Success is not a number to be counted or an achievement to be tallied. It begins with the strength (s) of your self-worth (U), multiplied through connection and contribution (cc²), amplified in exchange (E), and completed in shared significance (ss), always returning to the source, reinforcing the belief that you are worthy. What does Success mean for you?

Years ago, I'm sitting in a corporate sales training with 30+ top reps, managers, VPs, and the COO. We're talking mindset, attitude, behaviors—and burnout. How to prevent it. How to snap back from it. The trainer looks at me: "Robert, you're the top producer year after year. Always positive. How do you do it?" Caught me off guard. Here's what I told them: "Sales is a freaking grind. Every day we wake up, get dressed, walk out the door—for what? A barrage of rejection, objections, excuses. Any normal person would quit by lunch. Those of us who stay? We're literally asking for this punishment every single day. I've wanted to throw in the towel hundreds of times. How many 'NOs' can you hear before you start believing nobody wants what you're selling? The key: You need a reason greater than yourself. For me, I grew up poor. Drugs, alcohol, toxic environment everywhere. I needed something more. Early on, it was about the money—how much, how fast. Eventually that changed. Now I see the tremendous need in our communities for what we provide. Imagine having the cure for cancer but never sharing it. If I ask 100 people and only 5 need it, I don't see 95 rejections—I see 5 lives saved. Obviously a stretch, but you get the point. Not everyone needs our stuff. But if we stop at number 95 and give up, who helps those last five? Those last five are why I get up each day with a smile. I'm making a difference for 5 people today. Yes, sales is a grind. Yes, we get our teeth kicked in daily. Yes, some days we question if it's worth it. Those are the days you need a reason greater than yourself. Without it, you won't make it." Been the "Sales is a Grind!" guy ever since. Fast forward to now. I made the conscious move from top national sales leader to entrepreneur. Oh, how little I knew. New truth: Entrepreneurship is a GRIND too. Different challenges. Same struggle. More real than ever. The rejection isn't external anymore—it's internal. Doubt. Hesitation. Negative feedback loops that never end.

Happy Friday Combinators! The Weekly Grind - Friday Office Hours is open and we'd love to have you join in on the fun! Come join us for 5 minutes or 55 minutes, where I answer any sales related questions and we share our wins for the week. It's a great time to connect and reset with fellow entrepreneurs and sales pros. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9314679146?pwd=YU1QTGh0eXNEeXZFdURYakt2S2lmdz09

I'm so excited to have you all here. This community is going to be an incredible resource, and the more we know about each other, the stronger we'll be. Let's break the ice! I am asking you to introduce yourself in a fun way. Share your name, your business, and one "pro-tip" you've learned in your journey so far. Here's an example: - Name: Sonic Karayel (Retired Air Force) - Business: "Sonic Combinator" - I help small businesses go from 0 to 1 in their business journey! - Pro-Tip: Most business owners focus on acquiring new customers, but a high-impact strategy they often overlook is customer retention through a predictable re-engagement system. - Instead of constantly chasing new sales, you can generate more revenue by creating an automated process to bring past customers back. For example, a car mechanic could send an email or text reminder for an oil change six months after the last service. A custom cake baker could send a message a year after a client's wedding, offering a small anniversary cake. This approach is powerful because it costs significantly less to sell to an existing customer than to acquire a new one. By setting up a simple, automated system, you build loyalty, increase your customer's lifetime value, and create a more predictable revenue stream for your business.