In business, do you do things for others before you do it for yourself?
You are at a trade show. You meet a “potential” franchisee who is brand new to the cruising industry. He wants your help in making a decision on whether to purchase a franchise or not…do you help him or go over to another cruise ship franchise owner who has made lots of money in the business and has a reputation for maximizing extensive growth and potential each year?

On the other hand, this potential franchisee introduced him to the group by saying he loves to travel. He has traveled wide and far for his company. He has been at his current job for over 25 years. He is looking to retire, but doesn’t want to just play golf, he wants to engage in some fun activity that not only makes him feel productive, but wants to do something where he can call his own shots, take off when he wants too, have low overhead and flexible hours, and could potentially make it a family affair.

You may think that success breeds success, and maybe you could learn a few new tricks on how to get your own franchise to the place you want it to be with this successful entrepreneur. On the other hand, you may have one person who wants to invest in the industry but needs more information to make his decision and is asking you for assistance.
It is a no brainer if you are a master networker. The “potential” franchisee just told you he was interested in entrepreneurship. However, here is what he did not tell you.

He worked for the biggest bottling company in the world. He had contacts all over the USA and foreign countries. He was a big company man who had his own company jet fly him to exotic parts of the world. He had influence with other big company men/women here and abroad. He had built a very comfortable lifestyle for himself through investments and hard work over the years. However, he was burned out. By nature a compulsive workaholic, but after years of working late for business, was ready to slow down. His family wanted him to slow down, life was short and they had sacrificed his lack of time for them, enough over the years, He earned a retirement. He earned a life without days, even weeks away from his family. It was time.

Here is the bottom line of networking.

All HIS contacts enhanced your business potential by two-fold.
All HIS experience in his travels all over the world and the contacts he made, were all your potential contacts too.

He is handing you the opportunity to sell him on the Cruise Planners/American Express Franchise and waiting for your input as to his possible decision in investing in the business himself.
He already sold himself; you just have to put the final changes on the product.

Self-sustaining business. Work from home. Family can be involved. Small investment, low overhead. Cruise himself and enjoy life with his family coming along. With all his contacts, he was sure to make a huge success out of his investment with people traveling all over the country and abroad. The “American Express” brand was obvious of the success of Cruise Planners or AE would not be endorsing them.

Fantastic! This will be the easiest sell you have ever had…all because you networked with the potential, not the mastered. Did you bring a contract with you?

Everyone wants to be successful. However, not everyone is willing to put in the hard work and smart work to accomplish this.
Successful people are focused, determined and always are looking for more methods to achieve more. Let’s take a look at some practices that will assist you in reaching your goals to success.

Houses, fancy cars are normally the by-product of success. But as you are establishing your path to success, they happen to be irrelevant. Start your business first, and focus on making THAT a success, and the rest will come. Until your business is off the ground, limit your spending. For instance, as a Cruise Planner/ American Express franchise owner, the very first money you save after your initial investment, is the cost of maintaining an office. Working from home, you get to put that money into your business and start to build that path to success.

Increase Your Knowledge. Cruise Planners University provides all the tools for you to learn your trade in the “cruise business”. The training is both the kinship and marriage of education and life experience. If you are in business, you want to be an active learners. You don’t stop at CP University…you continue your education as you travel the world and cruise to the beat of high waves and luscious landscapes and retreats.

Spend time with people. If you are open and ready to network with those who have already climbed the latter, you will learn invaluable methods and tips from them. Absorb information from the best and don’t be shy about asking questions about something you don’t know…be an inquiring mind.

Learn to use your emotions to “invite” the things you want and need out of you new business. On your journey toward success, you will need to cultivate those emotions to solicit positive feedback and grow business relationships.

Find balance in life. Have fun, work hard, play hard, pray hard and love life hard. Success is all about having balance in your life which is also a direct reflection derived from having balance in your work-life. As we all know, working hard pays off, not only in money, but in self-fulfillment and personal growth.

This is where you start. Your homework is to look into the Cruise Planners/American Express package that allows you the opportunity for all the above, but also the cement needed for the road to success and the waters of fun and leisure.

