Prospecting on Purpose® with Sara Murray

Sara Murray

Prospecting on Purpose is Forbes meets Saturday Night Live - it’s *the* show for everything prospecting, sales, business, and mindset. As business grows more complex, the biggest opportunities emerge when we learn beyond our own industries. From hospitality and design to technology and travel, this is where professionals come together to exchange ideas, uncover new perspectives, and prospect for business with creativity, authenticity, and intention. Hosted by Sara Murray, a heart-centric sales champion, each episode helps you raise both your vibes and your game. Sara's playbook is simple - ABAV: Always Be Adding Value. Embrace your authentic self, lean into your unique strengths, and sell the outcome instead of the product or service. Join Sara each week as she sits down with world-class thought leaders to unpack today's business strategies, mindset shifts, and relationship-driven approaches to growth, giving you practical ideas you can put into action right away. Connect with Sara: www.saramurray.com IG: @saramurraysales LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/saramurraysales/

  1. 5 days ago

    How to Grow Your Business by Putting Service First

    What if growing your business was less about pushing for the sale and more about making it easier for people to buy? Chris Bird, General Manager of Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, joins Sara Murray to explore how service, integrity, thoughtful follow-up, and strong relationships can create sustainable business growth and sales. Drawing from more than 15 years in luxury hospitality, Chris shares how to build business and sales through community involvement, vendor partnerships, memorable customer experiences, and intentional follow-up. He explains how his team uses its CRM to continue relationships, recognize future opportunities, and turn what could feel like a cold call into a thoughtful check-in.Click here to watch a video of this episode. Chris and Sara also discuss why people hesitate to ask for business, how to communicate with customers in the way they prefer, and why showing someone that you genuinely want their business can make the decision easier. Chris also introduces his “open floor” leadership philosophy, which replaces waiting for employees to walk through an open office door with actively meeting people where they are, asking what they need, and closing the communication loop. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How to follow up without feeling like you are bothering someone• Why service can be one of your most effective business-growth strategies• How to turn vendor relationships into mutually beneficial partnerships• How a CRM can help you create thoughtful, timely follow-up opportunities• Why customers want to know that you genuinely value their business• How to communicate with buyers through their preferred channels• How integrity and consistency lead to repeat business and referrals• Why great leadership requires an “open floor,” not just an open door• The difference between connecting with someone and delivering a traditional sales pitch Chris also shares why he does not give “sales tours” of Saybrook Point. Instead, he focuses on connecting with people, sharing his genuine enthusiasm for the property, and communicating the few selling points that matter most to the customer. About Chris Bird Chris Bird is the General Manager of Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, a luxury waterfront resort in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. He oversees the resort’s operations, sales, marketing, accommodations, restaurant, spa, marina, weddings, events, and overall guest experience. Connect with Chris Bird:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bird-5764a815 Explore Saybrook Point Resort & Marina:https://www.saybrook.com/ Watch the full conversation on YouTube:https://youtu.be/1IYEYe4K0EQ Connect with Sara Murray:https://www.saramurray.com/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@saramurraysales LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramurraysales/ You may also enjoy these episodes: • How to Sell Without Being Salesy with David Newman• Why Relationship-Building in Sales Is More Powerful Than Any Pitch If this conversation helped you approach business growth or follow-up differently, follow Prospecting on Purpose® and share the episode with someone who wants to sell with more confidence and less pressure. Click here to view the episode transcript.

