I keep getting pitched to attend, to watch, to participate in, a once-in-a-lifetime, you-can't-afford-to-miss-it, millionaire-action-plan webinar with messages including phrases like these or others similar: 👉 High-impact, deep-dive session or the opposite, 👉 Relaxed, easy-going conversation 80% or more (that is 4 out of 5, folks) of the few I do attend end up being nothing more than ego-fests telling me how great the presenter is, or fluff-and-stuff nothing-burgers, all leading to a sales pitch for their just-discovered, guaranteed blueprint to 6- or 7-figure success. One even said 8-figure; did they even know what that is? I am seeing so many current marketers slipping into the gilded days of Madison Avenue BS and hype. Is some misguided guru actually teaching this? "Mad Men" is a critically acclaimed television drama set in the 1960s, not a marketing success plan for 2026! Forget the hype. Forget the memes. Forget the bull. Say what you mean and deliver on what you say. Then over deliver. Watch success happen. Going back to first principles is never a bad idea. Horton had it right! The time to find your guide is before you get lost in the woods. Stephen B. Henry, the Coach's Coach. Online Strategist, Business Success Guide, Personal Mentor. ...and a big fan of Theodor Geisel's books for adult reading!

So what browser is everyone using? Put why in the comments.

I thought in these days of ever-expanding software subscriptions, it would be useful to share our favorite free tools with everyone. Here are a couple of mine: R.I.O.T - Radical Image Optimization Tool - Quickly resizes images for me - https://riot-optimizer.com/ OnlyOffice - Replaces Microsoft Office - https://www.onlyoffice.com/

Card Network Rules Visa, Mastercard, and other card brands prohibit surcharging on debit cards, even when the debit transaction is run “as credit.” Their rules only allow surcharging on true credit card transactions. Consumer Protection Regulators and card brands want to protect consumers from paying extra fees on essential, everyday payment methods like debit cards. Debit cards pull funds directly from a customer’s bank account, so surcharges are considered unfair or predatory. Legal Restrictions Some U.S. states already regulate or restrict credit card surcharges. Federal and card network rules apply nationwide to prohibit debit surcharges specifically. Business Alternatives You can surcharge credit cards (within network and state rules). You can use Cash Discount Programs (offering a lower price for cash) that apply to all payment types, structured compliantly. You can build processing costs into pricing instead of trying to pass them only onto debit. You can only surcharge credit cards, never debit cards. Trying to do so puts you out of compliance with Visa/MC rules and could result in fines or loss of your merchant account. Mx Merchant will make your business more Efficient, more Effective and more Profitable I offer a complimentary 30-minute discussion to walk through what that looks like for you. Feeling Froggy? Jump on my calendar www.calendly.com/jsaluk #strategy#business#creativity#innovation#40000hoursofmerchantservicesexperience

Are you still updating customers’ information manually? That is very tiring and frustrating to do! Keep the payment information of your customers updated automatically through Mx Account Updater. Steer clear from delayed payments and do not lose a sale because of outdated customer card account details. Say goodbye to the tedious manual updating task and start using the Mx Account Updater to keep everything in place with account details and payment information. This MX platform partnered with Mx Invoice recurring billing will help your staff save more time and have seamless payment transactions. Moreover, with the MX Account Updater, the risks relating to sensitive card information being known to the staff will be eradicated. How does Mx Account Updater work? The vaulted customer card account details are daily forwarded to Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and other card brands. If there are any changes in the information, the card brands will send it over. Mx Account Updater will automatically sync the new information which might include the customer’s account number, expiration date, closed account, and other necessary details. Mx Merchant will make your business more Efficient, more Effective and more Profitable I offer a complimentary 30-minute discussion to walk through what that looks like for you. Feeling Froggy? Jump on my calendar www.calendly.com/jsaluk #strategy #business #creativity #innovation #40000hoursofmerchantservicesexperience