Episodes

  • 134: Justin Toomey – The Best Job in the World

    134: Justin Toomey – The Best Job in the World
    Apr 14 2025
    Guest: Justin Toomey Guest Bio: Justin founded SVN | Toomey Property Advisors in 2019, bringing a national full-service commercial real estate firm to Mobile, Alabama. Since expanding into property management in 2022, the company now manages over 903 multifamily units and 30,000 square feet of retail space. Under Justin’s leadership, the company achieved 268% revenue growth by the end of 2024, a testament to his strategic vision and innovative approach. As a licensed real estate broker in five states, he has earned national recognition, including the SVN Achievers Award (2021–2024), Costar Power Broker Award (2019), and being named one of The Bay Magazine's 40 Under 40 (2025). Key Points: Journey into Commercial Real Estate: Despite his father's warnings about the industry's difficulties, the Justin pursued a career in commercial real estate, earning a license at 19 and a broker’s license after college in 2011. He worked with his father until 2014, then moved to Sterling Properties to expand his knowledge in other areas of real estate, like retail and markets outside Mobile. Founding SVN Toomey Property Advisors: Justin founded his own company after learning valuable lessons at Sterling Properties, despite knowing the risks and challenges. He faced significant losses in 2020 but continued working hard during the pandemic, learning from mistakes, and adapting to growth. Challenges and Rewards in Commercial Real Estate: The commercial real estate industry is challenging, with long sales cycles and constant rejection. Success requires perseverance, working hard despite setbacks, and managing expectations. Justin values the autonomy and flexibility in the industry but emphasizes that it requires working far beyond a typical 40-hour week to achieve success. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Be resilient in the face of setbacks, working harder than others, and build discipline in everyday tasks. Don’t try to do everything yourself, especially when starting out, and fearing failure. Delegating tasks and understanding the limits of your role is crucial. Business Growth and Success: Despite a rough start in 2020, the company grew by 268% in 2021 and continued to see around 100% growth annually since then. Growth was driven by learning from mistakes, expanding services, and adding new market segments, including multifamily and retail management. Managing a Team: Justin faces challenges with managing independent contractors (1099s) who don’t have the same level of control as employees. He emphasizes the importance of communication, drive, dedication, and consistency within the team, often relying on shared calendars and teamwork to keep things running smoothly. Struggles with ensuring consistency in sales meetings but recognizes the value of collaboration among team members on deals. Hiring Strategy: Justin tends to hire individuals with no prior experience in the industry, believing they are more coachable and aligned with the company’s values, especially cold calling. He avoids hiring senior brokers with established businesses as they can be harder to integrate into the company culture and may resist change. Guest Links: www.svntpa.com Connect on LinkedIn About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are a business owner or sales manager with an underperforming sales team, let’s talk. Click here to schedule a time. Please, subscribe to Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to https://podcast.gosalesology.com/ and connect on LinkedIn and follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check out our website at https://gosalesology.com/.
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    27 mins
  • 133: Nancy Wilhite – Grow Leadership

    133: Nancy Wilhite – Grow Leadership
    Apr 7 2025
    Guest: Nancy Wilhite Guest Bio: Nancy Wilhite is the owner of Grow Consulting, a professional consulting business that helps to develop leaders in terms of their executive presence, communication, presentation, and strategic planning. She has a strong focus on CRE professionals and market leaders, working on their business development processes and running high-performing teams. Key Points: Background and Experience: Nancy has 40 years of experience, with a focus on people, operations, and leadership development. She entered the commercial real estate field serendipitously after being recruited to CB (Coldwell Banker) for operations management. Over her career, she worked with brokers and teams to develop high-performing individuals and businesses, and also managed teams on a national level, focusing on business development and efficient processes. Transition to Consulting: Nancy started her consulting company, Grow Consulting, after the COVID-19 pandemic led to downsizing in her previous role. She now helps clients with leadership, executive presence, communication, and strategic planning. Philosophy on Leadership: Nancy believes in working with and through people, understanding that each person’s unique qualities are key to success in any team or business. She emphasizes that leaders should inspire and guide people in a way that helps them grow, particularly by recognizing their strengths and encouraging their development. Leadership, according to Nancy, is about being able to communicate effectively, guide others through challenges, and maintain a vision that motivates people to work toward a common goal. Team Development and Motivation: Maintaining momentum and excitement in teams is essential, especially when facing challenges like resource shortages or high expectations. Nancy advocates for creating quick wins and clear, manageable plans to sustain energy. She also encourages structured processes for onboarding new employees, highlighting the importance of clear roles and responsibilities, especially in high-energy industries like commercial real estate. Hiring and Role Clarity: Hiring the right people