Author: David Matney

It takes hunger to succeed.

In all my years in the business world, I met a lot of people with amazing talent. I can’t tell you how many times I said “This one is going to be a star.“ 

Unfortunately in most cases, I was proven wrong. They had what it took to be successful except one missing ingredient.

Talent alone is not enough. 

The first thing I look for now is HUNGER. Without hunger, none of the other tangibles matter. 

If you want true success, you have to be hungry.

When someone is hungry for success, you can see it in their eyes. They may not have all the talent in the world but they have that ingredient that’s going to help them succeed. 

When someone is hungry, they are all in. They are going to do what it takes to become successful. 

The word “try” is not in their vocabulary. They are simply just going to do it. Total failure is not an option. There is no Plan B. They are 100% committed to the cause and they are not looking back. That’s the type of hunger that’s necessary in order to have success.

I’ve also found that people that are hungry are committed to constantly improving. 

They are not satisfied with just being average. They may start slow but they understand that if they commit to continuous learning, they are going to keep improving. 

They understand that failure is part of the process and that’s the only way that they are going to keep learning. 

This is why it’s important to look at the big picture with the understanding that with proper commitment, success is going to happen.

Hungry people look for solutions rather than making excuses. When obstacles or challenges do come, these type of individuals will either find a way or they will make one. The road to success will always be under construction. When you commit to making it happen, success will eventually come.

Over the years, I have found in many cases that I want more success for individuals than they want for themselves. 

Some people require that extra push. The exciting thing is that hunger is actually a driver. I don’t have to micromanage the hungry. 

They are so self-motivated that they push themselves harder than I can push them. 

Hunger definitely opens eyes as well. Those that are hungry have a vision to see small windows of opportunity and they turn them into something big. The journey of success is not going to be easy, but when you’re hungry, the commitment is there.

Perhaps you have found yourself lacking that hunger. The good news is you can change that. Write out exactly what you want out of life and be very specific. 

Look at it every day. Have photos. You must have a reason WHY you want to succeed. 

If anyone ever tells you that you don’t have what it takes to be successful, prove them wrong. That’s what I call “being hungry.”
This is your week! This is your time!

Stay hungry!

Happy Selling,

David

Let’s dive into some credit card history. Maybe a weekly Wednesday deal… I don’t know yet, anyway. Did you know that the world’s first credit card was made of cardboard?

Back in 1950, a businessman named Frank McNamara experienced an unexpected dilemma while dining out in New York City – he had forgotten his wallet. Inspired by this mishap, McNamara conceptualized the idea of a charge card that would allow people to pay for meals at restaurants without cash.

Enter the Diners Club card, introduced in the same year. This innovative cardboard card marked the dawn of a new era in financial transactions. It provided its members with the unprecedented convenience of making payments without the need for physical currency.

However, it wasn’t until the late 1950s that plastic credit cards, resembling the ones we use today, emerged on the scene. American Express and Bank of America led the charge in introducing these plastic marvels, which quickly gained popularity and revolutionized the way people conducted transactions.

These early innovations laid the foundation for the modern credit card industry as we know it today. From humble beginnings with a cardboard card to the sleek and versatile plastic cards of today, the evolution of credit cards has transformed the way we manage our finances and conduct everyday transactions.

Happy Selling,

David

There is a difference between arrogance and confidence. 

Of course, confidence that borders on arrogance has no place in sales. Confidence is about putting the other person first. Arrogance is about putting yourself first.

Are you truly confident when you’re in front of your prospects? Is your prospect confident with you? 

Confidence cuts two ways.

Confidence is not only you being confident, but the prospect being confident in you. What happens is we actually create a level of competence. The prospect now sees us as insightful enough and competent enough to be able to help them solve their issue.

Confidence puts the prospect first. 

Confidence isn’t about selling, it’s about unlocking the to be willing to share with you.

It’s absolutely critical that we ask ourselves, are we putting our prospect first in everything? 

