Grand Connection Podcast

What if better sales conversations began with less persuasion and more curiosity?Susan Jarema revisits SPIN Selling by Neil Rackham as part of the Business Classics series, exploring how thoughtful questions and genuine listening can make selling feel more natural, helpful, and human. Drawing on the four elements of SPIN, Situation, Problem, Implication, and Need-Payoff, Susan explains how coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs can better understand the needs behind a buying decision without relying on pressure or polished pitches.Building on a previous conversation with Patrick Seaton and insights from Chris Voss's approach to tactical empathy, Susan connects SPIN Selling to the Grand Connection's Connect, Create, Collaborate philosophy and TRUST Framework. Through relatable business examples, she explores common questioning mistakes, the importance of recognizing a genuine fit, and how to guide conversations toward meaningful next steps. The central message is that ethical sales and strong relationships grow through curiosity, clarity, and a willingness to listen before offering solutions.What You’ll Hear:Discover why asking better questions can make sales conversations feel more natural and less focused on persuasion.Explore how the SPIN Selling framework helps uncover what truly matters to a potential client.Recognize the difference between guiding someone's buying process and pushing them through a sales process.Understand why exploring the implications of a problem can create clarity without relying on fear or pressure.See how need-payoff questions help people recognize the value of solving a problem in their own words.Explore the connection between SPIN Selling, tactical empathy, and communication that builds trust.Discover how listening, reflecting, and asking open-ended questions can strengthen business relationships.Recognize the common questioning habits that can unintentionally create resistance or undermine trust.Understand how the Grand Connection TRUST Framework supports ethical, relationship-centered sales conversations.Reflect on how curiosity, preparation, and thoughtful next steps can turn selling into a more collaborative experience.Meet the Host: Susan JaremaSusan Jarema is a marketing strategist, internetologist, and founder of The Grand Connection. She helps entrepreneurs grow through collaboration, smart strategy, and high-impact digital presence. Susan is also president of New Earth Marketing, where she builds brands, websites, and ecosystems designed for real growth.Connect with Susan and the Grand Connection Community:Website: https://grandconnection.ca/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grand.connectionFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandConnectionCommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandconnection.ca/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/66749100Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxq03yde7nb57HKV1hhztYALead Magnet Workbook https://grandconnection.ca/lead-magnets-guide-workbook/Access your Grand Growth Bundle and Free Guest Pass: https://grandconnection.ca/giftsWe are proud to have Grand Connection Podcast on the High Vibe Podcast Network. Grab your free gift from Susan in our Our High Vibe Gift Vault.Love this show? Check out the other shows on the High Vibe Podcast Network.Share the Love✨ If this episode lit something up in you… tag us on Instagram @HighVibeLeaders and let us know your biggest takeaway!🦋 Don’t forget to rate & review — it helps us reach more conscious rebels like you.🔊 Listen & Subscribe🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🎧 Amazon Music🎧High Vibe Podcast Network

What if business freedom comes not from doing more, but from building the right support and relationships?Grand Connection Podcast host Krystal Hille welcomes Kirsten Graham for a thoughtful conversation about strategic outsourcing, financial clarity, and creating a business that supports both growth and personal freedom. Kirsten challenges the belief that business owners must handle everything themselves, exploring how virtual assistants, stronger systems, and intentional delegation can create space for meaningful work, confident decision-making, and healthier profit margins.The conversation also explores why successful collaboration begins with trust, communication, and shared values. From building long-term partnerships to navigating misunderstandings and expanding visibility through podcasting, Kirsten shares practical perspectives on growing without unnecessary overwhelm. Reflecting the Grand Connection's Connect, Create, Collaborate philosophy, the discussion highlights how thoughtful relationships and the right support can help entrepreneurs feel less isolated, strengthen their businesses, and build sustainable success together.What You’ll Hear:Rethink what it really costs to manage every aspect of a business alone and why outsourcing may be more accessible than expected.Explore the difference between increasing revenue and creating genuine freedom in business and life.Discover how having the right support can build confidence, reduce isolation, and create more space for meaningful growth.Understand why financial clarity can shift the way entrepreneurs make decisions about their time, money, and future.See how strategic delegation can help business owners focus on building relationships, serving clients, and growing their visibility.Recognize the value of knowing what to eliminate, automate, or delegate before adding more people to a team.Explore how podcasting, networking, and shared opportunities can open the door to meaningful business collaborations.Reflect on why honest communication and shared values are essential when building and maintaining trusted partnerships.Consider what makes a collaboration worth pursuing and why the right relationships deserve time to develop.Discover why meaningful networking goes beyond introductions and how ongoing conversations