Sold But Not Paid

In this episode of Business Brain, hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean dive into the challenges of balancing work and life, particularly in sales and leadership roles. They also discuss the risks of stepping away from a business while still retaining liability.

Key Takeaways:

The Dilemma of Instant Email Replies in Sales
Dave shares a real-life scenario where he responded to a client’s email over the weekend instead of waiting until Monday. They debate whether being always responsive is beneficial or if it creates an unhealthy work-life balance and unrealistic customer expectations. Shannon argues that in sales, responsiveness is crucial to success and one cannot always follow a strict work schedule. The hosts acknowledge that not all roles require 24/7 availability, and expectations should be set accordingly.

Training Employees for Responsiveness
They explore whether employees should be expected to reply instantly to emails outside work hours. Dave suggests that salespeople, in particular, must be available if they want to outperform competitors. They acknowledge that expecting constant availability could lead to burnout but recognize that customer perception matters in sales.

Should You Delay Sending Emails?
A LinkedIn user asks whether delaying email responses (e.g., scheduling them for the next morning) is a better approach. The hosts agree that for non-sales roles, delaying responses may help establish boundaries, but in sales, responding immediately often signals urgency and commitment.

The Risks of a Business Running Without You
They analyze a statement from entrepreneur Noel Halal, who argues that if a business runs entirely without its owner, it’s essentially a “silent sale” where the owner assumes all risks but sees no real reward. Dave and Shannon debate the idea, acknowledging that while delegation is essential for scaling, owners must maintain oversight to avoid financial or operational risks. They highlight the importance of structuring business ownership so that financial rewards offset the liability of stepping away.

Final Thoughts & Engagement
They encourage listeners to weigh the risks and rewards of stepping back from business operations. The hosts invite feedback from the audience on balancing business ownership and delegation. The episode concludes with a promotion for their MacBook giveaway for listeners who leave a review.

Conclusion:
The episode offers insightful perspectives on business growth, delegation, and responsiveness in sales. While being highly available benefits sales, it must be balanced with sustainability and realistic employee expectations. Additionally, business owners should carefully structure their roles to avoid assuming risks without proper compensation.

• 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #628 for Wednesday, March 5th, 2025
  • March 5th: National Stop Bad Service Day
• 00:01:51 Working weekends…triage vs. deep work; responsive vs. reactive. Employees?
• 00:09:35 SPONSOR: Rogue Amoeba Software makes some of the best Mac Audio software on the planet, and we couldn’t produce BB this way without it! Just visit MacAudio.com/Brain and use code BRAIN to save 20% on anything they make. Download free trials, then buy online to receive the discounted price.
• 00:11:11 Would Delay-sending that email help train everyone, including you?
• 00:13:46 Nahuel Hilal: Did you sell your business without getting paid?
• 00:20:33 Business Brain 628 Outtro
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