Author: David Matney

Being “in sales” often carries a negative connotation from an outsiders perspective. If you dig into the details of what’s at the core of the role- you can begin to understand why.

• Humans don’t enjoy being pushed or convinced to do things they are uncertain about; especially with people they don’t trust or have rapport with.
• People tend to dislike letting others down. To say NO and reject someone can feel uncomfortable and awkward- thus, the average person chooses to avoid talking to sales people altogether.

In my experience in both sales, and sales management- the concept of selling with “indifference” (when applied correctly) can be one of the biggest drivers to success and completely turn notions of salespeople being “pushy,” upside down. Furthermore, it can lead to greater sales performance, stronger relationships with clients, feelings of more control, and less overall stress in your work.

I believe you can still be a solid sales performer without the skill set of selling with indifference. Michael Jordan without a mid-range jump shot still would’ve been an effective player, but he would’ve been missing a crucial element of what is required to be an elite performer.

What exactly is Indifference?

Indifference as a sales concept means being even keeled irrespective of circumstance, never appearing desperate for a sale. This is not to be confused with feeling indifferent about your job as a whole. It’s simply a tactic used to be more effective within your approach to selling.

In any negotiation, one side always needs the other more. The party in a position of power has leverage, and can more easily influence an outcome. Indifference has the game changing ability to level the playing field from the lesser side and regain some of that power back.

Why does it work?

• It gives prospects an out by putting the ball in their court to make a choice. As mentioned above, people don’t like being pushed. Here they’re actively making their own choice that you’ve shown you’re ok with.
• Humans yearn for what they can’t have. Psychologically playing hard to get exudes confidence, shows experience, signals that you have other options, and demonstrates belief in what you’re doing or have to offer.
• You’re able to detach and move on. Relying on one prospect, putting all of your eggs in one basket can have massive consequences if that specific sale doesn’t work out. Being neutral with the outcome knowing you controlled what you could is a much healthier approach to replicate success and be consistent.

Indifference won’t work if you’re selling from a place of weakness

Putting the concept into action:

• Embrace the mindset of being indifferent. “Act as if” you’re ok with any outcome throughout the entirety of the sales cycle. Even if it doesn’t result in you making a sale.
• Set expectations with your prospect early on. Use phrases at the beginning of your appointment or demo such as “After a 20 minute conversation, one of two things typically happen. First, WE MAY FIND IT’S NOT A FIT to work together and that’s okay. Alternatively, you may see that we are able to help with XYZ challenge and partner together in a mutually beneficial way.”
• Maintain a full pipeline. If you don’t have a next appointment or other prospects who are close to buying from you, you will be forced to operate from a position of desperation because you will truly need them more than they need you.
• Use the right language and tone. Project confidence, calmness, and be concise in your words to avoid over selling or convincing. 

I would challenge anyone in sales to empower themselves by using indifference to their advantage. To truly see tangible benefits, commit to using this approach for a defined period of time (one calendar month, one quarter, etc) and track to measure your successes and wins along the way.

Happy Selling,

David

Today let’s discuss the pitfalls of setting goals in sales.  Who remembers the old Atari game Pitfall? Sales seems like that old game sometimes. Always jumping, running or dodging distractions to knock me off my game. There are only two goals on which you should focus in sales to avoid the Pitfalls.

Unfortunately, sales people focus on everything BUT these two goals!

1.  Developing a habit of hard work.  This should be your number one goal.  Some of you right now are literally deciding if you’re going to work in the field today.  One of the big differentiators I found for successful independent business or sales people is that they go to work every day without even thinking about it.

2.  The second goal is to make money; get your Bonus & Residuals.  Do whatever it takes to actually get the deal done and close the sale so you get paid.

Any other goal besides these two is very dangerous and your creating pitfalls for yourselves.