can lead to lasting business relationships.Featured Guest: Kirsten GrahamKirsten Graham is a business strategist and outsourcing expert with a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs take control of their finances and scale with confidence. Through her Love Your Profit program, she hires, trains, and supports Bookkeeping Virtual Assistants who work directly with business owners. Kirsten helps entrepreneurs simplify bookkeeping, reduce financial stress, understand their numbers, and build profitable, sustainable businesses with the right financial systems and team support in place.Connect with Kirsten GrahamWebsite: Six Figure Business CoachingLinkedIn: Kirsten GrahamInstagram: @sfbizcoachingYouTube: Six Figure Business CoachingFree Resource: The Outsourcing AuditBookkeeping Program: Love Your ProfitFree Gift - Request The Outsourcing Audit and identify the work that’s keeping you from bringing home more money. https://theoutsourcingaudit.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.comMeet the Host: Krystal HilleKrystal Hille is a visionary book mentor, award-winning author, and founder of Hille House Publishing. She’s guided hundreds of leaders, coaches, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs to reclaim and integrate their lived experience, transforming fragmented insight into coherent expression and embodied thought leadership through writing. With 30 years in leadership, a BA (Hons) in English, and a background in theatre, NLP, transformational coaching and tantra, she helps clients turn their wisdom into impact.Connect with Krystal:Website: https://hillehouse.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystal.hille.1/Connect with Susan and the Grand Connection Community:Website: https://grandconnection.ca/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grand.connectionFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandConnectionCommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandconnection.ca/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/66749100Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxq03yde7nb57HKV1hhztYALead Magnet Workbook https://grandconnection.ca/lead-magnets-guide-workbook/Access your Grand Growth Bundle and Free Guest Pass: https://grandconnection.ca/giftsWe are proud to have Grand Connection Podcast on the High Vibe Podcast Network. Grab your free gift from Susan in our Our High Vibe Gift Vault.Love this show? Check out the other shows on the High Vibe Podcast Network.Share the Love✨ If this episode lit something up in you… tag us on Instagram @HighVibeLeaders and let us know your biggest takeaway!🦋 Don’t forget to rate & review — it helps us reach more conscious rebels like you.🔊 Listen & Subscribe🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🎧 Amazon Music🎧High Vibe Podcast Network

What turns a promising networking connection into a meaningful partnership that supports lasting business growth?Susan Jarema and co-host Steve Brossman bring together three collaboration experts, Derek Morgan, David Riklan, and Danny Bermant, for a special Grand Connection Networking Mixer focused on making relationships more valuable through intentional follow-up, generosity, and practical action.Derek explores the opportunities often overlooked within existing networks and the importance of asking better referral questions. David shares how identifying mutual value and building a consistent partnership system can open doors to joint ventures, referrals, and greater visibility. Danny highlights the difference between transactional networking and becoming a trusted, reliable collaboration partner others genuinely want to support.Throughout the conversation, Susan and Steve reinforce the importance of moving beyond collecting contacts to building relationships grounded in reciprocity and trust. Aligned with the Grand Connection's philosophy of giving and collaborative growth, the discussion offers a refreshing reminder that meaningful business growth often begins with the relationships already in place.What You’ll Hear:Discover why valuable referral opportunities may already exist within established business relationships.Explore how genuine curiosity and thoughtful questions can lead to more meaningful introductions and referrals.Recognize the importance of consistent follow-up in turning networking connections into lasting opportunities.Understand how identifying mutual value creates a stronger foundation for successful referral partnerships.See how a simple partnership system can support more intentional networking and collaborative growth.Explore the role of transferred trust in building credibility through personal recommendations.Discover what separates transactional networking from relationships built on generosity and reciprocity.Understand what makes a business referral and joint venture ready, and why preparation matters.Reflect on how long-term collaboration can create greater opportunities than one-time promotions.Recognize why taking action after networking is essential to building stronger partnerships and sustainable growth.Co-Host: Steve BrossmanSteve Brossman is a 9-time Amazon Best-Selling Author who has built multiple 6- and 7-figure international businesses. He has supported many of our members, including myself, with high-value training that brings clarity to their Bankable Story and helps them sell their programs with ease. Through his signature FLOW Selling System, Steve empowers entrepreneurs to create inspired desirability and sell authentically without ever feeling pushy or salesy.https://stevebrossman.comFeatured Guest: Derek MorganDerek Morgan is the founder of Referral Marketing Ideas, creator of the Referral Marketing Formula and Co-Founder/CEO of Refer2u, a Referral Marketing & Referral Partner Ecosystem. With 30+ years of direct sales and partner management experience, he helps SMB/SME businesses owners and sales teams generate referred leads via Partner-led Growth