The Sales Evangelist

In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, our host Donald Kelly meets with Chris Beall to talk about the MOST important objection you’ll face as a seller and why sellers often can’t overcome it. Who is Chris Beall? Chris is the CEO of the software company ConnectAndSell and offers one INSANELY valuable tool to sellers: The ability to talk to as MANY people as you want at the push of a button. Throughout his career, however, he’s encountered one trend. The Number One Objection Sellers Face: In the COUNTLESS sales reps that Chris has worked with, the most common objection they face, and the hardest to overcome, is a simple phrase. That phrase is “I’m all set.”. What triggers this objection? Most people think that cold calls are mostly marketing. Marketing gets TOO involved within the process of the cold call, and going into a cold call with a marketing mindset is deadly. One of the most FREQUENTLY used tactics in marketing is establishing a niche. Define your niche or area of expertise and then do something to differentiate yourself from the competition. Although this is a useful avenue for marketing, it’s TERRIBLE during cold calls. The reason is simple: If you try to establish a category or niche during a cold call, you come off as condescending. Think about it: You’re effectively telling whoever you’re calling that THEY’RE incompetent and that YOU are better at whatever your specific niche is. Doing this within the first cold call, to a completely new buyer, is a surefire way to get the “we’re all set” objection. Why should the buyer go with your solution when they think their solution is already effective? So, how should sellers overcome this objection? You have to RELIVE the fear of whoever you’re calling. Virtually ALL cold callers assume the person they’re calling is angry or annoyed with them. In reality, though, this person is scared. You’re someone they do not know, and we’re naturally afraid of the unknown. To overcome this natural fear, empathize with them. View the world through THEIR eyes. They see YOU as a problem. Acknowledge that, and then offer a solution to that problem. This begins to build TRUST between you and the person you’re calling. If you want to learn more about Chris’s strategies, you can check out his podcast called Market Dominance Guys, or his company website at ConnectAndSell.com. You can talk to Donald and drop him a message on LinkedIn, Tik Tok, and Instagram at donaldckelly. You can also join TSE’s space on Circle to talk to Donald and other sellers looking to improve their craft. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This episode is brought to you in part by Scratchpad. Scratchpad is the first Revenue Team Workspace specifically designed to adapt to each salesperson’s workflow, so you don’t have to change your habits. Get Scratchpad free at Scratchpad.com.  This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. The power of scheduling automation has never been more critical than it is today. Your sales team needs a solution to easily meet with prospects at the right time, every time. Finish the year strong and request a demo of Calendly today at

In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, our host Donald Kelly meets with Trent Anderson to discuss a unique strategy you, as a sales leader, could start utilizing to help your sales team. So what exactly is the first, last, best, worst strategy? Trent comes from a storytelling and sales background, and he noticed a theme with storytelling that he used to develop the first, last, best, worst strategy. The premise is simple: Make a chart with four columns. The first column will be labeled first, the second last, the third best, and the fourth worst.  In the rows, meanwhile, put in some of the activities you, as a seller, have to do. Trent uses the examples of cold calls, cold emails, sales won, and sales lost. After you have your chart made, you begin to fill it in. In the example Trent gives, you start out by listing what the first cold call you EVER made was and filling it in. Then the last cold call and email you made, and so on. The MAIN focus of this strategy, however, is the best and worst columns. Have your sales reps go over their best and worst sales, cold calls, emails, etc. and really study them. What were their similarities? What about their differences? What types of businesses did they close deals with? Why is this strategy effective? What exactly does it accomplish? The single BIGGEST thing that the FLBW strategy offers is: Insight and information. An issue that plenty of sales teams run into is having one incredible seller who doesn’t exactly know why they’re good. They can’t teach the specifics of their sales process to others on the team. With FLBW, however, you’re able to pick up on trends and other similarities between both the best and worst sales. You can take this information to avoid bad sales in the future, with the worst sales, and get more profitable ones, with the best sales. At the end of each quarter, why not meet with your team and try out FLBW? Take note of the trends and take advantage of all of your new insight. Your sales and profits will only increase!You can connect with Trent on LinkedIn under the name Trent Anderson as well as on Twitter. You can talk to Donald and drop him a message on LinkedIn, Tik Tok, and Instagram at donaldckelly. You can also join TSE’s space on Circle to talk to Donald and other sellers looking to improve their craft. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This episode is brought to you in part by Scratchpad. Scratchpad is the first Revenue Team Workspace specifically designed to adapt to each salesperson’s workflow, so you don’t have to change your habits. Get Scratchpad free at Scratchpad.com.  This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. The power of scheduling automation has never been more critical than it is today. Your sales team needs a solution to easily meet with prospects at the right time, every time. Finish the year strong and request a demo of Calendly today at Calendly.com/TSE.  Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes...