Recently, I talked to a sales rep who was proud and excited that he had spent about an hour on the phone doing cold calls and set up two appointments for himself.  There’s nothing wrong with that except he didn’t keep one of the appointments and didn’t get any sales!  His goal, I guess, was to set appointments for himself. 

If you know how to sell and put in the work, you’re going to get the middle of the road goals such as the appointments, statements, and all that you need. 

If you’re working consistently but not getting contacts, appointments, or statements, then I question your sales ability.  Work harder at your training!

Today get out in the field and WORK! 

My question is how many sales did you make; how much money did you make?  Stop hiding behind excuses by saying things like, “I didn’t make any sales this week, but I got some really good contacts.”  Did anybody pay you for those contacts?

MAKE A SALE!

Happy Selling.

David

 What does it mean to give your all? Giving your all means putting the necessary effort into achieving your goal. It is giving as much as you can to achieve something big.

The truth is that you will never succeed at a high level if you do not make a commitment to give your all. The sad part is that most people want to have great achievements, but they are not willing to do what it takes in order to get there.

The Success journey is always under construction. It’s filled with detours, challenges, and many obstacles. Unfortunately, many people give up when the difficulties come. You have some incredible opportunities in your life right now. How much effort are you putting in to make your dreams come true?

You are not meant to be mediocre or just get by. There is much more to life than that. If you really want to achieve something big, the only way it’s going to happen Is by giving it your all. I’m talking about never giving up and putting in a 100% commitment to do what it takes to make it happen.

Perhaps you’ve recently gone through some trials. This is the time to remember why you began your journey in the first place. Now, more than ever, is the time to GIVE YOUR ALL! It is time to dig deep down inside and pull yourself up. It is time to lift your head up high and start pursuing your goals today!

Even if you are going through challenges, you still will make it happen. You must understand that challenges are part of the success story. If you feel tired, frustrated and ready to throw in the towel, you must pick yourself up and keep marching towards your big goal.

You will experience rejection and wonder if your dream is even worth it. Let me tell you this.. I promise you it is DEFINITELY WORTH IT!

Your future self will thank you for going through those miles of trials with determination and perseverance. There is a fire burning inside of you that is mighty. It is waiting to burn bright. You are designed to do great things. You have dreams and goals that are ready to come to fruition. But the only way they will is if you make a 100% commitment to give everything that you’ve got. Give it your best, and your dreams will come to life.

The time is now for your success. Boldly go in the direction of your dreams. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be worth it. The only way you can fail is if you give up. Every time you fail, you come one step closer to success. Do not back down and do not give up. It’s time to make It happen. You’ve got this!

Never listen to any of the naysayers. Surround yourself with winners and make that commitment to GIVE YOUR ALL! 

Happy Selling,

David

You may have watched the movie “Wolf of Wall Street”, this movie was a depiction of “Jordan Belfort” who was a stock market broker who created his own successful brokerage firm. Although his firm went downhill due to his illegal practices of selling bogus shares of companies that weren’t even real, he still managed to run an extremely successful brokerage firm.

His tactics included becoming a master at selling. Jordan was highly skilled in communicating and convincing individuals to buy shares of bogus companies. If you really think about it, it’s highly impressive for an individual to sell shares of a fake company that doesn’t even exist. That just shows the power of his influence and tactics in selling. Jordan was a firm believer in hustling and effective selling.

He believed that everything in life is earned and not given. You can’t wish for things to happen, you have to make it happen using powerful tactics and influential tactics. Today, Jordan is an author and a motivational speaker. One of his best selling books titled, “The way of the Wolf” teaches his methods of becoming a successful sales person and businessman. Today, I will share with you Jordan Belfort’s Top 10 successful tips he recommends in order to become successful in the world of business and effective selling.

                                  From the home office in Hot Coffee Mississippi,

The Top 10 Successful Tactics and Tips by Jordan Belfort

10. Don’t live in your past

Don’t be a slave to your past. If you keep lingering on the past, it will affect you for the future. If you have a bad past then forget about it and move forward. Everything in life is in front of you and that’s all you can control. The past only hurts you to become powerful in the future.

