Distractions are everywhere! Sometimes it’s hard to believe anyone can get anything accomplished when friends can reach us at any time on our mobile phones, social media notifications nag us to check in, and a 24-hour news cycle means there’s always something new and interesting just one Google search away. But focus, like exercise, eating right, and flossing, is just another habit. It’s a behavior we need to constantly practice and hone, and it IS something we can train our busy brains to do better.

Here are eight essential tips to help you be more productive:

1. Minimize Multi-Tasking: It’s a buzzword mentioned in almost every job interview, but multi-tasking isn’t necessarily a good thing. Studies have shown that people who try to juggle more than one task at a time don’t perform as well as those who focus on the task at hand. Instead, allot specific amounts of time to each project according to its importance, and give your full attention to each task during its assigned time slot.

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2. Do the Complicated Work First: It might seem easier to get the simple tasks out of the way, but people tend to be most energized and focused in the morning, so use those most productive hours to tackle the projects that will require the greatest amount of concentration.

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3. Exercise Regularly: Your brain is a muscle, and what’s good for your body is good for your brain as well. Besides getting the blood flowing, exercise helps reduce stress, which can be a huge distraction when you’re trying to get things done.

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4. Prioritize: Not everything is equally important. Make to-do lists, with the most critical tasks at the top. Making lists not only helps you build momentum as you check off key projects, it also helps ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

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5. Take Breaks: Think you don’t have time for a break? Think again. Believe it or not, studies have shown that taking short, planned breaks actually improves concentration and focus at work. Taking breaks also helps avoid distractions brought on by boredom and combat our brains’ natural tendencies to worry about the things and people around us. This instinct was super helpful when we were cavemen in the wilderness – not so useful when we’re trying to meet a deadline at work.

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6. Practice Good Concentration Hygiene: Until you have trained your brain to withstand all of life’s most tempting distractions, set yourself up for success by eliminating the distractions ahead of time. Hide your phone in a drawer, turn off the radio or TV, and move to a quiet place where you can commit to the task before you.

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7. Stop Being a Perfectionist: There are few things more distracting than worrying about failure before you’ve even started. Commit to getting the work done, and avoid the natural instinct to overthink what you’re producing. You can revise your project as many times as you like, but you’re not likely to produce much of anything if you’re too busy telling yourself that everything you do is mediocre.

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8. Have a Plan: Before heading into the office on Monday morning, carve out a little time over the weekend to create a roadmap for the week ahead. Taking a few extra minutes to plan out your days in advance can help you be more productive throughout the week and save you the stress of sitting down and not knowing where to begin.

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Staying focused at work is something almost everyone struggles with. It’s not an easy thing when everything in our lives seems to be designed to grab our attention. But focus is something you can learn to do better. Start with the tricks above and take it slow. Even if you can only concentrate for five or ten minutes at a time in the beginning, just continue to work at it, and in no time at all, your brain will start to build the defenses it needs to banish distractions for good.

Reaching your sales goals requires a positive attitude and the ability to motivate yourself and your co-workers. At Cydcor, we believe that motivation matters. We encourage our employees and sales representatives to find strategies that improve their ability to achieve any goal. Here are some quotes to can add to your motivational toolbox. Use them when your day needs a lift.

1. Have a Positive Outlook

Begin by always expecting good things to happen. - Tom Hopkins

2. Turn Rejections into Positives

One of the best predictors of ultimate success isn’t natural talent or even industry expertise, but how you explain your failures and rejections. - Daniel H. Pink

3. It Pays to Listen

Most people think “selling” is the same as “talking.” But the most effective salespeople know that listening is the most important part of their job. - Roy Bartell

4. Be Upbeat and Energetic

For every sale you miss because you’re too enthusiastic, you will miss a hundred because you’re not enthusiastic enough. - Zig Ziglar

5. Focus on Your Customer

If you are not taking care of your customer, your competitor will. - Bob Hooey

6. Develop Strong Networks

All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust. - Bob Burg

7. Believe in Your Product

Ninety percent of selling is conviction and 10 percent is persuasion. - Shiv Khera

8. Never Give Up

Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. - Og Mandino

9. Relationships Lead to Sales

To build a long-term, successful enterprise, when you don’t close a sale, open a relationship. - Patricia Fripp

10. Sales is About Educating Customers

Treat objections as requests for further information. - Brian Tracy

An inspirational quote is a dependable tool to use when you need to overcome an obstacle at work. Write down your favorite quotes. Display them where you will see them every day. You will get more motivation out of a quote if you make it part of your day.

