If you have a product, service or opportunity you are trying to get out into the world, seeing the people is critical. When we commit to ourselves, our business and our dreams, it can be scary to put it all out there. This is usually when our “play safe team” shows up. This team is there to keep you in your comfort zone. Warning bells go off the minute you step out to the edge of your comfort zone.

You may find yourself hiding behind social media, email and texting, trying to connect with people and sell. You may find that you have great intentions to get on the phone today, but end up finding a hundred other things to do instead. So, you send out a few more emails, texts and make a couple more social media posts.

If this is you, guess what – your “play safe team” has arrived! They are the voices you hear trying to keep you safe based on old beliefs, fears and subconscious patterning. This is where most of us get hung up.

Here’s the thing: If you want to get your product, service or opportunity out into the world, you have to sell it. Selling is about relationships, which means you have to get out and see the people in person or by phone. There are so many ways to communicate with each other, but nothing replaces an authentic conversation.

So, what do you do if your “play safe team” has shown up?

1. You want to honor your team. They show up based on your beliefs.
2. Look at what you believe about getting on the phone or going out to meet people, that might be holding you back.
3. Write down some of your beliefs and ask yourself, “are they true”? Usually our beliefs are carried forward from childhood and are no longer true.
4. Begin to instill a new belief. One that supports you in what you are trying to do.

Ex: You may be avoiding picking up the phone: Your belief may be that no    one wants to talk to you or if you call you will be bothering him or her. – A new belief may be: People are excited to hear from me because I care and give excellent customer service.

Have you heard the story about the two salesmen that were sent with boxes of shoes to an area in Africa? One salesman arrived in the village and called back to the company to stop sending shoes – “no one wears shoes here – they’re not needed”. The second salesman called back once arriving in the village and said “send more shoes – no one has them here, they all need shoes”. Their beliefs determined their success.

Once you have an idea around your current beliefs and why your “play safe team” has shown up, try these 5 steps to reduce call resistance:

1. Be 100% sold on your product, service, and opportunity
2. Recall past accomplishments: Create an “I love me” wall or file, where you put in all the thank you letters, awards, testimonials you’ve received
3. Use visualization. Do a quick visualization instilling your new belief, and how you want the phone call to go
4. Begin with prospects you can feel good about calling on
5. Relax! Don’t make selling hard! It’s just a simple conversation between two people.

Remember we are all in sales!

“Nothing happens until something’s sold”

~Mary Kay Ash