The Growth Signal

Hiring a big-company VP of Sales might feel safe. It might also be the fastest way to stall your growth.Mark Gordon says the biggest mistake small businesses make is copying enterprise hiring playbooks. If you are trying to go from zero to one, you do not need someone who can run a system. You need someone who can build one.Alyssa Nolte and Mark Gordon dig into what it really takes to scale a startup. They talk about the difference between going from 30 to 300 and going from zero to one. They explore why brand equity matters, why “figure it out” people win, and why waiting until you feel ready is a trap.If you are building a business, hiring your first sales leader, or trying to rethink the future of customer relationships, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth.Why listen?Because safe hiring feels smart. But smart growth often looks uncomfortable. If you want durable revenue and real momentum, you have to rethink what “qualified” really means.3 Key Takeaways:Zero to one is a different job. Running sales at a large company is not the same as building sales from scratch. One operates a system. The other creates it.Look for “figure it out” people. The right sales leader has built something before. They have faced pressure. They have owned the result. They are not afraid to fail in public.You will never feel ready. Most people wait for perfect timing. It never comes. Growth starts when you decide to move before you feel prepared.People and resources mentioned:Elon Musk OpenAI The Dip by Seth Godin Burn the BoatsConnect with Mark Gordon on LinkedIn at Mark D. Gordon.Connect with Alyssa Nolte:alyssanolte.substack.com linkedin.com/in/alyssanolteThe Growth Signal is about rethinking how we build, sell, and grow - especially when the old playbook no longer works.

AI is saving you 10 hours a week. It might be costing you $400,000 a year.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Allen Martinez to unpack his bold idea: most companies are not measuring the “reconciliation tax.” That is the hidden cost of cleaning up AI mistakes, fixing contradictions, and managing brand confusion across marketing, sales, and support.If you care about brand, customer experience, or AI strategy, this one will make you rethink how you are using these tools. If you are just chasing efficiency, this episode might feel uncomfortable. That is the point.Allen argues that AI does not have a capability problem. It has a coherence problem. When your chatbot, sales emails, and support systems all sound different, your customer feels it. They do not see three systems. They see one broken brand.This conversation is about rethinking the future of customer relationships in an AI world.Why you should listen:If you are adding AI tools without a clear system, you are creating risk. This episode will help you slow down, think upstream, and protect your brand before small issues turn into public problems.Three key takeaways:AI can make you average at scale. Most large language models default to “generic competence.” If you do not define your voice and principles, your brand disappears into sameness.Collisions create distrust. Marketing may promise white glove service. Sales may promise customization. Support may deliver something else. AI tools that do not talk to each other damage trust fast.Governance beats more tools. Before you buy another AI platform, map what you already have. Ask where systems overlap and where they might contradict each other. Fix the architecture first.Allen shares ideas from his book, The Brand Experience AI Operating System, and breaks down three gaps every company must solve: governance, identity, and accountability.Resources mentioned: The Brand Experience AI Operating System by Allen Martinez nobledigital.com bxaioS.com allenmartinez.com Yuval Noah HarariConnect with Alyssa Nolte: alyssanolte.substack.com linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte

Understanding is not the same as doing.If your team keeps learning but nothing really changes, this is for you.Chris Majer says most companies get learning wrong. We chase new ideas, new frameworks, and new content. But we forget the one thing that actually drives performance… practice. Alyssa Nolte and Chris dig into what it really takes to create embodied competence in business. Not theory. Not hype. Real change.If you care about leadership, culture, sales performance, or real business transformation, this conversation will challenge how you think about training and growth.Here are 3 key takeaways:Understanding is the starting line, not the finish line.You can read books and attend seminars all day. If you do not practice new behaviors, nothing changes.Culture change starts at the top.If senior leaders do not model new behaviors, the rest of the company will ignore them. The fish rots from the head.Mood drives performance.Trust, ambition, and confidence create action. Cynicism and resentment kill it. Leaders are the guardians of the mood of the enterprise.This episode is about rethinking how we learn, how we lead, and how we build stronger customer relationships. If you are serious about business transformation, this one will hit home.Resources and people mentioned:Chris MajerHuman Potential ProjectThe Power to TransformBill McDonoughConnect with Alyssa Nolte:alyssanolte.substack.comlinkedin.com/in/alyssanolte

