The Revenue Formula

Most companies still hire salespeople wrong in 2025.They rely on resumes, gut feeling, and vague interviews instead of testing real skills. In this episode, Raul and Toni explain why that approach fails and how to replace it with a system that actually works.They break down a practical process to identify what you really need, define the skills that matter, and test candidates in realistic scenarios. No fluff, no guesswork, just a repeatable way to hire people who can actually sell.This episode is brought to you by ZoomInfo, the Go-To-Market Intelligence Platform. ZoomInfo gives you high-quality B2B data and sales intelligence on in-market buyers across companies of all sizes, powered by AI-driven automation with integrated outreach tools to help your GTM teams build pipeline and close deals faster. Check them out at zoominfo.com/revenue-formula Want to work with us? Learn more: revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (01:41) - Hiring is Broken (07:09) - Basics of Effective Hiring (12:35) - The Myth of the Perfect Candidate (14:20) - Understand your Needs and Context (16:56) - Time Pressure in Hiring (22:02) - The Three Step Solution (29:10) - Assessing Candidates: Interpretation (30:16) - Assessing Candidates: Talking (31:21) - Assessing Candidates: Showing (32:53) - Assessing Candidates: Doing (36:53) - Iterating on the Process (39:57) - Roleplaying in Sales Hiring (43:33) - Hiring Sales Leaders (46:00) - Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Raul Porojan, a go-to-market expert, shares insights on how AI is revolutionizing sales roles. He discusses the concept of the $5M ARR account executive and the emergence of hyper-optimized workflows. The conversation revolves around the transformation of sales meetings through AI assistance and the limitations of human-client interaction. Highlighting the ‘celebrity AE’ phenomenon, he explains how personal branding can enhance sales impact, merging influencer dynamics with traditional sales methods.

James Roth, CRO at ZoomInfo, joins Toni to break down how AI is reshaping go-to-market. From the collapse of inbound demand to the rise of intelligent outbound, he explains how teams can stay efficient, use AI without the hype, and turn data into real impact.We also talk about ZoomInfo’s $1.2B ARR growth, the myth of “AI-native” startups, and what go-to-market intelligence actually means in 2025.Want to work with us? Learn more: revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (01:38) - ZoomInfo's Growth and Public Perception (06:45) - AI's Role Today (10:04) - ZoomInfo's Approach to AI and Competition (15:35) - Go-to-Market Intelligence Explained (21:09) - Integration and Collaboration in the Industry (26:01) - SEO Challenges and Market Impact (28:45) - The Resurgence of Outbound Sales (33:27) - AI's Role in Sales Efficiency (39:46) -  Leveraging AI for SMB Data (46:39) - The Drive for Efficiency with New Tools (53:10) - Next Week: $5M ARR per AE with AI

Feeling burned out or stuck in your job? Chris Walker says the real problem might not be your boss or your paycheck, it’s the frequency you operate in.In this episode, he shares with Toni how trusting his intuition led him to sell Refine Labs and step away from the company he built, and why he believes we’re leaving the Information Era and entering a new “Frequency Era,” where your energy and mindset matter more than credentials or experience. Chris explains the six tiers of frequency, what it takes to move beyond stress and burnout, and how urgency and constant pressure can quietly pull a whole company into low-frequency habits.Want to work with us? Learn more: revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (01:56) - The Decision to Exit Refine Labs and What's Next (11:09) - The Shift from Information Era to Frequency Era (15:37) - What is Frequency? (20:13) - Frequency Tiers and Personal Growth (22:46) - Tier One: Recognizing the Illusion (24:05) - Tier Two: Breaking the Illusion (26:17) - Tier Three and Beyond: Energetic Mastery (32:10) - Example: How You Relate to Time (33:49) - Where Frequency meets Business (37:06) - Defining Success Beyond Financial Metrics (42:39) - The Power of Choice and Awareness (44:13) - Examples of Different Company Frequencies (46:54) - The Role of Urgency and Pressure (51:19) - Impact of Venture Capital on Company Frequency (55:16) - Leadership and Frequency Alignment (01:05:45) - Final Thoughts and Personal Journey (01:09:13) - Next Week: Zoominfo's James Roth on AI in Sales and Marketing

Automation and cheap data turned outbound into spam and Google’s new rules are shutting the door on mass email. AI only made the noise louder. In this episode we break down how the predictable-revenue model collapsed, why reply rates keep falling, and why phone calls and research-driven outreach are proving more effective. JB Daguené, founder and CEO of Evergrowth, explains how his team uses AI digital colleagues to help sales teams start real conversations instead of just firing off sequences. (00:00) - Introduction (01:05) - JB's Journey with Trustpilot (04:04) - The Early Days of E-commerce and Customer-Centric Sales      (14:37) - The Impact of Predictable Revenue (17:47) - The Rise of SDRs and Data Challenges (18:53) - How did we get here? (21:57) - Automation, AI and Pipeline Management (24:40) - The SDR Playbook (26:57) - Challenges with Tools and Silos (29:17) - Google's Crackdown on Email Spam (33:04) - The Resurgence of Phone Calls (35:48) - Evergrowth's AI Tool (37:58) - Understanding Agentic Workflows (45:47) - Avoiding AI Hallucinations (53:55) - Wrapping up (55:51) - Next Week: Chris Walker on Frequency

Leaderrs rarely talk about their own health even though it drives every decision. Toni and Raul share their own experiences and what they learned from interviews with 17 founders and C-level leaders about mental and physical habits.They dig into how stress, sleeplessness and company performance feed into each other, how common burnout and anxiety really are, and why so many leaders slip into drinking or other forms of self-medication without noticing.(00:00) - Introduction (06:45) - Mental sealth statistics among founders (09:33) - Physical Health and Company Performance (11:53) - Stress and sickness correlation (16:17) - Do we self medicate too much? (23:33) - Health routines of successful CEOs (28:20) - Exercise routines (30:32) - Challenges of maintaining health when you have kids (34:19) - Health as a job responsibility for founders (39:21) - Improving sleep quality (44:04) - Diet and nutrition (47:13) - Final thoughts (48:50) - Next week: JB from Evergrowth on sales and automation

Want to lose your best sales reps fast? Screw up their comp plan. In this episode, we sit down with Antoine Fort, CEO of Qobra, to dig into the classic mistakes that drive top performers out the door. We talk about why overcomplicated plans kill motivation, how underpaying top reps quietly drains revenue, and why immediacy and trust are non-negotiable if you want comp plans to work.We also get into clawbacks, the mess of usage-based and outcome-based models, and what really happens when you ignore the value of your top reps. Antoine explains why accelerators, recognition, and clear career paths matter just as much as salary, and why forcing high performers into management usually blows up in your face.(00:00) - Introduction (00:54) - Antoine's Background and Qobra (07:01) - Challenges in Sales Compensation (10:49) - Simplicity in Compensation Plans (14:16) - Immediacy and Trust in Sales Compensation (18:57) - You're Underpaying Top Sales Reps (30:31) - How to Keep Your Best Reps Happy (39:26) - Commission on Renewing Customers (41:18) - Retention Strategies for Sales Reps (44:35) - Hiring New Reps: When and How (46:02) - AI and Usage-Based Pricing Challenges (01:00:39) - Differences in Commission Structures: US vs Europe (01:04:32) - Next Week: Health & Mental Health for Founders

AI SDRs, pipeline starvation, and overhyped tools dominate today’s revenue conversations. But how much of it actually works in practice?Toni sits down with Todd Busler, CEO of Champify, to cut through the noise. They dig into the reality of AI in sales, the pressure to chase shiny tools, and why short-term thinking is breaking go-to-market strategy. Todd also shares the underestimated challenges of founding a company and where he sees real opportunities for growth.(00:00) - Introduction (01:11) - Todd's Journey to Founding Champify (06:48) - Challenges in Go-to-Market Strategies (10:44) - The Reality of AI SDRs (13:42) - Cost-Cutting with AI (18:11) - Jason Lemkin's AI Insights (21:14) - Overhyped Tools? (26:45) - The Short-Term Pressure in Go-to-Market (30:27) - Zombie Unicorns and Market Realities (32:05) - Trends in Cold Calling and Power Dialers (34:42) - The Rise of In-Person Events (36:50) - Navigating the Confusing Tooling Landscape (42:02) - The Challenges of Starting a Company (47:18) - The Pressure of Venture Capital (54:42) - Closing Thoughts (56:00) - Next Week: Antoine Fort, CEO of Qobra

Pipelines are facing a significant drought, leaving many companies struggling to adapt. The conversation dives into how traditional lead generation methods are faltering amidst rising AI influence. It highlights the contrasting fortunes of breakout companies versus smaller firms, urging a reevaluation of marketing strategies. The role of AI in reducing costs and improving efficiency is examined, alongside discussions about its impact on job roles. Finally, the need for a 'zero waste' approach in sales and marketing is emphasized for sustainable growth.

What do video games have to do with business growth? More than you think.In this episode, Toni and Raul explain how their gaming past helps them spot company issues almost instantly. Using the idea of levels, just like in video games, they show why businesses get stuck, how to know what level your company is really on, and what it takes to move forward the right way.Want to be a guest on the show? Learn more at revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (06:53) - Levels Explained (11:53) - Hiring the Right People at the Right Time (16:41) - Strategic Roadmaps and Levels (19:12) - Situational Dependency in Business Advice (20:14) - CRM Implementation Challenges (25:28) - The Importance of Process Maturity (31:47) - Three Main Problems (35:13) - Our Solution (37:30) - Next Week: Zero Waste GTM