We’ve all been there. You wake up, grab your coffee, and head out to the car to start your day. You drive around and pull into the parking lot of a busy strip mall, ready to walk in and talk to some business owners, but instead… you just sit there.
The engine is off, the are ready, and your pitch is memorized, but you can’t seem to open the car door. Your usual drive is missing, the prospect of facing another “not interested” feels heavier than usual, and your momentum has come to a grinding halt.
Welcome to the dreaded “off day” in merchant services.
In the high-energy world of outside sales, an off day doesn’t just feel like a slow day—it feels like a roadblock. But what if we reframed it? What if we saw that moment in the driver’s seat not as a failure, but as a signal to recalibrate?
Acknowledge and Validate
The first step is to simply acknowledge it. Don’t beat yourself up for not jumping out of the car. Tell yourself, “Okay, today feels a bit tougher. I’m human, and that’s alright.” Validating your experience—rather than forcing a fake “hustle” mindset—can actually lower your stress levels and help you move past the block.
Shift Your Strategy, Not Your Goal
An off day doesn’t mean giving up on your week. It means adapting your tactics to your current energy level. If walking into a cold business feels impossible right now, try these alternatives:
- Focus on Foundational Tasks: If the “face-to-face” is the hurdle, pull over at a coffee shop and tackle the “behind-the-scenes” work. Update your CRM, clean up your lead list, or research new industries in your territory. These tasks still move the needle.
- The “Just One” Rule: Tell yourself you’ll walk into just one business. Not ten, not twenty—just one. Often, the hardest part is breaking the seal. Once you get that first interaction out of the way, the “sitting in the car” paralysis usually vanishes.
- Visit a “Friendly”: Go see an existing client who loves you. Checking in on a merchant you’ve already signed can provide a much-needed confidence boost. Reminding yourself of a past win can give you the spark to go after a new one.
Re-Energize Your Why
When your own well of motivation feels low, tap into external sources.
- Listen to a Quick Podcast: Pop on a 10-minute sales or mindset podcast before you step out of the car. Sometimes hearing someone else’s energy can help you find your own.
- Review Your Commissions: It sounds simple, but look at your goals. Remind yourself what that next “yes” pays for—whether it’s a vacation, a house payment, or just the pride of hitting your quota.
- Step Away (Briefly): If you’re truly stuck, take 15 minutes to walk around a park or grab a snack. A physical change of scenery can help clear the mental fog.
Tomorrow is a New Day
The beauty of merchant services is that every day is a fresh start. If today was a struggle to get out of the car, don’t let that guilt spill over into tomorrow. Learn what you can, shake it off, and remember that even the top earners in this industry have sat in their cars wondering if they have “it” today.
What are your go-to strategies for breaking out of a sales slump when you’re out in the field? Share your tips in the comments below!
Happy Selling,
David
Payment Lynx Daily 