The Modern Selling Podcast

  What do fig trees and industrial glue have to do with sales success? Learn the unexpected agricultural analogy that could transform your sales strategy! This insight-packed conversation between two sales leaders will change the way you think about nurturing your team and your business. Get ready to dig deep and unearth the secrets of seed and soil in sales. Dive into the unexpected with Stephen Oommen and Mario Martinez Jr. on the Modern Selling Podcast. Stay tuned for a game-changing revelation that will recalibrate your sales mindset. If you're feeling frustrated with the lack of progress in your sales team, trying to figure out whether the problem lies with your people or your processes, then you are not alone! The struggle to identify the root cause of underperformance can be overwhelming, leaving you unsure of where to focus your efforts. It's time to untangle the web and uncover the real issues holding your sales team back. Let's dive into the importance of people, process, and tools in optimizing sales performance and achieving the outcomes you desire. Mastering Strategies for Growing Sales Numbers In this episode, Mario and Stephen discuss the importance of seed and soil in sales leadership, emphasizing the need for sales leaders to assess and address talent and environmental factors within their organizations to drive growth. By understanding the metaphor of seed representing talent and soil symbolizing the environment, sales leaders can strategically nurture their team members to optimize performance and achieve higher sales numbers. The key takeaway is that by focusing on both the individual talent (seed) and the organizational environment (soil), sales leaders can identify opportunities for improvement and implement strategies to drive sales growth effectively. This is Stephen Oommen's story: In Stephen Oommen's career, the significance of people, process, and tools in sales became apparent when he faced the challenge of revitalizing an underperforming organization. Through this experience, he uncovered the critical role of mindset and attitude within the sales team, igniting a transformation in his approach. Stephen's journey exemplifies the profound impact of human connections and individual perspectives on sales success. His ability to empathize and comprehend the human element within sales dynamics has not only reshaped his strategies but also inspired others to recognize the intrinsic link between people, process, and tools in driving sales performance. I usually would rather start with the soil, believe it or not. I would think through, if I were to build a finance plan, if I were to build anything, I would go through all of these metrics, see where our core skills were or wins, where do we have a toehold, a foothold and just market dominance. - Stephen Oommen My special guest is Stephen Oommen Stephen Oommen, formerly the vice president of enterprise sales at Outreach, boasts a robust 25-year tenure in sales, having navigated diverse industries, including substantial roles at Microsoft and ADP. His extensive experience encompasses selling an array of products, from cell phones to enterprise software. With a keen focus on driving sales performance and refining go-to-market strategies, Stephen's expertise in the critical elements of people, process, and tools in sales renders him an authoritative figure in optimizing team performance and achieving superior sales outcomes. In this episode, you will get the skills to: Mastering Strategies for Growing Sales Numbers at Scale: Learn how to exponentially increase your sales performance and drive revenue growth across your entire team. Embracing the Importance of People, Process, and Tools in Sales: Discover the vital role that people, processes, and tools play in optimizing sales outcomes and transforming your team's performance. Transitioning from Enterprise Sales to Strategic Advising: Uncover the key insights and strategies for successfully transitioning from traditional enterprise sales to a more strategic advisory role, unlocking new opportunities and revenue streams. Overcoming Challenges and Rebuilding in Sales Careers: Explore effective methods for overcoming challenges and rebuilding your sales career, empowering you to bounce back stronger and more resilient than ever. Cultivating Effective Leadership in Sales Organizations: Uncover the essential principles and practices for cultivating effective leadership within sales organizations, driving team motivation, and achieving outstanding results.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:09 - Introduction to FlyMSG and Modern Selling Podcast 00:01:01 - Introduction to Stephen Oommen 00:04:16 - Personal Revelation of Stephen Oommen 00:07:55 - Seed and Soil Analogy 00:11:23 - Addressing Attitude and Mindset Issues 00:12:58 - Setting Expectations for In-Office Attendance 00:15:16 - Contract Review and Decision Making 00:17:01 - Talent Management and Organizational Culture 00:20:58 - Assessing the Impact of Office Attendance 00:24:21 - Identifying Seed vs. Soil Problems 00:25:47 - Talent Misalignment Issue 00:26:50 - Skills and Sales Cycles 00:29:32 - Leadership Philosophy 00:31:10 - Soil Dynamics 00:33:44 - Fixing Challenges 00:40:56 - Importance of Tilling the Soil 00:41:23 - Connecting with Stephen 00:42:13 - All-Time Favorite Movie 00:42:46 - Request for Ratings and Review Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:09 - Introduction to FlyMSG and Modern Selling Podcast Mario Martinez Jr. introduces FlyMSG and the Modern Selling Podcast, highlighting the focus on helping sales leaders and practitioners grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:01:01 - Introduction to Stephen Oommen Mario Martinez Jr. welcomes Stephen Oommen, former VP of Enterprise Sales at Outreach, and discusses the importance of people, processes, systems, and tools in sales and marketing. 00:04:16 - Personal Revelation of Stephen Oommen Stephen Oommen shares a personal story of overcoming a challenging time during the recession, highlighting resilience and determination in the face of adversity. 00:07:55 - Seed and Soil Analogy Stephen Oommen discusses the concept of "seed" as the people or talent in an organization, and "soil" as the environment or infrastructure where people are placed. Emphasizes the importance of evaluating both aspects when addressing organizational growth and performance. 00:11:23 - Addressing Attitude and Mindset Issues Mario Martinez Jr. shares a personal experience of addressing attitude and mindset issues within a sales team, highlighting the significance of cultural alignment and team dynamics in achieving sales goals. 00:12:58 - Setting Expectations for In-Office Attendance Mario discusses the importance of getting to know his team and sets the expectation for in-office attendance. He confronts an employee who refuses to come into the office and questions the director about the employee's contract. 00:15:16 - Contract Review and Decision Making Mario contacts HR to review the employee's contract and discovers that there is no requirement for remote work. His boss advises him to fire the employee, but Mario decides to coach him first. 00:17:01 - Talent Management and Organizational Culture Stephen shares his belief in the importance of talent and the impact of an individual's circumstances on their performance. He emphasizes the need for creating an environment that attracts top talent and aligning skills with the company's needs. 00:20:58 - Assessing the Impact of Office Attendance Mario explains that the office attendance requirement was not solely about work but also about building rapport and getting to know the team. He emphasizes the impact of an individual's attitude on the entire team and the importance of reasonableness in expectations. 00:24:21 - Identifying Seed vs. Soil Problems Stephen discusses the complexity of identifying whether a problem lies with the individual (seed) or the organization (soil). He highlights the need to align an individual's skills with the company's processes and emphasizes the role of the leader in optimizing the environment for the team's success. 00:25:47 - Talent Misalignment Issue Stephen discusses the trend of misalignment in the marketplace, highlighting the importance of full cycle AE's and the skills required for enterprise sales. 00:26:50 - Skills and Sales Cycles Stephen explains the challenges in enterprise sales, emphasizing the need for specialized skills in creating pipeline due to longer sales cycles. 00:29:32 - Leadership Philosophy Stephen shares his management philosophy, focusing on potential, capability, and effort, while also discussing the nurture potential of skills. 00:31:10 - Soil Dynamics Stephen delves into the various components of the soil in sales, including historical evidence, marketing, leads, and investment in training and career growth. 00:33:44 - Fixing Challenges Stephen emphasizes the importance of starting with the soil to fix challenges, focusing on product-market fit, awareness, and driving demand in today's economy. He uses the analogy of nurturing a fig tree to illustrate the need for time and investment in the seed. 00:40:56 - Importance of Tilling the Soil Stephen and Mario discuss the analogy of changing out the seed versus tilling the soil in a sales context. They emphasize the impact of putting in the work to till the soil and fertilize it for more effective results. 00:41:23 - Connecting with Stephen Mario asks Stephen how listeners can connect with him. Stephen suggests reaching out to him on LinkedIn with a specific message, as he gets a lot of requests. He also provides his name spelling for reference. 00:42:13 - All-Time Favorite Movie Mario asks Stephen about his all-time favorite movie, and Stephen reveals it to be "Love and Basketball," a sports-related film. Mario expresses interest in the movie and plans to look it up. 00:42:46 - Request for Ratings and Review Mario asks listeners to give the podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes. He also promotes the FlyMSG app for productivity. He concludes by thanking the audience for listening. Transitioning from Enterprise Sales to Strategic Advising Stephen shares his insights on transitioning from a role in enterprise sales to strategic advising, emphasizing the importance of understanding the holistic approach to sales leadership. The conversation delves into the significance of evolving from a focus on sales numbers to strategic advising, where sales leaders must balance people, Leveraging the Importance of People, Process, and Tools Stephen emphasizes the importance of aligning talent with the right processes and tools within the sales organization to optimize performance and drive better results. The discussion highlights the need for sales leaders to evaluate the alignment between individual salespeople, organizational processes, and tools to ensure synergy and effectiveness in achieving sales objectives. By leveraging the alignment of people, process, and tools, sales leaders can create a harmonious and efficient sales environment that maximizes the potential of their team and drives success in sales initiatives. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Stephen Oommen on LinkedIn and mention that you heard him on The Modern Selling Podcast to establish a specific connection. Download FlyMSG for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity. This is a free text expander and personal writing assistant. Give The Modern Selling Podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes to show your support and help the podcast reach a wider audience.

