“One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat” Woodrow Wilson

So what’s with those people who always seemed stressed? You know who I’m talking about…that person in the office who runs around like he has to be somewhere but is already 15 minutes late. That person who always looks like something deep is on his mind, and it drives him absolutely nuts that you aren’t losing your mind too? That person who is so regimented that anything out of the ordinary leaves him feeling like Rain Man with a bee flying around his head. This pressure cooker’s cramped up body language is often followed with a verbal, “Don’t you know how important this is?!” If this sounds like somebody you know (and haven’t discarded yet), it may be time for an intervention. If it sounds like you, it may be time to reassess priorities. Because here’s the scoop…most of what drives us nuts just isn’t that important.

So this week, pay close attention to the times when you feel your blood pressure rising. Then STOP! Take a breath and take back control of what your body is telling you and everybody around you. Because the more calm you are, especially when everybody around you is folding, the more people will turn to you as the professional who has the answers they need.

As president of PRECISE Selling, Brian Sullivan helps improve sales, customer service, negotiations, leadership, and presentation skills through seminars and internet training programs. To learn more,go to www.preciseselling.com.