9. Act how you want to become

If you want to become wealthy and successful act as if you were already that. Take action and have the confidence as if you were already successful. This will put you in the right mindset of success. You will eventually create successful habits and become ready for success when it happens.

8. Give value to make money

If you really want to make money, you have to create something of value to your customers. Create something that would be make your customers or people demand. When you understand and master that concept, money will attract to you!

7. Never give up

This is the most important characteristics to become rich. NEVER GIVE UP. If you give up, you will never make it to success. Giving up your dreams and goals will make hopeless. Once you give up, your dream is over! It is important to understand that failure is the backbone of becoming successful so never give up!

6. Have high standards

Always aim high and never settle for less. Jordan believes that people fail because they have smaller goals. Having poor standards will have a negative impact on the people around due to numerous reasons. For example, if you settled with a job that pays $35,000 instead of 70,000 this may hurt your family financially in the future. That extra money included in your salary could help your family with covering expenses such as mortgage, emergencies, vacations, etc…

5. WInners are always confident

Winners always have the powerful mindset of saying must and will. Their minds are always wired to win and have confident thoughts. Never shy away from any successful mission or goal. This should always be powered through with willing and positive thoughts.

4. The “WHY”

One quote from Jordan Belfort is “if you give people a good enough why, they will always figure out the how”. People are always capable of becoming influenced if you influence them well enough.

3. Control your environment

In order to be successful, you have to control your environment. You have to eradicate the negative thoughts anyone may place in your mind and replace it with strong positive thoughts that are correlated towards your goals. You have to master your environment in order to consistently be motivated and aiming towards successful thoughts.

2. What’s holding you back from being successful?

Jordan believed that not becoming was successful was due to negative thoughts that contained excused and a bs story behind it. In order to achieve success, all excused have to be eradicated. Excuses only prevent you from overcoming obstacles that are preventing you from becoming successful. Excuses don’t give you any justice when it comes to attaining success. Overall, ELIMINATE IT!

and the #1 Top 10 Tips on Success from The Wolf of Wall Street is …

1. Wiring your mind to be mentally strong

Jordan believed in having a powerful mind for business. Mentally, your mind has to be wired to win and have positive thoughts. Poor decisions should be replaced with rich quality thoughts. He was also a firm believer of unlearning all the negative thoughts and replacing them with good ones. This tool is powerful in order to become successful in preventing your mind from having weak thoughts.

There you have it! These are the  Top Ten Tips from The Wolf of Wall Street. Jordan Belfort is a highly talented individual when it comes to powerful influencing and successful business tactics. To learn more about successful business tips from Jordan, make sure to read his top selling books. You will learn a lot from Jordan and it may even change your life!

have an awesome weekend,

David

I read something a few years ago that has stuck with me, Nearly half of our actions are habitual.  Yes, half, Research shows that 50% of the time, we do things without consciously thinking about them. 

That’s all well and good when you consider the positive actions that are second nature to you as a good human being and merchant services sales agent such as saying please and thank you and covering your mouth when you cough. But when you start thinking about all of the other things you MIGHT BE DOING but aren’t fully aware of, it’s a downright horrifying thought.

Whether you are aware of your own off-putting as well as positive habits, there are likely some that are working against you and your goals as a sales agent. The good news is that you can change your habits. Now before you get all “ain’t-nobody-got-time-for-that” on me, it only takes a few seconds of consciously conscious  thought several times a day to change or create a habit. You don’t need to enroll in a training program, adopt a rigorous routine or read another self-help book. According to  the latest research, you need to stick with your conscious thoughts about a particular action for 14-18 days in order for it to become an automatic response.

So which habits will make you a more successful merchant services sales professional?

Consider these 8 practices that are second nature to top-performing sales pros.

