A cartoon in The New Yorker magazine showed two assistants preparing a conference room.  One says to the other, “And don’t forget the little notepads in case one of them has an idea.”

Good ideas in sales — that don’t look like a gimmick — are hard to come by.  They are certainly not a dime a dozen.  Maybe that’s why American poet Robert Frost penned, “The brain is a wonderful organ.  It starts working the moment it gets up in the morning and doesn’t stop until it gets to the office.”

As any successful salesperson will tell you, no one can afford to have the idea factory shut down when the work day begins.  Great ideas produce great sales.

When I speak to Fortune 1000 companies, I often address the sales and marketing staffs.  In preparation for my speeches, I always talk with eight to ten people who will be in the audience.  These folks have shared some terrific ideas that you may be able to use.
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