Sell By Being Human Alex Smith
-
- Business
-
I believe that all people want to be heard, seen, and understood. But how do we get people to hear, see, and understand us effectively? Salespeople train themselves on techniques to do this but there are people doing it well without the word sales showing up anywhere in their job title or job description. This podcast is designed to help us hone our human skills, understand subtle similarities between non-sales people and salespeople, and show how we can learn from both groups the next time we need to create change and sell by being human.
You will learn from people throughout all walks of life. Nurses, coaches, janitors, event planners, HR executives, and architects. Just to name a few. We'll contrast them with trained sales people to show similarities and differences. There's an art to human connection and sales. We all do it differently and we can all learn from our every day human interactions.
Please contact me and let me know who you see in your life selling by being human! I want to shine a light on them.
alex.smith@docebo.com
215-622-6670
@asmith202
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcsmith/
-
The Magic of Human Connection - Brian Miller, Magician, TEDx Speaker, Author
Summary
Brian Miller believes everyone deserves to feel heard, understood, and valued. He is a former magician turned author, speaker, and consultant on human connection. Today, Brian works with organizations and educators who want to build connected cultures.
He is the author of Three New People, a manifesto on human connection that Publishers Weekly said, “Brilliantly outlines a system for deepening relationships.” Brian’s podcast Beyond Networking cracked the Top 200 under ‘careers’ on Apple. And his TEDx talk “How to Magically Connect with Anyone” has been viewed 3.5 million times.
After meeting Brian, audiences are not just inspired to join the human connection revolution - they’re ready to lead it.
Brian shares his personal journey with magic and how it helped him overcome social anxiety. We explore the importance of understanding others' perspectives and beliefs in sales and communication.
Some people don't realize the idea that despite our differences, we all want the same things in life and can find common ground.
Takeaways you'll get - the power of asking meaningful questions to deepen conversations, techniques for remembering names, and emphasizes the importance of making people feel understood and valued. The conversation concludes with Brian sharing a personal story that taught him the power of perspective taking and understanding others.
Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction to the Sell By Being Human podcast
01:25 The Power of Human Connection
07:03 The Emotional Impact of Magic
14:04 Brian's Journey with Magic
23:02 Understanding Perspectives in Sales
27:52 Connecting Beyond Agreement
29:09 Finding Common Ground: Connecting Despite Differences
31:24 The Power of Meaningful Questions
34:48 Remembering Names: Making People Feel Valued
40:46 Perspective Taking: Understanding and Connecting with Others
43:36 Beyond Empathy: Making People Feel Understood
Connect with Brian
LinkedINWebsite
Connect with Us!
LinkedIN: Website: -
How Faith Has Influenced a Sales Career - John Alwinson, Author and Regional Sales Mgr - Boston Scientific
Summary
In this episode, host we interview John Alwinson, a regional sales manager at Boston Scientific and author of the book 'Relentless Sales.' John is a guy who led a successful career in sales and also brings his faith as a key role of what he does and who he is.
We go through alot in this episode - the importance of being genuine and authentic in sales, the role of mentors and identity in the sales process, and the influence of John's father, who was a pastor, on his sales skills.
Jon discusses the importance of bringing faith into business and creating an environment where people can be their genuine selves. He shares a personal story about gathering people in his neighborhood and building community.