for specific roles is crucial. Nancy stresses the importance of being intentional about what you are hiring for and ensuring that the new hire fits the culture and the role. She advises that teams should have a clear understanding of what they need and the impact the new hire will have on the organization. Leadership Development: Nancy believes leaders are both born and made. Natural instincts for leadership can be honed with experience and training. Effective leaders are those who can influence others, communicate difficult messages clearly, and help their teams succeed together. Final Thoughts: Mistakes are part of the learning process. Nancy encourages embracing failures, learning from them, and moving forward with improved strategies. She reiterates the core belief that "we do things with and through people," highlighting the importance of collaboration, leadership, and team growth in any organization. Guest Links: nancy@growconsulting.today Connect on LinkedIn About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are a business owner or sales manager with an underperforming sales team, let’s talk. Click here to schedule a time. Please, subscribe to Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to https://podcast.gosalesology.com/ and connect on LinkedIn and follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check out our website at https://gosalesology.com/.
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    27 mins
  • 132: Ron Koenigsberg – Watch, Do, Teach

    132: Ron Koenigsberg – Watch, Do, Teach
    Mar 31 2025
    Guest: Ron Koenigsberg Guest Bio: Ron Koenigsberg is an award-winning commercial real estate broker with over three decades of experience and the founder of American Investment Properties, Inc. Recognized as a top-performing broker nationwide, Ron has successfully navigated countless transactions, establishing himself as an industry leader and trusted advisor. As the author of "Power Broker: How to Succeed in Life and Business", Ron shares his proven insights into sales excellence, relationship-building, and personal growth. Known for his engaging style and practical advice, Ron leverages humor, warmth, and real-world experience to empower others to achieve greater professional success and personal fulfillment. Key Points: Dyslexia and Overcoming Challenges: Ron shares his experience of being born with dyslexia, a condition that went undiagnosed during his childhood. Despite struggling with reading and comprehension, he found his strength in "human engineering," which led him to sales. His father's influence, especially through Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People, helped him realize that 85% of success is due to people skills, not technical knowledge. Sales and Human Connection: Ron emphasizes that sales success relies on building relationships, not just knowledge. He shares that the key to success is understanding people and communication, which is more important than expertise in a specific field. He mentions that 85% of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders start their careers in sales because it builds essential people skills. Teaching Sales to His Team: Ron adopts a "watch, do, teach" approach with his sales team. He emphasizes leading by example and actively teaching his team, building their skills through practical experience. He fosters a supportive environment, always looking to guide and encourage his salespeople, focusing on making them better rather than criticizing them. Streamlining the Prospecting Process: Originally, Ron tried to contact a large number of property owners (around 10,000), but eventually realized that focusing on a smaller group of 800 key individuals worked better. This "narrowing down" approach allowed for deeper, more meaningful connections, and ultimately led to more successful relationships. Persistence in Sales: Ron emphasizes the importance of persistence in sales. He shares that 80% of sales happen after the fourth ask and encourages his team to keep pushing and not be discouraged by rejection. He uses a CRM to manage and track relationships, remembering personal details about prospects, as he believes in the power of personalization. Building Resilience: Ron believes resilience is crucial for sales success and business leadership. Despite setbacks and rejections, resilience helps maintain motivation and drive. He practices what he preaches by remaining calm in tough situations and sharing his own experiences with his team to help them develop emotional resilience. Hiring Challenges and Social Media: Ron admits that recruiting talent has been his biggest challenge in growing his business. He has recently focused more on social media, growing his LinkedIn following from 1,000 to 14,000 in a year, using it to attract talent and build his brand. His Book, Power Broker: Ron wrote a book titled Power Broker, focusing on success in sales and business. It’s particularly aimed at aspiring commercial real estate brokers. The book was written with his sons in mind, sharing his knowledge and lessons for them to use in their lives. The book has resonated with a wider audience and is available in various formats, including Audible and Amazon. Family and Legacy: He shares his desire for his children to be involved in his business, though they are still young. He wants to build a successful company that attracts his sons to work with him in the future. Overcoming Dyslexia: Ron reflects on the impact of dyslexia on his life, acknowledging that it has shaped his resilience and approach to challenges. He stresses that dyslexia taught him how to overcome obstacles and build resilience, which is key to thriving in sales and business. The interview highlights the power of resilience, human connection in sales, persistence, and the importance of teaching others as a key to leadership and success. Guest Links: Connect on LinkedIn www.aiprops.com www.RonKoenigsberg.com Power Broker on Amazon Power Broker on Audible About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are...
