Revenue growth can look healthy while quietly destroying business valuation, EBITDA, and cash flow. In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown sits down with profitability strategist Ben Hansen, founder of Profit Doctor, to unpack why revenue growth without profit discipline creates risk instead of value. Many growing businesses celebrate top-line success while margins erode, complexity increases, and valuation suffers. This conversation challenges the belief that growth automatically leads to profitability — and explains why profit improvement is a CEO-level responsibility. Ben shares how leaders can identify profit leakage, make focused decisions, and improve margins without relying on aggressive growth. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why revenue growth often hides serious profit problems ✅ How low margins quietly destroy business valuation ✅ Why profit decisions must be led by the CEO ✅ The 50/20 rule for rapid profitability improvement ✅ Why cutting what loses money is faster than finding more growth ✅ How improved focus leads to stronger EBITDA and cash flow 🎧 Prefer audio? Listen here: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/revenue-growth-without-profit-margins-business-valuation 📈 More CEO-level growth insights: https://ceosalesstrategies.com 📩 Questions or feedback: youmatter@ceosalesstrategies.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most revenue problems don’t come from effort or execution. They come from unclear, outdated strategy. In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown sits down with strategic thinking expert Rich Horwath to explore how better planning, clearer priorities, and smarter resource allocation drive predictable revenue growth. Rather than adding more tactics, tools, or pressure, Rich explains how simplifying strategy improves execution, eliminates waste, and aligns teams around how to win. This conversation is essential for leaders who want growth without complexity—and results without burnout. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔️ Why strategic thinking—not more activity—drives consistent revenue ✔️ How simplifying strategy improves execution and team alignment ✔️ The eliminate–reduce–increase–create trade-off matrix ✔️ Why reallocating resources accelerates growth faster than new initiatives ✔️ How leaders evolve strategy to stay competitive 🎧 Prefer audio? Listen here: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/revenue-growth-through-strategic-thinking-and-resource-allocation 📈 More resources: https://ceosalesstrategies.com 📩 Questions: youmatter@ceosalesstrategies.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if your next 1,000 hires didn’t require chaos? In this episode, Doug C. Brown is joined by Pranav Dalal, founder and Chief Disruption Officer of Office Beacon, to talk about what it really takes to scale global teams—without giving up control. Pranav grew Office Beacon to 5,500+ full-time employees across 4 countries… without outside capital or “unicorn” hires. What made it possible? Systems, not superstars. Inside the episode: ✅ How to structure remote teams for scale ✅ Why bootstrapping forces better decisions ✅ How opposite thinking leads to competitive advantage ✅ The simple habits that keep you from overextending If your business depends on 1:1 sales, offshore teams, or scaling operations—this episode is your blueprint. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/remote-staffing-outsourcing-strategies-scale 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on B2B sales, high-ticket strategies, and CEO-level growth. #RemoteStaffing #ProcessDesign #BootstrappedGrowth #SalesLeadership #CEOPlaybook #ScalingSystems #LeadershipMindset Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You don’t have a time problem — you have a priority problem.And that’s why your business isn’t scaling. In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown is joined by former $3B CEO-turned-leadership coach John Nieuwenburg to reveal the real reason most businesses stall between $500K and $15M. They break down:✅ Why founder-led growth hits a ceiling✅ How to step out of “doing mode” and into true leadership✅ What systems to build — and what to delegate — to grow with less effort✅ How to stop being the bottleneck in your own business If you're overwhelmed, overcommitted, and under-leveraged… this conversation is the wake-up call you need. Listen now to shift from survival to scale. Full episode + transcript:https://ceosalesstrategies.com/the-real-reason-youre-not-scaling More from CEO Sales Strategies:🌐 Website: https://ceosalesstrategies.com📩 Email updates: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/contact🎙️ More podcast episodes: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/podcast #FounderMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessScaling #Delegation #Entrepreneurship #CEOThinking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Many founders chase revenue—but end up with less freedom, lower margins, and no clear exit. In this episode, Doug C. Brown sits down with U.S. Marine veteran, executive coach, and bestselling author Richard Walsh to unpack what it really takes to grow a scalable, sellable, and self-sufficient business. You’ll learn: ✅ The real difference between revenue growth and profit growth✅ How to implement “automate, delegate, eliminate” in a high-performing company✅ Why wrong-fit clients quietly drain your bottom line✅ What it takes to become an exit-ready CEO (even if you’re not selling yet) If your business depends on your presence—you don’t own a business. You own a job.This episode will show you how to fix that. 