Many years ago, I made a New Year’s Resolution to try to be more adventurous with food because I was one of those people who always ordered the same thing at a restaurant and I had a stable of exactly three recipes that I cooked. Now I eat Indian, sushi, falafel and pretty much anything I can get my hands on.
Today, I was reflecting on other ways that I could expand my horizons and shake things up in my world. And now, I’ll share them with you.
Take a different way home. — We are, many of us (even most) creatures of habit. And so our drive, walk or train ride home can turn into a mind-numbing experience in which we zone out. But, if we take a different path—even a longer path, perhaps—we never know WHAT we might discover. A new coffee house, a billboard advertising something we’ve just got to try, or even a company we never knew existed that is just WAITING for your sales call.
I actually took the girls and my dogs for a walk the other day and went the opposite way that we normally go, and discovered a pretty awesome hill that has “sled on me” written all over it. I never saw it before because I always just walked right by it. This time, I approached from the base of the hill and got a totally different perspective. Do me a favor. Give this a try and please share a Comment with us all about the results.
Try doing something you have always said you would NEVER do. — For me, this was “go anywhere alone.” Then one day, a coworker, responding to my complaints that I really wanted to go see a movie but had no one to go with, said, “Why not go alone?” and from then on, I actually often prefer to go it alone. I can sit where I want, get the bathtub sized popcorn without guilt or judgment, and I don’t have to worry that my partner is or is not enjoying the movie.
What tops your “I would never” list? Now go on and defy it.
Go on a news diet. — I actually had to do this for a week for a creative class I was taking, but I’m going to just suggest one day. Read nothing. No news headlines, no email, NOTHING. This will be tough to do at work, but try it. Just read what you absolutely must to get through the day, but nothing extraneous. You might just feel your spirit lift slightly when you are not constantly bombarded with shootings, bank failures and other daily disasters. Hold out until I get my “Good News” publication under way!
Write a letter to someone you are estranged from. — This is actually #7 of Dr. Weil’s 8-week plan for optimal healing power. So if there is anyone in your life that you have fallen out with, even a customer, reach out. Better yet, express your apology, even if you were not in the wrong, and see what happens. You might be carrying around something really heavy, and lightening your load just might make room for something really great.
Take a nice long walk, all alone, with no agenda, no destination, and no “hard stop” time. — I think this is pretty self explanatory. Many philosophers and great thinkers made it a habit to walk a lot. It is peaceful, restorative and also great exercise. Get out there and clomp around a bit and see what comes into your mind or soul. And again, if you feel moved to do so, share how any of these ideas affected you and your daily life.
Join Kelly and fellow PI blogger Bill Farquharson for a sales webinar called, "Building a Prospecting Plan" on Sept. 15 at noon ET. Click here for details.
Blogger, author, consultant, coach and all around evangelist for the graphic arts industry, Kelly sold digital printing for 15 years so she understands the challenges, frustrations and pitfalls of building a successful sales practice. Her mission is to help printers of all sizes sell more stuff. Kelly's areas of focus include sales and marketing coaching, enabling clients to find engagement strategies that work for them and mentoring the next generation of sales superstars.
Kelly graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and, among other notable accomplishments, co-founded the Windy City Rollers, a professional women's roller derby league. She is also the mother of two sets of twins under the age of ten, so she fears nothing.