Can You Compartmentalize Your Life And Career

An ongoing challenge for many salespeople is the ability to ‘compartmentalize’ areas of their life. Let me explain.

As a writer, it is important for me to be able to set aside all life challenges, issues and problems once I sit at my computer to create. This is often easier said than done. Let’s say your spouse just announced after 25 years of marriage he or she is leaving. Your car has just been repossessed and your teenager is in jail on drug charges. Not a pretty picture. Fortunately, none of us have this much hit us simultaneously. Anyway, the ability to keep these issues separate while you are trying to sell is vital.

Salespeople who cannot separate their personal life challenges from their career responsibilities generally resonate their problems in some non-verbal or emotional way. We all have problems. We all will always have problems. If you don’t, get some quickly – problems build character. (I can just hear someone reading this screaming, ‘I have had enough character building!’ Maybe yes, and maybe no, but consider this…if you still have problems anywhere in your life, you may not have built as much character as you need to fulfill your mission or destiny on this planet.)

Back to the topic (sorry for the digression). When you cannot separate these personal issues from your career roles, you will tend to:


1. Reduce your positive state of mind, therefore impacting your success.
2. Increase stress that will impact your health and ability to be creative.
3. Send mixed communication messages to your prospect or customer.
4. Lose the competitive edge.
5. Negatively impact the ability to listen effectively and communicate with integrity.


Here are a few steps to consider to separate the areas of your life. Do this so that one area will not have more control over another area than you choose to give it.


1. Focus on something positive rather than negative in the area of your life that concerns you.
2. Spend time before each call or appointment in relaxation and/or a short meditation period.
3. Focus on your long-term life goals and your progress when life throws you a curve.
4. Develop little routines or positive anchors when you are troubled.
5. Carry some personal physical reminder with you of what is positive in your life or that area that is causing you grief or worry.
6. Call someone who will give you emotional support, feedback or just warm fuzzies to help you re-focus on what is positive.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Tim Connor, CSP is an internationally renowned sales, management and leadership speaker, trainer and best selling author. Since 1981 he has given over 3500 presentations in 21 countries on a variety of sales, management, leadership and relationship topics. He is the best selling author of over 60 books including; Soft Sell, That’s Life, Peace Of Mind, 91 Challenges Managers Face Today and Your First Year In Sales. He can be reached at tim@timconnor.com, 704-895-1230 or visit his website at www.timconnor.com.

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