I suppose you could call me an exercise nut.  I swim, I lift, I spin, I elliptical, I step, I run, and I even practice yoga.  It’s the yoga that’s the newest to me, and yoga seems to intrigue me the most.  I usually don’t enter into anything lightly, so when I first started, I decided to fully immerse myself in it.  I went to a one-week program that had attendees in yoga classes multiple times a day, four hours at a time.  It was there I learned just how challenging yoga can be.

I was always pretty confident with my fitness, but I quickly learned that fitness is only one aspect of yoga.  Flexibility, balance, strength and more are also parts of yoga, and it didn’t take long for me to realize I was in a little over my head at my, “yoga camp.”  But as I struggled, grunted, groaned, and wobbled, I heard my instructor repeat three words often:

“Breathe with it.”  

Breathe with it?  I could barely breath, period.  However, the more I practiced, the more I began to understand just how important those three words were.  Our instinct is to limit our breathing, or even hold our breath when we’re under pressure.  The problem is, when we do that, we trigger the body’s stress response, and actually deplete energy.  But when you breathe deeply, and breathe with it, you improve the movement of energy and this helps the body relax. In fact, a 2018 study found that breath-focused yoga boosted attention span in participants. 

Now, let’s leave the world of yoga, and enter your particular world.  If breathing with it can help channel our energy, calm our mind, and boost our attention span, why wouldn’t this apply to other things in business and life?  Perhaps you’re going to deliver a big presentation, or maybe you’re getting ready to meet with a key client, or possibly you’re preparing for a job interview.  Just reading that last sentence might have started the process of tightening up, and shortening your breaths.  The fact is, it would be much better if we breathe with it.

That leaves us with how to breathe with it.  When you become aware that you are tightening up, bring your awareness to your breath by breathing through your nose, and observe the inhalation and exhalation that’s taking place. No need to change or do anything. Just breathe, with an awareness of your breathing for a minute or two.

Once you feel yourself calming down, see if you can send your breath into your belly for deeper breathing. This is our natural, resting state of breathing. Deep belly breathing calms the nervous system by targeting the vagus nerve, the largest nerve in your brain, which in turn soothes the stress response in the brain.  When you try this, imagine there is a balloon in your belly: On the inhale, that balloon expands into your hands, and on the exhale it deflates. You won’t need to do this for too long; eight breaths in – a slight hold – eight breaths out should do fine.

So, the next time you feel pressure, and a little short of breath, and maybe a vague sense of nausea or fatigue, don’t run from it.  Turn towards it, accept it, and breathe with it.  

What do you get when combine energy, enthusiasm… and great content?  You get a “Pocket Sized Pep Talk!”  Tune in and you’ll hear a collection of BLArticles®, conversations, and interviews that are sure to teach, motivate, inspire, and oh yes; entertain!   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pocket-sized-pep-talks/id1497772972

I took a second spin on, “The Abundant Accountant” podcast, this time talking about how to handle objections regarding pricing and fees found here: https://theabundantaccountant.com/episode-96-how-to-stop-justifying-and-explaining-accounting-fees-with-rob-jolles

Here’s the first conversation on, “The Abundant Accountant” podcast talking about Decision Cycles which can be found here: https://theabundantaccountant.com/episode-92-breaking-down-the-6-stages-of-the-client-decision-cycle-with-rob-jolles

I was also on, “It’s Not Rocket Science! Five Questions Over Coffee,” a fun podcast with Stuart Webb.   You can listen to the podcast here: https://thecompleteapproach.substack.com/p/five-questions-over-coffee-with-rob#details

If you are looking for something to listen to on your next coffee break you might enjoy this brief chat between me and Tom Bailey, Founder of Succeed Through Speaking and the Succeed Through Speaking podcast. Listen closely if you would like some high value ideas to boost your business results.

You can read the transcript here – https://bit.ly/3BOfU7o

You can watch the podcast here – https://youtu.be/w-QgGvweE2M

You can listen to the podcast here – https://apple.co/2YVGWuN

I Zoomed my way to India to speak with Motivational Diaries, and Ashish Janiani.  We spoke for about 30 minutes about sales processes and training for success. 

   Sales Process To Sales Success || Interview With Robert Jolles – YouTube

If you want to read some “Life Lessons” I was able to share in a recent interview, you’ll find them here:  https://worldclassperformer.com/short-life-lessons-from-robert-jolles/

I had the pleasure of appearing on Robert Miller’s, Follow Your Dream Podcast and thoroughly enjoyed the discussion.  We go way back in this conversation to my first memories of performance… at age four!  I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!  https://follow-your-dream.simplecast.com/episodes/rob-jolles-superstar-salesman

I also mixed it up with a wonderful podcaster, Terry McDougall on her Marketing Mambo show.  As she puts it, we “Cha-cha-chatted!”  If you want to hear sales and marketing go toe-to-toe, you’ll enjoy this show. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1569061/8172686-the-art-of-influence-in-sales-and-marketing-with-rob-jolles

I recently did a podcast with a wonderful, new, and up-and-coming star named Jahmaal Marshall.  His podcast is called, “Listen Then Speak.”  I’ve done a lot of podcasts, but we got into topics I rarely talk about, and I’m quite sure you’ll enjoy the show!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listen-then-speak/id1550684472

I’ve appeared on the “Small Business Advocate Show” with Jim Blasingame for almost 20 years now, and you’ll find dozens of our conversations on his website.  We just sat down a few weeks ago for a great conversation about selling fundamentals and the strategic use of stories.  Here’s a link to over 100 interviews done over the years, including my most recent interview that explores our many behaviors we display that are based more on a default mechanism than actual logic. https://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/small-business-experts/rob-jolles-134

We posted a video series on delivering amazing online presentations with my friend, Jeremy Webb.  We go over some great stuff including:

• How to Select the Best Equipment for Online Presentations
• Pro Tips for Sustaining Interest in Online Presentations
• How to Look Like a Pro!
• Public Speaking Anxiety Tip
• Virtual Office Setup for Online Presentations

You’ll find the whole playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRO7BsBDl6oL-6ZPW3O01x-g5PiR38ljL

I was recently interviewed on the “Salesman Podcast,” which was a lot of fun. If you’re looking to Change Minds, check out this podcast: https://www.salesman.org/the-simple-step-by-step-process-to-influence-anyone-with-rob-jolles/

I loved talking about the book, Why People Don’t Believe You on a podcast that I’m sure you’ll like called Onward Nation: https://predictiveroi.com/podcasts/rob-jolles/

After 30+ years as a professional speaker and trainer, one of the most common questions I get is this: “How do we make sure the training sticks?”  Take a moment and listen to this podcast; “SalesChats” with John Golden.  If you want to know why most training fails, listen up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR3dDOlTK7U&list=FLxBXKhqz0xBwbUPMqNthAJA&index=2&t=1293s