he world of ISOs is nomadic. Traveling from merchant to merchant, independent sales professionals must be portable. Cars become mobile offices. Briefcases become movable desks. ISO workspheres are ever changing and challenging, even to the most organized and seasoned field operator.

Here are some tips to travel smarter and work better:

Pack light. Your most valuable business tool is you. Why burden yourself with excess baggage that will only weigh you down? Files and floppy discs don't fit well with a face-to-face.

Embrace the road. Don't see yourself as "away from the office." Envision your worksphere as everywhere you are. The smart professional doesn't need a sophisticated space to successfully conduct business, just a centric focus.

Know your destination. Before you meet with prospects, familiarize yourself with their locale. Chat with neighboring businesses. Observe the clientele. The better you know the place, the more comfortable you'll feel doing business there.

Personalize your environment. Just as your stationary office reflects your business persona, so should your mobile office. Lose the McMuffin wrapper littering the backseat. Instead, put a post-it note on the dash with a personal affirmation. Continue your image past the curb.

Talk in traffic. Practice your sales presentation while stuck in gridlock. Hearing your pitch out loud reinforces those key selling points. Rehearsing is paramount to revenue results.

Check inventory. Just as you keep an eye on stationary office supplies, don't lose sight of your mobile needs. Air in the tires, gas in the tank, water in the radiator, handiwipes in the glove compartment - now you're ready to roll.

Pamper yourself. Stopping for an ice cream or picking up a pack of gum are small comforts that give big boosts to ebbing energy levels. Hanging an aromatic car deodorizer in a monoxide-filled environment can soothe and stimulate any sales agent.

Write it down. Keep a yellow pad in your mobilesphere. After each presentation, take a few minutes to write down the pluses and minuses of the meeting as well as initial outcome and follow-up action before heading back out on the road. A pocket recorder works just as well. Remember, your memory might dissipate with miles.