What quotes do you return to for motivation when you face an obstacle that prevents you from reaching your goals? Tweet your favorite quotes and be sure to follow @Cydcor on Instagram to learn more about our company and our culture.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Don't forget to follow Cydcor's channel on YouTube for our latest company videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/Cydcor

Some people believe that a great salesperson is born, not made: that the ability to close a sale is a gift that one must be blessed with at birth. Well, those people are wrong.

Certain people might have an outgoing personality that gives them a bit of an advantage when it comes to networking or closing a deal but the true qualities of a great salesperson aren’t genetic—they’re learned and improved upon with practice.

What qualities does a great salesperson possess? A great salesperson looks just like you. But in order to release the successful salesperson within, you need to identify the qualities a good salesperson must possess in order to achieve success.

As you review this list of qualities a great salesperson must possess begin to make a list of the qualities that you believe you lack or need to develop. Be honest in your self-assessment. If possible, get input from your team, supervisor or sales manager.

Doing this exercise on your own is a powerful technique for improving your sales skills. Including your team members or manager in this process lets them know that you’re motivated and committed to continuous improvement.

1. A Great Salesperson is Focused

You need a plan if you are going to succeed in sales. A great salesperson identifies their goals and keep them in the center of their vision: obstacles never sidetrack them.

2. A Great Salesperson Cares About People

You’re not just interested in making a sale. You’re building a long-term relationship with your colleagues and clients. A great salesperson cares about the person as well as the sale.

3. A Great Salesperson is Social

You always make a great first impression and you enjoy meeting people and hearing about their job, the obstacles they face, and the values that are important to them. A great salesperson listens and remembers.

4. A Great Salesperson is Confident

You know that you have the skills required to get the job done. If you encounter rejection you keep moving forward, understanding that it’s part of the process. A great salesperson never gives up.

5. A Great Salesperson is Organized

You have all of your materials ready whenever you need them. You have internalized your company’s message and methodology. A great salesperson provides solutions for all of their clients’ pain points.

6. A Great Salesperson Asks the Right Questions

You build your interactions with your customers by developing positive interrogative engagement. Questions are specialized tools you use to identify your customers’ obstacles and objectives. A great salesperson is curious and insightful.

7. A Great Salesperson Has a Sense of Humor

You have a friendly personality and you bring positive energy to all of your encounters. Your customers look forward to working with you because you leave a positive impression upon them. A great salesperson leaves people smiling.

8. A Great Salesperson Understands Urgency

You must get the job done. You understand that making a sale is an urgent problem and that it needs to be solved in a timely manner. Nothing will get in your way because you’re determined to solve the problem in front of you. A great salesperson gets results.

9. A Great Salesperson Is In Control

You might hear a no but you don’t accept no as an answer. You’re equipped with the ability to control conversations and will not give up on your pitch. A great salesperson is a gifted storyteller who engages his or her audience.

10. A Great Salesperson Works Hard

You understand that success in sales is not won; it’s earned through hard work. You recognize the importance of competition and know that you have to seek opportunities—they won’t come to you. A great salesperson shows up and does their job every day, despite disruptions and without delays.

As you review this list of qualities that make a good salesperson you may identify areas for improvement. Recognizing the need to improve is not a sign of failure. It’s an indicator that you have what it takes to succeed as a salesperson. Are you ready to become the best salesperson you can be?

What qualities make you a great at your job? Did we leave anything out of this list? We want to learn from your experience. Please share your thoughts on our Facebook page and post this article on your social media. Let’s start a great conversation.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada, to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We've done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Recent research has revealed that people perform better at work and in life if we practice strategic renewal. If you’re rundown you’re more susceptible to getting sick and miss days from work.