  Hey there, tired of feeling like you're constantly juggling between customer success and finding new sales opportunities? You've probably been told to just push harder and do it all, leaving you exhausted and stretched thin. The struggle to balance it all can be overwhelming, leaving you feeling drained and unproductive. But what if there's a better way to achieve both success and productivity without burning yourself out? Keep reading. Want to revolutionize your sales team's approach and achieve exceptional customer engagement? I've got the solution to help you achieve that. Let's dive in and uncover the secrets to transforming your sales productivity and customer-centric strategies. Are you ready to level up your game? Let's make it happen! This is Teri Long's story: Teri Long, the Vice President of Global Revenue Enablement at MindTickle, has had an incredible journey that led her to her current role. With more than 20 years of experience as an enablement leader, she initially spent a decade as a quota-carrying sales rep, which shaped her unique perspective on the challenges and needs of sales professionals. Teri's unwavering passion for enabling sellers and driving customer success is evident in her varied experience, spanning startups, enterprise organizations, and fractional work within business development and operations. Her remarkable resilience and determination are showcased by a surprising and inspiring personal story – overcoming a snowmobiling accident that resulted in a six-inch titanium plate and six screws in her collarbone, followed by a swift return to snowmobiling just two months after surgery. Teri's journey, both personally and professionally, reflects her tenacity and drive, making her insights on implementing effective sales enablement programs all the more impactful and compelling. Humans are complex and humans aren't linear. We need to figure out how to teach sellers and customer success that in this new world, you get a box this big, and somehow you need to translate verbal and nonverbal body language. - Teri Long Teri Long, serving as the Vice President of Global Revenue Enablement at Mind Tickle, boasts 20+ years of extensive experience in enablement leadership, coupled with a decade-long tenure as a quota-carrying representative across startups and enterprise organizations. As a pivotal founding member of the Revenue Enablement Society, her influence has been instrumental in shaping global enablement strategies. Teri's expertise lies in implementing effective sales enablement programs, making her a sought-after authority for sales enablement leaders and professionals aiming to optimize sales productivity and foster a customer-centric approach. In this episode, you will be able to: Mastering effective sales enablement programs for exponential growth. Unleashing the power of a digital presence to supercharge sales success. Aligning customer success and sales strategies for unstoppable growth. Boosting sales productivity through cutting-edge technology solutions. Harnessing personal brand prowess to skyrocket sales performance.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:09 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG 00:01:18 - Welcoming Teri Long 00:08:09 - Implementing Sales Enablement Programs 00:12:36 - Identifying the Biggest Problems 00:14:02 - Effective Enablement Leadership 00:14:58 - Challenging Assumptions in Sales Training 00:18:30 - Impact of Operationalizing Processes 00:20:44 - Fundamental Challenges in Sales 00:24:34 - Sales as the Art of Helping 00:28:55 - Balancing Customer Experience and Sales 00:29:35 - Restructuring Customer Success Compensation Model 00:30:39 - Misalignment Between Sales and CS 00:34:28 - Bridging the Gap Between Sales and CS 00:39:48 - Digital Presence and Relationship Building 00:43:55 - Blog Content and Social Media 00:44:35 - Connecting with Teri 00:45:16 - Personalized Connection Requests 00:45:48 - Favorite Movies 00:47:22 - Closing Remarks Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:09 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG Mario Martinez Jr. introduces Vengreso and FlyMSG, a free personal writing assistant and text expander application. The podcast aims to help sales leaders and practitioners grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:01:18 - Welcoming Teri Long Mario welcomes Teri Long, Vice President of Global Revenue Enablement at Mind Tickle, and shares their history of collaboration in shaping revenue enablement sales strategies. 00:08:09 - Implementing Sales Enablement Programs Teri emphasizes the importance of initiating enablement strategy with a charter and a listening tour to identify urgent, short-term, and long-term priorities, as well as success metrics tied to organizational business metrics. 00:12:36 - Identifying the Biggest Problems Teri advises enablement leaders to investigate root causes by delving into data and being hyper-curious. She highlights the importance of testing hypotheses to pinpoint the reasons behind sales performance issues. 00:14:02 - Effective Enablement Leadership Teri underscores the role of enablement leaders as investigators who test and validate hypotheses to identify the root causes of sales performance issues, emphasizing the need for a test and validate approach to problem-solving. 00:14:58 - Challenging Assumptions in Sales Training Teri Long discusses the common assumption that sales teams need more training when they're not selling. She challenges this by delving into the reasons behind the lack of sales and emphasizes the importance of digging through processes before jumping to training as a solution. 00:18:30 - Impact of Operationalizing Processes Teri shares a real-life example of how operationalizing the sales process and creating a playbook led to significant impact for a BDR team. By removing roadblocks, setting clear expectations, and creating repeatable enablement programs, they saw an improvement in sales productivity and performance. 00:20:44 - Fundamental Challenges in Sales The conversation shifts to fundamental challenges in sales organizations, focusing on individual and team productivity. Teri references the State of Sales Productivity report and highlights the importance of genuinely helping buyers during the buying process. 00:24:34 - Sales as the Art of Helping Teri shares a personal story of how she unintentionally became a top salesperson by simply helping customers. She emphasizes the importance of authentically wanting to elevate customers and provide value, echoing the findings of the productivity report. 00:28:55 - Balancing Customer Experience and Sales The discussion centers on the challenge of balancing customer experience and finding new opportunities. Teri highlights the disconnect between customer success and sales incentives, emphasizing the need for sales leaders to align incentives to drive adoption and renewal. 00:29:35 - Restructuring Customer Success Compensation Model Teri suggests tying 30-35% of CS compensation to renewal to align incentives with sales. This could lead to hiring more experienced salespeople and reevaluating the CSM organization. 00:30:39 - Misalignment Between Sales and CS Teri highlights the misalignment in compensation and expectations between sales and CS. Lack of communication between AEs and CS reps leads to confusion and potential customer dissatisfaction. 00:34:28 - Bridging the Gap Between Sales and CS Teri emphasizes the need for CS reps with sales backgrounds and the importance of value selling in the CS role. She suggests evaluating competencies and hiring the right people to drive success. 00:39:48 - Digital Presence and Relationship Building Teri discusses the importance of digital presence for both sales and CS teams, emphasizing the need for personalized engagement and building rapport with buyers. She also highlights the shift towards understanding digital body language and leveraging technology for customer interactions. 00:43:55 - Blog Content and Social Media Teri discusses a new feature that allows users to generate social media posts from blog articles. The goal is to streamline the content creation process and empower sellers to be more productive. 00:44:35 - Connecting with Teri Teri invites listeners to reach out to her through LinkedIn, phone, or email. She emphasizes her commitment to being responsive and helpful in networking. 00:45:16 - Personalized Connection Requests Mario advises listeners to send personalized connection requests to Teri on LinkedIn. He encourages them to mention the podcast and Teri's insights in their invitation. 00:45:48 - Favorite Movies Teri shares her two all-time favorite movies: "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Heat." She expresses her love for Audrey Hepburn and Melissa McCarthy, showcasing a unique dichotomy in her movie preferences. 00:47:22 - Closing Remarks Mario thanks the audience for listening and encourages them to leave a 5-star rating and review for the podcast on iTunes. He also promotes the use of FlyMSG to increase productivity. Mastering effective sales enablement Effective sales enablement is crucial for organizations to align their sales teams with the overall business goals and priorities. By mastering sales enablement, businesses can enhance their sales productivity, drive better customer relationships, and ultimately boost revenue. Implementing successful sales enablement programs involves creating a clear charter, prioritizing challenges, and aligning efforts with organizational metrics. Unleashing the power of digital presence Having a strong digital presence is essential for sales professionals to connect with customers and prospects in a virtual environment. Utilizing digital tools and platforms can help sales teams personalize interactions, understand buyer behavior, and improve customer engagement. Embracing technology and leveraging digital resources can streamline sales processes and enable sales professionals to scale their efforts efficiently. Aligning customer success and sales Aligning customer success with sales goals is crucial for organizations to drive long-term customer satisfaction and retention. By incentivizing customer success managers based on renewals and engagement, businesses can ensure a seamless transition from sales to post-sale activities. Developing a clear handoff process between sales and customer success helps set expectations and ensures successful customer onboarding and retention strategies. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Teri Long on LinkedIn and send a personalized connection request mentioning the Modern Selling Podcast with Mario Martinez Jr. Watch the movie The Heat starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy for a good laugh and a memorable bar scene. Download FlyMSG for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase productivity with a text expander and personal writing assistant.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the endless variations of sales presentations and struggling to create impactful, memorable content for your pitches, then you are not alone! Imagine discovering the unexpected secret behind creating impactful sales presentations. It's not just about the content, but the science of how our brains process, retain, and act on that information. But that's not all. There's a powerful link between sales and marketing that can revolutionize your approach. If you want to uncover this game-changing insight, then keep your eyes peeled because the secret to unlocking more sales success is about to be revealed. Stay tuned for the surprising revelation that will transform your sales game forever. Have you heard the myths about sales presentation design? Let's debunk three of them. But hold on, I won't reveal the strategy just yet. Stay tuned for the truth. This is Tom Martin's story, our special guest for this week: Tom Martin's journey into sales presentation design was born out of adversity. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina resulted in the loss of his agency's clients and his business, propelling him into a quest to comprehend why people forget 90% of a presentation within two days. This eye-opening realization became the catalyst for Tom's deep dive into the science of how the human brain processes and retains information. His passion for understanding the intricacies of impactful communication was ignited by the need to empower himself and his clients in pitching scenarios. Tom's narrative-style story draws the reader in, painting a vivid picture of his determination to unravel the secrets of crafting truly unforgettable presentations. In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Tom Martin, the founder of Converse Digital, provides valuable insights on sales presentation design and delivery. He shares how his background in the agency business led him to understand the importance of creating digitally centric business development programs. The conversation dives into the challenges of traditional slide deck presentations, emphasizing the need for a shift towards more interactive and engaging approaches. The best slide deck should be invisible. I shouldn't remember your slide deck. I should remember you and what you said. - Tom Martin With years of experience in the agency business, Tom's expertise extends to business development and prospecting. He's the author of "The Invisible Sale" and has a passion for teaching individuals and organizations how to create digitally centric business development programs. Tom's background and achievements make him a valuable source of insights on sales presentation design and delivery, offering a unique perspective on how to turn conversations into customers. Tom's expertise shines through as he discusses the cognitive limitations of the human brain and the significance of concise messaging in sales presentations. With an eye-opening stat revealing that audiences forget 90% of presented information within two days, regardless of presentation length, Tom delves into the science behind memory retention. His practical tips and strategies for creating impactful and memorable sales pitches make this episode a must-listen for sales professionals seeking to enhance their presentation skills and deliver more effective pitches. With Tom's expertise and actionable insights, this episode offers a compelling exploration of challenges and opportunities in sales presentation design and delivery, providing valuable guidance for creating more engaging and impactful sales presentations. In this episode, you will be able to: Craft compelling sales presentations that captivate your audience and drive results. Elevate your sales pitch decks with effective strategies to leave a lasting impression. Enhance memory retention in your presentations to ensure your message sticks with your prospects. Integrate sales and marketing seamlessly to create powerful, cohesive presentations. Master techniques for delivering sales pitches with confidence and poise.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:09 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG 00:00:48 - Sales Presentation Design 00:01:17 - Tom Martin's Background and Converse Digital 00:05:13 - Revealing a Juicy Secret 00:09:56 - The Challenge of Slide Deck Presentations 00:12:36 - The Science of Presentation 00:14:22 - Biological Limitations 00:17:36 - The Three T's 00:19:31 - Show Up and Throw Up Syndrome 00:23:09 - The 10% Slide 00:25:21 - Improving Slide Decks 00:26:14 - Persuasive Presentations 00:28:15 - Uncomfortable Sales Engineer 00:31:24 - Training for Presentation Skills 00:37:00 - Standardizing Sales Decks 00:39:37 - Understanding Salespeople's Needs 00:40:15 - Embracing Salespeople's Preferences 00:43:56 - Leveraging Website and Follow-up 00:47:39 - Aligning Sales and Marketing 00:49:31 - Favorite Movie and Personal Insight Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:09 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG Mario Martinez Jr. introduces himself as the CEO and founder of Vengreso and creator of FlyMSG.io. The podcast aims to help sales professionals grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:00:48 - Sales Presentation Design Mario introduces Tom Martin as the founder of Converse Digital and discusses the topic of sales presentation design. They emphasize the importance of effective sales presentations for driving business growth. 