Pardon us if we sound like we are bragging…although we have a right too, let’s face it, we are really just out to prove to you that credentials are essential to prove a company’s worth. With all that Cruise Planners American Express has to offer, the proof is right here and all over the media including news media, internet and viral links. Take a look at this:

Award-Winning History

 American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award – 7 years in a row
 Entrepreneur magazine ranked #1 cruise only agency – 10 years in a row
 Entrepreneur magazine Franchise 500 – ranked #34
 President’s Club Elite – Norwegian Cruise Line – 7 years in a row
 Home Based Partner of the Year – Royal Caribbean International – 5 years in a row
 Top Premier Travel Partner Award – Globus Family of Brands – 5 years in a row
 Florida Premier Apple Agency – Apple Vacations – 4 years in a row
 Gold Award Winner – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 – Travel Weekly Magellan Award
 Silver Award Winner – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 – Travel Weekly Magellan Award
 Agency of the Year – Carnival Cruise Lines
 Pinnacle Award – Carnival Cruise Lines – 10 years in a row
 Elite Travel Partner – Celebrity Cruises
 Key Account – Celebrity Cruises – 6 years in a row
 I Excel Gold – Princess Cruises
 Centurion & Premium Preferred Agency – Holland America Line
 Millionaire Producer – Crystal Cruises
 Top Producer – Silversea Cruises
 Key Account – Regent Seven Seas Cruises
 Inner Circle Member – Cunard Line
 Connoisseur Club – Oceania Cruises
 Globe Award – American Express Vacations

Active member of these boards:
 Royal Caribbean International Advisory Board
 Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises
 Carnival Cruise Lines Executive Forum
 Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL Home Based and NCL Partnership 2.0 Advisory Board
 Regent Seven Seas Cruises Council
 American Express Advisory Board
 CLIA Travel Agency Advisory Board

Stay tuned for 2013 Year Awards! The list is long, but the service, cost, training, executive input and personal hands on help, are worth their weight in gold in this Work From Home Franchise Business.

It is pretty obvious that people buy from people. It is not the sales brochure or the fancy words on a website that sells the customer; it is you, the owner of the newly purchased franchise. After your training at CPU, you will be supporting others on the basics of selling, whether it is an agent, an additional partner or owner, or a client.

Extraordinary sales results come from having a staff that unites through the company’s core values, yet still has diversity and the freedom to use their individual talents. Your first training session at CPU University will teach you the core elements of running a franchise; however, it is you who will subsequently implement those values into a sound business strategy with your sales agents.

Teach your staff to use their own unique approach to apply the basics when trying to sell the product. Here are some approaches using the travel agent as an example.
What makes your product unique?

There are many cruise ships, many travel agents…many exotic places to go…as an agent, what do your provide your client that sets your product apart from others in selling that cruise?
Your customer is unique and you let them know it. You show them specifically the advantage of using you and your products as opposed to other cruise line. You let them know what makes your product stand out from others, which creates the demand that helps you get that sale.

As you speak to your customer, you prove you have done your homework and are prepared to assure them you know exactly what they are looking for from their cruise, and how your expertise is going to help provide that for them.
You will learn from your CP training that VALUE always comes first with any customer. They want value for their time, effort, and money. You are prepared to show them the most cost-effective way to get the most out of their vacation.
You are not afraid to ask questions so your client benefits from the product package you are selling to them. Do they like children on board or adults only? Are they interested in sitters if they bring children so they have some free time, etc.; Questions tell you who your client is, their taste, and their preferences.

Finally, listen. Listen to what your customer wants, needs and expects in return for their business. When you satisfy those components, you have satisfied your customer.

Networking is essential in any business. Cruise Ships are no different. Ask your clients to refer you to their friends and relatives. Have them fill out a comment card for their views on the experience YOU setup for them.
Make sure you provide a good presentation. Your first opportunity to get that sale is the presentation you give to your client. They should be excited and ready to book that trip after your presentation. Make it fun and entertaining…just like their trip will be.

Who do you think gets the sales, pushy people, or pleasantly persistent sales people? A vacation cruise is an important decision, and if you are pushy, people will be scared off. Be pleasant and only persistent in your approach to assure them they are making the right decision to book their trip with you.
Send your staff for training and updating of new techniques, approaches, tools, and conferences that keeps them excited about their product.

Using these approaches, you cannot only capture the client you are selling too, but know that their return for another trip will be on their “to do” list for years to come.

Have you ever noticed that the seasons always call for some change? For New Years, we usually make resolutions that we are determined to keep. For the winter, we usually make sure we have wood stacked for cold weather fires in the fireplace, and warm soups on the stove. Summer is always about change as we choose where we want to enjoy our family or singles vacations. So, Spring has sprung, Easter is around the corner, and it is time to do some cleanup of our small businesses too.

Not that we have survived the hard rains, storms and tornadoes, and snow, people are heading outside to refresh and renew. Cleaning out the cobwebs out of your business can be incentive for new business, fresh ideas and renewed interest in your business.

