Sponsor - Click to visit; Right Click for samples, personalization, and more offers
Sponsors - Click for samples, personalization, and more offers

Looking Ahead, There IS a Brighter Future!

DO SOMETHING! Don't accept average performance.

1/19/2021 | Cliff Quicksell, MAS+, Cliff's Notes

I have been accused of being overly optimistic – guilty as charged; what is the alternative? Pessimism? Sorry, I cannot do that, it’s not in my DNA!  I saw this quote which really resonated with me and sort of set the tone for my article; it comes from Ralph Marston, former 1929 NFL Boston Bulldogs football player,

“You’ve done it before, and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.”

As I reflect on 2020, I am intrigued by the human spirit and how we rally around to lift, aid, support, and encourage each other. It is truly heartwarming and encouraging!  That said, Now is the time to rethink what you did in 2020.  How successful were you?  Did you accomplish everything you set out to achieve?  Where did you go wrong? What did you do right? Did you have a plan; did you implement, follow, and modify your plan?

This coming year – I mean RIGHT NOW – develop a plan, DO SOMETHING! This will get you off on the right foot! No matter how thin the plan seems, take time for yourself and the health of your business, to develop a plan of action, and please, consider these additional points, add as many as you’d like:

2021 Oath and Self-Promise

  • I will No Exceptions - take excellent care of my spiritual, mental, and physical health,

  • I will develop a multiple tiered marketing strategy and work it without fail,

  • I will do something quarterly to get new business - EVEN when I am busy,

  • I will analyze my business regularly and review my numbers,

  • I will stay or become fiscally responsible,

  • I will fire the bad clients on my list, often, those who do not value me or my team,

  • I will touch every good client, in some fashion, every month

  • I will be diligent about connecting and thanking my friends,

  • I will be diligent about connecting and thanking my vendors,

  • I will be diligent about connecting and thanking my clients – OFTEN!

  • I will look at every opportunity to be a contribution to everyone in my organization, my clients, peers, and my family and friends,

  • I will ask more questions,

  • I will listen more,

  • I will be more patient and tolerant,

  • I will allow myself to make mistakes and learn from them,

  • I will remain open to all possibilities,

  • I will ALWAYS remember the first one – take care of YOU first! For the sake of everyone who depends on you!

Review your plan monthly – be honest with yourself, are you sticking to it? Are you reviewing how you can be more proactive and productive?

In an interview at an ASI show, I was asked ‘what can people do to grow their business?’  My reply was simple…

DO SOMETHING! Don’t Accept Average Performance

Leverage Your Community

 Your community, your peers, our amazing suppliers, multi-line and factory reps, customer service teams…and, each other!

 Start now for this year and next year, I have a plan and written goals – how about you! You must push to hear the bells ring!

As always, continued success my friends, and the VERY best to each of you in 2021 – we can do this…together – I am here for you!

Lastly, remember – You Are AMAZING!

Until next time, continued Success. Cliff


Cliff Quicksell, CSP, MAS+, MASI, has been a driving force in the promotional products
industry for over four decades. As President of Cliff Quicksell Associates &
QuicksellSpeaks, he is internationally recognized for his dynamic work as a speaker,
coach, trainer, and consultant—empowering businesses and associations to market
smarter, engage deeper, and grow stronger.


Cliff's long list of accolades includes his 2021 induction into the PPAI Hall of Fame and
the prestigious CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation in 2023—an honor
held by fewer than 7% of speakers worldwide and the only active professional in the
promotional products industry to achieve it.


A true creative innovator, Cliff has earned more than 40 PPAI Pyramid Awards,5 PSDA
Peak Awards, and 13 CPPA PEAKE Awards. He’s a six-time winner of PPAI’s
Ambassador Speaker of the Year and was the first-ever recipient of the PPAI
Distinguished Service Award. Recognized in PPAI at 100 and named one of Counselor
Magazine’s Top 50 Most Influential People in the industry, Cliff is celebrated for his
passionate contributions to industry education and thought leadership.


His award-winning blog, 30 Seconds to Greatness, was honored with the 8LMedia
Award for Most Passed Around Content. Stay connected with Cliff on LinkedIn or email
him at cliff@QuicksellSpeaks.com. Visit www.QuicksellSpeaks.com for upcoming
events and podcast updates. Cliff is also preparing to launch a new venture dedicated
to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs thrive utilizing a custom AI designed
specifically for Promo World, called MerchPilot™.

Next up from Cliff's Notes...

Set Goals, Review and Measure Often to Stay on Course

with a plan goals are manageable
Cliff Quicksell, MAS+

Too Much Exposure…

Financial exposure can be detrimental to your business.
Cliff Quicksell, MAS+

Awards: Hunks of Junk or Valuable Marketing Opportunities?

The value you place on things is the way it will be viewed by everyone with whom you speak.
Cliff Quicksell, MAS+
Latest from PromoJournal...

Editing Colors

Episode 14
Through The Lens

AI Presentations

Episode 9
Artificially Authentic

Episode 554 with Joey Coleman

Never Lose an Employee Again
Delivering Marketing Joy