Enjoy the episode!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:03 The Meaning of 'Sell by Being Human'
03:00 Chapter 1: Mentors and Identity
04:19 The Influence of John's Father
06:18 The Skills of a Pastor in Sales
08:32 Early Sales Experiences and Lessons Learned
12:05 Advice for Younger Self and Overcoming Fear
14:06 The Concept of Relentlessness
15:01 Dealing with Fear in Sales
19:16 Selling Without Fear and Pre-Call Planning
20:37 Writing 'Relentless Sales'
21:53 The Power of Encouragement
22:40 Believing in Yourself
23:23 Key Skills in Sales
24:30 The Importance of a Sales Process
25:31 Curiosity and Asking Good Questions
26:53 Mental Toughness and Relentlessness
27:16 The Role of Faith
28:36 Living from Your Identity
29:49 Blending Sales, Mentality, and Faith
30:21 The Power of Connection
32:24 Bringing Faith into Business
33:40 Finding Inspiration from Church
34:41 Talking About Faith in Business
36:25 Being Genuine and Authentic
37:20 Being Your Genuine Self
38:19 Gathering People and Building Community
41:36 Being a Hype Man for Others
42:29 Where to Find John Alwinson -
Putting the Spotlight on Others As A Skill - Leslie Venetz, Founder, Sales Led GTM Agency
Summary:
In this episode, we talk with Leslie Venetz, a sales consultant and founder of the Sales-Led GTM agency. Leslie teaches salespeople about outbound strategies and has had a successful career as a top individual contributor and sales leader.
Leslie shares her personal story about making tough decisions in sales and the long-term benefits of prioritizing the customer's needs. She also reflects on the skills she observed in others, such as adaptability and giving credit to others.
Finally, Leslie explains her motivation for starting her own sales consulting business and emphasizes the importance of outbound sales in B2B revenue generation. She also shares her unique approach to sales training events, which includes mindfulness, movement, and unconventional topics.
You'll learn techniques on how to put the spotlight on other people, how to resist the urge to help while still being helpful, and how to connect in a "non sleazy" way on Linkedin.
Takeaways
Selling by being human means developing a deep understanding of the problem you're solving and focusing on helping the customer make the best decision for themselves.Active listening is a crucial skill in sales, and it involves resisting the urge to be helpful and keeping the spotlight on the prospect.Making tough decisions in sales, such as walking away from deals that may not be the right fit, can lead to long-term benefits and build trust with customers.Observing skills in others, such as adaptability and giving credit to others, can inspire and inform your own approach to sales.Starting a sales consulting business offers the freedom to work on your own terms and with the type of people and companies you align with.Outbound sales, including cold calling and cold emailing, is a cornerstone of B2B revenue generation and should not be dismissed or renamed. Sales is a craft and profession that requires care and expertise.Unique experiences and perspectives can set sales professionals apart.Mindset and skill sets are both crucial for sales success.Using reader-centric language in outreach can improve response rates.Earning the right to sell is essential in every stage of the sales cycle.Authenticity and transparency are key on LinkedIn.Revenue Revelry events focus on mindfulness, movement, and sales content.
Key Moments:
03:40 Selling by Being Human
06:17 Understanding the Problem
09:37 Making Tough Decisions
12:26 Observing Skills in Others
23:24 The Importance of Outbound Sales
24:13 Sales as a Craft and Unique Experience
26:05 Unique Approach to Sales Training
27:36 Mindset and Skill Sets in Sales
29:29 Reader-Centric Language in Outreach
31:04 Earning the Right to Sell
32:00 Misuse of Cold Calls
33:15 Optimizing Voicemail Strategy
34:12 Using Texting in Sales
37:15 Being Social vs. Being a Social Seller on LinkedIn
38:37 Making the Ask in Sales
41:28 Authenticity and Transparency on LinkedIn
43:21 Revenue Revelry Events
Connect with Leslie
LinkedIN
Connect with Us!
YoutubeWebsite: -
Treating Your Customers and Team Like Family - Eddie Kopp and Lisa Hamilton, SugarShack
Summary:
The Sugar Shack is a unique music experience that started as a backyard project and has grown into a successful media company. Eddie Kopp, one of the co-founders, shares the journey of how the Sugar Shack evolved over the past 10 years. From humble beginnings to hosting well-known bands, the Sugar Shack has become a sought-after destination for musicians. The success of the Sugar Shack is attributed to the personal and authentic approach taken with artists, creating a comfortable and high-quality recording environment.
