The Salesman.com Podcast

Do you know the best way to start a sales discovery call? Now, this is important because if you don’t grab control of the conversation right at the beginning of it, then you lose control of the entire sales process from that point onward. So, in this video I’m going to share exactly what you should say at the beginning of your discovery calls and what do to straight after that.

https://youtu.be/FCNyareCgXM

There is a dark psychology tick that you can start using today to make your buyers close themselves and rapidly increase the amount of revenue you’re bringing in. And if you’re cold calling your prospects, relentlessly following up, or trying to apply pressure to them then you’re using the exact opposite psychology which leads to prospects saying, “let me think about it” and then disappear, never to be heard from again. In this video I’m going to show you: The exact way to implement this dark psychology, how it eliminates sales objections, and an example of how it doubled one of my students revenues in just 90 days.

 

  The best sales strategy is to break your buyer’s journey down into its fundamental steps and then help prospects move across them. I recently explained this to a student inside Salesman.com Academy who owns a business that sells physical goods into the fortune 100 and it blew her mind. Before the consulting call where I ran through fundamental steps of her buyer’s journey, she was using a bunch of sales software tools, trying to implement fancy sales methodologies that she’d read online, and was constantly reinventing her sales process. It was a mess, she was burnt out and she wasn’t closing deals. After our consulting call, she got rid of everything and started from scratch. Within a week she’d build out her fundamental sales steps and instantly had clarity on what she needed to do each day to get deals over the line. Now when she put energy into her selling system, she got equal reward out of it. So, if you feel overwhelmed, have 6 sales cadences that don’t book meetings, and you’ve watched lots of sales videos, but nothing has changed for you… Then you need to take a step back and realise that your buyers only have to pass through 4 steps before they pay you: Step one – Find a person with a problem that you can solve. So, getting practical here, is feasible to find a couple of people today who have an issue that your problem solves? Yep, of course it is. Step two – Help that person see that your product is going to solve their problem. Now, outside of sales, have you ever helped someone change their mind about something? Yep, of course you have. That means that you can help your prospects agree with your perspective that your product can solve their problem. Step three – Help them calculate whether the cost of their problem is more than the cost of your solution. If you asked your prospects how much their problem was costing them each quarter, could you do then the math and see if they’d get a strong return on investment if they bought from you? Yep, of course you can. The maths is simple. Step four – Close the deal. If it looks like your prospects will get a positive ROI if they work with you, are you capable of asking the question “does it make sense to get started?” Yep, asking questions is easy. And that is it. You can run prospects through this sales process if you’re selling to one person. You can run the same process across multiple people and then bring everyone together at the end to ask the “does it make sense to get started” question in complex, multi stakeholder, B2B deals too. When you really remove all the AI generated emails, the weird manipulative selling tactics and the emotional baggage that you have about sales being gross and slimy… Selling really does become simple. Find someone with a problem, help them see that you can solve the problem, calculate the ROI, and ask if it makes sense to get started. That is it. Thinking about sales this way instantly eliminates the most common issues that sellers have: Struggling to book meetings? It’s because you’re either speaking to the wrong people or you don’t know who your buyers are and the pains they are have. Spending lots of time “nurturing” prospects? It’s because you are bad at influencing them to see your point of view. Your prospects jumping on the initial call and then ghosting you? It’s because you’re unable to demonstrate the return on investment of your product and so there’s no logical reason for them to stay in touch. Getting prospects right to the end of their buyer’s journey and then they never commit to getting started? It’s because you’re not asking for the business as you have baggage in your subconscious about being a slimy salesperson. Having trained thousands of salespeople and business owners over the past 10 years, the quickest way to make more sales is to always to simplify their sales process. The way I simplify the sales process when student’s join Salesman.com Academy is to create a new dashboard within their CRM that becomes their main focus throughout the day. I