My affirmation for this week is one that the true believers get….and the cynics wonder why the true believers just seem to be a bit more ‘lucky’ than them…..yep….it’s about having a smile on your dial.

I’ve got a brother, whom I love dearly, but we’re really so different in so many ways…..he doesn’t trust anyone who smiles a lot….he reckons they’re all on drugs…life can’t be that good!

Is it all getting too serious?

Well, on the other hand, as I’m walking around the corporate offices of my clients, as I watch people walking to and from work, and as I’m frequently on and off planes I’ve started to notice just how serious people seem to be.

Maybe it’s just me, but one of the comments I quite often get from my clients and people who attend my programs is they can see on my face and hear in my voice just how passionate I am about what I do.

And I guess that’s why I reckon I tend to smile more than most people…..I truly am passionate about what I do.

What about you?

What do your clients see?

In sales it is so important that our potential and existing clients can see that we’re genuinely happy….that we’re enjoying our role as a salesperson….that we’re proud of what we do…and that we are convinced of the value we create when we sell what we sell.

I remember in my first few corporate presentations when I was working with the Morgan & Banks group a fantastic lesson from my then sales manager MariLee Callister.  MariLee had an amazing ability to see more potential in others than they often saw in themselves, which is a wonderful trait of any leader.

After watching me nervously start a few corporate presentations, on my next opportunity to once again take to the podium and present to a group of potential corporate buyers, MariLee handed me a hand written note that simple said “Smile….breath….start slowly….and enjoy!”

And that’s become my mantra just before every presentation I make now.

Celebrate Your Successes

Sometimes its easy, especially in a sales role to focus only on the negatives.  You know what I mean…..we get the potential client who just wont return the call.  Or we have a proposal turned down when we thought we had it in the bag.

But that’s the reality of sales.  What about focusing on what’s going right….surely there’s plenty going on that can bring a smile to your face.

Maybe you’re saying….sure….it’s O.K. for you Penglase….you do have a lot to smile about….and you’d be right….I do.

But I often wonder whether it’s because I’ve always smiled a lot….always tried to enjoy the moments for what they are….that creates even more things to smile about.

And please don’t get me wrong…I certainly don’t smile all the time….stuff happens and you’ve got to deal with it.

So this week….let’s deal with ‘the stuff’…..and then move on and remember there really is a lot to smile about.

Remember to let you clients know just how genuinely you’re enjoying working with them, and for your potential clients to know just how genuinely you’re enjoying the opportunity to potentially work with them.

Take time to make a list of what you have in your life right now to smile about….your relationships (social and business); your past sales; your future sales; your current opportunities and the future opportunities you’ll create.

And if you’re still thinking this is soft and have a frown on your brow…..just make sure it’s not there when you’re next trying to make a sale.