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    31 mins
  • 131: Tony Stillinger – Building a Sales Team

    131: Tony Stillinger – Building a Sales Team
    Mar 24 2025
    Guest: Tony Stillinger Guest Bio: I have been in the seal and gasket business for 37 years. I started off in production and quality, moving into sales in 1997. I quickly learned that to be successful in a sales role you needed to be self-motivated, competitive, reliable, and a great listener (2 ears > 1 mouth). I have had the privilege of working for a multi-billion-dollar giant in the industry to a small distributorship. I have found that sales leadership gives me great satisfaction. I love coaching and talking sales strategy with my team. I get more enjoyment from their success than my own. I guess you could say I view my success is tied to their success. My current position with ESP has been very satisfying because I was tasked with finding acquisitions, building a sales team, and guiding the team toward acquiring new business. I told one of my direct reports this morning that I don't see retirement in my future because I love what I do and the company I work for. Key Points: Background, Journey to Sales, and Path to Engineer Seal Products: · Tony started in production and quality at Southern Rubber in Greensboro, NC, with a family connection and gained valuable product knowledge. · Attended college at night while working, with the goal of transitioning into sales; found success despite being an introvert by focusing on listening to customers and solving their problems. · Moved to Engineer Seal Products after helping them explore acquisitions in the Southeast; later, ESP acquired Southern Rubber, Tony's former employer. Cold Calling and Prospecting: · Cold calling is a primary strategy for new business acquisition, particularly in the Southeast region, where ESP had limited presence before the speaker joined. · Post-COVID hybrid work schedules have made cold calling more challenging, but it has still led to valuable conversations and new accounts. · Tony views cold calling as less common today, which gives their team an advantage in reaching decision-makers. Sales Team Development and Coaching: · Building a sales team from scratch required careful coaching and mentoring, particularly in managing the frustration of cold calling. · The sales process can be slow and requires persistence. Tony compares sales to a baseball player, where even a 30-40% success rate is considered good. · Coaching involves encouraging perseverance, trying different strategies, and using personal stories to motivate the team. Hiring and Training Salespeople: · When hiring, Tony looks for candidates with a "hunter mentality" and technical knowledge of the industry, understanding that the sales cycle is long-term. · The interview process involves assessing candidates' daily routines, sales plans, and role-playing cold calls. · Tony values networking to find potential candidates and looks for people willing to hunt for new business rather than manage existing accounts. Mistakes in Hiring: · Tony shared a past hiring mistake involving a candidate with the right skills but who had personal issues that impacted their work. · The lesson learned was to inquire more about personal hobbies and interests during the hiring process, which may reveal potential red flags. Overall Philosophy: · Tony emphasizes the importance of caring for employees and helping them succeed, which adds to the satisfaction of leadership. · Even though firing employees can be painful, it is sometimes necessary for the benefit of the company. · Tony’s competitive nature and enjoyment of challenges drive their success in building teams and acquiring new business. Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonystillingermbasalesgrowth/ About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are a business owner or sales manager with an underperforming sales team, let’s talk. Click here to schedule a time. Please, subscribe to Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to https://podcast.gosalesology.com/ and connect on LinkedIn and follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check out our website at https://gosalesology.com/.