Insight work is not the problem. How we use it is.If you lead marketing, product, or customer strategy, this conversation will stretch you. Jill Axline brings a bold take: too often, research becomes a one time event instead of a living system. Alyssa Nolte brings the lens of a working researcher and business builder. Together, they explore how to rethink customer insight for a world that moves in real time.This is not about replacing research. It is about strengthening it. Faster feedback. Better governance. Smarter use of AI. And a deeper focus on how customers think, feel, and act.If you care about customer experience, B2B marketing, AI in research, and real world decision making, this one matters.3 Key Takeaways:Great research must connect to action. Insights should not sit in decks. They should shape messaging, product strategy, and go to market decisions.AI can expand what research teams already do well. Synthetic audiences and simulations can help test ideas early. But human judgment, empathy, and real customer conversations remain essential.Segmentation should evolve with context. Customers are not static. Markets shift. News cycles move. Modern insight work blends foundational research with ongoing signal tracking.Alyssa Nolte and Jill Axline explore how to evolve research practices without losing rigor or humanity. It is about rethinking the future of customer relationships with stronger methods and better tools.Connect with Jill Axline on LinkedIn and explore her work at vera.io.Follow Alyssa Nolte at: alyssanolte.substack.com linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte

RevOps fixed sales. It forgot everything after the deal.If most of your revenue comes from existing customers, but you still run post-sale on gut feel and spreadsheets, this one will hit home. Alyssa Nolte sits down with David DeWolf to rethink the future of customer relationships and ask a hard question… did the RevOps revolution fail where it matters most?David argues that 80 to 85 percent of revenue comes from current accounts. Yet many companies still track account health with red, yellow, green scores and “relationship vibes.” No real data. No real discipline. No real management cadence.If you care about net revenue retention, customer success, account growth, or building a durable revenue engine, this conversation is for you.Why listen?Because post-sale is too important to run on hope. Because AI now makes it possible to measure what used to feel unmeasurable. Because buying another tool will not fix a broken management system.3 Key TakeawaysStart with the problem, not the tech. The goal is higher net revenue retention. Work backward from what drives retention and growth, not forward from a shiny data platform.Measure what actually drives account health. Perception of service quality. Strength of relationships. Alignment between companies. These are hard to see, but AI can now surface real signals from emails, calls, and conversations.Operationalize the data. A dashboard means nothing without discipline. You need clear roles, weekly account reviews, and leadership that drives behavior change.Alyssa and David challenge the idea that post-sale is a “soft” function. They make the case that it deserves the same rigor sales and marketing get. If we are serious about rethinking customer relationships, we have to stop guessing account health and start managing it.Resources and People MentionedDavid DeWolfKnownwell.comBrian Sheaalyssanolte.substack.comlinkedin.com/in/alyssanolte

You don’t own a business. It owns you. If your company cannot run without you, you do not have freedom. You have a job with a new title.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Rafael Pinho to challenge one of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship. Many founders say they want growth, scale, and freedom. But they build businesses that depend on them for every decision, every client, every fire drill. That is not leverage. That is burnout waiting to happen.If you feel stuck in 24/7 mode, this conversation will hit home. If your revenue depends on you being in the room, this episode is for you. It is about rethinking what growth really means and how to build real, transferable value.Rafael breaks down the difference between market value, business value, and transferable value. Alyssa reflects on the “thrill of the solve” and the quiet pride many entrepreneurs feel when they carry too much. Together, they unpack what it takes to step out of the center and build something that can live beyond you.Why you should listen:You will learn how to stop being the bottleneck in your own company. You will understand why delegation is a mindset shift, not just a hiring decision. You will see how tracking numbers and building systems protects your future.Three key takeaways:If you are solving every problem, you are capping your growth. Delegate the tasks that are not your highest and best use.Build systems and track your numbers. Growth is not a feeling. It is math.Transferable value matters. If your biggest client only stays because of you, your business is fragile.Resources and people mentioned:Rafael Pinho on LinkedIn TD Pine Advisors Free business growth assessments at tdpineadvisors.comConnect with Alyssa Nolte: alyssanolte.substack.com linkedin.com/in/alyssanolteThis is about rethinking the future of customer relationships by first rethinking the role you play inside your own business.

The future is live. And if you still think digital is safer, cheaper, and smarter… you may be missing what customers actually want.Dawn Farrow joins Alyssa Nolte to rethink the future of customer relationships through one bold idea: live, in-person experiences are not going away. They are growing. From concerts and festivals to pop-ups and brand events, people crave connection. They want to feel something real. If you sell anything, that matters.This conversation is for founders, marketers, and leaders who feel stuck in a digital-first world. If you are tired of fighting ad algorithms and rising CAC, this episode will challenge how you think about risk, growth, and loyalty.Why listen?Because emotion sells. Because fandom drives revenue. Because your customers want more than clicks.3 Key TakeawaysThe experience economy is booming. Live events and in-person experiences are one of the fastest growing industries in the world. People want memories, not more stuff.Fandom creates sales. When people feel connected, they tell others. That social proof can drive real revenue. Dawn shares how strong word of mouth can lift ticket sales by 30 percent.Start small and focus on feeling. You do not need a massive event. A 15-person meetup can work. The real question is simple: how do you want your customers to feel?Dawn Farrow works across the experience economy, supporting marketers who sell live events, theater, festivals, and immersive experiences. She also runs an in-person conference in London and leads training for experience marketers.Connect with Dawn Farrow on LinkedIn. Follow On Sale Group on Instagram.Connect with Alyssa Nolte on LinkedIn. Subscribe to Alyssa Likes to Talk on Substack.If you care about rethinking how brands build real relationships, this one will stay with you.

