GTM 18: How to Grow and Manage Revenue with Bob Elliott
Jan 17, 2023
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Bob Elliott, former managing director at SAP Canada and SVP of sales at HootSuite, discusses topics such as shifting the end of year quarter, the breakdown of the old marketing playbook, balancing quick transitions and giving experiments time, when to ramp up a sales representative, resolving work-life balance, growing SAP's revenue to $53 million, taking a chance on a sales rep, and how to get noticed for a promotion.
Encourage sales professionals to think beyond limitations and set audacious goals, believing that anything is possible.
Exceed expectations and contribute in ways that benefit others to increase chances of being noticed and promoted.
Deep dives
The Power of Imagination in Sales
The podcast episode highlights the importance of thinking beyond limitations in sales. The speaker shares a story of a rep who secured a $53 million deal by imagining bigger opportunities. The lesson is to encourage salespeople to think beyond their own limitations and set audacious goals, believing that anything is possible. By expanding their imagination, sales professionals can aim higher and achieve greater success.
Going Above and Beyond for Promotions
A listener asks for advice on getting promoted to a higher position. The speaker emphasizes the importance of going beyond one's job responsibilities and doing something above and beyond. They suggest taking on additional tasks or projects that help the boss or the company. By exceeding expectations and contributing in ways that benefit others, individuals can increase their chances of being noticed and promoted.
Standing Out as a Marketer
The podcast discusses the challenges faced by marketers in the current market, where traditional demand generation strategies seem to be less effective. The speaker suggests that marketers need to have a maniacal focus on ROI for their marketing spend and be more targeted and selective in their approach. They recommend doubling down on campaigns that work and stopping those that don't, while maintaining a strong focus on measuring and demonstrating the business benefit of marketing efforts.
Lessons from Growing a Major Account
The podcast shares a story of growing a major account worth $53 million over a few years. The speaker highlights the importance of building strong relationships with customers and consistently delivering value. They also emphasize the need to set audacious goals and not limit one's imagination when it comes to potential deals. The story serves as a reminder to think big and push beyond expectations to achieve exceptional results.
Bob Elliott is the former managing director at SAP Canada, former SVP of sales at HootSuite, and former CRO of Built and Forder and limited partner in GTM funds.
Bob shares insights from his own story of acquiring $53 million for one of his customer’s SAP, taking a chance on a sales representative, and some of his personal thoughts on work ethic and work-life balance.
Highlights: (02:05) Bob’s backstory.
(04:50) Shifting the end of year quarter to January.
(7:44) Is the old marketing playbook breaking down?
(11:47) Balancing quick transitions and giving experiments time to get results.
(15:07) Knowing when to ramp up a sales representative.
(20:35) Resolving the work-life balance equation.
(22:45) Engaging in conversations that bring you energy.
(25:14) Bob’s story of growing SAP’s revenue to $53 Million.
(30:45) Bob’s story on taking a chance on a sales rep at SAP.
(35:29) Don’t let your imagination limit the size of your potential.
(37:49) Bob’s biggest motivation at age 25.
(40:21) What must one do to get noticed for a promotion?
The GTM Podcast The GTM Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Scott Barker, GTMfund Partner, featuring interviews with the top 1% GTM executives, VCs, and founders. Conversations reveal the unshared details behind how they have grown companies, and the go-to-market strategies responsible for shaping that growth.
Visit gtmnow.com for more episodes and other interesting content.
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