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    25 mins
  • 130: Zach Kosturos – Always Building Relationships

    130: Zach Kosturos – Always Building Relationships
    Mar 17 2025
    Guest: Zach Kosturos Guest Bio: Zach Kosturos is the President and Owner of Prime Locations, Inc., a full service commercial real estate company and Upsyde Ventures, a real estate private equity company. His companies develop, sell, lease and manage office, retail, industrial, multifamily, and self-storage investments. Zach’s commercial real estate knowledge and experience are vast as a result of his involvement in all aspects of the industry, including development, acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing, maintenance, management and most importantly, ownership. Key Points: Career Journey: From Baseball to Real Estate Entrepreneur · Played baseball on a scholarship with aspirations to turn professional, but shifted focus to sales and communication skills after realizing the MLB path wasn’t viable. · Developed a passion for investing after reading about Warren Buffett, leading to a deep dive into value investing. · Entered real estate in 2008 during the economic downturn, buying out partners to grow Prime Locations, and later launched Upside Ventures, a real estate private equity firm. Business Growth & Ownership: · Prime Locations has grown five times its revenue since Zach took over. · Upside Ventures currently owns $75 million worth of commercial property. · Ownership is central to Zach’s success, as it allows him to understand both the investor and client’s perspectives in real estate. Importance of Ownership: · Zach emphasizes that ownership, particularly in real estate, is critical because it gives insight into the challenges owners face, making it easier to serve clients effectively. · Learning through experience and mentorship is crucial. Books gave him theoretical knowledge, but real-world exposure to owning and managing investments accelerated his growth. Advice to Young Entrepreneurs: · Zach advises aspiring entrepreneurs to work within their circle of competence and avoid dabbling in too many areas. · Believing in yourself, putting in the effort, and having the courage to take risks are key factors for success. · His analogy to baseball emphasizes the importance of preparation and practice before taking big risks. Sales & Mentorship: · Zach sees salesmanship as the ability to communicate and build relationships, not just close deals. He trains his team to be trusted advisors. · Mentorship plays a huge role in developing sales skills, as successful brokers typically have mentors guiding them. Building Value in Real Estate: · New brokers add value by being persistent without being overly aggressive, demonstrating their commitment to potential clients. · Prime Locations’ team uses direct mail campaigns to add value by providing valuable, exclusive information that can't be found online, positioning them as trusted advisors. Results of Direct Mail Campaigns: · Direct mail campaigns have generated significant returns, with one campaign bringing in $400,000 in commissions for an $8,000 investment. · A recent direct mail effort led to a $19 million acquisition of properties, showcasing the power of persistence and effective marketing. Leveraging Direct Mail: · Direct mail is less cluttered than email, making it an effective tool in real estate marketing. · Zach’s approach to direct mail is unique, using high-quality newsletters with useful information, differentiating them from the typical marketing materials. Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zkosturos/ About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are a business owner or sales manager with an underperforming sales team, let’s talk. Click here to schedule a time. Please, subscribe to Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to https://podcast.gosalesology.com/ and connect on LinkedIn and follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check out our website at https://gosalesology.com/.
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    25 mins
  • 129: Cole Strauss – Being the Easiest Company to Deal With

    129: Cole Strauss – Being the Easiest Company to Deal With
    Mar 10 2025
    Guest: Cole Strauss Guest Bio: Leading the Texas region at igus Inc., I focus on nurturing customer relationships and driving new business development through strategic leadership and industrial sales acumen. My role involves guiding our sales force, negotiating high-value contracts, and ensuring our mission of being the easiest company to deal with is realized with every customer interaction. I am currently transitioning into the National Sales Manager role for Chainflex Cables, effective January 2025. I hold an Engineering degree from Texas State University and an MBA from UT Permian Basin. Before joining Igus, I worked for John Deere, Continental Automotive, and Vehicle Monitor Corporation, gaining experience in manufacturing, engineering, and sales. I live in San Antonio, TX with my wife, Kelsie, our son, Beckett, and our two dogs Lady and Cleo. I spend most of my free time with family and friends but also spend some alone as an avid outdoorsman who appreciates the relaxation only the woods can offer. Key Points: Role & Background: Cole is the new National Sales Manager for Igus, Inc., a role he has held for 14 days. He has an engineering degree from Texas State University and an MBA from the University of Texas Permian Basin. Before his current role, Cole worked as a manufacturing engineer and transitioned into sales at Igus, Inc over the last four and a half years. He started as a Territory Sales Manager and later became a Regional Manager. Company Mission: Igus's mission is to be "the easiest company to deal with" in every customer interaction. This is central to their customer service philosophy. Cole explains that being easy to deal with involves being responsive, providing reliable support, and ensuring customers receive solutions, even if those solutions come from other departments. It’s about building trust and being an advisor, not just a