I want you to go back and review your successes. Not what you’ve sold—that’s arrogance—but rather how you’ve been able to help you prospect and clients. 

You might be new to sales and say, “David, I don’t have any prospects or clients yet.” Fine. What are other things that you’ve done in your life where you’ve been able to help another person? 

You see, sales is about putting the other person first and helping them succeed. That doesn’t just occur when we’re selling something, rather it occurs in everything that we do. 

Confidence makes it your mission to help others. 

Do you believe in the mission to help others? That’s the difference between arrogance and confidence. When I’m confident, I believe in my mission to help others. When I’m arrogant, I believe in my mission to help myself. 

Are you going into each conversation knowing that you can absolutely help somebody? 

Last week, I was making a number of prospecting calls to people I didn’t know, and I was doing them with a high level of confidence. I knew that I could help them. 

Surround yourself with confident people. 

Surround yourself with all those successes that you’ve had, but also surround yourself with other confident people. This is why I speak so highly, and so frequently about having a mastermind group. When you associate yourself with other confident people, it is amazing how you become more confident. If you surround yourself with doubtful people, naysayers, you’ll get the opposite.

Confident people are not pessimistic people. Confident people are optimistic people because they find the best in things. 

Be confident in your product, but even more confident in yourself.

Are you asking enough questions? When you’re doing a sales presentation, are you beholden to the presentation? Are you beholden to the PowerPoint?

Sure, confidence is about product knowledge, but it’s much more about your personal level of confidence. Here’s what I’ve found: Give me a person who is far more confident in themselves, and I’ll take them as a salesperson over somebody who is far more confident about the product. 

I want you to be knowledgeable about your product, but I’ve witnessed too many times where people are incredibly knowledgeable about the product, but have poor communication skills, or people skills. You need both.

So, do you feel more confident? Probably not yet. Consistent confidence takes time to build and sustain, but as we’ve seen, it’s worth the work in progress.

Happy Selling,

David

Perspective is a particular attitude or a way of thinking about circumstances. Our perspective is how we view our life experiences. It’s all about how we look at things. When we change our perspective, it can change our results.

If you want to have a successful life and experience more joy, you must change your mindset and attitude to fit that. A positive perspective is what it takes for success. The way you choose to see things controls how you feel. How you feel determines how you act.

When your perspective is positive, your action is what produces the results. No matter what you go through in life, you must choose to have a positive perspective. This gives you the proper mindset and the motivation to accomplish your goals.

Unfortunately, many people let negative excuses hold them back from accomplishing their goals. They tend to blame other people or they just claim that it’s just bad luck (lies we tell ourselves) that is keeping them from achieving their dreams. Life, as we know, is filled with ups and downs. This is why it’s important to have a positive perspective.

Make it a habit to notice the positives in your life. Look for the good in life and realize that there are many things to feel passionate about. Choose to live a life filled with joy. Get excited about life and the opportunities around you. Commit to focusing on the positive. Practice gratitude daily. Your perspective becomes more positive when you are grateful. There is always something to be thankful for.

Gratitude changes everything. Instead of saying.” I have to”, start your day with “ I get to”. For example, I get to exercise. I get to go to work. I get to be a blessing to other people. I get to eat healthy foods. I get to experience new things. IT’S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE!

When the challenges and the difficulties come, choose to no longer have a negative perspective. Instead of asking “Why me?”, change to a positive perspective. Start asking questions like “What can I do to overcome this?” or “How can I become better?” Do not focus on the problem, focus on the solution.

Going forward, surround yourself with positive people. Being around people who support you can have a profound impact on your perspective and on your life. Take good care of yourself, physically, mentally, and improve your life. Make sure you eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep and exercise regularly. Always practice positive self talk and affirmations.

Today’s the day to begin a new positive perspective. You deserve the life that you were meant to have. Live with joy and gratitude and go out and make it happen!

