Close The Deal Podcast

You're collecting leads, booking appointments, and staying busy. But are you actually closing deals? Sales trainer and author Lisa C. Laird, known as The Closer, joins Ewell Smith on Close The Deal Podcast to tackle one of the most persistent problems in sales: poor follow-up. Lisa explains why sales teams can become obsessed with prospecting numbers while overlooking the opportunities they've already created. She shares three practical ways to improve your follow-up process and turn more act...

AI is changing how we sell. But are we sacrificing the human connection that actually closes deals? In this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Ewell Smith talks with Christopher Hughes, a sales professional with more than 25 years of experience, about the growing dependence on artificial intelligence in sales. AI can speed up research, improve writing, and automate repetitive work. But Christopher warns that when everyone relies on the same technology, sales communication starts sounding the ...

A private equity buyout can deliver a big check. But what happens after the deal closes? For business owners, private equity offers a chance to monetize years of hard work and address succession challenges. But the payout may come with a loss of control, staffing pressures, and an uncertain timeline for future returns. Ewell Smith welcomes John Scott, a partner at Anders CPA in St. Louis, to Close The Deal Podcast for a practical conversation about the risks and opportunities of private equit...

Think you have a time management problem? Amanda Van Der Heiden says the real problem may be your priorities, communication, or leadership. In this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Amanda joins Ewell Smith to break down why productivity hacks alone often don’t solve the problem—and what busy professionals can do instead. Amanda explains why your calendar is one of the clearest indicators of your priorities. If an important goal never gets scheduled, the demands of the day can quickly take o...

You have the knowledge. You have the experience. But can you get what’s in your head across to someone else in a way that actually makes an impact? That’s the communication problem Andrew Hurteau helps professionals solve. Andrew spent the first half of his career as a professional actor, performer, acting teacher, and coach. He eventually shifted that experience toward professionals who may never have signed up to be performers—but suddenly find themselves presenting to teams, clients, board...