I subscribe to the magazine Fast Company and they periodically interview people and one of the categories is “What I’m Loving This Month” and the person shares whatever it is.

I’m an avid reader and have a Nook that I get a lot of reading done on at a cost effective rate.

Here are 3 books on failure that I’m currently reading:

“Bouncing Back” by Bill Bartmann

It’s an autobiography of an entrepreneur who went from high school drop out to billionaire.

“The Upside of Down” by Megan McArdle

Another book on failure.

“Failing Forward” by John Maxwell

Another book on failure.

You may be thinking this is morbid and depressing. Actually it’s not. As a small business owner and entrepreneur, we are going to experience more failures than successes and more “no’s” than “yes’s”.

I find these books motivational and inspiring and knowing that I’m not alone in my journey.

Check them out and read them if they interest you.

I’m Ray Ruecker with Connect 5000. Happy reading!

Today’s email tip of the day:

Just because you send an email and it doesn’t bounce back, doesn’t mean they received it.

I reached out to this prospect and sent an email as well but it never bounced back.

I decided one day to verify the prospect’s email address with his executive assistant.

She gave me the correct email address.

The worst the assistant will tell you is “We don’t give out email addresses.”

Another good reason to follow up with a prospect by phone after emailing them.

I came across an article that you may find helpful.

Here’s the link:

www.omghub.com/salesdevelopmentblog/tabid/5809/bid/76911/are-your-salespeople-still-cold-calling-the-ugly-truth.aspx

Here’s 3 simple sentences verbatim from the article that ring true:

1. You can’t control the number of inbound leads your salespeople will get.

2. You can’t control the number of introductions you receive from your clients, customers or your social network.

3.  You can control the number of cold calls you or your salespeople make.

Short but true principles!

I’m Ray Ruecker with Connect 5000!

The Super Bowl is next month folks!

Answer: Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they bring in substantial leads and increased revenue. Sometimes they don’t.

The funny thing about sales, marketing and advertising is that some campaigns works. Some don’t.

Why? I have no idea. Maybe it’s bad timing. Or the wrong audience. Or just part of life.

When a $3 – $4M Super Bowl ad becomes a dud, the network doesn’t return the money.

Just because a Super Bowl ad doesn’t work (Groupon a few years ago), does that mean you never run another one? Of course not.

Same way with lead generation campaigns.

I’m Ray Ruecker with Connect 5000. Happy Friday to you!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Disclaimer: This is not a “get sympathy” post.

Unfortunately but not unexpectedly, my father passed away two days before Thanksgiving. He lived a long and fruitful life and he will be missed.

Through various channels, I informed friends of mine about the news.

During this time I unexpectedly received several cards by snail mail as well as phone calls from friends offering encouragement and support.

Receiving cards by postal mail was a pleasant surprise. I don’t hand out my home address too often but a few of my friends were resourceful enough to find it and drop a card in the mail. No matter the occasion, who doesn’t like to get a hand written card in the mail?

Who doesn’t like getting calls from friends letting me know that they were thinking of me and my family and that their thoughts were with me?

Unfortunately we live in a very impersonal, technology driven world and things like “phone calls” or ” handwritten letters” are considered too old fashioned and quaint. Emails and text messages are more modern and less intrusive.

Yet the calls and letters stood out greatly and I’m forever grateful.

As we approach 2016, perhaps we should go back to “quaint” ways of reaching out to prospects and clients. They may not respond but the extra effort and thought counts.

Merry Christmas everyone!