Happy Selling,

David

This past Monday was April Fool’s day, April 1st. is called April Fools’ Day in most parts of the world, and it has been observed for centuries. Also called All Fools’ Day, the day is usually marked by pranks and practical jokes played on friends, family and acquaintances, or even strangers. It is not known as to how people actually started to observe this odd day. 

From the Home Office in The Town of Fools here are

Top Ten Facts About April Fools Day

Here are some facts about the fun day.

10. In ancient Rome, people celebrated a holiday, which was called Hilaria, and it was very similar to All Fools’ Day! They played jokes on each other on this day.

9. It is widely believed that April Fools’ Day started in 1564, when France switched to a different calendar as Charles IX issued a decree saying the new year would begin on January 1, and not on Easter, which would be around April 1. People who continued to celebrate the day in April would be called ‘April fools’.

8. Many also suggest that people might have come to observe All Fools Day around this time because of the vernal equinox (March 21), when the weather tends to show sudden changes and people get fooled by it.

7. In France, the person who gets fooled is called poisson d’avril, which means “April fish”. This could be in reference to a fish who is easily caught. A common custom is seen in France on April 1 when people try to stealthily attach a paper fish to someone’s back.

6. In Scotland, April Fools’ Day is celebrated over two days. April 1 is known as ‘April Gowk (cuckoo)’, or ‘Gowkie Day’, and also ‘Hunt the Gowk’. The next day is ‘Tailie Day’, when revellers place signs reading “kick me” on their friends’ backs.

5. According to one theory, which now stands disputed, it was Geoffrey Chaucer’s 1387 work, The Canterbury Tales, which first recorded an association between April 1 and foolishness. 

4. British folklore has the April Fool’s Day associated with a Gotham event in Nottinghamshire dating back to the 13th century. It is said that it was a tradition then that any road that the king placed his foot upon would become public property. King John once planned to travel through Gotham town, but when the residents heard this they devised a plan to stop his visit since they did not want to part with their land. When the king sent his soldiers to Gotham, they found the place to be full of fools doing mindless activities such as drowning fish in water or caging birds in cages without a roof. The king apparently declared Gotham too foolish for a visit, and April Fools’ Day came to be known as the town’s victory over King John.

3. A Roman myth says God Pluto abducted Proserpina and took her to the underworld, leaving her mother Ceres to search for her in vain. Many believe this fruitless search gave birth to the tradition of “fool’s errands”, which are basically an imaginary or impossible task.

2. There are two Biblical theories also about fool’s errands. It is believed that the biblical Noah, was the first “April Fool” because he sent the dove out by mistake on April 1 to see if the waters had subsided from the face of earth, and to find dry land before that happens. According to another story, Jesus was sent on this day to Herod from Pontius Pilate and back. The saying, “sending a man from Pilate to Herod”, literally means sending a person on a fool’s errand.

And the #1 Top Ten Facts About April Fools Day is …

1. Sometime in the early 1960s, Sweden’s only television channel that would broadcast in black and white announced on the news on April 1 that the viewers could convert their TV sets to display colour reception by just pulling a nylon stocking over the device screen, now that’s kinda funny.

April Fool’s Day is a holiday that has been celebrated for centuries, and it’s enjoyed by people all around the world. Whether you’re playing pranks on your friends or just enjoying the lighthearted humor of the day, it’s a time to let loose and have some fun.

Have a great weekend,

David

This word, complacency.   This word doesn’t exist in the vocabulary of an entrepreneur.  
We are always looking for opportunities.  To do it better.  Do it faster.  Do it in a different way altogether.  Do something that’s not been done before.  
And if we’re honest, in the payments field, complacency = attrition.  Fail to adapt to the changes and your merchants will adapt without you.  

But because we’re always looking ahead to what’s next, sometimes we fail to recognize the progress we’ve already made, celebrate the achievements we’ve attained, or appreciate the foundation we’ve worked so hard to build.  

We can find ourselves in a never-ending state of uneasiness.  We always want more. We struggle to look back and reflect because we’re too busy chasing the next big idea.  