Strategies.https://www.referralmarketingideas.com/derek-morganhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/referralmarketingideasFree Gift - https://www.refer2u.com/s/grandconnectionFree access to the Referral Partners Fast Start Program (Reg $97)Featured Guest: David RiklanDavid Riklan, founder of SelfGrowth.com and cofounder of the Joint Venture Directory, is a leading author, coach, and speaker in Self Improvement. He has published over 10 books, including titles with John Wiley & Sons, and has attracted over 100 million visitors to his websites.https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidriklanhttps://www.selfgrowth.com/Free Gift - 2 Week Free Bronze Membership with an Ongoing Free Membership into our Joint Venture DirectoryVIP Offer – 3 month Free Bronze Membership (with an Ongoing Free Membership into our Joint Venture Directory)Featured Guest: Danny BermantDanny Bermant helps established coaches and consultants attract their ideal clients through joint venture partnerships.Over the past five years, he has worked with more than 500 JV partners and supported numerous launches, summits, giveaways, webinars, and other joint ventures for both his clients and partners, generating more than $5 million in revenue.Known by his friends as “Captain JV,” Danny is passionate about people and nurturing professional relationships. A prolific networker, he has worked with some of the biggest names in marketing and built a network of more than 5,000 contacts across major industries. He takes great pleasure in helping businesses and nonprofit organizations forge new and fruitful partnerships.https://uk.linkedin.com/in/captainjvhttps://www.captainjv.co/Free Gift - JV Readiness ChecklistGuests:Michael Whitehouse - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwhitehouse/Kimberley Day - https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealkimday/Rei McColley - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rei-mccolley-9883a817/Serhii - https://www.linkedin.com/in/serhii-borbotko-35990b32b/Meet the Host: Susan JaremaSusan Jarema is a marketing strategist, internetologist, and founder of The Grand Connection. She helps entrepreneurs grow through collaboration, smart strategy, and high-impact digital presence. Susan is also president of New Earth Marketing, where she builds brands, websites, and ecosystems designed for real growth.Connect with Susan and the Grand Connection Community:Website: https://grandconnection.ca/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grand.connectionFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandConnectionCommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandconnection.ca/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/66749100Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxq03yde7nb57HKV1hhztYALead Magnet Workbook https://grandconnection.ca/lead-magnets-guide-workbook/Access your Grand Growth Bundle and Free Guest Pass: https://grandconnection.ca/giftsWe are proud to have Grand Connection Podcast on the High Vibe Podcast Network. Grab your free gift from Susan in our Our High Vibe Gift Vault.Love this show? Check out the other shows on the High Vibe Podcast Network.Share the Love✨ If this episode lit something up in you… tag us on Instagram @HighVibeLeaders and let us know your biggest takeaway!🦋 Don’t forget to rate & review — it helps us reach more conscious rebels like you.🔊 Listen & Subscribe🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🎧 Amazon Music🎧a...

What changes when sales and marketing begin with understanding the person receiving the message rather than perfecting the message itself?Susan Jarema speaks with Patrick Seaton, creator of Ask Alex and co-author of A Crocodile Brain Can Make or Break Your Sale, about the neuroscience behind communication, trust, and the buying process. Patrick explores why people naturally communicate from their own thinking style, how too much information can create resistance, and why effective selling is less about persuasion and more about helping someone understand a problem worth solving. Their conversation connects closely with the Grand Connection philosophy of value first, sales second. Stronger relationships emerge when communication creates space for people to feel heard, respected, and involved in their own decisions. From AI-assisted communication to trust-building and thoughtful questioning, Patrick offers a grounded approach to creating visibility and business growth through connection rather than pressure.What You’ll Hear:AI can increase productivity while still producing communication that sounds better to the sender than it feels to the receiver.Understanding different thinking styles reveals why a message that feels clear to one person may fail to connect with someone else.Effective communication becomes more inclusive when data, process, relationships, and future possibilities are thoughtfully balanced.Sales begins to feel different when the focus shifts from presenting solutions to understanding problems worth solving.The SPIN framework creates space for buyers to explore the situation, problem, implications, and value of change before a solution takes centre stage.Too much information can interrupt a buyer's decision process, even when it is shared with enthusiasm and good intentions.Examining financial, productivity, risk, and emotional implications can help make an overlooked problem more tangible.AI can become a thought partner rather than simply a content generator when it introduces perspectives the communicator might otherwise miss.Objections can signal that the seller and buyer have moved out of sync, creating an opportunity to reconsider the pace and direction of the conversation.Trust includes both character and competence, reinforcing the Grand Connection emphasis on relationships that create the foundation for meaningful collaboration and shared growth.Meet the Guest: Patrick SeatonPatrick Seaton is the creator of AskAlex, a neuroscience-based communication thought partner that runs inside