Being a father of three very active
children alone can be daunting, but coupled with my career responsibilities,
and wow can life get very hectic. Coming off of a very fun and relaxing Labor
Day weekend, I am reminded that we, as sales people, need to pause every so often and
have a little personal time. Sales, for the ‘A’ level person, is more than just
a job, it is a life altering commitment. You never truly get a day off because
someone (or a situation) seems to always require some sort of your attention.
So, with the reality of “always on your
game”, you must find personal time. Here are a few ways I take a moment or two
to myself that help me maintain focus with my career so I can feel “always on
my game”.
1 – Look for one moment each and every
day, including weekends, to reflect on what you have going well in your life.
It may be just 5 minutes sitting in your car before a meeting, or taking the
dog for a morning walk on a Saturday, but this time is an opportunity to remind
yourself that your career as a sales person impacts others in many positive
ways. It may seem like a personal feel-good, but you must remind yourself that
others are depending on you.
2 – Exercise is a sales persons release
from stress. Between boss, company, client and peer expectations, not to
mention everything you have going on at home, a sales person can feel a level
of stress not found in other professions, especially when your livelihood is
dependent on commission and/or bonus. You don’t always need a gym membership or
going hard & heavy on the free-weights constantly, nor do you need to run a
marathon every month, but you should have an outlet for removing stress, and
exercise will certainly help. Not to mention, sales people tend to eat out more
than others in their organization, so a little exercise can help with this
aspect too.
3 – One treat per week is another rule
of thumb I try to apply to my routine. A treat can take many forms, such as a
new micro-brew beer I’ve been wanting to try, or indulging in a TV show that I
would otherwise not have the time to watch. I try to find one, non-work
related, way to treat myself each week.
4 – Provide someone else at least one
treat per week. This tends to be a little bit easier, with kids, because I can
kill two birds with one stone. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my
kids, but also taking them out for ice cream or some other treat during the week
reminds me that my sales career is what is affording me such an opportunity.
A successful, ‘A’ level sales person
knows that the constant go-go-go pace of the sales career can be exhilarating, but
demanding as well. Finding a little personal time does the mind and body good –
and will make you a better sales person in the long run.