Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1258: The Hospitality Secret to Sales That Don't Feel "Salesy" w/ Shelley Mann
Tired of the constant pressure to be "salesy"? This episode flips the script on traditional sales by revealing how a hospitality-first mindset can create sustainable, long-term growth. Sales expert Shelley Mann shares her unique journey from the hotel industry to sales consulting, offering a fresh perspective that prioritizes service, relationship-building, and genuine understanding over aggressive closing tactics. This episode is a must-listen for any founder struggling with the feast-or-famine cycle, as Shelley breaks down how to build a repeatable and scalable "commercial engine." You'll learn a practical, non-sleazy framework for sales that feels authentic and gets powerful results.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- How to transform your sales process from a transactional chore into a relationship-building powerhouse by adopting a hospitality mindset.
- The step-by-step framework for building a "commercial engine" that generates predictable and consistent revenue for your business.
- Why looking for "white space" in your market—by listening to your clients' adjacent problems—is the key to unlocking new, profitable revenue streams.
- The secret to conducting discovery calls that make prospects genuinely want to work with you (without you ever having to "pitch").
- How to leverage emotional connection in the sales process to align with how modern buyers, particularly women who influence 80% of decisions, make choices.
- Why planning your business exit from day one is the ultimate strategy for building a scalable and valuable company that doesn't depend on you.
📝 About Shelley Mann
Shelley Mann is the founder of Strategic Sales Advisors, a consulting firm dedicated to helping high-performing founders and CEOs build repeatable, scalable commercial engines. With a rich background in the hospitality industry, Shelley brings a unique blend of service-minded strategy and real-world sales expertise to her clients. She focuses on helping business owners move beyond the status quo to drive meaningful, sustainable growth by implementing systems that work. Her approach is a game-changer for entrepreneurs who want to master sales without sacrificing authenticity.
🎯 Shelleys BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Prepare for an exit; set your business up where it can function outside of you."
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “If you can bring a bit of that hospitality in... that's where companies get really sustainable in their business and that's where they set themselves apart from their competitors.” – Shelley Mann
- “If you're doing discovery right, you will convert more business. It's guaranteed.” – Shelley Mann
- "My favorite way of engaging with people is saying something like... 'I really want to learn more about you and your business. I would love to hear from you about what's going on... and how I can then support you.'" – Shelley Mann
🔗 Links & Resources