When it comes to improving sales, all it might take to reach your goals is a shift in mindset. In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald is joined by Justin Cunningham to learn how any sales professional can stand out, transform, and optimize their mindset for better performance.  You won’t be able to sell until you believe you can sell. Adjust your beliefs. Try integrating a value-based reframe - People will form their beliefs after an experience. During your next relationship or interaction, you’ll subconsciously look for those same affirming beliefs to support your existing notion.  Decide that you want something better and find evidence to support that new belief. Set yourself apart to win larger-scale accounts: Learn what they’re passionate about and what drives their bottom line to integrate a plan framed directly to them. A gatekeeper will pass individualized materials and information to a decision-maker rather than a mass-sent supply of information. Don’t act like an employee; act like a business partner. When you focus on creating unique connections, relationships, and moments with others, you’ll realize you’re far more critical than a cog in the business machine. If you try something new, what’s the worst that can happen? Propose new growth ideas and ways to improve your organization; if that is considered negative, it likely isn’t the best environment for you. How leadership empowers their teams: Most people are completely underutilized. People are motivated by many different things, and determining your team’s perspectives and mindset can be a powerful way to unify positions toward a common goal. Ask yourself and your team if your current actions are contributing to the company goal. If not, change your behavior. Justin’s final takeaway?  Believe that your radical insights are worth sharing. Don’t be afraid to tell your ideas to those around you. Read Clicking by Faith Popcorn for more ideas about this topic, and visit ishiftresults.com to connect and interact with Justin. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This episode is brought to you in part by Scratchpad. Are you tired of a digital workspace cluttered with notes, folders, files, and half-filled spreadsheets? (Not that we’re speaking from personal experience.) Luckily, we’ve found the solution. Scratchpad is the first Revenue Team Workspace specifically designed to adapt to each salesperson’s workflow, so you don’t have to change your habits. Scratchpad creates a streamlined workflow that allows everyone to be a little more productive each day without the hassle of updating a database with whatever info you can find. Get Scratchpad free at Scratchpad.com.  This episode is brought to you in part by the Outbound 2022 Sales...

How can you interact with potential buyers (especially enterprise clients) that encourage a dialogue? After all, landing the sale isn’t the only part of the equation; you first have to get their attention! In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald is joined by Dr. Stephen Timme and Melody Astley to discuss their recent book Insight-Led Selling, which details how to learn how buyers think. But first, why did they write a book? Ultimately, Stephen and Melody wanted to create a resource their clients and community could utilize. It’s harder than ever to sell to enterprise sellers (yes, people say that every year. But it’s true!) And COVID-aside, the subscription-based economy is growing. There are more stakeholders than ever before in traditional buying processes. At the same time, implementation costs for platforms are lower, making it easier to switch between service providers. They interviewed many executives to see how they felt about sales.  From AT&T, Coca-Cola, Proctor and Gamble, and even Honey-Baked Hams, Stephen and Melody interviewed executives to learn firsthand how they felt about salespeople. (If you were curious, Honey-Baked Hams didn’t even give them coupons. We’re just as disappointed as you are.) They asked one simple question: what could sellers do better? Below were the three overwhelming responses: First, tell me something I don’t know. Second, how does what you’re selling align with my goals and strategies. Third, make my life easy (and don’t give me a 30-page proposal.) Personalization is more than inserting the name of each person in an email blast.  It’s developing a point of view that is interesting to the person you’re talking to. Hold on, let’s say that again for those who missed it: spend a moment to develop a point of view interesting to the person you’re talking to. As a sales leader, we expect output from our BDRs. But we can’t do this and expect results from a spray-and-pray method. The game has changed. How can you implement these sales techniques? For publicly-traded companies, you have access to specific financial figures; use that to align your selling proposition with their capabilities.  Explain the “how” you can help them before you can get into the “how much.”  For sales leaders, equip your salespeople with the specialized knowledge they might need.  You can self-learn if you feel unsupported by your organization, or (and an even better strategy), ask your organization for support. Their final takeaway? Understanding the language of how a customer speaks (and relating that to financial objectives) is a skill that will last the rest of your career.  Insight-Led Selling is available for purchase on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. To contact Melody and Stephen, reach out at info@finlistics.com or connect on their business’s LinkedIn page. (Or connect directly with

Gatekeepers: the infamous villains of the sales world. Regardless of industry, most high-level executives employ some type of executive assistant or secretary to serve as a gatekeeper. A necessary part of the professional world, these assistants act as a filter that forces salespeople to maintain high standards and thoughtful targeting to pass. In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald interviews Natasha Bowles, founder of Natasha Bowles Professional Staffing Agency, to learn more about how salespeople should interact with gatekeepers for more successful results.  The main priority of an executive assistant: securing the executive’s time.  If Natasha didn’t protect her executive’s time, salespeople (among others) would occupy all their time. That doesn’t mean salespeople are bad. But it does mean she ensures the salespeople she lets pass are prepared and offer a product or service genuinely beneficial to her executive’s company. Executives receive 250-1000 emails every day. She is a necessary filter that helps executives find time to do their jobs.  Therefore, as salespeople, you must convince both the executive and the gatekeeper that you’re worthy of their time. Get past the virtual inbox - Natasha’s tips for email outreach: Natasha automatically discards anything that looks like an email blast- emails containing no information about the company and just discuss the sender’s product. To get to the executive, show initiative, research the target company and show how you can help solve a problem. It’s not just personalizing the email; it’s demonstrating understanding of the target and what you can offer them. It’s basic human decency, but still applicable: be respectful. Gatekeepers will notes a dismissive or demanding salesperson. And, if they need that product or service, the gatekeeper will look elsewhere. In 2018, Natasha was tasked with finding an alarm system, water cooler, and other aspects for a new building. The man she was looking to buy from refused to talk to her, insisting on interacting with her executive at every stage of the buying journey. Natasha ultimately ended the partnership with his company because he refused to work with her, and she found a different supplier. Salespeople have a long-standing perception that they need to speak with the decision-maker. But the decision-maker doesn’t necessarily mean the top-level executive. It’s whoever is in charge of the decision (I know, it’s shocking.) Develop (and maintain) a relationship with the gatekeeper to be effective. Find a balance between demonstrating product knowledge without going over people’s heads. Don’t explain hyper-specific nuances, but emphasize what sets your product apart from the competition. Maintaining a relationship is just as important as the initial sale. Remember, executives meet with 5-15 people each day. And executive assistants interact with dozens more. If you don’t interact with the gatekeeper until it’s time to upsell a year later, that gatekeeper will not remember you.  Maintain the relationship, stay in touch, and develop a personal connection to ensure the gatekeeper reaches out when the time comes. Connect with her on LinkedIn (at natashabeingww) to learn more about her experiences.  This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in

