to behold to see him interact with these people. Whether they sell $50,000 or $5 million, it’s as if he is the co-owner of each company he works with. He doesn’t just tell a person what they want to hear; he educates them in the process so they have a better understanding of what he is teaching them.” He adds, “Whether it is one-on-one on a simple phone call or in a convention hall with 100 people watching, his conversations motivate you, captivate you and give everyone listening the feeling of ‘Yes! Yes, I can do this.’” Quicksell positions himself as a lifelong learner, and even though he attends many events as a speaker, he makes it a point to remain openminded and teachable. “I remember when my son and daughter went to college,” he recalls. “They were both tremendous athletes. When my son asked me, ‘How do I be the very best?’ I told him you have to do two things: you have to be eligible and you have to be coachable. That simple principle holds true in life. You have to be coachable, then you have to do all the hard work to be eligible to get paid the money that you need.” And certainly, knowing how to remain open and teachable comes from experience, and Quicksell has seen both ups and downs in the industry. A few years after joining his first industry company, Quicksell’s position was terminated abruptly. “I was blindsided,” he says, though it was a situation that motivated him to form his own company, Promotivations Advertising, which he operated for 11 years. After encountering a business deal that went sour, he was considering leaving the industry altogether, when another professional he met at a regional association meeting offered him an opportunity that proliferated into many more, and kept him in the industry. As a smallbusiness owner, he’s experienced everything from nearly going bankrupt five times to building multi-million-dollar equity positions and winning more than 30 PPAI Pyramid Awards for creative campaigns. “I have had both the opportunity to work with Cliff in a professional manner as well as a personal relationship,” says Paul Zafarana, MAS, MASI, founder of Dearborn, Michigan, distributor Pica Marketing Group, and one of Quicksell’s nominators. “I can tell you that he is dedicated to the education of both distributors and clients. He really is concerned about the future of the industry. He has been a strong advocate for getting the necessary industry training and education that helped him excel in his own business. Cliff goes above and beyond in looking to make you feel comfortable, and at the same time feel energetic about learning more about promotional products. On a personal note, I can tell you he exemplifies his concern for our wellbeing. Cliff is the first one to tell you like it is and share with you the knowledge he has gained, and make you feel like a million bucks.” With so many responsibilities to manage at once, Quicksell shares that the way he’s learned to achieve balance is by learning how to put his well-being first. “My habits are really simple. I take care of me first,” he says. “The reason I say that is because I know, if you look at it like a pyramid, I’m at the top of the pyramid. If I’m whole physically, mentally and spiritually—and I have to do the things that make me whole first—[everyone] benefits. If I’m off, if I’m sick, if I’m not right, then I’m not a contribution to [the people around me] at all.” He adds, “I’m always looking at how to improve. There’s a Japanese term known as ‘kaizen,’ and it’s the constant state of re-purposing and making change for better improvement. What I encourage people to do is not to wait until there’s a problem to adapt and change. Look at your surroundings and make those adaptations now.” Danielle Renda is associate editor of PPB. Cliff Quicksell, with his wife Maria Quicksell (left), daughter Caitlin Quicksell-DeNilo and son Lt. Alexander Quicksell. PPAI Hall Of Fame/Cliff Quicksell, MAS+ | FEATURE | JANUARY 2022 | 19
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