
Find My Catalyst Podcast
We all have problems we are looking to solve. We know that there are solutions out there, but we struggle with this.
How do we find the solution, where does the nudge come from to help us take the next step, and start solving tough problems. The intention of this podcast is to help you find your catalyst and take that next step.
The Find My Catalyst Podcast is a weekly podcast with Catalyst Sale founder Mike Simmons. We discuss real stories with practical application, in the context of leadership, problem solving, decision making, thinking, goal setting and execution.
Other topics discussed include - Systems, Frameworks, Sales Strategy, Revenue Operations, Training, Onboarding, Sales Enablement, Organization Enablement, Workforce Development, Coaching, and Mentoring.
Latest episodes

Jun 1, 2024 • 7min
Simplifying Execution
Three Key Quotes: "The most common mistake with any of this is lack of clarity around what the objective is." "Work your thirty, sixty, ninety and then come back in and start to reflect and assess how you've made progress against it." "Stop overcomplicating your approach to goal setting and execution, simplify it through the game plan." This podcast episode delves into simplifying execution to achieve results. The Mike emphasizes clarity in setting objectives, devising strategies, and aligning tactics. By using a structured approach of thirty, sixty, ninety-day plans, listeners are encouraged to break down tasks, measure progress, and make necessary adjustments for success. 5 Key Takeaways: Clarity in Objectives Clearly define what you want to achieve. Break down the objective into specific, manageable parts. Ensure everyone involved understands the goal. Strategic Planning Identify multiple paths to reach your goal. Limit your strategies to three to maintain focus. Align your actions with chosen strategies. Tactical Alignment Develop specific tactics that align with your strategies. Use a three-pronged approach to organize tactics. Regularly assess if tactics are effective in reaching your goals. Thirty, Sixty, Ninety-Day Plans Create short, medium, and long-term plans. Use these plans to gain momentum and track progress. Reflect and adjust your plans based on outcomes. Simplified Execution Avoid overcomplicating the process of goal setting. Use a game plan to streamline your approach. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments to improve execution. This structured method ensures you remain focused, adapt to changes, and steadily work towards your objectives, embodying the theme of finding your catalyst for success. Go to https://findmycatalyst.com for more information

May 22, 2024 • 9min
Simplifying Proposals a Tool & a Framework for Success
Three Key Quotes: "The proposal is not about you. It's about the person on the other side." "If you can't answer these questions—what, why, how, and cost—you haven't earned the right to deliver a proposal." "Clarity in communication leads to better feedback and successful proposals." Mike Simmons kicks off the "Tactical Tuesday" series, focusing on how to simplify proposals using a structured approach. He highlights common proposal mistakes and offers a framework for creating client-focused proposals. Key points include identifying client problems, understanding business impacts, outlining solutions, and clearly presenting costs. Five Key Takeaways: Understanding Client Problems: Identify specific problems the client needs solving. List up to five key issues to maintain clarity. Ensure the proposal addresses these problems directly. Importance of Solving Problems: Explain the business impact of addressing the client's issues. Highlight the risks of not solving these problems. Provide clear reasons why these issues are crucial. How to Solve the Problems: Outline specific products or services offered. Describe the process and plan for implementation. Ensure the client understands the proposed solution clearly. Presenting Costs Clearly: Include financial costs early in the proposal. Detail all resources needed, not just financial, but also time and personnel. Make it easy for clients to understand the total investment required. Proposal Structure and Formatting: Start with an executive summary of the problem and solution. Follow with detailed costs and specific solution details. Then add your company information. Engaging with the Podcast: Mike encourages listeners to provide feedback on the new format and share their thoughts on the proposal framework. He invites comments and questions, offering to discuss how to apply these strategies within different organizations. For more resources or to connect with Mike, visit findmycatalyst.com.

May 21, 2024 • 17min
Stanley Cup Round 3 Predictions with Jacquelyn
Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Round Three Analysis and Bold Calls It's round 3 - We are down to the final 4 teams. The rest of the NHL is now on the golf course. This episode is brought to you by FairwaysHit.com If you are looking for a last minute father's day gift for the golfer in your life - please check us out. Jacquelyn Nicholson is back to recap our round 2 picks and dive into round 3. Sales is a thinking process. Business is the thinking process. Life is the thinking process. How are you thinking differently about your process? - Mike Simmons Jacquelyn on LinkedIn Join the Phoenix Club Work with Mike and improve team performance Golf Gifts for Father's Day

May 9, 2024 • 19min
Training, Coaching, Mentoring - 3 tools you can apply to solve a problem
Relationships, Knowledge Transfer, and Growth: Mastering Training, Coaching, and Mentoring Discover the unexpected truth about coaching, mentoring, and training! Uncover the surprising distinctions between these tools and how they can impact your personal and professional growth. Learn the key to building strong mentor-mentee relationships and effective knowledge transfer techniques. Dive into the world of leadership skill development and unlock the secrets to enhancing your leadership abilities. Are you ready to be surprised by the power of these tools? Keep reading to find out more! In this episode, you will be able to: Master the art of effective knowledge transfer and enhance your leadership skills. Build strong and impactful mentor-mentee relationships for personal and professional growth. Learn the differences between training, coaching, and mentoring to become a more versatile leader. Elevate your personal coaching techniques for improved professional development. Uncover powerful strategies for developing and honing your leadership skills. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - Training vs. Coaching vs. Mentoring 00:04:52 - Importance of Relationship in Mentoring 00:08:39 - Application in Different Areas 00:12:30 - Applying the Tools 00:15:01 - The Role of a Preneur 00:16:11 - The Value of the Phoenix Club 00:16:54 - One-on-One Coaching and Game Plan Cohort 00:17:52 - Paid Programs and Audience Engagement 00:18:40 - The Power of Thinking Differently