    How to Grow Your Business by Putting Service First
  2. 14 Jul

    Becoming Unshakable in Leadership and Life with Lovell Casiero

    What does it mean to become unshakeable? In this episode of Prospecting On Purpose®, Sara Murray sits down with Lovell Casiero, inspirational speaker, executive coach, author, entrepreneur, and host of Unshakable with Lovell Casiero. Lovell shares how her personal and professional journey shaped the way she thinks about resilience, leadership, confidence, and authenticity. From rising through the hospitality industry to leading her family’s television ministry during a difficult season, Lovell has learned that becoming unshakeable does not mean life never shakes you. It means learning how to keep going, one day at a time. Together, Sara and Lovell explore why authentic leadership starts with knowing who you are, why trust is essential if you want people to follow you, and how personal challenges often shape the leadership lessons we carry into our professional lives. They also discuss the importance of mentorship, choosing mentors who reflect the life you want to build, managing negative self-talk, giving yourself grace, and remembering that success at work is only one part of a full life. Click here to watch a video of this episode. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What it means to become Unshakable in leadership and life• Why authentic leadership builds trust and confidence• How personal challenges shape professional growth• Why leaders need people who trust them enough to follow• How mentorship can help you build confidence and clarity• Why your ideal life matters when choosing mentors and coaches• How negative self-talk can limit your growth and success• Why resilience starts with the thoughts you choose to believe• How to give yourself grace when you feel behind or overwhelmed• Why work-life balance, self-care, and purpose matter• How to move through difficult seasons one day at a time• Why setbacks do not have to define your story Lovell also shares the story behind her book Lead Like a Girl and her podcast Unshakable, where she highlights stories of resilience, faith, purpose, and perseverance. This conversation is a reminder that leadership is not about pretending to have everything figured out. It is about showing up with truth, building trust, learning from adversity, and continuing to move forward even when life feels uncertain. About Lovell Casiero Lovell Casiero is an inspirational speaker, executive coach, author, entrepreneur, and host of Unshakable with Lovell Casiero. Her career spans hospitality leadership, ministry, coaching, consulting, and personal empowerment. Lovell began her hospitality journey as a sales administrator and rose into senior commercial strategy leadership roles, including executive roles with Crescent Hotels & Resorts and PM Hotel Group. She also spent a decade leading her family’s television ministry, helping expand it from local broadcasts to a broader presence on major cable networks. Lovell is the author of Lead Like a Girl, a book focused on authentic leadership, resilience, empowerment, intuition, and the strengths women bring to leadership. Her work today helps leaders and individuals build confidence, lead authentically, overcome adversity, and move forward with purpose. Connect with Lovell Casiero Website: https://lovellcasiero.com/ Podcast: Unshakable with Lovell Casiero Book: Lead Like a Girl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lovellcasiero/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkCvZKCnMA-3waocwkgJDuw Connect with Sara Murray Website: https://www.saramurray.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saramurraysales LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramurraysales/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saramurraysales/ Click here to view the episode transcript.

    Becoming Unshakable in Leadership and Life with Lovell Casiero
  3. 7 Jul

    How to Stand Out in Business by Doing What Most People Don’t with Bart Berkey

    Bart Berkey joins Sara Murray to share how small acts of kindness, gratitude, service, and human connection can help us stand out in business, create better client experiences, and do what most people don’t. What does it really take to stand out in business? In this episode of Prospecting On Purpose®, Sara Murray sits down with Bart Berkey, CEO and founder of Most People Don’t, international keynote speaker, podcast host, bestselling author, and former global sales leader at The Ritz-Carlton. Bart shares why the actions most people avoid, like following up, showing appreciation, expressing gratitude, being kind, and creating meaningful human moments, are often the very things that differentiate us in business and in life. Together, Sara and Bart explore how to stay positive in uncertain times, shift from a survival mindset to a contribution mindset, and look for opportunities to create more goodness in everyday interactions. They also discuss how Bart’s hospitality background shaped his approach to service, sales, luxury, and customer experience. Bart explains why buyers do not want to feel processed. They want to feel cared for. Click here to watch a video of this episode. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why doing what most people don’t can help you stand out• How small acts of kindness and gratitude create real impact• Why mindset matters during uncertainty and difficult seasons• How to choose “terrific” instead of “terrible”• Why positive strolling can help replace doom scrolling• How service and contribution can shift your perspective• Why AI should support human connection, not replace it• How to recover when you make a mistake with a client• What luxury service really means from the buyer’s perspective• Why buyers want to feel cared for, not processed• How to move from transactional selling to transformational experiences• Why human connection is still one of the strongest differentiators in business Bart also shares stories from his Ritz-Carlton career, including how the pressure to be perfect can sometimes get in the way of simply being human. This conversation is a reminder that standing out does not always require a grand gesture. Sometimes it starts with returning the shopping cart, writing the thank-you note, holding the door, leaving the review, making the call, or doing the small thing most people don’t. About Bart Berkey Bart Berkey is the CEO and founder of Most People Don’t. He is an international keynote speaker, podcast host, bestselling author, and former hospitality executive who inspires individuals and organizations to take the actions that most people avoid. A Penn State University graduate, Bart spent more than 30 years in global leadership roles in hospitality, including 16 years as Global Director of Sales for The Ritz-Carlton, where he helped generate nearly $1 billion in revenue. Today, Bart is known for his engaging keynotes and his message that extraordinary results often come from doing the simple, meaningful things that most people don’t. Connect with Bart Berkey Website: https://mostpeopledont.com/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-people-dont-but-you-do/id1556134592LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartberkey/ Connect with Sara Murray Website: https://www.saramurray.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saramurraysales LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramurraysales/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saramurraysales/  Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 Show Intro 00:34 Meet Bart Berkey 01:46 What Most Avoid 02:22 Small Acts Matter 04:19 Uncertainty Mindset 05:23 Terrible Or Terrific 08:54 Show Me Good 12:41 Control And Kindness 17:22 Joy And Abundance 20:04 Sales And AI Shift 21:22 Using AI Wisely 22:39 Marblism Email Assist 24:20 AI With Human Touch 24:55 Owning Mistakes Gracefully 26:10 Ritz Carlton Perfection Trap 29:57 Luxury Without The Stiffness 30:53 Notice Anticipate Overdeliver 34:57 Free Ways To Lift Others 38:08 What Defines Luxury Brands 40:06 Humanality In Sales 42:42 Where To Find Bart 44:10 Final Wrap And Reviews

