3 ways a simple Buddhist meditation boosts revenue and defeats "sales pressure" for good.

“May you be happy”

“May you be free from suffering”

“May you be at peace”

I remember immediately being struck by those simple words during my first Metta meditation.

Metta means “loving-kindness” and as a meditation, can be performed simply by wishing well for yourself and others.

Think of it as a practice in conditioning your mind to be unconditional.

You slowly rid your default software of judgment, fear, and jealousy. You upgrade it with kindness, patience, and compassion.

These changes take time and require consistent practice. But even slight shifts in your disposition can drastically impact sales performance and how you navigate the ebbs and flows of a sales life.

Metta increases your ability to spot opportunities

A successful salesperson is a master at finding people to assist, companies to help, and problems to solve. But this skill doesn’t come naturally. It is a knife that needs sharpening.

And Metta sharpens even the dullest blades.

Unlike traditional mindfulness techniques, your goal is to produce a specific mental state.

You want to feel loving-kindness for yourself and others.?

Focus on a loved one, friend, or neighbor.

Sitting at your desk, visualize one of them being truly happy. Try chanting “may you be happy” quietly or just in your mind. You can also listen to a guided meditation like WakingUp.

Spending five minutes conditioning yourself in this way generates remarkable results.

Over time you come to see more good in people, including prospects and customers.?

Their faults don’t disappear. Like you, they’re imperfect.

You just learn to focus on their better qualities and flood your perception with positivity.

Opportunities rise to top of mind while the obstacles and shortcomings you tend to recognize fade.

Metta builds tolerance for yourself and others

You can (and should) turn Metta toward yourself.

Wish yourself love, peace, and happiness. Spend time releasing your fears and freeing yourself from a suffering mind. Seriously, give it a try. A few minutes each day goes a long way.

We get so caught up in “the grind” of sales. We want deals to move faster, prospects to respond quicker, and customers to make prompt, thoughtful decisions. When these expectations aren’t met, we grow frustrated.

We begin blaming circumstances and the customers we aim to serve. Then we blame ourselves. This mind loop slows progress and decreases our chances of success.

Some deals will fall through while others close. We will always need to build pipeline. There is always more to learn and more to do.

This is the way.

But how you respond to this reality sits in your control.

Practice responding with benevolence instead of resistance. In time, your mind gains the freedom and flexibility to engage customers with precision and consistency.

Metta improves decision making

Author and master meditation teacher, Joseph Goldstein, describes a “skillful use of metta”.

As you advance your practice, he suggests seeing what it’s like to send loving-kindness to a “difficult person”. Eventually, you can wish peace and happiness for all beings.

Metta is “expansive and boundless”. It can embrace all.

How we feel about people is not dependent on their actions. It is all in our control.

Even in extreme situations, we can remain unaffected and focused.

When a customer or peer triggers anger, you have space to observe the anger, hold it gently, and break it down.

You become less reactive, bringing calm, clear thinking to tense negotiations.

You offer thoughtful, calculated reasoning during territory disputes, partnership discussions, and marketing meetings.

Your wiser choices lead to more happiness and more metta. Your good decision-making continues. You create an upward spiral in your life.

Like many things, cultivating Metta requires patience and practice. Don’t think of it as a “sales hack” or quick tip for getting karma on your side.

You are changing your heart and mind. It is a life commitment.

But its impact cannot be overstated.

The practice spills over to every relationship and every experience of your life.

“Neither mother, father, nor any other relative can do one greater good than one’s own well-directed mind.” - Buddha

Imagine a world where everyone wishes well for everyone.

You can. And it only takes a few mindful minutes per day.

What do you think? I'd love to hear. Please comment or DM.

I help software sales professionals sell (and live) with intention. When you embrace practice, develop awareness, and align your efforts, you can rise above the deal.

You can live #quotaless