Skip to content

team

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 – Elevating Sales Success: Insights from Membrain’s Chief Revenue Officer Paul Fuller – E65

This episode of “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales” is a must-listen for sales professionals seeking to start the new year on a strong note. With Paul Fuller’s insights on effective sales leadership, the importance of CRM tools, and the art of sales, listeners are equipped with valuable strategies to elevate their sales game. Whether you’re a seasoned sales leader or new to the field, this episode offers practical advice and motivation to achieve your sales goals in the upcoming year.

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

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales – Special Episode: CEO Workshop – Defining Your Corporate Sales Strategy – E63

Sales Strategy Isn’t Just About Hitting Numbers: It’s Your Operational Backbone for Success A well-defined sales strategy is indispensable for long-term business success. Importance of Market Segmentation Don’t fall into the trap of a one-size-fits-all approach. Market segmentation is your tool to tailor unique strategies for distinct customer profiles, ensuring maximized reach and impact. Crafting a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) A compelling USP is your golden ticket in a saturated market. Your competitive edge makes… Two Tall Guys Talking Sales – Special Episode: CEO Workshop – Defining Your Corporate Sales Strategy – E63

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.

Analyzing Customer Goals: Understand customer goals and their desire to achieve them to tailor your solution – Driving New Sales: Transforming Small Businesses into Sales Powerhouses – Episode 3

When you listen to this episode, you are taking a transformative step towards redefining your approach to sales. Sean O’Shaughnessey delves into the intricacies of aligning your product not just with the apparent goals but the intricate, layered objectives of your client. Master the art of turning each sales pitch into a finely crafted solution, transforming your role from a mere vendor to a strategic partner in your client’s journey. Hit play to elevate your sales game today!

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales – Special Episode: CEO Workshop – Avoiding B2B Sales Mistakes That Are Limiting Revenue Growth – Episode 57

Kevin Lawson and Sean O’Shaughnessy share valuable insights for business owners, consultants, and sales teams in their podcast episode. They emphasize the importance of avoiding B2B sales mistakes, adjusting prices to maintain margins amid rising costs, and strategic management to overcome market factors. They also discuss responding to RFPs and the benefits of Sales Playbooks for sales teams.

Jack of Spades: Setting Up Performance Improvement Plans: Offer structured guidance for those not meeting benchmarks.

In the tightly woven tapestry of a sales organization, each thread—each salesperson—must hold its own for the entire structure to maintain its integrity. Imagine a well-practiced orchestra where each musician is critical to the harmonious output. If even one violinist is off-key, it disrupts not just the symphony but also influences the collective perception of the audience. Similarly, when one salesperson consistently misses the mark, the dissonance affects not just their numbers but the collective… Jack of Spades: Setting Up Performance Improvement Plans: Offer structured guidance for those not meeting benchmarks.

Ten of Spades: Addressing Salesperson Underperformance: Identifying Training Needs: Recognize areas for skill development to boost performance

Elevating Sales Performance: Why Targeted Training is Non-Negotiable Visualize your sales team as a high-performance sports car: every part is intricately designed to maximize output and speed. When one part fails or underperforms, the entire machine is impacted. An underperforming salesperson isn’t just a localized problem; their performance deficit has a cascading effect on the entire team and, by extension, the organization. It’s critical to realize that top-performing salespeople—let’s call them the eagles of the… Ten of Spades: Addressing Salesperson Underperformance: Identifying Training Needs: Recognize areas for skill development to boost performance

Researching Industry Trends: Stay updated on shifts in the market to provide relevant solutions – Driving New Sales: Transforming Small Businesses into Sales Powerhouses – Episode 1

Welcome to another episode of “Driving New Sales: Transforming Small Businesses into Sales Powerhouses.” This podcast is your compass in navigating the complex world of B2B sales, especially in the enterprise landscape. In this riveting episode, our host, Sean O’Shaughnessey, deep dives into a topic of crucial significance for sales professionals: Researching Industry Trends in the Enterprise Space. If you’re eager to transform from a transactional vendor into a strategic partner, this episode is your… Researching Industry Trends: Stay updated on shifts in the market to provide relevant solutions – Driving New Sales: Transforming Small Businesses into Sales Powerhouses – Episode 1

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – Unlocking Profitable Growth: The Power of Sales Consistency – Episode 55

Welcome to another riveting episode of Two Tall Guys Talking Sales with your hosts, Kevin Lawson and Sean O’Shaughnessey. This episode is a treasure trove for CEOs, VPs of Sales, and salespeople who are looking to scale their businesses profitably. Dive in as Kevin and Sean dissect the importance of consistency in sales processes, the role of EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) in achieving this, and how to identify your most profitable customers. If you’re struggling… Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – Unlocking Profitable Growth: The Power of Sales Consistency – Episode 55