Why Sales Persistence Still Wins Deals | Sales Lead Dog with Michael Ritsema

Why do some salespeople consistently win while others struggle to close deals? In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Michael Ritsema, Principal and President of I3 Business Solutions, to discuss persistence, sales discipline, and why consistent outreach still drives results in modern selling. Michael began his career in sales in the early days of technology distribution and went on to build I3 Business Solutions into a managed services company supporting more than 150 clients with cybersecurity, productivity, and IT reliability. His journey includes navigating economic downturns, pivoting business models, and building a recurring revenue technology services company. In this conversation, Michael shares practical lessons from decades in sales leadership. He explains why persistence still separates successful salespeople from the rest, why CRM systems are essential for tracking long term opportunities, and why many modern sales teams give up far too early in the engagement process. Michael also talks about leadership, accountability, and the importance of soft skills in building strong teams and lasting client relationships. This episode is a practical look at the fundamentals of selling that still matter today. What You’ll Learn • Why persistence is still one of the most important traits in sales • How consistent outreach creates opportunities over time • Why many sales teams quit too early in the process • How CRM systems help track long term sales opportunities • The difference between sales activity and real engagement • Why leadership requires clarity and accountability • How strong culture supports sales performance Guest Michael Ritsema Principal and President, I3 Business Solutions Website https://i3bus.com linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljritsema/   Guest Bio Michael Ritsema is the Principal and President of I3 Business Solutions, a technology services company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After starting his career in technology sales in the 1990s working with IBM systems, Michael built and led a successful business focused on managed services, cybersecurity, and technology productivity solutions. Over the years he has guided the company through major economic shifts including the 2001 technology recession and the 2007 financial crisis. Today I3 Business Solutions supports more than 150 clients by helping organizations improve reliability, security, and productivity through technology. Michael is known for his focus on persistence in sales, strong leadership culture, and disciplined use of CRM systems to manage long term relationships and opportunities. About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What principle is most relevant to where you are in your career right now?