If your mind is set, you will be unable to change your mindset. For example Christopher Columbus...

He was born in 1451 in Genoa, the son of a wool merchant and weaver. Do you recall what the conventional thinking or "Mindset" was about the shape of the globe at that time? It was believed to be flat. Not too many sailors sailed too far from shore fearing the worst. Columbus' mind was set. It was set for taking risks and exploring new worlds.

Columbus discovered the New World on October 12, 1492 at 2:00 a.m. He changed his Mindset and we're still celebrating his courage, boldness, and discoveries.

How you think is everything. For example - where are the obvious places to look for new prospects for the products and services you sell? Make a list and go ask one of your competitors to do the same thing. Now compare lists. Hello - exactly the same. Surprise - surprise!

Now make another list and don't tell your competition about this one. Make a list of all the un-obvious places you can go to find qualified prospects. Remember this is an un-obvious list and it requires a new and different mindset. It ain't easy but it is good. It isn't quick but it can be profitable for you. But first, you gotta remove the shackles on your conventional thinking.

You'll get what you expect - so always expect the best to happen to you. Always be positive and expect the best. Only one person has the keys to your thoughts - you. Put a lid on all negative thinking. If it's negative it's usually related to a past experience.

There are three houses you can choose to live in past, present, and future. You can toss away the keys to the past and future houses. You can't live there so there's no reason for you to spend any time thinking about them.

Put all your energy in the house called "Present or Today." When you wake up in the morning and don't see your name in the obituary column, consider yourself lucky and do everything to make today a "Masterpiece."

Expect the best in these situations:

1. You're calling on your competitor's best customer. Expect them to be receptive to your new ideas. Expect them to give you 1% of the business because they're willing to see if you can earn even more.

2. You have an appointment with Charley Discount who enjoys beating salespeople up on their prices. Expect Charley to ease up on the pricing pressure because for the first time he really does see the "True Value" of the products and personalized services you provide. He's even willing to add to the order to make it easier for you to justify better pricing to your sales manager.

3. You have a co-travel coaching day scheduled with your sales manager. The last one turned a little ugly. Expect your travel day to be a positive experience. Your manager is helpful and encouraging - and even tosses a few compliments your way. And it happens because you expect it to happen. It starts with your expectations.

If you want anything to be better it always starts with your Mindset. Expect things to get better and they will.

If you expect them to get worse - they will and you won't be disappointed. Here's the choice. You can expect the best or theworst but you can only choose one. Now really, isn't this a No-Brainer for you.

Don't try to succeed alone. Most salespeople don't get this one. You shouldn't think of yourself as a selling "Gladiator." Success won't come from your sword, in sales that's your mouth, it comes from a steady flow of new sales and marketing ideas you can use to help solve your customer's problems and grow your business.

The prescription for rigid thinking is a changing Mindset.

What Christopher Columbus did required "Radical thinking." What kind of radical thinking would help you to outsmart your competition?

This isn't about thinking - it's about doing!

Jim Meisenheimer's business is your business. His sales techniques and selling skills focus on practical ideas that get immediate results. You can discover all his secrets by contacting him at (800) 266-1268, e-mail:

jim@meisenheimer.com or by visiting his website: http://www.meisenheimer.com

You can also check out his NEW online Sales Effectiveness 360 Assessment at this website: http://www.no-brainersalesprofiles.com