The Slump
Learn the secret to getting out of sales slumps.
Listen
The Slump
When Things Go Wrong
Sales slumps. You know I’ve been there, done that, and have the t-shirt to prove it. Everybody, no matter how good you are, sooner or later has a slump.
Sales Managers spend massive amounts of energy trying to help sales people out of slumps. Companies spend millions of dollars hiring people to fill the places of those who didn’t make it out of slumps. And Sales Professionals spend unproductive time in misery, and hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars on sales gurus, to help them emerge from slumps.
No, Sales Managers, Corporations, and Sales Professionals all share one thing in common: they are all looking for the magic pill. But unfortunately, in sales, there are no magic pills!
So there you are, head in hands, staring at the sales rankings, wondering, “why me?” You were hitting your numbers and now you’re not. So, what changed?
The Anatomy of a Slump
The anatomy of slump looks something like this.
-
First you experience a small failure, and negative thoughts creep in, and there is an erosion of your belief system.
-
And your crumbling belief system hurts your confidence.
-
And lack of confidence takes a toll on activity.
-
Lack of activity empties the sales funnel.
-
And an empty sales funnel equates to no sales.
-
And no sales generate more negative thoughts.
-
And then you do what almost everyone else does. You get desperate and you start looking for quick fixes.
-
And the quick fixes don’t work, and your belief system takes another hit, because there are no magic pills.
You see, the only way to get out of a slump is to go back to the basics. The basics took you to the top in the first place. And the basics, executed daily, will get you back on top.
A Few Tips
Now here are three Quick and Dirty Tips for Ending Slumps:
-
Get back to the basics. A wise coach once said that the game of football is about blocking and tackling. Likewise, sales is about prospecting, presenting, and closing. Everything else is superfluous. Prospect for new business every day through cold calls, referrals and networking, direct mail, or whatever it takes. Set daily goals. Fill your funnel up with qualified prospects. Uncover needs, present solutions, close business.
-
Invest in yourself. When you are in a slump it is more important than ever to focus attention on your mind, body, and spirit. Schedule 15 minutes every day for professional reading. Take 30 minutes to exercise. And listen to motivational programs in your car. Lift your spirit with prayer, contemplation, and positive self-talk.
-
Relax. You are a winner. You’ve won before and you will win again. Breathe easy, walk confidently, and believe and trust in yourself. Reflect on the lessons that you’ve learned, but do not wallow in regret. Focus on what you can do rather than what have not done. And soon, success will follow.
Thank you for joining me on The Sales Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips for getting the deal done.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock