We are officially a few days into the new year. If I’m being honest, I probably should have posted this on Day One—but here we are. yesterday mornings post I was all about it was a New year & No Excuses.
It’s a fitting start, actually. Because if there is one thing we know about the merchant services industry, it’s this: Sometimes we don’t always start the way we plan.
Maybe you planned to hit the pavement on January 2nd with a list of 50 fresh leads, but a flu bug hit your house instead. Maybe you intended to have your new CRM organized by now, but you’ve spent the first week of the year troubleshooting a terminal issue for a client.
In sales, and especially in payments, the “perfect start” is a myth. What matters isn’t how you felt on January 1st or 5th; it’s how you choose to pivot today.
The “Day One” Trap
We put a lot of pressure on the first day of the year. We treat it like a magic reset button. But the merchant who was happy with their current processor on December 31st isn’t suddenly looking for a change just because the calendar flipped.
The real momentum in this business doesn’t come from a New Year’s resolution; it comes from consistency. If you’re starting “late,” you aren’t behind—you’re just starting in reality.
Three Ways to Pivot Right Now
If your first few days didn’t go as planned, here is how you and I can take control of the rest of the month:
- Audit our “Why”: Why are we in payments? If it’s just for the residuals, you’ll burn out by February. If it’s to help local businesses save $500 a month so they can hire another employee, you’ll find the energy to make that next call.
- Let’s Clear the Deck: Stop staring at the messy spreadsheet or the old leads that didn’t close in Q4. Pick five “Dream 100” businesses in your area and commit to a physical visit or a personalized video message today.
- Forgive the Lag: Don’t let a slow start become a slow season. The difference between a top producer and an average one is the recovery time between a setback and the next action.
The Question Remains…
The beautiful thing about this industry is that every Monday—hell, every hour—is a chance to restart. We don’t need the “New Year” energy to be successful in merchant services. We need the “Right Now” energy.
The messy start is out of the way. The “perfect” plan is out the window. Now, we get to do the real work.
So, I’ll ask you again: How do you want to start?
Happy Selling,
David
Payment Lynx Daily 