00:01:17 - Tom Martin's Background and Converse Digital Tom shares his background in the agency business and the founding of Converse Digital. He discusses the evolution of the agency's focus on social selling and digitally centric business development programs. 00:05:13 - Revealing a Juicy Secret Tom shares a fun fact about appearing on the Food Network's "Food 911" show hosted by Tyler Florence, where he made up a dish to be featured on the show. This showcases his creativity and storytelling skills. 00:09:56 - The Challenge of Slide Deck Presentations Tom discusses the challenge of slide deck presentations and how research shows that audiences forget 90% of the content within two days. This insight prompts his exploration of the science behind effective presentation strategies. 00:12:36 - The Science of Presentation Tom Martin discusses the lack of training in writing effective PowerPoint presentations. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how the brain processes and retains information in verbal presentations. 00:14:22 - Biological Limitations Tom explains the biological limitations of memory retention and the impact of presentation design on information processing. He highlights the significance of building presentations scientifically to improve information retention. 00:17:36 - The Three T's Tom identifies time, talent, and training as the reasons for poor sales presentations. He emphasizes the need for concise messaging and separating signal from noise in presentations. 00:19:31 - Show Up and Throw Up Syndrome Tom discusses the challenges of fast-paced environments and the lack of concise messaging in sales presentations. He emphasizes the importance of training and investing in workshops to improve presentation quality. 00:23:09 - The 10% Slide Tom highlights the importance of being able to present the main idea of a presentation in one slide. He also discusses the role of time in determining the number of slides in a presentation and the importance of building the slide deck with the main message in mind. 00:25:21 - Improving Slide Decks Tom discusses how they improved a 35-slide deck to 18 more impactful slides, resulting in a tighter elevator speech and clearer client benefits. 00:26:14 - Persuasive Presentations Tom explains the science behind persuasive presentations, including how hesitation words can impact credibility and how tense affects persuasiveness. 00:28:15 - Uncomfortable Sales Engineer Mario shares a story of an uncomfortable sales engineer resorting to vaping during a challenging sales discussion, illustrating the impact of confidence on sales presentations. 00:31:24 - Training for Presentation Skills Tom emphasizes the importance of training in handling challenging questions, buying time, and using content to build credibility and trust in sales presentations. 00:37:00 - Standardizing Sales Decks Mario and Tom discuss the challenges of customizing sales decks for each customer and the need for standardization to avoid multiple versions and ensure consistency in messaging. 00:39:37 - Understanding Salespeople's Needs Tom emphasizes the importance of providing salespeople with the slides they need. He discusses the value of listening to salespeople and creating custom slides to meet their needs, rather than forcing them to use generic slides. 00:40:15 - Embracing Salespeople's Preferences Tom discusses how salespeople prefer to have ready-made slides that they can easily use, rather than creating slide decks themselves. He shares a success story of a biotech client who saw fantastic results by providing their salespeople with the slides they needed. 00:43:56 - Leveraging Website and Follow-up The conversation shifts to the importance of salespeople knowing how to use the website to direct prospects and using follow-up messages effectively. Tom highlights the value of behavioral emails and using content to drive prospecting and sales. 00:47:39 - Aligning Sales and Marketing Tom emphasizes the need for alignment between sales and marketing, with a focus on creating deep, valuable content for salespeople to use. He shares a success story of using content to effectively prospect and close sales, emphasizing the power of combining sales and marketing efforts. 00:49:31 - Favorite Movie and Personal Insight The conversation ends with a lighthearted discussion about Tom's favorite movie, "Dead Poets Society," and a humorous anecdote about salsa dancing. Sales Presentation Design and Delivery In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Tom Martin, the founder of Converse Digital, shares his expertise on sales presentation design and delivery. Drawing from his background in the agency business, Tom emphasizes the need for a shift towards more interactive and engaging approaches in sales presentations. He discusses the cognitive limitations of the human brain, highlighting the importance of concise messaging and the science behind memory retention. With practical tips and strategies, Tom offers valuable insights for sales professionals looking to enhance their presentation skills and deliver more effective pitches. Enhance Your Professional Presentations The episode provides a compelling exploration of challenges and opportunities in sales presentation design and delivery, making it essential listening for those seeking to create impactful and memorable sales pitches. Tom's expertise and actionable insights offer valuable guidance for improving engagement and memory retention in the sales process, making this episode a must-listen for sales professionals and organizations looking to enhance their presentation skills. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Tom Martin on LinkedIn by searching for Tom Martin at Converse Digital and send a message mentioning that you heard him on the modern selling podcast. Visit the Converse Digital website and fill out the contact form to get in touch with Tom Martin and his team for sales presentation and content marketing expertise. Download Flymessage IO for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity with a text expander and personal writing assistant. Leave a 5-star rating and review for the modern selling podcast on iTunes to show your support and help others discover the valuable content. Watch Dead Poets Society, Tom Martin's all-time favorite movie, for a memorable and inspiring experience.

  Does this sound familiar? Have you been told to spend hours crafting engaging messages and comments on LinkedIn, only to feel like you're not getting the results you want? The struggle to stand out and engage meaningfully can be frustrating and time-consuming. If you've been there, you know the pain of putting in effort and not seeing the impact you hoped for. Discover the surprising origin story behind Mario Martinez's journey to becoming a sales expert. From an accidental start in a photo finishing job to revolutionizing sales with AI, his story will leave you inspired and wanting more. But what's the untold secret behind his productivity? Find out more in the full podcast episode. On The Modern Selling Podcast, host Mario Martinez Jr. shares his journey into sales, highlighting his early success and the challenges he faced. He discusses the evolution of FlyMSG from his previous company, Vengreso, and the inspiration behind its creation. Mario emphasizes the value of personalized engagement on LinkedIn and the power of AI in streamlining sales tasks. His conversation with Joshua Lorimer delves into the significance of utilizing notifications effectively on LinkedIn and the future aspirations for FlyMSG AI and Vengreso. Mario's insights underscore the intersection of sales expertise, technology, and leadership in driving the vision for FlyMSG making this episode a must-listen for sales professionals and leaders who want to boost productivity. You'll gain valuable insights into leveraging notifications on LinkedIn, the affordability and potential of AI-driven messaging, and the importance of fostering an inclusive culture within organizations. So, grab your headphones and tune in to gain practical wisdom from Mario's journey and the innovative solutions he's developed to revolutionize sales and social media engagement. If you're a seller, Prospect better and Sell more now with FlyMSG If you're a non-seller, Type less. Do more with FlyMSG. - Mario Martinez Jr. Mario Martinez Jr., CEO and founder of Vengreso, recounted his unexpected journey into sales during this engaging podcast episode. Reflecting on his early days as a photo finisher at Ritz Camera Centers, Mario shared a pivotal conversation with his regional manager, Hunter Anderson, who astutely recognized his natural talent for sales. This epiphany occurred when Hunter delved into Mario's exceptional sales numbers, revealing his innate ability to connect with customers and solve their problems. In this episode, you will be able to: Boost Your Sales Productivity with FlyMSG - Learn how to streamline your sales tasks and maximize efficiency with this productivity assistant. Mastering LinkedIn Engagement for Sales Success - Discover the secrets to boosting your sales engagement on the world's largest professional network. Elevate Your Sales Skills with Entrepreneurial Training Techniques - Uncover innovative sales training methods tailored for entrepreneurs to take your business to the next level. Unleashing AI for Sales and Marketing Success - Explore the power of artificial intelligence in revolutionizing your sales and marketing strategies. Mastering LinkedIn Connection Strategies for Sales Professionals - Uncover effective techniques for crafting meaningful LinkedIn connections that drive sales success. From the humble beginnings of assisting customers with their photo orders, Mario's sales prowess shone through, leading to his transition to a sales associate role. This unexpected turn of events marked the genesis of Mario's illustrious 27-year career in sales, emphasizing the profound impact of recognizing and nurturing innate abilities. Mario's story resonates with the revelation that sometimes, our true calling emerges from unexpected encounters, unveiling hidden talents that shape our future paths. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:09 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG 00:01:45 - Mario's Journey into Sales 00:08:31 - Sales as the Art of Helping 00:11:08 - Unexpected Career Path 00:13:21 - Perseverance and Recognition 00:13:41 - Early Career Challenges and Successes 00:15:20 - Evolution of Vengreso and FlyMSG.io 00:17:32 - From Service-Based to Software-Based Company 00:19:27 - Horizontal Use of FlyMSG 00:25:55 - Streamlining Engagement on LinkedIn 00:28:46 - The Power of Notifications for Prospecting 00:29:35 - The Vision for FlyMSG AI 00:30:51 - Leadership Style and Culture at Vengreso 00:32:55 - Where to Find FlyMSG 00:34:23 - Final Thoughts and Call to Action Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:09 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG Mario Martinez introduces Vengreso and FlyMSG, a free personal writing assistant and text expander application. He highlights the purpose of the podcast to help sales professionals grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:01:45 - Mario's Journey into Sales Mario shares his accidental entry into sales while working as a photo finisher at Ritz Camera Centers. He describes how his sales skills were recognized and how he transitioned from a part-time photo finisher to a top-performing sales associate. 00:08:31 - Sales as the Art of Helping Mario discusses the pivotal moment when he realized that sales is all about helping customers solve their problems. He emphasizes the importance of genuinely assisting customers and how it has shaped his sales approach throughout his career. 00:11:08 - Unexpected Career Path Mario reflects on his initial plan to pursue pre-law in college and how he encountered challenges with statistics. He shares a personal anecdote about failing a statistics class and the impact it had on his academic journey. 00:13:21 - Perseverance and Recognition Mario talks about his perseverance in seeking help with statistics and the surprising recognition he received from his GSI instructor. He shares the unexpected turn of events and the valuable lesson he learned from the experience. 00:13:41 - Early Career Challenges and Successes Mario shares his experience of struggling with stats in college but excelling in sales, leading to early career success and a six-figure income at a young age. 00:15:20 - Evolution of Vengreso and FlyMSG.io Mario discusses the founding of Vengreso and the inspiration behind FlyMSG, highlighting the success of their digital sales training program and the development of AI-powered tools to streamline sales processes. 00:17:32 - From Service-Based to Software-Based Company Mario explains the transition from a service-based company to a software-based company, emphasizing the need for efficiency and time-saving tools in sales processes, leading to the development of FlyMSG, FlyEngage AI, and Flyposts AI. 00:19:27 - Horizontal Use of FlyMSG Mario discusses the diverse adoption of FlyMSG beyond sales, including its usage by professionals in various industries, showcasing its versatility and impact on productivity. 00:25:55 - Streamlining Engagement on LinkedIn Mario delves into the importance of engaging with prospects on LinkedIn, the role of commenting in increasing visibility, and the introduction of Flyposts AI to simplify the creation of thought leadership content for LinkedIn. 00:28:46 - The Power of Notifications for Prospecting Mario discusses the power of notifications in getting in front of prospects on LinkedIn. Trigger events, such as profile views, give permission to continue reaching out. 00:29:35 - The Vision for FlyMSG AI Mario shares the vision for FlyMSG AI as a super productivity app for creating engagement with target audiences. The tool is affordable for individuals and offers various features for enterprise organizations. 00:30:51 - Leadership Style and Culture at Vengreso Mario talks about fostering an inclusive culture and encouraging excellence at Vengreso. The future aspirations involve making an impact with the vision of FlyMSG and its various capabilities. 00:32:55 - Where to Find FlyMSG Mario directs listeners to FlyMSG.io to learn about FlyMSG and Vengreso. He also invites personalized connection requests on LinkedIn and shares additional resources for sales teams and individuals. 00:34:23 - Final Thoughts and Call to Action Mario encourages sellers and non-sellers to use FlyMSG to sell more and do more with less typing. He wraps up by thanking the audience for the listen. Want to increase your productivity by saving 20 hours a month and boost your sales engagement? We've got the solution to help you achieve just that. Let's dive into the game-changing productivity tool that's revolutionizing the way sales professionals work. FlyMSG, the productivity assistant that is the ultimate game-changer for boosting efficiency and meaningful engagement in sales tasks. It's time to take your productivity to the next level. Mario Martinez Jr., the visionary behind Vengreso and FlyMSG.io, shared an intriguing anecdote about his unconventional entry into the world of sales during this recent podcast episode. Recalling his days at Ritz Camera Centers, Mario vividly recounted a pivotal conversation with his regional manager, Hunter Anderson. This insightful exchange unveiled Mario's natural flair for sales, as Hunter scrutinized his remarkable sales figures and recognized his innate ability to empathize with customers and provide effective solutions. Mario's journey, from a part-time photo finisher to a sales associate, highlights the profound impact of recognizing and nurturing innate talents. This captivating narrative delves into the idea that sometimes, our true calling unfolds unexpectedly, revealing latent abilities that shape our professional trajectories. Mario's story serves as a testament to the transformative power of recognizing and leveraging inherent skills, leading to an inspiring career journey that resonates with aspiring sales professionals. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with me on LinkedIn and send a personalized connection request mentioning this podcast episode. Visit FlyMSG.io to learn more about FlyMSG AI and its features for sales teams and individuals. Check out Pvcsalesmethod.com for more sales resources and insights. Explore MoreSalesCalls.com for additional sales tools and strategies. Download FlyMSG for free at FlyMSG.io to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity.

