The Debater profile: why challengers don’t always fit consulting

In today's market, there are two types of consultants: those who passively wait for the phone to ring, hoping their reputation brings in the next deal, and those who proactively shape their clients' thinking and create their own opportunities. One is struggling; the other one is building a future-proof book of business. So what's the real difference? Well, one is an Activator.

I'm here with Matt Dixon, author of the well-known book The Challenger Sale, and the researcher who literally wrote the book on this topic. He studied thousands of people working in professional services, and that includes many, many consultants, to decode what the absolute best are doing differently. So don't go anywhere because Matt is about to give you the three core mindsets of a top performer and show you how to shift from just being an Expert to becoming the Activator your clients truly and deeply value.

In this episode you will learn:

• The single biggest mistake experts make in sales conversations.
• Why the most important "conversation" happens before you ever speak to a prospect.
• How to scale a service business with a team of coaches without sacrificing quality.
• The philosophical shift from chasing revenue to embracing "continuous growth."
• The Four Conversations model for a more authentic and effective sales process.
• The common trap of "moving down market" and why it rarely works.
• How to leverage AI as a powerful tool while understanding its limitations.

Welcome to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm your host Michael Zipursky, and in this podcast, we're going to dive deep into the world of elite consultants where you're going to learn the strategies, tactics and mindset to grow a highly profitable and successful consulting business.

Before we dive into today's episode. Are you ready to grow and take your consulting business to the next level? Many of the clients that we work with started as podcast listeners just like you, and a consistent theme they have shared with us is that they wished they had reached out sooner about our Clarity Coaching Program rather than waiting for that perfect time. If you're interested in learning more about how we help consultants just like you, we're offering a free, no pressure growth session call. On this call, we're going to dive deep into your goals, challenges and situation and outline a plan that is tailor made just for you. We will also help you identify where you may be making costly and time consuming mistakes to ensure you're benefiting from the proven methods and strategies to grow your consulting business. 

So don't wait years to find clarity. If you're committed and serious about reaching a new level of success in your consulting business, go ahead and schedule your free growth session. Get in touch today. Just visit Consulting Success - Grow to book your free call today.

Matt Dixon is a world-renowned expert on sales and customer experience. As a founding partner of DCM Insights and a frequent Harvard Business Review contributor, his research has shaped modern business strategy through bestselling books like the modern classic The Challenger Sale, The JOLT Effect, and his newest work, The Activator Advantage. As a sought-after speaker and advisor to management teams around the globe, his data-backed frameworks help companies attract, retain, and grow their customers.

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The Inner Circle

If you're running a 7-figure consulting business and are ready to be in a room of committed peers, this is for you. The Inner Circle is a high-level mastermind focused on proven strategies for scaling and lifestyle design. This is not for everyone, but if it's for you, you already know. www.consultingsuccess.com/inner-circle