build out a “kanban” sales pipeline dashboard and I get them to put their leads in one of these categories: Prospect qualified > Meeting booked > Sales qualified > Agreed value > Agreed ROI > Closed won > Closed lost Then we turn sales into a game. The rules of the game are that they must: Spend 80% of their day moving the prospects in each column to the next one. Remove unqualified prospects from the game immediately. Progress a predetermined number of prospects to the next stage each day by any means necessary. This turns an all over the place seller who never really has a clear grasp on what’s going on into a highly focused, elite sales operator overnight. Now, you’re probably thinking: I’ve an 17x extra steps that must be included. My buyer’s decision-making process is more complicated than that. I’m special and I’ve my own way of doing things. c Well, you’re not all that special and the main problem with having a complex sales pipeline is that people get paralysed when they look at it. They’re never really sure who should be where, what the next steps are or how to implement those next steps. Complex sales pipelines become an overwhelming, emotionally frustrating, soul-destroying tool for instant demotivation. Now, do you want to be special but ineffective, constantly demotivated and broke? Probably not. The power of this simplified sales process is that all you have to do each day when you sit at your desk is move a couple of people over to the next step in the process. And because you’re now thinking about how to help individual people make that leap from one step of the process to the next, your efforts to move them become humanised. You stop spamming hundreds of people hoping to get lucky. You stop running the same boring discovery call process over and over again. You stop getting ghosted by potential customers who are starving for some human attention to their needs. So, lets take a look at why each of these steps exist and what needs to happen for a prospect to move from one step to the next. Fill up Prospect qualified To get started, you must create a qualification checklist that a potential prospect must meet. Then we find these people through LinkedIn and another secret process that we use in the Academy and add them into the system. It shouldn’t be possible to add more than a handful of prospects to this column each day. If you’re able to add 500 people in one go it’s because they’re not qualified and you’re planning on just spamming the shit out of them which isn’t going to work. Prospect qualified > Meeting booked Now it’s time to connect with each of these qualified prospects and attempt to book a meeting with them. Because the prospects in the “prospect qualified” column fit a very specific qualification checklist, once you crack the messaging to book these meetings you can repeat the same message over and over again. Meeting booked > Sales qualified In your meeting you’re going to further qualify the prospect. Do they have the budget, urgency and authority to get a deal done? Then they get moved to “sales qualified”. If not, then they’re moved to “closed lost” and you ghost them. Sales qualified > Agreed value If during your meeting the prospect agrees at a high level that your product could solve a painful problem they’re currently facing, then you move them to the “agreed value” column. If they don’t agree the value at a high level, then they stay in “sales qualified” and you create an action plan of how you plan to move them to “agreed value” column. This action plan must include a time to complete the action and a bulleted, step-by-step plan on how you’re going to influence their perspective. Agreed value > Agreed ROI Once the value is agreed either on the first call or after the action plan has been carried out, we must get verbal agreement that the prospect believes that there is a strong return on investment in working with us. Often this comes down to building a business case and then getting the prospect to agree that the ROI in the business case makes sense. Only when the prospect agrees that there is enough ROI to potentially work with us do we then move to nudging them into the final column. Agreed ROI > Closed won The final column is “closed won”. It’s not “quote sent” or “proposal delivered”. Quotes and proposals mean absolutely nothing and preparing them probably already takes up too much of your time. The goal is invoices paid; not how many e-signature documents can we have sat in our inbox uncompleted. And so, our daily routine becomes: Add “X” qualified prospects to the pipeline, Complete “Y” number of action plans that have already been allocated to everyone in the pipeline. When an action plan is complete and the buyer moves to the next step of the pipeline, create the next action plan. Avoid doing any task that isn’t those three things. I promise that if you commit to this simple system for just a couple of months, your sales performance will be unrecognisable. Do this for 12-months and you’ll have closed more deals than your even forecasted were possible.

Most salespeople think their role is to complete a bunch of semi-random activities to “hopefully” get a deal over the line. They set targets to complete a specific number of cold calls, business cases, sent proposals, discovery calls… And this is not how high performing salespeople operate. Having our focus spread across lots of non-connected activities each day leads to overwhelm. This is why salespeople only spend 30% of their time each week actually selling (Salesforce, State of Sales Report) and burn out faster than any pretty much any other career.   I've trained over 2,500+ high performing sellers and the quickest way to improve sales performance for both teams and individuals is to get the sellers is to transform their list of random prospecting and closing activities into a defined, step-by-step sales process that they follow each day. Each step of the sales process needs to have specific activities assigned to it. Each activity then moves the prospect to the next step of the process. Over and over until a deal is complete, or the prospect is qualified out. This transforms sales performance because our brains love to follow processes as they have clear start and end points. For example: I feel hungry, I go to the fridge and grab a snack, I eat the snack, I no longer feel hungry, I then get a spike of dopamine to celebrate. I didn't get overwhelmed as to how to solve the problem. I didn't go onto LinkedIn to look for new strategies or motivation. I started the process, finished it and then had the reward of a full belly and a dopamine hit that motivates me to do it again. Step-by-step sales process All high performing salespeople and business owners running their own sales function follow a linear, step-by-step sales process. So, let me ask you, could you draw out your sales process? Could you tell me the exact activities that have to occur at each step to move the prospect further along to the point where they commit to working with you? Probably not. And that is OK. I'm going to explain how to build our your own step-by-step sales process in this video. But first, when I train sellers I often get the pushback that they've been given a sorta, kinda, half-assed sales process to follow in the past, but they haven't managed to stick with it. Well, it's easy to explain why. The problem with traditional sales processes is that they're defined at a very high level, but they don't have enough detail to keep sellers on track day-to-day. As incredible as our brains are, they're terrible at managing activities that span over anything more than a couple of days. That cold call that you made 3 months ago that lead to the deal that you closed today are so far apart that our brains inherently can't connect them together. So there is no dopamine spike and positive reinforcement for completing the steps that lead to the new customer. However, with a step-by-step sales process, with specific defined activities at each step we can help bridge the time gap in our brains between all of those boring activities that we all want to procrastinate on doing and the results that we get from them. This dramatically increases motivation to complete those activities because our brain can now see the full picture of the inputs that lead to the outputs that we desire. More motivation = Sales activities get started Simple, measurable activities = Sales activities get completed Completed sales activities = More deals completed This is how you make selling simple and 2x-5x your revenue in weeks rather than years. Building your sales process OK, that's enough theory. How do we build a step-by-step sales process that delivers results and gets followed every time? The first thing to emphasize is that your sales process doesn't have to be overly complicated. It does however need to have two things: A series of linear steps that map out your typical buyers journey The specific sales activities that are required to move the buyer from one step to the next. And that is it. No overwhelm. No scrambling around each morning wondering what the heck you should be doing. All we do is look at our sales funnel and start chipping away at the specific activities that are required to progress our prospects through their own buyers journey. When salespeople have a step-by-step process like this to follow all they have to worry about is ticking off activities and getting those spikes of dopamine. And in a world where 44% of salespeople give up after a single follow up (Invesp) it's obvious that without a step-by-step sales process, massive amounts of revenue are being left on the table every single day. There are a few additional benefits that come from following a structured sales process too. Sales process feedback loop The other benefit of having a defined system is that the end of the system can feed back into the beginning of the next iteration of the system. This feedback loop is the killer advantage that salespeople with a clear process have over all of their competitors. Whilst all their competitors are constantly trying to reinvent the wheel and suffering from the pressure of overwhelm, these smart sellers are constantly iterating on what is already working and making the process more efficient. The increase in performance that comes from refining a single sales process (rather than flailing around trying to create many of them) starts slow but with every iteration compounds their previous efforts and the results after 90 days start to skyrocket. The quickest, most practical way to implement this is to take a look at the buyers that came through your sales process over the past 90 days and identify the companies that generated the most revenue with the smallest effort. Then feed that back into the process to improve it: Because salespeople are often left to their own devices, this incredibly valuable feedback is often never reverse engineered into the companies sales process. And for company founders who are running the sales process, well they have so many other activities that they're running around trying to sort out that this stuff just passes them by. The sales process feedback loop is typically the single process that turns barely profitable businesses into rapidly growing, money printing machines. Once you have a step-by-step sales process that works, you also unlock something that is incredibly valuable for your own sanity. Pipeline accuracy Most sales pipeline forecasts are inaccurate. In my personal experience doing pipeline reviews at Salesman.com Academy, laughably inaccurate… For salespeople this is a problem. If your sales leadership don't trust your pipeline value calculations then they're going to be on your back. They're going to micromanage you. They're going to pile on the pressure and make your life a misery because there is a gap between the process and the outcome. I experienced this my entire career in medical device sales. I was renowned for being slightly behind my quota and then closing one or two large deals each year that got me over the line. If I'd have implemented and communicated a step-by-step sales process with my leadership they would have had visibility at the effort I was putting in and the progress I was making, and they'd have been comfortable enough to leave me alone. Instead, every year, constant pressure, meetings, calls and just general pestering from nervous sales leaders that was a complete waste of everyone's time. In fact 44% of sales leaders report difficulty in holding their sales teams accountable (SPOTIO State of Field Sales Report, 2024) and it's almost completely down to a lack of forecastability with their pipelines. Aside from getting your management off your back, an accurate sales pipeline forecast enables you to see where you should be spending your time each week too. Do you have deals that are stuck at the proposal side of the sales process? Then you can focus that week on getting them over the line. No enough leads coming in the top end of the funnel? Then start chipping away at the defined sales activities that fills the pipeline. This accuracy and visibility leads to the gamification of B2B sales. Sales is a game Fundamentally sales is a game. All games have three elements: Inputs – You move the pieces on the chess board Variable outcomes – Your moves are successful or fail Feedback loops – You learn from your mistake and play a better game the next time around Games that are fun to play have clear rules and obvious levels of progression. The issue that most sellers face is that they're playing a game with unclear rules because the steps of the sales process and the activities within each step are completely undefined. It's no wonder that a recent poll found that 2/3 salespeople cite motivation as their biggest challenge (RainSalesTraining). I've been there in my medical device sales days too. Getting up, jumping in the shower, grabbing a coffee and then staring at my monitor for 45 minutes paralyzed by an overwhelming lack of focus of the exact task I should be doing in that moment. No wonder 70% of B2B sales rep missed their quota last year (B2B Benchmark Report, EBSTA, 2024). But, if you're willing to put in a small amount of work to build out your sales process, there is the potential for a better outcome. Sales becomes addictive when there are clear rules to follow and your brain is getting hit with the daily dopamine spikes that come from playing the game. Throw some wins in there too and dare I say it… sales kinda becomes fun. Of course, massively profitable for you, but also honestly, fun. And if you'd like to make both profitable and fun, click here and book a call with me and lets see if Salesman.com Academy is a good fit for your goals.

