Some describe a broad outlook’ as a broad understanding’ others as vision. Whichever description you choose is not important. What is important is that a successful salesperson must not be narrow minded or lacking any vision. Have you ever met a successful person who does not have a broad understanding or vision? Think back and you will see that this is true. So how does one start to acquire that broad outlook? Mix with people, travel or what? Mix with people, yes. For this is something anybody can do.

So here is your first piece of practical development work. Make it an IRON RULE one which must never be broken that from now on you will open a conversation with at least one total stranger every day.

It’s easy enough surely! But the value is tremendously out of proportion to its simplicity. Every bus, public transport vehicle or train journey, every queue you join however short every time you look into a shop window into which other people are also gazing, every time you stop to look at something which has aroused the admiration or your curiosity, you have an opportunity to start a conversation.

The opportunities are endless. So, too, are topics with which you can open the conversation. The particular subject of your admiration or curiosity, the newspaper headlines of the day, the merits or otherwise of a particular transport authority, all can help you to start speaking. You should of course, approach only members of your own sex so that you can avoid finding yourself in an embarrassing position in some instances.