A common problem for salespeople is interacting solely with just one stakeholder. But in reality, involving multiple people is the perfect strategy to help deals go through (and make more people excited about them.) In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald is joined by Amy Hrehovcik to discuss her strategy to apply multi-threading throughout your sales process. Amy’s sales experience is extensive. After selling for nearly a decade, Amy finished at Thomson Reuters before transitioning to marketing consulting (eventually working in a startup as the Chief of Customer Value.) She later pivoted to sales enablement, realizing she had a passion for teaching sellers and empowering sales leaders. Amy now hosts the podcast Revenue Real Hotline, where she discusses uncomfortable conversations in sales. Why did she start the podcast? She wrote an article (Mental Health, The Greatest Competitive Advantage That You’ll Ever Know), and it was viewed by the great Andy Paul. He invited her onto his show, and participating in that made her realize the importance of podcasting in sales. (Check out Donald’s guest appearance on her show.) Today’s topic: Multi-threading Multi-threading describes liaising with multiple stakeholders and executive sponsors throughout an organization.  The average number of buyers involved in the buying motion was 6.7. Since that time, it has increased. Because her main selling vertical was big law, Amy realized the importance of proactively engaging with multiple stakeholders early on to minimize the objections buyers would have when moving the deal forward. Why should you consider this selling approach? Not to sound cliche (but we will anyway), it’s the same reason you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Amy began to hold off on doing deep-dive demos until at least three executive sponsors were in the room because it diversified the risk for the individuals involved.  They were no longer the sole advocate for a product (assuming they like it), thus limiting the amount of blame and buyer’s remorse people might feel after implementation. Because the buying process is getting longer, executives will invariably drop out of the acquisition process. But when you have two or three other executives who want to see the deal move forward, it is much more likely to move through. How can you begin to develop this approach? Communicate with the original executive sponsor that you want to help them make the right decision, and you can do that by demonstrating the business case on your behalf.  Ask permission to have conversations with others or other departments to learn how others reach a particular goal. The Heath Brothers wrote in one of their books (Made to Stick) the idea of bright spots. Because of the relationships she developed throughout this discovery phase, she could return to her original executive sponsor and deliver a detailed report that helped both of their causes. One major takeaway from multithreading? Just do it. It’s like anything else- you might not be good at it at first. But with practice, you’ll begin to see success. To contact Amy, connect with her on LinkedIn to learn more about her process with multithreading. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not...

With every other major field in the business world, professionals undergo years of training and education to learn the standard practices, techniques, and skills to make them successful. But with sales, it’s the exact opposite. In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald is joined by Paul Fifield, CEO, and co-founder of Sales Impact Academy, to learn why the education system has overlooked sales (and what we can do to fix it.) It’s okay to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. Imposter syndrome is common in sales professionals because nobody is told what they should be doing. There is no structured learning or education in sales, which Paul deems “the greatest educational tragedy.” What if we applied a similar educational journey to finance? To reinforce the point, think about another important B2B profession: finance. What if the way you got into finance was to go get a degree in math and then just walk up and start working? It’s absurd, yet that’s exactly what happens in sales.  The core role of higher education is to equip people with the skills to contribute meaningfully to the economy. The pace of change for sales is too quick for it to be integrated easily into traditional education because traditional universities just can’t keep up with these shifts. The result? Everybody feels like an imposter, and nobody follows the best practices. And the wheel is being reinvented each and every day. Some quick facts: A search on LinkedIn reveals 60 million people are in sales.  There’s not even one book on revenue operations, yet over three million people hold revenue operations titles on LinkedIn. The GDP of B2B companies is roughly 43 trillion dollars, and that staggering amount of money is resting on the sales staffed by people who’ve never been educated on their positions. How can we make an impact and these changes to teach sales principles? Educate yourself. Learn the sales standards and educate around those standards.  That’s the platform Paul’s company solves by teaching these standards and best practices. Paul’s major takeaway? Get a subscription for the sales academy (yes, it’s a shameless plug. But it really will help!) To connect with Paul, connect with him on LinkedIn or reach out to him at paul@thesalesimpact.io or +44 075-988-3543. Visit