Claude as an MCP. His work sits at the intersection of brain science and AI-assisted marketing. His focus: making sure what your stack generates actually lands with the person receiving it, not just the person sending it.Website - https://askalex.coach/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickseatonBook - https://www.amazon.com/Crocodile-Brain-Make-Break-Your ebook/dp/B0CZL4W1PQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1Meet the Host: Susan JaremaSusan Jarema is a marketing strategist, internetologist, and founder of The Grand Connection. She helps entrepreneurs grow through collaboration, smart strategy, and high-impact digital presence. Susan is also president of New Earth Marketing, where she builds brands, websites, and ecosystems designed for real growth.Connect with Susan and the Grand Connection Community:Website: https://grandconnection.ca/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grand.connectionFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandConnectionCommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandconnection.ca/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/66749100Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxq03yde7nb57HKV1hhztYALead Magnet Workbook https://grandconnection.ca/lead-magnets-guide-workbook/Access your Grand Growth Bundle and Free Guest Pass: https://grandconnection.ca/giftsWe are proud to have Grand Connection Podcast on the High Vibe Podcast Network. Grab your free gift from Susan in our Our High Vibe Gift Vault.Love this show? Check out the other shows on the High Vibe Podcast Network.Share the Love✨ If this episode lit something up in you… tag us on Instagram @HighVibeLeaders and let us know your biggest takeaway!🦋 Don’t forget to rate & review — it helps us reach more conscious rebels like you.🔊 Listen & Subscribe🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🎧 Amazon Music🎧High Vibe Podcast Network

What turns a promising business connection into a relationship strong enough to support referrals, opportunities, and meaningful collaboration? Susan Jarema introduces the ASCEND Collaboration Ladder as a practical way to recognize where a professional relationship stands and what its next natural step might be.Moving from authentic connection through trust, referral readiness, shared opportunities, collaboration, and deeper partnership, Susan shows why strong relationships rarely need to be rushed. The focus stays on curiosity, value alignment, follow-through, and Grand Giving rather than transactional networking or keeping score. The ASCEND framework also reinforces an important idea within the GRAND Growth Model: meaningful growth does not always require meeting more people. Sometimes greater opportunity comes from strengthening the relationships already present, opening doors where genuine alignment exists, and allowing collaboration to develop at a pace that supports trust.What You’ll Hear:Strong collaboration often develops through a series of natural relationship steps rather than beginning with a large proposal or immediate business opportunity.Authentic connection creates space for curiosity before either person needs to decide what a business relationship should become.Trust grows through alignment, consistency, shared values, and the experience of seeing how another person follows through.Referral readiness depends on more than being known and trusted. Clear understanding of expertise, ideal clients, problems solved, and credible results makes meaningful introductions easier.Opportunities can extend far beyond client referrals, including introductions, speaking opportunities, podcast appearances, shared content, and connections to valuable resources.Grand Giving becomes practical when relationships create genuine opportunities to open doors for one another without keeping score.Small collaborative experiments can reveal compatibility, communication style, reliability, and audience alignment before a larger partnership is considered.Deepening a partnership can be just as valuable as continually seeking new connections, especially when an existing collaboration already works well.Not every relationship needs to reach every level of ASCEND. Different connections can remain valuable as referral partnerships, trusted resources, speaking relationships, or supportive professional connections.Sustainable relationship-based growth comes from recognizing where a connection currently belongs and choosing the next appropriate step rather than forcing momentum.Meet the Host: Susan JaremaSusan Jarema is a marketing strategist, internetologist, and founder of The Grand Connection. She helps entrepreneurs grow through collaboration, smart strategy, and high-impact digital presence. Susan is also president of New Earth Marketing, where she builds brands, websites, and ecosystems designed for real growth.Connect with Susan and the Grand Connection Community:Website: https://grandconnection.ca/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grand.connectionFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandConnectionCommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandconnection.ca/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/66749100Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxq03yde7nb57HKV1hhztYALead Magnet Workbook https://grandconnection.ca/lead-magnets-guide-workbook/Access your Grand Growth Bundle and Free Guest Pass: https://grandconnection.ca/giftsWe are proud to have Grand Connection Podcast on the High Vibe Podcast Network. Grab your free gift from Susan in our Our High Vibe Gift Vault.Love this show? Check out the other shows on the High Vibe Podcast Network.Share the Love✨ If this episode lit something up in you… tag us on Instagram @HighVibeLeaders and let us know your biggest takeaway!🦋 Don’t forget to rate & review — it helps us reach more conscious rebels like you.🔊 Listen & Subscribe🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🎧 Amazon Music🎧High Vibe Podcast Network