---
title: Just Start Again | The Sales Blog
description: This post was written as part of the IBM for Midsize Business program, which provides midsize businesses with the tools, expertise and solutions they need to become engines of a smarter planet. You have good intentions. You want to keep your daily disciplines. You want to do what’s necessary to produce better results. And sometimes […]
image: https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2013-01-30-at-5_31_20-PM.png
---

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# Just Start Again

![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg)

Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino)   
 January 30, 2013

---

[![](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IBM-Jun-11-2021-06-47-21-55-PM.jpg)  
](http://goo.gl/S6P7m)This post was written as part of the [IBM for Midsize Business](http://goo.gl/S6P7m) program, which provides midsize businesses with the tools, expertise and solutions they need to become engines of a smarter planet.

---

You have good [intentions](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2012/05/30/to-hell-with-your-good-intentions-instead-action/). You want to keep your daily disciplines. You want to do what’s necessary to produce better results. And sometimes you do a brilliant job working your plan. But there are times when your intentions aren’t enough.

Sometimes it’s difficult to follow your plan. It can be difficult to [will yourself](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2012/11/18/the-difference-in-time-management-and-me-management/) to do the work that you need to do. You get [distracted](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2011/06/24/prospecting-rule-one/). Your brain seeks variety. You get hooked on some new novelty. Just like that you’re off your plan and wasting time.

And then you’re stressed out because you’re off plan. Stressed out isn’t a resourceful or productive state.

Relax, it happens to everyone! In fact, it happens to some of the most productive people in the world. Really smart people, like [Tony Schwartz](http://blogs.hbr.org/schwartz/2012/11/fatigue-is-your-enemy.html), recommend you work only for 90 minutes and then take a break so to refresh the psychic energy it takes to focus on the work you really need to do.

It takes energy, discipline, and focus to stay on your plan to do what you need to do. But when you fall off plan, don’t fret about it. Don’t agonize over having lost a few hours–or even a few days. The emotional energy you waste feeling bad about having lost the time does nothing to help get you back on plan.

Accept that you fell off your plan. Accept that you could’ve done better. Forgive yourself for your all-too-human failings. Just start over. [Today is a clean slate](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2012/12/31/wiping-the-slate-clean/). There’s nothing you can do about anything that happened in the past, but you can do something about what you’re doing right now in this moment. And that’s where to focus your attention.

You can start over today. You could start over right now. You could start this instant.

#### Questions

What causes you to lose focus?

What distracts you and knocks you off your plan?

How do you forgive yourself when you get off plan?

What do you to get back on plan?

 

###### Tags:

[Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/sales) [2013](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/2013)

Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino)  on January 30, 2013

 Written and edited by human brains and human hands.

![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg)

Anthony Iannarino is an American writer. He has published daily at [thesalesblog.com](https://www.thesalesblog.com) for more than 14 years, amassing over 5,300 articles and making this platform a destination for salespeople and sales leaders. Anthony is also the author of four best-selling books documenting modern sales methodologies and a fifth book for sales leaders seeking revenue growth. His latest book for an even wider audience is titled, The Negativity Fast: Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success.

Anthony speaks to sales organizations worldwide, delivering cutting-edge sales strategies and tactics that work in this ever-evolving B2B landscape. He also provides workshops and seminars.

Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn, X or Youtube. You can email Anthony at [iannarino@gmail.com](mailto:iannarino@gmail.com)

[Follow me on my website](https://www.thesalesblog.com/anthony-iannarino) [Follow me on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/thesalesblog) [Follow me on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iannarino/) [Follow me on Twitter ](http://www.twitter.com/iannarino)

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