You’re stalled. You’re stuck. You’ve plateaued.

No matter how you put it, you’re seeing your sales hit a rut. And let’s face it, you’re in a rut, too.

So, how do you pull yourself out of it? The answer: invest in yourself.

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The Power of Personal Development

In sales, it's easy to get caught up in the grind—calls to make and deals to close. But if you don’t make time to invest in yourself, sooner or later, you’ll hit a wall and fall into a rut. 

As Sales Gravy Podcast guest Robert Herbst points out, one of the key reasons that sales people stagnate is a lack of personal development.

The reason top performers prioritize learning new skills and pushing their boundaries is because it makes them better and helps them sell more. When you choose to prioritize yourself and your professional development you are choosing a better and happier you.

Personal development isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’—it’s the backbone of sustained success. 

Cultivating a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is essential for embracing personal development.

This is the process of cultivating the belief that your abilities and talents can be improved through effort, learning, and perseverance.

Developing a growth mindset leads to higher achievement, resilience, adaptability, and a more positive approach to self-improvement. It helps you grow from setbacks and adversity, rather than being defined by them—driving you to reach further and achieve goals others might think are impossible.

Read a Book

Everything you want to know about anything can be found in a book. 

Reading isn’t just a habit—it’s a weapon that keeps you ahead of your competition.

Seriously, if you want to grow and develop, start by reading books. An author spends a lifetime accumulating knowledge that they put into a book you can buy for only $20. That’s a massive value for the investment. 

A best practice of top performers is to carve out 15-30 minutes each morning specifically for professional reading.

Listen to Learn

If you have a hard time reading or finding time, listen to an audiobook, a podcast, or an audio course. 

Many top performers listen to learn while they workout, walk the dog, or do chores around the house. It’s also a great way to turn your commute or drivetime in the field on sales calls into Automobile University. 

The point is: audio resources are so convenient you never have to stop learning. 

Take Online Courses

One of the key traits of top performers is that they invest in online training from sources like Sales Gravy University and their own company learning management systems. 

E-learning offers the opportunity to gain and sustain winning sales skills anywhere, anytime and on any device, making it easy for on-the-go sales professionals to invest in themselves.

These days, it’s easy to gain access to the top trainers and thought leaders in sales through affordable, on-demand training modules.

From virtual training to in-person workshops, there’s no greater investment than in yourself and your sales game. It’s even worth traveling to get to transformational conferences that lift you to new heights. 

In-Person Training and Conferences

Seek out every opportunity to attend in-person training. Start by reaching out to your sales leader for information on in-house training offered by your company. Then look for external training events and industry conferences that fit your professional development plan. 

Beyond the training and skill development gained from these events, you’ll spend time with peers, build your network and share best practices that will often boost your income.

Level Up Every Day — Never Stop Growing

Level up or lose out. 

Personal development doesn’t work if you don’t make time for it. This means setting time aside that’s blocked specifically for learning every single day—whether it’s an audiobook, reading, online learning or a training event.