Sales Is King

Commitment is foundational to your success in the Digital Era. Commitment means dedication over a long period of time. You must commit to making yourself better right now if you are to succeed in a changing environment. Dan rocks another episode and takes us through a blueprint for success, whether you are in sales, marketing, finance or any job right now. How are you changing the way you approach your job in 2018 and beyond? Are you creating change or waiting for change to show you the door at your current job? Are you committed to learning new skills or simply hoping that your current skills have enough juice to carry you the rest of the way. Are you digging in for the long haul or flipping on autopilot and letting the chips fall? Your mindset needs to change and if it doesn't, you may be putting yourself in harm's way. The biggest risk in business today is standing pat; clinging to the status quo. Don't believe that? Go rent a movie at your local Blockbuster tonight.

Sales Coaching when done correctly reaps tremendous benefits on organizations. Unfortunately, the majority of companies either do not provide sales coaching to their reps or deliver half assed attempts at coaching. In addition, there are some glaring gaps and disconnects here. 82% of Sales leaders say they 'coach' their reps, yet only 48.2% of reps say they are actually coached. Sales leaders score themselves 79/100 on coaching prowess, yet their reps give them a score of 49/100 Geez!! The benefits of coaching are many: 112% increase in deal size 32% reduction in cycle time 3x increase in wins 20% reduction in attrition 64% greater chance reps will meet quota So why the hell isn't this a bigger priority for organizations !! Dan dives into two new articles on sales coaching and rants his way through the implications delivering some much needed answers on how we solve this critical issue. Get your headphones on and turned up! 🎧

A new study from SiriusDecisions shows that quota performance for Sales Reps is still not improving and in danger of dropping yet again in 2018. There are 3 key takeaways from the report: 1. Over 70% of sales leaders say that their reps are not connecting their solution to the business issues of buyers 2. Sales Cycle Times are increasing with over 64% saying they are facing longer lead times to get deals done. 3. Only 27% of a sales team's time is spent on core selling activities. Dan dissects these issues and delivers some valuable insight into why he thinks these problems are occurring and what sales leaders and reps can do to improve in each of these areas. Listen Now 🎧

Dan starts off this brand new studio episode with a RANT about Narcissistic salespeople and why this trait is a surefire way to sink to the bottom of your peer group. From there, Dan covers a new study by the Objective Management Group(link here: http://www.omghub.com/salesdevelopmentblog/elite-salespeople-are-200-better-sales-competencies) which details those activities that Sales All Stars are best at when compared to average or poor sellers. Hint: it all has to do with how you speak about MONEY 💰 Don't miss this wild ride 🏄‍♂️

Fortune 500 CMO Peter Horst joins Dan to discuss the challenges marketers and sellers face in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Of specific focus is a conversation around how brands are tackling social issues(e.g The NFL, Pepsi) in the "Fake news" era and how sitting on the sidelines is actually the most dangerous strategy an organization can deploy. Peter is an engaging speaker who brings the credibility of 30 years of leading some of the world’s most iconic brands at companies like Hershey, Capital One, and General Mills. Drawing on his experience that spans B2B, B2C, technology, consumer packaged goods and financial services, Peter is one of the highest-rated keynoters at conferences around the world and brings humor, authenticity, and compelling content to his engagements.

Kristin Luck sits down with Dan for a fun and lively interview on just how we finally solve the marketing-sales alignment issue. Kristin is one of the Top 100 Influencers on Twitter for Marketing and Sales. She is an expert in marketing measurement and growth hacking in addition to being a serial entrepreneur and a globetrotting keynote speaker on marketing, branding, storytelling, startups and innovation. She also regularly contribute to both the commercial (Fast Company, Forbes) and academic press (Research World, Journal of Brand Strategy). Lastly, she is the founder of Women In Research, a non-profit with over 5,000 members globally. Buckle your seat belts👊

McKinsey's latest article sets the B2B Sales world on fire and Dan is back in the studio to take you through it including why science is leading the charge in this "B2B Sales Revolution." There are disruptive changes being brought on by advanced analytics and machine learning in conjunction with a more content- focused and digital savvy Buyer, all leading to a new look B2B organization: one in which the CEO drives sales transformation by making sure the Marketing, HR and IT are all looped in and singing from the same sheet of music. The link to the article can be found here: http://ow.ly/qt8m101a0MX Other big changes Dan discusses include new research on when Buyers really need a salesperson and understanding the 'How, What And Why' of your prospect and customer. Lastly, Dan discusses the war for talent but also the rising importance and changing nature of sales coaching and training in this equation. It is a MUST Listen 👊

Forrester is in the process of outlining the key characteristics of the Modern/21st B2B Seller and Dan returns to the studio to break it down for you. A successful B2B sales rep needs to be/have the following: 1. Empathetic Partner 2. Flexible and Adaptive Behavior 3. Storytelling Mastery 4. Advocacy Focus 5. Operational Mindset 6. Digital Adeptness Dan delivers a high energy overview of what acing each of these categories will mean for your success.

A recent survey of CIO's(Chief Information Officers) shows that only 1 out of 10 sales reps leaves them 'highly satisfied" when meeting with a salws rep to evaluate a company's services. The study from article: http://ow.ly/g1T510179Be goes on to say that CIO's expect the sales reps to do a better job of connecting their solution to the CIO's priorities and strategic roadmap. They need to do a better job of discovery in the meeting but also need to come into the meeting more prepared, doing the homework and the research to build trust. Secondly, they need to be more patient and be willing to hang in there with the CIO as he/she goes through the buying process. Lastly, show them the $$$. What is the economic value that you will deliver? Who else is using your solution and have you solved these issues successfully with other organizations. Listen to Dan's colorful spin on this report now 👊

58% of potential deals in B2B today end in what is being referred to as "No Decision." The buyer/buying committee chose to keep things as is. We call this "status quo bias." Buyers are risk averse, so it appears easier and less risky to not spend the money on your product or solution. But you did such a great job 'pitching' -talked about all of the great benefits we could provide-why didn't they buy? Because you did not effectively help the buyer see the risk of inaction. Because you didn't spend enough time discussing the current state, and the ramifications/the impact of not dealing with the challenges the buyer currently faces. Dan is back in the studio to talk about his CURE for the DO NOTHING VIRUS. Don't miss it!