Many sales professionals know that a positive attitude is a key element, perhaps the most important element, to success in sales. Even though they know this, most sales professionals find it extraordinarily difficult to maintain a positive attitude all day, every day. The reason: most likely because they believe that their attitude is the result of external circumstances rather than something that is within their control.

Here are some tips to help you stay positive:

1. Create a new definition for yourself of “external circumstances.” You might think that hitting a few red lights on the way to an important meeting with a prospect could be seen as “bad luck” and put you in a bad mood. Definitely not a mood you want to convey to your next potential client! However, if you view those red lights as an indication to yourself of how wise it was of you to leave early, they take on a whole new meaning.

If you are late because of those lights, take it as an opportunity to collect yourself and brainstorm a damage-control strategy.

1. Begin every day with 15 minutes of positive input. If you fill your mind with positive thoughts, you’ll have a larger library of positivity to pull from when your day might not quite go as planned. Read an inspirational book or listen to motivational CD’s in the morning. We happen to know where you can get a few of those! Might we suggest popping in your Sales Development CD’s on your way to prospecting meetings? (If you need one contact us today)

2. Choose your news. You get bombarded everyday with a news media that believes in the mantra, “If it bleeds, it leads!” followed by commercials designed to make you feel better. Our media strives to ramp up your feelings of anxiety by highlighting horrific stories and follows them with advertising that helps you to buy comfort food or medications to relieve the pressures of everyday life. Unplug yourself from this negative imagery. Find alternative sources to keep yourself up to date with the day’s events, such as public radio or print news. It’s easy to choose what to read and listen to.

3. Surround yourself with positive people. Business associates, friends, and relatives who have a negative view about life can make it hard for you to maintain your positive attitude. These people can drain you mentally and physically. Wherever possible, avoid them or at least limit your contact with them. If you cannot avoid them, don’t get drawn into lengthy gripe sessions. Listen empathetically and turn the conversation to a more positive topic as soon as you can. On the other hand, positive people can enhance your life and help to keep you upbeat and with a good outlook on your world.

The Strategic Planning Process provides a format for developing a Strategic Plan, taking that strategy through the business planning process and establishing measurable goals. It is a process that involves not only determining where a company is going, but also how it is going to get there.

Key Areas:

· Elements of the Strategic Plan

· The External Assessment

· Internal Appraisal

· The Business Plan

· Examples of Vision and Mission Statements

· Critical Goal Categories, The Critical Success Factors

· Business Planning Goals

· Financial Budgeting

· Marketing Communications

· Sales Support

· The Sales Plan

· The Review Process

For more information contact Hank Sullivan at Strategic Solutions at hsullivan@stratsolutions.net

Key Areas:

· Introduction to Time Strategies

· Goal Setting

· Improving Your Skills

· Establishing a Positive Direction

The question then becomes not whether to improve your company’s service standard, but how. Excellence in Customer Loyalty pays off on the bottom line by dramatically influencing customer behavior through a dynamic, results-oriented process.

Key Areas:

· What Does the Customer Really Want

· What Does Customer Loyalty Really Mean

· Your Role in the Company’s Success

· Understanding Human Behavior

· The Power of Goal Setting

· Art of Satisfying Customers

· Being a Team Player

· Cultivating Customer Loyalty

· Effective Communications

· The Art of Listening

· Handling Complaints and Mastering Difficult Situations

· Developing a Positive Company Image

· Estimating Your Quality of Service

· Becoming an Excellent Service Provider

Positive Leadership assumes that goals can be accomplished, the job can be done, the problem can be solved and obstacles can be overcome. Leaders create their own future because they have faith in themselves.

Key Areas:

· You Possess the Ability to Lead

· Preparation for Leadership

· A Product of the Past

· Formal Leadership

· Goal Setting for Success

· Building Success Attitudes and Habits

· Developing Your Personal Goals Program

· Turning Solutions into Action

· Understanding and Affirming Your Self

· Managing Your Time

· Communications and Human Relations

· Decision Making and Problem Solving

· Motivation

· Continuing Your Leadership Growth