The Modern Selling Podcast

If you're feeling frustrated because your sales strategies are falling flat and you're not seeing the results you want, then you are not alone! Are you tired of putting in effort without reaping the rewards? Let's change that together. In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Jim Kraus, President of the Buyer Persona Institute, brings a wealth of knowledge on buyer personas and their impact on sales and marketing strategies. His expertise stems from conducting in-depth interviews with recent buyers, enabling him to uncover specific buying insights that influence purchasing decisions. By emphasizing the importance of aligning marketing and sales efforts with buyer personas and addressing potential buyer concerns, Kraus provides valuable insights for sales and marketing professionals. His practical guidance on tailoring sales strategies and messaging to meet the needs of different buyer segments underscores the significance of understanding buyer personas. Through a casual and engaging conversation with host Mario Martinez Jr., Jim's personal touch and relatable experiences, such as his love for favorite movies, Bull Durham and The Shawshank Redemption, create a light-hearted and authentic atmosphere, making this episode a must-listen for sales and marketing professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of buyer personas and improve their sales and marketing strategies. "The key thing is, though, when you're talking about marketing and sales, at the end of the day, what you're really trying to do is influence a particular buying decision. That's what you're trying to do, right? You're trying to get somebody or an organization to consider you." - Jim Kraus Discover impactful buyer personas In creating impactful buyer personas for sales, understanding the specific buying insights that influence purchasing decisions is crucial. By conducting in-depth interviews with recent buyers, sales and marketing professionals can uncover valuable information about buyer behavior. These insights help in defining the key components of a buyer persona and tailoring sales and marketing strategies to meet specific buyer needs. Jim Kraus has over 15 years of experience in developing impactful buyer personas to optimize marketing and sales strategies. With a specific focus on influencing buying decisions, Jim is a recognized authority in understanding buyer insights to streamline sales processes. As the author of the upcoming second edition of the Buyer Personas book, Jim's expertise lies in transforming individual profiles to resonate with target buyer personas, making him an invaluable resource for empowering sales professionals. Jim's dedication to online personal training adds a unique perspective to his extensive expertise, offering a fresh and dynamic approach to leveraging buyer personas for effective marketing and sales. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand your customers deeply with impactful buyer personas to boost sales. Gain the edge in influencing buying decisions with valuable buyer insights. Elevate your sales game by integrating buyer personas into your strategies. Master the art of overcoming perceived barriers in B2B sales for success. Harness the power of buyer personas for supercharged marketing impact.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to Buyer Personas 00:01:03 - Introducing Jim Kraus 00:03:17 - Getting to Know Jim Kraus 00:05:03 - The Number One Misconception About Buyer Personas 00:07:27 - Understanding Buyer Persona Components 00:13:38 - Understanding the Buyer's Journey 00:16:40 - Impact on Marketing and Sales 00:19:49 - Key Components of the Buyer Persona 00:22:16 - Practical Impact on Sales Enablement 00:25:36 - Application to LinkedIn Profiles 00:26:16 - Understanding the Product Led Growth Side 00:27:09 - Solutions for Sales Led Growth 00:29:24 - Website Focus and Buyer Persona Prioritization 00:31:16 - Taking Action After Developing Buyer Personas 00:34:31 - Impact on Individual Sales Leaders 00:40:11 - Personalized Connection Requests 00:40:28 - Favorite Movies 00:40:53 - Shawshank Redemption 00:41:05 - Podcast Wrap-Up 00:41:37 - Podcast Sign-Off Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to Buyer Personas Mario Martinez introduces the Modern selling podcast and the topic of buyer personas, highlighting the importance of understanding buyer personas in sales and marketing. 00:01:03 - Introducing Jim Kraus Mario introduces Jim Kraus, the president of the Buyer Persona Institute, and teases an upcoming special question for Jim. 00:03:17 - Getting to Know Jim Kraus Jim shares a surprising fact about himself, revealing that he works as a personal trainer on the side, offering online training programs to help busy professionals stay fit. 00:05:03 - The Number One Misconception About Buyer Personas Jim explains the biggest misconception about buyer personas, emphasizing that they are not simply profiles of individuals, but rather specific buying insights that influence purchasing decisions. 00:07:27 - Understanding Buyer Persona Components Jim breaks down the five key components of buyer personas: priority initiatives, success factors, perceived barriers, decision criteria, and the buyer's journey, providing a detailed explanation of each. 00:13:38 - Understanding the Buyer's Journey Jim Kraus explains the importance of conducting in-depth interviews to understand the buyer's full story and their complete buyer's journey when making high consideration buying decisions. 00:16:40 - Impact on Marketing and Sales Mario Martinez Jr. and Jim discuss the impact of understanding the buyer persona on marketing and sales. They emphasize the importance of aligning with buyers and providing them with the information they need at every step of their journey. 00:19:49 - Key Components of the Buyer Persona Jim breaks down the five key elements of the buyer persona and explains their relevance in marketing and selling strategies. He highlights the importance of understanding what is important to buyers and eliminating guesswork in marketing and sales. 00:22:16 - Practical Impact on Sales Enablement Mario and Jim delve into the practical and tactical impact of the buyer persona on sales enablement. They discuss how sales professionals can use buyer insights to develop sales talking points and confidently engage with prospects. 00:25:36 - Application to LinkedIn Profiles The conversation shifts to applying buyer persona insights to LinkedIn profiles. Jim and Mario emphasize the importance of articulating who the seller helps, how they help, and what business problems they solve on their profiles to align with the buyer persona. 00:26:16 - Understanding the Product Led Growth Side Jim discusses how their product led growth side caters to individual knowledge workers, offering tools to write faster and eliminate mundane tasks. 00:27:09 - Solutions for Sales Led Growth Jim explains how individual sales reps using repeatable messages can lead to enterprise opportunities, and how their education sales prospecting training program called fly learning fits into the equation. 00:29:24 - Website Focus and Buyer Persona Prioritization The discussion revolves around prioritizing buyer personas based on revenue sources and areas where companies lack knowledge about their buyers, and how this impacts website focus and design. 00:31:16 - Taking Action After Developing Buyer Personas Jim suggests making adjustments to marketing and sales assets, updating messaging, and focusing on case studies and references based on the insights gained from buyer personas to improve marketing and sales performance. 00:34:31 - Impact on Individual Sales Leaders The conversation highlights the importance of updating sales playbooks, addressing perceived barriers, and incorporating buyer persona insights into sales pitches to make a significant impact at the individual sales leader level. 00:40:11 - Personalized Connection Requests Mario emphasizes the importance of personalized connection requests on LinkedIn. 00:40:28 - Favorite Movies Jim shares his all-time favorite movies, Bull Durham and Shawshank Redemption. 00:40:53 - Shawshank Redemption Mario mentions that Shawshank Redemption is a common favorite among guests on the show. 00:41:05 - Podcast Wrap-Up Mario thanks Jim for being on the show and encourages listeners to leave a rating and review on iTunes. 00:41:37 - Podcast Sign-Off Mario thanks listeners for tuning in and promotes the use of FlyMSG for increased productivity.   Influence with deep buyer insights To influence buying decisions effectively, integrating deep buyer insights into sales strategies is essential. By aligning messaging and sales efforts with the priorities and needs of buyers, sales professionals can build trust and credibility. Developing precise and value-focused sales messaging based on buyer personas helps in addressing buyer concerns and objections, thus improving conversion rates. Seamlessly integrate buyer personas Integrating buyer personas into sales strategies seamlessly involves aligning marketing and sales efforts based on these personas. Updating sales playbooks, messaging, and sales pitches to address specific buyer needs and challenges ensures relevance and impact in sales interactions. By understanding the buyer's journey, sales professionals can tailor their approach to meet the unique needs of different buyer segments effectively. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Visit buyerpersonas.com for free templates, examples, and a master class on creating buyer personas. The website also offers thought leadership content on buyer personas and buying insights. Connect with Jim Kraus on LinkedIn to access his thought leadership content and to engage in discussions about buyer personas and buying insights. When sending a connection request, be sure to include a personalized message mentioning that you heard him on the modern selling podcast. Download FlyMSG.io for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase productivity. FlyMSG is a text expander and personal writing assistant that helps with repetitive tasks and writing efficiency. 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 Bull Durham and Shawshank Redemption, Jim Kraus' favorite movies, to enjoy these classic films.

