Page 64 - How To Sell Yourself

Selling With Confidence 63
• One of your children just totaled your car in a careless accident. He’s okay—no injury, but now all you can think of is the stupidity of the act.
• Your mayor just announced that the city is doubling your real estate tax.
• You’re in a true state of road rage.
In situations such as these, stop. Take several diaphragmatic breaths. Let your breathing help you get hold of yourself. Let your breathing force the tension out of your body and soothe you back into comfort and control.
Recognize stress for what it is
The problem, of course, is realizing you’re in a stressful state when you’re in it. Usually, extreme stress is so extreme it takes over and we’re unaware of anything else. It’s vitally important that you learn how to recognize when you’re in deep stress. Oth- erwise, you won’t be able to control it because you won’t have the presence of mind to concentrate on letting your breathing help release you from the prison of stress.
I know it’s hard to concentrate on a physical act such as breath- ing when your body wants to perform a physical act more along the lines of murder, but the more you let panic reign, the harder it is to throw it off.
So, once again, proper breathing is basic to good communica- tion. It’s fundamental.
Good spoken communication begins with good breathing. Self- control is the name of the game.
It works!
If you suffer the pangs of fear and stress when you know you’re going to speak, read what two of the people I’ve trained who were just like you:
“When I feel a panic attack coming on, I stop, take two or three diaphragmatic breaths, and I’m back in command of myself and my situation.”
“I’m convinced that breathing is the most important lesson I got. I’m much more in control of myself. It really amazes me to be able to be confident in what used to be a bad situation.”