Have you ever wondered about the myths surrounding AI-driven sales engagement strategies? Let's talk about three common myths and uncover the truth behind them. But before we dive in, let's explore the real strategies that are revolutionizing sales engagement using AI. Stay tuned for the secrets! If you're feeling overwhelmed by the time it takes to gather and analyze data for your sales strategies, then you are not alone! Are you tired of juggling multiple tools and platforms to make informed decisions? It's time to streamline your sales process with AI-driven insights. Let's revolutionize the way you engage with potential customers and boost your sales efficiency! Henry Schuck, the founder and CEO of Zoom Info, shared his remarkable journey with Mario in this Modern Selling Podcast Episode. Starting the business from his law school dorm with a bold move of putting $25,000 on his credit card, Henry's vision was clear - to build a data asset and a platform to deliver high-quality data to sales and marketing professionals. I'm no longer then just thinking of Zoom info as the platform that's going to give me names, contact information, titles, data enrichment. I am now thinking of it as a tool that's helping with account research, account insights and, or buying and signals or prioritization. - Henry Schuck My special guest is Henry Schuck Henry Schuck is the visionary CEO and founder of Zoom Info, a prominent figure in the sales and marketing industry for over 17 years. With a strong foundation in building a data asset and platform, Henry has successfully provided high-quality data on companies and business professionals to over 35,000 customers. His strategic focus on leveraging AI-driven strategies for efficient sales engagement has been instrumental in driving the company's success. Henry's expertise and achievements position him as an authoritative voice in the realm of sales efficiency and scalable growth, making his insights invaluable for sales teams looking to optimize their strategies. Henry's commitment to leveraging AI-driven strategies for sales engagement has not only transformed Zoom Info but has set a benchmark for the sales industry as a whole. His wealth of experience and innovative approach make him a compelling source of insights for sales professionals seeking to enhance their sales plan's efficiency and growth at scale. In this episode, you will be able to: Harness the power of AI-driven sales engagement strategies to supercharge your sales process. Unlock the potential of personalization in C-suite sales tactics to build stronger, more profitable relationships. Discover the game-changing impact of multi-threading in sales processes and how it can revolutionize your approach. Navigate the transition from a service to a SaaS business model with expert insights and key strategies for success. Gain valuable insights into evaluating sales tool effectiveness in driving revenue and optimizing your sales tech stack.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG 00:01:17 - Special Guest: Henry Schuck 00:02:18 - Establishment of Zoom Info 00:05:29 - Discoverorg-Zoom Info Connection 00:09:47 - Henry's Legal Background and Risk Management 00:14:56 - Personalized Messaging in Sales 00:17:53 - Targeting Different Organization Sizes 00:21:08 - Targeting High-Level Executives 00:24:25 - Getting C-Suite Involvement 00:27:50 - Navigating Trust and Involving C-Suite 00:28:26 - Leveraging Champions for Meetings 00:29:18 - Connecting at Different Levels 00:30:40 - Building Strong Relationships 00:32:34 - Fostering Partnership with Clients 00:33:45 - Contrasting Sales Tactics for Different Segments 00:41:55 - Importance of Multi-Threading in Sales and Marketing 00:43:24 - Utilizing AI for Efficient Sales 00:45:05 - AI-Driven Account Briefs 00:48:07 - Revolutionizing Go-to-Market Strategy Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG Mario Martinez introduces himself as the CEO and founder of Vengreso, creators of FlyMSG, a free personal writing assistant and text expander application. He sets the stage for the podcast's focus on helping sales leaders grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:01:17 - Special Guest: Henry Schuck Mario introduces Henry Schuck, CEO and founder of Zoom Info, as a special guest. He expresses excitement about having Henry on the show and highlights their shared interest in the evolution of service companies into SaaS companies. 00:02:18 - Establishment of Zoom Info Henry provides a background on Zoom Info, detailing its founding in 2007 and the company's focus on building a data asset to deliver high-quality data to sales and marketing professionals. He emphasizes the importance of identifying companies in the market for products and services. 00:05:29 - Discoverorg-Zoom Info Connection Henry discusses the acquisition of Zoom Info and the subsequent name change from Discoverorg to Zoom Info. Mario shares a story about using Discoverorg's data to demonstrate the ROI and effectiveness of sales tools, ultimately leading to the decision to discontinue data.com. 00:09:47 - Henry's Legal Background and Risk Management Henry reveals his legal background as a licensed attorney in two states, highlighting the credibility it brought to his role as CEO and the value of understanding and managing business risks. 00:14:56 - Personalized Messaging in Sales Henry emphasizes the importance of personalized messaging in sales. Generic messages are ineffective, and it's crucial to tailor the pitch to address specific problems a company is trying to solve. 00:17:53 - Targeting Different Organization Sizes Henry discusses the differences in engagement when dealing with smaller versus larger organizations. As a company grows, decision-making is delegated, and it's essential to adjust the messaging and approach accordingly. 00:21:08 - Targeting High-Level Executives Henry shares his perspective on engaging high-level executives in the sales process. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and partnership with the company's champion first before involving C-suite executives. 00:24:25 - Getting C-Suite Involvement The challenge of involving C-suite executives in the sales process is addressed. Henry advises leveraging the champion in the business to facilitate C-suite involvement and transition from a seller-buyer dynamic to a unified team dynamic. 00:27:50 - Navigating Trust and Involving C-Suite Henry provides insights on navigating trust when involving C-suite executives in the sales process. He highlights the importance of maintaining trust with the champion and offers strategic ways to involve executives without undermining the existing relationship. 00:28:26 - Leveraging Champions for Meetings Henry advises pressing your champion to secure a meeting instead of assuming they will seal the deal. He suggests asking the champion to arrange a meeting with decision-makers and leveraging executives to assist in the process. 00:29:18 - Connecting at Different Levels Henry highlights the importance of connecting with individuals at different levels within the company. He suggests using platforms like LinkedIn to establish connections with managers and managers' managers, showing familiarity with the company's operations and competitors. 00:30:40 - Building Strong Relationships Mario shares an anecdote about building a strong relationship with a CIO at a global pharmaceutical distribution company. The CIO valued vendors who could help improve the business and stand out from competitors. This emphasizes the importance of understanding the client's business and offering solutions. 00:32:34 - Fostering Partnership with Clients The discussion emphasizes the concept of partnership with clients. Henry emphasizes the goal of being a strategic advisor to clients, where they feel comfortable reaching out for assistance with go-to-market problems. Building such relationships leads to continuous growth with clients. 00:33:45 - Contrasting Sales Tactics for Different Segments Henry discusses the differences in sales tactics for small and medium-sized businesses versus enterprise sales. He emphasizes that enterprise sales require relationship-building and understanding the decision-making process, while mid-market sales are more velocity-driven. Sales leaders need to manage metrics differently for each segment. 00:41:55 - Importance of Multi-Threading in Sales and Marketing Henry discusses the importance of multi-threading in sales and marketing at ZoomInfo, emphasizing the need to involve both sales and marketing decision-makers for a more effective approach towards target accounts. 00:43:24 - Utilizing AI for Efficient Sales Henry explains how ZoomInfo uses AI to prioritize target accounts based on collected signals, making the sales process faster and more efficient. He also discusses the use of AI to gather account insights and research, saving time for sales reps. 00:45:05 - AI-Driven Account Briefs Henry elaborates on how ZoomInfo's AI function brings together various data sources, including third-party data, to provide comprehensive account briefs, enabling sales reps to access valuable insights without spending hours on manual research. 00:48:07 - Revolutionizing Go-to-Market Strategy Henry and Mario discuss how ZoomInfo's journey of acquisitions has led to the development of a total solution for the marketplace, impacting their go-to-market strategy. Henry shares how the company's vision has evolved and expanded to deliver a comprehensive offering to customers. Henry Schuck's realization that most companies lack comprehensive data on existing and potential customers led to the evolution of Zoom Info's data asset, now comprising 100 million companies and 300 million business professionals. Henry's passion for leveraging data to identify companies in the market for specific products and services is truly inspiring. He emphasized the importance of personalization in sales engagement, drawing from his own experience and the pivotal role of legal education in understanding risk and business decision-making. This journey not only highlights Henry's entrepreneurial spirit but also offers valuable insights into leveraging data and personalization in the sales process. Henry Schuck, has been at the forefront of revolutionizing sales and marketing strategies for over 17 years. His relentless pursuit of high-quality data solutions has empowered over 35,000 customers to engage with their next best customers, identify key decision-makers, and understand market segments. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Henry Schuck on LinkedIn or Twitter to engage in further conversation about sales strategies and AI implementation. Download the FlyMSG extension for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase productivity with a free text expander and personal writing assistant. Reach out to Henry Schuck via email at shuck@zoominfo.com to connect directly and discuss sales strategies, AI implementation, or any other related topics. Give the Modern Selling Podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes to show support and help the podcast reach a wider audience. Watch Shawshank Redemption, Henry Schuck's all-time favorite movie, for an engaging and thought-provoking cinematic experience.  