Have you ever heard these myths about AI in sales and marketing? Myth 1: AI will replace sales professionals. Myth 2: AI is too complex and expensive for small businesses. Myth 3: AI can't personalize interactions like humans can. We will share the truth about AI's impact on sales and marketing, so you won't want to miss it! Stay tuned. In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Mario Martinez Jr. engages in a dynamic discussion with guest Brian Bell, shedding light on the benefits of leveraging AI in sales and marketing. Brian Bell brings his extensive experience and insights into the challenges faced by sales professionals, emphasizing the importance of embracing innovative tools and techniques to stay ahead in the modern sales landscape. As a seasoned expert in the field, Bell shares practical advice on the use of AI-driven features for personalized engagement, the significance of an omnichannel approach to prospecting, and the potential impact of using text expanders and personal writing assistants to enhance productivity and communication in sales. His valuable insights and real-world examples make this episode a must-listen for sales professionals seeking to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the ever-evolving landscape of sales and marketing. AI Benefits in Sales The strategic utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the sales process can significantly boost productivity levels and enhance engagement rates. AI can assist in personalizing sales pitches, providing time-saving automation of routine tasks, and predicting customer behavior, which delivers a competitive edge. Not only does it improve efficiency, but it also refines accuracy, thereby transforming the way sales professionals interact with prospects and clients. "A fool with a tool, is still a fool" - Mario Martinez Jr. Today's conversation is shared with Brian Bell, a seasoned venture capitalist with a focus on pre-seed companies. His expertise lies in the integration of AI technology and the human-assisted AI concept, providing valuable insights into the realm of sales and marketing. With a strong entrepreneurial background, Brian offers practical advice on strategic marketing spend, resource allocation, and navigating technological challenges. Leveraging his extensive experience in sales, marketing, and executive leadership, Brian's contributions shed light on the tangible benefits of AI in enhancing selling efficiency and effectiveness. In this episode, you will be able to: Uncover the Surprising Benefits of AI in Sales and Marketing. Learn the Secrets to Building a Successful SaaS Product. Master Strategies for Effective Social Selling. Unlock the Power of Personal Branding in Entrepreneurship. Discover How to Leverage Podcasts for Business Growth. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG.io 00:00:48 - Twist in the Episode  00:02:13 - Mario's Background and Experience 00:04:17 - Journey to FlyMSG 00:06:46 - The Value of Education and Experience 00:13:46 - The Importance of Pre-Hello to Hello in Sales 00:14:52 - Revolutionizing Sales Prospecting 00:16:48 - Systematizing Sales Playbooks 00:22:56 - Enhancing Social Engagement 00:24:29 - The Modern Selling Podcast and Prospecting 00:27:00 - Leveraging Thought Leadership for Sales Success 00:27:42 - The Transformation to Modern Selling 00:29:35 - The Power of Podcasting in Business Development 00:34:42 - The Role of Sales and Marketing in Cutting Through the Noise 00:36:22 - Mistakes Early Stage Startups Make in Sales 00:41:02 - Importance of Owning Your Domain 00:42:44 - The Need for Technical and Sales/Marketing Co-Founders 00:46:20 - Doing It vs. Delegating It 00:50:25 - The Impact of AI on Sales and Marketing 00:53:21 - Where to Find Mario 00:53:59 - Introduction and Gratitude 00:00:00 - Harnessing the Power of Text Expansion 00:12:30 - Personal Writing Assistant Features 00:25:45 - Practical Applications in Sales 00:40:15 - Future of Text Expansion Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG.io Mario Martinez introduces himself as the CEO and founder of Vengreso, the creators of FlyMSG.io. He explains that the podcast will feature sales leaders, practitioners, and influencers to help listeners grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:00:48 - Twist in the Episode Mario discusses the unique twist in this episode, where he will be speaking on Brian Bell's podcast, the Ignite Sales podcast. They will cover topics such as embracing technology with AI, entrepreneurial spirit, prudence in marketing spend, and challenges faced by FlyMSG. 00:02:13 - Mario's Background and Experience Brian introduces Mario as the CEO of FlyMSG and discusses their shared experiences as first-generation college students who almost dropped out due to successful sales careers. They explore the value of college degrees in today's world and the importance of experience in the workforce. 00:04:17 - Journey to Flymessage Mario shares his journey from corporate sales and executive leadership roles to starting his first company, Vengreso, as a digital sales training company. He explains the process of merging individual businesses to form Vengreso and the challenges faced during this transition. 00:06:46 - The Value of Education and Experience Mario and Brian discuss the value of education and experience in the sales industry. They debate whether a college degree is necessary and how it impacts career opportunities. Mario emphasizes the importance of experience and skills in addition to formal education. 00:13:46 - The Importance of Pre-Hello to Hello in Sales Discusses the lack of focus on the pre-hello to hello in sales training and the difficulty of the sales job in this phase. 00:14:52 - Revolutionizing Sales Prospecting Introduces the concept of FlyMSG as an auto text expander to streamline prospecting communication, leading to significant time savings for sellers. 00:16:48 - Systematizing Sales Playbooks Talks about how FlyMSG systematizes sales playbooks into a SaaS application, providing customizable implementation based on the company's sales process. 00:22:56 - Enhancing Social Engagement Explores how FlyMSG addresses the challenge of engaging on LinkedIn by enabling thoughtful and individual replies, improving the effectiveness of social engagement for sales reps. 00:24:29 - The Modern Selling Podcast and Prospecting Mario Martinez Jr. discusses his podcast and its focus on the omnichannel approach to prospecting, emphasizing the importance of opening up new channels for increased engagement rates. 00:27:00 - Leveraging Thought Leadership for Sales Success Brian Bell shares how inviting the chief commercial officer of HP to his podcast led to millions of dollars in closed deals. Thought leadership and niche-focused content were key to his success. 00:27:42 - The Transformation to Modern Selling Brian emphasizes the importance of using every weapon in the quiver for modern selling. From gift marketing to direct mail, text, and phone, the goal is to slice through the noise and engage with potential customers effectively. 00:29:35 - The Power of Podcasting in Business Development Both Mario and Brian highlight the effectiveness of using a podcast as a tool for business development. It's an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and build relationships that lead to closed deals and advisory board opportunities. 00:34:42 - The Role of Sales and Marketing in Cutting Through the Noise Brian stresses the importance of salespeople and marketers understanding each other's roles to create personalized, hyper-personalized engagement and outreach. This approach is crucial for standing above the noise in a crowded market. 00:36:22 - Mistakes Early Stage Startups Make in Sales Mario discusses the common mistakes early stage startups make in sales, including the misconception that hiring a salesperson will solve all problems. He emphasizes the importance of founders being able to articulate their vision and passion. 00:41:02 - Importance of Owning Your Domain Mario emphasizes the importance of owning your domain in sales and marketing. He advises founders to own their space and leverage it without spending big bucks. 00:42:44 - The Need for Technical and Sales/Marketing Co-Founders Mario discusses the importance of having a technical co-founder for product development and a sales/marketing counterpart for driving revenue. He highlights the challenges faced without these roles. 00:46:20 - Doing It vs. Delegating It Mario shares the importance of rolling up your sleeves and getting things done, even if it means learning new skills. He emphasizes the need to be hands-on in certain areas of the business for better understanding and improvement. 00:50:25 - The Impact of AI on Sales and Marketing Mario predicts that AI experience will become a crucial requirement for job seekers in the sales and marketing industry. He advises that individuals need to have AI experience to stay relevant in the industry. 00:53:21 - Where to Find Mario Mario shares that people can connect with him on LinkedIn and explore FlyMSG, for free access. He invites sales leaders and founders to utilize the platform for driving more conversations and creating more hellos. 00:53:59 - Introduction and Gratitude Mario Martinez Jr. expresses gratitude to the listeners for tuning in and introduces the episode's guest, Brian Bell. He concludes with a message of goodwill, "good selling." 00:00:00 - Harnessing the Power of Text Expansion Mario and Brian discuss the benefits of using a text expander as a personal writing assistant. They explore how this tool can improve productivity and efficiency in writing tasks. 00:12:30 - Personal Writing Assistant Features The conversation delves into the specific features of a text expander and how it can aid in streamlining writing processes. Brian shares insights on leveraging this technology for effective communication. 00:25:45 - Practical Applications in Sales Mario and Brian highlight real-life applications of text expansion in sales scenarios. They emphasize its role in enhancing customer communication, creating personalized outreach, and increasing sales efficiency. 00:40:15 - Future of Text Expansion The episode wraps up with a discussion on the future of text expansion and its potential impact on various industries. Mario and Brian explore the evolving landscape of writing assistance tools and their implications for businesses. Effective Social Selling Strategies Harnessing the power of social media networks can revolutionize selling tactics. Effective social selling strategies focus on building reliable, long-term relationships with prospects rather than resorting to aggressive sales techniques. By strategically leveraging social networks, sales professionals can gain deep insights into potential clients' interests and behaviors, establish credibility, and effectively engage with their audience through personalized content. Successful SaaS Secrets The key to a successful Software as a Service (SaaS) lies in understanding the customers' needs, focusing on building quality products that add real value to the user's experience, and effectively marketing these solutions. It's crucial to adapt to changes rapidly and proactively incorporate customer feedback into product development. The goal should always be to enhance customer satisfaction, predominantly by providing innovative solutions and excellent client service. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Mario Martinez Jr. on LinkedIn and send a personalized connection request mentioning the Ignite podcast with Brian Bell. Visit FlyMSG:io to sign up for a free trial, a text expander and personal writing assistant to save time and increase productivity. Download FlyMSG to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase productivity.

If you're feeling frustrated and stuck in a cycle of repetitive sales approaches that just aren't getting results, then you are not alone! Are you tired of feeling like your sales efforts are falling flat, and you're not making the impact you know you're capable of? It's time to break free from the ineffective methods and unleash your true sales potential! In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Mario Martinez Jr. interviews Jason Hartz, author of The Hartz Method: A Sales Performance Playbook and Director of Demand Services Development Programs at Oracle. Jason's unique background, transitioning from stand-up comedy to sales enablement, offers a fresh perspective on sales methodologies. He draws parallels between sales and performance, emphasizing the importance of preparation, rehearsal, and creating engaging experiences for prospects. The conversation explores the intersection between confidence, experience, and performance-based selling, highlighting the need for sellers to exude confidence and continuously evolve their sales approaches. Jason's insights on leveraging technology, understanding audience cues, and embracing innovative solutions provide actionable strategies for enhancing sales productivity and efficiency. If you're a sales professional looking to elevate your performance and drive meaningful conversations with clients, this episode offers valuable tips and perspectives to help you navigate the evolving sales landscape., If you start to treat each and every interaction with a customer as if you're standing on stage and performing, your ratio to hits to wins is going to increase. - Jason Hartz This week's special guest is Jason Hartz: Jason Hartz is an accomplished sales professional and the author of "The Hart's Method: A Sales Performance Playbook." With a rich career history encompassing stand-up comedy, fitness franchising, and sales training, Jason has garnered a wealth of diverse experiences. His notable roles at Oracle and within the fintech sector have contributed to his deep understanding of demand services and sales methodologies. Jason's book showcases his expertise in sales performance, offering a comprehensive guide to enhancing productivity and efficiency. Through his practical insights and strategic approach, Jason has established himself as a respected figure in the sales domain, providing valuable perspectives for sales professionals aiming to elevate their performance. In this episode, you will find: Mastering the Sales Performance Playbook and Methodology can revolutionize your approach to selling, leading to increased success and growth. Balancing Confidence vs Experience in Sales can uncover powerful insights that transform your selling style and boost results. Implementing Performance-Based Selling Strategies can supercharge your sales effectiveness and drive higher revenue. Leveraging Technology for Sales Efficiency allows you to streamline your processes and maximize your sales potential. Discover how Enhancing Sales Skills with Innovative Tools can give you a competitive edge and elevate your performance in the market.