1. They make a great impression.

Not just a good first impression. There is a big difference. In order to win new business AND retain it, successful sales professionals have to be aware of all the ways they can leave an impression. That extends beyond the first meeting to follow-up emails, phone calls, social media and interactions long after the application is signed. Genuine trust in a sales relationship is hard to find, and it’s one way that top performing payments consultants differentiate themselves from  being a sales professional to the sea of typical credit card sales agents.

2. They focus on building relationships, rather than just earning sales.

For some sales professionals, success is defined as being able to continually sign deals and “collect” a lot of merchants. Some ignore their merchants until the merchant calls with an issue or even worse, until they realize that the merchant has switched to a different processor. 

T op-performing sales professionals take an entirely different approach. Building and then maintaining a solid relationship with their books of business is second nature. They touch base with each merchant at least once a month in some way – by text, email marketing, phone or by frequenting their business.

3. They prepare well.

This is a fairly broad habit because being well prepared transcends beyond prospecting new merchants. The most successful independent sales professionals consistently take a few moments out of their daily schedules to practice their pitch, mentally reflect on their notes before a meeting, or even to listen to a podcast about an industry they’re targeting during their commute. Of course, the more time you can find, the better, but even a few moments each day can make a big difference.

4. They dedicate specific times each day to selling and prospecting.

There are times when everyone has asked themselves, “where has the day gone?!?” We’ve all been there. We didn’t have a solid plan and schedule for our day and we fell victim to a steady stream of distractions and requests. Sure, we might have been helpful to others and somewhat productive, but we didn’t get any closer to our actual goal. The most successful sales professionals seem to rarely fall into this trap. What do they do differently? 

They dedicate specific, non-negotiable times each day for selling and specific times for prospecting. During these times, they only sell or prospect and set other tasks aside unless there is a true emergency. This time management habit leads to a more productive and fulfilling day.

5. They are diligent in researching prospects on social media.

It’s important to realize how much of a prospecting advantage you’ll have if you’re able to use social media well. Most of the merchants that you rely on for new deals depend on their social media accounts to generate hype and interest in their business. Successful sales professionals take full advantage of information available on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. These sources can provide a wealth of sales opportunities and chances to strengthen a merchant-sales professionals relationship.

6. They ask great  Questions AND Listen Carefully.

You know better than anyone that trying to identify a merchant’s true needs and motivations is challenging. You can’t just ask any old questions. You have to ask the right questions, sometimes repeatedly to get the information you need in order to help the merchant. The best sales professionals have trained themselves to treat their conversations with merchants like covert FBI missions to uncover the merchant’s needs. They are patient and listen to a merchant’s stories, even ones unrelated to payment processing, to hear any nuggets or clues about the merchant’s motivations and also potential objections.

7. They set big goals for themselves.

Successful sales professionals constantly push themselves to achieve more than they thought would be possible. They do this by zeroing in on their strengths and sales activities that they really enjoy and then committing to doing more of them. Based on the results of their efforts, they refine their goals so that they’re always challenging themselves.

8. They are passionate. 

This is true for the most successful salespeople in general and especially true for top merchant service sales professionals. While credit card processing seems like an obscure thing to be passionate about, the most successful sales professionals understand and believe in the value of the services they’re selling. Whether that passion stems from their ability to help merchants or their ability to earn a good living as an merchant services sales professional, the passion for their products is a source of energy for them.

So, what change can you make today that your future self will thank you for? 

Now that you have reflected on your own habits and learned about the habits of successful sales pro’s, it’s time to plan your next step. 

Which habit do you think will help you the most in your career? … I challenge you to commit to it today.

Let us know which habit you’re committing to changing or developing. Also, are there any other habits that have served you well?

Happy Selling,

David

Remember the old saying the early bird gets the worm? forget the early bird. The most persistent bird gets the worm. 

Ask yourself: Am I consistent in how I use my time, how I schedule my time? Am I consistent in how I stay engaged with my customers and how I follow up? 