Take a pause.  Turn your head over your shoulder and see how far you’ve come.That foundation you poured into is what’s supporting the second story you hope to build next.  

Recognize the hard work of getting from zero to something much more, be grateful for what came from it, and then and only then…. Keep building.

Happy Selling, 

David

If you’re going to be in sales you have to stay motivated, and to make motivation a daily part of your life, you need practice and perseverance. Below are seven ways to stock your motivation toolbox. Use these tools daily to keep your spirits and goals on track.

1. Accept where you are. By accepting your own abilities and working within your limitations, you can use valuable energy to create positive life changes. Someone once said, “Your circumstances don’t control you, they define you!” The way you are reflects the sum total of your choices to date.

2. Dare to think in awesome dimensions. When you think about what you want to achieve, do you think of your self-proclaimed limits? Why stop where you stop? Try thinking in unusual or outrageous terms.

3. Don’t dwell on defeat. When you give up in your mind, your mind gives up on you. Once this happens, the rest is downhill. Remember, there is no such thing as failure; there are only outcomes. If you don’t like your outcome, try changing your activity.

4. Tap motivational resources. To counteract negative memories and thoughts, flood your mind with positive input every day by listening to motivational recordings – a podcast or audio book – while working out, on the drive home, on the road, or first thing when you wake up. 

5. Stay committed to your career goals. Salespeople have a tendency to be on the lookout for a better deal. Lack of personal career commitment is the greatest source of dissatisfaction with one’s profession. Get committed and learn to just say no to anything that doesn’t support your career purpose.

High Activity Salespeople (HASPs) Average 50% Higher Sales Commissions!

6. Do not allow setbacks to control you. If you do, then your supporters may think that you don’t have the resolve to stick to your plans for success. When you face an inevitable disappointment, accept it as a learning experience and find creative ways to work through it. You can choose to react to a disappointment by seeking solace and quitting, thus weakening your ability to do something positive about it. Or, instead of shrinking from challenges, you can choose to learn, resolve to handle a similar situation differently the next time around, and grow.

7. Never be intimidated. Most success is more perceived than real. It does no good to envy the possessions of others. There is a teaching in Buddhism: “People are not their stuff.” This means that if you take all of your elements, such as your pride, body, friends, money, status, position, job, and anything else you can think of that you normally use to define another, and remove them from yourself, the real you is left. You are as important as anyone else on the planet.

Remember this saying: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” You have to accept responsibility for getting what you want in your life. When you don’t like a situation, take action to change it. Waiting for someone else to make the changes you want decreases your motivation and ability to act. By waiting, you diminish yourself and your cause. Don’t just take notice, take action.

Happy Selling, 

David

When an amazing opportunity comes up, I see far too many people that come up with all the excuses in the world not to take advantage of the opportunity….

”I’m too old, I’m too young, I don’t know enough, I need more training, I’m waiting for things to be perfect, I wasn’t trained correctly, you don’t know what I’ve been through, etc. etc. etc.”

 This killer disease of success is called “excusitus”.

 Unfortunately far too many people have killed their dreams because of this disease.  Here’s the good news! 

If you have found yourself making too many excuses, today is the day to change!   From here on in, ZERO EXCUSES! 

Excuses are for the weak.  Responsibility is for the strong.  It is time to take responsibility for your life.

 No matter what you have been through, focus on what you can do starting to do to make it better. Put together a plan of action to ensure your life will be better in the future.

  Life is too short. It is time to make the commitment.  There is an amazing plan for your life. 

You have been gifted with amazing talent and it’s time to use this God given gift. 

  The road to success is always under construction. 

Nothing is going to go smoothly. 

You will have challenges. 

You will have difficulties. 

Today, you must decide how you are going to respond to those challenges.

 Never give up! 

Never give in!

 Choose to take responsibility for your circumstances. 

Focus on what can be done and choose to make things happen.

Setbacks are part of the growth process. When challenges come your way, you will keep growing.

