02.23.04
 By
Kelley Robertson
I recently spoke to a group of sales professionals at the end of their
training conference. The attendees had participated in many learning
sessions over a two day period – most of which were product related.
I was scheduled to speak after dinner and I was somewhat concerned
how attentive they would be by this time.
Fortunately, in the days preceding, the company had structured the
entire program to create energy, excitement and to foster a sense
of team enthusiasm. They had a theme and encouraged their vendors
to incorporate the theme into each of their individual presentations.
They awarded prizes for the team with the most energy and highest
level of participation, and by the time dinner was served, the group
was pumped. They were excited. And they were highly motivated and
charged up. When I left that evening, I knew that these individuals
would bring a renewed energy and drive to their work place. I was
also confident that the company would see a definite increase in their
sales in the weeks to follow. |
It
reminded me how motivational a conference, training workshop or corporate
gathering can be. It reinforced the importance of participating in
sessions like these on a regular basis, if for no other reason, but
to ignite our own personal motivation.
 Running
a business is tiring, stressful and challenging. Small business owners
are required to wear many hats, often at the same time, while executives
of large organizations often have more problems and politics to manage
on a daily basis. It is not uncommon for the business to drain our
energy and motivation, regardless of how much we enjoy the business.
If you do not take time to recharge your batteries and refresh your
perspective it is easy to find yourself frustrated with your business.
That is why it is imperative to have a personal motivation plan in
place. This means taking advantage of opportunities that will help
you maintain your motivation. Here are few suggestions to help get
you started.
Attend a personal development workshop. Identify an area in your business
or personal live that you would like to improve. At the beginning
of each year, I determine what types of programs I want to attend
and begin looking for them. I find that these sessions give me a short
break from the daily grind of my business and help me see things from
a different perspective. Training programs, night courses, or weekend
seminars that focus on a specific topic can give you a much needed
boost in your energy.
Join a Master Mind group. Meeting with other like-minded people can
help you see your business from a different perspective. An effective
group will have between six and eight members from a variety of industries
and will usually meet several times a year. If you have the right
chemistry between members, these meetings will not only help you improve
your business, they will also motivate you to try new approaches and
market your business differently.
Exercise. I am an avid runner and have completed two marathons and
several h alf marathons. I occasionally find myself in a position
when I cannot run for a period of time due to illness, injury, or
the demands of work. Without fail, I notice a decrease in my personal
motivation during these times. Regular exercise helps your body work
more effectively and efficiently. Although I usually catch myself
thinking about work related issues during my runs, I often notice
that I develop more creative solutions when I am exercising.
Read or listen to motivational material. Instead of reading the daily
newspaper with breakfast or coffee in the morning, try reading inspirational
material instead. A well-written book that offers sound advice is
more motivating than reading about the latest market declines. Listening
to motivational tapes or CD’s in your car for one hour everyday can
actually give you the equivalent of a university degree in a few years
time.
Take time off. It is not a badge of honor to state, “I’m too busy
to take time off.” In today’s fast-paced business world, it is critical
to take time off for vacation and rest and relaxation. Even a long
weekend away from your business can be restful. A true vacation also
means completely avoiding email and voicemail. Yes, you will have
hundreds of messages to deal with when you return, but you will have
a renewed focus and energy to do this.
Lastly, associate with positive people. I have made it a point in
the latter part of my career to distance myself from negative individuals.
They drain your energy, will not support your goals and desires, and
do little to motivate you. On the other hand, positive and optimistic
people will uplift your spirits and help you through challenging times.
© 2004 Kelley Robertson All rights reserved.
About the Author:
Kelley Robertson is a Senior Partner of The Robertson Training Group
and helps businesses maintain their competitive advantage by teaching
them how to increase their sales, develop their negotiating skills,
and motivate their employees. He is also the author of the best-selling
book, "Stop, Ask & Listen. How to welcome your customers and increase
your sales." His web site is http://www.KelleyRobertson.com
and he can be reached at 905-633-7750, 1-866-694-3583 or at RTG@cogeco.com
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