There is a sales skill that you probably aren’t very good at. And I’ve got data to back this up. The lack of this skill is a problem for you because in sales no cash exchanges hands until a person says “yes”. And people are all a little crazy… We all think that we're rational but we're not. And so, even when the right offer, at the right price is put in front of prospects, they still pass on it. Which is dumb but it’s the world that we live in. So what sales skill is required to help buyers make the right purchasing decisions? Well, that’s the skill of influence and it might be the most important and underrated sales skill in 2025. If you listen in for the next 10 minutes, I’m going to explain how I know you probably lack the skill of influence and how it’s the one skill that is becoming more and more important to sellers who want to find and close enough deals, to make enough cash to retire early. Now, my name is Will and I’m the founder of Salesman.com. At Salesman.com we have an assessment that nearly 40,000 sellers have completed. The SalesCode assessment asks 120 questions and then provides insights on the traits of high performance that the user has and is lacking: Last week I pulled all the SalesCode data, formatted it in a new way that I haven't experimented with before and something became clear. The trait of “influence” was much lower than I expected in the sellers who have completed the assessment. It was so low in fact that I compared the data between 2025 and the first version of the assessment that we launched back in 2019 and the results were shocking. 87% of sellers who regularly exceeded sales quota scored high for influence back in 2019. Only 35% of sellers who regularly exceeded sales quota scored high for influence in 2025. So, has the social skill of ethically influencing buyers become less important over the past 6 years? I don't think so. Heck, in the Trust Crisis that we're currently selling into where everyone is more sceptical than ever, the ability to influence prospects and help them see the world from our perspective is more powerful than ever. So, what is going on here? I think from hiding behind email, attempting (and failing) to get deals done over social media and working from home has led a whole generation of sellers to deskill their ability to influence others. That is the current state of affairs. Buyers are more sceptical of sellers than ever before and sellers are worse then ever at influencing buyers. What does this mean for you? It means that if you can learn the skill of influence then you have a massive competitive advantage in the marketplace. Remember, influence is the ability to convince someone to believe something new or different to what they currently believe. If your prospects believed that: Your product was the right product for them It was going to solve all their issues The price was less than the value delivered Then you wouldn't have a job. You could be instantly replaced by an online order form. But your job exists… So inherently there is a need for you to influence your buyers to change their views and adopt your perspective to get deals over the line. So lets now take a look at 3 ways that you can dramatically increase your ability to influence your prospects today. Commitment Once a prospect agrees that in theory our product can help them, they’re much more likely to continue to agree this as we increase the scope of our point of view over time. Here’s why. Humans don’t like to change our minds. Back in our tribal days, if we made a decision that didn’t harm us (or better yet, benefited us), we weren’t going to question making that decision the next time around. We’d automatically do it again without critically thinking through it. This bias towards commitment is how our brains reduce their daily cognitive load. By choosing the path of least resistance, we conserve our energy so we can spend it more efficiently on new problems that we face. And believe it or not, the same principle applies to sales. If you can get your buyer to agree with you (even on small matters), then they’re much more likely to keep on agreeing with you throughout the rest of the buying process. Micro-Closes: The Key to Commitment The best way to leverage the influence technique of commitment is to use “micro-closes” throughout the sales process. Each time the buyer says yes to a micro-close, they positively reinforce the point of view that they’ve committed to. So the first step to using micro-closing when influencing buyers is to position something that they almost certainly believe in. For example, when I’m selling Salesman.com Academy to sales leadership I ask “is it fair to say that there’s room for improvement with the team?” The answer is undoubtedly “yes” and so once they agree to that slither of my point of view, I can continue influencing them to agree to the broader strokes that my training program is the correct decision for their business. Scarcity We all want the stuff that is hard to get. That super attractive partner. That limited edition Rolex. Whatever it is. When it’s in high demand, it becomes more desirable. Like the other influence techniques, the appeal of scarce items goes back 10,000 years to innate biological and evolutionary desires that all humans are deeply wired with. Back then, the most scarce resources were food and shelter. If you acquired these resources you survived, otherwise you died. So, our brain values scarce resources as if our lives depend on them. The thing is though, in modern society, most of our basic needs are met. Our caveman brains are too stupid to realise this however. Our brains still put life or death levels of focus into acquiring the scarce resources found in modern society. That is why there is rampant desire for material objects, when it makes little sense to crave them. For example, you can’t eat or get a comfortable night’s sleep in a Hermes handbag or Ferrari yet we still crave them. The interesting thing is that we can engineer the same kind of lust for our products by increasing the levels of scarcity around them. Think of it like this, for complex B2B product, typically buyers want to work with sellers who are oversubscribed. They want to meet with the best of the best. And they want to buy from people who have clients jam-packed in their pipeline. The example I always use is that if you find out you have cancer, you don’t want to visit the doctor with zero patients. No, you want to be checked over by the doctor who can just barely squeeze you in this week because he’s so damn successful. For sellers, the best way to appeal to this scarcity bias is by appropriately valuing your time. This takes some repositing on your end but you need to change your mindset. You are not a pesky salesperson trying to con and trick your way into a deal. You are a consultant. You are an expert. You are a deal-maker—so start acting like one!   High level, high self-esteem individuals should value their time. You need to communicate this with your prospects so you become a person they aspire to work with rather than the 47th seller that has sent them a crappy semi AI generated cold email begging for a meeting that morning. Authority Which then leads us onto the most powerful way to influence a prospect in 2025 and that is to have authority. Humans wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without social hierarchy. There have always been experts who knew more than others on a subject. And we have turned to them for advice, guidance, and reassurance. Authorities—are the individuals whose opinions hold more sway than everyone else, and who spur more action, too. For instance, if I got a call from Warren Buffet about changing my investment strategy, you’d better believe I’d listen. But if I received a call from a deadbeat friend who dropped out of high school and still lives with his dad, I’d be less likely to take his investing advice seriously. Authority matters. And if you appear more authoritative, you can influence your buyers. Building authority in the internet age is so easy that I really can’t understand why more sellers don’t lean into it. Post content on LinkedIn or whatever your buyers hand out and have a strong, polarising opinion. Brand yourself clearly as the person who solves “x problem” or “y people” using “x solution” and be bold about the specific people you help. Create deep knowledge on your prospects problem so that when they do speak with you, they’re blown away by the fact that you can articulate their issues better than they can. The barrier to authority for salespeople is so low that doing those things over the course of a couple of months is more than enough to become known as a top expert in your field. You need to develop the skill of influence, but it is only one part of the puzzle here. There are a couple of other things you need to work on if you are to become a predictable quota crushing professional. When you implement an effective sales process and you take on the mindset of a winner, then you know what to do and you've become the person capable of doing it. The only other skill you need is the ability to influence other people to take the action they need to leap from where they are right now, to where they want to be. Stack these three skills together and you instantly become unstoppable in sales.

Feeling completely drained by your sales job? That constant rejection, endless objections, and quarterly quota increases can break even the strongest salespeople. I've watched it happen countless times over the past decade. Burnout isn't about being weak, it's about running around like a headless chicken without a clear path forward. After working in medical device sales for years I've discovered the real solution isn't grinding harder. It's about creating a systematic approach that eliminates overwhelm and gets you laser-focused on what actually moves the needle. Your brain wasn't designed for this chaos, and that's exactly why you feel overwhelmed. Sales shouldn't be a career you suffer through for decades – it should be your strategic stepping stone to whatever comes next.

Most salespeople struggle with objections because they’ve been taught to fight them head-on. But what if there was a smarter way to handle them—one that feels natural and actually works better? In this video you’ll learn a counterintuitive approach to sales objections that might change the way you sell forever. Backed by real sales experience and thousands of calls this method helps you stay in control without sounding pushy or defensive. If you’re in B2B sales taking discovery calls or handling cold prospects this is something you’ll want to see. There’s also a surprising psychological insight that explains why most objections aren’t what they seem. Watch now and rethink how you handle resistance on your calls.

Discover the 4 critical sales mistakes costing you thousands or even millions in lost revenue. After training 2,500+ salespeople through my Salesman.com Academy, I've identified the fundamental errors everyone makes. In this video, I reveal why sales success isn't luck but a strategic game with measurable inputs, the reality gap method that transforms how buyers see your value, how to overcome limiting money beliefs that sabotage your success, and why ego kills sales careers while high self-esteem is the real key. Whether you're a seasoned professional or small business owner, these proven strategies will help you close bigger deals in less time.

Discover why some salespeople struggle while others consistently smash their targets. After training 2,500+ sales professionals and analyzing data from over 20,000 assessments at Salesman.com Academy, I've identified the exact mistakes that keep most salespeople broke. Are you wasting precious time without a defined sales process? Do you understand what actually makes your prospects buy? The bold truth is that sales is a zero-sum game, and timidity might be your biggest enemy. I had to overcome these challenges myself early in my career. The transformation from average to exceptional doesn't take years – just the right adjustments to your approach.

Are you sabotaging your own sales success without even realizing it? I've trained over 2,500 sellers through my Salesman.com Academy, and I've noticed these five critical mistakes killing deals left and right. The truth is, most salespeople are unknowingly tanking their sales all the time. In this quick 10-minute video, I break down exactly how to recognize when you're killing your own deals and what to do instead. I'll show you why building a proper business case is non-negotiable, how to identify trigger events that turn “nice-to-haves” into “must-haves,” and why understanding the difference between major and minor ICPs will make or break your closing rate. If your deals keep stalling or disappearing, this video might be the most valuable 10 minutes you spend this week. Want to stop leaving money on the table? Hit play now and watch your deal closing rate skyrocket.

Transform your closing rate with my proven 3C Rule that I've developed after reviewing thousands of sales calls from my Salesman.com Academy members. I've discovered that waiting until the end to close is killing your success rate. In my experience coaching 2,000+ sales professionals, I've seen that every top performer uses “micro-closing” at least three times per call. I personally use this approach to remove uncertainty, increase buying temperature, and create clear next steps that my prospects can confidently follow. My micro-closing framework is straightforward: I simply ask “Does it make sense to…” followed by my proposed next action. When they say no, I just ask what would make sense to move forward. This pressure-free approach has transformed my awkward closing conversations into logical business discussions. Stop risking rejection with one big close at the end – implement my 3C Rule to dramatically improve your closing rate, shorten your sales cycle, and qualify prospects more effectively.

Tired of fake gurus selling you dreams of fast money with no effort? This video breaks down the truth behind all those get-rich-quick schemes and explains why almost all of them are setting you up to fail. But there’s one path that consistently works for people who want to build real wealth without gambling everything—B2B sales. No fluff no hype just a brutally honest look at why sales is the most realistic zero-risk high-leverage way to get rich fast if you're willing to do the work. Watch this if you're serious about financial freedom and done chasing shortcuts. It's not sexy – but it works.

Looking for a massive sales opportunity hiding in plain sight? In this video, I'll show you why Trump's tariffs could be your biggest revenue booster this year, regardless of your political views. I'm sharing the exact strategies my 2,500+ sales coaching students are using right now to turn economic chaos into meetings and deals. You'll learn how to use these tariffs as a powerful “trigger event” that breaks prospects out of status quo, the psychology behind why timing matters more than your message, and real email templates that are booking meetings right now. Plus, I'll show you how to reconnect with ghosted prospects who suddenly need your solution due to tariff pain. Whether you sell software, services, or physical products, this global economic shift creates leverage you can't afford to ignore. Remember – in chaos lies opportunity, and the salespeople who act now will clean up while competitors freeze!

Stop settling for industry average cold email metrics (15% open rate, 2% reply rate). At Salesman.com, we achieve 43% open rates and 9% replies by focusing on one goal: booking meetings. This video reveals how to stand out in prospects' inboxes by avoiding generic templates that every sales blog pushes. I explain why understanding your ideal customer profile deeply is crucial – their desires, problems, and responsibilities – and why focusing on their burning problems creates urgency that breaks through status quo. Discover why successful emails evolve through continuous improvement rather than chasing perfection from day one.

Stop chasing the “perfect” cold email formula – they don't work because you're selling to emotional humans, not robots. In this podcast, I reveal why generic templates fail in today's zero-sum sales game and share my proven approach that's booked countless meetings across industries. Learn why timing matters more than perfection, why specificity drives responses, and how to leverage trigger events (industry, company, technological, and personal) to stand out. The key isn't crafting the perfect email but developing an adaptable process that evolves with feedback. I share a simple, effective template that focuses on prospect-specific pain points and delivers measurable value. Ditch the perfect formula mindset and embrace a more human, responsive approach that actually fills your calendar with meetings.

Want more meetings from cold emails? Stop triggering the “salesperson alarm” that makes prospects instantly reject you. In this podcast, I reveal why your emails aren't converting and how to fix them. Most salespeople make emails about themselves, send obnoxious bumps, and follow up without adding value – all triggering resistance. Instead, build authority through social proof, nail the right message to the right person at the right time, and position yourself as a consultant who solves problems. I share a proven email template that focuses on your prospect's challenges rather than your product features. These simple shifts will dramatically increase your meeting conversion rates without sounding pushy or desperate.

Obsessing over perfect emails is usually just procrastination – salespeople afraid of rejection who hide behind formatting instead of doing real outreach. When you have genuine value to offer, you don't need fancy formatting or perfect structure. This podcast explains why “ugly” emails actually perform better: they have improved deliverability (fewer images/links means less spam filtering), better communication (simplicity removes barriers), and appear less salesy (they feel like notes from a colleague, not marketing). Instead of perfect emails, focus on the trifecta: right message, right person, right time. Most importantly, stop tweaking and start sending – good emails are good enough.