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introducing FlyMSG.io 00:01:16 - Jason Hartz’s Background 00:09:40 - Defining Performance-Based Selling 00:13:03 - Enhancing Customer Engagement 00:15:40 - Boosting Self-Confidence and Sales Acumen 00:15:48 - The Importance of Confidence and Experience in Sales Success 00:18:20 - Three Major Performance-Based Steps for Sales Preparation 00:22:28 - Setting the Table for Successful Sales Calls 00:25:04 - The Pitfalls of Inadequate Preparation 00:28:48 - Transitioning from Job to Profession in Sales 00:30:44 - Missed Action Item on AI Comparison 00:33:32 - Importance of Understanding the Audience 00:34:18 - Recording Sales Calls 00:41:24 - Leaving Lasting Impressions on Prospects 00:45:07 - Favorite Movie and Personal Connection 00:45:37 - Welcoming Jason Hartz to the Show 00:45:47 - Call to Action for Audience 00:46:19 - Conclusion and Closing Remarks 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:00 - Sales Productivity Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introducing FlyMSG.io Mario Martinez Jr. introduces FlyMSG, a free personal writing assistant and text expander application. 00:01:16 - Jason Hartz’s Background Jason Hartz shares his background in stand-up comedy, sales training, and working on movies, including "A League of Their Own". 00:09:40 - Defining Performance-Based Selling Jason Hartz defines performance-based selling as treating customer interactions like stage performances, including preparation, rehearsal, and creating home court advantage. 00:13:03 - Enhancing Customer Engagement Jason and Mario discuss using virtual backgrounds to create a personalized and engaging experience for customers, improving engagement and conversation starters. 00:15:40 - Boosting Self-Confidence and Sales Acumen The conversation explores how performance-based selling can boost self-confidence and sales acumen by creating comfort and unity, leading to better customer interactions and outcomes. 00:15:48 - The Importance of Confidence and Experience in Sales Success Jason discusses the debate of whether confidence or experience is more crucial for success in sales. He emphasizes the need for both confidence and experience, and the importance of boosting confidence through cold calls and discovery calls. 00:18:20 - Three Major Performance-Based Steps for Sales Preparation Mario asks Jason for advice on performance-based steps for sellers to prepare for sales calls. Jason highlights the significance of outdressing the room, using scripted questioning strategies, and conducting thorough pre-work prior to customer-facing calls. 00:22:28 - Setting the Table for Successful Sales Calls Jason elaborates on the concept of setting the table for successful sales calls by outdressing the room, using scripted questioning strategies, and conducting thorough pre-work. He emphasizes the need to approach every interaction with thorough preparation and professionalism. 00:25:04 - The Pitfalls of Inadequate Preparation Mario shares a personal experience of a sales call where the seller lacked preparation and failed to understand the prospect's business needs. Jason emphasizes the importance of thorough research and preparation to avoid missed opportunities in sales interactions. 00:28:48 - Transitioning from Job to Profession in Sales Jason discusses the distinction between holding a job and having a profession in sales. He emphasizes the importance of treating sales as a profession with a focus on continuous improvement, craftsmanship, and diligent preparation for every interaction. 00:30:44 - Missed Action Item on AI Comparison Jason shares a story about a salesperson who missed the key action item in a follow-up conversation, focusing on AI comparison instead of addressing the prospect's main concern about startup credits. 00:33:32 - Importance of Understanding the Audience Understanding the audience's needs and priorities is crucial in sales. Jason compares it to a comedian reading the audience's reaction to a joke, emphasizing the importance of reading the prospect's cues. 00:34:18 - Recording Sales Calls Jason discusses the benefits of recording sales calls, highlighting the importance of capturing important details and action items during conversations and using technology to improve follow-up and performance. 00:41:24 - Leaving Lasting Impressions on Prospects Jason emphasizes the importance of leaving a positive impression on prospects by demonstrating organization, process-based approach, and genuine interest in the prospect's success. He also discusses the impact of credibility in sales interactions. 00:45:07 - Favorite Movie and Personal Connection Jason shares his all-time favorite movie, "The Inlaws," and connects it to a personal experience working with the director. This highlights the importance of personal connections and shared interests in building relationships. 00:45:37 - Welcoming Jason Hartz to the Show Mario introduces Jason Hartz as the first-time guest on the modern selling podcast and expresses gratitude for joining the show. 00:45:47 - Call to Action for Audience Mario urges the listeners to give the podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes. He also promotes the text expander and personal writing assistant, Fly Message, to save time and increase productivity. 00:46:19 - Conclusion and Closing Remarks Mario thanks the audience for listening and encourages them to keep selling. He signs off by expressing appreciation for the support and hints at the next episode. 00:00:00 - Introduction Mario Martinez Jr. and Jason Hartz engage in a conversation about modern selling, discussing strategies, tools, and techniques to enhance sales performance. 00:00:00 - Sales Productivity Mario and Jason delve into the importance of sales productivity and share insights on leveraging tools like FlySG for time-saving and increased efficiency in sales activities. Sales Performance Playbook and Methodology To increase sales productivity, sales professionals are advised to adopt performance-based sales strategies inspired by stage performances. These strategies, as outlined by Jason Hartz, require careful preparation, interaction rehearsal, and development of a pleasing and engaging experience for clients. The takeaway is that sales isn’t merely a transaction, but a performance that requires constant practice, feedback, and adjustment to deliver a stunning outcome. Confidence vs Experience in Sales The debate of confidence versus experience in sales success indicates that the two elements are not mutually exclusive. Confidence, which can be innate or nurtured, is crucial in creating an initial impression and fostering trust with customers. Experience, on the other hand, is vital in sales performance as it allows sellers to adapt their approach effectively, recounting real-world examples, and responding to various challenging situations. Performance-Based Selling Strategies Embracing performance-based selling strategies necessitates an understanding of the audience's preferences, swift action on action items, and utilization of technology for efficiency. The ability to read an audience, act on valuable cues, and adapt to different situations are essential to resonating with your customers. Moreover, regular coaching, timely reviews, and feedback can help sales professionals improve their performance, and create meaningful and lasting relationships with their clients. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Jason Hartz on LinkedIn by sending a personalized connection request and mentioning that you heard him on the modern selling podcast. Visit the website http://www.thehartzmethod.com/ to learn more about Jason Hartz and his sales performance playbook. Follow Jason Hartz on Instagram at the handle @thehartzmethod for more insights and updates. 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. Give the Modern Selling Podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes to show your support and help others discover the podcast.

Getting to Yes: A VC Reveals His Step-by-Step Framework for Assessing and Investing in Startups. If you're feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the endless cycle of VC rejections, and finding it hard to break through the fundraising barriers, then you are not alone! Navigating Startup Fundraising Stages The journey of raising funds for startups is a structured process with distinct stages, each with its unique requirements and expectations. Understanding these stages, from friends and family rounds to seed rounds, can greatly enhance the startup’s chances of successful fundraising. Each stage requires a firm grasp of factors such as revenue requirements, investor expectations, and market positioning. This is Brian Bell's story: Brian Bell's journey into venture capital fundraising is a fascinating tale of a lifelong sales career that seamlessly transitioned into the world of startups and investments. From humble beginnings selling door-to-door as a sixth-grader to delving into commercial real estate and leading the AI category for AWS, Brian's diverse background laid the foundation for his venture into the world of venture capital. His candid revelation about navigating a quarter-life crisis due to working full-time in college, showcases the grit and determination that ultimately led him to where he is today. Brian's story is a testament to the fact that the path to success is often filled with unexpected twists and turns, and it's this authenticity and relatability that makes his insights into venture capital fundraising challenges so compelling. Every idea will probably eventually be done in some way, shape, or form. - Brian Bell this week's special guest is Brian Bell Brian Bell serves as the Managing Partner and Founder of Team Ignite Ventures. With a background rooted in sales, AI, and venture capital, his professional journey reflects a diverse range of experiences, from selling electronics at Sears to leading the AI category for AWS. Under his leadership, Team Ignite has expanded to include over 2000 members, partners, and mentors, aligning with the vision to ignite startups as a team. Leveraging his extensive expertise, Brian offers invaluable insights into venture capital fundraising challenges and early-stage investments, providing a pragmatic and informed perspective for entrepreneurs navigating the intricacies of fundraising. Key elements you will learn in this episode: Mastering Venture Capital Fundraising Insights: Unlock the secrets to overcoming challenges and securing vital funding for your startup. Navigating Startup Fundraising Stages: Discover the revenue thresholds that can propel your venture to the next level of investment and growth. Evaluating Founders for Investment: Gain insights into the key factors that investors consider when assessing the potential of startup founders. Unleashing Customer Acquisition Strategies for SaaS Startups: Learn innovative approaches to attract and retain customers, driving the success of your SaaS business. Harnessing the Power of Personalized Communication: Understand the crucial role of personalized communication in gathering valuable feedback for your podcast and fostering a loyal listener community. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG 00:01:18 - Background of Brian Bell and Team Ignite Ventures 00:05:10 - Early Stage Funding Rounds 00:09:24 - Challenges of Venture Capital Fundraising 00:13:22 - Mario's Fundraising Journey 00:14:14 - The Challenges of Venture Capital Fundraising 00:17:36 - Balancing Technical Innovation and Market Needs 00:21:23 - Evaluating Founders for Investment 00:22:46 - Importance of Product and Design in Startups 00:24:32 - Role of Team Dynamics in Investment Decisions 00:27:55 - Importance of Sales and Marketing in Startups 00:29:12 - Validating Total Addressable Market (TAM) and Problem Size Claims 00:31:43 - Founder Market Fit 00:36:49 - Building End-to-End Solutions for Customer Problems 00:40:39 - Evaluating Customer Acquisition Strategies 00:41:02 - Acquiring Customers and Unique Advantage 00:42:20 - Marketing and Business Model 00:43:37 - Profitability and Due Diligence 00:47:51 - Persistence and Resilience 00:49:02 - Learning from Rejections 00:53:52 - Personalized Connection Requests 00:54:11 - Favorite Movie 00:54:23 - Impact of Shawshank Redemption 00:54:36 - Podcast Closing Message Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG.io Mario Martinez introduces himself as the CEO and founder of Vengreso, creator of FlyMSG, a personal writing assistant and text expander application. He also sets the stage for the podcast, focusing on sales growth. 00:01:18 - Background of Brian Bell and Team Ignite Ventures Brian Bell shares his extensive background in sales and venture capital, highlighting his experience at Amazon and Microsoft. He also explains the vision behind Team Ignite Ventures, their focus on early-stage startups, and their network of partners and mentors. 00:05:10 - Early Stage Funding Rounds Brian breaks down the different early-stage funding rounds, from friends and family to seed extensions, and explains the typical investment amounts and revenue thresholds associated with each round. He emphasizes the evolving nature of seed rounds in the current startup landscape. 00:09:24 - Challenges of Venture Capital Fundraising Mario shares his personal experience with venture capital fundraising, highlighting the difficulty of raising investments in the current market. He mentions the decrease in investment and the challenges faced by startups in securing funding. 00:13:22 - Mario's Fundraising Journey Mario shares insights into his own fundraising journey, disclosing the amounts raised in friends and family and precede rounds, as well as the valuation cap. He also outlines the goals for the seed round and the milestones they are aiming to achieve. 00:14:14 - The Challenges of Venture Capital Fundraising Brian and Mario discuss the difficulties of venture capital fundraising, with Brian sharing insights from his experience and the advice he received from successful founders. 00:17:36 - Balancing Technical Innovation and Market Needs Brian explains the importance of balancing technical innovation with market needs in early-stage startups, emphasizing the significance of building a user-friendly product and the execution capabilities of the founding team. 00:21:23 - Evaluating Founders for Investment Brian outlines the key attributes he looks for in founding teams, including commitment, vision, and trustworthiness, highlighting the challenges of assessing these qualities in a short timeframe. 00:22:46 - Importance of Product and Design in Startups Brian discusses the significance of product and design in early-stage startups, emphasizing the need to build a great product to differentiate from competitors and attract investment. 00:24:32 - Role of Team Dynamics in Investment Decisions Brian shares the preference for startups with multiple co-founders, citing the correlation between solo founders and startup shutdowns, and the challenges of solo founders in building and scaling an organization. 00:27:55 - Importance of Sales and Marketing in Startups The conversation starts with the significance of having a technical co-founder and the role of sales and marketing in startups. Brian Bell emphasizes the importance of being able to sell and market, even without a technical co-founder. 00:29:12 - Validating Total Addressable Market (TAM) and Problem Size Claims Brian discusses the importance of understanding the market and how to validate TAM and problem size claims made by startups. He emphasizes the need for knowledge of the market and how the TAM can shift over time as problems are solved. 00:31:43 - Founder Market Fit The concept of founder market fit is introduced, highlighting the importance of aligning the founder's background and expertise with the market they are targeting. Brian mentions that founder market fit can have a significant impact on the success of a startup. 00:36:49 - Building End-to-End Solutions for Customer Problems The conversation delves into the importance of building end-to-end solutions around customer problems. Brian shares how their product, Fly Engage, was developed to address the scalability issues faced by sellers, ultimately leading to increased productivity. 00:40:39 - Evaluating Customer Acquisition Strategies The focus shifts to customer acquisition strategies, with Brian showcasing his pipeline deals and discussing the concept of distribution advantage. The importance of having an unfair advantage in acquiring customers is emphasized. 00:41:02 - Acquiring Customers and Unique Advantage Brian discusses the importance of finding a unique advantage in acquiring customers, such as being a sales expert or having a distribution advantage. He emphasizes the significance of customer acquisition cost (CAC) and customer lifetime value (LTV) in the process. 00:42:20 - Marketing and Business Model Mario and Brian delve into the significance of marketing and the business model in scaling a startup. They emphasize the profitability and scalability of the business model, especially in the B2B SaaS industry, and highlight the importance of strong margins for scalability. 00:43:37 - Profitability and Due Diligence Brian explains the focus on strong margins in evaluating a startup's profitability and touches on the due diligence process. He emphasizes the importance of thorough due diligence to ensure sound financial decisions and mentions specific aspects such as cap table, shareholder loans, and incorporation docs. 00:47:51 - Persistence and Resilience Mario shares a personal anecdote about receiving initial rejection from Brian and using it as fuel to persist and eventually build a relationship. Both speakers emphasize the importance of not taking no for an answer and learning from rejections to fuel growth and development as a founder. 00:49:02 - Learning from Rejections Mario and Brian discuss the impact of receiving rejection and how it can drive founders to prove naysayers wrong. They highlight the importance of resilience and the potential for a "no" to turn into a "yes" with persistence and 00:53:52 - Personalized Connection Requests Brian advises sending personalized connection request messages when reaching out, referencing the Modern Selling podcast to establish a connection. 00:54:11 - Favorite Movie Brian reveals his all-time favorite movie, "Shawshank Redemption," highlighting its impact and memorability. 00:54:23 - Impact of Shawshank Redemption The discussion emphasizes the unforgettable and impactful nature of "Shawshank Redemption" as a movie. 00:54:36 - Podcast Closing Message Mario encourages listeners to rate and review the Modern Selling podcast on iTunes, and promotes the use of Fly Message for productivity improvement. Mastering Venture Capital Fundraising Challenges Successful venture capital fundraising requires meticulous preparation, in-depth knowledge, and a resilient mindset. Understanding the fundraising process, expectations of potential investors and market trends are crucial in mastering these challenges. By navigating through these complexities, entrepreneurs can optimally position their startups and achieve successful fundraising outcomes. Evaluating Founders - Key Factors The evaluation of founders is an integral part of venture capital investments. Potential investors consider factors such as the founder’s commitment, vision, success history, and trustworthiness. Simultaneously, the founder's ability to think long-term, maintain customer focus, and adapt to changing circumstances greatly influences investor decisions. The resources mentioned in this episode: Give the Modern Selling Podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes. Download FlyMessage IO for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity. Visit flymsg.io to get your free text expander and personal writing assistant. Reach out to Brian Bell on LinkedIn or via email at brian@teamigniteventures.com to pitch your startup or connect with him. Check out the Pitch Team Ignite VC form to submit your pitch directly to Brian's inbox. Watch the movie Shawshank Redemption for an impactful and memorable experience.

Attention all sales professionals! Do you want increased success in sales conversations and negotiations? we'll be sharing the solution so that you can achieve that result. Get ready to level up your sales game! Get ready for a jaw-dropping insight into negotiation tactics and buyer psychology. Uncover the shocking truth behind procurement strategies and the real power dynamics at play. You won't believe what really goes on behind the scenes. Buckle up for an eye-opening conversation with Richard Harris, where the hidden secrets of sales success are revealed. Are you prepared to challenge everything you thought you knew about sales? Get ready to be blown away. Meet our guest: This week's Modern Selling Podcast guest is Richard Harris, a veteran in the world of sales and CEO & founder of The Harris Consulting Group. Listen as he unfolds his journey of embracing the impactful use of "and" in sales conversations. With a childhood rooted in a family immersed in the sales domain, Richard's early exposure to business and ownership in Texaco stock at a tender age laid the groundwork for his eventual foray into the sales arena. His diverse experiences, from working at the Gap to venturing into sales training and go-to-market strategies, provided a rich tapestry of knowledge that shaped his understanding of negotiation and collaboration in sales. Richard's unique perspective on the human element of the sales process and the significance of earning the right to ask questions showcases his deep insight into the art of sales conversations. His engaging storytelling skillfully captures the essence of his journey, resonating with the audience and illuminating the transformative moments that led him to recognize the power of "and" in sales conversations. I do not believe there's anything called a buyer's journey. I think it's a lie and a myth. The only thing the buyer has is an experience. - Richard Harris Richard Harris, brings a wealth of sales expertise with a touch of humor and relatability. With a lifelong passion for sales, Richard's journey from working at the Gap in high school to owning stock in Texaco at the age of six, has shaped his deep understanding of the human side of the sales process. Through his company, he specializes in sales training and go-to-market strategies, emphasizing the importance of earning the right to ask questions and the humanity behind each sales interaction. Richard's approachable and engaging style makes him a trusted advisor for those looking to enhance their negotiation and collaboration skills in the sales landscape. Enhance sales conversations Mario and Richard delve into a fascinating discourse on the strategic use of the words "and" and "but" in sales conversations. Sales conversations often require a delicate approach, utilizing the correct words that can maintain a positive, collaborative tone and foster more intensive customer engagement. By tweaking these small but significant aspects of your conversation techniques, you'll be able to reduce potential friction and bolster the effectiveness and conviviality of your sales dialogues. In this episode, you will be able to: Master the Neat Selling method and close more deals. Enhance your sales conversations with strategic use of "and". Successfully negotiate with procurement teams and win big contracts. Skillfully handle pricing discussions to maximize sales opportunities. Navigate contract negotiations with procurement for mutually beneficial outcomes. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to the Podcast 00:01:24 - Welcome Richard Harris 00:04:12 - Richard Harris's Background 00:08:31 - Writing "The Seller's Journey" 00:12:22 - Navigating Procurement 00:13:45 - The Power of "And" vs "But" 00:17:55 - The Importance of Agreement in Sales Conversations 00:21:05 - Slowing Down for Strategic Thinking 00:23:43 - The Role of Procurement in Negotiations 00:27:19 - Navigating Negotiations with Procurement 00:28:45 - Overcoming Adversarial Negotiations 00:29:43 - Handling Discount Requests 00:32:53 - Importance of Economic Impact 00:34:35 - Leveraging Pricing in Negotiations 00:40:36 - Unbundling Contract and Pricing 00:42:46 - Procurement's Unusual Contract Clause 00:46:17 - Negotiating with Procurement and Legal 00:49:41 - Procurement Tactics and Training 00:51:18 - Personalized Connection Requests and Judging 00:51:57 - Favorite Movie and Final Thoughts Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to the Podcast Mario Martinez Jr. introduces the podcast and explains that it features sales leaders, practitioners, and influencers to help listeners grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:01:24 - Welcome Richard Harris Mario Martinez Jr. welcomes Richard Harris to the show, discussing that they are in the 7th season with over 250 episodes. They talk about Richard's new book, "The Seller's Journey." 00:04:12 - Richard Harris's Background Richard Harris shares his background, growing up in sales and his work with the Harris Consulting Group. He talks about his approach to sales training, focusing on the humanity of the sales process. 00:08:31 - Writing "The Seller's Journey" Richard Harris discusses the inspiration behind writing "The Seller's Journey," explaining his belief that there's no such thing as a buyer's journey. He emphasizes the importance of the seller's journey and the tactics shared in the book. 00:12:22 - Navigating Procurement Richard Harris delves into the topic of negotiating with procurement, highlighting that procurement is not the enemy and discussing the importance of engaging with them early in the sales cycle to understand their needs and challenges. 00:13:45 - The Power of "And" vs "But" Richard Harris discusses the significance of using "and" instead of "but" in sales conversations. He explains that "and" signifies agreement, while "but" can be perceived as disagreement, turning people off. 00:17:55 - The Importance of Agreement in Sales Conversations Richard emphasizes the importance of showing agreement when speaking with buyers, influencers, and coaches. He explains that using "and" can help reduce confrontation and friction in uncomfortable conversations, ultimately improving the buyer's experience. 00:21:05 - Slowing Down for Strategic Thinking Mario and Richard discuss the impact of intentional changes in thinking processes, such as using "and" instead of "but," to slow down and strategically approach sales conversations. Richard shares how this tactic can help salespeople better connect with buyers and improve their overall experience. 00:23:43 - The Role of Procurement in Negotiations Richard shares his experience negotiating with procurement and provides insights into the role of procurement in sales. He highlights that procurement is not always the enemy and discusses the dynamics of negotiation in larger contracts involving procurement teams. 00:27:19 - Navigating Negotiations with Procurement Richard offers strategies for navigating negotiations with procurement, emphasizing the importance of early engagement and seeking permission from champions to involve procurement sooner. He also addresses the power dynamics and decision-making authority within procurement processes. 00:28:45 - Overcoming Adversarial Negotiations Richard Harris discusses the challenge of negotiations feeling adversarial and shares strategies to shift the conversation to commercial terms, emphasizing the value exchange. 00:29:43 - Handling Discount Requests Richard explains the importance of using the term "commercial terms" and shares a role play scenario to demonstrate handling discount requests effectively by focusing on economic impact. 00:32:53 - Importance of Economic Impact Richard emphasizes the significance of understanding economic impact in negotiations and differentiates it from ROI. He highlights the importance of discovery skills in uncovering economic impact. 00:34:35 - Leveraging Pricing in Negotiations Richard provides insights on leveraging pricing in negotiations by offering additional benefits in exchange for discounts, such as marketing support, case studies, and prepayment of contracts. 00:40:36 - Unbundling Contract and Pricing Richard cautions against the unbundling of contract and pricing in negotiations, emphasizing the importance of including elements such as customer references and logos in contracts to avoid internal conflicts. 00:42:46 - Procurement's Unusual Contract Clause Procurement redlined the contract to include a clause allowing termination for convenience, with a strange twist of prepaying and getting a refund for unused services. 00:46:17 - Negotiating with Procurement and Legal A two-hour negotiation session with procurement and legal resulted in an agreement on a termination for convenience clause. However, they later denied agreeing to it, but a recorded snippet proved otherwise. 00:49:41 - Procurement Tactics and Training Procurement tactics include intentional delays and denial of agreed terms. These tactics are frustrating but can be navigated with evidence and strong negotiation skills. 00:51:18 - Personalized Connection Requests and Judging Richard judge's LinkedIn connection requests and uses them for sales training. Personalizing connection requests is crucial to make a good impression. 00:51:57 - Favorite Movie and Final Thoughts Richard's favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption. The episode concludes with a call to action to rate and review the podcast. Master Neat Selling technique Hone your sales skills with the Neat Selling technique. This method urges sales professionals to delve into the buyer's need, economic impact, their access to authority, and timeline. Elevating your expertise on this technique can propel your sales success by facilitating a deeper understanding of buyer's needs and economic considerations, thereby aligning your product or service to provide maximum value. Ace negotiations with procurement For sales professionals, negotiations with procurement teams can be challenging. In this episode, Mario and Richard share insightful strategies, tactics, and experiences to help you navigate these discussions more confidently and effectively. From framing the conversation to anticipate individual needs, understanding your customer's perspective, and being well-prepared with quick information, these valuable strategies can position you for more successful negotiations with procurement teams. The resources mentioned in this episode are: The book The Seller's Journey by Richard Harris is available on Amazon and other online platforms. It covers tactics for closing deals and is a valuable resource for sales professionals. Connect with Richard Harris on LinkedIn and send a personalized connection request mentioning that you heard him on the modern selling podcast. Download FlyMSG for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase productivity. It's a text expander and personal writing assistant. Give the Modern Selling Podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes to show support and help the podcast reach a wider audience.  

