Top Salespeople Walk Away From Negative Talk During a Recession or Down Economy – Part 2

Are we headed for a recession in 2008 or not?

Larry Summers, the former United States Treasury secretary said the economy is… “currently in recession.” Tammy Erickson, Harvard Business has stated, “Now we may be headed into a recession. If so, it will be the second in more than fifteen years.” How bad does that make you feel?

At the end of March 2008, the United States recession talk shifted. A well-known banking analyst Richard Bove headed his report, "The Financial Crisis Is Over." Doesn’t that sound better and raise your spirits at the same time?

Feel good, feel bad, feel good, and feel bad! We cannot be like yo-yos with people’s assessment of one measure – the banking sector – to determine how we behave as business people. We personally want and our businesses want positive revenues and sales results.

First, step away from the talk. Any negative talk during a down economy is going to pull you right into the vortex of a downward spiral. Take actions that get you away from the gloom and doom.

I recently attended a woman’s networking event. One of my clients, a realtor, was talking about how great her sales are now. She even cited a competitor who just got two bids on a listing.

Are you listening national media? There are many areas in the country, likely many more than the media would ever report on, that are fabulously successful right now!

Yet, what are you hearing in the national media? Gloom and doom – about housing sales busts, about how less spending is spreading throughout all sectors - it’s all about the worst. And it is talk. Dismal, dismaying chatter!

Yes, there are many still talking about how the financial sector problems are going to spread to other places. Well, problems may be moving in mine or your direction. How do you handle this? Here’s my basic two step process to move away from that negative talk, especially when it’s at a meeting I am attending or with people I know.

Step one: I do hear and acknowledge the negativity as being truthful – simply because that person is speaking about it and it is ‘real’ to them. However, I do not have to apply their thoughts (or beliefs) to my own life and business.

Step two: I immediately tell myself what is actually true for me. I’m attracting more prospects than ever, and that there are certain sectors that are still spending money. I’m having conversations with people who want to spend money on my services. That is a fact!

Here’s a reminder: If your thermostat doesn’t work in your home or office, would you just go along with being uncomfortable with its ups and downs? Wouldn’t you do something to either repair it or replace it?

Adjust your thermostat regarding any gloom and doom talk. You do not have to be just a thermometer sitting in a deep freezer! n