Anonymous

First of all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!  Deal with postponements in ADVANCE dont wait for them to happen!  Some things that will help are:

1. LEARN TO BOOK NEXT WEEK ONLY!  Do not ask a Hostess when she would like to have her show.  Its a natural tendency for us to put things off for as long as possible.  If you allow it, the Hostess will book three or four weeks away. However, there is a way to avoid this.  First of all, have a full datebook.  If you are not to that point yet, then enter everything in your datebook doctors appointments, hair appointments, birthdays, etc. in other words, your datebook should look very BUSY!  Ask the Hostess, Which will work better for you, the first of the week or the latter part?  Then when she answers, say, Tuesday or Wednesday?  Then, afternoon or evening?  Give her choices!  While looking at your appointment book say, Lets see when I can do your show,  Make her feel you have only a couple of times and that you will work her in get the idea?  Lets see, I have an opening on Tuesday evening; will that work for you?  Please notice a specific date has never been mentioned.  Write her name in on that date and say, OK that will be Tuesday, June 4^th at 7:30 which is next week, but you have never said anything about her show being next week.  When you coach her you can then say, OK, Ill see you next Tuesday at 7:30  Believe me, this works!  And remember, just how long does someone need to plan their show?  One of our problems is that we give people TOO LONG and they worry about it it becomes a chore instead of a pleasure!
2. OVERBOOK!  If you want five shows for next week, and you have exactly five shows on your books, then first thought that will come to your mind on Monday morning is, Oh, I hope none of my shows postpone!  However if you have ten, and you only need five, the thought of postponements NEVER enters your mind because you know you could afford to lose a few and still have plenty!  How many times have you thought, I just know that show is going to postpone. And then shortly afterwards the pone rings and sure enough it is your Hostess doing exactly what you expected her to do!  If you do not expect postponements, they will be minimal!
3. HOSTESS CONTEST FOR NEXT WEEK!  Mary Kay says she never went a week without having a Hostess Contest for next week.  Then, if the Hostess wants to book two weeks away, you can say, Oh, I wish you could have it next week when Im giving the most away!  She will!!!!
4. THANK-U-NOTES IN ADVANCE!  Something I have learned to do, and have taught many of you, is to thank your Hostess before the show!  Use your Thank-U-Notes and write her a brief note the day after you booked the show with her saying something like, Thank you for booking your show during my special contest! I am really looking forward to knowing you better and to sharing some new Glamour Tips with YOU!  See you Tuesday!
5. PROPER COACHING:  Now, this is my career and I will be reserving this time especially for you!  Ill be there rain or shine, sleet or snow!  You can count on me, and I know I can count on YOU right!  Anyone who is having continuous postponement problems should try this approach with her Hostesses.  Say it with a smile and look your Hostess in the right eye, nodding your head yes.
6. NEVER NEVER LET A SHOW GET OFF YOUR BOOKS!  In the event a Hostess does call to postpone and it is legitimate immediately say, Lets see which time you think will work for you next week.  Will the first of the week or the latter part work better etc.