Because of the hustle and bustle salespeople experience each day, it can be challenging to be our most focused and productive selves. So what steps can we take to be more productive throughout the day? Today, Donald is joined by Janice B. Gordon to learn her tips for staying focused and energized throughout the day. Always listen to your body: Janice does yoga and meditation, which she’s been doing for nearly forty years. .If you enjoy what you do, that makes all the difference. She chooses to focus on energy management because many people, especially after the pandemic, feel low energy and motivation. People think pulling a 10, 12 or 15 hour day is productive. But you are far less effective pulling these days than focusing your time and energy for shorter lengths of time. Symptoms arise if you don’t address your personal energy needs. You just feel negative. And instead of having a bad moment, you turn that moment into a bad day.  When you feel you’re having a bad day, you are less productive and less likely to make the most of the time you have available. The four dimensions of energy: Physical energy - All the nutrients going into your body. Exercise and recovery time can bring up your physical energy. Emotional energy is the interconnectedness between people and is the energy that suffered because of the pandemic. There is less interaction with others, be it in the office, at a restaurant, or even around the neighborhood. Mental energy is associated with thinking and problem-solving. As sales professionals, we use this form of energy all the time. For this energy type, practicing drastically helps cultivate this energy. However, ensure you take mental breaks. Spiritual energy - This is your purpose and mission. Spiritual energy influences your character, your personality, and your choices. This is the overarching concept that connects your different energies. If your spiritual energy is low, your motivation will suffer. To solve this, take a mindful walk. Notice and observe what’s around you and empty your brain. Then, when you go back to the office, you’ll be incredibly focused and productive. Listen to your body and give it what it needs.  Always have water at your desk, and drink it constantly. To get more content from Janice, check out her podcast, the Scale Your Sales Podcast (and check out episode 95 to listen to Donald’s guest appearance!) You can also connect with Janice on LinkedIn. Join Donald’s Facebook group, The Sales Evangelizers, to find a community of people to share, reflect, and grow with on your sales journey. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training Program, designed to help new and struggling sellers master sales fundamentals and close more deals. Help elevate your sales game and sign up now to get the first two modules free! You can visit

Email, cold calls, and LinkedIn messages are all great avenues to connect with your prospect.  But perhaps the most underutilized component of the sales process is (spoiler alert) the proposal itself. Whether you’re a newly established business or one of international renown, an enticing proposal dramatically helps your business efforts. And today, Donald is joined by co-founder and CEO of Proposify, Kyle Racki, to learn how sales leaders and teams can understand the power of the proposal. Your proposal is a unique space to differentiate yourself from the competition. When a prospect asks for more information, typically a salesperson sends a google doc with raw numbers, small print, and terms and conditions. In other words, you’re missing a critical marketing touchpoint where you can tell your story. The result? Your proposal will be dumped in the (virtual or physical) trash. Create a proposal that isn’t just a series of words. You’re pitching to a person, not a machine. There’s a thought process behind it that can lead to a better and more personal proposal. Proposals that include images close at a higher rate. Nobody will read a 10-20 page document, but people will skim a proposal for the highlights. Framing your text with images will make it far easier to read. Including images and video makes for a more engaging and interactive experience that communicates the experience of actually working with the company. Other overlooked proposal elements:  Sometimes people will accept the first proposal they get, regardless of pricing or offerings. And even if there are discrepancies, there is a positive correlation between the speed of proposal delivery and closing rates. If you make a prospect wait two weeks for a proposal, they’ll have already solved the problem or found a different solution. 16% of proposals are won within 5 minutes of it being sent, and 42% within 24 hours. If your prospect opens it twice, they’re interested. But if they open it four or more times, the chance to close goes down. The great thing about the proposal file is that you can see proposal open rates and how many times people click through it. Proposal reviews, whether over-the-phone or in-person, with the prospect, lead to better closing rates because you can clarify points and directly address potential objections. Kyle’s major takeaway? If you put more effort into sending a fast proposal (and still put effort into it) you’ll edge out most of the competition. Check out proposify.com to check out the platform and their blog, which contains helpful sales and proposal information. You can also connect with Kyle directly on LinkedIn. Join Donald’s Facebook group, The Sales Evangelizers, to find a community of people to share, reflect, and grow with on your sales journey. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training...

