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Skinned Knees Blog

What An MBA Didn’t Teach You About Sales

The sales profession is challenging. You need to work hard at it to succeed. You need to learn from the best. You need to improve your skills continuously. If you think you can sell since you are a hit at parties and have a lot of friends, you may soon find that you are a failure as a salesperson. Blunt truth:

because the sales profession is so hard, you have to focus on doing everything in sales very well, or you will be considered a failure.

I call this blog, Skinned Knees because I try to relate all of the learning that I have done over the past 4+ decades (while skinning my knees in the learning process).

I hope that you learn from my mistakes so that your business will grow!

Fractional Sales Leadership Increases the Value of My Client by 167%

A common question that I receive is about the value of adding fractional sales leadership to their company. I typically answer their concern with a story about one of my clients who had a fantastic experience and increased the company’s value by 167% in about 12 months. The true benefit of the efforts of fractional sales leadership is that revenue and pipeline will increase your company’s value. Several years ago, I was hired by a… Fractional Sales Leadership Increases the Value of My Client by 167%

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – Manage the Expectations of Upper Management for a Sales Turnaround Effort – Episode 18

In this episode, Sean and Kevin discuss the struggle of a sales turnaround.  It is important to define what a turnaround means for your specific sales department, as the definition may vary depending on the nature of the business, the industry, and the competitive landscape. Once you have a clear understanding of what constitutes a successful turnaround for your team, you can start outlining a plan of action that meets or exceeds the expectations of… Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – Manage the Expectations of Upper Management for a Sales Turnaround Effort – Episode 18

Build a Path to More Sales

I was interviewed by Subkit. You can read the full article here: https://gosolo.subkit.com/new-sales-expert/, but they were nice enough to allow me to reproduce it here. Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sean O’Shaughnessey, CEO and President of New Sales Expert, LLC., located in Mason, OH, USA. What’s your business, and who are your customers? I am a fractional Chief Revenue Officer.… Build a Path to More Sales

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Posts Subscribe Happy New Year! Published: Tue, 01/03/23 I hope that you enjoy my latest newsletter View the online version of this email. HAPPY NEW YEAR! I sincerely hope 2023 is better for you and your family than 2022. I will often say or write a variation of the above line yearly. It is not uncommon for me to get a reaction implying I know how bad the previous 12 months have… Happy New Year!

Start The New Year STRONG!

I published a video series on how to start the year strong for this new year. You can see the twelve video episodes here. If I summarize all the videos, the common theme is that you must try something new. If you don’t evolve, you lose. That should be your new year’s resolution for your business life: If you don’t evolve, you lose. Some suggestions were on what you can do between the holidays to… Start The New Year STRONG!

Tip #12 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Try something new

As sales professionals, staying ahead of the curve is essential. You need to consistently leverage emerging trends and acquire new skills. The modern marketplace is ever-evolving, with dynamic demands and vast opportunities. By taking ownership of your personal growth in the industry, you can ensure that you have the necessary tools to continue succeeding as a salesperson. Adaptability is key—though it would be great if there was an easy formula for success that never changed,… Tip #12 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Try something new

Tip #11 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Reward Yourself For Small Wins

In any career, it’s important to recognize and reward yourself for your small successes along your journey. Salespeople are often guilty of pushing themselves too hard and forgetting to celebrate their smaller accomplishments. As a salesperson or manager, you will increase your motivation to keep pushing forward by recognizing those moments of progress. Celebrating said wins helps you stay focused on achieving larger goals and fosters a healthy corporate culture that validates individual growth within… Tip #11 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Reward Yourself For Small Wins

Tip #10 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Learn more by reading more

Earl Nightingale said many years ago: One hour per day of study in your chosen field is all it takes. One hour per day of study will put you at the top of your field within three years. Within five years, you’ll be a national authority. In seven years, you can be one of the best people in the world at what you do. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Nightingale, he was a famed radio… Tip #10 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Learn more by reading more

Tip #9 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Optimize your LinkedIn profile for sales

In today’s hyper-competitive business environment, standing out is more important than ever. For salespeople and sales managers looking to build their network and gain exposure within their industry, optimizing a LinkedIn profile is one of the most effective ways to establish credibility, grow your professional brand, and find new business opportunities. With all the noise out there competing for attention, an engaging and well-optimized LinkedIn profile can make you stand out from the pack by… Tip #9 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Optimize your LinkedIn profile for sales