You need to get more sleep during the week, scheduling daytime workouts, eat healthy foods, and enjoy rest and relaxation away from the office with your team members whenever possible.

These simple changes in behavior are guaranteed to improve your attitude about work your performance at work—and maybe even your beach volleyball skills.

Humans aren’t designed to run on high level without having a period of rest and relaxation. You need a time for renewal. It allows you to relax and rejuvenate your mind and body.

That’s why Cydcor’s R&R Cancun 2015 is such an important event. It celebrates your accomplishments and reminds us all that we need to take a moment to stop and smell the frangipani.

Here are some of the specific benefits of rest and relaxation whether you’re on the beach or in your own backyard:

Restores your energy: You need to recharge you batteries in order perform at peak effectiveness throughout the day. Rest and relaxation is part of your work cycle and taking advantage of it whenever possible will improve your productivity.

Repairs your body: Our bodies repair themselves from daily wear and tear when we rest. Rest and relaxation reduces stress and improves overall health. You’ll be able to easily work a full day.

Improves your focus: An active mind gets tired just like an active body. Including time to quiet your thoughts and letting your mind rest is part of the healing process. You’ll improve your ability to concentrate and problem solve at work.

Improves your mood: Relaxation makes you feel happier. When you choose to think about things that make you feel good, you’ll discover that you actually feel more positive about the challenges you face at work. You’ll begin to see obstacles as opportunities.

Increases your creativity: Too much stress and activity often disconnect you from your creative potential. Rest and relaxation will allow you to regenerate as an individual and as a team. Your ability to create and innovate as a team member and as a cohesive group will be improved when you return to work.

Keep up with the latest posts from R&R 2015 by following Cydcor on Instagram! https://instagram.com/cydcor/

Extending its results-proven excellence in outsourced sales services, Cydcor is expanding services into the retail channel through in-store marketing initiatives designed to improve client customer engagement and sales results.

Growing client interest in Cydcor's retail expertise requires the company to add resources and expand to meet retailer needs. Cydcor offices grow top-line sales results through in-store marketing programs, incorporating innovative strategies and leveraging Cydcor's experience in outsourced face-to-face sales engagements on behalf of market leaders.

"Cydcor delivers sales results, and our capable marketing representatives know how to engage, motivate and win new customers for our clients in a range of environments, including in-store,'' said Jim Majeski , Cydcor President. "The outstanding experience and performance of Cydcor's retail sales teams provide a unique marketing package that is measurable and that efficiently produces results.''

"In a challenging economy, retailers must focus on improving the end-to-end shopping experience and winning customer loyalty,'' said Randy Alleyne, Cydcor Vice President of Retail. "Cydcor provides well-trained, retail-branded representatives to help make that happen through quality, results-oriented in-store customer engagements.''

Cydcor meets full service, seasonal support and niche product needs through store-within-a store models. After engaging with Cydcor, territory management teams and retail product experts collaborate with client staff to identify objectives and expectations, and then create and implement scalable, custom programs that translate customer engagement and service into sales.

"In everything we do, Cydcor is focused on serving customers with excellence, serving our clients with distinction and generating results,'' Majeski said. "Our in-store retail support complements the outsourced face-to-face sales work we do that continues to earn us accolades, and achieve results for our clients.''

Last year, Cydcor earned top honors overall for Sales and Marketing Outsourcing in Brown-Wilson Group/Datamonitor "The Black Book of Outsourcing" 2009 annual survey. Among other elite vendor and performance ranking honors, Cydcor earned the survey's highest overall client satisfaction, ranking at 93 percent. Cydcor placed first in 9 of 18 key performance indicators evaluated as part of the annual survey. In four "vendor function'' categories, Cydcor earned top honors in two categories: 1) sales team outsourcing and 2) sales support service.

Cydcor is recruiting talented salespeople to support new in-store marketing initiatives. Interested candidates should send a resume to retailjobs@cydcor.com.