When it comes to sales, standing out from the competition often comes down to how successfully you differentiate yourself from competitors. But how can we do that? Today on The Sales Evangelist,  Donald is joined by Mark Harari, author, podcaster, and VP of Remodelers Advantage, to discuss how you can position yourself to stand out in a crowded market.  The one thing you should do to differentiate yourself: The one thing Mark recommends (and he discusses further in his book) is to identify what makes you unique. You’re facing other people, products, and platforms just as good as you who do the same thing. So what sets you apart? What sets you apart and differentiates you can be what leads to a prospect selecting you over someone else. Differentiation is critical. If you don’t have that differentiating factor, the selection comes down to price, which isn’t good for anybody. Instead, make yourself the obvious choice. A common barrier to differentiation is targeting an entire area of people rather than focusing on a specific section of people you can connect and interact with. To find your ideal target group (if you’re an existing company), go back to your past client list and identify the best types of people you worked with.  For new businesses, there might be trial and error. But try to identify who you think would be the ideal fit for your company and adjust as you continue to grow and develop. The six parts of a successful positioning statement: Identify your target Identify their unmet need (which your service or product solves) Frame your competitors Find your point of difference: What makes you unique  Reasons to believe: Statements that empower and prove the point of difference. Brand personality Discovering that unmet need: There are two components to an unmet need: functional and emotional. People rarely have a personal functional need. That means capitalizing on your unique value to address the emotional need is where you can stand out.  Mark’s major takeaway? Identifying your unique selling proposition can be challenging. To find yours, try thinking backward. What goes wrong when a company works with a bad seller or product? How could you prevent those bad things from happening? That could help you identify where you differentiate in the process. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn, and check out his book at bethelobster.com or find it on Amazon. Then, join Donald’s Facebook group, The Sales Evangelizers, to find a community of people to share, reflect, and grow alongside! This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training Program, designed to help new and struggling sellers master sales fundamentals

Most sellers tend to get caught up in the technical side—asking the “right” questions, handling objections, and checking all the boxes. But in the process, we often overlook something just as important: the emotional side of selling. That’s why I invited Alex Kremer, founder of Alluviance, to join me. He breaks down how the right mindset can help you close more deals and build lasting relationships.Meet Alex Kremer·  Alex Kremer is the Founder of Alluviance, a community and organization dedicated to transforming sales and leadership through authenticity, purpose, and performance. ·  With over 15 years of experience, he has worked with top companies like Salesforce, AWS, and Gong, and played a key role in scaling Outreach from $25M to $250M. ·  He’s hired, trained, and led over 100 Account Executives and Sales Managers, earning President’s Club honors 7 years in a row.·  Alex is known for helping leaders build high-performing teams and purpose-driven cultures that achieve lasting results.Beyond the Tactics: The Role of Mindset in Sales Success·  Alex pulls back the curtain on his journey, opening up about the hidden struggles he faced even when he seemed most successful. ·  Despite hitting top quotas and leading major accounts at Microsoft, he battled depression, highlighting a key truth: salespeople can meet every external standard and still feel empty inside. ·  Alex explains how mental, emotional, and even spiritual health are often overlooked but absolutely crucial to sustainable, fulfilling sales success.Practical Strategies: Filling the Void and Mastering the Inner Game·  Alex introduces the concept of “parts work,” a therapeutic approach to identifying and relating to various emotions without self-judgment. ·  He stresses the importance of self-awareness, inviting reps to treat their emotional states with the same curiosity as they would a sales prospect in discovery. ·  Simple practices like mindful breathing, walks without phones, and reflective journaling can create the internal space needed for clarity.Leadership in Action: Bringing Mindfulness Into Sales Teams·  For sales leaders, Alex suggests starting meetings with grounding exercises such as box breathing or gratitude practices. ·  Investing a few minutes in presence and connection sets a more productive tone than jumping straight to numbers.“When you connect more deeply with yourself, it allows you to connect more deeply with other people, which is very interwoven with sales.” - Alex Kremer.ResourcesAlex’s company, Alluviance, hosts regular retreats blending sales tactics with inner game work. Reach out to Alex on LinkedIn or the Alluviance website for future retreat details.Sponsorship Offers1.  This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot.With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales.2.  This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn.Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at a...

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Do you ever struggle to explain what you do in a way that clicks with prospects? My guest, Zoltan Vardy, is here to help. In this episode, he walks us through a live roleplay to demonstrate how you can clearly articulate your company’s value and get your message across with ease. Grab a pen and paper—you’ll want to jot down his simple, practical framework.Meet Zoltan Vardy·  Zoltan Vardy is a B2B sales advisor, author, and speaker who helps founders accelerate their revenue growth by sharpening their focus and structuring their sales to scale faster.·  He’s generated $2 billion in sales over his 30 years as a C-suite executive and entrepreneur and has helped 200+ startups in 26 countries close high-ticket deals using The Launch Code sales framework — also the foundation of his book on founder-led sales. ·  Zoltan has had successful exits as a founder and investor and is chairman of Antavo, an enterprise SaaS tech company.The Sales Messaging Problem·  Salespeople and founders often list features and benefits when talking to customers, but this can overwhelm prospects with technical jargon, leaving them feeling confused.·  With so much noise in today’s digital world, clarity and brevity are more important than ever.Zoltan’s Five-Step Value Proposition Framework·  Zoltan shares his five-question framework to craft a powerful value proposition:o  Identify the Problem: What is your target customer struggling with? What question are they asking themselves that your business answers?o  Define the Target Customer: Who are you trying to help? What are the key traits of these companies or individuals?o  Describe Your Product/Service: What is your offering in clear, simple terms?o  Highlight the Key Benefit: What is the main advantage your customer gains from working with you?o  Clarify Your Competitive Advantage: What makes your solution uniquely compelling and difficult for competitors to copy?Live Walkthrough: Crafting a Value Proposition for Blue Mango·  I volunteer my own production company, Blue Mango, as a case study. Together, we dive into each step, discussing:o The challenges faced by traditional manufacturing companies in creating engaging contento The needs of marketing leaders at these firms for more lead generation and greater brand authorityo The importance of defining Blue Mango as a content production agency with a sales focuso The main benefits: saving clients time and generating qualified leadso Blue Mango’s competitive advantage: expertise in integrating sales strategy with content productionThe Final Value Proposition·  Using Zoltan’s structure, they draft a clear, compelling value proposition for Blue Mango:o    “Blue Mango is a content production agency that helps traditional manufacturers generate leads by building a turnkey service that delivers social media and podcast content focused on supporting sales.”·  Zoltan emphasizes that this message is succinct, easily repeatable in any setting, and serves as a launchpad for deeper conversation.Tips for Refining Your Message·  Keep the language natural—imagine explaining what you do to a bright 12-year-old.·  Avoid cramming in too many details or buzzwords.·  Test your value proposition in real conversations and refine it as you go.·  Remember: the purpose is to spark curiosity and open the door to further discussion, not explain everything at...