 Things will not always go the way that you might have planned. Welcome to life! None of us can escape life‘s challenges and hardships. What separates the winners from the losers is how we respond to life‘s challenges.

  The strong have zero excuses. 

Remember, you are strong! 

It is time for you to go to the next level.

 From here on in, no more procrastinating, no more hesitating, no more doubts, no more regrets, and no more excuses.

 You will reach your goals. 

Your dreams will come to fruition. 

This is your time!

So write out all your goals, put a plan of success together and go for it! 

This way, when you look back at your life in 10 years, you can say “I chose my life. 

I did not settle for it.” You will know that you made no excuses and you will not have any regrets.

Your determination is going to pay off. Understand that it’s going to take hard work to achieve your goals.

 Be strong, be relentless and make the decision going forward to have no more excuses ever again!

You are a conqueror! Make it happen, live with ZERO EXCUSES and enjoy your Success!

Happy Selling! 

David

Happy April Fools’ Day! This day is celebrated on the first of April, is a day filled with laughter, pranks, and playful antics. While it’s widely recognized as a day for practical jokes, there’s more to this lighthearted holiday than meets the eye. As salespeople, understanding the significance and history of April Fools’ Day can provide valuable insights into connecting with customers and driving sales. Here are some fun facts about April Fools’ Day that every salesperson should know:

1. Ancient Origins: The exact origins of April Fools’ Day are uncertain, but it’s believed to have roots in ancient Roman and Celtic festivals celebrating the arrival of spring. These festivals often involved lighthearted pranks and mischievous behavior.

2. Calendar Change: In the 16th century, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, replacing the Julian calendar. However, not everyone immediately adopted the new calendar, leading to confusion and misunderstandings about the correct date of New Year’s Day. Those who continued to celebrate the New Year in late March/early April became the butt of jokes and pranks, thus giving rise to April Fools’ Day.

3. Global Celebration: April Fools’ Day is celebrated in various countries around the world, each with its own unique traditions and customs. In France, it’s known as “Poisson d’Avril,” where people play pranks involving paper fish. In Scotland, the holiday lasts for two days and is known as “Hunt-the-Gowk Day,” with participants sending unsuspecting victims on foolish errands.

4. Media Hoaxes: April Fools’ Day is a popular day for media outlets, companies, and even governments to play elaborate pranks on the public. From fake news stories to hoax product launches, these pranks often generate widespread attention and amusement.

5. Positive Engagement: Despite its origins in trickery, April Fools’ Day presents an opportunity for us sales folks to engage with our audience in a positive and lighthearted way. By crafting creative and humorous marketing campaigns, we can foster a sense of camaraderie with our prospects and customers and strengthen loyalty.

6. Sales Opportunities: For salespeople, April Fools’ Day can be more than just a day for laughs – it can also be a chance to drive sales and connect with clients on a deeper level. By incorporating April Fools’ Day themes into marketing efforts, offering special promotions, or hosting fun events, we can capitalize on the holiday spirit to boost engagement and revenue.

April Fools’ Day is more than just a day for pranks – it’s a celebration of laughter, creativity, and connection. By embracing the spirit of the holiday and leveraging its unique characteristics, salespeople can create memorable experiences for their prospects & clients and drive sales success.

Happy April Fools’ Day, and happy selling!

David

It’s Good Friday and we are excited for Easter Sunday! Because just thinking about those chocolate bunnies and fun family Easter a is activities is enough to get our adrenaline running. This year, Easter falls on Sunday, March 31st. But have you ever wondered why the date changes every year? As a matter of fact, do you know exactly why the Christian holiday is celebrated in the first place? These questions may seem obvious, but there might be a lot about Easter that you don’t know! That’s why we’re listing this Friday’s Top 10 fun and interesting Easter facts. Some of which you may already be familiar with and others that might just surprise you.