salesperson. Strategic Partnerships: Cole plans to grow sales revenue through both external and internal strategic partnerships. External partnerships include working with distributors and catalog houses, while internal partnerships focus on better alignment between outside and inside sales teams to improve customer service and product offerings. Sales Philosophy: Igus aims to sell on the value of their products, even if they are priced higher than competitors. Cole emphasizes showing customers the long-term cost savings through product durability and fewer replacements. Changing the mindset of outside salespeople from focusing on immediate low cost to emphasizing lifetime costs and return on investment is key. Sales Team Management: Cole prioritizes attitude over experience when hiring. He believes a good attitude is more important than technical experience because the right attitude leads to success in the sales process. He values teamwork, with a focus on communication and ownership within the team, helping people take the next step in their careers. Hiring Process: When hiring, Cole looks for candidates with the right attitude and a basic mechanical background. He emphasizes finding people who are reliable, accountable, and have a strong work ethic. He also uses personal referrals to assess candidates' true character. Challenges in Sales Management: Cole acknowledges that managing a large sales team (about 50 territory managers) means dealing with many problems simultaneously. His engineering background helps him troubleshoot and find solutions without panicking, ensuring that issues are resolved efficiently while balancing internal and external needs. Work-Life Balance: Cole mentioned the challenge of managing a team while balancing work and personal life, sharing a humorous anecdote about how he sometimes struggles to "turn off" his problem-solving mindset even at home. Guest Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-strauss-igus/ About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are a business owner or sales manager with an underperforming sales team, let’s talk. Click here to schedule a time. Please, subscribe to Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to https://podcast.gosalesology.com/ and connect on LinkedIn and follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check out our website at https://...
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    30 mins
  • 128: Jeff Peterson – Empathetic, Value-Based Sales

    128: Jeff Peterson – Empathetic, Value-Based Sales
    Mar 3 2025
    Guest: Jeff Peterson Guest Bio: Jeff Peterson knows B2B selling. With more than 15 years of experience as a sales executive and sales manager, primarily with both local and national linen and uniform companies, and the packaging industry. Jeff has a strong track record of delivering industry-leading results in competitive markets. While still having “boots on the ground” in sales management, he has shared his empathetic, value-based sales and marketing approach through numerous publications, consultations, and engagements. A husband and parent of four children, in his increasingly rare free time Jeff enjoys a great restaurant, live music, playing tennis, and getting himself into adventures exploring new cities and towns. Key Points: Introduction to Sales: A mentor offered him a sales job, even though he wasn’t qualified. Minimal training — was told to knock on 30 doors daily and input data into a CRM system. Gained experience through trial and error, learning alongside a team of peers in the millennial uniform world. Transition to Sales Manager: After his boss was promoted, Jeff was thrust into the sales manager role with little formal training. Took initiative to figure things out, continuously learning over the years. Acknowledged both successes and failures, but focused on learning from mistakes and helping his team grow. Sales Development: Developed a passion for the craft of sales, learning from thought leaders in the field. Focused on constantly improving and passing on that knowledge to others. Sales Leadership Approach: Emphasizes systematic and adaptable training and onboarding processes. Customizes training based on the individual's level of expertise, offering an 8-week process with supervised practice. Believes in guiding the team and letting them find their own methods, but with close oversight in the beginning. Prospecting and Growth: Faces challenges in an industry that could be complacent with existing customers, but emphasizes the importance of new revenue. Encouraged a culture of prospecting, focusing on old-school methods (cold calls, email outreach) to grow the business. Managing Sales Team Culture: Has worked to shift from a "hunter-farmer" model to one focused on generating new revenue. Values create a mindset focused on new business, which he believes is essential for organizational success. Challenges with CRM Usage: Sees CRM as a critical sales enablement tool but acknowledges that getting full buy-in from salespeople can be difficult. Focuses on showing the CRM’s benefits, such as organizing tasks and managing opportunities efficiently. Strives for a balance between enforcing CRM usage and respecting top performers' flexibility. Balancing Optimism and Realism: Struggles with maintaining enthusiasm while also being pragmatic about challenges and issues within the company or industry. Believes in transparency with his team, providing honest updates about challenges while focusing on solutions and maintaining morale. Focuses on ensuring his sales team stays motivated and confident despite external challenges. Guest Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-peterson-a58a1028/ About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are a business owner or sales manager with an underperforming sales team, let’s talk. Click here to schedule a time. Please, subscribe to Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to https://podcast.gosalesology.com/ and connect on LinkedIn and follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check out our website at https://gosalesology.com/.
