I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, working in sales isn’t easy. I’ve been ignored, told no and been shut down more in the last six months – since I started at StaffStat – than I ever was for the 23 years of my life before starting in this role. Being rejected, avoided and turned away hurts, no matter how used to it you might think you are. Maybe I’ll get more accustomed to it as time goes on, but I won’t know for sure until some time passes. As I’m sure most people can imagine, staying motivated when you’re constantly being told no can be difficult; it’s something that I’ve definitely had to practice and place a large focus on.

When I first started, I found it difficult to stay motivated and see that light at the end of the tunnel, so today I thought I would share some of the approaches that I’ve taken in order to stay motivated when working in a sales role:

1. Remember your successes. When you’re stuck in that rut that seems impossible to get out of, remind yourself of how great it felt to get your last contract. When it seems like all you’re doing is wasting your time reaching out to prospects who never get back to you, take some time to think about how great it was when you’d been calling and emailing that one prospect for what seemed like forever and you finally had the chance to connect with them and discuss whatever it is that you have to offer!

2. Take a quick break. I realize that not everyone has the time or the ability to step outside and get some fresh air when they feel stressed out or demotivated. By ‘take a quick break’ I mean shift your focus to something else to take your mind off of whatever it is that’s bogging you down. Dim your screen and clean up your desk, go for a walk and get a glass of water, put down the phone for a bit and sort through that stack of papers that have been sitting on your desk for the past week. Do whatever you have to do to take your mind off of the stressors, even just for a short period of time.

3. Place a focus on self-care. Taking time for yourself when you’re away from the office has more of an effect on your performance than you know once you’re back in the office. Allowing yourself time to clear your head and regain your focus can make a world of difference. It gives you more time and energy to enjoy your home life and time after work with your friends and family. While it may not seem as though self-care would have much impact on your work life, I know that I have a much better work week when I’ve taken time to relax and enjoy time with friends and family over the weekend and during the evenings.

4. Try a work-from-home day. This is something that we’ve decided to try out in our office this year. Everyone is taking one day each week to work from their office at home to take a break from the typical day-to-day office bustle. We work in a very open-concept office, so it can often be hard to focus when there are meetings taking place or phones ringing in every corner. Yesterday was my first official “work-from-home” day and I can honestly say that I got so much done. I got much more done at my home office than I normally do in-house!

These are a few of the tips and tricks that I’ve learned along my journey in sales. I would love to hear what helps keep you motivated in your professional life – leave your tips and tricks in the comments!

Happy Wednesday!