So, let’s start right there at home. While the Mrs.(or Mr). is cleaning rugs, shampooing furniture, washing windows and dusting ceilings. Start to de-clutter the home office. Clean the bookshelves and storage closet Go through your files and take out inactive ones to make room for new ones. Need a new and brighter paint? Now is the time to do it. Your surroundings area is very important to your morale and incentive to be professional.

What about your planning? Plan ahead: Spring is also a good time to get ahead of projects. Make a list of the ones you would like to get done in the next six months or before the end of the year. Prioritize them. Write them down. Put them on the white board. I recently read about the planning strategy of one very successful executive, and it’s to ‘have a long-term strategy and goal in mind, and then work backwards from there.’

Planning ahead can also involve thinking ahead to summer. Make sure you build in some time off, and while you’re at it, consider some fun things you could do with your employees in the summer, or some ways to give them a little extra time off during the warmer months.

Make a commitment to improve your social networking a few hours a week for a few months. Keep up with the latest social media…it is an IMPOIRTANT part of your business.

Finally, don’t hesitate to ask for help around spring-cleaning time—Virtual Assistants are at home businesses too and they are always looking to assist for a reasonable feel. Search the websites for a Virtual Assistant Organization.
Now you feel energized and are ready to get down to business and bring on those new clients. You yourself, could take your Spring Break first however, call Cruise Planners American Express and book a cruise.

Do you see that crowd? Everyone is stepping up to find out more about being a Cruise Planner/American Express Franchise Owner, a home-based business that will provide a low-cost investment and a lucrative return for your money. These people also found out how they can sign up for money-saving cruises on the most popular ships in the industry.

You too can be an owner of a home-based business that attracts people to your particular product and drives your investment with high rewards.

Here is how you get started. Webinars, a web-based seminar will be your introduction of all you need to know to get involved in the process. It will show you how you too can become part of the 30 billion dollar industry. It will tell you about the partnership with American Express and explain the hands-on training techniques of Cruise Planners University. The only thing you need to attend a webinar is an internet connection and/or a telephone connection. All your questions can be answered right from your home or business during the webinar.

You can sign up for the webinar by clicking on the line below:

Monday, March 4 @ 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Tuesday, March 5 @ 8:00 PM Eastern Time
Thursday,March 7 @ 8:00 PM Eastern Time

Our next show is the Washington DC Travel and Adventure show March 8 and 9. Call for more information and come visit to see what it is all about!

If you still have questions, or miss the seminars, call our Franchise Sales department by calling toll free a 888-582-2150. or locally in Coral Springs FL at 954-344-8060.

It is pretty obvious that people buy from people. It is not the sales brochure or the fancy words on a website that sells the customer; it is you, the owner of the newly purchased franchise. After your training at CPU, you will be supporting others on the basics of selling, whether it is an agent, an additional partner or owner, or a client.

Extraordinary sales results come from having a staff that unites through the company’s core values, yet still has diversity and the freedom to use their individual talents. Your first training session at CPU University will teach you the core elements of running a franchise; however, it is you who will subsequently implement those values into a sound business strategy with your sales agents.

Teach your staff to use their own unique approach to apply the basics when trying to sell the product. Here are some approaches using the travel agent as an example.

What makes your product unique?

There are many cruise ships, many travel agents…many exotic places to go…as an agent, what do your provide your client that sets your product apart from others in selling that cruise?

Your customer is unique and you let them know it. You show them specifically the advantage of using you and your products as opposed to other cruiselines. You let them know what makes your product stand out from others, which creates the demand that helps you get that sale.

As you speak to your customer, you prove you have done your homework and are prepared to assure them you know exactly what they are looking for from their cruise, and how your expertise is going to help provide that for them.

You will learn from your CP training that VALUE always comes first with any customer. They want value for their time, effort, and money. You are prepared to show them the most cost-effective way to get the most out of their vacation.

You are not afraid to ask questions so your client benefits from the product package you are selling to them. Do they like children on board or adults only? Are they interested in sitters if they bring children so they have some free time, etc.; Questions tell you who your client is, their taste, and their preferences.

Finally, listen. Listen to what your customer wants, needs and expects in return for their business. When you satisfy those components, you have satisfied your customer.

Networking is essential in any business. Cruise Ships are no different. Ask your clients to refer you to their friends and relatives. Have them fill out a comment card for their views on the experience YOU setup for them.

Make sure you provide a good presentation. Your first opportunity to get that sale is the presentation you give to your client. They should be excited and ready to book that trip after your presentation. Make it fun and entertaining…just like their trip will be.

Who do you think gets the sales, pushy people, or pleasantly persistent sales people? A vacation cruise is an important decision, and if you are pushy, people will be scared off. Be pleasant and only persistent in your approach to assure them they are making the right decision to book their trip with you.