Should you own a business someday?Not someday as a dream… but as a real plan.Scott Elliott believes every professional should pause at different stages of life and ask one hard question: Does business ownership belong in my future? Alyssa Nolte pushes back, shares her own leap into entrepreneurship, and explores what it really means to build something that can outlast you.This conversation is about more than side hustles. It is about rethinking the future of customer relationships, income, and legacy. If you have ever felt the itch to start something, this one will hit.Why listen?Because most people never stop to ask if they are building a job… or building an asset. Scott and Alyssa unpack the difference between consulting, franchising, and true ownership. They also talk about timing, risk, family, and what freedom actually looks like.Three key takeaways:Ask “why” before you start. If your reason is fast money, stop. Real ownership starts with clarity, not hype.Not all businesses are created equal. A consulting gig depends on you. A well-run franchise or service company can run without you.The right answer might be no. Scott shares why he often guides people away from franchising if it is not a fit. Good advice is not about pushing deals. It is about long-term success.If you are climbing the corporate ladder… or quietly dreaming of something else… this episode will challenge you to think bigger.Resources and People Mentioned:Scott Elliott, New Chapter ConsultingAlison Wood Brooks, author of TalkCiscoSalesforceAmazon Web ServicesGreat ClipsMcDonald’sConnect with Scott Elliott at NewChapter.llc or on LinkedIn.Connect with Alyssa Nolte on LinkedIn or find her Substack, Alyssa Likes to Talk

Fake it till you make it is dying. Customers are tired of the smoke and mirrors. They want honesty. If you are building a business and feel pressure to look bigger than you are, this conversation will hit home.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Chris Brown to talk about why people are thirsty for honesty and how authenticity can be a real business strategy. They dig into sales, marketing, social media, and the tension between needing cash and doing what is right for the customer. This is about rethinking the future of customer relationships through trust, not performance.If you care about long term growth, brand trust, and building a business you can stand behind, you should listen.Here are three key takeaways:Honesty builds trust faster than hype Chris shares how a consultative sales approach wins more respect than pushing a bad fit. Saying “we are not the right partner” can actually create stronger relationships.Fake it till you make it has limits Early stage founders often say yes to everything. Alyssa and Chris talk about when that works and when it creates your worst client nightmares.Culture shapes authenticity They explore how honesty looks different across the US, the UK, Latin America, and Asia. Understanding cultural norms can change how you lead global teams and manage expectations.This conversation is for founders, sales leaders, and operators who want to build real credibility in a noisy world.Resources and people mentioned: Charlie Munger Warren Buffett Good Charlie’s Almanack Steven Bartlett and The Diary of a CEO James Clear and Atomic Habits Obvious AdamsIf you are rethinking how you show up in business, this one is worth your time.

Accessibility is not a side project. It is a growth strategy hiding in plain sight. If you think accessibility is just about compliance, this conversation will change your mind.Alyssa Nolte sits down with Max Ivey to rethink what accessibility really means for business growth. Max makes the case: when you improve website accessibility and inclusion, you improve user experience, SEO, AI visibility, hiring power, and long-term customer loyalty. This is not charity. It is smart strategy.If you care about revenue, customer experience, brand trust, or building a modern company, you should listen. Accessibility affects more people than you think. And many businesses are missing a massive, loyal market because they are overwhelmed or unsure where to start.Three key takeaways:Accessibility improves growth metrics. Better heading structure, alt text, captions, and clean code help search engines and AI understand your site. That means more organic traffic and better rankings.Inclusion builds loyal customers. People with disabilities, aging consumers, and even left-handed users notice when companies try. They reward brands that make the effort. Loyalty, referrals, and long-term value follow.You do not have to be perfect. Start with progress. Look at customer support complaints. Invite feedback. Make accessibility a process, not a one-time checklist.Max also shares why companies that embrace accessibility attract purpose-driven talent. Younger employees want to work for brands that live their values. Accessibility becomes a hiring advantage.Resources and people mentioned: Eric Weihenmayer, author of The Adversity Advantage David Steele, poet from the UK Less Annoying CRM Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) TheAccessibilityAdvantage.com Max Ivey on LinkedInThis is about rethinking the future of customer relationships. When you include more people, your business gets stronger.