Attention Sales Professionals: Want to skyrocket your email response rates and engagement with prospects? Get ready for a game-changing solution that will revolutionize your sales email communication and drive incredible results. Stay tuned to discover how you can achieve this and transform your sales game. Uncover the shocking truth about the common mistakes in email communication that could be costing you valuable leads. Learn how to transform your approach and skyrocket your response rates. Stay tuned to uncover the unexpected secrets that will revolutionize your sales game. This is Jason Kramer's story: Jason Kramer's journey into mastering effective sales email communication stems from his early passion for communication, which he elevated to graphic design and verbal communication. With a robust background in marketing, communication, and advertising, he ventured into the realm of web development and marketing, where he gained invaluable experience in handling leads and managing the sales process. Jason's unique approach involves layering communication and advertising on top of data, particularly CRM, to drive enhanced results for companies. His focus on helping companies navigate the challenges of lead management and data segmentation has led to remarkable improvements in response rates and prospect engagement. Emphasizing the importance of a defined process and the right tools to manage it effectively, Jason's insights resonate with sales professionals seeking to elevate their email communication skills. Through personalized and customized strategies, Jason has effectively adapted to the evolving dynamics of sales communication, making him a trusted advisor for sales professionals looking to optimize their email outreach and engagement. It's all about the impression of the brand and the way that the brand exists in the marketplace. - Jason Kramer This week's special podcast guest is Jason Kramer Jason Kramer, the founder of Cultivize, brings a wealth of experience in marketing, communication, and advertising to the table. His expertise lies in leveraging data within CRM to help businesses effectively manage their lead nurturing process. With a focus on establishing meaningful connections with prospects, Jason's insights are invaluable for sales professionals looking to build stronger relationships with buyers. Through his practical approach and emphasis on defined processes, Jason provides actionable strategies that resonate with sales leaders and professionals. In this episode, you will be able to: Master the art of lead nurturing and relationship building to supercharge your sales success. Unlock the secrets of optimizing sales engagement and outreach for unparalleled results. Learn the keys to effective sales email communication to skyrocket your response rates. Refine your sales process to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. Uncover powerful lead generation strategies to fuel your sales pipeline.   The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG.io 00:01:10 - Building Stronger Relationships with Buyers 00:03:22 - Unique Insight into Jason Kramer 00:05:21 - Lead Nurturing Process 00:09:08 - Establishing Meaningful Connections 00:13:42 - Automation and Engagement Strategies 00:14:52 - Approaches for Sales Qualified Leads 00:16:27 - Cold Outreach Strategy 00:18:38 - Extended Sales Engagement Campaign 00:26:45 - Personal Rapport and Quality Over Quantity 00:27:45 - Protecting the Integrity of Salespeople 00:28:34 - Analyzing the Initial Email 00:34:30 - Ineffective Follow-Up 00:36:45 - Inappropriate Humor in Email 00:40:29 - Lack of Value in Subsequent Emails 00:41:08 - The Pitfalls of Email Outreach and Sales Sequences 00:42:39 - Uncovering Sales Intelligence Tools and Email Scraping 00:46:19 - The Need for Process and Oversight in Sales Outreach 00:48:41 - Accountability and Process in Sales Management 00:53:42 - Key Steps for Improving Sales Outreach 00:55:14 - About afterthelead.com 00:55:37 - All-time favorite movie 00:56:10 - The timeless appeal of "The Big Lebowski" 00:56:22 - Gratitude and podcast wrap-up Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG Mario Martinez, Jr introduces the podcast and the guest, Jason Kramer, the founder of Cultivize. They discuss lead nurturing and the importance of managing leads that come into the sales pipeline. 00:01:10 - Building Stronger Relationships with Buyers Jason Kramer shares his background in marketing and advertising and emphasizes the need for a defined process when handling inbound leads. He highlights the importance of nurturing and educating leads to make informed decisions. 00:03:22 - Unique Insight into Jason Kramer Jason Kramer reveals a surprising fact about himself and his wife - matching skull candy tattoos of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Mario Martinez Jr. reacts with surprise, creating a lighthearted moment in the conversation. 00:05:21 - Lead Nurturing Process Jason explains the importance of having a CRM and using it effectively in the lead nurturing process. He emphasizes the need for a well-maintained database and establishing a cadence for touching base with prospects during the sales process. 00:09:08 - Establishing Meaningful Connections Jason outlines strategies for establishing connections with prospects, including personalized emails, LinkedIn engagement, and occasional text messaging. He highlights the importance of tailoring communication to fit the prospect's pain points and preferences. 00:13:42 - Automation and Engagement Strategies Jason discusses the common "spray and pray" approach to engagement and the use of plain text messages. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging data to nurture leads and tailoring the approach based on the prospect's engagement level. 00:14:52 - Approaches for Sales Qualified Leads The conversation explores the distinction between handraisers and sales qualified leads, with Jason highlighting the need for different approaches. He emphasizes the importance of providing value and authenticity in the initial outreach, tailored to the prospect's specific pain points. 00:16:27 - Cold Outreach Strategy Jason delves into the intricacies of cold outreach, stressing the importance of targeting the right audience and titles within organizations. He discusses the effectiveness of short, personalized emails with minimal links, coupled with tracking and monitoring engagement signals. 00:18:38 - Extended Sales Engagement Campaign The conversation shifts to the concept of elongating the sales engagement campaign over four months, challenging the traditional 30-day outreach model. Jason shares insights on continuous tweaking and monitoring, with a focus on high-quality leads and personalized rapport-building. 00:26:45 - Personal Rapport and Quality Over Quantity Jason explains the personalized approach to building rapport through multiple touchpoints, including LinkedIn, text messages, and phone calls. He emphasizes the importance of weeding out unqualified prospects and prioritizing quality over quantity in the engagement process. 00:27:45 - Protecting the Integrity of Salespeople Mario and Jason discuss the importance of protecting the integrity of salespeople by blurring out company names and individual names in email examples. They also discuss the potential impact on sellers' reputation. 00:28:34 - Analyzing the Initial Email Mario and Jason review an initial email from "Bob" and critique its use of jargon, lack of clarity on results, and the sender's identity. They emphasize the need for personalized and value-driven communication. 00:34:30 - Ineffective Follow-Up The conversation shifts to "Bob's" follow-up emails, highlighting their lack of value and the use of generic phrases. Mario and Jason discuss the negative impact of overly frequent and unhelpful follow-ups on the recipient. 00:36:45 - Inappropriate Humor in Email Mario and Jason critique "Bob's" attempt at humor in an email, deeming it inappropriate and off-putting. They emphasize the importance of maintaining professionalism and relevance in communication with potential clients. 00:40:29 - Lack of Value in Subsequent Emails Mario and Jason analyze "Bob's" repeated attempts to confirm email receipt without providing value or addressing the recipient's needs. They stress the importance of delivering meaningful content and value in every communication. 00:41:08 - The Pitfalls of Email Outreach and Sales Sequences Mario and Jason discuss the challenges of poorly crafted email outreach and sales sequences. They highlight the importance of understanding buyer behavior and the negative impact of spammy and ineffective messaging. 00:42:39 - Uncovering Sales Intelligence Tools and Email Scraping Mario reveals how he sets up an alias email to identify when sales intelligence tools scrape his information. Jason emphasizes the importance of understanding the technology being used and the implications of email scraping for sales outreach. 00:46:19 - The Need for Process and Oversight in Sales Outreach Jason underscores the lack of oversight in sales outreach and the need for a refined process. They discuss the importance of aligning sales and marketing efforts to ensure qualified leads and a consistent brand presence in the market. 00:48:41 - Accountability and Process in Sales Management Jason emphasizes the need for accountability in managing sales teams and the importance of refining processes for effective outreach. They highlight the significance of communication between sales and marketing teams to drive qualified leads. 00:53:42 - Key Steps for Improving Sales Outreach Jason outlines three key steps for improving sales outreach, including evaluating technology usage, centralizing data, and establishing a collaborative agreement. They stress the importance of working together to achieve business growth and informed decision-making. 00:55:14 - About afterthelead.com Jason mentions afterthelead.com as a resource for great information, contact details, and giveaways. He also shares the correct spelling of his name for those looking for more information. 00:55:37 - All-time favorite movie Jason shares his all-time favorite movie, "The Big Lebowski," highlighting its well-written and entertaining factors. He even recently enjoyed watching it with his 14-year-old son. 00:56:10 - The timeless appeal of "The Big Lebowski" Jason emphasizes the enduring value and entertainment of "The Big Lebowski," mentioning that he found it just as good watching it for the 30th time as he did the first time. 00:56:22 - Gratitude and podcast wrap-up Mario expresses gratitude to Jason for being on the show. He also urges listeners to leave a five-star rating and review for the podcast on iTunes and promotes the download of fly message for increased productivity. Mastering Email Communication Highly effective email communication isn't simply about crafting an email and hitting send. It requires understanding the recipient’s pain points, being concise and clear with the message, and personalizing content to capture the recipient's attention. With an average email receiving only about 15–20 seconds of a reader's attention, keeping your message short and to the point, along with the strategic inclusion of case studies or examples, ensures your email gets the attention it deserves. Optimizing Sales Outreach Effective sales outreach starts with an in-depth understanding of the target audience and tailoring the messaging accordingly. This requires sales professionals to steer clear of generic mass emails and focus more on personalized, value-driven communication. Utilizing the correct tools, deploying the right strategies, and regular monitoring of engagement can significantly optimize outreach efforts, helping sales teams connect more meaningfully with prospects and increase the likelihood of closing deals. Establishing Meaningful Connections Developing strong relationships is a crucial aspect of a successful sales strategy. By understanding the length of the sales cycle, identifying a suitable touchpoint cadence, and using effective communication tools, businesses can build substantial connections with prospective clients. An appropriately planned and well-implemented strategy can lead to more engagement, improved trust, and ultimately a higher conversion rate. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Jason Kramer on LinkedIn and send him a personalized message to start a conversation. Visit afterthelead.com to access valuable information, contact details, and free giveaways and playbooks related to lead nurturing and sales enablement. Download FlyMSG and sign up for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity. FlyMSG is a free text expander and personal writing assistant that can help you streamline your writing and communication tasks.

