Successful salespeople consistently listen to or read articles containing good ideas or adaptable tips. Here are a few I’ve collected from some sources known and others not. Hopefully there’s one or two gems here for you to adopt today.

1. It’s a Constantly Changing World The internet, 24-hour news cycle, social media and the hectic pace of economic ups and downs can make it easy for a dealership to lose its way. To keep the ship on course, double down on the purpose of the business: to provide a trouble-free, great family experience with every boat, in every department, every time. Gary Kelly, the retiring executive chairman at Southwest Airlines, who led the growth and success of this once small Texas carrier, is best known for always emphasizing such a winning formula to employees: “So there’s no mistake who’s most important at Southwest, every employee’s paystub is signed: Our Southwest Customers.”

2. Be Positive If you want to build a strong customer following, always respond with “I will” and never “I’ll try.” Think about all the people who say, “I’ll try to get back to you tomorrow,” then seldom do. Conversely, those who say, “I will have an answer for you by five” follow through. Moreover, the right choice of words will also help get the job done, emphasizes George Walther, author of 50 Ways to Say What You Mean.

3. Think Creatively Under the Golden Arches on a recent Valentine’s Day, the idea of “I’m Lovin’ It” took on a new meaning at a Tampa, Fla., McDonald’s. A section was transformed into a special sit-down area with servers, table service, LED candles and more. Phone reservations could be made, and those doing so received a complimentary red rose. Meanwhile, a McDonald’s in Southport, N.C., has been noted for offering a special Valentine’s Dinner. Paramours enjoying McNuggets! A great idea can be fun, newsworthy and successful as something different.

4. A Kids Playroom If you visit Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Glenview, Ill., you’ll find a kids playroom with popcorn, ice cream and lots of amenities. The idea is you can’t talk seriously about selling a new car to parents when bored kids are tugging to get out of there. Fields recognizes the family aspect of selling — like every boat dealership should do. Create a kid’s club area with fishing games, a small boat, a fun video, a clown, musician, art boards, puppet show, model boat kits — be kid creative. The parents will appreciate it, and so will the sales team.

5. You Win if They Vote The recent presidential election magnifies the single most important leverage point in any campaign: If people who believe in you turn out to vote, you’re gonna win. This is true for every marine dealership, too. In fact, author/blogger Seth Godin says your business probably doesn’t need as many new customers as you might think. “You will generate more impact if you reconnect with the people who already know and trust you,” he says. Solid advice to be sure, especially in slower sales times.

6. Add Value or Lose You only have two choices: Add value or stay home. Whether a team member is in top management, sales, parts, service or supplies, everyone must learn to stand in the customer’s shoes and see the dealership through the customer’s eyes. How do they see what you are providing and the way you provide it? Bottom line: All employees should view what they do from the customer’s perspective, and should understand their need to directly contribute to the value that customer receives in every interaction.

7. The Super Bowl Let’s face it, the big game is a great show no matter who is playing. It reminds me of author/speaker and founder of Fast Company magazine, William C. Taylor. I recall in one of his posts in the Harvard Business Review, he suggested the gridiron is a terrible metaphor for business, and leaders who look to sports for ideas about their work will be disappointed. Here’s why he contends making analogies between sports and business is wrong.

“The logic of competition and success is completely different,” Taylor says. In football, for example, “for one team to win (a championship), every other team must lose. The logic of business competition is nothing like this. The most successful companies, those that win big and create the most economic value, worry less about crushing the competition than about delighting and amazing their customers.

“Virtually every industry has room for plenty of different winners,” he adds, “each of which is great at serving a distinct piece of the market or a certain set of customers.”

For those in the marine industry, Taylor’s observation about less concern with the dealer down the street and more focused on building a great customer base is the path to “more economic value” (translation: dealership profits).

Regardless of the overall economic climate, success in selling boats is realized when the focus is kept on pleasing the customers first.