

The Sales Evangelist
Donald C. Kelly
I believe in doing BIG THINGS! You should be earning 6 figures easily as a sales rep. But chances are you are not...yet! Sales is the most important department in every company but many sellers are never taught how to effectively sell, much less how to earn their way to high-income status. My own career limped along until a company I worked for invested in sales training to help me succeed. Immediately afterward, I closed a deal worth 4X what the company spent on me and saw hockey-stick improvement in my performance. So I started a podcast to “Evangelize” what was working.
Today I interview the world's best sales experts, successful sellers, sales leaders and entrepreneurs who share their strategies to succeed in sales right now: folks like Jeffrey Gitomer, Jill Konrath, Bob Burg, and Guy Kawasaki to name a few. They share actionable insights and stories that will encourage, challenge, and motivate you to hustle your way to top income status. If you’re someone looking to take off in your sales career and earn the income you deserve, hit subscribe and let’s start doing BIG THINGS!
Today I interview the world's best sales experts, successful sellers, sales leaders and entrepreneurs who share their strategies to succeed in sales right now: folks like Jeffrey Gitomer, Jill Konrath, Bob Burg, and Guy Kawasaki to name a few. They share actionable insights and stories that will encourage, challenge, and motivate you to hustle your way to top income status. If you’re someone looking to take off in your sales career and earn the income you deserve, hit subscribe and let’s start doing BIG THINGS!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 8, 2024 • 20min
How Can I Get Them To Buy Sooner? | Cindy Allis - 1844
Cindy Allis, CEO and Co-founder of Floatist, shares her insights on overcoming seasonal sales challenges in the yacht industry. She reveals strategies for compelling clients to make quicker decisions, such as using incentives and adapting to market trends. The conversation highlights the importance of mutual action plans and digital sales rooms to keep prospects engaged without overwhelming them. Cindy also discusses how understanding decision-making dynamics within organizations can help reduce delays in the purchasing process.

Nov 4, 2024 • 31min
Buyer Enablement: Selling The Way Your Buyers Buy | Jorge Soto and Justin Dorfman - 1843
Jorge Soto and Justin Dorfman, co-founders of Asset Mule, dive deep into buyer enablement strategies. They discuss how understanding buyer psychology can accelerate sales and tailor approaches to match the buyer's journey. The duo emphasizes the need for human elements in sales and building trust through meaningful connections. They break down the awareness, consideration, and decision stages, illustrating how informed buyers make decisions today. By leveraging insights and crafting mutual action plans, businesses can create a more engaging customer experience.

23 snips
Nov 1, 2024 • 36min
Cold Calling & Emailing Prospecting Habits You Must Adopt In 2025 | James Buckley - 1842
James Buckley, a self-proclaimed phone expert and co-host of the Sell Better Podcast, shares invaluable insights on enhancing cold call success. He emphasizes matching your communication style to a prospect's personality, adopting a jovial tone for friendly profiles or a serious tone for more reserved ones. Buckley advises against lengthy emails, highlighting the importance of brevity and clarity. He also critiques over-reliance on AI, encouraging genuine and personalized outreach strategies to build trust and rapport.

Oct 28, 2024 • 28min
The Mistake of Trying To be Liked! | Chris Caldwell - 1841
Here’s a shocking fact, reps don’t have to be nice in order to make a deal. Unconsciously, your need to be liked is turning you into a pushy salesperson. Listen to this episode with my guest Chris Caldwell to help you stop making this sales mistake. Chris Caldwell’s Background Chris Caldwell is a sales trainer and expert who runs “Sell As You Are,” a company that helps sales professionals succeed by embracing their authentic selves. With experience coaching youth soccer and leading sales retreats, Chris has deep insights into human behavior and the psychological needs that drive success. He focuses on aligning beliefs and behaviors with genuine intent, offering practical strategies to foster personal power, authenticity, and commitment in sales teams. Unmet Needs in Sales How do sales reps manifest their unmet needs in sales contexts? Chris provides an analogy of parents at a youth soccer game, demonstrating how people often project their unfulfilled emotional needs onto external situations or people. This behavior negatively impacts sales performance and client relationships. The Power of Setting the Frame To set clear expectations and agendas with prospects, try using Chris’s framework for sales conversations. His framework allows you to stay confidently in control throughout the sales process. The Importance of Getting to the Truth The primary objective of every first discovery call should be to uncover the truth of the prospect’s needs and situation. Chris stresses the significance of ensuring honest exchanges to facilitate genuine progress and decision-making. “It is in the nature of executives to get distracted because they have a hundred things they’re responsible for, and the problem you’re solving is likely one of fifty they’re trying to address. At the same time, if you do not keep them on the leash, if you do not keep them on your calendar, it is in their nature to deprioritize you. And you cannot blame them; you can only blame yourself.” - Chris Caldwell. Resources Chris Caldwell on LinkedIn sellasyouare.com Email: chris@sellasyouare.com LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.Mentioned in this episode:HubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOSHubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOS
hubpspot.com/marketers
bluemangostudios.com