May 9, 2024 • 26min
Stanley Cup Playoffs rd 2 and What Works at Events
Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Round Two Analysis and Bold Calls It's round 2 - what could be better than a friendly chat with Jacquelyn Nicholson. She kicked my butt with here round 1 predications. After the chat, we get into things to and not to do when it comes to events. If you want to fast forward to that, go to minute 20 of the podcast. Sales is a thinking process. Business is the thinking process. Life is the thinking process. How are you thinking differently about your process? - Mike Simmons Join the Phoenix Club Join the next GAME Plan Cohort Work with Mike and improve team performance

Apr 19, 2024 • 26min
Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions - Round 1
Jacquelyn and Mike are back with their round 1 predictions for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Who do you think makes it out of the 1st round? This episode is brought to you by Catalyst A.C.T.S. and The Phoenix Club. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Check out the Phoenix Club for a community of preneurs who think differently and want to do differently. Whether you're an entrepreneur, solopreneur, intrapreneur or wantrepreneur, this community is for those who want to make a difference in their work and life. Join the Phoenix Club to connect with a group of people committed to leadership, self-improvement, and helping others. This community provides a space for individuals to come together and accomplish great things. Support the Find My Catalyst podcast and listen to the 365 episodes available, covering evergreen content about people, culture, revenue, and execution. Check out the early episodes to see the improvement in podcast management and content creation.

Jan 8, 2024 • 45min
From Scientist to Sales Pro: Unlocking Your Potential for Career Growth with Randi-Sue Deckard
From Scientist to Sales Pro: Unlocking Your Potential for Career Growth Does this sound familiar? You're transitioning to a sales role or industry and want to excel in revenue-related positions. Perhaps you've been told to focus solely on traditional sales techniques without embracing data-driven decision-making. The pain of this ineffective action is feeling stuck in outdated methods and missing out on opportunities for growth and success. It's time to break free from this cycle and achieve real results. My guest is Randi-Sue Deckard Randi-Sue Deckard's career trajectory is a captivating story of transformation and resilience. Transitioning from a clinical lab scientist to the Senior Vice President of Client Engagement at Bessler, Randi-Sue's journey is a testament to the power of embracing change and leveraging data-driven decision-making. Her wealth of experience in sales, marketing, and customer success positions her as a valuable guide for professionals seeking to excel in revenue-related roles. Randi's journey and expertise offer a unique perspective on navigating career transitions and overcoming fear, making her a compelling source of inspiration for those looking to enhance sales performance and drive business growth through data-driven strategies. Everything is figureoutable. I know I don't know all the answers, but I have a network and I have people I can ask, and I don't have no ego. Who can help me? It's not about title. It's like, who can help me? - Randi-Sue Deckard In this episode, you will be able to: Overcome content consumption and take meaningful action to achieve your goals. Master the mindset to conquer fear and achieve personal growth. Apply the scientific method to drive success in your business. Transition to sales and embrace data-driven decision-making for enhanced performance. Embrace customer-centricity to propel business growth and success. Applying the scientific method Applying the scientific method in a business context involves careful data analysis and making informed decisions. Randi emphasizes the importance of having the right data set and approaching it with honesty. With her experience in sales, she further underlines the need to understand individual metrics within the larger business process and avoid common mistakes such as changing too many variables at once. This approach allows for improved decision-making and ultimately, better business performance. Sales is just a conversation. We overcomplicate it. Everything happens human to human. And so sales is just a conversation. How can I help you? And I am a helper by nature. - Randi-Sue Deckard The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Randi-Sue Deckard on LinkedIn to learn more about her journey and insights into sales, mindset, and professional growth. Check out the book Sell Without Selling by Andy Paul to explore a different approach to sales and building relationships. Explore the Ultimate Question by Fred Reichheld to gain insights into customer loyalty and the Net Promoter Score (NPS) concept. Consider using a habit tracker to be intentional about your habits and track your progress in various areas of your life. Reach out to professionals in your desired field for guidance and advice, and be intentional about building relationships for long-term value. This episode is brought to you by the Phoenix Club - your community of people who are interested in Rising Together. Ever Curious. Constantly Learning. Connected

