Sometimes you just get into a rut.  It doesn't matter who is in front of you.  You can't sell, you are stuck.  I find that I fall into this rut every month.  Some times it last a couple of days, some times it last a few weeks.  You know what I am talking about, "The Struggle!"  You lose confidence in your ability and after a long enough rut you lose some motivation.  I am coming out of one of the BIGGEST ruts of my career.  It lasted for 3 weeks.  How do you get out of one?  How do you avoid them all together?

     I was lucky on this one.  I had a friend/vendor come by the other day and helped me out.  Help isn't always from the places you look.  I was not looking for him to help me but he did.  I discussed my problem with him and he simply asked me to show him.  We role played!  Everyone hates to role-play.  Guess what, it worked.  He made a few small suggestions and I made a HUGE attitude adjustment.  It started with a simple change in body language and customer control.  A simple gesture to the customer sees as kindness that completely takes control of the situation.  I started properly seating the customer prior to sitting down myself.  It created a more formal setting.  It also helped to ease my tension.  I started focussing on something other then what I was NOT going to sell them.

   So how do avoid a slump all together?  I ask for you opions and suggestions to help me through the next month.