Let’s talk New Year’s Resolutions…

On the heels of an unremarkable (ok, in a bunch of ways, forgettable!) year and to be certain 2025 exceeds expectations, let me know what you think about a couple of resolutions I’m considering…

…Most will know one of my forever sales mantras is to be pleasantly persistent.  However, this process has become less and less effective.  In an oversaturated, omni-channel, accelerated AI world, I wonder if a better approach would be to be Aggressively and Pleasantly Persistent.  Or maybe Annoyingly and Entertainingly Persistent?

The companies I represent and the solutions I sell are first-class ~ They WILL help and provide a meaningful ROI; of that, I'm 100% certain!  It makes sense to me I alter my modus operandi to get more consideration.

Does that make sense?  What say you?

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Throughout my career I’ve had the good fortune to develop wonderful friendships.  These relationships underpin much of my commitment to the newspaper industry.  Many of those friends have successfully climbed whatever corporate ladder they’ve chosen and are now leading organizations or departments.  With that preamble…

There are probably a dozen situations where I’m proposing one of the solutions I represent to someone reporting directly to one of my LONG-TIME friends.

You can guess where I’m headed: a vast majority (95+%) of these prospects regularly ghost me, say one thing and do another, are borderline unprofessional, or, unfortunately, poorly represent the organization they work for.  Do I or don’t I communicate this to my pal?  If the answer is “yes,” how do you suggest I frame the message?  Really eager for the wisdom of this crowd!

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On a completely different note, here’s a more gratifying tale…

Just this past week I had a very pleasant (and worthwhile) call with a long-time acquaintance who had recently started a new senior leadership position with a wonderful new employer after a successful and accomplished ten-year run elsewhere.

There’s no telling how/if we’ll work with each other in his new capacity, yet after our visit I forwarded the information he requested about that possibility, and in response, he signed off with this phrase: “…thanks for all you do!”

This almost brought a tear to my eye and makes all those frigging “ghosts” tolerable.

Let’s kick ass and take names in 2025, why don’t we?!  I will if you will and am counting us on holding each other accountable!

All the best,