Newsletter Blogs

Muzzillo’s 10 Percent Rule
November 6, 2017 at 11:14 am

Over the years I have developed what I call the “Muzzillo 10 Percent Rule.” Simply stated, the rule is that, at any point in time, only about 10 percent of folks are dissatisfied enough with their current situation that they are wide open for change. This is true for end-user customers. Only about 10 percent…

Where Can I Get QuickBooks Software?
November 3, 2017 at 1:03 pm

Question: Where should I look for QuickBooks software? Answer: My advice is to buy only from a proven source. The safest source is to buy directly from Intuit. But, there are many resellers that provide some attractive offers. I’ve heard a full range of reports from good to bad. Be careful in your selection of…

Get Real
November 2, 2017 at 2:12 pm

How do you make yourself matter to your customers? How did selling today become such a “soft” touch? How did things like liking, loving, trust and your mission become more important than prospecting, qualifying, features benefits, and closing, closing, closing? The reality is that people usually buy from people they like. What is always true…

7 Reasons E-Commerce Is Better Than Face-to-Face Salespeople
October 31, 2017 at 2:25 pm

E-commerce: Is available all the time Serves unlimited customers or prospects at the same time without waiting Allows the customer to browse without pressure Listens to exactly what the customer says, and shows them what they’ve asked for Suggests other items gently, while showing them what they ask for Remembers who customers are on every…

Help! My QuickBooks Isn't Working Right!
October 20, 2017 at 2:46 pm

Question: My QuickBooks isn’t working the way it should. Is there anything I can do to fix the problems? Answer: If you are experiencing basic operating problems in QuickBooks, there is a "Verify and Rebuild" function. To run this, back up your QuickBooks first, and go to "File" to "Utilities." Run “Verify Data,” which will…

We Were Not Undressing! Putting Some Fun Into Selling
October 16, 2017 at 9:49 am

Back when I was growing my original Proforma distributorship, I was teaching one of our newer sales reps how to conduct field calls. In my view, field calling is a lost skill. Sadly, in this day of email and voicemail, salespeople think they don’t need to get out and do field calls. I strongly disagree…

Can I Print Checks in QuickBooks?
October 9, 2017 at 1:42 pm

Question: Can I print checks in QuickBooks? If so, do you have any tips for buying the checks? Answer: Yes, you can print checks in QuickBooks. When doing so, the transaction is recorded directly into your general ledger (into the account you designate). Also, when writing a check to pay a supplier purchase order, the…

The Great Journey
October 5, 2017 at 2:18 pm

Building your promotional products business is a journey. How is your journey going? Are you running into unpleasant surprises and unexpected potholes? Great journeys start with a vision. You must know where you are going. This is your dream. So dream big. What do you hope to find, to create, to feel, to experience and accomplish on your journey?…

Pa$$words!
October 3, 2017 at 2:07 pm

For the last decade, we’ve been told to make obscure passwords to keep our data safe. NeverM1Nd!, the advice was bad. Researchers have now proven that a password such as “Tr0ub4dor&3” would take only three days to crack. If we used four-word phrases, such as “correct horse battery staple,” it would take 550 years to…

The $500 Million Company With No Headquarters
October 2, 2017 at 2:43 pm

About 25 years ago, we purchased a great 30,000 square foot office building on a beautiful eight-acre campus. Soon after, I met with the signage company to finalize the wording for our sign. At first it seemed like a no brainer that the sign should read “Proforma Headquarters,” but that wording didn’t align with the…