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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!

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – Activating Your Sales Ecosystem for Growth – E92

Join Kevin Lawson and Sean O’Shaughnessey in a compelling episode of “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales,” which delves into the power of networking and relationship management in sales. Whether you are a seasoned sales professional or just starting, this episode offers invaluable insights into maximizing your sales ecosystem without overwhelming your contacts.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • Activating Your Network [00:00:00]: Kevin highlights the importance of leveraging existing relationships and simple, actionable strategies to enhance your sales pipeline.
  • Realistic Relationship Management [00:01:36]: Sean discusses the practical aspects of maintaining a manageable network that can drive business growth.
  • Frequency of Contact [00:04:54]: Explore how often to engage with your network, including referral partners and past customers, without becoming a nuisance.
  • Digital Communication vs. Personal Interaction [00:06:00]: This section dissects the balance between digital outreach and personal connection to optimize relationship value.
  • Segmenting Contacts [00:08:29]: Sean shares his method of categorizing contacts into A, B, and C lists to tailor communication frequency and maintain effectiveness.
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Transform Your Sales Strategy with the Three-Legged Stool Approach: Resonate, Differentiate, Substantiate

Business-to-business (B2B) sales is more than selling a product or service. It involves a strategic approach that includes understanding the customer’s needs, differentiating your offering, and building trust. This strategic approach is often called the three-legged stool of sales: Resonate, Differentiate, and Substantiate. Resonating with customers is the first step (leg) in the sales process. It involves answering the questions “Why should the customer act?” and “Why should they act now?” To resonate with customers,… Transform Your Sales Strategy with the Three-Legged Stool Approach: Resonate, Differentiate, Substantiate

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – Maximizing Customer Relationships: Insights from Chris Goade – E90

Join Kevin Lawson and Sean O’Shaughnessey in another insightful episode of “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales.” This week, they welcome back Chris Goade from 360 Consulting in Dallas. Chris dives deep into the importance of customer retention and intentional engagement strategies. Discover how to transform average customers into great ones and learn practical techniques to elevate your sales game.

Key Topics Discussed

  1. Defining Ideal Customers: Chris emphasizes the need for businesses to understand and define what makes a great customer, moving beyond just high revenue.
  2. Intentional Customer Interactions: Pre-call planning and intentionality in customer meetings are important to foster deeper relationships and uncover more business opportunities.
  3. Handling Customer Problems: How addressing and solving problems can turn challenging customers into loyal advocates.
  4. Roadmapping Conversations: Strategies for sales leaders to guide their teams in having structured, meaningful conversations with clients.
  5. Growing Existing Customers: Real-world examples of how focusing on existing customers can lead to significant business growth without new customer acquisition.
  6. Salesperson Development: Techniques to help salespeople grow comfortable with engaging higher-level executives and having more strategic business conversations.
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Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – The Four Pillars of Sales Success with Veteran Advisor Chris Goade – E89

Join Kevin Lawson and Sean O’Shaughnessey in this compelling episode of “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales,” featuring seasoned sales acceleration advisor Chris Goade. As a pioneer in the field from Dallas-Fort Worth, Chris brings a wealth of experience from top companies like Dr. Pepper, PepsiCo, and 3M. Delve into the intricacies of building effective sales processes and learn firsthand about the transformative power of structured sales strategies.

Key Topics Discussed

  • Building Effective Sales Teams: How creating structured processes can accelerate sales performance.
  • Sales Process Fundamentals: Chris outlines the critical pillars of a successful sales process, including lead generation and customer relationship management.
  • Transitioning from Corporate to Consulting: Chris shares his journey from corporate sales to starting his own consulting business and the lessons learned.
  • The Evolution of Sales Tools and Techniques: Discussion on how sales strategies have adapted over time, especially in response to technological advancements.
  • Maintaining Customer Relationships: The importance of nurturing existing relationships to foster long-term business growth.
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Optimizing Sales Territories for Growth and Efficiency

Territory design is critical for ensuring efficient revenue generation and optimal team performance. Sales leaders, especially those at the helm of small—to mid-sized companies, must revisit and potentially recalibrate their territory strategies to accommodate growth and maintain competitiveness. Effective territory management starts with a clear understanding of the business landscape. Ensuring that each salesperson has a viable area with ample opportunity is crucial. This may sound straightforward but involves a delicate balance of geographic and… Optimizing Sales Territories for Growth and Efficiency

Strategizing Success: A Small Business Guide to Sales Mastery

Understanding the intricacies of sales plans, processes, and methodologies is beneficial and crucial for sustained growth and success in B2B sales. This deep dive offers invaluable insights for salespeople, sales managers, and CEOs of small companies looking to refine their sales strategies and enhance management capabilities. A sales plan is more than just setting targets; it’s about crafting a roadmap to market success, focusing on who you’re engaging with and the value you bring to… Strategizing Success: A Small Business Guide to Sales Mastery

Crafting a Sales Process Flowchart: Visualize the stages in your sales process for consistency – Driving New Sales: Transforming Small Businesses into Sales Powerhouses – Episode 9

Today’s episode with Sean O’Shaughnessey has armed you with the knowledge to construct a Sales Process Flowchart that is the backbone of a successful sales strategy. Implementing the discussed actionable strategies will refine your sales process, making it a powerful engine for business growth. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes to further empower your journey to becoming a sales powerhouse.

Elevate Your Sales Game: New Year’s Guide to Advanced Client Relationship Building – Video 3 of the New Year Motivation Series

To achieve sales success, focus on building enduring client relationships by personalizing communication and maintaining regular contact. Prioritize both existing clients and new prospects, aiming for one new client relationship per month. Utilize a CRM system to track interactions and attend networking events for valuable introductions. For more insights, watch the latest video.

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales – Elevating Your Sales Game: Key Strategies for Pipeline Development – E66

In this episode of “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales,” Kevin Lawson discusses the critical aspect of building a new pipeline for business growth. He provides a comprehensive overview of the strategies and activities necessary for sales success, emphasizing the synergy between sales and marketing, the role of sales leaders, and the importance of a well-structured sales process. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for sales professionals looking to enhance their approach to sales and achieve their goals in the coming year. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the experts and elevate your sales game.