Here’s OUR monthly top picks for you (and your field) for reading, listening to and utilizing in order to stay engaged, informed and one step ahead.

Blog / The 360 Blog for C-Suite
Salesforce

As the world’s leading customer relationship management (CRM) software, Salesforce helps businesses track customer interactions and sales data. So it’s no surprise that the brand is also a thought leader in the business world, publishing key insights on their popular site, The 360 Blog. Posts aimed at the C-Suite cover timely subjects like leading through change, the future of work and incorporating data into your business strategy to drive performance. You can also sign up for Salesforce’s free newsletter to have targeted content sent straight to your inbox.

Book / Collaboration Is the New Competition
by Priscilla McKinney

Since complex business issues can be solved faster and more efficiently as a team, collaboration is displacing competition as an avenue to success. In her groundbreaking book, Collaboration Is the New Competition, author Priscilla McKinney explains how to create the ideal environment for strategic collaboration; establish rules of engagement; decrease frustration; and amplify wins.

AI Tool / Qloo

When launching your brand into new countries, it can be challenging to understand your new market. Qloo is a “privacy-first cultural AI” that decodes global consumer taste—which provides businesses with predictions to help customize products and marketing assets to each culture’s wants and needs. The platform has a deep understanding of over 575 million cultural trends and preferences, including brands, media, travel and more. Detailed compound queries on demographics, psychographics and buying patterns to improve international expansion and customer experiences.

BOOK / The Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today
by Lewis Howes

Mindset is everything—but that’s easy to forget as a new entrepreneur struggling with impostor syndrome. Using science-based strategies, personal stories and a step-by-step approach, best-selling author Lewis Howes helps readers make a mental paradigm shift in his book, The Greatness Mindset. Through defining a mission to enhance purpose; identifying root causes of fear; ending self-sabotaging thoughts; and manifesting greatness, Howes can help your field design the life of their dreams.

Website / Psychology Junkie
Susan Storm

While personality tests like Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or Enneagram are helpful in self-discovery, applying the results of these personality tests in the office can give your organization an edge. The Psychology Junkie website provides free tests to help you discover your results—but more importantly—the site hosts a treasure trove of meaningful content to help you understand the meaning and application of your results. The Psychology Junkie offers fascinating articles to help you hire, train, lead, communicate with and understand your team in new and effective ways.

Podcast / Selling Made Simple and Salesman Podcast
Salesman.com

Looking for personal development on the go? Most episodes of Selling Made Simple have an average runtime of 4-15 minutes, making it the perfect learning tool for even the busiest entrepreneur. Host Will Baron teaches how to find buyers and win business using modern, effective, ethical strategies. Popular episodes discuss crafting the perfect elevator pitch; reducing anxiety; understanding your prospects; and closing the sale.

From the January/February 2024 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.

The post January 2024: Qloo, Psychology Junkie and more! first appeared on Direct Selling News.

I’m talking about Cannabidiol, or CBD, the ingredient being credited with a growing list of health benefits and, as a result, is rapidly transforming much of the consumer product landscape. Both Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Mehmet Oz are just a few mainstream medical professionals praising CBD’s wellness impact.

Companies from virtually every consumable category, including beverages, dietary supplements, skin care and pet products, are actively exploring the opportunities, including our own direct selling channel. Our own research shows that direct selling companies will sell $300 million worth of cannabidiol-related products in 2018, making direct selling the largest channel of distribution for the growing CBD product sector.

The trends indicate that global direct selling sales of CBD products could exceed $1 billion by 2020. Established companies, as well as a growing number of startups, have begun announcing their entry into the market.

Pick up the printed issue in which this article is found.

Our cover story, by Sarah Paulk, describes the unique history that hemp/CBD has played in the United States, it’s recent rise in the media, and how direct selling companies are taking the lead not only in sales but in helping educate consumers on its wellness benefits.

With an ingredient that is as misunderstood as CBD, the direct selling channel may prove to be the perfect fit for companies seeking channels of distribution. Direct sellers are known for their one-on-one training and education methods that can meet the consumer on a personal level even if it’s the first time they’ve heard of CBD oil. That personal connection and ability to address specific misconceptions has the potential to create a loyal customer base.

We are excited to share with you a two company spotlights, Mannatech and Maskcara Beauty. Since it’s founding in 1994 Mannatech has made a name for itself with its commitment to innovative products and sound science. President & CEO Al Bala says sound science is obviously important, but will only take you so far. “At the end of the day, every company is going to rise and fall on the value they provide to an ultimate customer.”

From 2009 until 2013, Cara Brook ran her blog sharing beauty tips, tutorials and product recommendations. In her day job as a makeup artist, Cara had always used highlighting and contouring, a makeup technique to accentuate a client’s best features and give an airbrushed look. As the technique went mainstream, Cara saw what could be her big opportunity, so with her $30,000 in savings coupled with some family investment Maskcara Beauty was born. But that is just the start of this amazing entrepreneurial story. Be sure to read it in its entirety starting on page 50.

Save the Date—10th Annual Global 100 Celebration Event—April 24, 2019.

Before your calendars get too full, be sure and circle April 24 on your calendar, and better yet head to https://dsndev.wpengine.com/global-100/ and register you and your team, or even sponsor a table. We will continue to share more details as they become available.

All the best,

Todd

The post CBD’s Current And Future Impact On Our Channel first appeared on Direct Selling News.