Summary In this episode of the Salesman Podcast, Will and Liam delve into the intricacies of sales, focusing on the importance of identifying true champions within organizations, understanding the role of decision makers, and effectively navigating objections from prospects. They emphasize the significance of recognizing pain points in sales conversations and the timing involved in changing a prospect's mind. The discussion also touches on the nature of business relationships and the inevitability of change in provider satisfaction. In this conversation, Will and Liam discuss the evolving landscape of sales, particularly focusing on the role of AI in lead scoring and outreach. They explore the limitations of current AI technologies, the importance of human intuition in sales, and the potential future of sales communication as AI continues to develop. The discussion also touches on the challenges of cold outreach and the necessity for sales professionals to adapt to changing market dynamics. Takeaways A champion must have influence within the organization. Identifying decision makers is crucial for closing deals. Not all supporters are champions; influence matters. Finding pain points is essential for successful sales. Timing can significantly impact a prospect's decision. Business relationships often change over time. Sales strategies should focus on measurable outcomes. Understanding the psychology of sales can enhance effectiveness. Navigating objections requires skill and patience. Building multiple champions can strengthen sales efforts. People change jobs, companies' priorities change. Salespeople need to be proactive, not passive. AI predictions can be hit or miss; trust your gut. Human intuition is crucial in sales decision-making. AI tools are still in early developmental stages. The future of sales may involve AI handling outreach. Sales technology is evolving rapidly, but not all tools are effective. Cold outreach will become more automated and AI-driven. To succeed, salespeople must become a market of one. The sales landscape will continue to change dramatically.    

Fred Copestake is a renowned sales expert and author who's revolutionizing the way we think about ethical selling in business. As the author of three books, including his latest “Ethical Selling,” and founder of the Institute of Ethical Selling, Fred is pioneering the movement towards more transparent, integrity-driven sales practices. His practical approach transforms ethical selling from a theoretical concept into actionable strategies that drive better results.

Josh Braun is a renowned sales expert and master copywriter who helps salespeople cut through the noise and connect authentically with their prospects. His unique approach combines deep problem understanding, mindfulness practices, and authentic storytelling to help salespeople stand out in today's crowded marketplace. With nearly a quarter million followers on LinkedIn, Josh's practical, no-nonsense advice on sales communication and prospect engagement has made him one of the most trusted voices in sales training.

Mark Hunter is a renowned sales expert, bestselling author of “A Mind for Sales,” and a passionate advocate for authentic selling in the digital age. With over 20 years of sales training experience, Mark has established himself as a leading voice in helping sellers prospect with integrity and close with confidence. Known for his practical, no-nonsense approach to sales, Mark challenges conventional wisdom by emphasizing the importance of fundamentals, authentic relationships, and proper discovery over flashy tools and quick fixes.

Summary In this episode of The Salesman Podcast, Will and Liam delve into the emotional aspects of sales, emphasizing the importance of understanding buyer emotions while maintaining a logical approach. They discuss the strategic use of storytelling in sales conversations, highlighting the need for relevant anecdotes that resonate with prospects. The conversation also explores the impact of AI on the sales process, stressing the importance of human input and expertise in leveraging AI tools effectively. Takeaways Emotions play a significant role in buyer decisions, but logic is crucial for closing deals. Sales conversations should balance emotional engagement with logical reasoning. Storytelling in sales should be relevant and focused on customer experiences. Using anecdotes can build trust and rapport with prospects. AI tools can enhance sales processes, but they require human insight to be effective. Sales cycles influence the reliance on emotion versus logic in decision-making. Building a repository of customer stories can aid in sales conversations. Understanding the buyer's deep desires is key to effective sales communication. Salespeople should focus on educating buyers about the transformation they can expect. The effectiveness of AI in sales depends on the quality of input provided by the salesperson.    

Summary In this conversation, Tony Hughes discusses the evolving challenges of closing B2B deals, emphasizing that the opening phase is more critical than the closing phase. He highlights the importance of engaging with senior decision-makers and creating a compelling business case that resonates with their needs. The discussion also covers strategies for qualifying prospects based on their intent and the necessity of crafting a business case that is internally focused and results-driven. Takeaways Closing B2B deals is more difficult than ever, especially larger ones. The opening phase of a sale is crucial for success. Strategic sellers focus on creating a believable business case. Qualifying prospects should be based on engagement, not just acronyms. Many sellers create their own objections by focusing on their offerings. Understanding the customer's needs is key to effective selling. A compelling business case must be customer-centric and results-oriented. The business case should articulate the commercial impact and how it monetizes. Leaders prioritize results and accountability in decision-making. Sales training should emphasize the importance of understanding buyer intent. Chapters 00:00 The Challenge of Closing B2B Deals 06:50 Qualifying Prospects: Intent vs. Interest 17:25 Building a Compelling Business Case 25:39 The Importance of Results in Business Cases      