  Do you want to know the secret to building genuine connections with your customers and improving your sales numbers at scale? We're about to share the solution with you so that you can achieve that result. We are sure you've been told to focus on product information, tricks of selling, and not your mindset or motivation. But deep down, you know this approach isn't getting you the results you want. You're feeling stuck, frustrated, and struggling to hit your sales targets. Isn't it time to find a better way to unlock your true potential and achieve the success you deserve? Discover how active listening and a shift in mindset can revolutionize your sales performance. Get ready to be inspired and take your sales to new heights. Keep listening for the full story. Did you know that a former school teacher turned salesperson tripled his sales in just 30 to 60 days simply by shifting his mindset? And what if I told you that the key to his success wasn't just about learning new skills, but about understanding his purpose and values? This unexpected transformation is just one of the powerful stories shared in the book "Listen to Sell" by Mike Esterday, CEO of Integrity Solutions. This is Mike Esterday's story: The spark that ignited Mike Esterday's journey into the realm of active listening and sales was kindled by a personal experience that underscored the profound value of genuine connection. As he trod the intricate pathways of sales, he encountered instances where empathetic understanding was pivotal. This epiphany kindled a fervent passion within him to unravel the intricacies of active listening, propelling him to explore its profound impact on fostering authentic client relationships. The pivotal moment that propelled him on this odyssey resonates with a universal quest for forging meaningful connections in the sales sphere. Mike's narrative stands as a testament to the transformative influence of active listening, demonstrating how a singular realization can revolutionize an individual's approach to sales and relationship cultivation. In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Mario Martinez Jr. engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Mike Esterday, the CEO of Integrity Solutions and co-author of the book "Listen to Sell". Esterday shares valuable insights into the importance of active listening in sales, emphasizing the need for elevated skills in today's marketplace. He also highlights the negative stereotype attached to sales and stresses the significance of redefining selling as identifying needs, filling needs, and creating value for people. The conversation delves into the concept of three key conversations every salesperson needs to have, focusing on the impact of internal dialogue, coaching, and mentorship. Esterday's emphasis on mindset, achievement drive, and the human touch in sales offers practical and actionable insights for sales professionals aiming to enhance their approach and drive better outcomes. The episode provides a holistic understanding of what it takes to succeed in sales, encompassing not only product knowledge and skills but also the deeper components of mindset, motivation, and belief in one's abilities. Most people want to be part of a journey, want to be part of a story. They're actually drawn to people who are transparent, tell the truth. They're open with that. - Mike Esterday Mike Esterday, the CEO of Integrity Solutions, is the guest for this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast. He brings over three decades of experience in sales and sales coaching to the table. Growing up on a farm in Illinois and starting his sales career selling books door to door on straight commission, Mike's journey in sales began early. With a passion for helping companies globally improve their sales and sales coaching skills, he co-authored the book "Listen to Sell," drawing from his extensive knowledge and expertise. His unique background and practical insights make him an invaluable resource for understanding the importance of active listening in sales and building genuine relationships with customers. In this episode, you will learn how: Mastering active listening will transform your sales conversations and build genuine connections with customers. To discover the key to overcoming self-limiting beliefs in sales and unlocking your full potential. To elevate your sales coaching skills to lead and motivate your team to achieve global success. To uncover effective strategies for leading your sales team to new heights and achieving remarkable results. To create value through customer-focused selling and become a trusted advisor to your clients. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG.io 00:01:24 - Introduction to Integrity Solutions 00:04:33 - Personal Anecdote 00:05:43 - The Role of Salespeople 00:11:15 - The Three Conversations 00:14:55 - Setting Expectations for Achievement Drive 00:16:16 - Achieving Stretch Goals 00:19:11 - Overcoming Negative Self-Talk 00:21:26 - Importance of Active Listening 00:25:11 - Mindset and Sales Training 00:29:33 - Overcoming Negative Self-Talk in Sales 00:30:48 - The Role of the Salesperson in the Age of Technology 00:31:40 - Strategies to Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs 00:36:19 - The Importance of Selling with Stories 00:38:26 - The Role of a Sales Leader 00:43:59 - The Power of Transparency and Storytelling in Sales 00:44:51 - Customer Engagement and Motivation 00:45:38 - Identifying Customer Needs and Solving Problems 00:46:00 - Where to Find the Book "Listen to Sell" 00:46:47 - Connecting with Mike Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG Mario Martinez Jr. introduces himself and his company Vengreso, the creator of FlyMSG. He shares that the podcast will feature sales leaders, practitioners, and influencers to help listeners grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:01:24 - Introduction to Integrity Solutions Mike Esterday introduces himself as the CEO of Integrity Solutions, a company that focuses on improving sales and sales coaching skills. He shares that they work with companies globally and have been in the industry for over 35 years. 00:04:33 - Personal Anecdote Mike Esterday shares a personal anecdote about getting arrested for selling books door to door when he was 18. He emphasizes the importance of shifting the mindset about what professional selling truly entails. 00:05:43 - The Role of Salespeople Mike Esterday discusses the importance of salespeople in today's market, emphasizing the need for elevated skills to interact with customers who have access to extensive information. He believes that salespeople are critical and not fading in relevance. 00:11:15 - The Three Conversations Mike Esterday introduces the concept of the three conversations every salesperson needs to have: the conversation with the customer, the conversation with oneself, and the conversation with a manager, coach, or mentor. He highlights the impact of mindset and coaching on sales success. 00:14:55 - Setting Expectations for Achievement Drive Mike talks about setting clear expectations for his son's academic performance and the importance of effort and accountability. 00:16:16 - Achieving Stretch Goals Mike shares the lessons he hopes his son learned, including the importance of pushing hard, visualizing goals, and having an accountability partner. 00:19:11 - Overcoming Negative Self-Talk Mike emphasizes the impact of negative self-talk and the importance of surrounding oneself with positive influences to achieve more. 00:21:26 - Importance of Active Listening Mike discusses the significance of active listening in sales and how it can help build rapport and trust with customers. 00:25:11 - Mindset and Sales Training Mike addresses the gap in sales training, emphasizing the importance of mindset, motivation, and confidence over just product knowledge and selling skills. 00:29:33 - Overcoming Negative Self-Talk in Sales The conversation addresses the importance of overcoming negative self-talk in sales and how individuals deserve, can achieve, and are able to attain success. It emphasizes the need to break down barriers and have the right mindset, motivation, and confidence. 00:30:48 - The Role of the Salesperson in the Age of Technology Despite advancements in technology, the salesperson remains the most important factor in sales. The conversation highlights the importance of the salesperson's mindset, commitment, and continuous improvement in facing challenges and achieving success. 00:31:40 - Strategies to Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs The discussion focuses on strategies for overcoming self-limiting beliefs that hinder sales performance. It emphasizes the importance of building confidence through small successes and understanding the impact on customers, even if it's not their own story. 00:36:19 - The Importance of Selling with Stories The conversation emphasizes the need for internal sales training programs that focus on selling with stories. It underscores the value of articulating the business problem that the salesperson solves and understanding the buyer's love language. 00:38:26 - The Role of a Sales Leader The conversation highlights the role of sales leaders in diagnosing and addressing skill and will issues in their team. It emphasizes the importance of asking questions, listening, understanding motivation, and aligning with the purpose of the salesperson. 00:43:59 - The Power of Transparency and Storytelling in Sales Mike emphasizes the importance of transparency and storytelling in sales. He shares how sharing the journey with customers and being transparent about challenges can help build a strong connection and trust. 00:44:51 - Customer Engagement and Motivation Mike discusses how customers are drawn to transparency, truth, and being part of a journey. He highlights the importance of customer engagement and motivation in sales. 00:45:38 - Identifying Customer Needs and Solving Problems Mike and the host discuss the importance of identifying customer needs and solving problems. They emphasize the value of understanding customer needs and being able to tell success stories to the next group of customers. 00:46:00 - Where to Find the Book "Listen to Sell" Mike shares where listeners can find his book "Listen to Sell," including options like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and his website. He also mentions the availability of free preview pages and additional content on his website. 00:46:47 - Connecting with Mike Mike shares that LinkedIn is the best way to connect with him and encourages listeners to reach out with any questions. The host advises listeners to send a personalized connection request on LinkedIn to ensure Mike knows where they heard about him. Mastering Active Listening Effective sales professionals understand the importance of active listening, as it enables them to truly understand their customers' needs and concerns. By actively listening, salespeople can build rapport, establish trust, and tailor their solutions to meet the specific requirements of each customer. Mastering active listening not only enhances communication but also leads to more successful sales interactions. Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs Sales success is often hindered by self-limiting beliefs that prevent individuals from achieving their full potential. Overcoming these mental barriers is crucial for sales professionals to unlock their capabilities, boost confidence, and drive performance. By challenging and replacing negative thoughts with empowering beliefs, individuals can push past limitations and achieve greater success in their sales endeavors. Elevating Sales Leadership Strong sales leadership plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of excellence and driving team performance. Effective sales leaders prioritize coaching, mentorship, and development to enhance the skills and motivation of their team members. Elevating sales leadership involves creating a supportive environment that encourages growth, collaboration, and continuous improvement to achieve sustainable sales success. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Get the book Listen to Sell by Mike Esterday on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at listentosellbook.com for a preview and purchase. Access free sales training and coaching resources at integritysolutions.com, including blogs, videos, and other content. Connect with Mike Esterday on LinkedIn by sending a personalized connection request mentioning the Modern Selling Podcast. Download FlyMSG for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase productivity with a text expander and personal writing assistant. Give the Modern Selling Podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes to show your support and help others discover the podcast.

