SALES
Male customers always say their wives “don’t really like jewelry.” How do I handle this?
Ha! And fish don’t like water. Sales expert Shane Decker knows this is code for “I’m terrified of screwing this up.” Create a foolproof five-year battle plan: diamond studs (year one), pendant (year two), bracelet (year three), fashion ring (year four), then BAM — upgrade those studs for the finale. Each win builds his confidence from nervous wreck to jewelry ninja. Nothing says “I love you” like sparkly stuff — if she truly hated jewelry, he’d be at Home Depot buying a leaf blower.
BRIDAL SALES
What’s the benefit of rehearsing the proposal in-store?
Confidence at the moment that matters. Denise Oros of Linnea Jewelers in La Grange, IL, makes grooms-to-be kneel in the showroom, box in hand, and practice saying, “Will you marry me?” It’s funny, awkward, and unforgettable — and Oros swears it takes the pressure off the real proposal. You don’t just sell the diamond. You give the guy a dry run at one of the biggest moments of his life.
PRODUCTIVITY
What’s a “luck diary” and why keep one?
Richard Wiseman, professor of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK and author of The Luck Factor, suggests writing down every lucky break — big or small — at the end of each day. After a month, you’ll see just how many you’ve had. Poker pros do the same with spreadsheets to track what went right or wrong. It’s not about superstition. It’s about training your brain to notice fortune instead of only failures.
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MOTIVATION
Is success really just talent and hard work?
Nope. Nobel Prize-winning economist Daniel Kahneman says success is talent plus luck. “Great success,” he adds, “is a little more talent and a lot of luck.” Sure, hard work matters. But pretending luck isn’t in the mix is like pretending gravity won’t affect your fall. Ignore it, and you’ll hit the ground hard.
