by Kirby Hasseman
When you think of someone in sales, what comes to mind? If you are like most people you think of a high energy person that is bubbly and talkative. The stereotypical sales professional is highly charismatic and easily able to influence people to do their bidding. But in my experience, there is no one right way to succeed in sales. Certainly there are benefits to being an extravert. Extraverts like being around people. They feed off the energy of being in a group. If they are feeling down, getting in front of their customers and “being on stage” and get them up. These are certainly good for making sales calls. On the other hand, extraverts often need to be the center of attention. This makes them less likely to listen deeply. And the best salespeople know that they are not the center of the sales conversation…the customer is. You need to really empathize with them if you want to gain their trust…and help them. Introverts are often, by nature, better listeners. They are great at letting the customer be the center of attention. Because they are not talking, they can be more thoughtful with their questioning so they can provide fantastic sales solutions. But let’s face it, introverts can sometimes struggle with the “putting yourself out there” piece of sales. They can agonize over details before making a call and struggle with the energy to network. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. But I have seen both types of personalities succeed and fail (sometimes spectacularly) in sales. So what are some things that DO lead to sales success? Here are just a few that I have seen. Consistency of Effort: Many people in the sales profession have a roller coaster of results. They will have highs and lows. Some of that is unavoidable. But often that comes from a roller coaster of effort. They put in huge effort one day (or one week) and then fall off the next. The best salespeople and entrepreneurs do several pro-active things every day to create consistent results. Empathize with the Customer: If you want to create the best results for the customer, you really need to understand what they are going through. You need to understand what their pain points are, so you can best select a solution. As my friend Bill Petrie says, the best sales people act like a Doctor. They ask questions and find out the diagnosis and then prescribe a solution. Invest in Themselves: The best of the best in any profession keep learning. The best salespeople are no different. What books are you reading right now? If you don’t have an answer to that, you are not getting better. Listening to books and podcasts and attending education, help you get better. If you don’t do it, that’s fine…but just know that it’s a choice. The good news is, there is no one right way to succeed in sales. You can work within your own strengths to build a great business. You just have to be willing to put in the work. To make sure you never miss an update, make sure you sign up for our VIP newsletter here.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for a tradition like no other! Each week, our very own Jeff Wickerham takes the time to highlight a specific promotional product that he thinks YOU should know about! 
This week’s pick is the Bottle Suit! This is a high quality neoprene (wetsuit material) with a zipper and glued in bottom This bottle suit fits long neck bottles as well! The price also includes a one color imprint. This is a great way to set yourself apart from others with your brand.
This is a great deal…and one worth considering for your next promotion. If you need more information, please email us here.
Stay tuned for next Friday’s Jeff’s Pick!
Oh…and don’t forget to sign up for our VIP Newsletter here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Let’s start this post with the premise that this is true: If you want to get better and grow, you should read (or listen to) books. If you don’t buy that, then you probably should not read any further. But if you do accept that premise, read on. Over the last few years, I have worked to grow myself by reading hundreds of books. It started as a one time goal, and became a bit of a lifestyle. Have I read bad books? Sure. But for the most part, I am able to pick one or two ideas (or at least reminders) out of almost every business and personal development book. But every once in a while, I come across a book that really gets me. These books often inspire me to change…or simply do more. I love it when I get one of these books…and recently I had a string of several in a row that were fantastic. So if you need some inspiration and motivation, here are 3 that I highly recommend! The 5 Second Rule, by Mel Robbins:go get this book Finish, by Jon Acuff: I really like Jon Acuff. He is a great writer and speaker. So I always enjoy his books. But I really liked his tactical advice on getting to “the gift of done.” Early on in Finish, he talks about where most of us get derailed when working on a new goal. We start on the fitness routine and do well for 5 days, then we miss…and we quit. He reminds us that the secret to success is what you do “the day after perfect.” If you have ever had problems finishing your goals…go get this book. The Motivation Myth, by Jeff Haden: Wow! I was prepared to like this book because I love Jeff Haden’s articles on Inc.com and Linkedin.com. But I was not ready to be fired up like I was. Jeff not only blows up the myth that we need a lightbulb moment or firewalks to be motivated. But he also digs into the way successful people set goals (and then forget them)…and how they create daily activity to build their own motivation. Awesome book. I was able to get an advanced copy…so pre-order this book now…and then read it! These are just a few books that have fired me up in 2017. Run out and get one or more of these to get yourself ready to rock. And never miss an update by signing up for the HMC VIP list here.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for a tradition like no other! Each week, our very own Jeff Wickerham takes the time to highlight a specific promotional product that he thinks YOU should know about! 
This week’s pick is the Dye Sublimated Microfiber Cleaning Cloth! You can achieve stellar cleaning with a dynamic design with this cleaning cloth. Two pieces of fabric are stitched together, giving it a nice feel. The hemmed edge gives this a very polished look. To make this even better the price includes a gorgeous four color imprint on one side. This is a great deal…and one worth considering for your next promotion. If you need more information, please email us here.
Stay tuned for next Friday’s Jeff’s Pick!
Oh…and don’t forget to sign up for our VIP Newsletter here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Recently I joined a team of “Swag Warriors” to take on the first every PromoXperience with Dana Zezzo and Imagen Brands. We had an amazing team of runners to take on the Ragnar Trail Run in Arizona. Read more about the entire experience here. But if you want to take on a challenge like this, you are going to need two things. The first is an amazing team. We had that (watch the video here). But the second necessity is the right gear! Thanks to Crown Products, Vitronic and S & S Activewear, we were ready to go. Here is a list of the “Essential Ragnar Swag!” Coleman 60 Quart Cooler: When it comes to the Ragnar Relay, you are camping. So you need a place to keep food and drinks! The Coleman 60 Quart Cooler was a must. We stored our cold cuts, other food, Gatorade, and yes, beer, in this spacious beast. And with the wheels, it was not too much to move around. Click here for more information. Coleman Mesh Quad Chair: Yes you want a nice comfy place to sit. But we were in the desert! That mesh back was wonderful to keep cool. And with the ability to quickly breakdown and set up, it was great when we had to “claim our spot” or get ready to pack up! Click here to learn more. Jersey Mesh Cap: One of my unexpected favorites was the Jersey Mesh Cap (click here to learn more). The lightweight comfy cap was perfect for to keep the sun out of your eyes in the bright mid day sun! Click here for pricing. 18 oz. Viking Water Bottle: I was really surprised at how perfect and versatile this piece was when you are on a campsite. We all know the Viking is great for keeping coffee hot for hours…and this will do that. But it’s also great for keeping your water cold in the desert sun! Oh…and that lid is great for carrying (and keeping dirt out of the water!). Click here for more information. Athletic Cool Down Collar: Have I mentioned that we were running in the desert? Yeah. So we needed to work to keep cool. I put this cool down collar in the ice from the Coleman Cooler and wore this as a headband. This collar was awesome for those runs in the middle of the day! Click here for more info. Polyester Sport T-Shirt: So what shirt do you wear on the Ragnar? S & S Activewear provided these great performance t-shirts! Affordable and comfortable, you need something that will breathe when you are running over 15 miles of trails! This shirt did the trick for sure! Colorblock Hooded Fleece: Yes it is hot during the day. But the desert gets cool in the evening (especially after a long run). So I was super happy to have this comfy (and great looking) hooded fleece piece. Great to take the edge off the cool (or to get ready and warm up), this hoodie was a home run! This was an amazing experience…and I am glad I was able to be a part of it. But it would NOT have been the same without the great gear! Want to create an adventure? This list is a great place to start when you outfit your team! Never miss an update! Sign up for our VIP list here!