  Struggling to book more sales meetings and increase productivity? Tired of ineffective prospecting methods that don't yield results, leaving you feeling frustrated and overwhelmed? If you're ready to boost your productivity and engagement, it's time to discover the game-changing AI tool that's transforming sales workflows. Join us as we uncover the secrets to streamlining your sales process and boosting your results. Want to know how to supercharge your sales productivity and engagement? We've got the solution for you to achieve just that. Let's dive into the game-changing AI tools that will skyrocket your sales success. Sound good? In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Mario Martinez Jr. dives into the benefits of using AI to enhance sales productivity. Mario draws from his extensive 27 years of experience in B2B sales to shed light on the challenges faced by sales teams and the potential of AI in addressing these obstacles. He emphasizes the importance of personalization and value-driven engagements in the prospecting process, urging sales professionals to prioritize referrals and relationship-building. Mario also delves into the role of AI in streamlining workflows, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that leverages technology while maintaining human-to-human interaction. Throughout the episode, Mario shares practical insights and actionable strategies, making it a valuable resource for sales professionals looking to boost their productivity with AI. Whether you're seeking to refine your prospecting efforts, optimize sales engagement, or explore the possibilities of AI in sales, this episode offers a fresh perspective and practical advice to help you elevate your sales game. Was it 50% closer than where you were at? If so, keep on doing it. Save on productivity. Worth it. - Mario Martinez Jr. In this episode, you will be able to: Master Effective B2B sales prospecting strategies to land more high-quality leads. Enhance Sales productivity using AI for increased engagement and streamlined workflows. Build a successful digital sales playbook for staying ahead in a technology-driven market. Personalize sales outreach to foster stronger connections and drive better results. Leverage LinkedIn for sales prospecting to tap into a goldmine of potential leads.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG and the Modern Selling Podcast 00:02:51 - Mario's Background and Vengreso's Success with FlyMSG 00:08:27 - The Number One Challenge in B2B Sales Prospecting 00:10:59 - The Impact of Scaling and Personalization on Prospecting 00:14:07 - The Perfect Playbook for Prospecting 00:15:30 - The Role of LinkedIn in Modern Networking 00:17:25 - The Omnichannel Approach to Communication 00:19:38 - The Importance of Personalization 00:22:59 - The Pitfalls of Generic Email Templates 00:27:55 - Enhancing Productivity in Sales Communication 00:29:41 - The Role of AI in Sales Tools 00:31:09 - Human-Assisted AI 00:33:24 - The Importance of Value in Messaging 00:35:40 - Omnichannel Prospecting and LinkedIn Engagement 00:43:47 - The Role of Content in Prospecting 00:44:07 - Social Media Engagement and Algorithm 00:45:08 - Leveraging LinkedIn for Connection 00:46:36 - Engaging with Reps 00:48:36 - Thought Leadership and AI 00:54:27 - Connecting with Mario Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG and the Modern Selling Podcast Mario Martinez Jr. introduces FlyMSG.IO, a personal writing assistant and text expander application. He also previews the conversation with Daniel Bonds on the modern selling podcast. 00:02:51 - Mario's Background and Vengreso's Success with FlyMSG Mario shares his extensive background in B2B sales and the success of Vengreso's FlyMSG software, including recent funding. He also discusses the growing popularity of FlyMSG in Brazil. 00:08:27 - The Number One Challenge in B2B Sales Prospecting Mario highlights the biggest challenge in B2B sales prospecting, which is getting the first appointment. He discusses the difficulties in scaling, personalization, and productivity in prospecting efforts. 00:10:59 - The Impact of Scaling and Personalization on Prospecting Mario explains how scaling and personalization play a crucial role in effective prospecting. He emphasizes the need for personalized, referral-based outreach to cut through the noise and engage potential buyers effectively. 00:14:07 - The Perfect Playbook for Prospecting Mario outlines the perfect playbook for prospecting, emphasizing the importance of starting with a referral instead of traditional email, phone call, or LinkedIn connection requests. He provides insights into the key steps for effective prospecting. 00:15:30 - The Role of LinkedIn in Modern Networking Mario discusses the importance of utilizing LinkedIn as a modern Rolodex for networking and making digital referrals. He emphasizes the need to leverage mutual connections and outlines a process for initiating a digital referral. 00:17:25 - The Omnichannel Approach to Communication Mario explains the significance of an omnichannel approach in communication, including email, phone, LinkedIn, and text messaging when appropriate. He emphasizes the importance of personalization in communication and the need to tailor messages to the individual or buyer persona. 00:19:38 - The Importance of Personalization Mario delves into the critical role of personalization in sales communication and highlights the need for hyper-personalization in the initial message. He stresses the importance of personalizing to the individual to demonstrate understanding and knowledge of the recipient. 00:22:59 - The Pitfalls of Generic Email Templates Mario discusses the pitfalls of generic email templates and the need for personalization in sales communication. He emphasizes the impact of personalized messages and the significance of addressing the specific business problems of the recipient. 00:27:55 - Enhancing Productivity in Sales Communication Mario addresses the productivity challenges in sales communication and the inefficiencies caused by disparate messaging sources. He emphasizes the need for a streamlined approach to messaging and the role of technology in enhancing productivity in sales communication. 00:29:41 - The Role of AI in Sales Tools Mario discusses the abundance of AI sales tools available, emphasizing the importance of using AI to augment rather than replace human effort in sales. 00:31:09 - Human-Assisted AI Mario introduces the concept of human-assisted AI, emphasizing the need for AI to assist and augment sales reps rather than replace them entirely. 00:33:24 - The Importance of Value in Messaging Mario highlights the importance of bringing value to sales conversations and emphasizes the need to lead to the solution, not lead with the solution. 00:35:40 - Omnichannel Prospecting and LinkedIn Engagement Mario discusses the power of omnichannel prospecting and shares insights on how LinkedIn engagement can drive content visibility in newsfeeds. 00:43:47 - The Role of Content in Prospecting Mario emphasizes the need for sales reps to publish content and introduces Flypost AI as a tool to streamline content creation for sales prospecting. 00:44:07 - Social Media Engagement and Algorithm Mario emphasizes the importance of using social media effectively, especially on LinkedIn. He highlights the need to understand the algorithm, engage with connections, and leverage AI to streamline the process. 00:45:08 - Leveraging LinkedIn for Connection Mario discusses the strategic use of the follow button on LinkedIn, emphasizing the potential impact of notifications and emails generated through this action. He highlights the value of triggering events and using LinkedIn to create curiosity. 00:46:36 - Engaging with Reps Mario addresses the common issue of reps not engaging effectively. He advocates for more meaningful interactions beyond simply liking posts and introduces the concept of using AI to craft thoughtful and personalized replies. 00:48:36 - Thought Leadership and AI Mario demonstrates the use of AI to create thought leadership content. He emphasizes the role of AI as an augmentation tool, noting the need for human intervention to ensure contextual relevance and alignment with the seller's tone of voice. 00:54:27 - Connecting with Mario Mario shares where to connect with him, highlighting the importance of personalized connection requests on LinkedIn. He also points to resources for further learning and engagement with the fly message platform. Master Effective B2B Sales Prospecting Effective B2B sales prospecting is crucial for sales success, with the first meeting being the most challenging part of the process. Sales professionals face difficulties related to scaling, personalization, and productivity in prospecting efforts. Shifting towards a referral-based prospecting approach can significantly improve success rates in booking meetings and driving sales growth. Uncover the Power of AI AI tools offer immense potential for augmenting sales productivity and efficiency. Leveraging AI to streamline workflows and enhance engagement can save time and assist sales reps in reaching their goals. Finding the balance between technology and human interaction is key to effectively utilizing AI in sales prospecting. Unlock the Secrets to Building Connections Building meaningful connections with potential clients is essential in modern selling. Personalized and value-driven engagements should be prioritized to establish relationships and drive sales growth. Utilizing AI tools like 'Fly Message' can assist in generating engaging content and accelerating productivity in building connections on social media platforms. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Mario Martinez Jr. on LinkedIn and send a personalized connection request mentioning the Playbooks 2024 conference in Brazil. Visit flymsg.io to explore and download FlyMSG, a free text expander and personal writing assistant to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase productivity. Check out the Modern Selling Podcast hosted by Mario Martinez Jr. for valuable insights and strategies on modern selling. Go to vengreso.com to access the FlyMSGSales Pro Plan for individuals and explore enterprise team support, layered training programs, and on-demand learning for prospecting.

  If you're feeling frustrated with your SDR BDR team's results and struggling to increase pipeline creation, then you are not alone! Have you heard the myths about building successful SDR BDR teams? Myth 1: SDR BDR teams can only focus on outbound or inbound, not both. Myth 2: Texting prospects is not effective for SDR BDR outreach. Myth 3: SDR BDR roles are just a stepping stone and don't require long-term commitment. Want to know the truth? Stay tuned for the secrets to building a high-performing SDR BDR team. In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Joey Vendel, the AVP of Sales Development at Seismic, joins host Mario Martinez Jr. to share his insights on building successful SDR/BDR teams. With over seven years of experience in sales development, Joey brings a wealth of knowledge and practical strategies to the table. The conversation delves into the pillars of a successful sales development team, including the architecture, activity optimization, omnichannel presence, and coaching. Joey's emphasis on nurturing SDRs for career growth and his innovative approach to pipeline development at Seismic offers valuable takeaways for sales development leaders and professionals. From discussing the challenges of engaging multiple buying groups to insights about the velocity program and the importance of personalized outreach, this episode provides actionable strategies to enhance pipeline creation and drive career development for SDRs. If you're looking to boost your team's performance and navigate the evolving landscape of sales development, this episode is a must-listen for practical guidance and inspiration. I think the key, Mario, is bringing value, right? That every touch point needs some form of value. And I think that's why we've seen the rise of how many touch points it takes to get ahold of a prospect is because more and more of it has become this, this, more mass message versus a personalized, relevant message for that specific person. - Joey Vendel Joey Vendel, the AVP of Sales Development at Seismic, brings over seven years of SDR experience, from honing his skills as an individual contributor to managing a team of successful SDRs. He has a knack for generating high-quality pipelines and has helped numerous SDRs advance into roles as account executives, sales engineers, and beyond. His passion for sports not only fuels his free time but also provides valuable parallels and practices that he seamlessly translates to the sales field. With a deep understanding of building scalable SDR teams and a commitment to coaching, Joey's insights promise an engaging and insightful conversation on the strategies and pillars essential for successful sales development teams. Skills you will learn in this Episode: Mastering the art of building high-performing SDR BDR teams. Accelerating your career through strategic sales development role progression. Crafting sales email frameworks that captivate and convert. Embracing the power of an omnichannel sales approach for amplified results. Elevating sales outreach with the impact of personalized strategies.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG 00:01:14 - Importance of Sales Development 00:06:55 - Personalization in Sales Outreach 00:11:33 - The Role of Coaching in Sales Development 00:14:41 - Creating Quality Pipeline 00:16:00 - Multi-Threaded Selling 00:17:33 - Career Development Path 00:20:39 - Bridging the Skills Gap 00:23:09 - SDR Role Duration 00:29:41 - SDRs' Daily Activities and Time Management 00:31:41 - Leveraging LinkedIn Engagement 00:34:15 - Challenges and Solutions in Sales Development 00:36:09 - Leveraging Text Messaging in Sales Outreach 00:41:57 - Adding Value in Sales Touchpoints 00:43:17 - Leveraging LinkedIn for Prospecting 00:46:15 - Successful Reps' Cadence vs. Bottom Performing Reps' Cadence 00:51:47 - Consolidating Inbound and Outbound Sales 00:55:35 - Joey's Favorite Movie 00:57:13 - Conclusion and Farewell 00:00:00 - Introducing Joey Vendel 00:15:45 - Importance of Personalized Selling 00:30:22 - Leveraging Technology in Sales 00:45:18 - Adapting to Changing Sales Landscape Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to Vengreso and FlyMSG Mario Martinez Jr. introduces Vengreso and FlyMSG, an application to help sales leaders grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:01:14 - Importance of Sales Development Mario Martinez Jr. and Joey Vendel discuss the challenges and importance of sales development, focusing on outbound and inbound strategies in the current sales landscape. 00:06:55 - Personalization in Sales Outreach Joey Vendel emphasizes the importance of personalized outreach in sales, sharing his passion for Minnesota sports as a way to build rapport and connect with prospects. 00:11:33 - The Role of Coaching in Sales Development Joey Vendel explains the key elements of effective coaching for SDRs, including reviewing sales activity, account strategy, pipeline development, and career aspirations to drive success in the role and beyond. 00:14:41 - Creating Quality Pipeline Joey discusses the importance of creating a quality pipeline for outside sales to close deals effectively, especially when targeting enterprise customers with multiple stakeholders and buying groups. 00:16:00 - Multi-Threaded Selling Mario and Joey delve into the concept of multi-threaded selling, which involves bringing in different personas and stakeholders to build a business case for account executives when selling to large organizations. 00:17:33 - Career Development Path The conversation shifts to the career development path for BDRs and SDRs, highlighting the challenges of transitioning to management or AE roles. Joey shares how their velocity program helps SDRs develop closing skills and progress towards AE roles. 00:20:39 - Bridging the Skills Gap Mario and Joey discuss the importance of bridging the skills gap between SDR and AE roles, emphasizing the need for coaching and development to prepare SDRs for handling deals and conversations effectively. 00:23:09 - SDR Role Duration Joey provides insights into the average duration of SDR roles at Seismic, emphasizing the importance of learning and progression within the role before aspiring to transition into AE roles. 00:29:41 - SDRs' Daily Activities and Time Management Joey discusses the average daily activities of their SDRs, including emails, dials, and LinkedIn steps. He emphasizes the importance of time management and framing these activities as "effort metrics" within their control. 00:31:41 - Leveraging LinkedIn Engagement Mario and Joey discuss the importance of engaging on LinkedIn posts to stand out. They emphasize the need for personalized and thoughtful comments to make an impact, leading to a potential product enhancement idea for Joey's company. 00:34:15 - Challenges and Solutions in Sales Development Joey highlights the challenge of tracking engagement on LinkedIn and mentions a tool called Surfy for synchronizing LinkedIn messages. They discuss the importance of an omni-channel approach in reaching prospects. 00:36:09 - Leveraging Text Messaging in Sales Outreach Joey and Mario discuss the use of text messaging in sales outreach, emphasizing the need for an established relationship before using text as a channel. They also touch on the strategy of connecting all three channels - phone, text, and LinkedIn. 