The Green Sheet Online Edition
July 27, 2026 • 26:07:02
Celebrate Christmas in July by giving before the holidays
Christmas in July is often associated with sales promotions, summer parties and a chance to think about cooler days ahead. But it can also serve as a reminder that generosity doesn't have to wait until December.
For professionals in merchant acquiring, summer is frequently a busy season filled with prospecting, implementations, travel and planning for the year-end rush. It's easy to become so focused on closing the next deal that we overlook the relationships that made those opportunities possible in the first place.
Appreciation, a gift people remember
gift What if Christmas in July became less about decorations and discounts and more about appreciation? Take a few minutes to reconnect with a merchant you haven't spoken with in a while, not because you want to sell something, but because you genuinely want to know how business is going. You could:
- Reach out to a referral partner to say thank you for the trust they've placed in you.
- Recognize a colleague whose behind-the-scenes efforts often go unnoticed.
- Share an introduction that could help two people succeed, even if there's nothing in it for you.
Trust, the evergreen competitive advantage
These small gestures rarely appear on monthly sales reports, yet they often produce the strongest returns over time. People remember those who make them feel valued, especially when no obvious business agenda is attached.
Christmas is traditionally called the season of giving, but generosity has no calendar. Encouragement offered in July carries just as much weight as encouragement offered in December. Because it is unexpected, it may mean even more.
Our industry is built on transactions, but lasting success is built on relationships. Technology evolves. Pricing changes. Competitors come and go. Trust, however, remains one of the few competitive advantages that cannot be duplicated overnight.
As you look toward the second half of the year, consider giving away something that costs nothing: your time, your gratitude, your willingness to listen or your belief in someone else's potential. Those gifts have a way of returning when you least expect them. 
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