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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!


Segmenting Target Market: Categorize potential clients to tailor strategies effectively – Driving New Sales: Transforming Small Businesses into Sales Powerhouses – Episode 7

In this episode, Sean O’Shaughnessey has provided valuable insights into market segmentation, demonstrating its critical role in a successful sales strategy. Implement these actionable steps and witness a transformative impact on your business. Stay subscribed for more insightful episodes exploring practical strategies to drive new sales and enhance your company’s growth.

King of Spades: Pre-Call Strategic Planning: Prepare in Advance to Present a United Front With Management During Sales Calls

Harmonizing Sales and Management: A Prelude to Success The intricate dance of a joint sales call, where the sales team and top management come together, can be likened to a finely tuned orchestra. Each member plays a distinct part, but harmony is only achieved when everyone is attuned to the same melody. As such, aligning the sales strategy with the expectations of top management is not just beneficial—it’s essential. Dissonance here can lead to a… 

Monitoring Client News and Updates: Stay informed about client updates to address their changing needs  – Driving New Sales: Transforming Small Businesses into Sales Powerhouses – Episode 5

The latest episode of “Driving New Sales”, sponsored by “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales”, features sales consultant Sean O’Shaughnessey. He discusses the importance of staying updated with client news and updates for enhancing B2B sales strategies. He elucidates the use of tools like Google Alerts, social media, analyzing client data, and market trends to gain insights, improve sales outreach timing, and align efforts with sales objectives.

Understanding Competitive Landscape: Recognize your client’s relationships with your competitors to better position your offerings – Driving New Sales: Transforming Small Businesses into Sales Powerhouses – Episode 4

Welcome to a new episode of “Driving New Sales: Transforming Small Businesses into Sales Powerhouses.” In this podcast, hosted by sales expert Sean O’Shaughnessey, we delve into the intricacies of competitive analysis in sales, a critical skill for sales professionals, managers, and business owners in mid-sized companies. This episode is brought to you by the podcast “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales,” a podcast by Sean O’Shaughnessey and Kevin Lawson focusing on boosting sales management and… 

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales – From Holiday Hangover to Sales Success: Planning Your Annual Kickoff – E59

In this episode of Two Tall Guys Talking Sales, Kevin and Sean provide a masterclass on transforming the annual sales kickoff from a dreaded event into a dynamic and motivating experience. They emphasize the need for meticulous planning, the power of a change in scenery, and the importance of including diverse voices and departments. With their practical advice and real-world examples, this episode is a must-listen for sales leaders and team members looking to start their fiscal year with a bang. Tune in to ensure your next sales meeting is not only productive but also truly inspiring.

Elevating Your Sales Operations with New Sales Expert

My mission is to bridge the expertise gap that hinders many companies from scaling their operations to the desired heights. The core issue often resides within the sales sector of these organizations, and this is where my expertise becomes a game changer. Understanding the Challenge Many company owners, be they founders or inheritors of the business, come to a crucial realization at some juncture in their entrepreneurial journey. Despite their prowess in product development, manufacturing,… 

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – The Sales Alignment Blueprint: Close Deals by Understanding Customer Objectives – Episode 56

Are you tired of potential customers walking away after hearing your pitch? Do you struggle with aligning your sales process with your customer’s goals? In this episode of Two Tall Guys Talking Sales, hosts Kevin Lawson and Sean O’Shaughnessey delve into the critical elements that can make or break your sales cycle. From understanding your customer’s pain points to crafting a sales hypothesis that aligns with their goals, this episode is a goldmine of actionable… 

Unlocking Sales Potential with MEDDPICCC: A Comprehensive Guide

Elite sellers are the linchpin of any successful sales organization. These high-performing individuals are often the highest-paid employees within a company—and for a good reason. Their skills in identifying, qualifying, and closing opportunities bring in significant revenue and provide a competitive edge in the marketplace. So, how can you groom an average salesperson into an elite seller? Enter MEDDPICCC, an advanced sales qualification methodology that serves as a roadmap for understanding every component of a… 

Nine of Spades: Addressing Salesperson Underperformance: Setting Performance Benchmarks: Define standards for success to measure against.

Understanding the Nature of Sales Benchmarks Let’s start by grounding ourselves in the foundational premise: Sales benchmarks are not merely numerical goals but the defining coordinates of success. If you will, consider them as your organization’s North Star, guiding your sales team through the complexities of quotas, customer relationships, and revenue targets. Benchmarks transcend the limitations of raw numbers and extend into the realm of qualitative assessment—whether it’s the ability to understand customer needs or… 

Eight of Spades: Defining your corporate sales strategy: Crafting a Sales Process Flowchart: Visualize the stages in your sales process for consistency

The Quintessential Blueprint for Sales Mastery In architecture, the blueprint guides turn an imagined design into a tangible, functional building. Similarly, a Sales Process Flowchart is the foundational structure upon which sales organizations can build scalable, consistent, and successful strategies. The importance of this tool lies in its ability to crystallize the sales process into a series of actionable steps, thereby providing a roadmap to success. The goal is to achieve consistency, predictability, and scalability,…