One adage you’ll hear from some salespeople is that “he who speaks first loses.” A friend and sales consultant, Drew Cameron, tells me there shouldn’t be any losers. I agree, but talking too much is definitely a detriment to success - and to getting any rest on a plane.

A few days ago I was on a 6 a.m. flight from Cleveland to Chicago. The first announcement was to welcome me aboard and suggest that I relax and get some sleep. Five minutes later the flight attendants went through their aisle-way routine. Five minutes later the roar of the engines were lulling me to sleep. Five minutes later the pilot announced in a roaring voice that we would land in about 59 minutes. Five minutes later the flight attendants announced they would be serving beverages. Five minutes later a flight attendant woke me with a tap on the shoulder. Five minutes later the guy next to me was snoring so loudly that I couldn’t hear the roar of the engines … I think you get it by now.

There is an element of noise in everything we do. Whether the voice of the crowd, or the ever-pressing voice within. But, please, when you are on a sales call, shut up if the other person is snoring.