Rules to Sell and Live by

Pretentious aren't I?

My daughter has five rules she must follow every day: laugh, dance, sing, giggle and learn something new.

If they are good enough for her they should be good enough for me.

I find laughing every day reduces my stress levels and gives me the positive attitude I need to field No on a regular basis. Laughing reminds me that I am happy and passionate about my life.

Passion in sales is a success driver. Your passion comes through in all you do.

Did anyone ever tell you to stand when on the phone to make a point?

But they can't see you, you say. True, but in some way it comes over the line. I don't know the psychology behind it, I just know it works. Next time you feel the need, just smile when you are on the phone; it is amazing how you can hear the other end of the conversation smile back.

I have said for years that if you laugh you keep THEM nervous.

I started thinking more about my kid and some of the things she does to make her life better and by result everyone else too.

Most every kid has a favourite sandwich. I have heard all kinds of combinations over the years but one stands out as the champion...... Peanut butter and Jam (Jelly if you prefer).... PB&J.

So how can I keep PB&J in my day?

Easy....passion, beauty and joy!

The best part is they tie back to the first five rules.

Selling is difficult enough.

There are the ongoing battles, rejections and frustrations but the benefits outweigh the negatives. Keeping PB&J lets me see the benefit of what I do as a profession.

Passion lets me weather any storm. It allows me to present the product and myself in a believable manner. If you smile on the phone, the other end can hear it.

People know when you are passionate and will react favourably.

Passion to the level of fanaticism is bad but believing in what you do is good. Excessive passion brings ego into the mix and tends to make one blind to the other side of the sale. Passion without ego lets me do what I need in a way that I never have to apologize for.

There is beauty in what we do. We help remove pain and provide solutions. We solve the unsolvable. We help make other lives better. But beauty tied to ego breeds narcissism, which breeds a lack of listening, which impacts sales success.

There is beauty in learning every day.

I learn from my clients. I learn their point of view. I learn their needs/wants. I learn from being quiet and observing.

The most beautiful time in my day is listening to my daughter explore her life and watch how the world unfolds to her.

I need to listen to do this. Everyone has something they are passionate about and listening to them will let me know what it is. This grants the privilege to earn the right to begin a relationship.

If it has been a less than stellar day, I find time and place to enjoy the now. To bask in the beauty that is life and give an opportunity to forget the past. The past cannot be changed but it can be learned from.

Joy can be found in the passion and beauty of every day. Joy lets me laugh all the time.

How does all of this apply to my profession?

I am my profession! What lets me make it through the day lets me do my job to the best of my ability. Doing things the best I can means I provide value to my clients. Providing value to my clients means I am valuable to my employer.

So the thought for today is to keep PB&J in your life; to do that you need to remember the five rules.

Thanks.