From the Home office in EASTER, TEXAS, here are the

Top 10 Things You May Not Know about Easter

10. The Easter Bunny legend began in Germany

Have you ever wondered where the Easter Bunny story originated?

We can say that the story of rabbits bringing eggs doesn’t make a lot of logical sense, so there must be a reason why every year children rush to see what treats this mythical creature has left for them. But just like Santa Claus has no Christian significance to Christmas, the Easter Bunny also has no real connection to this holy day. The origin of the Easter Bunny dates back hundreds of years, beginning in pre-Christian Germany. Here, the hare was said to be the symbol of the Pagan Goddess of Spring and Fertility. As Christianity spread across Europe, Pagan traditions were blended with Christian holidays, which saw the Easter Bunny lay a nest of colorful (today, chocolate) eggs for children who were well-behaved on Easter Sunday.

9. The holiday was named after the Anglo-Saxon Goddess, Easter

Next in our guide to Easter facts is around the question: why is Easter called Easter?

According to scholars, this Christian holiday was named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess, Eostre, who was depicted as a Fertility Goddess and a Goddess of Dawn and Light. She was honored at Pagan festivals celebrating the arrival of spring, further highlighting the blend of Pagan traditions with Christian holidays.

8. More than 1.8 million Cadbury Cream Eggs are produced every day

Another fascinating Easter fact for you, Cadbury’s makes 500 million Creme Eggs every year! If you piled them on top of each other, it would be 10 x higher than Mount Everest. The Birmingham factory produces 1.5 million Creme Eggs every day, and the Cream Egg is the most popular egg-shaped chocolate in the world.

7. The act of painting eggs originates from a Ukrainian tradition

For countless generations, Ukrainians have been decorating eggs as a calling out to the Gods and Goddesses of health and fertility. This traditional act of pysanka (“pih-sahn-kah”) is made by using wax and dyes, but this colorful custom didn’t take off until Ukrainian immigrants came to the U.S.

6. The world’s largest Easter egg weighs in at 5000 lbs

Standing 31ft tall and 18ft wide is the world’s largest Easter egg. Found in Vegreville, Alberta, Canada, the egg weighs a hefty 5000 lbs and took 12,000 hours to complete. Named the Vegreville Pysanka, the world’s largest Easter egg is actually more of a jigsaw than a sculpture, as it is made from 3500 pieces of aluminum.

5. Pretzels used to be associated with Easter

When we think of Easter, chocolate, hot-cross buns and eggs usually spring to mind. But did you know that pretzels are also an Easter snack?

Pretzels are associated with Easter because the twists resemble arms crossing in prayer. From the 1950s, it was tradition for Germans to eat a pretzel and a hard-boiled egg for dinner on Good Friday.

4. Easter is celebrated on the Sunday after the full moon following March 21st

Ever wondered why Easter Sunday changes date every year? It’s down to the lunar calendar and the position of the moon. Easter in fact falls on the first Sunday after the full moon that takes place on or after March 21^st, which is said to signal the start of spring.

3. 70% of Easter candy purchased is chocolate.

76% of Americans think the ears of a chocolate bunny should be the first to be eaten.

2. Holy Week is the celebrated during the week leading up to Easter.

It begins on Palm Sunday, continues on to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and then finally, Easter Sunday.

And the #1 Friday’s Top 10 Things You May Not Know about Easter…

1. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Easter Sunday marks Jesus’ resurrection. After Jesus was crucified, his body was taken down from the cross, and placed in a tomb. The tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers and an massive stone was put over the entrance. On Sunday, three days after the crucifixion, Mary Magdalene visited the tomb to find that the stone had been moved and Jesus’ body had gone, HE IS RISEN!

So there you have it! There’s definitely more to Easter Sunday than Easter eggs, and we’re not just talking about colorful dyed eggs either.

While to many around the world, the day is still one of the most important Christian days of the year, to others, it’s a good excuse to get the family together to enjoy some wholesome fun and eat a fancy meal.

Have a wonderful Easter Weekend,

David