January 27th, 2012 by Paul Castain
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I was opening the mail the other day when a message struck me as odd.
It said something along the lines of . . .
Mr. Castain,
We value your business and wanted you to know that we have moved to blah blah blah.
I have no clue what it said after the “We have moved part” because I [...]
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Paul Castain is the Vice President of Sales Development for Consolidated Graphics where he oversees the training and development of 700 sales Jedis.
Prior to working for Consolidated Graphics. Paul was the Director Of Corporate Solutions Sales for Dale Carnegie & Associates and the owner of two successful businesses.
Over the last 27 years, Paul has trained and mentored over 3,000 sales professionals, written sales training content for several Fortune 500 companies and is the author of Castain’s Sales Playbook (which just won a Sales Pop award for best sales website).
January 24th, 2012 by Paul Castain
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So there you are minding your own business when an email lands squarely in your inbox!
It’s a potential client who would like a quote on your services.
Pop Quiz: If its simple enough, do you send them a quote or even a ball park number or do you at least attempt to bring this discussion to [...]
Go to Sales Playbook
Paul Castain is the Vice President of Sales Development for Consolidated Graphics where he oversees the training and development of 700 sales Jedis.
Prior to working for Consolidated Graphics. Paul was the Director Of Corporate Solutions Sales for Dale Carnegie & Associates and the owner of two successful businesses.
Over the last 27 years, Paul has trained and mentored over 3,000 sales professionals, written sales training content for several Fortune 500 companies and is the author of Castain’s Sales Playbook (which just won a Sales Pop award for best sales website).
January 23rd, 2012 by Paul Castain
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I’m not ashamed to admit that I run my startup lean! So if it means I take a shuttle instead of a car service . . . so be it!
Recently, I decided to treat myself and book a car service. It was at the end of a really long day of airports and I could [...]
Go to Sales Playbook
Paul Castain is the Vice President of Sales Development for Consolidated Graphics where he oversees the training and development of 700 sales Jedis.
Prior to working for Consolidated Graphics. Paul was the Director Of Corporate Solutions Sales for Dale Carnegie & Associates and the owner of two successful businesses.
Over the last 27 years, Paul has trained and mentored over 3,000 sales professionals, written sales training content for several Fortune 500 companies and is the author of Castain’s Sales Playbook (which just won a Sales Pop award for best sales website).
January 20th, 2012 by Lisa March
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I usually incorporate more subtle backlighting and lens flare, but occasionally extreme lens flare looks cool. I love using it in my “Tarantino” shots or when something dramatic happens like Kim’s veil floating around her because of mystery rooftop wind current.
January 19th, 2012 by Paul Castain
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I remember watching the “Wanted Dead Or Alive” video back in the day and shaking my head.
Here’s this great song and the whole time they’re portraying the band as worn out from the road but still embracing the “the show must go on attitude”
I remember thinking “poor f’n rock stars making all that money and [...]
Go to Sales Playbook
Paul Castain is the Vice President of Sales Development for Consolidated Graphics where he oversees the training and development of 700 sales Jedis.
Prior to working for Consolidated Graphics. Paul was the Director Of Corporate Solutions Sales for Dale Carnegie & Associates and the owner of two successful businesses.
Over the last 27 years, Paul has trained and mentored over 3,000 sales professionals, written sales training content for several Fortune 500 companies and is the author of Castain’s Sales Playbook (which just won a Sales Pop award for best sales website).
January 13th, 2012 by Lisa March
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This time on Weddingstar.com! Check out the FULL ARTICLE! It’s a pretty, playful spread with a lot of photos by yours truly 
!
January 13th, 2012 by Lisa March
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Brandon is a friend of mine who I’ve photographed several times since 2009 and this is the best shoot yet (maybe because of the Matrix overtones, maybe not).
“Brandon Wright is a young White cat who sounds like an old Black man.”
-Fred Wesley
January 12th, 2012 by Paul Castain
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I was channel surfing the other day and just happened to catch Emma Stone’s acceptance speech at the People’s Choice Awards.
She said something along the lines that its important that we are true to ourselves and that she would not be there accepting that award if she hadn’t made that decision 8 years earlier.