Many salespeople struggling to close deals are simply lacking one thing: consistency.

Consistency in time management.

The most successful salespeople are the ones who are absolutely consistent with their time. I get to work with some absolute top performers in a number of industries, people who are rocking it and commanding massive, massive paychecks. In fact, they all tell me one thing. They say, “David, our lives are really quite boring because we’re absolutely consistent with how we use our time.” 

They’re disciplined, they’re absolutely dialed in, know exactly what to do, when to do it, and they don’t deviate from it. One guy tells me, “Every morning at nine o’clock, this is exactly what I’m doing. Every morning at 10 o’clock, this is exactly what I’m doing. The only deviation is if I happen to be on the road.” 

Answer yourself this question, are you consistent? Because when you create consistency, it’s amazing how it becomes repetitive.

Consistency in how you prospect. 

I see too many people make a bunch of phone calls and then they never come back and follow up. They have one sales call, but they’re not consistent in their follow-up. 

The sale is made in the follow-up. It’s not made on the first call. Are you demonstrating consistency in your follow-up? 

There are so many surveys and studies out there it could make your head spin, but the average customer buys after six or eight calls, but the average salesperson gives up after three or four (or something close to that). I’m going to venture to say that you are not being consistent enough. 

Have something to share every time.

Don’t sit there and say, “Mark, I don’t have enough information to share.” 

That’s your problem; you haven’t taken the time to develop the information to share. 

Every time I reach out to a customer, I’m giving them new insights, new messages. Don’t tell me “I’m reaching out to them too often. I’ve called them five times and they’re not interested.” 

I’ve had many people that I’ve called numerous times and they totally ignore me, but ultimately they do come back and buy from me and they say, “Thank you for reaching out because you stayed consistent. I just never had time to reach out to you, but I do want to talk with you, and now’s the time I want to.” 

 Pro tip: Use your CRM to set your focus!

If you work diligently at prospecting but the potential buyer does not see the value you bring you’ll get vetted. A great prospecting strategy includes two words: Consistency and Credibility.

You must execute a prospecting strategy consistently.

Happy Selling,

David

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up next Sunday and this gives us a little over a week to prepare. As the world dons shades of green to celebrate Irish culture, it’s time for us to tap into the festive spirit and find the pot of gold at the end of the sales rainbow. In this blog post, we’ll explore creative ways to leverage St. Patrick’s Day to connect with merchants and enhance your sales efforts.

1. Leverage St. Patrick’s Day-themed Promotions: Create a special promotions or discounts tied to St. Patrick’s Day. For example, offer a “Lucky Merchant” discount for those who sign up for your services during the holiday week. Highlighting these promotions in your sales pitches can add a sense of urgency and excitement for potential clients. “Put some green on the bottom like with Dual pricing”
2. Dress for Success: Channel the luck of the Irish by dressing in green or incorporating St. Patrick’s Day accessories during your sales calls. A touch of festive attire not only breaks the ice but also shows your clients that you’re attuned to the cultural moment, creating a more friendly and memorable interaction.
3. Send Personalized St. Patrick’s Day Greetings: Reach out to your existing clients with personalized St. Patrick’s Day greetings. A thoughtful message, perhaps with a touch of humor, can strengthen your client relationships. This can also be an opportunity to remind them ongoing promotions.
4. Create St. Patrick’s Day Content: Leverage the power of content marketing by creating St. Patrick’s Day-themed blog posts, infographics, or videos. Share insights about how your services can help businesses flourish, drawing parallels with the luck associated with the Irish holiday. Use social media to amplify your content and engage with your audience.
5. Utilize Email Marketing: Craft eye-catching St. Patrick’s Day-themed email campaigns to capture the attention of your leads. Incorporate festive visuals, witty subject lines, and a clear call-to-action to drive conversions. Make sure to highlight the benefits of your merchant services and any special offers.
6. Offer a Pot of Gold: Consider running a contest or a referral program during the St. Patrick’s Day season. Reward merchants who refer new clients with exclusive incentives or prizes, creating a win-win situation for both parties.

