Surf and Sales

Richard Harris
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Mar 31, 2025 • 36min

S6E17 - Eric Iannello - Surf's Up, Prospects Down: Riding the Waves of Relationship-Driven Sales

In this episode of the Surf and Sales podcast, hosts Richard, Scott, and special guest Eric Iannello, Head of Sales at Commsor, dive deep into the evolving landscape of sales outreach. The discussion covers a range of topics, including: Eric's journey from experiencing consecutive layoffs to embracing a network-driven sales approach, and how that shaped his perspective on the value of relationships. The pros and cons of leveraging AI and automation in the sales process, particularly when it comes to managing warm introductions and preserving the human element of prospecting. The panelists' predictions on the future of outbound sales tactics, with insights on the gradual decline of traditional cold calling and emailing, and the rise of more personalized, referral-based strategies. Thought-provoking perspectives on the ethics and challenges of scaling a network-driven sales model, including the potential pitfalls of over-automating relationship-building. Don't forget to join us at the next Surf and Sales event, www.surfandsales.com
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Mar 31, 2025 • 39min

S6E16 - Kevin Hopp - How AI Will Destroy Sales Reps (But Make Them Superheroes)

Richard and Kevin go head-to-head in an epic battle of sales tactics, AI hype, and generational warfare. Discover the secret to booking meetings on Discord and why email will never die (no matter how hard we try). And how the future of the top of funnel will begin in Reddit more than Google This episode has it all - don't miss out!
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Mar 24, 2025 • 44min

S6E15 - Anis Bennaceur - Finally, A Founder Who Got it Right

In this episode of Surf and Sales, Richard Harris and Scott Leese interview Anis Bennaceur, CEO and co-founder of Attention.com, a platform revolutionizing sales with AI agents that automate sales conversations. Anis shares his journey from hacking web servers as a kid to working at Tinder in its early days, and then founding his own startups. The most fascinating revelation? He joined forces with his biggest competitor to create Attention.com after years of "waging war" against each other. Key highlights: Why Attention.com's AI was able to identify the exact reason a six-figure deal was stalling (and how they fixed it) The surprising use case from dental implant sales teams that pushed their platform beyond what B2B clients typically do Why founders should sell their first $300K in ARR themselves before hiring sales reps The controversial take on equity for founding sales reps (Anis reveals exactly how much they offered) Scott's passionate rant on why LinkedIn desperately needs a competitor Plus: Why hiring two founding AEs creates the perfect competitive environment, and Scott's counterargument for why three is the magic number
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Mar 24, 2025 • 44min

S6E14 - Mark Ackers - How to Know Your Sales Leader Doesn't Care

Scott Leese and Richard Harris talk with Mark Ackers, founder of My Sales Coach, about the massive disconnect in sales coaching today. Mark reveals shocking stats from his 1,600-person survey showing 38% of reps rarely or never receive coaching, while 90% of leaders claim they coach monthly. Mark also shares his personal journey from mediocre sales rep to successful founder, including the brutal first coaching session that changed everything. The hosts also explore the future of coaching with AI and why human coaches will remain essential for accountability and relationship building. Key topics discussed: Why top performers often make terrible managers and how to bridge this skills gap The "random acts of coaching" approach that creates real improvement How Mark discovered he was "crap" at sales for 8 years until proper coaching transformed his career The critical importance of accountability that AI can't replace The challenge of "letting reps crash the car" during live call coaching  
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Mar 17, 2025 • 34min

S6E12 - John Karsant - Being Honest Being Good in Sales

In this episode of the Surf and Sales Podcast, Scott Leese and Richard Harris are joined by John Karsant, Founder and CEO of Level Up Leads, an appointment setting and sales development agency. Key Topics Covered: How Level Up Leads helps companies implement sales campaigns and book more demos Why only 8% of companies report positive experiences with outsourced sales development The importance of setting realistic expectations with clients How to stand out in a commoditized industry Latest effective cold calling tactics that are working in 2025 The debate on permission-based openers vs. natural conversation starters How AI tools are transforming SDR training and coaching John's journey from tennis coach to entrepreneur The power of authenticity and honesty in sales conversations Why tone and pace matter more than the actual script What are you waiting for?  Time to reserve your spot at www.surfandsales.com   John Karsant is the Founder and CEO of Level Up Leads, a sales development agency that has been helping companies book more demos since 2021. Find him on LinkedIn or Twitter, or visit levelupleads.io. Sponsored by Winn.AI - Always be winning. Close more deals by making your phone faster, smarter, and smoother.  
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Mar 17, 2025 • 44min

S6E13 - AJ Mahar and Butch Hudson The Science of High-Velocity Transactional Sales: Proven Scripts That Make Money Tomorrow

Are you struggling to close more deals in your transactional sales role? Looking for a scientific approach that actually works in the real world? In this value-packed episode of the Surf and Sales podcast, hosts Scott Leese and Richard Harris welcome AJ Mahar and Butch Hodson, co-authors of "Sales Lab Scripting: The Proven Playbook to Scientifically Crush Your Sales Goals" and sales performance leaders at Sellfire. AJ and Butch have perfected the art and science of transactional sales. They share their journey from discovering the power of a single effective script (which doubled or tripled sales in just 30 days) to developing a comprehensive methodology that has helped countless sales teams scale successfully. This episode cuts through the theory to deliver practical insights you can apply immediately to improve your sales results. Learn exactly what makes transactional sales different from enterprise sales, and why many sales professionals thrive in this fast-paced environment. The guests break down the critical sales skills needed for high-velocity success, including active listening techniques, handling rejection, maintaining a growth mindset, and making strong first impressions in seconds rather than months. For sales leaders and founders, discover how to build scalable processes that create predictable revenue, and learn about Sellfire's unique approach to combining CRM technology with hands-on coaching. If you're tired of sales tools that don't help you hit your numbers, you'll want to hear how this team approaches sales tech differently. Whether you're an SDR looking to improve your prospecting, an AE wanting to close more deals, or a sales leader building out your team, this episode delivers the tactical, word-for-word guidance you need to succeed in transactional sales environments. Don't miss the valuable book marketing advice shared at the end - perfect for anyone considering writing their own book or looking to increase their authority in the sales space. Listen now to learn how to scientifically approach your sales process and start crushing your goals tomorrow. #SalesTraining #Prospecting #TransactionalSales #SalesScripting #SalesTips #HighVelocitySales #SalesProcess #SalesAutomation #SalesCRM #AIinSales   Please be sure to check out their book The Playbook to Crush Your Sales Goals at  sellfire.com/saleslabscripting
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Mar 10, 2025 • 41min

S6E11 - Melissa Gaglione - Turning Passion into Profits

Senior Sales Manager at Warmly and CEO and Founder of AsyncSalesCo joins us on the podcast today.  Melissa shares her incredible career transformation from elementary school teacher and news reporter to a successful sales professional and entrepreneur. Key Highlights: Navigating career transitions from education to journalism to sales Strategies for identifying and following market opportunities Insights into signal-based selling and AI-powered demand generation Advice for early-stage sales leaders on prioritizing learning and growth The importance of understanding your industry and product before scaling What are you waiting for?  Time to reserve your spot at www.surfandsales.com  
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Mar 10, 2025 • 36min

S6E10 - Thibaut Souyris - Don’t Use AI in Sales

Join Scott Leese and Richard Harris as they dive deep with Thibaut Souyris, founder of Sales Labs, in this exciting episode exploring: The realities of relocating a business to Mexico Authentic content creation strategies in the age of AI LinkedIn growth hacks and newsletter development Staying motivated when sales and content creation feel repetitive Innovative approaches to sales training and personal branding Highlights: Thibaut's unexpected challenges registering as a business in Mexico Strategies for creating engaging LinkedIn and newsletter content The importance of consistency and authenticity in professional content Balancing work motivation during challenging periods What are you waiting for?  Time to reserve your spot at www.surfandsales.com  
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Mar 3, 2025 • 47min

S6E9 - Adam Jay and Dale Zwizinski - Strategy and Execution are not Mutually Exclusive

Revenue Reimagined partners Adam and Dale join us to discuss the future of fractional work and how to choose the right one. How and when to take that leap of faith. Understanding people need to execute on the small tactical things while you are also focusing on the overall strategy. What are you waiting for?  Time to reserve your spot at www.surfandsales.com  
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Feb 24, 2025 • 51min

S6E8 - Woody Klemetson - AI- The elephant in the room

Woody Klemetson, Founder and CEO of AskElephant.ai, is an AI expert focused on sales transformation. In this discussion, he dives into the future of revenue work and the evolving landscape of prospecting over the next decade. He highlights the essential roles in sales that will remain irreplaceable and offers invaluable advice for adapting to a rapidly changing environment. Emphasizing the importance of storytelling and authentic human connections, Woody showcases how AI can enhance efficiency while preserving our humanity in sales.

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