Happy New Year! As we charge into 2025, I want to challenge you with a bold idea for your Stone Fab Business: don’t set sales goals this year.
I know that sounds counterintuitive, especially in an industry that thrives on numbers and measurable outcomes. But here’s the thing—numbers alone don’t move people. Vision does.
Over this past year, I’ve reflected on what has truly driven my client’s sales teams to succeed. Fancy reports, intricate CRMs, hundreds of internet leads, and the best tech don’t mean much if they don’t feel inspired.
I was reminded of a pivotal moment early in my career when I worked in a pudding factory (yes, you read that right). The new plant manager, Barry Fischetto, transformed an ordinary factory into ConAgra’s Plant of the Year three times. Employees with 30+ years of experience smashed records running $5 million machines—all for the promise of a $50 gas card.
It wasn’t the prize that motivated them—it was Barry’s vision. He set a clear path, inspired belief in the impossible, and gamified their success.
Here’s what Barry did differently:
- Set the Vision. He was honest about the stakes: “Break records, or we close the plant.” After losing our Hunts Ketchup division, the plant’s overhead was sky-high, and the threat of closure was real (sound familiar?). Instead of letting fear take over, he rallied the team with a higher purpose.
- Gamified Success. Records were celebrated publicly, names went on leaderboards, and small rewards added a touch of fun. People weren’t just working—they were winning.
I see parallels in the challenges we face today with Sales. Incredible tools like our custom CRM for fabricators, digital marketing leads, and sales coaching aren’t enough. Your team MUST be inspired to engage.
Instead of setting traditional sales goals for 2025, try this:
- Inspire a Vision. What’s the bigger story for your company this year? Maybe it’s dominating your local market or expanding into retail–or its survival, and that’s ok. I worked with dozens of companies in ’09 to just survive. Whatever it is, paint the picture for your team and make them part of the journey.
- Gamify Progress. Break down the journey into winnable games. Celebrate personal bests, team milestones, and record-breaking months. Use simple rewards like gift cards or free lunches—not because they’re flashy, but because they recognize effort. And of course, sales commissions.
This approach can work wonders. It turns the dreaded “sales meeting” into a collaborative, high-energy session where everyone’s invested in beating their own personal records.
I love to brainstorm, so if you need help, reach out. Whether it’s gamifying your CRM (or setting one up), accelerating internet leads, or boosting your Retail Sales with our Amethyst Method, I’d be happy to help.
PS: Here’s our Sales Gamification System 1.0 with instructions, crafted to make sales fun and rewarding. While it works great on its own, it truly shines when paired with our CRM for effortless tracking.
AI Insight #3: “ChatGPT, help me create an inspiring vision statement for my stone fabrication business. We focus on [craftsmanship, customer experience, innovation, etc], and I want to achieve [market expansion, increased sales, or building a self-managing team]. My team responds well to [insert team dynamics, collaboration, recognition, or clear direction]. Please create a vision statement that motivates my team and aligns priorities. Please also provide a 5-step plan to get buy in from my team.”
Let’s make 2025 the year of inspired action, collaborative wins, and unmatched success. Here’s to building something bigger than ourselves.
Lets keep growing,
Tim Saddoris
Founder, Grand Onyx