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    31 mins
  • 127: Trent Halasek – Protect the Business Model

    127: Trent Halasek – Protect the Business Model
    Feb 24 2025
    Guest: Trent Halasek Guest Bio: I was raised by a family of educators and have maintained my love of learning, and teaching, in my professional career. I read and consume as much information as I can to help better myself professionally and personally. My path is a bit non-traditional for a sales leadership role. I have a degree in accounting and started my career as a Staff Accountant. Most people who end up in sales will tell you that accounting work is horrible. I take the opposite approach. What I learned with a finance background is the cornerstone for prudent financial decisions and practical solutions in my work. From the very beginning of my career, I learned what drives financial results in the industry, so when I elevated into leadership positions, I already had learned the financial side of decisions. It definitely gave me a leg up when I started moving up in my career. Guest Links: Akers Packaging Service Group Connect on LinkedIn Key Points: Sales Leadership Philosophy: Shares insights on continuous education and training for sales professionals. Views sales skills as learnable and emphasizes ongoing development in areas like lead generation, cold calling, and communication. Prefers hiring individuals who are willing to learn and have high energy over those with extensive industry experience aligning salespeople with the company's core values and ensuring they are focused on what the company does best. Hiring and Developing Sales Talent: Look for candidates with a growth mindset (willingness to learn) and high energy. Focus on helping sellers get wins in the right areas to build confidence. Prefers a hands-on coaching approach, especially for new sellers, to align them with company goals. Understands the importance of managing people differently based on their experience and career stage. Business Model Protection: Stresses the importance of protecting the company’s business model by staying focused on core strengths. Advocates selling only boxes, not diversifying into other products, which could dilute profitability. Believes in aligning sales efforts with the company’s proven value proposition, even if it means not chasing every opportunity. Sales Wins and Strategy: In October, all 11 local sellers exceeded previous year’s sales despite industry pricing challenges. Focused on selling company assets effectively and motivating sales teams. Uses internal surveys to ensure messaging aligns across all levels of the company, from entry-level to top leadership. Ensures salespeople understand the company’s offerings and target market. Strategic Decision Making: Encourages decision-making based on the company’s business model rather than reacting to every customer request. Highlights the importance of strategic decisions (e.g., offering new products like tape) being made at the leadership level, rather than by individual salespeople. Adapts to the needs of smaller customers and helps new sellers secure smaller accounts to build confidence, but ensures they remain focused on core products. Customer Needs and Sales Approach: The company focuses on providing fast, reliable service for corrugated boxes. Targets smaller to mid-sized customers who need quick delivery and personalized service, unlike large companies that can get these products from larger corporations. Uses a needs-based sales approach, focusing on solving specific customer challenges with a tailored solution. The sales cycle is guided by understanding the customer’s language and aligning the company’s value proposition to their needs. Understanding Individual Strengths (Superpowers): Emphasizes the importance of recognizing both personal and customer strengths. In the context of a salesperson or team member, it's crucial to identify their "superpower" (a unique strength or trait) and encourage them to lean into that for success. For example, the interviewer mentions using passion and energy as their own "superpower" for motivating others. Balancing Commonality with Individuality: Discussion about how customers often have the same general need (e.g., fast delivery of brown boxes), but the underlying reasons for that need may differ. This highlights the balance between understanding the commonalities (like needing a box) and addressing the individual needs behind that requirement. About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are a business owner or sales manager with an underperforming sales team, let’s talk. Click here to schedule a time. ...
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    32 mins