I Used To Be Crap At Sales

In this episode, Mark Ackers chats with Holly Allen, an account executive at Deel. Holly shares her journey from a party-loving university student to a successful sales professional, sharing insights on persistence, self-belief, and continuous learning. An open and honest conversation about the highs and lows of a career in sales.Episode Highlights:00:00 - Introduction01:44 - Holly's early career and transition from university to sales06:52 - Navigating her first SDR role and learning the ropes16:54 - Overcoming financial struggles and persistence in sales22:21 - The importance of resilience and support systems33:42 - Key techniques for effective sales communication45:32 - Advice for struggling sales professionals

Welcome to the latest episode of "I Used to be Crap at Sales"! In this episode, Mark Ackers chats with Benjamin Dennehy, the self-proclaimed UK’s most hated sales trainer.Known for his controversial and no-nonsense approach, Benjamin shares his journey from struggling salesperson to one of the most recognised sales trainers in the UK. Ben delivers an insightful and brutally honest discussion that should leave you inspired and energised.Ben pulls no punches and shares stories of his early struggles working in sales and how he learned to ask tough, and in some cases, very uncomfortable questions to prospects - something he says is crucial for uncovering real needs and closing deals effectively.Episode Highlights:00:00 - Introduction01:44 - Ben’s early career struggles and first sales role06:52 - Learning to sell and the turning point in his career16:54 - Overcoming financial struggles and persistence in sales22:21 - The importance of resilience and self-belief33:42 - Key techniques for effective sales communication45:32 - Advice for struggling sales professionals

Welcome to the second episode of "I Used to be Crap at Sales"!Join MySalesCoach Co-Founder and Head of Sales, Mark Ackers, as he chats with Stuart Taylor, Sales Director at Allego.Stu began his career in sales over 15 years ago at Barclays Bank. As a young man fresh out of school, he fell into a role in outbound telesales without really understanding what a professional sales career entailed. He struggled immensely in the early days, admitting he was "ignorant and crappy" and contemplated leaving the industry altogether. Stuart went on to hold sales roles at Sunderland Football Club and a car dealership, bringing his high-volume call center approach to different industries. While he achieved some success, he felt he was repeating the same mistakes for many years without truly improving. It wasn't until Stuart joined Refract, a SaaS startup, that things changed. Surrounded by passionate sales leaders, he had an epiphany about how much he had to learn. For the first time, Stu immersed himself in coaching, listening to calls, and continuously developing his skills. He saw massive improvements in just two years.Now a respected Sales Director at Allego, Stu coaches and mentors teams to achieve their potential. One seller went from £10k to £60k commissions through Stuart's guidance. He takes pride in helping others avoid the struggles of his early career and is a huge advocate for the power of coaching.He firmly believes that sales can be a hugely rewarding career when done the right way.Ready to get inspired? You're going to love this episode!Highlights From The Episode00:00 Introduction13:23 Early struggles in his sales career at Barclays26:45 Difficult mental health period and considering leaving sales35:47 Improving his sales skills through coaching38:36 Realising his potential for growth after years of repetition 44:02 How he rates his sales skills now, and areas for improvement51:09 The opportunities Sales provides59:41 Impact of coaching on sales team performance11:15 Advice for those struggling and importance of taking actionFor shownotes visit: https://www.mysalescoach.com/blog/podcast-ep02-stuart-taylor

Mark Ackers sits down with Tom Boston - comedy sales content creator, social selling trainer, keynote speaker, and LinkedIn Top Voice. Tom shares how he overcame the struggles of cold calling, dealing with rejection, and transforming his sales career through perseverance and a positive attitude. The episode is full of insights, laughs, and practical advice for anyone trying to navigate the world of Sales.Highlights from the episode:00:00 - Introduction01:44 - Tom’s early career and transition to sales04:11 - First sales role and cold calling challenges06:52 - Moving into the SaaS world08:46 - Becoming Brand Awareness Manager at SalesLoft16:54 - Overcoming struggles and finding success in Sales22:21 - Importance of resilience and support systems37:08 - Advice for new sales professionals45:32 - Reflections and final thoughtsFor shownotes visit:  https://www.mysalescoach.com/blog/podcast-ep01-tom-boston

Even the most prominent voices in Sales were crap at Sales once.Join bestselling Author, Founder and Sales Coach Mark Ackers as he speaks with successful Sales professionals about their early Sales struggles, and how they overcame these challenges to become the people they are today.