00:41:57 - Adding Value in Sales Touchpoints The importance of bringing value in every touchpoint is highlighted. Joey emphasizes the need for personalized, relevant messages for specific prospects, and Mario shares insights on the PVC sales methodology - personalization, bringing value, and a call to action. 00:43:17 - Leveraging LinkedIn for Prospecting Joey explains the importance of using the follow button on LinkedIn as part of the outbound cadence. He emphasizes the value of the follow button in engaging passive buyers and triggering a response from them. 00:46:15 - Successful Reps' Cadence vs. Bottom Performing Reps' Cadence Joey discusses the key elements of a successful sales cadence, including personalization, problem statement, value proposition, and interest-based call to action. He highlights the importance of concise and value-driven messaging in both emails and cold calls. 00:51:47 - Consolidating Inbound and Outbound Sales Joey talks about the decision to consolidate inbound and outbound sales under the same team at Seismic. He explains how this hybrid model has improved MQL to demo conversion rates and strengthened the partnership between the sales and marketing teams. 00:55:35 - Joey's Favorite Movie Joey shares his all-time favorite movie, "Crazy, Stupid, Love," and mentions his tradition of asking SDRs about their favorite movie when they start at Seismic. He invites listeners to use the movie title in their subject line when reaching out to him. 00:57:13 - Conclusion and Farewell Mario Martinez Jr. concludes the episode by thanking the listeners and encourages them to keep selling effectively until the next episode. 00:00:00 - Introducing Joey Vendel Mario Martinez Jr. introduces the guest, Joey Vendel, and sets the stage for the upcoming discussion on sales strategies. 00:15:45 - Importance of Personalized Selling Joey Vendel emphasizes the significance of personalized selling and the impact it has on building strong customer relationships and driving sales success. 00:30:22 - Leveraging Technology in Sales The conversation shifts to the role of technology in sales, with Joey Vendel sharing insights on how to effectively leverage technology to streamline sales processes and improve efficiency. 00:45:18 - Adapting to Changing Sales Landscape Mario Martinez Jr. and Joey Vendel discuss the need for sales professionals to adapt to the evolving sales landscape and embrace new strategies and tools to stay competitive in the market. Crafting Irresistible Sales Email Frameworks for Maximum Impact Crafting sales email frameworks that are personalized, concise, and value-driven is key to maximizing impact in prospecting activities. Leveraging technology and the latest sales tools to enhance the effectiveness of sales cadences and outreach strategies is vital in the modern sales landscape. Storytelling can be a powerful tool in sales, allowing sales professionals to create compelling narratives that resonate with prospects and drive engagement. Mastering the Art of Building High-Performing SDR BDR Teams Crafting a successful sales development team involves understanding the key pillars of team architecture, activity optimization, omnichannel presence, and coaching to drive success. Aligning different roles within the team with the organization's sales process and customer base is essential for building a scalable and efficient team. Balancing volume and personalization in sales outreach is crucial for engaging prospects effectively. Accelerating Your Sales Development Career Progression SDRs can accelerate their career progression by gaining exposure to running inbound deals in addition to outbound responsibilities. Programs like Seismic's velocity program allow top-performing SDRs to showcase their skills in closing deals and prepare for advancement to AE roles. It's crucial to focus on skill development, refinement of discovery and demonstration skills, and preparing SDRs for future career growth opportunities within the organization. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Download FlyMSG for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity. Connect with Joey Vendel on LinkedIn and mention that you heard him on the modern selling podcast. Personalize your outreach to Joey Vendel to get a response, showing that you did research about him and his role. Use the subject line Crazy Stupid Love when reaching out to Joey Vendel to get his attention. Give the modern selling podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes.

  Do you want to streamline your RFP response process and win more contracts? Imagine a more efficient and effective way to handle RFPs, ensuring your responses stand out. We'll be sharing a solution to help you achieve that result. Uncover the unexpected way AI can help you win more RFPs with a powerful tool. It's not just about streamlining responses; it's about gaining a competitive edge and uncovering hidden insights. Find out the surprising truth that's transforming the RFP game and putting you ahead of the pack. Ready to discover the game-changing tool that's making waves in the industry? Stay tuned for this groundbreaking reveal. This is Mark Shriner's story: Mark Shriner, a seasoned business development and growth specialist, shares his journey from an adventurous trip to Asia with only $117 in his pocket to leading a consulting company in Japan. Through a chance encounter, he found himself in the sales track after securing a job with a Taiwanese computer magazine publisher, which fueled his career in sales. Mark's experience in business expansion and his tenure with Memoq, a software provider, led him to co-found Memoq RFP, a company focused on streamlining RFP responses for small and medium-sized businesses. His story of resilience and adaptability serves as an inspiration, demonstrating the unexpected paths that can lead to success. Mark's unique journey showcases the unpredictable nature of life and how seizing opportunities, even with limited resources, can lead to remarkable achievements. In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Mario Martinez Jr. interviews Mark Shriner, the CEO and co-founder of Memoq RFP, diving into the challenges of responding to RFPs, RFIs, and RFQs. Mark shares his personal journey, including an adventurous stint in Asia with minimal funds, which eventually led him to a career in sales. The episode sheds light on the complexities of document requests in the sales process, emphasizing the significance of strategic decision-making, collaboration with subject matter experts, and the impact of AI tools in streamlining the response process. Mark's insights into the frustrations faced by subject matter experts and the potential for AI tools to alleviate these challenges offer practical takeaways for sales professionals. His emphasis on the importance of relationship-building and the value of informed competitive positioning in responding to RFPs and RFQs make this episode a must-listen for those seeking to enhance their approach to document requests. Mark's personal anecdotes and experiences add depth to the conversation, making it relatable and insightful for sales professionals navigating the complexities of RFPs and RFQs. You found a problem and then figured out a solution, and people buy that. You go in and help them fix something that's broken. - Mark Shriner My special guest is Mark Shriner Mark Shriner, hailing from Seattle, is the CEO and co-founder of Memoq RfP. With a career spanning over 20 years in leadership positions, including country manager, regional sales manager, and CEO in Asia Pacific, Mark has garnered extensive expertise in business development and growth. His involvement in assisting companies with market expansion led to his foray into RFP technology, driven by the need for enhanced response processes for small and medium-sized businesses. Mark's profound industry experience equips him to provide valuable insights into the integration of AI to streamline RFP responses, making him a knowledgeable and credible guest for the audience to glean insights from. In this episode, you will be able to: Mastering Winning Strategies: Learn how to craft winning strategies for RFPs and RFQs to stand out from the competition and win more business. Boosting Sales Efficiency: Discover how to streamline and improve sales with optimized RFP response processes for greater success and faster turnaround times. Harnessing AI for Optimization: Explore the power of leveraging AI in RFP response optimization to enhance efficiency and accuracy in the sales process. Nurturing Effective Relationships: Unlock the secrets to building effective sales relationships pre-RFP to foster trust and increase win rates. Small Business RFP Success: Uncover essential tips tailored for small businesses to achieve RFP success and compete effectively in the marketplace.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introducing FlyMSG 00:01:11 - Mark Shriner's Background 00:04:38 - RFP Challenges for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses 00:06:28 - Mario's Experience with RFPs 00:11:37 - Mark's Journey to Asia 00:12:55 - Understanding RFPs and Document Requests 00:15:31 - Challenges in Responding to Document Requests 00:18:11 - Communicating During RFPs 00:19:42 - Helping Create RFPs 00:24:39 - Process Tweaks for RFP Response 00:25:48 - Go/No-Go Decision-making Process 00:26:44 - Subject Matter Expert Collaboration 00:29:24 - AI Tools for Efficiency 00:36:28 - Relationship-building in RFPs 00:39:01 - Strategic Pricing in RFPs 00:39:18 - Understanding Key Requirements in RFPs 00:41:50 - Asking Critical Questions 00:44:06 - Reconsideration and Reevaluation 00:47:23 - Finding Solutions to Problems 00:49:45 - Competitive Intelligence in RFPs 00:51:53 - Connecting with Mark Shriner 00:52:28 - Grow Fast Podcast 00:52:44 - Favorite Movies 00:54:28 - Wrapping Up Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introducing FlyMSG Mario Martinez Jr. introduces FlyMSG.IO, a free personal writing assistant and text expander application, and sets the stage for the podcast's focus on sales growth techniques. 00:01:11 - Mark Shriner's Background Mark Shriner shares his background and experience in business development and growth, including his time living and working in Asia, which ultimately led him to start his career in sales. 00:04:38 - RFP Challenges for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Mark discusses the challenges small and medium-sized businesses face in responding to RFPs, highlighting the resource limitations and opportunity costs involved in the decision-making process. 00:06:28 - Mario's Experience with RFPs Mario Martinez Jr. shares his past experience with RFPs and the challenges he faced, emphasizing the importance of relationship building in winning RFPs and RFQs, despite his dislike for the process. 00:11:37 - Mark's Journey to Asia Mark Shriner shares a personal story of his spontaneous trip to Asia with minimal resources, leading to a four-year adventure that ultimately shaped his career in business and sales. 00:12:55 - Understanding RFPs and Document Requests Mark explains the differences between RFI, RFQ, and RFP and the challenges organizations face when responding to these document requests. He highlights the time-consuming nature of the process and the need for involvement from various subject matter experts. 00:15:31 - Challenges in Responding to Document Requests Mark discusses the challenges organizations face in deciding whether to respond to an RFP, including understanding and meeting the requirements, as well as the repetitive nature of the work. He emphasizes the importance of developing a relationship with the customer during the process. 00:18:11 - Communicating During RFPs Mark and Mario explore the issue of communication during RFPs, particularly when organizations are instructed not to communicate with anyone other than procurement. They share insights on how sales organizations can navigate this challenge and potentially leverage existing relationships. 00:19:42 - Helping Create RFPs Mark highlights the strategic advantage of helping organizations create their RFPs, as it allows vendors to influence the content and requirements in their favor. He also discusses the importance of understanding the customer's real intentions behind issuing an RFP. 00:24:39 - Process Tweaks for RFP Response Mark emphasizes the need for small and medium-sized businesses to establish a clear process for making go/no-go decisions when responding to RFPs. He underscores the importance of setting criteria and following a structured approach to managing the RFP response process. 00:25:48 - Go/No-Go Decision-making Process Mark discusses the importance of making a go/no-go decision based on key factors and requirements, potential workarounds, and customer acceptance of workarounds. 00:26:44 - Subject Matter Expert Collaboration Mark emphasizes the need for a pool of subject matter experts and a collaborative platform for efficient RFP response. He highlights the frustration of repeating tasks and the importance of setting clear expectations to gain SME support. 00:29:24 - AI Tools for Efficiency Mark discusses the use of AI tools like Breeze for storing and accessing previously used responses, searching through reference documents, and even drafting responses. He emphasizes the efficiency and effectiveness of these tools in RFP response. 00:36:28 - Relationship-building in RFPs Mario shares his experience with maintaining relationships and winning RFPs. He mentions the significance of building relationships early and leveraging past collaborations to secure contracts, even after losing an initial RFP. 00:39:01 - Strategic Pricing in RFPs Mario describes a strategic approach to pricing in RFPs, highlighting the importance of understanding the true cost and value of services instead of solely meeting price reduction demands. He shares a successful example of re-evaluating pricing to secure a lucrative contract. 00:39:18 - Understanding Key Requirements in RFPs Mark discusses the importance of understanding key requirements in RFPs and how failure to meet those requirements can result in losing the deal. 00:41:50 - Asking Critical Questions Mark shares how he asked critical questions to the CIO, leading to a realization that the competition had not considered key integration and cost factors. 00:44:06 - Reconsideration and Reevaluation The CPO admits they did not consider the integration factor, leading to a reevaluation of the RFP and potential reconsideration of the decision. 00:47:23 - Finding Solutions to Problems Mark discusses identifying a problem with manual wireless orders and finding a solution through an integration with Ariba, resulting in a significant contract and business growth. 00:49:45 - Competitive Intelligence in RFPs Lisa Reheark's advice on understanding competition's pricing and obtaining competitive intelligence through FOIA requests, highlighting the importance of understanding competition in RFP responses. 00:51:53 - Connecting with Mark Shriner Mario asks Mark how to get in touch with him to discuss Breeze's technology and Mark suggests reaching out to him on LinkedIn or Twitter to schedule a demo or meeting. 00:52:28 - Grow Fast Podcast Mark recommends listening to the Grow Fast Podcast to hear from industry experts like Mario and gain valuable knowledge and wisdom. 00:52:44 - Favorite Movies Mark shares that his favorite movies are the Godfather I and II, and Lord of the Rings trilogy, while Mario reveals that his favorite movie is The Goonies due to its themes of aspiration and problem-solving. 00:54:28 - Wrapping Up Mario and Mark continue to discuss their favorite movies and wrap up the conversation by encouraging listeners to rate and review the Modern Selling Podcast and to download FlyMSG for increased productivity. Mastering Winning Strategies Mark Shriner shares valuable insights on mastering winning strategies when responding to RFPs, RFIs, and RFQs, emphasizing the importance of understanding competition pricing and tailoring responses effectively. His personal anecdotes highlight the significance of problem-solving approaches and aligning offerings to meet clients' specific needs, contributing to successful responses. Boosting Sales Efficiency Shriner discusses how embracing AI technology, like Breeze, can boost sales efficiency by streamlining the RFP response process. By harnessing AI tools for knowledge retrieval, response drafting, and collaboration, sales professionals can optimize their responses to document requests and enhance their chances of success in competitive bidding scenarios. Harnessing AI for Optimization The conversation between Mario and Shriner reveals the transformative power of harnessing AI for optimization in the sales process. By leveraging AI tools like Breeze to simplify RFP responses, sales professionals can enhance their efficiency, decision-making, and competitiveness in the market. This strategic approach enables businesses to stay ahead of the curve and drive success in their sales endeavors. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Mark Shriner on LinkedIn to learn more about Breeze Docs AI and how it can help streamline the RFP process. Check out the Grow Fast Podcast to gain insights from sales and marketing experts, including tips on winning more RFPs. Download FlyMSG for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity with a text expander and personal writing assistant. Consider reaching out to Lisa Rehark at RFP Success Company for expert guidance on winning more RFPs and RFQs. Watch The Godfather and The Godfather Part II for a classic movie experience, or indulge in the Lord of the Rings trilogy for an epic adventure.

