From Selling Doughnuts to Landing Million Dollar Contracts with Don Long

In this episode, we have the honor of being joined by our brilliant father, Don W. Long, a seasoned entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in sales and business. He shares his journey into entrepreneurship, starting from humble beginnings and building multiple successful businesses over the years. We delve into the importance of sales, influence, and communication in business, highlighting key strategies and lessons learned from his extensive experience.

Don W. Long is a sixth-generation entrepreneur with a passion for sales and business development. Starting his entrepreneurial journey in the early 1980s, Don has co-founded and led multiple successful businesses, ranging from door-to-door sales to landscape management companies. With a focus on mastering the art of sales and influence, Don has honed his skills over the years to become a top performer in the industry.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Importance of learning to make friends with pain in entrepreneurship
• The significance of influence over manipulation in sales
• Don's journey into entrepreneurship and the businesses he has built
• The role of communication and rapport in sales success
• Practical tips for improving sales skills, including using the DISC assessment
• Stories of competing for contracts and the importance of asking for the business
• The value of follow-up in sales and fostering long-term relationships with clients
• Don's approach to sales and the hot, warm, cold list strategy for managing leads
• Lessons learned from Don's experiences in sales and business development
• The impact of persistence and communication in achieving sales success

This episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to enhance their sales skills and grow their businesses effectively. We hope you enjoy!

Resources:
Don's Website
Don's Free Resource: Unleash Your Power, Double Your Sales
The Official DISC Assessment

00:00 - Introduction
01:50 - The Start of Don's Entrepreneurial Journey
11:00 - Door to Door Sales
12:18 - The Importance of Becoming
16:08 - Making Friends with Pain
18:08 - DISC Test & How to Effectively Communicate
27:30 - The Awakening Archives
28:33 - Love Languages
30:35 - A Sales Story: How Don Beat His Competitors
37:03 - The Importance of Following Up with Potential Clients
41:50 - Simplifying Your Process with a Hot, Warm, Cold Lead List
44:48 - Tips for Building a Successful Sales Team
47:47 - Advice for Becoming an Effective Leader

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