To download a printable version of this transcript, click here.
 
 
iQuestions Faculty, Randy and Elizabeth Draper 
 
 
Question: 
 
How important is it for me to train my team of distributors for my 
home-based business? And, how much training should I give them? 
 
Answer: 
 
ELIZABETH: Training is really important when you get involved in a 
direct-sales company. You can’t assume the people you’re going to 
work with will know what is going on. You have to state the obvious 
with people. 
 
We have learned to start everybody at the beginning, and whether 
they’ve been involved in the company, or they’ve not been involved in 
the company, we really work with them on training.  
 
For me, the most important tool I can use in training people is to role-
play out loud with them. I have realized that if you can get them to 
say over and over and out loud with you anything they need to learn 
how to do, it helps them feel comfortable and it helps them have a 
flow. Furthermore, it really gets them confident in being able to go out 
there and do what they’re going to do with their business.  
 
RANDY: We try to have large-group training every month. We also 
have small-group training times or we train our direct people that 
we’ve sponsored. We like to have a lot of fun doing skits, drawings and 
recognition. 
 
ELIZABETH: You’ve got to learn that fine line in training, because 
sometimes you can over-train people. You’ve got to know when to 
stop training so they have time to go out there and do their business. 
 
 
If you have too many activities planned, then they are going to come 
to everything, and then they’re going to say, “Well, when do I have 
time to go out there and work and do what I’ve been trained to do?” 
 
You need a balance of training and teaching and role-playing with 
them, while you’re having fun, but then giving them the time to go out 
there and do what you have taught them to do. 
 
We’ve found of all the things that are most important, building 
relationships with our trainees while we’re training them makes a huge 
impact in the longevity of someone staying in our home-based 
business. 
 
RANDY: Training is just a part of what you do as a leader. You need to 
also be leading by example. You can’t just use training as an 
opportunity to teach your people. They’re going to watch what you do. 
It’s not what you say at training that impacts them. It’s what you do 
after training that impacts your people.  
 
So the training is important, but the personal experience and the 
personal example in front of your people is very important as well. 
 
ELIZABETH: After 21 years, I still go out and do home shows and do 
all the things that my girls are experiencing out there because I want 
them to see that I’m credible and I’m experiencing the same things 
they’re out there experiencing. That’s important as you are going to 
grow a business. 
 
 
To download a printable version of this transcript, click here.