  Have you heard these myths about SaaS sales led growth strategies? Myth 1: Product led growth is the only way to scale. Myth 2: Cold emails are ineffective for SaaS sales. Myth 3: Scaling a SaaS business requires massive funding. I'll reveal the truth about these myths, but brace yourself for some eye-opening strategies. Hey there! In this podcast episode, Mario Martinez Jr. was interviewed by Joana Inch for the SaaS stories podcast, and he shares his journey from a service-based company to a SaaS organization, shedding light on the challenges and dynamics of the SaaS industry. He delves into the transition of FlyMSG from product led growth to sales led growth, offering valuable insights into the pivotal moments and strategic considerations that shaped our approach. Mario emphasizes the significance of adaptability and the willingness to pivot in response to market dynamics and customer behavior. By discussing the challenges of engaging with enterprise clients and the importance of personalization in sales and marketing efforts, he offers actionable insights for SaaS founders and sales leaders. If you're keen on enhancing sales and marketing alignment and implementing growth strategies, this episode provides a wealth of knowledge and practical advice to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of SaaS. So, grab your headphones and tune in to gain valuable insights for driving growth in the SaaS industry! It's better to have 50% of something than 100% of nothing. - Mario Martinez Jr. In this episode, you will be able to: Master Sales Led Growth Strategies: Uncover the secrets to accelerating your SaaS business through effective sales tactics and strategic growth planning. Unravel the Power of Sales Led Growth: Discover the distinct advantages of sales led growth over product led growth and how it can drive your SaaS business to new heights. Harness the Potential of LinkedIn for Sales Success: Unlock the potential of LinkedIn as a powerful tool for enhancing your sales efforts and expanding your SaaS business reach. Navigate the Art of Scaling SaaS Startups: Learn the art of effectively scaling your SaaS startup, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term success in a competitive market. Embrace Personalization in Cold Outreach: Explore the impact of personalized cold outreach methods and how it can revolutionize your sales approach, leading to increased conversions and meaningful connections. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introducing Vengreso and FlyMSG 00:02:31 - Vengreso's Pivot to FlyMSG 00:06:29 - Challenges in Marketing and Sales 00:11:44 - Product Led Growth vs. Sales Led Growth 00:14:47 - The Struggle with PLG and Success with SLG 00:15:41 - Understanding the Differences Between Group Licensing and Individual Sales 00:16:27 - Overcoming Marketing and Technological Debt 00:18:16 - Balancing Sales Led Growth and Product Led Growth 00:19:39 - Identifying the Pivot Point 00:27:39 - Securing Enterprise Clients and Funding 00:29:32 - Landing Enterprise Clients 00:30:14 - Engaging Enterprise Clients 00:35:06 - Providing Value 00:41:23 - Cold Email Approach 00:43:37 - The Power of Marketing and Sales Email Differentiation 00:45:23 - The Effectiveness of Omni-Channel Marketing 00:46:25 - The Challenge of Scaling People in SaaS 00:48:22 - Profitable Scaling in the VC Market 00:52:57 - Finding Purpose and Mission in Business Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introducing Vengreso and FlyMSG Mario Martinez Jr. introduces Vengreso, the creators of FlyMSG, a free personal writing assistant and text expander extension. The podcast will feature insights from sales leaders and influencers to help grow sales numbers at scale. 00:02:31 - Vengreso's Pivot to FlyMSG Mario Martinez Jr. shares the story of Vengreso's pivot to FlyMSG. The company transitioned from a service-based model to a SaaS company, launching FlyMSG as a productivity tool that gained traction beyond the sales industry. 00:06:29 - Challenges in Marketing and Sales Mario Martinez Jr. discusses the challenges in marketing and sales, particularly post-Covid. He emphasizes the mismatch between the way buyers shop and the way salespeople sell, leading to the need for innovative solutions like FlyMSG. 00:11:44 - Product Led Growth vs. Sales Led Growth Mario Martinez Jr. explains the difference between product led growth (PLG) and sales led growth (SLG). He describes PLG as individual-driven decision-making with virality, while SLG is driven by corporate need and problem-solving. 00:14:47 - The Struggle with PLG and Success with SLG Mario Martinez Jr. delves into the challenges with PLG and the success with SLG. He highlights the importance of understanding the dynamics of each approach and how Vengreso navigated the shift from SLG to PLG. 00:15:41 - Understanding the Differences Between Group Licensing and Individual Sales The conversation delves into the nuances of selling group licenses and the challenges faced in convincing buying committees to invest in the technology. 00:16:27 - Overcoming Marketing and Technological Debt The challenges of marketing debt, technological debt, and the need to master various marketing channels are discussed, highlighting the Herculean effort required to address these issues. 00:18:16 - Balancing Sales Led Growth and Product Led Growth The conversation explores the challenge of balancing sales led growth and product led growth, and how shifting focus impacted the overall strategy and success of the business. 00:19:39 - Identifying the Pivot Point The pivotal moment in the company's journey is revealed, where the decision to pivot towards sales led growth was made, leveraging the company's strong brand presence in the sales training space. 00:27:39 - Securing Enterprise Clients and Funding The discussion highlights the success in securing enterprise clients and closing deals, leading to promising developments in securing funding for the company's growth. 00:29:32 - Landing Enterprise Clients Mario discusses the challenge of landing enterprise clients and the importance of engaging with multiple decision makers. He emphasizes the need for pointed messaging and shares the PBC sales methodology for effective cold sales emails. 00:30:14 - Engaging Enterprise Clients Mario explains that engaging with enterprise clients can take days to months, depending on the product and target buyer. He highlights the importance of personalization and value in outreach messages, as well as the use of multiple channels for increased buyer engagement. 00:35:06 - Providing Value Mario delves into the importance of providing value to sales leaders through personalized content. He emphasizes the use of valuable resources such as articles and training videos to address specific challenges, ultimately leading to increased buyer engagement. 00:41:23 - Cold Email Approach Mario discusses the difference between salesperson and marketer emails, emphasizing that sales emails for cold outreach should be plain text with minimal formatting. He highlights the need for experimentation and the use of pointed messages with one link in marketing emails. 00:43:37 - The Power of Marketing and Sales Email Differentiation Mario emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between marketing and sales emails, highlighting the need for nurturing and engaging leads at different stages of the customer journey. 00:45:23 - The Effectiveness of Omni-Channel Marketing Mario and the host discuss the effectiveness of omni-channel marketing, particularly the impact of email, LinkedIn, and SMS on engaging and reaching prospects in a cluttered digital space. 00:46:25 - The Challenge of Scaling People in SaaS Mario shares insights on the challenges of scaling personnel in a SaaS organization, highlighting the need to match the number of employees with client servicing needs and the importance of focusing on sales to drive growth. 00:48:22 - Profitable Scaling in the VC Market Mario provides valuable tips on profitable scaling in the current VC market, emphasizing the significance of achieving profitable growth and ensuring financial sustainability in the long term. 00:52:57 - Finding Purpose and Mission in Business Mario discusses the importance of having a clear exit plan, finding purpose, and staying inspired in the entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the significance of having a vision for the future. Unraveling the Power of Sales Led Growth Unraveling the power of sales led growth involves retooling and training team members to fulfill multiple roles within the organization. Providing stock options to early employees incentivizes their commitment and investment in the company's success. Maintaining a clear vision and motivation as a leader is essential for navigating the challenges of scaling a SaaS organization. Mastering Sales Led Growth Strategies Implementing sales led growth strategies is crucial for SaaS founders and sales leaders to drive sustainable business growth. Understanding the distinction between marketing and sales emails is key to crafting effective outreach campaigns and nurturing leads. Focusing on profitable scaling rather than growth at all costs ensures long-term success in the competitive SaaS market. Harnessing the Potential of LinkedIn Harnessing the potential of LinkedIn is crucial for engaging with enterprise clients and reaching key decision-makers within organizations. Personalization and tailoring messages to individual personas and needs are paramount for successful cold outreach on the platform. Employing an omnichannel approach, including phone, email, LinkedIn, and video, enhances the effectiveness of engaging with potential clients on LinkedIn. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Visit FlyMSG.io to download FlyMSG, the free personal writing assistant and text expander application mentioned in the podcast. Go to pvcsalesmethod.com to access the PVC Sales Methodology for creating effective sales cold outreach emails. Check out the article on sales referral at Vengreso for valuable insights on leveraging mutual connections for sales outreach. Consider using an omnichannel approach for engaging with prospects, including LinkedIn, email, phone, and other channels. Consider giving stock options to early team members to incentivize and retain talent, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment.