Smooth Under Fire

Staying calm under fire is a valuable skill in any situation where you are facing high levels of stress or pressure. Whether it’s a high-stakes meeting at work, a confrontation with a difficult person or a crisis, staying calm can help you think clearly and make better decisions. Here are a few tips to help you stay calm under fire:

  • Take deep breaths: When you’re under pressure, it’s common to take shallow breaths or even hold your breath. As a result, you will feel anxious or panicked. Instead, try taking deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth. Help slow down your heart rate and relax your body.
  • Please focus on the present moment: When you’re under fire, it’s easy to get caught up in negative thoughts about the past or the future. Making you feel overwhelmed or anxious. So instead, focus on the present moment and what you can do to address the situation.
  • Take a break: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be helpful to take a short break to clear your mind. Step away from the situation and take a few minutes to do something calming, like going for a walk or listening to music.
  • Practice relaxation techniques: You can use many relaxation techniques to help you stay calm under fire. These include mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, or deep breathing exercises. Practice these techniques regularly to call upon them when you need them most.
  • Seek support: It’s okay to ask for help or support when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Talk to a friend or family member about what you’re going through, or consider seeking support from a mental health professional.
  • Create a mental plan: A plan can help you feel more in control of the situation and less overwhelmed. Take a few minutes to consider what steps you can take to address the problem. For example, involve brainstorming potential solutions, making a list of tasks that need to be completed, or setting goals for yourself.
  • Use positive self-talk: When you’re under fire, it’s easy to get caught up in negative thoughts and self-doubt. Instead, focus on the positive and remind yourself of your strengths and abilities. Use positive self-talk to boost your confidence and help you stay calm.
  • Practice gratitude: Focusing on what you are grateful for can help you stay calm and maintain perspective. Take a moment to think about the things in your life that bring you joy and gratitude, and remind yourself of these things when you’re feeling stressed.
  • Stay hydrated: Dehydration can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. Make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day to stay hydrated and help you stay calm.
  • Seek out sources of calm: Surrounding yourself with calming influences can help you stay calm under fire. Including listening to soothing music, spending time in nature, or engaging in activities that you find relaxing, such as yoga.

Following these tips teaches you to stay calm under fire and better handle stressful situations. Remember to take care of yourself and prioritize your well-being in times of stress.

photo of woman leaning on wooden table while looking upset
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Can You Sell, Sales?

This article is for folks that don’t think they can sell. In fact, you detest the ground a salesman walks on. You can’t stand anything about the selling process.

Well here I come in my plaid pants, white shoes and belt to teach you something about sales. Okay if you’re still reading, I’m joking. However, I am not kidding about helping you learn some powers of persuasion that you can use to sell anyone on an idea, a product, or just yourself. All in a good, healthy, and fun way. Nothing crazy here!sales,selling,business

We all at some point in time need to be able to get others to like what we have. The what we have does not matter remember that. It’s getting our point across in a fun and engaging way. So whatever it is you want to swing your way. Buckle your belt and let’s get rolling.

Selling is incredibly simple. You need to convince the person or persons you’re trying to pitch that what you have will change the lives of those who use it. If someone believes that they can’t live without what you have, you don’t have to sell. You just have to push the pen in front of them, sign here.

This process takes a passion for what you’re offering. Understanding the product, service better than what the average Joe does. If you know how to show someone how what you have is life-changing, it’s not sales. Getting someone to understand that a tire will change their life, that takes real skill. Selling a tire is just selling a tire. If you can demonstrate how this set of tires will improve your driving experience, create value around that. You have to understand every single aspect of a tire, from the raw materials, manufacturing process, testing, life, safety, and quality.

Then you need to formulate a story that does not put customers to sleep. Storytelling (NO not lying) authentic storytelling. You need to be the person that National News organizations would call for a professional opinion. If you can tell the story that would rival a James Patterson Novel, then you will be well on your way to benefiting your customers in a whole new way.

Compelling customers, NOT SELLING CUSTOMERS. The big difference with a better, long-lasting result. We have to get passed, turn them, and burn them attitude towards sales. Why do you think advertisers use ways to make you feel special if you use this product or that? The persuasion is better than “hey, this is crazy Bob’s widget sales right here in downtown USA we’re dealing, slashing prices, we won’t be undersold.” ARRRGGGG gross no way it’s junk!

Telling a story that touches my soul. Figure out how what you do changes lives. I hear everyone saying, “okay Mr. Big Time, how do I convince someone that my tomatoes are going to change my life, their tomato’s for goodness sake.” My answer is to stop whining and let’s figure it out! Together!

Yes, this will take some real thought and research. You need to dive in and learn everything from why the tomato seed you use is far better than your competition, that the dirt where your tomatoes are grown makes a difference. That the packaging, the shipping of your vegetables is done in ways that genuinely preserve the end product. Do you see my point yet?

Think about it for a good while. Understand your process from the cradle to the grave. Learn it like you, your life depended on it. That if you miss one small detail, it could be fatal. The story has to move people to action. It has to run me so that I want to buy it. I will happily pay more for something I see the life-changing value. If you knew in your heart that what your purchasing was going to increase the benefit of your life in some significant way, would you put a price tag on that? NO, you would look for a way to BUY it. I would not need to sell you anything because you want to have it far exceeds any other emotion.

Telling a story about what products or services do to change the lives of those using it. If you can master a story worthy of inspiring the soul. All the sales skills in the world won’t matter. The customer will want to buy, you won’t have to sell a thing.

Rehearse the story until it flows from your lips like a river flows through a meadow. It has to come from your heart. Otherwise, it sounds like a canned presentation, and you lose. Obviously, if you have a product or service you perform the passion is there. So the story will come if you allow it to. Meditate on it if you have to. Take notes, organize your thoughts. Read your story aloud, when you do so, then you will hear how it sounds. Great way to edit!

When you can master the art of storytelling, you won’t need a bunch of fancy sales mumbo-jumbo. You have to ask for the sale, but you won’t have to what I call sales to beg someone to buy from you. They will already see the value from your story, the rest is just signing here folks.

Please send me your questions and comments: