, but the truth is this … the secret I found was right there for anyone to use. It was found “hidden” in the pages of every training manual Richard Brooke has ever written.

It seemed so simple. Was the secret to engaged, inspired, well-trained, profitable, and loyal Distributors really this easy?

I knew, of course, that Richard Brooke had used the very same strategy when he was building his teams, so I knew that it had worked in the past. But would it work now, in 2011, when we live radically different lifestyles than we did just a few years ago? I thought about what I knew was necessary for momentum and growth. I pondered how to create leaders and to find a simple system that would duplicate. Something anyone could do.

The secret? Weekly Get-Togethers.

In January I began my first 21TEN Weekly Get-Together locally. Since my house is out of the way a bit, I let my team know I was looking for a place to host a weekly team gathering. I let them know it would need to be in the same place and time every week … “whether we felt like it or not.”

Steven Machado of Tulare, CA, stepped up. He offered his office conference room in Tulare, which is a central location for most of our team. I picked the day that worked best for me. Why? Because I knew I would be the one showing up, every week. I selected 6 PM as the start time and decided it would last two good hours so people could get home at a decent hour.

Steve agreed and we began.

We set a table of prizes and gave everyone tickets to our “on time” drawing. The prize table was heaped with fun prizes to choose from, toys and gifts to keep smiles on the faces at home or business building tools and office supplies for their growing business. I still remember DJ Dicks, one of our team members, running in at 5:59 carrying his dinner plate from home. “Did I make it?”

We wanted it to be fun and to provide good training and direction, and this was a good value for Distributor’s time.

They came back again and again, and together we shared and learned and bonded. We were consistent. Then the day came when Kyle Porter broke off and began his own Weekly Get-Together at his home in Exeter. And then Steve advanced to Senior and I knew it was time, and with a gentle nudge from Richard, this mother hen got off the nest.

When I stopped going, I coached and praised Steve, let him know he was ready, and gave him ideas and a plan. I let him know I was available by text or phone if he needed me.

What I see now is the business duplicating and leaders being built and born. The Weekly Get-Together is the glue that holds the team together and keeps them focused on 21TEN and Life Shotz. This is so important in a time when there are so many demands for our Distributors’ attention.

I used the mindset I read about in Pour Your Heart into It, the story of Starbucks, by Howard Shultz. The mission was to grow bigger while staying small. Small enough that everyone felt comfortable and knew each other and big enough to be profitable and attractive.

We now have started a Weekly Get-Together in Bakersfield with Richard Barnett’s group, and I have my sights set on Merced. I plan to have Weekly Get-Togethers going all up and down the state of California and across the country.

Steve shared his story on the call last Saturday about what the Weekly Get-Together did for him and his team and how he felt when started to fly solo. You can hear this specially recorded call by calling the replay line at 712.432.7503 and entering the pin 43278#; the recording number is 006411#.

Below I have copied the exact formula I used to get started. This is the secret, so don’t make excuses. Find a way to get it done, and you will reap the rewards in six months. Guaranteed! Set a date and time and location that works for you and get the ball rolling.

And if you need help to get started, I am happy to support you!

The foundation of your business is the relationships you build with people in your group and your leaders. By relationships we mean your friendship and understanding, your empathy, respect, trust, and admiration for the people with whom you work.

Although relationships can be created over the phone or at big public meetings, they pale in comparison to the quality and strength of relationships built in person. It is therefore imperative that you participate either as a supporter or as a leader of Weekly Get-Togethers.

These meetings provide the opportunity for you and others to become friends and close business associates, as well as provide you with a fertile training source.

Weekly Get-Togethers:

1. Are informal sit-down meetings.
2. There are no public presentations.
3. They are held in free and comfortable locations, such as restaurants, living rooms, offices, or other meeting facilities.
4. They are held at the exact same place, on the same day, at the same time every week to insure a clear understanding of where and when.
5. They last 1½ to 2 hours.
6. A minimum of two and a maximum of twelve people should attend.
7. When more than twelve people consistently show up, the leader with the most people should start another meeting at a different location, day, and time.
8. The agenda of the meeting is decided by the leaders and should include:
   • The latest announcements from Corporate
   • Successful sales and sponsoring ideas
   • Problem solving
   • Coaching individuals on breaking through
   • Planning upcoming events
   • Promoting upcoming corporate events
   • Product and recruitment training

Getting started is easy, and it can make all the difference!

Janine Avila
Team Avilanche