The Healthy Salesperson Succeeds

As I sit here pondering today’s blog subject at hand, it occurs to me that it’s going to be difficult to make my point without sounding preachy or judgmental.

That would be so unlike me.

I heard an interesting line in late December: “Sitting is the new smoking.” Most of us in sales due our fair share of sitting. At the desk. Behind the wheel. With clients.

And that’s just at work!

When we get home, it’s a meal, a conversation, and then reading or watching television. All while sitting.

Such dormancy causes Newton’s “body at rest tends to stay at rest” law to kick in and five extra pounds becomes 10 becomes 20.

And then there is the food intake. Someone brings doughnuts or a bagel and leaves them in the kitchen. A sugared drink and a “ Chinese food? Why not?” lunch later becomes the norm.

There is no question that it is extremely difficult to eat healthy and to live a healthy lifestyle. We know we should go to the gym. We know we should go for a walk. But there’s always something that gets in the way.

I'll stop there. I think you get the point. You don’t need me to tell you what you already know: The Healthy Salesman is the more attractive option. You feel better about yourself and that will radiate through your sales approach. You might even live longer!

Personally, I recommend two things: morning walks and Pilates. I discovered the latter a few years ago and have found that “strength stretching,” as I refer to it, keeps me from injuring myself. To encourage the morning walks (I work from home), I have an audible.com subscription and listen to my books.

In the office, I wear a very comfortable set of Bose earbuds and tend to walk around while on conference calls or coaching the client. I don't want the most developed muscle in my body to be my butt.

There is no downside to being The Healthy Salesman.*

Start slow. Start small. Get moving. Start today.

* With one exception. Yesterday, I decided to grab a cup full of trail mix to munch on rather than something unhealthy like chips. I ended up cracking a tooth. You just can’t win some days.

Bill Farquharson is a vice president at Epicomm. His training programs can drive the sales of print reps and selling owners. Check out his Sales Resources page and contact him at 781-934-7036 or bfarquharson@epicomm.org