Last month we lost to gen X icons. I was probably in my car, stuck between appointments, scrolling through my phone when I saw the news alerts. First Ozzy. Then Hulk Hogan.
My first thought wasn’t sadness, not really. That comes later. My first thought was a quiet, cynical, Gen X, “Of course. Of course, they went out together.” The Prince of Darkness and the Immortal One. The bookends of our latchkey kid afternoons, flipping between MTV and WWF. One taught us to bang our heads, the other taught us to cup our ears.
And as I sat there, thinking about a world without either of them, it hit me: their entire careers are a masterclass for those of us grinding it out in sales.
We, the generation raised on analog grit, now sell digital solutions. We remember the ‘cha-chunk’ of the knuckle-buster, and now we’re explaining the benefits of a cloud-based POS system with integrated inventory management. The world changed. Ozzy and Hogan are perfect roadmaps for how to survive it.
Here are the lessons we need to take from the legends.
1. The Art of the Comeback (and the Pivot)
Remember when Ozzy was just the “fired-for-being-too-wild” singer from Black Sabbath? He came back with a solo career that eclipsed his former band. Then, when the ’90s grunge wave made ’80s metal seem cheesy, what did he do? He created Ozzfest, making himself the godfather of a new generation of heavy music. Then he became a reality TV star, for crying out loud.
And then there’s Hulk Hogan? When Hulkamania felt stale and the kids started cheering for the anti-heroes, he did the unthinkable. He traded the red and yellow for black and white, became “Hollywood” Hogan, and created the nWo – arguably the most successful pivot in entertainment history.
Our Sales Takeaway: Our old pitch on rates is dead. That terminal we loved selling five years ago is a dinosaur. The “lowest rate” promise was always a race to the bottom that a kid with a Square dongle can beat. If we are not constantly reinventing our value proposition, we will become a relic. Are we selling processing, or are we selling business solutions? Are we a rate-quoter, or are we a technology consultant? We must – Pivot or perish.
2. “Whatcha Gonna Do?!” – Your Personal Brand is Everything
In the ’80s, Hulk Hogan wasn’t just a wrestler. He was a brand. The bandana, the mustache, the shirt rip, the “say your prayers and take your vitamins” mantra. You knew exactly what you were getting. He was Hulkamania.
It’s the same with Ozzy. The round glasses, the long black coat, the shuffle, the mumbling “Shaaaaron!” He is an instantly recognizable, one-of-a-kind persona.
Our Sales Takeaway: In the commoditized payments space, you are the brand. Your clients can get a Dejavoo terminal from a dozen different reps. They can get IC+ pricing from the guy who called them 10 minutes ago.
Why are they going with you? Because of your brand. Your reliability. Your follow-up. The way you explain a confusing statement. The fact that they know when they call your cell, you will actually answer. Your personal brand is the only unique selling proposition that your competition cannot copy.
3. Surviving the Bat’s Head – Resilience is the Job
Ozzy bit the head off a bat (and a dove, take your pick). Hogan faced career-ending controversies. They were both written off, declared irrelevant, and counted out more times than a jobber in a handicap match. And yet, they always came back. They endured.
They understood that the main event isn’t about avoiding getting knocked down. It’s about getting back up before the 3 count.
Our Sales Takeaway: This is the most important lesson. You’re going to have a perfect deal, a multi – location restaurant group, fall apart at the last second over a $10 monthly fee. You’re going to have a client you saved thousands for leave you for his brother-in-law’s new processing company. Let’s face it, you are going to get told NO 47 times before your 10 AM coffee break.
This job is a series of “bat’s head” moments. It’s brutal. Your ability to shake it off, say “whatever,” and walk into the next business unfazed is not just a skill; it is the job description.
Building Your Legacy, One Basis Point at a Time
Ozzy’s music will play forever. Clips of the Hogan leg drop will be on YouTube for eternity. They left a legacy.
Our legacy? It’s that monthly residuals report.
That’s our version of a platinum album or a championship belt. Every account that sticks with you, year after year, is a testament to the work you put in. That passive income, the fruit of yesterday’s grind, is your legacy in this business. It’s the monument you build to your own resilience and your own brand.
So, as we say goodbye to two guys who were the loud, crazy, and unforgettable background music to our youth, let’s honor them the only way a salesperson can: by getting back on the phones.
Go build your brand. Reinvent your pitch. And run wild on your portfolio, brother.
Happy Selling,
David
Payment Lynx Daily 