Breathe. The alarm has gone off and you're about to bound out of bed. Don't. Take a moment and take a deep breath before you lift your head off that pillow. Exhale slowly, open your eyes and be grateful for another exciting day.

_ Stretch. Chances are you'll be exercising your mind and mouth for the next eight to 10 hours, so now is the perfect time to work out tired and sleepy muscles. Whether you're happy just standing and reaching for the ceiling to a count of 10 or putting on a pair of running shoes and jogging around the block, you've got to do something to get the blood flowing.

_ Smile. Make it part of your morning mirror routine to flash those pearly whites. Not only does it lift your face muscles, it lifts your spirits and sends you off feeling empowered, or at least in a pretty good mood.

_ Prioritize. Before you take off on your first sales call, it's important to do a little paperwork. Pull out that list of things to do and plan your day accordingly. Projects that are first in your hit parade get addressed first. Schedule the rest of your day from that point of reference.

_ Prepare. Every professional has an equipment checklist. Successful sales agents are no different. Contracts, marketing collateral, road maps, pens, pads, proper names and addresses, even a demo device are all tools of the selling trade. As for business cards, never leave home without them.

Taking a few minutes in the morning to set your selling stage means the difference between good sales and great sales. If it takes getting up a bit earlier in the a.m., it's well worth the price to pay for a closed sale as opposed to a closed door.