Many companies are rushing to adopt new approaches and new programs to attract today’s social sellers, and—in doing so—many of the tried-and-true “best practices” of our channel are being questioned and even tossed aside like never before. Ready for a field development evolution? Here are some thought-starters worthy of some discussion at your office!

This month, we turn our energy to the insights gained on Events and Incentive Trips. While we may not deliver as many shocking “a-ha”s in this area of insight, I challenge each of you to look closely at your programs through this lens and (perhaps ruthlessly) edit. Done well, you can see massive savings by not paying for duplicative rewards and increased productivity by focusing only on the most compelling offerings.

Living so much of our lives online as we do today—videos, memes, influencers and friends supply no shortage of inspirational messages aimed at lifting people up and moving them forward—it can be hard to imagine a time before personal development, a time before the introspective work of improving oneself was even considered valid, let alone mainstream.

Revenue growth is the mark of a company that is doing something right. When a company can continue a pattern of revenue growth for two or three consecutive years, it signals healthy momentum and creates a new level of credibility among peers and customers. But four years? Four years of consecutive revenue growth tangibly illustrates that a growth mindset and resiliency is cemented into a company’s DNA.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Seldom have three words been packed with so much potential, yet also mired in controversy. They can be bounced around like political footballs; serve as HR “to-do” boxes aimed at maintaining a status quo; or be harbingers of real change that accelerate the success of the people, companies and industries who understand that there’s a business case to be made for DEI and widen their strategic planning accordingly.

For the purposes of this study, recognition was really explored under the umbrella of “Motivations.” Meaning, we examined all the programs, communication, celebration and incentives that would most likely resonate for direct sellers to join, stay and thrive with direct selling companies. Interestingly, the differences between men and women were just as stark as the differences between generations.