🎧 Full show notes + resources:https://ceosalesstrategies.com/sales-prospecting-and-closing-skills 📌 Subscribe for weekly episodes on high-profit B2B sales, founder freedom, and growth strategies. #B2BSales #ProfitFirst #Entrepreneurship #ExitStrategy #BusinessSystems #CEOLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if your leadership challenges aren’t strategic—but emotional? In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown speaks with Dr. Brian Alman, a leading authority in emotional intelligence, subconscious transformation, and executive coaching. Together, they unpack how emotional patterns—often formed in childhood—can silently influence high-stakes decisions, leadership presence, and sales outcomes. Whether you're leading a team, scaling your company, or managing constant pressure, this conversation will shift how you approach performance, reactivity, and personal growth. 🔹 Learn how to manage stress in under 5 minutes 🔹 Discover the “15th row” mindset trap holding back even top CEOs 🔹 Hear why self-awareness isn’t a soft skill—it’s your competitive advantage 📌 This episode is for high-achieving leaders ready to go beyond tactics and step into transformational leadership. 🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/podcast 🔗 Full show notes + resources: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/emotional-intelligence-for-leaders 📬 Subscribe for weekly strategies to scale high-ticket B2B sales with trust and integrity. #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #SalesLeadership #SelfAwareness #B2BStrategy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown sits down with Chris Sorensen, CEO of PhoneBurner, to explore how outbound sales is evolving in the age of AI—and why human trust still closes the deal. They cover: ✅ Where AI can elevate your outbound process—and where it breaks connection ✅ The mindset shift from rejection to feedback ✅ How to build trust in the first few seconds of a cold call ✅ Why compliance is no longer just a legal box to check—but a trust-building opportunity If you're leading a sales team or still making calls yourself, this episode gives you the frameworks, mindset, and real-world insight to close high-ticket B2B deals more effectively. 📌 Full show notes + episode link: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/phone-sales-in-the-age-of-ai 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more insights from top-performing CEOs, founders, and sales leaders. #phonesales #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #AIinSales #ColdCalling #CEO #SalesMindset #OutboundSales #TrustBasedSelling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most sales teams track close rates—but ignore the daily numbers that actually grow revenue. In this solo episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown breaks down 11 daily sales metrics that help leaders drive scalable, predictable growth. You’ll learn how to build a metric-driven sales system that compounds results over time—and why small changes to activity, follow-up, and lead quality create massive impact. What You’ll Learn: ✅ The 11 metrics that drive pipeline, profit, and predictability ✅ Why outreach and connection tracking matter more than close rates ✅ How follow-up and referrals create untapped revenue ✅ Why lead quality affects team morale and revenue consistency ✅ How to create daily accountability across your team or solo practice 🎧 Prefer audio? Listen to the full podcast here: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/daily-sales-metrics-revenue-growth 📈 More strategies: https://ceosalesstrategies.com 📩 Questions? youmatter@ceosalesstrategies.com #SalesMetrics #ExecutiveCommunication #SalesLeadership #B2BSales #ColdOutreach #SalesProcess #HighPerformanceSales ✅ Timestamps / Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Why close rates aren’t the full picture 05:45 Tracking outreach, connections, and follow-ups 09:30 Metrics that compound revenue growth 13:00 Transaction value, referrals, and buying frequency 17:50 How lead quality drives sales team performance 21:45 Final takeaways for scalable growth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why are your follow-up messages being ignored — even when your offer is strong? In this solo episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown breaks down the 5 most common reasons follow-ups get ghosted — and how to fix them using personalization, strategy, and emotional intelligence. You’ll learn: ✅ Why “just checking in” damages your credibility ✅ How to structure follow-ups that actually get responses ✅ What makes a CTA worth replying to ✅ Why multi-channel outreach drives better results ✅ The mindset shift that transforms how buyers experience your follow-up Doug has helped hundreds of B2B teams create follow-up systems that don’t just earn responses — they drive revenue. If you sell high-ticket, lead outbound efforts, or lead a sales team — this episode is your blueprint. 🌐 More episodes → https://ceosalesstrategies.com/podcast #salesfollowup #SalesStrategy #LeadNurturing #HighPerformanceSelling #B2BSales #DougCBrown #CEOLeadership #PredictableRevenue #SalesMindset #SalesProcess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most founders think scaling means selling the whole company. But what if you could sell just a stake—and still keep control? In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown interviews private equity investor Ariez Dustoor to explore how business owners can scale faster, build transferability, and create long-term equity—without giving up ownership. 🎧 What you'll learn in this episode: ✅ Why repeatable systems increase business valuation ✅ How being the bottleneck lowers your ability to exit ✅ What private equity firms look for before investing ✅ How to prepare for outside capital—even if you're not selling yet ✅ The mindset shift from income-focused to equity-driven leadership This episode is essential listening for high-performing founders who want to build scalable, investable businesses—and eventually, freedom. 