the Learn-It-All™ podcast 93: He Went From Athlete To Leading Sales Expert With This Mindset | Charles Thompson
What if you could build trust with your team and make a real impact—not just in your sales numbers, but through genuine relationships? In this insightful episode of The Learn-It-All Leader Podcast, seasoned sales leader, Charles Thompson shares the stories of how he overcame personal challenges, applied leadership lessons from his sports to his business career, and redefined the role of a sales leader.
Learnit CEO Damon Lembi and Director of Learning Experience Courtney Ritchie sit down with Charles to discuss the importance of competition, hard work, and trust-building for leaders and the role of personal branding—both inside and outside the workplace. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting out, Charles’s insights and actionable advice on trust, loyalty, competition, and personal branding will help you lead with more confidence and clarity.
This Episode Covers:
- The transformative power of competition and hard work in sales and leadership
- Why the best leaders go beyond "open-door policies" to engage with their teams
- How to build a personal brand on LinkedIn that attracts demand and opportunities
- The importance of leaders taking responsibility for their teams’ failures and successes
- Tips for fostering trust within teams and balancing vulnerability with authority
- The connection between sports coaching and effective business leadership
- Why every salesperson should embrace LinkedIn for career growth
- How to communicate feedback constructively to build stronger relationships
Episode Highlights:
(00:00) Introduction to Charles Thompson – Damon introduces Charles, former college athlete and sales leader, highlighting his journey from adversity to success.
(02:00) Overcoming Early Challenges – Charles shares how growing up in a difficult environment and choosing football helped him stay on a positive path.
(05:00) Lessons from Sports – Charles reflects on how sports taught him discipline, hard work, and the importance of loving what you do.
(09:00) Transitioning Out of Athletics – Charles discusses the challenges of leaving football and finding a new passion in coaching and sales.
(12:33) Mentorship and Coaching – Charles emphasizes the role of great coaches and mentors in shaping his decisions and helping him build resilience.
(17:00) Becoming a Sales Leader – Charles shares insights on how he transitioned into sales and developed his leadership style.
(21:30) Personal Branding on LinkedIn – Charles explains the importance of building a personal brand and how LinkedIn has transformed sales networking.
(33:18) Advice for Young Sales Professionals – Charles offers practical advice for those starting their sales careers, emphasizing the value of competition, hard work, and authenticity.
About Charles:
Charles Thompson is a sales leader with over eight years of experience, a former college football player, and a father of four (with a fifth on the way!). An account executive at Experian, he leverages his experiences in sports and coaching to help clients make confident decisions and build strong personal brands driving success in the data and analytics space. Charles is passionate about leadership, helping others, and building strong personal brands.
Resources Referenced:
Book: Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
Omar Halabieh on the Learn-It-All Podcast
Podcast Contact:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
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