David has missed his monthly target again...

He's had a few dry months and is now feeling desperate.

So he's made a commitment to himself - he's going to work twice as hard.

He'll stay till 10pm every night if he has to.

David cannot lose this job - he's got a young family to support and his wife doesn't work.

So, what's his strategy?

Introspection and a complete rethink of where he's going wrong?

Nope.

He's doubling down on more of the same.

Yet it's ineffective and soul destroying.

But this is where he thinks the answer lies.

He doesn't know any different and no-one is there to show him a better way.

So he works late every night for weeks.

His desperation comes across in his voice.

His prosects can smell it a mile off.

No one is buying. It's a vicious cycle.

He becomes more and more fatigued every day.

Never eating proper meals.

Anxiety-ridden sleep. Night sweats. Insomina.

He falls ill.

His immune system is shot to pieces.

He can't physically cope and calls in sick for the next few days.

He's burnt out.

On his return he's coldly informed that his services are no longer required.

Ruthless.

His worst nightmare has come to fruition.

He cannot tell his wife, so continues leaving the house every day at 7:30am, suited and booted.

He then sits in a cafe all day looking for jobs online.

It's a tragic situation and he can only survive a few months with no income.

If only he could step back, see the wood for the trees, and work smarter - not harder.

I've seen this situation play out first hand.

It's ugly.

Becoming bogged down in self pity and losing all confidence, salespeople start to blame external factors and never look inside themselves.

I've been there myself.

But working less and doing more of the right things...this is the way out.

And it's often the opposite of what you're currently doing.

It's just a shame so many people will burn out, through monumental effort - blood, sweat and tears to try and fix their problem...only to be met with massive disappointment at the end.

Don't be that person.

Take a step back and think.

As Henry Ford once said:

'Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it.'

So start building the muscle and create new mental habits to creatively think your way through seemingly impossible challenges.

And find the easier route to success.

It requires a mental shift but is a lot less painful...and comes without the heartache & disappointment.