    How to Stand Out in Business by Doing What Most People Don’t with Bart Berkey
  4. 30 Jun

    How to Navigate Uncertainty in Work and Life with TEDx Speaker Jordana Cole

    What do you do when the plan changes, a conversation goes off script, or you simply do not know what comes next? In this episode of Prospecting On Purpose®, Sara Murray sits down with leadership coach, organizational consultant, applied improviser, and TEDx speaker Jordana Cole to explore how the principles of improvisation can help us navigate uncertainty with greater confidence at work and in life. Jordana is the founder of Ignited and the co-founder and Chief Product & Research Officer at Shiftwell.ai. She holds a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation. Her TEDx talk, “What to Do When You Don’t Know What’s Next,” has reached more than 300,000 viewers. Jordana explains that improvisation is not simply about being funny or thinking quickly. It is an ability we already use every day as we respond to unexpected situations, collaborate with others, influence decisions, and move forward without having all the answers. Together, Sara and Jordana discuss how these principles apply to sales conversations, leadership, teamwork, difficult client interactions, personal growth, and everyday life. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why you are already an improviser• How to play to the situation you are actually in• Why rigid scripts can prevent genuine connection• How to stay present when a conversation takes an unexpected turn• How to respond rather than react during difficult moments• Why co-creation matters in sales, leadership, and relationships• How to learn from mistakes without replaying them endlessly• Why recognizing what went well is essential for growth• How focusing on your strengths can improve confidence and performance• Why play, joy, and humor help us become more creative and adaptable• How to navigate uncertainty without needing to have every answer Jordana also shares three boosts for recharging your inner improviser: Play to the scene you are in, not the one you want to be in.Make your memory short and your learning lasting.Co-create with strength instead of fixing weakness alone.She also shares a bonus reminder: give yourself permission to play. This conversation offers practical, research-informed tools for anyone who wants to become more present, resilient, creative, and effective when work or life does not go according to plan. Connect with Jordana Cole Website: https://ignitedbyjordana.com/ Shiftwell.ai: https://www.shiftwell.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordana-cole-mapp-pcc-a8445a8/ Watch Jordana’s TEDx talk, “What to Do When You Don’t Know What’s Next” Connect with Sara Murray Website: https://www.saramurray.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saramurraysales LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramurraysales/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saramurraysales/

    How to Navigate Uncertainty in Work and Life with TEDx Speaker Jordana Cole
  5. 23 Jun

    How to Sell Without Being Salesy w/ David Newman

    Selling does not have to feel pushy, manipulative, or transactional. In this episode of Prospecting On Purpose®, Sara Murray sits down with professional services sales expert and bestselling author David Newman to explore a more human, trust-first approach to prospecting and selling. David shares how he went from struggling to find his first prospects to landing major Fortune 500 contracts and teaching consultants, coaches, speakers, and service professionals how to win better clients, bigger deals, and higher fees. Click here to watch a video of this episode. According to David, a seller’s job is not to pressure someone into buying. It is to communicate two things clearly: I understand what you are going through.I can help you solve it.When buyers feel understood, respected, and safe, trust increases and the sale becomes much more natural. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🔹 How to sell without sounding salesy 🔹 Why your mindset and intentions matter more than a perfect sales script 🔹 The two things every prospect needs to understand before buying 🔹 How conditional language like “or not” can reduce pressure for both the buyer and seller 🔹 Why slowing down the sales process can increase trust 🔹 Why many closing problems actually begin much earlier in the sales conversation 🔹 How stronger discovery questions help prospects close themselves 🔹 Why you should enter a sales meeting without immediately pitching a solution 🔹 How to become unignorable by contacting multiple decision-makers 🔹 Why the best-performing companies are often the most willing to invest 🔹 How to sell to ambitious market leaders instead of chasing struggling prospects 🔹 Why top sales professionals add fresh prospects to their pipeline every day 🔹 How expressing genuine gratitude can create new opportunities and revenue David also explains why sales is ultimately the transference of enthusiasm. When you genuinely believe in the value you provide and care about helping the person in front of you, that enthusiasm becomes part of the buying experience. Key Takeaways: 🎯 Stop focusing on closing and start focusing on understanding. 💡 A great script cannot overcome a desperate or transactional sales mindset. 🤝 Create buyer safety by reducing pressure and showing genuine curiosity. 🚀 Do not assume you have a closing problem. The real issue may be how the conversation started. 📈 Target the best companies in your market. The best of the best are often the ones most willing to invest. About David Newman: David Newman is a professional services sales expert who helps consultants, coaches, speakers, and service providers land better clients, bigger deals, and higher fees. He is the author of the bestselling books Do It Marketing and Do It Selling, the creator of the Do It MBA Mentorship, and the host of The Selling Show podcast. Connect with David Newman: Website: https://doitmarketing.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjnewman/ Free Resources: https://doitmarketing.com/hello Free Online Training: https://doitmarketing.com/webinar Connect with Sara Murray: Website: https://www.saramurray.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saramurraysales LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramurraysales/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saramurraysales/ #ProspectingOnPurpose #DavidNewman #SalesTips #SalesTraining #Prospecting #BusinessDevelopment #ConsultativeSelling #B2BSales #RelationshipSellingClick here to view the episode transcript.

    How to Sell Without Being Salesy w/ David Newman
  6. 16 Jun

    Ep 120: Increase Your Executive Presence with Melissa Maher

    Executive presence is not about being the loudest, most charismatic, or most senior person in the room. It is about projecting confidence, gravitas, decisiveness, warmth, and poise under pressure. In this episode of Prospecting On Purpose®, Sara Murray sits down with Melissa Maher, executive leadership advisor, strategic consultant, speaker, and founder and CEO of Pinnacle Enterprises Group. Before launching her firm, Melissa spent two decades in senior leadership roles, including serving as Chief Marketing Officer at Expedia Group. Melissa shares practical insights from her bestselling book, Holding Your Own: Speaking, Acting, and Winning in the Business World, to help professionals strengthen their presence, communication, visibility, and influence. Whether you are leading a global team, preparing for a high-stakes meeting, building your personal brand, or trying to influence without a formal title, this conversation offers clear strategies you can begin using immediately. Click here to watch a video of this episode. What You’ll Learn: 🔹 What executive presence really means and why it is not reserved for extroverts or senior leaders 🔹 How preparation, pacing, pauses, and body language can help you appear and feel more confident 🔹 Why personal branding is a strategic necessity, not bragging 🔹 Simple ways to increase your visibility without becoming the loudest person in the room 🔹 How to manage stakeholders above, beside, and below you 🔹 Why concise communication strengthens your credibility and influence 🔹 How excessive apologizing can diminish your presence and what to say instead 🔹 Ways to improve your executive presence during virtual meetings and Zoom calls 🔹 How to influence others, build advocates, and create opportunities without having a leadership title 🔹 Why negotiation should feel more like a dance than a battle Key Takeaways: 🎯 Enter important meetings knowing the three main points you need to communicate. 💡 Use the power of the pause. Slowing your pace can make you appear more confident, prepared, and composed. 🚀 Visibility creates opportunity. Start small by asking a question during a town hall, volunteering to present, sharing a point of view on LinkedIn, or accepting a stretch assignment. 🤝 Build and maintain a support network before you need something from it. Melissa also explains why executive presence is a collection of learnable skills. You do not need to change your personality, become louder, or wait for a promotion to begin strengthening your influence. Connect with Melissa Maher: 📘 Holding Your Own: https://holdingyourownbook.com/ 🌐 Pinnacle Enterprises Group: https://pinnacleenterprisesgroup.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamaher/ Connect with Sara: 🌐 Website: https://www.saramurray.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saramurraysales LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramurraysales/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saramurraysales/ #ProspectingOnPurpose #ExecutivePresence #MelissaMaher #LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalBranding #CommunicationSkills #WomenInLeadership #CareerGrowth

