Being Prepared for Success

For sales professionals everywhere

This month, the blog and webinar series are about Being Prepared—with BEING as the operative word.

Being prepared carries a state of mind of thoughtfulness and thinking ahead. It means considering current conditions in business and in your life that will impact the actions you take and the results you produce.

Being prepared coincides with being proactive, as they have a similar relationship to taking initiative. Last month, we talked about Being Intentional—having a clear purpose behind every action. Preparation is the first step to delivering on intentionality.

Think about someone you consider prepared. What are the actions you associate with them?

• Do they check traffic conditions before they head out?
• Do they call ahead to confirm an appointment is still on schedule?
• Is their car packed with items for any weather condition?

If any of these examples make you roll your eyes…think about that. What about being prepared offends you? What do you associate with preparation that prevents YOU from being ready for anything?

Action Steps to Start Being More Prepared

1. Take a Look at Your Calendar 

• Are your most important sales activities actually scheduled?
• Do you have time blocked for follow-ups, meetings, and prospecting?
• Is there space for preparation before key calls or presentations?
• Read more about  Intentional Scheduling here

2. Anticipate Challenges Before They Happen

• What objections do you commonly hear from customers? Plan your responses in advance.
• Do certain times of the day or week tend to be slower? Use those moments for outreach.
• If an appointment cancels, what’s your backup plan?

3. Create a Rhythm for Your Sales Activities

• Being prepared isn’t about being rigid—it’s about creating consistency.
• Schedule repeat actions (like post-delivery follow-ups or weekly outreach) so they become a habit.
• Use reminders or automation to keep things on track.

4. Set Yourself Up for Success Daily

• At the start of each day, ask yourself: What do I need to be fully prepared today?
• Review your top priorities and any materials you need before jumping into action.
• Take a breath, focus, and step into each task with confidence.

5. Reflect and Adjust

• At the end of the week, take a moment to evaluate:
• Where did preparation serve you?
• Where did lack of preparation hold you back?
• What small adjustments can you make to be better prepared next week?

Join This Month’s Sales BE Series: Being Prepared

Being prepared sets the foundation for success. Let’s go deeper and talk about how to make preparation a strength in your sales process.

Date: Tuesday, February 18
Time: 4 PM EST (1 PM PST)
Location: Live on Zoom
Sign up now: onexone.com/be

This free session includes:
✔ 15-20 minutes of focused training on how to be truly prepared for sales success.
✔ 30-40 minutes of Ask Me Anything (AMA), where you can bring your biggest sales challenges for real-time coaching and insights.

If you can’t make it live, sign up anyway—you’ll receive access to the recording. Don’t miss this chance to refine your preparation habits and create consistency in your results.

Now, go take one action today to set yourself up for success tomorrow!

oxo,
Jody