Can LinkedIn really influence 50% of your company’s pipeline? The short answer: yes. My guest, Alina Vandenberghe, co-founder of Chili Piper, joins me to share exactly how she made it happen. You’ll hear how she leveraged LinkedIn to drive more deals—without needing a massive following or traditional influencer status.Meet Alina Vandeberghe·  Alina Vandenberghe shares how her personal LinkedIn efforts drive an astonishing 50% of Chili Piper’s open pipeline. ·  She busts the myth that only people with massive followings can have impact—her 42,000 followers create over 6 million impressions thanks to targeted, authentic engagement.Influence vs. Influencer: Changing the Narrative·  We discuss the difference between “influencing” and being an “influencer.” She shows how you don’t need to be a celebrity or content-creator archetype to influence potential customers and pipeline—focus instead on genuinely impacting your audience. Overcoming Hesitation: From Fear to Purposeful Posting·  Alina opens up about her initial fears of posting online, shaped by a quiet childhood and introverted tendencies. ·  The turning point came during the Ukraine crisis, when her desire to help others outweighed her fear of attention, reframing the idea of influence as a force for good. The Core of Content: Authenticity and Helpfulness·  The secret to Alina’s successful posts? She removes the pressure to generate leads, focusing instead on providing value and helping her audience. ·  Alina emphasizes starting with the right intention—if your “why” is to help, your content will naturally resonate.Inspiration for Any Industry·  Even in “boring” industries, Alina encourages sales reps to post what they learn daily, insights from customer conversations, or improvements in their sales craft. ·  As you gain confidence, share customer stories and industry trends relevant to your audience.Posting Frequency and Building the Authenticity Muscle·  Alina posts two to three times a week, ensuring she’s inspired and has time for real engagement. ·  She stresses that authenticity is a muscle built both online and in everyday interactions—accepting quirks and being real, with yourself and others. "It's not the number of followers that counts, is the right kind of follower." - Alina Vandeberghe.Resources·  Want to reach Alina or learn more about Chili Piper? Connect with her on LinkedIn.·  B2B Social Media GuideIf you’re trying to grow inbound and don’t know how to use LinkedIn for yourself or your team, this is for you. The most straightforward quick guide on how to turn B2B social into viral, buzz‑worthy content that builds brand and generates pipeline.Sponsorship Offers1.  This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot.With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales.2.  This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn.Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day...

Should salespeople become influencers? I’m a firm believer in this, and my guest, Michael Manzur, Founder & CEO of Flood Me Social, is back to discuss the importance of thought leadership and influencer marketing. He shares how building genuine influence and community online is the modern path to driving real results.From Audience to Community· You can’t just focus on your ideal audience as an influencer—you have to build a community. · Michael explains how sales professionals can use social media platforms like LinkedIn to create meaningful conversations, provide value, and position themselves as trusted thought leaders.· In today’s world of AI, influencer salespeople must do more than simply attract an audience—they need to create engagement that fosters stronger connections, leading to more opportunities and qualified leads.Common Mistakes Companies Make with Influencer Campaigns· Michael points out how many organizations jump into influencer campaigns without first aligning their business objectives with their social media and influencer marketing efforts.  This often leads to confusion about goals and results.· Companies frequently delegate influencer marketing to already overloaded social media managers, causing burnout and a lack of focus on what’s truly driving results.· There’s often a disconnect among stakeholders, where campaigns are judged solely on surface-level metrics like impressions or comments, instead of tracking whether those efforts actually lead to sales or real business outcomes.The Impact of AI on Influencer Marketing· AI is beginning to disrupt influencer marketing by allowing brands to experiment with AI-generated creators, sometimes achieving results at a fraction of the traditional cost.· Despite technological changes, Michael noted that “the best practices don’t change”—AI influencers still need effective calls to action and strong community engagement to move the needle in sales.Steps for Sales Leaders and Executives· Start by understanding best practices in influencer marketing and ensure every campaign is tied back to clearly defined business objectives and sales targets.· Participate actively in the right communities, not just by broadcasting messages but by engaging—commenting on posts, sharing insights, and building thought leadership, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn.· When running influencer campaigns, carefully select the right creators, create detailed creative briefs, outline clear calls to action, and constantly monitor for results that matter—such as actual leads or conversions, not just likes or impressions."The best way you can access influencer marketing and sales is just by sharing your thoughts in the community that you participate in." - Michael Manzur.Resources· Take a few minutes to check out the Goldman Sachs creator economy article and see for yourself how this massive shift is reshaping marketing and sales. Let this be your motivation to explore influencer campaigns, engage your communities, and make sure you’re not left behind.· Revisit episode 644 of the podcast with Micahel and learn more about what he had to say about getting social on social media. · Reach out to Michael on LinkedIn for insights and consulting in faith-based, wellness, or broader B2B influencer marketing