    Ep 120: Increase Your Executive Presence with Melissa Maher
  7. 10 Jun

    Ep 119: Develop a Winning Pitch: Lessons from a $100 Million Exit w/ Sarah Dusek

    In this episode of Prospecting On Purpose®, Sara Murray sits down with Sarah Dusek, an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author, hotelier, and co-founder of Under Canvas, the upscale outdoor hospitality company she sold in 2018 for over $100 million. Sarah shares how she went from the nonprofit world to building, scaling, selling, investing, and now launching her next hospitality venture, Few & Far Luvhondo. Through her journey, she has learned that business can be a powerful vehicle for good — and that the best pitches are built on clarity, confidence, connection, and deep understanding of the person on the other side of the table. If you’ve ever struggled to communicate your value, pitch an idea, sell with confidence, or ask for the opportunity you want, this conversation will help you rethink what it means to sell authentically and show up prepared. Click here to watch a video of this episode. What You’ll Gain: 🔹 How to Sell Authentically – Why the best version of selling starts with caring deeply about what you do and communicating that passion naturally. 🔹 Pitch What Buyers Actually Want – Learn why successful pitching requires understanding your audience’s business model, motivations, metrics, and decision-making process. 🔹 Confidence Through Skin in the Game – Discover why betting on yourself is essential before you can ask someone else to bet on you. 🔹 Prepare for Your One Shot – Sarah explains why first impressions matter, why “good enough” can cost you opportunities, and why real human feedback still matters in the age of AI. 🔹 Relationships Open Doors – Learn why warm introductions, value-added relationships, and authentic connection can change the outcome of a pitch, meeting, sale, or career opportunity. Key Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: 🎯 A winning pitch is not about what you want to sell, it’s about what the other person needs to buy. 💡 Confidence is built when your actions, values, and message are aligned. 🚀 Relationships are not transactional, but they can become the bridge to rooms, opportunities, and decisions you could never reach alone. Sarah also shares insights from her book, Thinking Bigger: A Pitch Deck Formula for Women Who Want to Change the World, and introduces listeners to Few & Far Luvhondo, her conservation-focused luxury safari lodge in South Africa. Your pitch is more than a presentation. It is your opportunity to connect, communicate value, and invite someone to believe in what you are building. Tune in now and start prospecting on purpose! For more insights, revisit: 🎙 Episode 4 – Why Icebreakers Work for Prospecting 🎙 Episode 20 – Four Pillars for a Confident Mindset 🎙 The Core Values episode on using your values as a guide for stronger decisions, deeper alignment, and more authentic business relationships. Connect with Sarah Dusek: 🌐 Sarah’s Website: https://sarahhdusek.com/ 🌐 Few & Far Luvhondo: https://www.fewandfarluvhondo.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhdusek/ 📘 Book: Thinking Bigger: A Pitch Deck Formula for Women Who Want to Change the World Connect with Sara: Website: https://www.saramurray.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saramurraysales LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramurraysales/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saramurraysales/ #ProspectingOnPurpose #SarahDusek #SaraMurray #WinningPitch #PitchDeck #SalesPitch #AuthenticSelling #RelationshipSelling #WomenEntrepreneurs #VentureCapital #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SalesMindset #ThinkingBigger Chapters 00:00 Intro00:31 Meet Sarah Dusek01:31 Accidental Entrepreneur04:40 Authentic Selling07:22 Connection Creates Sales10:03 Pitching What Buyers Want14:43 Confidence And Skin In18:23 One Shot Pitch Prep22:15 Relationships Open Doors29:34 Being True To Yourself35:24 Few And Far Safari Lodge37:05 Wrap Up And Where To

    Ep 119: Develop a Winning Pitch: Lessons from a $100 Million Exit w/ Sarah Dusek

About

Prospecting on Purpose is Forbes meets Saturday Night Live - it’s *the* show for everything prospecting, sales, business, and mindset. As business grows more complex, the biggest opportunities emerge when we learn beyond our own industries. From hospitality and design to technology and travel, this is where professionals come together to exchange ideas, uncover new perspectives, and prospect for business with creativity, authenticity, and intention. Hosted by Sara Murray, a heart-centric sales champion, each episode helps you raise both your vibes and your game. Sara's playbook is simple - ABAV: Always Be Adding Value. Embrace your authentic self, lean into your unique strengths, and sell the outcome instead of the product or service. Join Sara each week as she sits down with world-class thought leaders to unpack today's business strategies, mindset shifts, and relationship-driven approaches to growth, giving you practical ideas you can put into action right away. Connect with Sara: www.saramurray.com IG: @saramurraysales LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/saramurraysales/

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