🔗 Listen to the full episode: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/sell-a-stake-not-the-company 📩 Subscribe to the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast for more weekly episodes: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/podcast #privateequity #FounderLed #BusinessGrowth #ScalableBusiness #SalesLeadership #RepeatableSystems #ExitStrategy #HighTicketSales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hiring commission-based salespeople doesn’t require a big brand—or big salaries. In this episode, Ryan Hohman shares how he helps companies place 1,000+ commission reps every month by using a system built for scale, belief, and retention. No fluff. Just strategy. What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why most commission hires fail before the first call ✅ The 4-step system to recruit at scale ✅ How to onboard without burning out ✅ Why your systems matter more than your compensation plan Whether you’re still in the sales seat or ready to build a real team, this episode is your playbook. 🎧 Listen on all major platforms or visit: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/hire-salespeople-commission-sales-team 🔔 Subscribe for weekly insights from top-performing CEOs and sales leaders. #b2bsales #SalesHiring #CommissionSales #SalesRecruiting #FounderLeadership #PredictableRevenue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your brain’s default setting is survival—not strategy. And that could be the hidden reason you keep hitting the same growth ceilings in your business. In this episode, host Doug C. Brown sits down with Mitch Weisburgh to explore how outdated belief systems, stress responses, and emotional reactivity quietly sabotage decision-making—even in high performers. If you're scaling a company, managing a team, or leading under pressure, this episode is your roadmap for thinking more clearly—and leading more intentionally. 🎙️ What you'll learn: ✅ Why certainty is often a fear response in disguise ✅ How outdated beliefs impact your leadership, sales, and strategy ✅ What emotional intelligence looks like in real-time pressure ✅ A framework for rewiring your brain’s decision-making under stress ✅ Why “self-sabotage” is a sign of unexamined wiring—not weakness 🔗 Listen to the full episode: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/rewiring-your-brain-for-business-growth #CEOLeadership #SalesStrategy #BusinessGrowth #HighPerformanceThinking #EmotionalIntelligence #Mindshifting #ExecutiveCoaching #SelfSabotage #LeadershipDevelopment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is your financial strategy silently stressing you out? In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown sits down with Lynn E. Kitchen—Wall Street veteran, wealth strategist, and founder of two investment firms—to explore how entrepreneurs can reduce money-related stress and build wealth through clarity and alignment. After surviving cancer twice, Lynn shares how chronic financial anxiety nearly cost her everything—and how she redefined success to create recurring income, peace of mind, and long-term value. What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why money stress is more than a mindset—it’s a leadership risk ✅ How recurring income is built through recurring trust ✅ The hidden cost of control and hustle ✅ Why redefining success is the first step to sustainable growth ✅ How to align mindset, messaging, and sales for long-term peace 🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/money-mindset-mastery-entrepreneurs-stress-wealth #moneymindset #EntrepreneurStress #SalesLeadership #CEOReflection #WealthCreation #HighPerformanceBusiness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How do you lead sales when belief is shaken? Most founders focus on tactics when sales conversations fall flat. But this week’s guest, executive coach and “She Thinks Big” author Andrea Liebross, says the real sales advantage starts before you speak—at the level of belief. In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Andrea and Doug unpack what it takes to move from overcommitted operator to strategic CEO—and why that shift is essential for scaling high-ticket, high-margin offers. You’ll learn: ✅ Why mindset—not mechanics—drives sales performance ✅ What causes leaders to shrink in critical conversations ✅ How to use a “To-Believe List” to lead with clarity and conviction ✅ How to build emotional resilience in outbound sales Whether you're a solo founder or leading a team, this conversation will change the way you sell. 🎧 Full show notes and transcript: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/from-operator-to-ceo-mindset-shift-business-growth 🧠 Connect with Andrea Liebross: https://www.andrealiebross.com/ #SalesLeadership #ExecutiveMindset #ScalingBusiness #CEOThinking #BeliefDrivenSales #EmotionalIntelligence #HighPerformanceTeams #B2BSales #AndreaLiebross Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most founders want to sell their business someday. But very few actually build something that’s sellable. In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown sits down with Alexis Sikorsky — a founder who exited a software business for over $100M — to break down how to prepare for private equity without giving up control. We cover: ✅ What buyers actually value ✅ How to make your company less dependent on you ✅ When to start preparing (it’s not when you think) ✅ The mindset shift that separates $5M businesses from $50M ones ✅ What it really means to “dress the bride” This is essential listening if you’re building toward freedom, scale, or a potential exit. 