I’m so excited about this episode. I have a good friend and co-host of our new podcast joining me. We’re here to introduce Sales 101: The B2B Classroom.It’s a podcast for sales professors on how you can help guide the next generation of sellers in our industry. Students and those already in the industry can still listen in — we share plenty of tips that can help you as well.Growth of College Sales Programs·  BJ and I have taught sales at Brigham Young University for years. We’re starting to notice the growth of college sales programs compared to 20 years ago. BJ shares that there’s been a 50% increase in sales programs.·  What’s so great about this is that students are able to gain sales skills before entering the field. It’s also an untapped recruiting source for modern B2B organizations.Hands-On Training in Academia·  College sales programs allow students to gain real-life skills using frameworks like Challenger, SPIN,and MEDDIC, as well as industry tools (Salesforce, HubSpot).·  They get time to role-play, use simulations, and gain practical hands-on experience.·  For example, I shared a story about how students at BYU won sponsorship deals for their local theater.Integration of AI in Sales Education·  I play a clip from Professor Barry on how he’s using AI tools to enhance role play, research, and call analysis while teaching his students.·  This shows how college sales programs can help students learn to use AI-powered techniques for outreach, efficiency, and analytics.Why Listen to Sales 101: The B2B Classroom·  Besides hearing our handsome voices, you’ll learn directly from sales college professionals and industry leaders about what’s working and what’s not. You’ll also hear firsthand from students about their real experiences in the field.·  This podcast bridges thegap between academic sales programs and real-world B2B selling. ·  We spotlight the latest trends in sales education, share best practices from top university programs, and reveal how savvy companies are tapping into this talent pool to build their sales teams of the future.“We have one goal and that is to get our students jobs. We understand in order to get our students jobs, that theory doesn’t cut it alone.” - Dr. BJ Allen."They're not only getting the book smart. They're getting learning from industry leaders, from guest lecturers, and they're getting practice." - Donald Kelly. ResourcesSales 101: The B2B Classroom PodcastSponsorship Offers1. This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot.With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales.2.  This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn.Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse.3.  This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation.Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the

Planners, tablets, Google Calendar — you’d think with all these tools, you’d be able to stay on track with the tasks that bring in money. So why do silly distractions keep pulling your focus? Check out my strategy that will cut the noise and help you focus on what matters most.Every Monday Problem·  You wake up feeling unbothered—until you remember everything you need to get done.·  Suddenly, the pressure builds on your shoulders, and your mind may even jump to the worst-case scenario: freezing in the moment and not getting anything done.How to Shut the Noise·  As a sales professional and business owner, I know how overwhelming it feels once you start thinking about all the tasks on your plate.·  The best way I’ve found to avoid getting stressed is to start with the most critical tasks first. Tackling the hardest items right away gets them out of the way and sets you up for the best results throughout the day. Remember Kevin O’Leary’s 80/20 quote!·  In this episode, I share my personal strategy for choosing which critical tasks to focus on and how to prioritize them so you can stay in control of your day.“You can have time in your day to breathe. Take a walk in the park, go to the gym, and focus on your physical health. You can’t do the work if you aren’t healthy.” – Donald KellyResources·  If you like more guidance with improving your sales skills, join my Sales Mastermind Class.·  Thinking about starting a podcast yourself? Learn more about Blue Mango Studios. Sponsorship Offers1.  This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot.With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales.2.  This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn.Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse.3.  This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation.Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin.CreditsAs one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, a...