Oct 25, 2024 • 29min
Three LinkedIn Ad Strategies Sales Teams Should Implement | AJ Wilcox - 1840
Join AJ Wilcox, a seasoned LinkedIn advertising expert and host of the LinkedIn Ads Show, as he shares powerful strategies for sales teams. Discover why LinkedIn Ads can double your return on investment compared to Meta Ads. AJ emphasizes the importance of thought leadership ads, which can increase click-through rates by up to 16%. He discusses account-based marketing techniques that connect with key stakeholders and how personalized content can enhance customer engagement. Get ready to rethink your advertising approach with AJ's insights!

Oct 21, 2024 • 26min
My Proven Framework To Overcome Your #1 Deal Killer | Will Barron - 1839
Will Barron, founder of Selling Made Simple and the Salesman Podcast, dives deep into the barriers that hold salespeople back, particularly the pervasive status quo. He discusses how inertia can stall deals, not due to competition but from reluctance to change. Will shares strategies for engaging decision-makers effectively, tackling DIY objections, and understanding the buyer's journey. He emphasizes the need to recognize urgency in client interactions and offers insights into leveraging tools and community for sales success.

Oct 18, 2024 • 34min
The Best Game Plan To Close More Deals In Q4! | Emily Davidson and Mike Montague - 1838
Emily Davidson, a sales strategist at Sandler Sales Training, and Mike Montague, her collaborator, dive into essential tactics for boosting sales performance as Q4 approaches. They explore overcoming productivity challenges and how to strategically prioritize accounts. The duo emphasizes the need for strong client relationships while balancing leadership responsibilities. Plus, they highlight innovative tools and the role of urgency in closing deals, alongside insights on enhancing sales with AI technology. Tune in for valuable lessons to maximize your sales potential!

Oct 14, 2024 • 35min
Three Case Study Helping Sellers Get Over 120% of Quota | Mark Roberge and Donald Kelly - 1837
Mark Roberge, a sales and venture capital expert known for his transformative work at HubSpot, shares invaluable insights into sales success. He discusses the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and its impact on mindset, revealing how beliefs shape sales effectiveness. Roberge explores case studies illustrating successful strategies, including the importance of tailored communication in medical sales and mastering personalized outreach. He emphasizes the psychological dynamics of selling, highlighting how reframing negative thoughts can enhance performance.

Oct 11, 2024 • 28min
The REAL Truth Behind Why You're Not Prospecting Enough | Dr. Jean Oursler - 1836
Dr. Jean Oursler, owner of a sales training company, specializes in tackling psychological barriers in sales. She discusses the 'caveman brain' concept and how childhood fears can sabotage prospecting efforts. Mindset plays a crucial role in overcoming these challenges, with strategies like positive self-talk being vital. Oursler emphasizes sales leaders' need to shift focus from merely setting goals to fostering team accountability and communication. By addressing mental obstacles, sales professionals can unlock their true potential and thrive.

Oct 7, 2024 • 14min
The #1 Sales Pipeline Killer & How To Fix It ASAP! | Donald C. Kelly - 1835
Is your sales pipeline struggling? Discover the top killer affecting it and how to bounce back quickly. Learn why consistent prospecting is vital to keep opportunities flowing in. Hear a personal story of overcoming pipeline challenges and get tips on establishing disciplined prospecting habits. Understand the importance of goal-setting and nurturing leads for sustained success. Don’t wait for deals to close—always be ready to pursue new opportunities. Make prospecting a priority to avoid a dry pipeline!