Weight Loss vs. Sales Gain: Which One Is More Sustainable for You in 2019?

Good day!

Let's say you started off this year with two goals: lose weight and gain sales. Which one is more sustainable?

Today being January 21st, we are beginning the third week of the new year. How are those New Year's resolutions coming? Are you still on track? Would it surprise you to know that the vast majority of people who wanted to lose weight have seen only minor success, if anything.

Did you make a sales resolution? A sales resolution is different from a sales goal or a sales quota. It's a statement of promise you make to yourself regarding sales activity, not results. For example, you might pledge to make five sales calls a day or 25 per week. Personally, I'm a big fan of activity-based sales resolutions. A couple of quick facts for you …

The average American gains 11 pounds over the holidays.

The average sales rep loses 10% to 15% of his/her business each year.

Another way of stating that second last factoid is to point out that while 80% of the people who lose weight gain it back, 85% to 90% of a salesperson’s increased sales sticks around.

Both of these activities, weight loss and sales gain, are difficult. Both require a plan and a lot of discipline. Weight loss means saying "no" a lot. Sales gain means hearing "no" a lot. But once a goal is reached, it's the sales results that is longer-lasting.

All of this is to say if you have fallen off the wagon and you find yourself once again overwhelmed, now is the time to reengage. Think back over these last three weeks. What could you have done differently that would result in a different outcome? Then, make a new commitment and focus only on this week. In fact, so the goal for today is to try to be successful just one day in a row.

Oh, and put down the doughnut.

Bill Farquharson is the president of Aspire For. Contact Bill: 781-934-7036 or bill@aspirefor.com. Bill’s book, Who’s Making Money at Digital/Inkjet Printing…and How? will teach you how to be profitable, rebuild a loyal customer base, and get your sales reps selling. More information on that and his other book, The 25 Best Print Sales Tips Ever!, can be found on his website, AspireFor.com.