This St. Patrick’s Day, let the luck of the Irish shine on your sales process. Embrace the festivities, connect with your prospects and clients on a personal level, and watch as your sales bloom like a field of clovers.

May your pitches be persuasive, your leads be plentiful, and your residuals be as abundant as a leprechaun’s gold!

Cheers to a successful St. Patrick’s Day sales season!

Happy Sellling,

David

Your mind is a powerful thing. Your thought process can either get you to where you want to be in life or prevent you from getting there. If you can control your mind, you can accomplish great things.

Controlling your mind certainly can be a very challenging process. When you don’t control your mind, your thoughts and emotions can become your own worst enemy.

Self doubt and negative thoughts can creep in. The good news is that you can take control of your mind and replace negative thoughts with positive and truthful ones. By doing this, you will have a much more positive and balanced life. The truth is that many people do not have control of their mind because they do not have a clear vision of where they want to go in life.

Your thought process will change positively if you create a specific plan for your life. Make a commitment to write down the major things that you want to achieve. Once you have set some big goals, break them down into smaller, daily benchmarks. This way you will be able to see progress as you are working towards the major things you want in life.

Start being aware of some of the negative patterns that you have had in your thought process. Perhaps, you have dealt with self doubt, complaining, and excuses. Once you become aware of that, make a commitment to change your thought process. Start out simply by smiling. Even if you don’t feel like it, SMILE. Get into the practice of this habit. Another way to control your mind is to take focus off yourself.

There is no greater joy than being a blessing and helping others. You will find that you get more out of it than the people you are helping. Spending time serving others will increase your happiness and well-being. Always remember that you are created for greatness. There is only one you, and you have been gifted in many ways. With your gifts, you can and will accomplish amazing things.

If you’ve been battling stinking thinking, now is the time to start believing in yourself and knowing you can change. There will be obstacles and challenges throughout your journey, but understanding that you control your thoughts will allow you to overcome any problem with positive thinking. You definitely can take control of your mind. Your thoughts create your reality. If you do not become the master of your mind, your mind will master you.

When you learn to master your mind, you begin to understand what you can accomplish. Your mind should never control you, you should control your mind. Your mind should never drive you, you should drive your mind. You shouldn’t obey your mind, your mind should obey you.

Begin today! Start each day by waking up early and getting into a positive routine. This could involve exercising, healthy breakfast, quiet time and writing out your goals. Win your morning and win your day. You’ve got this! Now is your time! Control your mind and create the life of your dreams! 

Happy Selling,

David

All salespeople want to close as many deals as possible. And usually, there is a process and rules that we as salespeople need to follow. Below is this Fridays top ten merchant services sales commandments that we all need to post and remember.

From the home office in  Money, Mississippi 

Here are the  The Top 10 Sales Commandments

X. Thou shalt listen more than thou speaketh

This commandment is essential for long-term sales success. Listening is the most important skill any salesperson can learn. Violate this commandment at your own peril.

IX. Thou shalt not let thy leads go uncalled

Research indicates that up to 50% of sales go to the sales person that responds first, which is why you should never let your leads linger. And if you’ve already called them once, obey this commandment and call them again….. and again……and again…  and again… and again.. .Follow Up!

VIII. Thou shalt not forget thy customer’s name

Sales people sometimes make the mistake of forgetting who they are talking to, which can be uncomfortable when you need to call the customer by their name. When you first talk to someone, write their name down or say it over and over in your head a few times to remember.

VII. Remember the CRM, to keep it updated

 Feeding the CRM beast has never been something that salespeople enjoy doing, but it’s a requirement of the job. Thankfully Clientvine, can keep track of your calls and actions for you, so you can spend your time selling.