I had [...]
Go to Sales Playbook
Paul Castain is the Vice President of Sales Development for Consolidated Graphics where he oversees the training and development of 700 sales Jedis.
Prior to working for Consolidated Graphics. Paul was the Director Of Corporate Solutions Sales for Dale Carnegie & Associates and the owner of two successful businesses.
Over the last 27 years, Paul has trained and mentored over 3,000 sales professionals, written sales training content for several Fortune 500 companies and is the author of Castain’s Sales Playbook (which just won a Sales Pop award for best sales website).
January 11th, 2012 by Paul Castain
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I come across sales reps every day who are saying things, and doing things they don’t feel good about!
Why?
Because this is what their boss, “the powers that be” or the owner told them to do.
Things like deceptive prospecting techniques
- Telling the assistant Mr. Jones is expecting your call when he isn’t.
- Telling the assistant you [...]
Go to Sales Playbook
Paul Castain is the Vice President of Sales Development for Consolidated Graphics where he oversees the training and development of 700 sales Jedis.
Prior to working for Consolidated Graphics. Paul was the Director Of Corporate Solutions Sales for Dale Carnegie & Associates and the owner of two successful businesses.
Over the last 27 years, Paul has trained and mentored over 3,000 sales professionals, written sales training content for several Fortune 500 companies and is the author of Castain’s Sales Playbook (which just won a Sales Pop award for best sales website).
January 10th, 2012 by Paul Castain
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Sometimes we put so much focus on the areas where we need to improve, and then forget to put artillery fire on the things we’re already good at!
I know what you’re thinking . . . “Why would I possibly work on something that I’m already good at?”
I don’t know . . . maybe so you [...]
Go to Sales Playbook
Paul Castain is the Vice President of Sales Development for Consolidated Graphics where he oversees the training and development of 700 sales Jedis.
Prior to working for Consolidated Graphics. Paul was the Director Of Corporate Solutions Sales for Dale Carnegie & Associates and the owner of two successful businesses.
Over the last 27 years, Paul has trained and mentored over 3,000 sales professionals, written sales training content for several Fortune 500 companies and is the author of Castain’s Sales Playbook (which just won a Sales Pop award for best sales website).
January 9th, 2012 by Paul Castain
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This guy I know (Butch) emails me last week saying some really cool things. So I do what any gracious aspiring sales rock star would do . . . I emailed him with . .
“Thanks Bitch!”
Actually . . . That’s what I almost did until I paused and gave my reply a quick once over.
Imagine [...]
Go to Sales Playbook
Paul Castain is the Vice President of Sales Development for Consolidated Graphics where he oversees the training and development of 700 sales Jedis.
Prior to working for Consolidated Graphics. Paul was the Director Of Corporate Solutions Sales for Dale Carnegie & Associates and the owner of two successful businesses.
Over the last 27 years, Paul has trained and mentored over 3,000 sales professionals, written sales training content for several Fortune 500 companies and is the author of Castain’s Sales Playbook (which just won a Sales Pop award for best sales website).
January 8th, 2012 by Paul Castain
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The problem with “being able to take a punch” is that its also the definition of a “punching bag”
Sometimes that sets you up for repeated beatings!
There’s nothing admirable about that . . . don’t kid yourself!
Instead, be able to take that punch but know why you were punched in the first place.
What series of events [...]
Go to Sales Playbook
Paul Castain is the Vice President of Sales Development for Consolidated Graphics where he oversees the training and development of 700 sales Jedis.
Prior to working for Consolidated Graphics. Paul was the Director Of Corporate Solutions Sales for Dale Carnegie & Associates and the owner of two successful businesses.
Over the last 27 years, Paul has trained and mentored over 3,000 sales professionals, written sales training content for several Fortune 500 companies and is the author of Castain’s Sales Playbook (which just won a Sales Pop award for best sales website).
January 7th, 2012 by Lisa March
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Browser Statistics – December 2011
The web browser statistics have been released through December 2011. The stats are published monthly at W3CSchools.com.