Jan 7, 2024 • 24min
2023 Reflections & Accountability - 2024 Focus & Goals
Getting Comfortable with Discomfort: Pushing Myself Further in 2024 Through Goals If you're feeling frustrated because your team isn't fully aligned with your vision, then you are not alone! Perhaps you've been micromanaging your team, but instead of improved collaboration, you're met with resistance. If you're feeling overwhelmed by a lack of personal and professional growth, then you are not alone! You may have set goals, but without clear objectives and a supportive community, it's difficult to make progress. In this episode, Mike takes time to reflect and look forward. Some of the things that come up include. Embracing successful business changes and rebranding strategies. Uncover the importance of building a supportive community. Gaining clarity and focus Setting big goals. Failure is okay. Just fail forward as you go through it. - Mike Simmons Business Changes and Rebranding The episode reveals Mike's significant business changes throughout the year, including a shift in focus towards speaking and rebranding his business to encompass advising, coaching, training, and speaking engagements. He discusses the successful launch of a new consumer product brand, indicating his business’s flexibility and commitment to innovation. These changes underscore the importance of adaptability and strategic rebranding in achieving business goals and reaching new audiences. The producst/services mentioned in this episode are: Join the Phoenix Club: If you're looking for a community of diverse individuals with diverse experiences and perspectives, consider joining the Phoenix Club. The club offers in-person meetings, Zoom sessions, and asynchronous work on platforms. Visit findmycatalyst.com for more information. Game Plan: If you need help with goal setting and execution, check out the Game Plan from Catalyst A.C.T.S. This tool simplifies goal setting and execution by helping you clarify strategy and tactics and then build a plan around it. Book a Speaking Engagement: If you're interested in having a keynote, workshop, or facilitated discussion inside your organization, reach out for speaking engagements. Whether it's about leadership, culture, revenue, or execution, these sessions aim to simplify problem-solving, decision-making, goal setting, and communication. Golf Products: Explore the niche golf product Fairways Hit designed to make it easier for golf enthusiasts to find the perfect gift. The product focuses on changing the state for golf lovers and offers unique and creative items like ball markers, hats, and towels. Visit the Fairways Hit website for more information. Fractional Revenue Leadership: If your organization needs help in the areas of retention, expansion, acquisition

Jan 5, 2024 • 53min
Sales Process, Leadership, Frameworks and Wayfinding with Paul Fuller
I think sales is one of the most amazing professions that you can get into because you get the opportunity to give of yourself and not necessarily expect anything in return. But guess what? If you do it well, you will get rewarded. - Paul Fuller Unlocking Growth: Aligning Sales Strategy for Results If you're feeling frustrated because your sales team's efforts are not translating into the revenue growth you desire, then you are not alone! Despite implementing various sales strategies and techniques, you may be seeing little to no improvement in your bottom line, leaving you wondering what else you can do to drive growth. Perhaps, instead of the streamlined and effective sales process you envisioned, your team is facing confusion, misalignment, and missed opportunities, hindering your ability to achieve the desired results. Paul Fuller, a seasoned sales professional and leader, boasts a wealth of experience in refining sales processes and driving revenue growth. His passion for enhancing effectiveness and propelling growth makes him a trusted authority in the realm of sales. "So unless you get those words defined real well, you always get that idea of somebody's failing because you always have this idea that you can blame. Right? I can blame. The other part of the marketing is just not giving me enough MQLs." - Paul Fuller In this episode, you will be able to: Discover how Sales can be a powerful form of Leadership. Navigate the Sales Process with expert Wayfinding techniques. Avoid common Mistakes in the Wayfinding journey of sales. Uncover the impact of Applying Playbooks in Sales strategies. Embrace Adaptability to excel in the Sales Process. Navigating the Sales Process The concept of wayfinding is explored, likened to journeying through changing conditions and-charts a path to achieve sales goals. Fuller emphasizes the need for flexibility and adaptability in the face of changing global trends and circumstances. This approach, encapsulating cognizance of external variables, encourages sales professionals to be effective guides for their clients, navigating them from point A to point B. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Paul Fuller on LinkedIn to learn more about his work at Membrain and to stay updated on sales optimization tools and methodologies. Explore Membrane's sales optimization tools to enable your sales team to improve their performance and achieve their goals. Check out Kelly Starrett's book Becoming a Supple Leopard 2.0 and his YouTube channel for valuable insights on physical well-being and recovery, especially for back and hip issues. Learn more about the OODA loop and its application in decision-making and competitive environments by exploring John Boyd's work. Consider reaching out to Catalyst ACTS to discuss revenue frameworks and strategies for aligning marketing, sales, and success teams on definitions such as MQLs to drive better organizational alignment and performance.

Jan 3, 2024 • 16min
Who do You Serve?
Who do you serve? Who has the problem that you solve for? Who is impacted by the problem you solve for? Who cares about those who have the problem, or are impacted by the problem you solve for? This happens in B2B & B2C. In B2C - the buyer typically has the problem, is impacted by the problem, and cares about the problem. In B2B - the buyer may be one or all three of these folks. In B2B - these questions may be looked at through the perspective of the type of organization AND the type of individual. Does a family operate like a B2C buyer? I'd argue that it depends. If mom is buying on behalf of the family - I'd say that's a little bit more like B2B. What do you think? Who do you serve? Ways to work with Mike & Jen. The Phoenix Club Book Mike as a Speaker Access the Catalyst A.C.T.S. Courses Not sure where to start - Book a Clarity Call