VI. Honor thy promises to thy mechant

If you’ve quoted a price or made any type of promise to a prospect or merchant, or committed to delivering something by a certain date, you need to do everything in your power to get it done. Salespeople live or die by their word, and must earn the merchants trust every single day.

V. Thou shalt not kill thy processor

The processor wants to help you, and it’s their job to help you hit your sales goals. Yes, some of them can be tough, and some of them you might not get along with, but dealing with them is part of the job.

IV. Thou shalt overcome objections without losing thy step

Expert salespeople don’t see objections as roadblocks at all, they see them as stepping stones that get you closer to closing the deal. Overcome objections with confidence as this commandment instructs you to.

III. Thou shalt love thy product, service and industry

You’ve got to have an unshakable belief that your products, your services and your industry and provide great value to your merchants. that beyond features and benefits you help people experience some kind of positive emotional outcome from your efforts: more happiness, peace of mind, fun, joy, security, prestige, whatever. If you can’t wake up every morning and say, “I LOVE this game!” then quit what you’re doing and go be a greeter at Walmart.

II. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s comp plan

Complaining about the comp plan is almost a rite of passage for salespeople. But your processors commission structure is probably beyond your control, so you need to accept it or, if you’re truly underpaid, find a better processor.

… And the #1 The Top 10 Merchant Services Sales Commandment is…

I. Thou shalt Always Be Closing

This commandment should be etched in stone on a tablet on your desk. All of the prospecting in the world won’t get you anywhere if you don’t close the prospects. There are many ways to do this, but if you violate this commandment, you won’t last long in merchant services sales.

Now go forth and sin no more!

Have a great weekend,

David 

Today is Leap Day! – February 29th – the day that is added to our calendar in years that are divisible by 4 – unless that year is divisible by 100 in which it is not added – unless the year is divisible by 400 in which case it is …

The reason we add the day is because the time it takes for the earth to revolve around the sun is slightly longer than 365 days (actually 365.256 days). So, if this day were not added, eventually we would have a blizzard on July 4th and who wants to celebrate the 4th of July with a blizzard – unless it is a Dairy Queen Blizzard!

The date actually goes back to the time of Caesar – 45 B.C. I find it absolutely incredible that they figured this type of thing out back then. I find it incredible that anyone could figure this out even today. People are pretty smart – ok some people are pretty smart – some are incredibly stupid, but that is not for this blog.

There are lots of traditions/superstitions regarding Leap Day. If you don’t believe me, Google it. They include:

• It is a day that it is permissible for a woman to propose to a man – and if a man says no to that marriage, he must purchase the woman 12 pairs of gloves. (So, single men, be careful today!)
• Babies born on this day are invited to join The Honor Society of Leap Day Babies.
• In Scotland it was considered unlucky to be born on a Leap Day.
• Greek tradition holds that it is unlucky to be married during a Leap Year. (Hey, I was married during a Leap Year – that may explain a lot to Stacy!)
• In villages of southern Germany, there is a tradition of boys putting up a small May tree in their love interest’s back garden during the night before May Day. But in Leap Years, it becomes the girls’ turn to put of the trees.

What is your view of this extra day? 

In today’s world, I think we can have one of three views – to keep it simple.

1. Today I work for free. 
   If you are paid twice a month and are on salary, today is a day you work for free – although your boss would say that it is worked into you compensation package.
2. Today is a bonus day.
   This is the other view. Today is a “bonus day” – an extra day added to the year where you get to make a difference! One more day to impact the world!
3. . Today I make I close an extra deal. Use this day to close a deal or two and add to your bottom line.

What is your view of today – a day working for free, a bonus day or a day to close a deal?

It makes me sad if you look at this day in any other way than a bonus day. Each day we live, we should enter it thinking it is a day to make a positive contribution to society. Each day is a clean slate. Each day brings new opportunities.

If this is not your view, perhaps you need to change jobs. If you are not excited about life and about what you do, make some changes!

Getting an extra day is fantastic! How are you going to utilize it?

Happy Selling,

David