Below are the web browser stats for December 2011.
| 2011 |
IE9 |
IE8 |
IE7 |
IE6 |
| January |
.5% |
16.6% |
5.7% |
3.8% |
| February |
0.6 % |
16.7% |
5.7% |
3.5% |
| March |
1.1 % |
16.3% |
5.4% |
3.0% |
| April |
2.1 % |
14.8% |
4.9% |
2.5% |
| May |
3.1 % |
14.1% |
5.3% |
2.4% |
| June |
3.6 % |
12.9% |
4.4% |
2.3% |
| July |
3.9 % |
11.7% |
4.1% |
2.3% |
| August |
4.2% |
11.9% |
4.2% |
2.0% |
| September |
4.8% |
12.4% |
3.9% |
1.8% |
| October |
5.1% |
11.8% |
3.5% |
1.3% |
| November |
5.1% |
11.5% |
3.4% |
1.2% |
| December |
5.1% |
10.7% |
3.2% |
1.2% |
| 2011 |
Firefox |
Chrome |
Safari |
Opera |
| January |
42.8% |
23.8% |
3.7% |
2.4% |
| February |
42.4% |
24.1% |
4.1% |
2.5% |
| March |
42.2% |
25% |
4% |
2.5% |
| April |
42.9% |
25.6% |
4.1% |
2.6% |
| May |
42.4 % |
25.9% |
4.0% |
2.4% |
| June |
42.2 % |
27.9% |
4.0% |
2.4% |
| July |
42.0% |
29.4% |
3.6% |
2.4% |
| August |
40.6% |
30.3% |
3.8% |
2.3% |
| September |
39.7% |
30.5% |
4.0% |
2.2% |
| October |
38.7% |
32.3% |
4.2% |
2.4% |
| November |
38.1% |
33.4% |
4.2% |
2.4% |
| December |
37.7% |
34.6% |
4.2% |
2.5% |
In summary, again, Internet Explorer numbers are pretty much holding steady. Firefox usage is still on the decrease while there has been another full percentage increase in Chrome users. No changes to Safari usage, but there has been a strange slight uptick in Opera users.
January 7th, 2012 by Lisa March
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Browser Statistics – November 2011
The web browser statistics have been released through November 2011. The stats are published monthly at W3CSchools.com.
Below are the web browser stats for November 2011.
| 2011 |
IE9 |
IE8 |
IE7 |
IE6 |
| January |
.5% |
16.6% |
5.7% |
3.8% |
| February |
0.6 % |
16.7% |
5.7% |
3.5% |
| March |
1.1 % |
16.3% |
5.4% |
3.0% |
| April |
2.1 % |
14.8% |
4.9% |
2.5% |
| May |
3.1 % |
14.1% |
5.3% |
2.4% |
| June |
3.6 % |
12.9% |
4.4% |
2.3% |
| July |
3.9 % |
11.7% |
4.1% |
2.3% |
| August |
4.2% |
11.9% |
4.2% |
2.0% |
| September |
4.8% |
12.4% |
3.9% |
1.8% |
| October |
5.1% |
11.8% |
3.5% |
1.3% |
| November |
5.1% |
10.7% |
3.2% |
1.2% |
| 2011 |
Firefox |
Chrome |
Safari |
Opera |
| January |
42.8% |
23.8% |
3.7% |
2.4% |
| February |
42.4% |
24.1% |
4.1% |
2.5% |
| March |
42.2% |
25% |
4% |
2.5% |
| April |
42.9% |
25.6% |
4.1% |
2.6% |
| May |
42.4 % |
25.9% |
4.0% |
2.4% |
| June |
42.2 % |
27.9% |
4.0% |
2.4% |
| July |
42.0% |
29.4% |
3.6% |
2.4% |
| August |
40.6% |
30.3% |
3.8% |
2.3% |
| September |
39.7% |
30.5% |
4.0% |
2.2% |
| October |
38.7% |
32.3% |
4.2% |
2.4% |
| November |
38.1% |
33.4% |
4.2% |
2.4% |
In summary, Internet Explorer users are slowly but surely upgrading their browsers to the latest version – IE9. There was a minor dip in Firefox users while Chrome usage jumped up a full percentage point. Safari and Opera, as usual, are holding steady at their usage rates.