AI can do a lot, but it’s ineffective when it comes to building relationships with prospects. Even though creating connections is important, most sellers tend to struggle with this. I invited my guest, Ravi Rajani, a sales coach and author of Relationship Currency, to join me in this episode to discuss his newest book. He shares what inspired him to write this book and why sellers need to focus more on building relationships to create strong pipelines.The Origins of "Relationship Currency"· To start, Ravi discusses what inspired him to write his first book. He shares a funny story about talking to his mentor about the idea of writing a book while having a second baby on the way. · Looking back on his career and life, he noticed how much his relationships influenced his success. He learned that by building trust and communication skills, other sellers can achieve the same success.The Central Role of Trust· Would you be friends with your bestie if you didn't trust them? Your prospects feel the same way when it comes to doing business with you. · Trust is the glue that holds relationships together. In his book, Ravi talks about the "Three Cs" of trust:o  Connection (the emotional bond)o  Character (your invisible values)o  Competence (showing expertise without being overbearing)·  You need all three to establish lasting trust, whether with clients, colleagues, or partners.The Art of Listening and Empathetic Questions·  Ravi explains how surface-level questions yield surface-level relationships, but conscious questions develops deep relationships. ·  A “conscious question” is rooted in positive intent and service. For example, instead of “How are you?” ask something you know the other person is emotionally invested in.Five Habits to Build Relationship Currency· Here are the five habits that help build the Three Cs:o  Transform Your Internal Story: The relationship you have with yourself sets the tone for all others.o  Ask Conscious Questions: Rooted in service and positive intent; paired with deep listening.o  Unearth Your Charisma: True charisma makes others feel significant.o  Tell Stories That Inspire Change: Especially social proof stories—show, don’t tell.o  Become the Trusted Guide: Help others achieve their goals without self-interest, bringing all habits together.Ravi’s Advice for Leaders: Model the Change· If you want your team to be more passionate or authentic, you need to model that energy and intention yourself.· Reinforce these behaviors by acknowledging team members who practice them.· Genuine compliments go a long way—they activate the same brain areas as financial rewards!“I believe that the only currency that has mattered is relationships. And the only currency that will matter moving forward is relationships, especially in a world increasingly being shaped by AI.” - Ravi Rajani.ResourcesRavi RajaniBook | Speaker, Coach & Consultant | Ravi RajaniRavi Rajani’s mission is to help B2B tech sales teams ditch feature dumping for storytelling so they can get their prospect’s attention, become trusted advisors and win more relationships.Sponsorship Offers1. This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot.With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and

Old-school prospecting methods are making a comeback, and in this episode, I'm going to share three unconventional ones that you can take advantage of. Oh yeah, don't forget to check out my LinkedIn prospecting course at the bottom.Why Are These Prospecting Methods Coming Back?·  These techniques are returning due to the world of AI. People want to connect, and it's getting harder to do that through technology alone. ·  Also, don't think methods like cold calling and email are dead. Instead, these methods are becoming the preferred ways to build trust and find a trusted source.1. Industry Events·  One thing I've noticed about Reddit is that people love to connect with like-minded individuals to learn more about their industry. ·  Just about every industry has trade shows, which are ideal places for you to connect with trusted sources. ·  However, the key thing to remember is that you must become an insider of the trade show—not just a random attendee—to establish yourself as a trusted source.2. Referrals·  I've said this over and over again: referrals work. People love to introduce others to each other; it gives them a sense of importance. ·  It also helps establish trust and increase client acquisition.3. Channel Partners·  This method isn't as hard as you might think. The same amount of energy you spend finding one prospect, you can spend finding a channel partner. These are partners who have access to many prospects that you can work with."9 out of 10 prospects like to give referrals, and only 11 percent of sellers ask for them. Go back to LinkedIn and ask for an introduction." - Donald KellyResources·  If you like more guidance with improving your prospecting skills, join my LinkedIn Prospecting Course.·  Thinking about starting a podcast yourself? Learn more about Blue Mango Studios. Sponsorship Offers1.  This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot.With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales.2.  This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn.Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse.3.  This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation.Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin.CreditsAs one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by

We’re bringing back one of our most popular episodes from the archive with Ron Tite, because the lessons are just as relevant today as when we first recorded it. As salespeople, we all know that grabbing attention and earning trust are two of the hardest (and most critical) parts of the job. Ron breaks down exactly how to do both without relying on gimmicks or old-school tactics.Meet Ron TiteRon Tite is the founder and keynote speaker of the Toronto-based agency Church+State, and the author of Think Do Say: How to Seize Attention and Build Trust in a Busy, Busy World. With a background as an executive creative director at a multinational ad agency and years of experience as a stand-up comedian, Ron brings a unique blend of creativity, storytelling, and practical business insight to the world of sales and marketing.Why Attention Alone Isn’t EnoughSalespeople are fighting for space in an overcrowded marketplace. From flashy billboards in Times Square to hyper-targeted street-level sellers, everyone’s competing for attention. But attention without trust won’t get you very far. Ron explains why chasing vanity metrics is a dead end and how to build credibility in a noisy world.The Three Anchors: Think, Do, SayRon shares a simple but powerful framework:· Think: What do you truly believe in as a salesperson?· Do: How are you reinforcing those beliefs through your actions?· Say: How are you communicating them authentically without falling into “pitch slap” mode? When you align these three, your outreach feels human, real, and trustworthy.Invest in Being GoodJust like comedians can’t fake being funny, salespeople can’t fake caring about their clients. Long-term success doesn’t come from gimmicks or platform-hopping, it comes from genuinely adding value and building relationships.Real-World Examples· Red Bull: Their entire brand is built on a belief (life with an adrenaline rush is better) and consistently reinforced through actions and messaging.· Ron’s own career: His first big client came not from tricks, but from trust he’d built over years.Lessons for Sales Leaders· Don’t hire someone hoping they’ll “save” the business—hire coachable people who are hungry to learn.· Give your team clear responsibilities so they can excel where they’re strongest.· Focus on humanity and credibility over hacks and short-term wins.“Looking for ways to seize attention and build trust may be difficult, but resist the desire to scheme. Do the hard work, be human, and focus on solving real problems.” – Ron TiteResources· Connect with Ron Tite on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.· Check out his book: Think Do Say.· For more sales insights, connect with Donald on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.Sponsorship Offers1.    This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot.With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales.2.  This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn.Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at a...