Does it sound familiar to struggle with building a strong team culture within your sales team? You may have been told to simply focus on individual sales performance without considering the impact of team dynamics. This approach often leads to a lack of collaboration, communication breakdowns, and a decrease in overall sales success, leaving you feeling frustrated and unable to achieve your desired results. Do you want to create a team environment where collaboration and productivity thrive? Manoj Ramnani will reveal the key to establishing a cohesive and high-performing team culture. Discover the solution to fostering an atmosphere of unity and success within your sales team. Unlock the secret to cultivating a strong and effective team culture. Our gues today is Manoj Ramnani. His journey to building a successful company without taking any VC money is a testament to his resilience and determination. From the early stages of his career, Manoj recognized the value of fostering a strong team culture. It was during his first foray into entrepreneurship that he truly grasped the impact of a positive and driven team environment. Through the ups and downs of founding multiple companies, Manoj honed his ability to bring people together, instilling a sense of ownership and accountability within his teams. His approach to team culture goes beyond the conventional, as he seeks individuals who not only understand their failures but also learn and grow from them. Manoj's story is one of unwavering commitment to building a company where every team member is invested in the collective success, and his insights are invaluable for sales leaders navigating the complexities of team dynamics and culture. Building business is a team sport. If I was a pianist, I'd do it all by myself, much less coordination. It's just me, right? If I had to put 15 hours to play piano and be perfect at it, probably would be easier. But when you have to have a bunch of folks coming together, and you need A players that are independent thinkers, that take ownership, they have their own thoughts and opinions to get them all coming together, that's the hardest part of building any business. - Manjoj Ramnani Manjoj Ramnani, the CEO and founder of Sales Intel, has a proven track record of successfully establishing and growing businesses, with Sales Intel marking his fourth venture. Headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area, Sales Intel has achieved notable success without relying on venture capital funding. Specializing in providing data and intelligence solutions for go-to-market teams, Manjoj is committed to enabling businesses to build strong pipelines, increase win rates, and expand their account sizes. With a team of around 150 professionals, he is known for fostering a collaborative and innovative team culture. Beyond his professional pursuits, Manjoj's passion for flying and being a recreational pilot adds a unique dimension to his persona, reflecting his multifaceted expertise and interests. In this episode, you will be able to: Build a strong team culture to foster collaboration and success within your sales team. Understand the importance of product market fit to drive your sales strategy and maximize customer satisfaction. Overcome the challenges of selling a product in its early stages to establish a foothold in the market. Manage customer expectations for product development to ensure a positive and trusting relationship. Implement effective sales strategies and communication techniques to enhance your sales performance and customer engagement. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to Flymessage IO and Sales Intel 00:01:30 - An Insight into Manoj Ramnani 00:05:40 - Discovering Manoj's Hidden Passion 00:09:32 - The Importance of Team Culture and Building Sales Intel 00:13:20 - Setting Cultural Values and Pillars 00:15:06 - Progress and Market Learning 00:16:13 - Cultural Pillars and Accountability 00:18:00 - Hiring Executive Leaders 00:22:05 - Long-Term View and Employee Retention 00:27:55 - Learning from Failure 00:30:06 - Key Factors for Sales in Services vs. Product Companies 00:31:29 - Impacting Product as a Sales Leader 00:32:36 - Challenges of Selling an Unproven Product 00:36:14 - Progress Over Perfection in Product Development 00:42:48 - Building Trust Through Transparent Sales 00:45:17 - The Importance of Not Selling Futures 00:46:02 - Managing Expectations on Product Development 00:47:34 - Negotiating Future Product Development 00:48:59 - Connecting with Manoj Ramnani 00:49:41 - Manoj's Favorite Movie Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG.io and SalesIntel Mario Martinez Jr. introduces the podcast and guest Manoj Ramnani, CEO and founder of Sales Intel. They discuss the creation of FlyMSG and the role of Sales Intel in providing data and intelligence for go-to-market teams. 00:01:30 - An Insight into Manoj Ramnani Manoj Ramnani shares his background as a fourth-time founder and CEO of Sales Intel. He also reveals a little-known fact about being a recreational pilot, showing a different side to his professional life. 00:05:40 - Discovering Manoj's Hidden Passion Manoj Ramnani unveils his passion for flying and owning his own plane, expressing his plans to fly across the country to meet customers and partners. This personal insight adds depth to his professional persona. 00:09:32 - The Importance of Team Culture and Building Sales Intel Mario and Manoj delve into the challenges and successes of building Sales Intel without venture capital funding. They highlight the significance of team culture, emphasizing the need for the right people with the right attitude, focus, and drive. 00:13:20 - Setting Cultural Values and Pillars Manoj discusses the cultural pillars of Sales Intel, emphasizing the importance of customer-centricity and progress over perfection. He shares insights from his previous experiences and the evolution of cultural values within the company. 00:15:06 - Progress and Market Learning Manoj emphasizes the importance of making progress, getting the product to market, learning from the market, and iterating to keep making progress. 00:16:13 - Cultural Pillars and Accountability Manoj discusses the importance of cultural values, accountability, and the idea of being in it together as a team. 00:18:00 - Hiring Executive Leaders Mario raises the challenge of hiring executive leaders who may not have the same ownership mindset as a founder. Manoj highlights the importance of looking for capability, cultural fit, stability, and long-term thinking in potential executive hires. 00:22:05 - Long-Term View and Employee Retention Manoj shares the concept of longer-term thinking and how it applies to employee retention and success within the company. He emphasizes the importance of giving employees enough time to see things through and the benefits of long-term commitment. 00:27:55 - Learning from Failure Manoj candidly discusses his own experience with failure and the importance of taking ownership of mistakes. He emphasizes the value of learning from failure and the impact it can have on personal and professional growth. 00:30:06 - Key Factors for Sales in Services vs. Product Companies Manjoj discusses the key differences in sales strategies for services and product companies, emphasizing the importance of product market fit, pipeline generation, and company culture. 00:31:29 - Impacting Product as a Sales Leader Manjoj explains the role of sales leaders in partnering with product and technology leaders to ensure successful product execution, especially in early-stage companies with unproven products. 00:32:36 - Challenges of Selling an Unproven Product Mario shares the challenges faced by sales reps selling an unproven product, emphasizing the importance of managing customer expectations, downplaying product issues, and maintaining resilience in the face of challenges. 00:36:14 - Progress Over Perfection in Product Development Manjoj highlights the value of prioritizing progress over perfection in product development, sharing his experience with setting realistic expectations and focusing on strengths to achieve traction in a competitive market. 00:42:48 - Building Trust Through Transparent Sales Mario discusses the importance of transparency in sales, advising sales leaders to disclose potential product issues to build trust with buyers and manage customer expectations effectively. 00:45:17 - The Importance of Not Selling Futures Mike Reevy's leadership style is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of not selling future products or features. This approach makes life easier for the organization and conditions sellers to refrain from promising future deliverables. 00:46:02 - Managing Expectations on Product Development Manoj explains the importance of managing expectations when it comes to product development timelines. He stresses the need to communicate awareness of requested features, but not promise specific delivery timelines. 00:47:34 - Negotiating Future Product Development The conversation touches on negotiating future product development with clients. Manoj shares an example of how they negotiated a quarter million dollar payment for a specific request, highlighting the complexities of product development in a mature organization. 00:48:59 - Connecting with Manoj Ramnani Listeners are encouraged to connect with Manoj on LinkedIn and are reminded to send a personalized connection request mentioning the podcast. Manoj's LinkedIn profile and last name spelling are provided for reference. 00:49:41 - Manoj's Favorite Movie Manoj shares that "The Godfather" is his all-time favorite movie, providing a personal touch to the conversation. This light-hearted moment adds a personal touch to the end of the episode. Cultivating a strong team culture Manoj highlights the importance of creating a robust team culture in driving the success of an organization. This involves fostering an environment of transparency and open communication. Having the right people with suitable attitudes and focus, and investing in their growth, is key to achieving this. Understanding product market fit Product market fit is critical in determining the growth trajectory of a business, as emphasized by Manoj. A well-differentiated product that meets the needs of its target market is crucial for long-term success. Furthermore, it is vital to continuously evaluate and innovate your product to stay ahead in the competitive business environment. Overcoming early-stage challenges Overcoming early-stage challenges is part and parcel of any startup journey, something Manoj explains vividly. Learning from mistakes and setbacks and adopting a long-term view can significantly help in getting past these hurdles. Setting realistic expectations, focusing on progress over perfection and patience is key to navigating these initial roadblocks. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Manjoj Ramnani, CEO of Salesintel, on LinkedIn by sending a personalized connection request mentioning that you heard him on the modern selling podcast. Download FlyMSG.io for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity. FlyMSG is a free personal writing assistant and text expander application. Give the modern selling podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes to show your support. If you're looking for a sales intelligence solution, consider connecting with Salesintel to explore their data and intelligence SaaS solution for go-to-market teams. Watch Manjoj Ramnani's video on YouTube titled Success is Not a Straight Line to gain insights into the lessons he learned from his previous company's failure and success.

If you're feeling frustrated because your current hiring process is only bringing in mediocre sales talent, then you are not alone! You may already be spending countless hours sifting through resumes and conducting interviews, only to end up with sales professionals who lack the drive and results you need. Instead of seeing a boost in sales team performance, you're stuck dealing with underperformers who are holding your team back. It's time to make a change and attract the A-level sales talent your team needs to succeed. In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Doug Dvorak, Motivational Sales Speaker, Trainer & Sales Performance Coach, shares his insights on attracting A-level sales talent. Doug is one of the most well-traveled keynote motivational speakers available today. Doug has earned his spot in the motivational speaking hall of fame. He has also been inducted into the International Who’s Who of Professional Speaking. Doug Dvorak's journey from being a seasoned sales representative to a leader in sales talent acquisition is a compelling narrative of resilience and vision. His career spans the burgeoning era of the Internet, selling data communication products, to leading global sales teams in the realm of manufacturing enterprise software. Doug's story is a testament to the fact that attracting A-level sales talent is not just about skill; it's about creating an environment that resonates with top performers. His journey encapsulates the essence of perseverance and a relentless pursuit of excellence in sales talent acquisition. We can't sell as Fred Flintstone anymore. We're George Jetson. And AI is in support to allow us to get more FaceTime, email time, phone time, zoom times. That's the only time we make money. - Doug Dvorak This week's special guest is Doug Dvorak, the founder and managing principal of the Sales Coaching Institute, bringing with him a wealth of experience as a professional sales representative and keynote speaker. Having spearheaded sales of data communication products, web browser technology, and enterprise software to global giants such as IBM and John Deere, Doug's expertise in attracting and retaining A-level sales talent is unparalleled. In this episode you will learn to: Master the art of hiring and retaining sales talent can transform your sales team's performance. Discover the secrets to attracting A-level sales talent and elevating your team's success. Uncover the power of using sales assessments for hiring top-performing sales professionals. Learn sales compensation plan best practices to motivate and reward your sales team effectively. Explore the impact of AI on sales leadership and how it can revolutionize your sales strategies. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to the podcast 00:01:25 - Doug's Background and Experience 00:09:02 - Hiring A-Level Talent 00:13:51 - Strategies for Hiring Senior Talent 00:16:03 - Attracting and Retaining A-Players 00:17:49 - Attracting and Retaining Great Sales Talent 00:18:50 - Hiring Process and Assessments 00:20:32 - Vetting Candidates and Cultural Fit 00:26:17 - Elements of a Successful Sales Compensation Plan 00:31:42 - Avoiding Complex Compensation Plans 00:35:01 - Importance of Compensation in Sales Leadership 00:36:39 - Impact of Technology on Sales Leadership 00:43:24 - Embracing AI in Sales 00:46:03 - Leveraging Technology in Sales 00:49:41 - Connecting with Doug Dvorak Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction to the podcast Mario Martinez Jr. introduces the podcast and the guest, Doug Dvorak, founder of the Sales Coaching Institute. 00:01:25 - Doug's Background and Experience Doug Dvorak shares his background as a former sales representative and leader, and his transition to founding the Sales Coaching Institute in 2005. 00:09:02 - Hiring A-Level Talent Doug discusses the importance of having a well-constructed hiring process and building a farm system to identify and groom A-level sales talent, including partnerships with colleges and universities. 00:13:51 - Strategies for Hiring Senior Talent Doug suggests establishing strong relationships with search professionals who have expertise in the industry to help in the search for senior talent, as well as leveraging referrals from current senior reps. 00:16:03 - Attracting and Retaining A-Players Mario emphasizes the importance of leaders being interviewed by potential hires, and discusses the significance of personal brand and culture in attracting and retaining top talent. 00:17:49 - Attracting and Retaining Great Sales Talent Doug discusses the importance of branding to attract top sales talent and shares insights on the hiring process using the top grading system. 00:18:50 - Hiring Process and Assessments Doug elaborates on the top grading system and the use of sales assessment tools like Gallup's challenger or disk, as well as the importance of conducting thorough reference checks. 00:20:32 - Vetting Candidates and Cultural Fit Doug emphasizes the significance of vetting candidates through online assessments, interviews, and reference checks to ensure cultural fit and mutual value for both the employer and the candidate. 00:26:17 - Elements of a Successful Sales Compensation Plan Doug highlights the key elements of a successful sales compensation plan, including a reasonable base, non-recoverable draw, clear KPIs, and accelerators to motivate and attract top sales talent. 00:31:42 - Avoiding Complex Compensation Plans Doug discusses the negative impact of complex and changeable compensation plans, emphasizing the importance of simplicity, transparency, and fair compensation to retain and motivate A players in the sales team. 00:35:01 - Importance of Compensation in Sales Leadership Doug emphasizes that the compensation of sales leaders should be less than top performers. He discusses the impact of compensation on behavior and the mistake of promoting the best rep to a leadership role. 00:36:39 - Impact of Technology on Sales Leadership Doug delves into the effects of technology, specifically AI, on sales leadership. He highlights the game-changing nature of AI in automating manual tasks and freeing up time for sales leaders and reps. 00:43:24 - Embracing AI in Sales Doug stresses the importance of AI augmenting sales reps and leaders rather than replacing them. He discusses the productivity savings and the need for data-driven decision making in sales. 00:46:03 - Leveraging Technology in Sales Doug emphasizes the role of AI in supporting sales reps to get more FaceTime, email time, phone time, and zoom time to drive meaningful conversations. He underscores the importance of humanization and contextual relevance in engagement. 00:49:41 - Connecting with Doug Dvorak Doug shares his contact information for connecting with him directly and mentions his website and phone number for further engagement. Hire and Retain Top Sales Talent Finding and keeping high-level sales professionals can be a game-changing strategy for organizations looking to expand their business. A thorough hiring process can include elements such as a detailed sales assessment, a well-structured interview, and even asking candidates to submit videos to demonstrate their skills and motivation. In addition, a comprehensive onboarding process and a transparent, easy-to-understand compensation plan can promote staff retention and encourage top performers to stay with the company. Attract A-Level Sales Professionals Attracting top-notch sales talent requires a strategic approach that goes beyond just offering a decent salary. Companies need to work on their branding, create a dynamic sales culture, and establish processes that can identify and attract A-level talent continuously. Forming partnerships with universities to offer internships can also provide a much-needed funnel to attract and assess potential candidates that can later become full-time hires. Power of Sales Assessments Sales assessments have evolved to become an essential tool in the hiring process, providing deep insights into a candidate's sales aptitude, personality, leadership skills, and more. Tools like Gallup's challenger or DISC can help verify if a candidate's skill set matches the job requirements and how comfortably they can fit in with the company's culture. They serve as an effective complement to reference checks and interviews, helping to ensure that hires are not only capable but also motivated and a good cultural fit. Connect with Doug Dvorak directly via https://dougdvorak.com/ Download FlyMSG.io for free to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase productivity. FlyMSG is a free text expander and personal writing assistant. Check out the 100 best chat GBT prompts and the best LinkedIn Chat GPT prompts available on Vengreso's website for AI-powered engagement. Give the Modern Selling Podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes to show support and help the podcast reach more listeners. https://www.facebook.com/GoVengreso https://www.twitter.com/twitter.com/govengreso https://www.linkedin.com/company/vengreso https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtx5qy9xPdmQ4cL0aX50rTA?sub_confirmation=1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtx5qy9xPdmQ4cL0aX50rTA?sub_confirmation=1

Get ready to uncover the secrets of mental toughness in sales with expert Matt Phillips. Discover the key to overcoming challenges, achieving success, and reaching your full potential. But what happens when the pressure is on, and the quotas must be met? Stay tuned to find out. This is Matt Phillips's story: Matt Phillips' journey is a testament to the transformative power of embracing discomfort and seizing unexpected opportunities. His encounter with Ruben Gonzalez, a four-time Olympian, sparked a life-altering proposition - co-writing a book. Although initially hesitant, Matt's decision to step out of his comfort zone and accept the challenge led to personal and professional growth. This experience not only tested his confidence but also provided a platform to share valuable insights. It's a story of resilience, courage, and the profound impact of venturing into uncharted territory. Matt's narrative serves as a poignant reminder that growth often blossoms from embracing discomfort and seeking new challenges. His journey embodies the essence of mental toughness and the unwavering spirit required to navigate uncertainties. The quality of leader you become is based on the quality of questions you ask. - Matt Phillips Matt Phillips is the CEO of Matt Phillips Leadership Coaching, specializing in elevating sales professionals and teams to achieve peak performance. With over eleven years of experience, Matt's expertise lies in nurturing mental toughness and resilience, crucial for success in the competitive sales environment. His approach combines coaching, workshops, and online programs to instill the necessary skills for achieving sales goals. Beyond his professional pursuits, Matt's passion for gravel bike riding reflects his commitment to personal growth and embracing new challenges. His unique blend of leadership coaching and personal experience brings a fresh perspective to the crucial topic of mental toughness in sales. In this episode, you will be able to: Master mental toughness to excel in sales. Boost confidence and shatter limiting beliefs for sales success. Uncover the pivotal role of leadership in driving sales performance. Empower your sales team with effective enablement strategies. Harness the power of mindset for unparalleled success in sales. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introducing the Podcast 00:01:23 - Overcoming Mental Toughness 00:08:56 - Matt's Leadership Coaching 00:10:22 - Matt's Gravel Bike Ride 00:12:40 - Embracing New Challenges 00:12:56 - Understanding Mental Toughness 00:15:12 - The Five Elements of Mental Toughness 00:18:08 - Building Confidence 00:21:32 - Nature vs. Nurture 00:26:41 - Understanding Beliefs and Overcoming Challenges 00:27:15 - The Role of Beliefs in Sales and Leadership 00:28:49 - Shifting Beliefs for Sales Success 00:29:53 - Individual Responsibility and Leadership Development 00:36:53 - Overcoming Distractions and Effective Coaching 00:40:06 - Importance of Training and Enablement Plan 00:41:22 - Building a Leadership Philosophy 00:43:47 - Resources for Mental Toughness 00:46:06 - Quality of Leadership 00:47:53 - All-Time Favorite Movie Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introducing the Podcast Mario Martinez Jr. introduces the "Modern Selling Podcast" and the guest, Matt Phillips, CEO of Matt Phillips Leadership Coaching, discussing mental toughness. 00:01:23 - Overcoming Mental Toughness Matt shares a personal story about writing a book with a four-time Olympian, emphasizing the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and the impact of challenges on personal and professional growth. 00:08:56 - Matt's Leadership Coaching Matt explains that his coaching primarily focuses on salespeople and cross-functional teams, emphasizing mental toughness, consistency, and separating oneself from others as key components of achieving sales goals. 00:10:22 - Matt's Gravel Bike Ride Matt shares a personal detail about his new hobby, gravel bike riding, connecting it to the memory of his late father and emphasizing the unexpected nature of his interest in biking despite his physical appearance. 00:12:40 - Embracing New Challenges Mario and Matt discuss their shared interest in biking and how they have both embraced new challenges, such as mountain biking, demonstrating the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and trying new experiences for personal growth. 00:12:56 - Understanding Mental Toughness Matt and Mario discuss the importance of defining mental toughness and its key elements like confidence, focus, control, energy, and intentional action. 00:15:12 - The Five Elements of Mental Toughness Matt breaks down the five elements of mental toughness - confidence, focus, control, energy, and intentional action - and how they contribute to building a strong mindset. 00:18:08 - Building Confidence Matt emphasizes the importance of leveraging past successes to build confidence and propel future actions, regardless of challenges faced in sales or leadership roles. 00:21:32 - Nature vs. Nurture Matt and Mario delve into the discussion of whether mental toughness is something innate or can be developed through training and practice, highlighting the importance of nurturing key behaviors like confidence and control. 00:26:41 - Understanding Beliefs and Overcoming Challenges Matt shares his personal experience of understanding beliefs and how it freed him up. He emphasizes the importance of identifying and challenging limiting beliefs to achieve success in sales and leadership. 00:27:15 - The Role of Beliefs in Sales and Leadership Matt discusses the impact of beliefs in sales, highlighting the importance of confidence and understanding the origins of beliefs. He emphasizes the need to rewire the brain to overcome limiting beliefs and achieve success. 00:28:49 - Shifting Beliefs for Sales Success Matt explains the significance of shifting beliefs in sales, focusing on the role of confidence and challenging limiting beliefs. He emphasizes the need for sales leaders to coach their teams through shifting beliefs to overcome challenges and achieve success. 00:29:53 - Individual Responsibility and Leadership Development Matt addresses the individual responsibility in sales, emphasizing the importance of setting goals and reflecting on what motivates individuals. He also discusses the role of sales leaders as coaches in developing their teams and optimizing performance. 00:36:53 - Overcoming Distractions and Effective Coaching Matt shares insights on overcoming distractions and maintaining focus in sales. He also highlights the importance of effective coaching, emphasizing the need for leaders to actively listen to their team members and provide hands-on support to drive performance. 00:40:06 - Importance of Training and Enablement Plan Matt emphasizes the importance of leaders helping employees who are new to a task by providing a starting point, vision, and practical examples. He also highlights the need for leaders to invest time in coaching and mentoring employees. 00:41:22 - Building a Leadership Philosophy Matt discusses the significance of developing a clear leadership philosophy and the need for leaders to communicate their expectations and actions to their team members. He stresses the importance of investing time in training and coaching the team for optimal performance. 00:43:47 - Resources for Mental Toughness Matt shares about a free master class training for sales leaders and the importance of knowing your numbers through a metrics cheat sheet. He encourages individuals to take advantage of these resources to improve mental toughness and achieve sales goals. 00:46:06 - Quality of Leadership Matt emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions and reflecting on personal beliefs to become a better leader. He encourages individuals to challenge obstacles and rewire their thinking to unlock new possibilities and achieve desired results. 00:47:53 - All-Time Favorite Movie Matt shares his all-time favorite movie, "Field of Dreams," and relates it to his personal connection with the sentimental story behind it, emphasizing the importance of cherished memories and sentimental moments. Learn Leadership's Impact on Sales Leadership, according to Matt Phillips, extends beyond just holding team members accountable. It involves training, coaching, and equipping team members with the necessary tools to meet their sales objectives efficiently. By understanding leadership's impact on sales, professionals can better align their efforts with their overall goals, thus optimizing team performance and driving success. Strengthen Mental Toughness for Sales Matt Phillips underscores the immense role mental toughness plays in the highly competitive sales industry. In a world where sales teams and individuals are constantly jostling for the same opportunities, mental zing stands out as a reliable key to success. Through this episode, Matt seeks to equip sales professionals with the necessary tools to cultivate mental toughness, thus improving their resilience and ultimately their sales performance. Boost Confidence and Break Through Constantly revisiting past victories constitutes an essential part of fostering self-belief, according to Matt Phillips. He encourages sales professionals to leverage their past successes as a springboard to future victories. This episode inspires sales professionals to develop an unwavering confidence in their abilities, enabling them to break through challenges and meet their sales targets head-on. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Sign up for the free master class training on How to Become an Elite Sales Leader and Triple Revenue Growth to learn about mindset shifts and tactical strategies for sales leadership. Visit Mattphillipscoaching.com to access a metrics cheat sheet that can help you focus on the right metrics to optimize your performance as a sales leader or individual contributor. Download FlyMSG, a free text expander and personal writing assistant, to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity.

Do you desire to enhance your business's efficiency and effectiveness? Discover how to achieve increased focus and productivity in your business operations as I share the solution with you. Learn how to attain heightened performance and output in your entrepreneurial pursuits. Join me to unlock the key to maximizing productivity in your business endeavors. Driven entrepreneur Sebastian Schieke defies distractions to achieve laser-focused productivity, despite the ever-changing business landscape and financial constraints. Does it sound familiar to struggle with maximizing sales and providing exceptional customer service? You may have been told to simply increase your sales team or customer service staff without considering the underlying issues. This can result in a lack of efficiency, wasted resources, and ultimately, a disappointing impact on your business performance.   Stick to two or three things at most and remain laser focused on the mission at hand. - Mario Martinez For this episode, Mario Martinez Jr. was interviewed by Sebastian Schieke Sebastian Schieke is the CEO and founder of a notable company focused on productivity software. With a specialization in AI and its applications in business operations, Sebastian brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His insights into leveraging AI for enhanced workflow processes and increased productivity have made a significant impact in the realm of sales and customer service. Sebastian's role in implementing AI technologies has been instrumental in reshaping the landscape of business operations, providing valuable solutions for entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to streamline their processes. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover how AI revolutionizes sales and customer service for enhanced business performance. Explore the pivotal role of human involvement in AI-driven conversations and its impact on customer experience. Uncover the importance of responsible usage of AI technology in driving ethical and sustainable business practices. Learn effective strategies for integrating AI into your workflows to streamline operations and boost productivity. Navigate through the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in leveraging AI to stay ahead in the competitive market landscape. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introducing FlyMSG.io 00:01:31 - Evolution of AI in the Workplace 00:03:47 - Human Assisted AI and Super Productivity Tools 00:08:21 - The Power of Integrated AI 00:09:32 - The Role of FlyMSG in Sales and Engagement 00:16:07 - The Power of Contextual Relevance and Hyper Personalization in Messaging 00:16:31 - The Pitfalls of AI to AI Communication 00:17:29 - The Importance of Respectful and Human-Centric Communication 00:21:48 - The Impact of AI on Enterprise Communication 00:29:29 - Ubiquitous AI Communication and Workflow Integration 00:32:13 - Personalized AI Writing Assistant 00:33:28 - Current Business Environment 00:34:29 - Struggles in Business 00:35:41 - Focus and Productivity 00:37:31 - Special Offer for Listeners Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introducing FlyMSG.io Mario Martinez Jr. introduces FlyMSG, a free personal writing assistant and text expander application designed to help sales leaders and practitioners grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:01:31 - Evolution of AI in the Workplace Sebastian Chic and Mario Martinez Jr. discuss the rapid development of AI and its integration into workflow processes. They emphasize the importance of AI bringing value and enhancing the user's workflow. 00:03:47 - Human Assisted AI and Super Productivity Tools Mario Martinez Jr. explains the concept of human assisted AI and the need for tools that consolidate applications to enhance productivity. He highlights the value of AI in the user's daily workflow. 00:08:21 - The Power of Integrated AI Sebastian Schieke and Mario Martinez Jr. delve into the benefits and business cases of integrated AI, emphasizing its impact on daily communication and workflows. They discuss how AI is no longer limited to simple tasks but has become fully integrated into various work processes. 00:09:32 - The Role of FlyMSG in Sales and Engagement Mario Martinez Jr. explains the functionalities of FlyMSG, including its role in sales prospecting training, deploying messaging, and engaging with buyers. He also discusses the human-assisted AI approach in the development of FlyMSG's AI tools. 00:16:07 - The Power of Contextual Relevance and Hyper Personalization in Messaging The conversation starts with Sebastian Schieke emphasizing the importance of contextual relevance and hyper personalization in messaging for sales, customer service, and business owners. He highlights the value of using the human mind rather than AI for this purpose. 00:16:31 - The Pitfalls of AI to AI Communication Sebastian and Mario discuss the absurdity of AI to AI communication and the potential problems it can create. Sebastian shares an anecdote about a customer's frustration with a bot and emphasizes the need for tools to assist, not replace, human intelligence. 00:17:29 - The Importance of Respectful and Human-Centric Communication The conversation delves into the potential dangers of AI generating communication and the importance of respectful and human-centered interaction on social media. Sebastian underscores the need for developers to prioritize creating AI tools that enhance communication without contributing to disrespectful or hateful content. 00:21:48 - The Impact of AI on Enterprise Communication Sebastian discusses the potential dangers and biases created by AI platforms that use data to train their models. He highlights the importance of implementing enterprise-grade AI to protect sensitive data and maintain a high level of customization in communication across different platforms. 00:29:29 - Ubiquitous AI Communication and Workflow Integration The conversation explores the unique value of platforms like FlyMSG in providing a ubiquitous experience across various SaaS applications. Sebastian emphasizes the need for AI tools to integrate seamlessly into users' daily workflows and 00:32:13 - Personalized AI Writing Assistant Mario discusses the potential for a personalized FlyEngage tool that learns from the user's voice to generate messages. The complexity of adapting to individual voices and corporate needs is highlighted. 00:33:28 - Current Business Environment Mario reflects on the rapid speed of change and uncertainty in the current business landscape, emphasizing the challenges faced by business owners and the need for global solutions to accelerate growth. 00:34:29 - Struggles in Business Mario shares his perspective on the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs and business owners in finding product market fit and accessing funding, emphasizing the need for focus and resilience in the face of challenges. 00:35:41 - Focus and Productivity The importance of staying focused on what has worked in the past, avoiding distractions, and optimizing productivity is emphasized by Mario, highlighting the need for a laser-focused approach in business. 00:37:31 - Special Offer for Listeners Mario offers a special discount code for listeners interested in trying FlyMSG, encouraging them to leverage the productivity tools to save time and increase efficiency in their daily tasks. Human Involvement in AI Conversations While AI technology offers undeniable advantages in business and sales, the essentialness of human involvement in AI-driven conversations cannot be underestimated. By ensuring contextual appropriateness, particularly in calls to action and hyper-personalized messages, businesses can leverage technology to enhance human interaction rather than replace it. This balance of AI automation and human touch fosters a more appealing and engaging customer experience. AI Integration for Sales The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence in sales has drastically changed the landscape, offering new levels of efficiency and personalization. Tools like Vengreso's FlyMSG streamline the creation and sending of messages, which not only saves time but also enhances overall productivity. Embracing this technology combines human creativity and intelligence with AI capabilities, providing a promising path to higher sales and customer satisfaction. Responsible Usage of AI As AI technologies push new boundaries, there is a parallel need for responsible usage to navigate potential risks. Implementing enterprise-grade AI that ensures user data privacy and minimizes bias is paramount, just like FlyMSG's usage of private Language Model Models (LLMs). This mindset for responsible AI application helps enable the beneficial exploration of AI's potential, while safeguarding user trust and data integrity. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Visit Flymsg.io to set up your individual account and leverage FlyMSG for free to expand text and engage with your target buyer on LinkedIn using AI tools. Use the secret code PrimeDay2023 (capital P, capital D, 2023) to get 15% off the 27, 66, and $132 yearly plans for FlyMSG. This will help you increase your productivity and save about an hour per day. Give the Modern Selling Podcast a five-star rating and review on iTunes. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Download FlyMSG for free right now to increase your productivity and save time. It's your free text expander and personal writing assistant. If you want to stay 20 hours or more in a month and increase your productivity, go right now and download FlyMSG. That's FlyMSG.io for free.