It's Fearless Friday!

It's the last day of April 2010, and I hereby proclaim today a Fearless Friday.

What is Fearless Friday? Well, you'll have to decide for yourself, because that's part of being fearless today. But here's what Fearless Friday could mean:

> Today, you go after finding prospects with renewed energy and with reckless abandon, putting your fears aside. Today, you are not tentative, you are fearless.

> Instead of offering one add-on sale to your customers, you offer a second one. Or, since it's Fearless Friday, you offer a third one.

> You commit to putting your fears, whatever they are, aside for one day in the name of selling more.

> You stand taller today than you usually do. You put your shoulders back a bit. You make yourself feel fearless today.

> You march into your manager's office and say this: "I don't always act like it, but I love my job. And I want to move up in this company. How can we make that happen?"

> You pick up the phone and call the prospect you should have called a week ago or a month ago or a year ago, but "never got around to it." There's an important call you have to make but haven't done it yet. Make it today.

> You quit being tentative in your selling today. Today, you forge a new path of confidence and you assume the sale for once and for all. You don't use tentative language today. You don't dance around difficult issues. Today, on Fearless Friday, you meet them head on. Today, you are the victor over the doubts that have plagued you.

> You finally follow the recommendations of your manager. You've resisted. You've complained. You've made excuses and rationalized why you can't or won't do this or that. Today, you do it. Man up, boys and girls.

> Today, you finally eat a healthy lunch. You've been saying you need to for months. But today, you don't eat at Taco Bell or McDonald's, today you have a salad or a bagel with turkey and some veggies (no mayo, no cream cheese, no sauces). Today you are fearless against your cravings for unhealthy food.

> You look your prospects in the eye today. You notice the color of her eyes. You notice the shape of them. You peer into her eyes with a new sense of purpose and a zest for understanding the person living with those eyes. Eyes are the windows to the soul, as they say, and today, you see souls that have existed all along, but you never took time to look deeply at them.

> Today you don't fidget when a shopper gives you an objection. Today, you stand with both feet planted on the ground. You don't shift your weight left and right. You don't umm and ahh. You speak with confidence and maturity. You are fearless today.

> Today you realize that your fast talking is a defense mechanism you've used to avoid rejection or avoid to discuss sensitive issues. But on Fearless Friday, you slow down. You speak each sentence as if it mattered. No more blah-blah-blah. Today, you matter. And the person you're talking to matters.

> You spend more time with your prospects. You've been cutting them short because you're in a hurry. You've got to do this or got to do that. Today, the prospects matter. You've been cheating them. No more. Not today.

> You take the sales class or read the sales book you've been thinking about. You invest in yourself today. You hire that sales trainer to come into your company and, for once and for all, get your sales peeps selling like you know they can.

> You make that difficult decision today. You know, that one that's been floating around in your mind for all these days or weeks or months. The one that's been screwing up your psyche and holding you back. Maybe it's fear that's holding you back, maybe it's lack of action. Today, the fear is gone. Action is inevitable today.

> You thank that individual that you've thanked so often in your mind while in the shower, while in the car or on the bus on the way to work. You've thought about it for months. Today, you pick up the phone.

> Today you commit to selling excellence for the month of May. You've been cutting corners. You know it and I know it. May is the fifth month of the year two thousand and ten. Make May count. You don't know if there will be a June or a July. All we have is right now. Make now count.

> You will lead today. Not in title, but in actuality. You will tell that negative attitude person in the breakroom to stop it. You've bring positivity to your life and to others today. You will stand up and take a stand today.

> You will fearlessly feel joy today. You've been stressed, distracted, lazy...but today, you feel joy, and others will see it on your face today. And it only happened because you decided to make it so. Your mind and spirit is a beautiful thing today.

> You will prevent a cancellation of an order today. Yes, it's potentially uncomfortable for the customer, and for you, but today, you are going to put your persuasion skills on the line and you will stop a cancellation. No pussy-footing around.

> Today you break beyond the self-imposed barriers of self-doubt. Today, you have self-imposed self-belief.

> Your smile is bigger today. Let it envelope your customers with its sincerity and it's unbridled optimism.

> Today, you shake hands with people like you mean it. You are happy to have an opportunity to interact with customer, with a prospect, with a tire kicker. You hold your handshake just a split second longer than you normally would. And you look the recipient of your handshake directly in the eye while you do it. Smile. Mean it.

> You go visit that person in person who could help you or your business get to the next level. You know who it is. Introduce yourself. Tell him/her what you have in mind. Put yourself out there. Be fearless.

> Today, you embrace failure. And in doing so, you are embracing success. The failures of the past lead to success today.

> Today you don't just present your product or service. Today, you are an orator. You speak with clarity and power. Your impact stuns your prospects today. Your voice is an instrument of success today.

> You get rid of the clutter today. You know, that clutter that's been the wrench in the finally tuned machine that is you? It might be the clutter on your desk, in your drawers, in your locker, in your bag, in your head. Today, the clutter is dealt with - and you have renewed focus because of it.

> You ask for the sale today.

> Today, you work harder. You work smarter. You work more creatively. You don't walk, you leap. Your mind is on steroids. Your actions are purposeful. You are an improved you today.

What's been holding you back? What do you need to be fearless about today on Fearless Friday?

If you like this post (or don't) please leave a comment.Skip Anderson is the Founder and President of Selling to Consumers Sales Training. He works with companies that sell to consumers in all B2C sectors to increase sales by realizing the buying potential of every prospect.

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Comments

[Carrie Farmer]

Although it is Saturday, thanks for the great reminders and tips. Now on to creating a Fearless month of May. :)

[RevDella]

I have trained sales people in corporate environments. While I teach everyone the same skills, there is often a difference in the results. Some people might use excuses to explain the differences, such as easier vs. tougher consumers, but I don't think that is the real reason for the difference in sales success.

I recently facilitated a presentation skills training program for sales people in a consumer supplement organization. During the training, it quickly became obvious that the people who were very successful in sales did some mental work before they got to the job. They 'pumped' themselves up mentally by using positive affirmations such as, "I am going to make many sales today." "My sales numbers today will exceed anything I have done before." "I work with great customers who trust me and enjoy buying from me."

Sales can be a very tough profession. Success in sales is not just technique -- many times it is mental.