PlanNet Marketing is pleased to welcome Karen Payne to the 20/20 Club! Karen is from Weymouth, Dorset, UK. She tells us, "Travel has always been my main passion. I also love music and regularly attend concerts. My favourite shows to date have been Taylor Swift’s Eras show, Beyonce’s Renaissance tour., Robbie Williams at Knebworth, Adele at the Roundhouse in London (which is a tiny venue before she was a big star) and Kanye West in Bournemouth (again a really small venue). I love to read and walk on the beach with my dog, Margo. She’s a mad yellow labrador.
"I’ve been lucky enough to travel regularly from a young age. My first travel memories are hearing my parents being asked to sell me for a camel in Tunisia and on another trip refusing to walk up the hill to the Acropolis in Athens because I was fed up of looking at piles of rocks! I’ve been to some amazing places and always find it hard to choose my favourites. I recently went to Egypt, which was a trip of a lifetime that I had wanted to do since I learnt about the pyramids in primary school. I had a really special moment on my 50th birthday after a mix-up of finding myself as the only person in the pyramid. We also went on a Norwegian fjords cruise earlier this year, where we saw the most incredible northern lights for 5 nights in a row. Italy is always a favourite country for me. The mix of sights, culture, food, (particularly the gelato) and wine is just the best! In all honesty, I’ve yet to find a place I haven’t enjoyed for one reason or another.
"My success in PlanNet has been focusing on my warm network. It took me to my 14th sign-up to have anyone in the team I didn’t personally know. She was actually a friend of a friend. My 15th was my first stranger. I find talking in person is the best way to sell the business. Your passion and enthusiasm come through so much stronger. I love to share about how the business has benefitted me. I think sharing experiences on social media has helped tell the story of the benefit but also to share the PlanNet community and how that is there to support you through. I tell my team to focus on their warm network. It’s a great place to learn and perfect your pitch and get your confidence before reaching out further.
"My top tip (after doing the opposite!) is don’t set up a new social media profile. Use your existing one and leverage your warm network. I wish I hadn’t done this. In the beginning, I was embarrassed and didn’t want people to judge me. Now I just don’t care! You do you, other people’s opinions of you are not your business. So keep the platform you have, shout loud and shout proud about our incredible business. It changes lives; don’t be embarrassed to let people know!
"A fun fact is I am a Queen's Nurse. This is a title awarded to nurses who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. Despite the fact we have a King now, the title Queen's Nurse will stay because the origin dates back to 1887 when Queen Victoria awarded the charity a grant from the Women’s Jubilee Fund."