Success is not something you own; it's something you rent, and the rent is due every day. When you stop paying rent on success, you start paying the rent on failure.

Tom stood as the trailblazer within his family, carving a path to higher education. Yet, it was a single encounter that would etch an indelible mark on his life's course. Fate brought him face to face with a recruiter from the Southwestern Company, hailing from Nashville, Tennessee – an encounter that would unveil a realm of unforeseen possibilities.

At that serendipitous moment, he could scarcely fathom the significance of what lay ahead. The Southwestern Company, an entity that recruits a legion of college students each summer to engage in door-to-door book sales, promised more than monetary gains. It was a realm where hard work metamorphosed attitudes and lives, though devoid of glamour. It was about confronting the unfamiliar, braving cold calls in distant locales far from home – a landscape teeming with strangers, sweat, rain, and grueling 80+ hour workweeks. It entailed navigating the turbulent waters of rejection, encountering discouragement, and even confronting attack dogs, all while wrestling with homesickness.

For Tom, it meant venturing forth from college with a mere fifty dollars in his pocket, traveling to Nashville to master the art of selling on a commission-only basis, shouldering his own expenses along the way.

In a crescendo of achievement, Tom shattered sales records, surpassing his personal bests during five consecutive summers as a salesperson. His exceptional performance caught the attention of the Southwestern Company, who invited him to transition into a full-time role as a sales manager. Under his mentorship, his teams obliterated company records, a testament to his guidance and coaching. This small-town Kansas native forged an enduring legacy, with his techniques continuing to be a cornerstone of instruction at The Southwestern Company even three decades later.

Amidst five grueling summers on the field, Tom's ears resonated with an abundance of "no's," dwarfing the typical lifetime quota. Yet, his journey was also punctuated by a symphony of "yes's" that most salespeople would never accumulate in their entire careers. His summers were a tapestry woven with sweat, relentless effort, and ultimately, an extraordinary triumph.

For those intrigued by his journey, "The Boxcar Millionaire, Tom Black's Proven System of Sales Success" awaits as a testament to his odyssey.

Recruited into the fold of Madison Financial, a corporation distinguished by its focus on retail marketing strategies tailored for banks, Tom's journey took a significant turn. Subsequently, the mantle of CUC International enveloped Madison Financial, marking a new chapter in his career. In a seamless continuum, CUC further extended its reach by acquiring Benefit Consultants, and it was here that Tom's prowess truly illuminated.

Undertaking the helm of the sales division, Tom embarked on a remarkable ascent that defied company expectations. Under his visionary guidance, the sales trajectory transformed from a humble $1 million to an astonishing over $350 million in a remarkably short span. This unprecedented feat was a testament to his strategic acumen and leadership prowess, heralding a paradigm shift within the company.

Marking a pivotal juncture in his journey, this chapter heralded a new direction for Tom – one that saw him emerge as an avant-garde luminary in the realm of banking. Initiating this evolution, he laid the foundation for Private Business, Inc., a trailblazing enterprise that revolutionized accounts receivable lending for banks.

In a span of six transformative years, Tom's stewardship as CEO propelled Private Business, Inc. to the zenith of its field, positioning it as the foremost provider of accounts receivable programs tailored for community banks and their commercial clientele. This remarkable ascent saw the sales force burgeon from nonexistence to a formidable roster of over a hundred adept salespeople. The culmination of his efforts manifested in the company's public offering in May of 1999.

During the same pivotal period, Tom, in collaboration with a partner, acquired Bancsource and simultaneously gave rise to Imagic Corporation, a sibling entity. Bancsource assumed the mantle of purveyor of mission-critical equipment and ATMs, extending hardware maintenance services to banks nationwide. Concomitantly, Imagic Corporation took flight, dedicated to the development of cutting-edge check-imaging systems.

The apex of Tom's leadership prowess emerged as he helmed both Bancsource and Imagic, orchestrating a seismic expansion that catapulted both entities from regional players to nationally acclaimed sales and service dominions. Under his guidance, Bancsource transcended from insignificance to national prominence, tending to the needs of 4,000 banks across 49 states. Tom's masterstroke lay in his ability to cultivate world-class salespeople, a testament to his proven sales success system that navigated the intricacies of transforming individuals into sales champions.

The narrative of Imagic Corporation took an unforeseen twist as it merged with Open Solutions, Inc. in December of 2001. This momentous union culminated in the public status of Open Solutions, Inc., marking Tom's second venture into the domain of publicly traded companies.

For those curious about his journey, "The Boxcar Millionaire, Tom Black's Proven System of Sales Success" offers a profound insight into his remarkable trajectory.

Today, this native of the small town boxcar upbringing calls Nashville, TN home, where he wholeheartedly dedicates his time, resources, and energies to myriad charitable causes. His privilege lies in being recognized as one of America's most eminent and renowned wine collectors, an arena where his fervor has once again translated into unparalleled excellence. His circle of confidants includes luminaries from the world's elite winemakers, esteemed chefs, and distinguished wine critics. At the helm of some of the most extensive and illustrious wine tastings in the nation, his impact on the world of wine is undeniable.

With a personal wine collection nearing the staggering mark of 30,000 bottles, he possesses a treasury of the world's most coveted vintages, elevating him to the echelons of rarefied ownership.

In this chapter of his journey, the baton is passed, the legacy cascades. Tom now embraces the role of imparting his training methodologies and time-tested business blueprints to you. Yet, the transformation requires more than mere ambition; it necessitates audacious thinking and grand-scale planning, mirroring the steps he himself undertook. In this mosaic of potential, the elusive turning point is not a distant mirage; it's an attainable reality, a juncture that all of us are equipped to uncover. The prospect of authentic sales success beckons, propelling you to surpass the boundaries of your imagination, charting a course to unprecedented heights of achievement.