The word “sales” includes a very broad spectrum of activities. Some salespeople are peddling Girl Scout cookies once a year to get a badge to be worn with pride on their vests; other salespeople work for Fortune 100 companies, are corner-office inhabitants, and help to keep thousands of people gainfully employed. I, myself, like most others, fall somewhere in the middle of that broad spectrum.

Like all careers, being a business-to-business, relationship based sales professional has its pros and cons. On the one hand, there is a very high level of flexibility, you are out on the road, or traveling quite a bit, and generally don’t have a boss right there watching your every move and breathing down your neck (though some sales managers get more actively involved than others, flooding their teams with numbers, quotas, motivation, and threats, generally via email). Another positive is that there is generally good money to be made, that is if you have the mustard to survive in the position.

The downside is, pressures are extremely high (it’s like the Billy Idol song Rebel Yell…”she cried more, more, more”), and temptations abound. There is a higher risk in that profession than in many others for alcoholism, heart attack, suicide, infidelity, and all sorts of other undesirable demons, and I’m not researching any statistics other than what I’ve personally witnessed. To avoid these undesirable habits, something must be done to relieve stress. Everyone needs a “whipping post” of some sort, especially sales professionals. They can’t take the stresses of the job out on the ones that they love, or those folks will not be around them long, let me tell you. For me, I have recently found sanctuary in participating in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. When I report in to Marcello Monteiro’s Indianapolis Jiu Jitsu academy, it is like my sanctuary. I leave both cell phones in the car. I check my business problems (or successes, as is often the case) at the door. If I am riding a high from a successful day or opportunity, I am quickly humbled by my teammates who are more than willing to bring me back down to earth with a choke or two. If my spirits are low, which is often the case, I am able to sweat out my problems, push myself, and purge myself into emotional stoicism. That is also very therapeutic.

Whatever the case with my attitude may be, a good night of rolling on the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu mat always keeps me grounded and prepares me to go out and fight the battle the next workday, with a smile on my face, handling the pressures and chasing after the big dollars. If you are in a high stress position of any sort, I would recommend you check out a healthy, challenging hobby such as BJJ. A great place to get some information on the sport is online at bjjcoach.com. If you are in the Midwest, stop in and see the Professor, Marcello C. Monteiro personally at his Indianapolis Jiu Jitsu academy. It doesn’t matter if you made a million dollars that day or pulled the big goose egg, he will gladly show you the workout of your life. It really puts things into perspective.

• By: Ryan Berry