No Shortcuts: Accelerate Your Sales Process with John Donnelly

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Feb 13, 2025

John Donnelly, Chief Revenue Officer at Qumulo, shares his wealth of experience in enterprise software sales. He emphasizes the vital role of listening and building relationships over merely pushing features. The conversation dives into the transformative impact of AI on sales processes, including automation and personalized customer interactions. Donnelly also discusses the importance of urgency in selling and how emotional connections can empower clients to become champions of their solutions. His insights reflect a dynamic blend of technology and human connection in modern sales.

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ANECDOTE

Interview with Bob Davis

John Donnelly learned a valuable lesson about listening from Bob Davis at Wang Laboratories.
Davis unexpectedly offered him a job after a unique interview experience.

ADVICE

Listen Carefully

In sales, listen carefully to understand why a question is asked.
Consider the potential outcomes based on your response.

ADVICE

Active Listening in Sales

Truly listen and engage in customer conversations instead of just thinking about your next point.
Respecting and acknowledging customer input is key to building strong relationships.

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In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan are joined by John Donnelly, Chief Revenue Officer at Qumulo. The discussion dives into John's extensive career in sales, his lessons learned, and the evolution of selling enterprise software. Key points include the importance of listening, selling value over features, and the critical role of discovery in the sales process. The conversation also covers the impact of AI on sales operations, specifically in automating BDR functions and optimizing sales activities. They highlight the shift towards AI-driven tools to enhance productivity, personalize customer interactions, and gain real-time insights. The episode wraps up with insights into John's current role at Qumulo and their innovative approach to handling unstructured data in the cloud.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Learn more about John Donnelly and his company through the links below.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkdhale/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/qumulo/

Enjoying the podcast? Sign up to receive new episodes straight to your inbox: https://hubs.li/Q02R10xN0

Check out John McMahon’s book, The Qualified Sales Leader: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064/

HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT

[00:01:43] Lessons from Early Career Experiences
[00:06:10] The Importance of Listening in Sales
[00:06:49] Challenges in Selling Enterprise Software
[00:08:06] Balancing Features and Value in Sales
[00:08:51] Building Strong Champions in Sales
[00:11:35] Effective Sales Presentations and Discovery
[00:22:15] Creating Urgency in the Sales Process
[00:33:02] Understanding Human Behavior in Sales
[00:34:46] The Importance of Knowledge and Skills
[00:38:05] Identifying and Targeting Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs)
[00:47:25] The Role of AI in Modern Sales
[00:51:02] The Future of Sales and AI Integration
[00:58:59] New Opportunities and Challenges in Storage Solutions

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

[00:12:14] "Sales is not a box-checking process."
[00:19:21] "Make it outside in, no matter where you are in the sales process. You have to first make it all about the person you're presenting to before you earn the right to make it all about you."
[00:30:46] "People rarely argue with their own conclusions."
[00:57:59] "If you're a seller, embrace the technology that's coming at you."
[00:58:36] "The power of a personal relationship is going to become even greater in the future."
[01:02:26] "If you follow the playbook, you will make money. You will get rich off of this.