🎧 Full episode + show notes: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/sell-business-to-private-equity 🔔 Subscribe for new weekly episodes #PrivateEquity #FounderExit #B2BSales #Entrepreneurship #ExitStrategy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most businesses don’t fail because of bad offers. They fail because they don’t ask enough people to buy. In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown sits down with serial entrepreneur Joe Rare to break down why most businesses plateau — and how to scale sales using the law of averages, daily activity, and compounding consistency. You’ll learn why fear and ego quietly block sales growth, how to reframe rejection as part of the math, and why 100 days of consistent outreach won’t just grow your revenue — it will change who you are as a seller and leader. In this episode, you’ll discover: ✅ Why most businesses don’t ask enough people to buy ✅ How fear and ego quietly sabotage sales performance ✅ Why the law of averages guarantees predictable results ✅ How daily activity compounds into confidence + growth ✅ Why identity change is the key to long-term sales success 🎧 Prefer audio? Full episode here: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/how-to-increase-sales-using-law-of-averages 📈 More sales strategies: https://ceosalesstrategies.com 📩 Questions? youmatter@ceosalesstrategies.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How can you sell high-ticket offers without chasing—or losing control of the conversation? In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, host Doug C. Brown speaks with leadership coach and former tech CEO Sue Heilbronner about how to close more premium deals by letting go of the outcome. Sue introduces the concept of passionate ambivalence—the ability to care deeply about helping the buyer, while staying unattached to whether or not they say yes. If you're tired of overexplaining, defending your value, or discounting to win the deal, this conversation will help you lead sales conversations with more clarity, confidence, and trust. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ How “passionate ambivalence” builds pricing power ✅ Why over-caring creates tension—and kills trust ✅ How early qualification protects your time and brand ✅ What it means to lead a sales conversation without attachment 🎧 Listen to the podcast episode → https://ceosalesstrategies.com/how-to-sell-without-selling 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more weekly conversations with high-performing B2B experts. #salesmindset #HighTicketSales #ConsultativeSelling #FounderSales #EmotionalIntelligence #SalesLeadership #SueHeilbronner #CEO #B2BSales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most sales objections don’t come from logic. They come from fear. In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, I sit down with Mitch Weisburgh to explore why resistance starts in the brain—and how leaders can shift conversations without pushing harder. We cover: ✅ The 5 brain-based resistance responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, Habit, Mimicry ✅ Why objections are emotional before they’re rational ✅ How fear hijacks decisions long before logic has a say ✅ Why “certainty” can be a red flag that the brain has stopped listening ✅ Practical ways to reduce fear and build trust in high-stakes conversations If your business depends on high-ticket, 1:1 conversations, this episode will change how you approach objections and guide your buyers. 🎧 Listen on all platforms → https://ceosalesstrategies.com/sales-resistance-brain-mindset-shift About Mitch Weisburgh: Mitch Weisburgh has built and scaled multiple companies, helping leaders and sales professionals rethink how they communicate, build trust, and shift resistance into engagement. About the Host: Doug C. Brown is the CEO of CEO Sales Strategies and has helped thousands of businesses scale revenues, working with leaders in 30+ industries worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most sales teams don’t have a lead problem—they have a system problem. Here’s how AI can help fix it. In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, Doug C. Brown speaks with John Long, founder of Thynk.ai, about the real reason most businesses don’t see ROI from sales automation. It’s not the tools—it’s the system behind them. John breaks down how to apply AI in outbound sales, re-engage cold leads, and stop the follow-up failures that stall your pipeline. If you’re scaling a founder-led sales model or leading a team that sells through 1:1 conversations, this episode offers practical strategy—not just theory. You’ll learn: ✅ The difference between generative and agentic AI ✅ Why automation often reveals more problems than it solves ✅ The 10-80-10 model for smart AI integration ✅ How AI revives old leads without adding headcount ✅ What sales leaders must fix before they scale 🎧 Prefer audio? Listen to the full podcast here: https://ceosalesstrategies.com/ai-for-lead-generation-sales-pipeline 📈 More strategies: https://ceosalesstrategies.com 📩 Questions? youmatter@ceosalesstrategies.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If your B2B sales strategy relies heavily on cold outreach, you’re missing a bigger opportunity: visibility. In this episode, host Doug C. Brown speaks with executive strategist Bill Rice about how to use personal branding and platform presence—especially on LinkedIn—to create warm leads that convert faster and scale without paid ads. 🎙 Topics covered: 00:00 – Intro: Visibility vs. outreach in B2B 03:20 – Why cold outreach struggles without credibility 07:45 – How LinkedIn becomes a daily inbound engine 12:50 – Building a personal brand for trust, not fame 16:10 – Using conferences (even without attending) to book meetings 22:00 – Executive visibility as a team advantage 26:35 – The myth of funnels vs. long-term positioning 31:00 – Scaling inbound for high-ticket B2B offers 37:00 – Bill’s top advice to consultants and leadership teams 41:15 – Final thoughts and episode close #LinkedInStrategy #ExecutiveBranding #B2BSales #CEOVisibility #SalesLeadership #InboundMarketing #ThoughtLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices