

Predictable B2B Success
Sproutworth
The Predictable B2B Success podcast is about creating predictable growth in a business. This is a podcast for founders, business owners, and marketing and sales executives.
In each podcast episode, we unpack an aspect of creating business growth predictably. We look at how we can expand our influence and strategies to boost sales through the creation of remarkable experiences, empathetic content, and conversations.
Each episode features an interview with a founder, sales or marketing executive, or thought leader in the B2B space. We might be bringing on well-known authors or hosts of popular podcasts but most importantly you’ll hear from those who have hands-on experience in creating predictable B2B success. Through each episode, we’ll be helping you explore the best ways to create predictable purpose-driven growth of a business and sustainable revenue growth.
If you have any suggestions for future episodes or feedback on the podcast, get in touch via Twitter at @vpkoshy or through the website at https://www.sproutworth.com
In each podcast episode, we unpack an aspect of creating business growth predictably. We look at how we can expand our influence and strategies to boost sales through the creation of remarkable experiences, empathetic content, and conversations.
Each episode features an interview with a founder, sales or marketing executive, or thought leader in the B2B space. We might be bringing on well-known authors or hosts of popular podcasts but most importantly you’ll hear from those who have hands-on experience in creating predictable B2B success. Through each episode, we’ll be helping you explore the best ways to create predictable purpose-driven growth of a business and sustainable revenue growth.
If you have any suggestions for future episodes or feedback on the podcast, get in touch via Twitter at @vpkoshy or through the website at https://www.sproutworth.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 4, 2023 • 47min
How to easily level up your digital ad performance to drive growth
Little did Jeff Greenfield know that his expertise in chiropractics and magic would lead him to uncover the truth behind digital ad performance measurement. What he found challenged the status quo and enabled him to stay ahead of the curve.
What happened next to Jeff could help you enhance your digital marketing performance and ability to drive predictable revenue growth.
"You have to edit what your message is; less is always more."
My special guest is Jeff Greenfield.
Jeff Greenfield is an accomplished entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in strategic growth and marketing, particularly in innovative marketing enabled by new technology. As the CEO of Provalytics, Jeff leads the charge in building the next generation of attribution.
Before Provalytics, he successfully led buy-side strategy, sales, and development at Wide Orbit. He then co-founded C3 Metrics, a leading multitouch attribution platform with notable clients such as JPMorgan, US Bank, and Hertz. He also grew the team at C3 Metrics to 55 with 171% YOY growth leading the company to be named to Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500.
His technical innovations include real-time digital viewability measurement, integrated linear and OTT television measurement, and creating a cookie-less identifier.
Jeff, a sought-after speaker, has shared his insights at various conferences and created the "This is Attribution" Podcast and an Attribution Certification Program.
In this episode, you will be able to:
Tackle complex issues surrounding digital ad performance measurement.Grasp the significance of unified branding and messaging in B2B environments.Implement a comprehensive method to evaluate marketing influence on revenue.Prepare for a future with enhanced privacy regulations, ensuring accurate ad assessment.Exploit referral processes to gain a competitive edge and engage with top executives.And much, much more.

Apr 3, 2023 • 43min
How to drive growth with the power of data and customer relationships
With a passion for digital marketing and scaling businesses, Steve Kilberg set out to make a difference by helping entrepreneurs succeed - but he never expected to discover how many business owners needed to be made aware of the crucial metrics essential for predictable growth. Unwavering in his dedication, Steve now dedicates his time to guiding entrepreneurs in building strong and long-lasting businesses, providing insight into the numbers that hold the key to success.
"Business is just math, right? Just math and numbers."
My special guest is Steve Kilberg.
Steve Kilberg, a seasoned entrepreneur, and consultant has seen his fair share of ups and downs in the business world. But, with a strong background in e-commerce, he's grown his business to seven figures in sales, earning the prestigious Clickfunnels Two Comma Club award.
Steve's analytical approach to business growth and scaling has helped numerous small and mid-sized online businesses reach their full potential. In addition, his expertise in understanding crucial metrics and customer lifetime value sets him apart in the industry. Steve's journey began with the desire to care for his aging parents, and he's since become a leading figure in the field of predictable business growth.
Building and Nurturing Customer Relationships for Business Growth
Developing strong customer relationships is vital for any thriving business, as it helps drive revenue and fosters brand loyalty. A company can maintain its relevance amidst an ever-changing market landscape by cultivating personal connections with customers and trying to understand their needs. This can be achieved by offering tailored solutions, providing exceptional customer service, and engaging with customers on various platforms.
Steve Kilberg shares his experiences building customer relationships and emphasizes the crucial role of knowing your customer in achieving predictable revenue growth. He discusses the power of personalized content, such as video, to create stronger connections with customers, and emphasizes the role of email marketing in forging long-term relationships. According to Kilberg, creating a sense of community around the brand leads to higher customer lifetime value and ultimately sets businesses up for long-term success.
In this episode, you will be able to:
Uncover the magic behind critical metrics for smooth business expansion and growth.Grasp the significance of devising exit plans and preserving valuations for a secure future.Adopt technological advancements and a commanding online presence for a flexible business model.Delve into the world of personalized customer experiences powered by video and artificial intelligence.Forge long-lasting customer relationships for consistent revenue generation and business stability.

Mar 28, 2023 • 45min
Unlocking Your Leadership Style to Drive Growth: Robert Jordan Reveals The Secret
Unlock the power of different leadership styles to achieve success in any organization.
You will learn how to unlock the power of different leadership styles to be successful in any organization.
"Your job as a leader within a division, part or all of the organization is how do you quicken that cadence? How do you cause more rapid firing of cylinders? And the foundation of all of that is what is mission? What does this organization stand for? What is its purpose?"
Robert Jordan is an experienced leader in the B2B space, having founded the world's first internet coverage magazine, sold multiple companies, and co-founded Interim Execs. He is also an author, having written books such as How They Did It, Right Leader, Right Type, and Start With No.
Robert Jordan and his wife experienced an immense crisis when their daughter was born at 1.5 oz, needing open heart surgery. In the neonatal intensive care unit, Robert was calmed by the presence of the surgeon and her team and knew they were in good hands. After 25 years, Robert Jordan's daughter is a healthy, happy graduate student.
This experience inspired Robert to research and write about leadership styles, discovering four distinct styles: Fixer, Artist, Builder, and Strategist. He now helps others to find their authentic leadership style and boost team performance.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
Why is it that some leaders find mediocre success and others are truly successfulWhy do organizations not do enough to promote the right leadersHow business owners and boards should look at leaders around us differentlyExploring the intersection of leadership and cultureExploring the four distinct leadership styles of fixer, artist, builder, and strategist.Discovering the unique wiring of each individual and how it affects their leadership style.Understanding how developing a sense of mission and purpose can quicken the cadence of an organization.How strategists as leaders can help a businessHow to combine leadership strengths to create a multiplying force in today's environmentAnd much, much more

Mar 24, 2023 • 43min
Unpacking the Power of Thought Leadership to Drive Growth with Insights from Edelman: Culture, Creativity, and the Right Questions
Are you ready to stand apart from the competition and become a true Thought Leader?
"B2B decision makers indicate that thought leadership is a very important tool in their ability to determine the value of potential vendor or partner whom they want to work with. So it's got that bottom line impact."
Ben Laws is the Executive Vice President, and Deputy US Lead for Business Marketing at Edelman, a global communications firm. He has extensive experience in shaping an organization's story, developing creative and thought leadership platforms, and leading integrated communications and marketing programs.
Ben Laws wanted to prove the hard ROI for thought leadership. He spoke to marketers and decision-makers, who said that thought leadership is essential for determining the value of a potential vendor.
Through his conversations, Ben realized the importance of building relationships and understanding the realities of the audience. He emphasized the need for creativity and the value of storytelling for gaining attention.
He also emphasized the need for thought leadership to reflect the company's culture and values. Ultimately, Ben concluded that the best way to create successful thought leadership content is to listen to and engage with the intended audience.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
Why do B2B marketers seem to discount the value of creativityHow can creativity speak to the buying processProving the hard ROI of thought leadership activityUtilizing creativity to capture and engage audiencesExploring the importance of brand values, mission, and purpose in thought leadership.How thought leadership impacts the bottom-line by winning businessWhy and how to invest in thought leadership consistentlyAnd much, much more...

Mar 21, 2023 • 32min
The billion dollar pitch whisperer: John Livesays storytelling secret to winning B2B success
Discover the power of storytelling and become memorable and magnetic to win the sale with your unique emotional hook!
"People buy emotionally and back it up with logic. You're not telling a story. People forget numbers. But when you tell a story, you become memorable and magnetic, and then they start to go, okay, now we see the solution to our problems." - John Livesay.
John Livesay is an incredible keynote speaker and the author of "Better Selling Through Storytelling" and "The Sale is in the Tail." He is an expert in crafting compelling stories to win new business and motivate sales teams.
John Livesay worked at Conde Nast, selling advertising to prominent clients like Lexus. When it came time to pitch their products, he realized whoever told the best story would get the sale. So he tapped into his advertising background and crafted clear, concise, and compelling stories.
As a result, John was hired to speak at Lexus's sales meetings and teach their teams how to tell stories to sell more. Through this, he discovered that people buy emotionally and back it up with logic. John's stories gave him an edge, and he was able to help an architecture firm win a billion-dollar airport renovation.
By putting the customer at the center of the story and focusing on conveying the emotion behind it, John helps us discover the power of storytelling.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
How John discovered that people buy with emotion and then back it up with logicShould storytelling be the number one skill that leaders should developHow to recognize and create stories in a businessHow storytelling can be used to win salesHow to tell stories with your four structures of storiesThe mistakes to avoid when presentingHow to craft a story that tugs at heartstringsHow to create a playlist of stories for different buyer personasHow to turn case studies into case stories to win business pitchesAnd much, much more.

Mar 17, 2023 • 36min
How to use product-led growth to easily supercharge your business
Discover how product-led growth can help you supercharge your business and unlock new levels of success!
You will learn how to use product-led growth to supercharge your business and achieve higher levels of success.
"Successful people are not afraid to be uncomfortable at times, so never be afraid to be the dumb person in the room and ask for help early and often."
Nick Lumsden is the co-founder and CTO of Tenacity Cloud, which helps businesses avoid technical debt and wasted cloud spending. He has over 20 years of experience in software engineering, technology, and business leadership.
Nick Lumsden was an engineer in the healthcare data analytics space and was inspired by how cloud-based services and product-led growth were level playing fields for startups. However, he discovered more was needed to break away from assumptions and understand what the user needed and went about living in their shoes.
Nick learned about product-led growth, how it put the power in the customer's hands, and how to make the experience as frictionless as possible. He learned to eliminate his biases and be humble and inquisitive in conversations.
He was motivated by the potential to deliver continuous value and create a positive organizational culture. Through his journey of self-education, he learned the importance of being uncomfortable, asking for help, and building relationships.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
How to help business leaders get out of their - "I can solve it myself" mindsetHow can businesses use cloud-based services to optimize their spendingHow can businesses create product-led growth instead of sales-led growthWhat strategies can companies use to build a culture of innovationWhy should leaders in the tech space embrace a product-led growth strategyHow to persuade potential customers by creating a powerful experienceNick's insights on building out a product-led growth flywheelHow culture and narratives impact flywheel growthAnd much, much more ...

Mar 14, 2023 • 37min
How smart business leaders can encourage collaboration over selling to drive growth
"Collabradabra: Unlock the Magic of Profitable Growth with Authentic, Optimistic Relationships."
"The best way to profitable growth is through having collaborative relationships with clients externally and collaborative cultures internally - it starts with the deliberate intention to collaborate."
Peter Anthony is an author, speaker, and master of professional communication. He is an expert in collaboration and has run workshops for thousands across twelve countries over the past 20 years, consulting with Fortune 500 companies to help them achieve smarter outcomes from effective relationships.
Early in his career, Peter had the chance to benefit from world-class sales training from IBM. Despite the training, he realized that the approach to selling as taught to him wasn't working, but the more he built relationships, the more successful he became.
After working for IBM and advertising agencies, he began consulting and realized that collaboration was the key to successful business outcomes. He used observations from his work to codify collaboration and has taught it for 18 years.
Peter believes collaboration is the best way to achieve profitable relationships and growth. He also believes that empathy and trust are vital to building successful relationships.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
What makes for profitable sales growthWhy the approach that most businesses take to solve revenue problems won't workHow does collaboration lead to profitable growthWhat is unique about building relationships through empathy and trustHow can stories be used to create successful pitchesHow to develop a customer centric cultureWhy collaborative conversations are more important than ever for leaders.How to collaborate effectively to sellAnd much, much more.

Mar 10, 2023 • 50min
How CEOs can use the art of storytelling in business to drive growth
When Park Howell, a veteran marketer, noticed traditional advertising was no longer effective, he embarked on a journey to unpack Hollywood movies to uncover the power of storytelling and create an algorithm for brands to hack through the noise and connect with their audiences. This endeavor leads to a significant paradigm shift.
"Our jobs as sales, marketing, B2B executives, whatever, is to make that fiction become a reality. Show them what a brighter tomorrow is going to look like. And then when they buy into it, then you deliver on that, effectively making your customer, the audience, part of your story." - Park Howell.
Park Howell is an internationally renowned speaker, consultant, coach, and author known as the world's most industrious storyteller.
With 35+ years of brand creation experience, Park has grown purpose-driven brands by as much as 600% and is the founder of Business, The Business of Story, a proven platform based on his 10-step story cycle system.
Park Howell was frustrated with the digital world and sought an answer to how to compete in the noisy digital age.
He found his answer in the art of storytelling and developed a ten-step story cycle system to help business leaders hack through the noise and engage their audiences. His work has enabled brands to grow by dialing in their brand story, proving that storytelling is an effective way to drive growth in business.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
The power and importance of storytelling in today's worldThe two story truthsNarrative intuition - what is it, and how do we develop itExplore the intersection of culture, storytelling, and scaling a businessThe need for businesses to shift their narrative focus away from themselves and toward their customersUsing the ABT (Agreement, But, Therefore) narrative framework to create compelling stories.ROI of storytelling using the ABT frameworkAnd much, much more ...

Mar 7, 2023 • 37min
How to unlock growth with strategic narratives to help set your product apart
Discover how building a strategic narrative can revolutionize your category creation process and grow your business!
You will learn to use strategic narrative building to transform your category creation process and expand your business.
"It's not the smartest or the quickest that survive, but those who are most responsive and able to change." - Andrew Davies.
Andrew Davies is the Chief Marketing Officer at Paddle, a payments infrastructure for SaaS businesses. He has extensive experience building out leading go-to-market strategies, building an unignorable brand, and winning customers at scale.
Andrew Davies is a risk-taker who loves working with intelligent people and building high-performing teams. He believes that when scaling a business, having a team that works well together and understands the game's rules is more important than having the smartest individuals.
Through his journey, Andrew learned about using strategic narratives and category creation, which involves having a differentiated point of view, creating a mini-category, and having patience with the process.
He experienced this first-hand when working with a private equity firm, forming a narrative from disparate businesses and creating a mini-category of content intelligence. Andrew's experience taught him that the best stories are ones that customers can communicate within their organization.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
Why does it seem like everyone is pursuing category creation? Is it worth it?Why businesses need to understand there are multiple routes to growthDoes growth boil down to one smart individualThe benefits of leading a category: Learn what it takes to become an industry leader from a company that has experienced success in the marketCrafting a compelling narrative: Discover how to craft a unique and compelling story that will resonate with customers, employees, and investors alikeThe power of patience: Understand why patience is critical when creating a successful category and how to effectively communicate it down multiple levelsHow culture and narrative play a role as a company scales and or acquires businessesAnd much, much more...

Mar 3, 2023 • 47min
How to shorten the sales cycle and drive growth easily
Discover the secret to shortening the sales cycle and easily growing your business!
"It is okay to disqualify. However, it is better to get them out quicker than spend a waste a bunch of time trying to get them to close or worse yet, actually closing them and then having a headache that you can't get rid of." - Kevin Snow.
Kevin Snow is the founder and CEO of Time On Target, an Army veteran, entrepreneur, sales expert, and technology gate. He has helped businesses close over $150,000,000 in new business by leveraging existing relationships and better communicating their products' differentiating benefits.
Kevin Snow is a Captain in the Minnesota National Guard and worked for a networking organization with over 50 chapters and 1500 members. When other regions asked him to teach them how to launch groups, Kevin founded Time on Target so he could take money for his services.
After returning from deployment in Kuwait, Kevin realized he needed to create a scalable business and began consulting on process development and automation for businesses. He also trained businesses to shorten the sales cycle and drive growth quickly.
Kevin's superpower as an introvert was that he asked excellent questions and strategized processes, enabling businesses to move clients from not knowing them to being their best customers. His closure mindset also allowed him to disqualify prospects while providing a fallback position. This made Kevin the go-to person for entrepreneurs to learn.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
Why we should stop going for the close but go for the closure insteadHow to close 80% of your sales in 1 meetingHow to evolve sales conversations for an educated buyerHow to use automation to accelerate the sales cycleHow Kevin Snow transformed his job into a scalable businessStrategies for moving clients from not knowing you to being your best customerThe benefits of disqualifying prospects and networking with competitorsAnd much, much more...


