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Walk Your Way To Success
by Joe Bonura
In this article:
These Feet Were Made For Walking
Capture Your Ideas Before They Fly
Oh No, Not Again
First Take Baby Steps
The Write Thing To Do
Sell Yourself First
Love What You Do
The Scale Of Life
Find Your Second Wind
The Ties That Bind
The Ultimate Rejection
Trash Your Excuses
These Feet Were Made For Walking
In my one-hour walk this morning; I noticed that the rhythm of
the walk increased my sense of smell. I could really smell the flowers,
the new-mown grass, and breakfast cooking in a neighbor's kitchen.
I could also feel the blood circulating in my head -- thinking was
clear, and my mind was alert and attuned to new ideas.
Capture Your Ideas Before They Fly
I especially like to take a walk after a refreshing rain. I carry
a small recorder to capture ideas as they come to me. It was Earl
Nightingale who said that an idea is like a bird that lands on your
window sill. First you see it, and then it takes off and flies away
forever.
Oh No, Not Again
I never feel like getting up and taking my daily walk. It would
be much easier to turn over and catch a few more winks. The best
method for getting out of bed is to lie to myself that I am not
really going for a walk; I am just getting up to make a cup of coffee.
While the coffee is brewing, I keep myself busy by doing some stretch
exercises. The coffee perks me up, and I tell myself that I am going
to get the newspaper.
First Take Baby Steps
By the time I walk to the end of the driveway, I realize that I
will walk for a block, and then my mood exerts me to an hour of
brisk walking without stopping. Sometimes I am ready to give up
in thirty minutes, but then I would have to find a phone to call
my wife to come get me. That is usually when my second wind kicks
in. By the time I get home, I am happy to keep going.

The Write Thing To Do
I feel the same way about writing these articles every month: It
is hard to begin when staring at a blank computer screen. Some people
call it writer's block; I call it procrastination. Once I begin
writing the first few words, the rest seems to follow. The secret
is to continue writing. I can always go back and edit, but if I
stop, I may not continue writing. It would be like sitting on the
curb in the middle of a walk.
Sell Yourself First
So, how does this apply to sales? The secret is selling yourself
to begin. Beginning means that you are "half-done." You
can stare at your call list and wait for the phone to ring, or you
can pick up the phone and make someone else's phone ring. The choice
is up to you.
Love What You Do
I love helping others achieve successful outcomes in their lives
so I visualize the result of having made a successful call. If I
make a sale, it is an opportunity to help someone succeed in business
and in life. If I do not make the calls, the opportunity to help
someone succeed does not happen. It is as simple as that.
The Scale Of Life
Because of my daily walking routine, the numbers on my bathroom
scale are getting smaller. I can see myself enjoying an extra treat
for the day because I have burned many calories during my walk.
Find Your Second Wind
I also realize that once I begin my sales calls, I get a second
wind. I get in the phone mode, and I then have a problem stopping.
It reminds me of what I have written in so many articles: Mood Follows
Action - Action Does Not Follow Mood. Be honest with yourselves;
you will never be in the mood to be rejected on the telephone or
in a face-to-face cold call, but once you have the momentum, the
cold calls become warm.
The Ties That Bind
I challenge you to discover what is holding you back from making
those sales calls. Is your excuse real or imagined? In life, there
is always an excuse, and then the real reason. You must know the
real reason before you can overcome your reluctance.
The Ultimate Rejection
If it is fear of rejection, remember that if you do not make sales
calls, you will ultimately be rejected. It is called losing your
job. The calls you make today will insure the job that you will
have tomorrow.
Trash Your Excuses
Write all of your excuses on a sheet of paper, tear the paper into
tiny pieces, and toss them in the trash can. Watch the little pieces
fall into the can. You can choose to be proactive, and your ability
to choose is your greatest power. Exercise your muscle to chose,
get out of bed, and let your fingers start walking on the face of
your telephone. Do it right now!
© 2008-2009 Joe Bonura & Associates, Inc.
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