For the new year, I have decided to ask some of the most respected industry leaders to share their thoughts on success. Thank you to Norm Hullinger, the CEO of alphabroder, for sharing his valuable advice. First question: In your years of experience in our industry, what do you think the most financially successful people…
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It Worked for Jim Carrey
If you want to achieve more wealth, just write yourself a check and post-date it. The law of attraction is a very real thing. The truth is that everything in our universe is about vibrations. I know that most things look solid, but the truth is that all things are made from atoms and all…
Read MoreIs Your Brand Supporting Your Success?
It’s curious to me that we are in the “branding business,” yet so many companies seem to have a brand that does not contribute to their success. Here’s a rule I learned many years ago: If you sell products, you will be asked to quote prices. If you sell solutions, you can name your price. Pick…
Read MoreDo You Know Where Your Order History Is?
Ask the Accountant… Question: Do You Know Where Your Order History Is? Answer: I have been working with OrderMaster users recently, because this software system is no longer supported by the manufacturer and the software is crashing. Hundreds of distributors have been using OM for as long as 20 years. It is now failing because…
Read MoreWhich Invoices Are Open? When Are They Due?
Ask the Accountant… Question: How can I find out which invoices are open and when they are due? Answer: In QuickBooks Premier, go to: “Reports” > “Customers and Receivables” > “A/R Aging Detail” This report will list all of your open invoices and their due dates. It will also “age” the invoices, showing how long…
Read MoreWhich QuickBooks Edition Is Right for You?
Ask the Accountant… Question: I am downloading QuickBooks Premier. Which edition do I pick? Answer: QB Premier has multiple editions built into it. You purchase QB Premier, but select the edition when you are downloading the software. For our industry, choose the Manufacturing and Wholesale Edition. It best suits our business needs, and has a…
Read MoreFinding the Right Credit Cards to Pay Suppliers and Maximize Points
Ask the Accountant… Question: How do you suggest I research credit cards to pay my suppliers and get points? Answer: Credit card points are a nice perk for our industry, but you should only use credit cards for this purpose if you pay the complete balance off each and every month. If you don’t plan…
Read MoreIs Enough Enough, Or Is Enough Not Enough?
We’ve all heard people say, “Enough is enough.” The person saying it wants something to stop because they can no longer accept or deal with it. We’ve all said it from time to time. The truth is that “enough is enough” is also how most people live their lives. No matter where you are in…
Read MoreSpeaking Your Customer’s Language: How We Talk to Promo Buyers
I’m not suggesting you need to learn a foreign language. What I am referring to is learning your client’s vocabulary tendencies and professional lingo to better understand their mindset, along with their industry pitfalls and challenges as promo buyers. Doing so will open the door to more opportunity. Let’s be real: Sales is predominately a…
Read MoreStop, Thief!
To what lengths do you go to protect your valuables? Lock your home? Lock your car? Security system and cameras on your home? Alarm system on your car? Many people I know do all the above and more. But they are leaving the door wide open for the biggest thief of all. Who is the…
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