Stress is an ignorant state.  It believes that everything is an emergency.  ~Natalie Goldberg

Have you ever noticed how some people look stressed all the times? In fact, these same people often get stressed BECAUSE they have nothing to stress about. Problem is, many of these folks believe that the appearance of stress is a signal to others that they are super busy. But in reality, it is only a sign to others that they are STRESSED.

Think of some of the great leaders in history like Winston Churchill. One of the greatest assets he possessed while bombs were being littered on his country was his ability to stay calm under pressure. And think of great athletes like Michael Jordan or Peyton Manning. There is a calmness in top performers that becomes even more apparent when situations become difficult. While everybody around them is showing the pressure, they show control. And that control is what makes others want to follow them.

So this week, when the heat is on, don’t let anybody know it. Focus on the objective calmly, knowing people around you are watching how you handle it. And when they see you at your best, while others are feeling the heat, you will become the type of leader that others turn to when they need a top performer.

“I want to discourage you from choosing anything
or making any decision simply because it is safe.
Things of value seldom are.“

Toni Morrison (1931 – )
American editor, writer & teacher
first African-American to win the
Nobel Prize for Literature

So you like to play it safe, do you? Well…stop it! Few people in this world, and in your industry, ever become famous by being wimpy. So take a calculated risk in your business that stirs up the pot a bit. Might you fail…absolutely!! But WHO CARES?! Isn’t there freedom in those two words?

You see, there really are only two types of people…spectators and players. So if you are sick of sitting in the stands and instead want to get in the game, do something this week that tells those around you that it’s game time. And then swing for the fences!

Think of the greatest leaders in history and how they handled “worrisome” things. Our friend Sir Winston said the above words just before a madman from Germany began dropping bombs all over his country. But Churchill was famous for approaching a “challenge” with confidence and calmness and it was those two qualities that fueled his thinking and planning. By planning for all that “could” happen well in advance, he was better prepared to lead once it did.

What might happen in your sales territory, your business, your marketplace and your industry in 2009? Have you thought about it and effectively planned for the “maybes?” What will you say if your largest customer calls next week and tells you they are cutting their budget in half because of a down economy? Have you planned your response to help them understand that they NEED you to help them through the tough times? If not, it’s time to get to work.

Now let me warn you in advance. The following exercise just might make you worry a bit. But by thinking and planning now, you should have nothing to worry about. So take time this week to do the following:

-Think of five things in your business that, if they happened, would scare the heck out of you and your bottom line.

-Write those five things down on a sheet of paper or in your computer.

-Take 30 minutes or more to develop your action plan should those things occur.

-Then be proactive NOW by doing what is necessary to prevent those things from happening.

By turning WORRYING into PLANNING, and then PLANNING into ACTION, you will find that this worrisome economy just may produce your finest year ever. And THAT should worry your competition.

This week, Brian interviewed the key Planner of Operation Iraqi Freedom on his weekly radio show. Col. Kevin Benson’s battle plan was used by American Forces in the initial phases of the war. To get a perspective on planning and leadership rarely heard, go to www.preciseselling.com/Radioaccess.htm to listen to the interview.  To find out more about Brian’s sales and leadership programs, visit him at www.preciseselling.com or email Brian at bsullivan@preciseselling.com.

Team building helps to also decrease stress, turnover and operating costs.

A happier team means an effective team. An effective team is more creative and more productive.

Learn more about how Precise Selling can help your team be more effective with our high impact team building programs .

“Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself.
Before you can move their tears, your own must flow.
To convince them, you must yourself believe.”
-Winston Churchill

One of the greatest gifts God has given us is emotion. By showing your emotion, it allows others to get a glimpse of what the heck is going on inside of that skin of yours. And when you give others the ability to see what is in your head and heart, your ability to positively influence them is greatly increased. Think of some of the greatest leaders in history and how they used emotion to convey their message. Now think of that big meeting you have this week where you are trying to influence others, and jazz that presentation up with some raw emotion. Let others see that you firmly believe what you are “selling.” It will be that expressed emotion that will mean the difference between attaining your meeting objective and falling just a bit short.