I have a wonderful book in my library called "Build It BIG" - a Direct Selling Women's Alliance.

They have some great ideas for how to get back in business (we can all hit a block at some point, if you're already there - this may help you to get out of it)

*Decide why success matters to you. When you want something badly enough, you find a way to get it. In truth, you probably know what to do to restart your business. But is your Why strong enough? No matter why you are in business, a clear sense of purpose is essential.

*List the reasons why now is the best time to host a show. Make a list of the benefits to your hostesses. What makes now a great time to do business with your company? What makes this an ideal season to host a show? Be timely and service-minded when you talk to prospective hosts.

*Schedule two evenings and one Saturday to make phone calls. Identify blocks of uninterrupted time during which you will make calls. Make a commitment to yourself to get your business back on track.

*Make 100 phone calls. There's no secret here. Success is related to your willingness to stick with your phone until you reach the desired result. The time you spend seeking alternatives is time you're not spending making calls! Call 100 past customers or contacts. Ask if they'd like to learn about what's new and exciting at your company. Invite them to share the fun of your products by hosting a show. What's the worst that can happen? Some will say No. What's the best that can happen? A few may Yes.

*Call past hostesses and invite them to rebook. Your past hostesses may be waiting to be invited! Ask when they'ld like to schedule another show to share what is new and exciting.

*Host a show at your home. You can coordinate a successful show in less than a week. Invite acquaintances and friends. Keep the focus on the benefits of hosting.

*Participate in a craft fair or exposure event. Hosting a booth is an easy way to meet a number of new people quickly. Concentrate on bookings instead of product sales. Consider running a home-show video in the background to illustrate the fun of hosting a show.

*Limit the e-mail communication. E-mail is convenient but doesn't allow the personal contact you need in this situation. Your voice and personal touch go much further toward building strong hostess relathionships.

Commit to these strategies:

*Establish a booking goal. Set a goal each month and stick with it until you have filled your calendar.

*Set a booking deadline. Choose one week each month to assess future bookings and make calls to fill your calendar.

*Make time for phone calls. Don't allow distractions to divert you from business success.

*Actively invite people to host. Relying on door prizes or completed forms is a passive approach to recruiting hostesses. Take a more active approach and personally invite each guest as she places an order.

*Ask for rebookings. Invite each hostess to host a future show. You'll be amazed how often they agree.

*Work consistently. When you do at least one show a week, you get in a rhythm that keeps your business going.

When you are in business for yourself, there's nothing like the pride of successfully facing a challenge head on. Bookings can change the direction of your business. What steps will you take to restore the vitality of your business?

Actions for Jump-Starting your business:
*Pull together a list of past customers and hostesses to call.
*Block out time for making the calls.