Send your staff for training and updating of new techniques, approaches, tools, and conferences that keeps them excited about their product.

Using these approaches, you cannot only capture the client you are selling too, but know that their return for another trip will be on their “to do” list for years to come.

Did you ever wonder what it takes to be a good franchisor? You might be surprised to learn that the qualities are somewhat similar to that of a coach of a football team. They have to be good leaders, capable of making good decisions and able to communicate effectively to the players if they want to score. It’s also a good idea that the coach has of course, played football or at the very least held a position as a water-boy, although even in pee-wee football, some of those Dads are just good leaders so therefore qualified to be a good franchisor.

As in any game, you have to take risks; there is no way around that. When going into business, you have to have a game plan. A good game plan will include taking a calculated risk that will help make their team score the field goal. A good business franchisor will have a play that helps place revenue into their game plan. It is important to implement these important components of the game in a business or on the playing field.

In any pro game, communication is vital to the players, as is when hiring employees for your business. The Captain of the team will have to stay in touch with the players and communicate the best decisions… just as a Franchisee needs to hear from the Franchisor so the open communications keeps the plays in motion.

Players are continually changing positions so updating the positions and providing training, and a good offense and defense is conducive to winning the game and keep clients coming back as a franchisor. You apply the same game plan and moves in business as you do in a football game.
Games can be won and trophies awarded to those who work hard and have the determination to score, whether it is a field goal or money from their investment. business. Everyone loves Super Bowl Sunday, and future franchisors will love knowing when they invest in a winning team such as Cruise Planners American/Express, it is the Super Bowl of business success!

If you satisfy your financial obligations on time, you may not need to borrow money. However, if you do, you have only to consider the risk involved. The Cruise Planners/ American Express Franchise, involves very little risk due to the Training, Support from Experts, and the notable records and awards the company has received over the years. Any lender will want to know all about the business you are about to invest in, and the nice thing about it, is that Cruise Planners/American Express speaks for itself through worldwide acclaim and success.

Things you should know that a lender would ask you…and the answers are all provided to you through the experts at Cruise Planners/American Express Franchise Team.

• Can the business repay the loan? (Is cash flow greater than debt service?)
• Can you repay the loan if the business fails? (Is collateral sufficient to repay the loan?)
• Does the business collect its bills?
• Does the business pay its bills?
• Does the business control its inventory?
• Does the business control expenses?
• Are the officers committed to the business?
• Does the business have a profitable operating history?
• Does the business match its sources and uses of funds?
• Are sales growing?
• Are profits increasing as a percentage of sales?
• Is there any discretionary cash flow?
• What is the future of the industry?
• Who is your competition and what are their strengths and weaknesses?

Call Dan Hicks and the Franchise Team at Cruise Planners/American Express and they will not only walk you through the preliminaries of the start-up business, but also help you turn your investment into a long and successful venture with plenty of rewards!

CPU OFFERS MBA OR Ph.D. LEVEL COURSES FOR NEW FRANCHISE OWNERS
You have your business plan already outlined. You just signed all the papers. You are so excited to be starting your own franchise, still not believing what you are getting for under a $10,000 dollar investment. You are relieved that your solidified investment did not include “give me the cash” and leave you to make it a success all on your own as some startups do. Now, you are excited because school starts tomorrow…Cruise Planners/American Express, CP University Program. This dynamic program is your next step to success.

The Cruise Planners University travels far beyond the original 2008-startup topics that included marketing, advertising, public relations, product updates, technology, group and individual sales, customer care, and web marketing. You have an undergraduate degree with those courses. Last year, CPU included the MBA and PhD level of courses that teaches how to charter a ship, how to provide mobile marketing, how to maximize group revenue, and today, the most important tool of social media marketing, and you even learn about exotic destinations, which can only add to your offerings to your clients.

We are not stopping there…CPU launched eRez 2.0 web-based booking system on the CP Central Intranet website, so you can research, book, manage, and market better. In addition, the tools are there for members to track client’s birthdays or anniversary information, along with calendar functions, and the ability to research groups for booking cruises.

All of these benefits are to help you be successful in owning your own franchise. Cruise Planners/American Express assists you with your business from the very beginning so your investment proves successful.

When you see awards posted all over the internet in the travel industry websites, you will see Cruise Planners/American Express taking the #1 spot, repeatedly. Ask yourself, how many franchises carry the infamous BRAND such as American Express? We have not even discussed the benefits for traveling, owning your own business, meeting people in the industry, and attending conventions.