Shelly is standing on the train platform waiting
One of the clearest signs that you are experiencing anxiety is getting an attack of the "what-ifs." The "what-ifs"home elevator are what happens when you you try to tell yourself that everything is going to be fine and then a voice pops into your head saying, "Yeah, but what if . . .?"
Recognizing that "what-ifs" are not true and are simply a symptom of anxiety is an important step in finding a solution to this distress.
Shelly is standing on the train platform waiting for the train to arrive. Her heart is pounding and her breath feels short. She tells herself there is nothing to worry about. Then another voice pops into her head. Yeah, but what if I get on the train and I can't breathe, and I start going crazy, and the next stop is 30 minutes away, and I won't be able to get off and, and, and . . .
What Shelly doesn't realize is that the problem isn't the train. The problem is that she is having an attack of the "what-ifs." Change the scene to an elevator, a ski-slope, a business meeting, a public speech, or a first date. The words may change, but what stays the same is the phrase, "what if."
If you are subject to anxiety, in that moment, you probably find it very hard to convince yourself that those what-ifs aren't true. In fact, you might find it hard to believe what I am telling you right now as you are reading this.
One way to help let go of the "what-ifs" is to laugh at this voice instead of taking it seriously. But how can you find such a serious subject funny?
The great poet, Shel Silverstein, wrote a poem called, "Whatif?" The first few lines go like this,
Last night, while I lay thinking here,
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang the same old Whatif song:
Inspired by this poem, my daughter's 2nd grade class wrote their versions of what-if poems. Here are a few examples of what they wrote.
If you suffer from the what ifs, try this yourself. It might help you remember that just because something pops in your head doesn't make it true.
By recognizing that "what-ifs" are a sign or symptom of anxiety, instead of avoiding or worrying, you can put your attention to calming down your body by turning down the Inner Alarm System, and turning up the Inner Safe System. Take a look at Shrinky at shrinky.net. He might make you smile and remind you that laughing at the "what-ifs" is an important part of the solution for your anxiety.
10 Things to Consider Before You Do a Trade Show by Susan Dunn
10 Things to Consider Before You Do a Trade Show by Susan Dunn, MA, Marketing Coach and Consultant
1.Find out if the trade show is focused on your target market.
2.Talk with the promoters and find out the history.
How many trade shows have they done before? What was the turnout? They should be able to give you figures. Find out how they plan to advertise TV, radio ads, billboards, print ads?
3.Get the names of people who have participated in one of their recent trade shows and call them up. You'll get a lot on un-censored information.
4.Visit a couple of trade shows to observe and analyze.
Take a long a notepad and notes. Observe the displays, how the people work the booths, what attracts you or repels you.
5.Plan to work with a partner.
Staffing a booth takes at least two people. Set up and delivery of your materials, which will probably be heavy, is easier. You can take breaks. One of you can wander around networking while the other staffs the booth. Some people find it easier to approach a booth with more than one person there.
6. Prepare your booth display and materials.
You need something eye-catching from 15 away. There's a whole industry supplying these materials displays, booths, portable trade show exhibits, pop-up displays, table-top models, floor-standing, and exhibit booths in various sizes. Check them out on the Internet. Here is one: www.showstopperexhibits.
7.Prepare an ample supply of brochures, flyers and business cards.
Also get your 'elevator' speech ready. Many people only visit for a minute or two and you need to be able to describe what you do and sell, or the particular product you're promoting, very rapidly.
8.Decide your goals.
Just to experience your first trade show and learn from it? Capture names and addresses? Close 3 sales? Just meeting people?
9.Have some way to capture names, addresses and emails.
Most of the literature people pick up at booths (or anywhere else) is discarded shortly thereafter. You can have a giveaway where they drop their business card in a fish bowl, or a sign-up sheet for a free gift.
10.After the show, do your follow-up.
Make the phone calls, get the names on your subscription list. Analyze whether the results were worth the time and money spent on the trade show, keeping in mind residual effects from the exposure.