Summary In this conversation, Victor Antonio discusses the emergence and implications of AI sales agents, exploring their capabilities, the future of sales, and the evolving relationship between humans and AI. He emphasizes the potential for AI to enhance sales processes while also addressing the challenges and ethical considerations that arise as technology becomes more integrated into our lives. The discussion highlights the importance of maintaining a human touch in sales and the potential societal changes driven by AI interactions. Takeaways AI sales agents are algorithms that perform tasks on behalf of humans. The future of sales will see increased integration of AI technology. Training AI agents is crucial for their effectiveness. Companies are already implementing voice agents for customer interactions. AI can assist in role-playing sales scenarios for training purposes. The complexity of sales will still require human involvement. AI can help individuals with mental health issues through companionship. The internet is becoming saturated with AI-generated content. Salespeople need to establish authority in niche markets. AI agents will evolve to connect with humans on a deeper level. People form deep emotional connections with virtual avatars. Creating engaging avatars can enhance sales training. The future of sales training may involve AI-driven avatars. Content creation is becoming an arms race in various industries. AI tools can help personalize customer interactions. Understanding AI is crucial for future job security. The landscape of sales will change dramatically in the next five years. Human connection remains vital in sales despite technological advancements. AI can enhance educational experiences for children. Adapting to new technologies is essential for success. Chapters 00:00 The Rise of AI Sales Agents 12:30 The Future of Sales and AI Integration 24:55 The Human Element in AI Relationships 27:51 The Impact of Virtual Relationships 30:46 Creating Engaging Avatars for Sales 33:42 The Future of AI in Education and Sales Training 37:17 The Arms Race of Content Creation 40:40 Navigating the AI Landscape in Sales 48:03 Preparing for the AI Revolution    

Summary In this conversation, Anthony Iannarino emphasizes the critical role of conversations in sales, arguing that technology cannot replace the value of direct communication with clients. He discusses the importance of understanding client needs, creating value through informed discussions, and building confidence in sales professionals. The conversation also touches on the future of sales in an AI-driven world, highlighting the enduring need for human expertise and authority in the sales process. Takeaways Conversations are the key to winning deals. Salespeople must focus on understanding client needs. Creating value is essential in sales conversations. Sales technology cannot replace the need for human interaction. Sales professionals should be experts in their field. Confidence in one's knowledge can enhance sales effectiveness. Many sales conversations fail due to a lack of preparation. Sales training should emphasize the importance of conversation skills. AI will change sales, but human expertise will remain vital. Sales success is linked to the ability to create meaningful conversations. Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Conversations in Sales 10:35 Understanding Client Needs and Creating Value 21:22 Building Confidence and Expertise in Sales Conversations 32:05 The Future of Sales in an AI-Driven World

Summary In this engaging conversation, Will and Jeff explore the importance of authenticity in sales, emphasizing that individuals sell best when they embrace their true selves. They discuss the impact of AI on sales and the necessity of becoming a ‘market of one' to stand out. The duo highlights the irreplaceable human element in sales, advocating for intuition and personality over formulaic approaches. They also delve into how upbringing and societal expectations shape sales personalities, ultimately encouraging listeners to trust their instincts and develop their unique sales style. In this conversation, Jeff Bajorek discusses the complexities of neurodivergence and its implications for personal and professional development. He emphasizes the importance of understanding oneself, particularly in sales, and how self-awareness can lead to more effective selling strategies. The discussion also touches on the significance of belief, discipline, and the role of fun in sales, advocating for a career that aligns with one's values and brings joy. Jeff shares insights on how life skills often outweigh traditional selling skills in achieving success, and he encourages listeners to embrace their unique selling styles while maintaining a sense of enjoyment in their work. Takeaways Authenticity is key in sales; sell like you. AI is changing the landscape, but human connection remains vital. Sales is both an art and a science; embrace your personality. Trust your intuition; it often leads to better outcomes. Charisma can be developed; it's not just innate. The human element in sales cannot be replicated by AI. Upbringing influences our sales approach and personality. Being a ‘market of one' is essential in a competitive landscape. Salespeople should focus on engaging prospects, not just following scripts. Embrace humor and personality to build rapport with clients. Neurodivergence exists on a spectrum, influencing behavior and skills. Understanding your unique position on the neurodivergence spectrum can enhance personal and professional growth. Finding your unique selling style is crucial for success in sales. Self-awareness is the foundation for effective selling strategies. Life skills often have a greater impact on sales success than traditional selling skills. Belief in what you sell is essential for effective sales performance. Discipline and consistency in sales activities lead to better results. Sales should be enjoyable; if it's not, consider finding a new role. Deferring happiness for future gains can lead to long-term dissatisfaction. Embracing your individuality in sales can lead to greater fulfillment and success. Sound Bites “You have to sell like you.” “Become a marketer of one.” “We are magic.” “Trust your intuition.” “Drop your shoulders.” “You have to develop it.” “Know yourself first.” “Why should we squander it?” Chapters 00:00Reconnecting and the Power of Authenticity 02:50Selling Like You: The Art of Personalization 06:06Competing with AI: Becoming a Market of One 09:10The Human Element in Sales 11:51Trusting Your Intuition in Sales 15:05Charisma vs. Formula: Developing Your Sales Style 18:03The Impact of Upbringing on Sales Personality 22:06Understanding Neurodivergence and Its Spectrum 25:39Finding Your Unique Selling Style 28:43The Importance of Self-Awareness in Sales 32:07Belief and Discipline in Sales Success 35:43The Role of Fun in Sales 40:47Connecting with Jeff Bajorek