The team's passion for music and dedication to building a community has been instrumental in their growth. In this conversation, Eddie Kopp and Lisa Hamilton discuss the journey of Sugar Shack, a music video production company that evolved into a unique live music experience. They share the challenges of getting the attention of well nown artists even when they were just starting out. They also talk about building connections and networking, creating a movement and community, and the role of creating an over the top experience for artists and guests ion their backyard. Yiou'll learn their story of building their business but you'll also learn how to treat the people you work with like family. This episode is good vibes mixed with good stories by two great people.
Takeaways
Authenticity and transparency are key in building connections and maintaining relationships.Leadership skills and confidence can be developed through experiences like the military.Creating a family culture and empowering others can lead to a strong and supportive community.Balancing growth and maintaining the core values of a business is essential for long-term success.Building connections and networking can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to the Sugar Shack and its Origins
02:03 - The Evolution of the Sugar Shack Experience
07:04 - The Early Days and the Hustle
09:28 - Expanding the Reach and Building a Brand
13:00 - The Transition from Hobby to Career
20:21 - The Pressure and Comfort of the Sugar Shack Sessions
23:23 - Communicating with Artists and Building Relationships
25:45 - The Challenge of Being Absent
26:14 - Authenticity and Transparency in Communication
26:53 - Building Connections and Networking
27:19 - Creating a Movement and Community
27:58 - Building Relationships with Artists
28:26 - The Evolution of Sugar Shack
29:02 - The Role of Photography in Sugar Shack
29:34 - Empowering Others and Giving Opportunities
30:03 - Expanding the Sugar Shack Experience
30:38 - Maintaining the Sugar Shack Sessions
31:01 - The Impact of Sugar Shack on People's Lives
31:47 - Eddie's Leadership and Seeing the Best in Others
32:14 - The Influence of Entrepreneurial Parents
32:44 - The Impact of Military Experience
33:15 - Leadership Skills Developed in the Air Force
34:37 - Applying Military Skills to Sugar Shack
35:05 - Confidence and Risk-Taking
36:01 - Creating a Family Culture at Sugar Shack
37:00 - Future Plans for Sugar Shack
38:00 - Balancing Growth and Maintaining the Sugar Shack Sessions
39:26 - Crazy Stories and Band Culture at Sugar Shack
40:20 - Dream Artists to Collaborate With
41:00 - The Next Chapter for Sugar Shack
42:17 - Unique Qualities of Eddie and Lisa
Connect with SugarShack
Sugarshack Music Channel - YoutubeSugarShack Websitea... -
More About the Person, Less About the Sale - Lisa Henderson, Solutions Architect, Verizon Business
Summary:
In this episode of the Sell by Being Human podcast, I interview Lisa Henderson, a solutions architect at Verizon Business. I met Lisa at a sales networking event and I knew within a few mins, she was someone I wanted to talk to.
Lisa shares her background in sales and the influence her father had on her sales career. Her Dad worked in an auto body shop but her Dad taught her the importance of building connections with customers and getting to know them as individuals. Lisa also discusses her role at Verizon and the skills that have served her well in her career.
Overall, the conversation highlights the value of being human in sales and the impact it can have on building trust and relationships with customers. In this conversation, Lisa shares insights and advice on building relationships, setting expectations, and selling through the lens of human connection. She emphasizes the importance of asking questions, understanding different communication styles, and getting to know teammates on a personal level.
Lisa also discusses the balance between work and personal life and offers advice for non-sales salespeople. She highlights the value of using data to build a compelling story, being open-minded and collaborative, and understanding stakeholders. Lisa's philosophy centers around treating people with kindness and being genuine in sales interactions.
Key Moments:
01:00: Lisa Henderson's background and sales career
05:02: Influence of Lisa's father and early sales experiences
08:22: Lisa's father's transition to a non-sales role
09:21: Lisa's exposure to different types of people
12:21: Skills learned from Lisa's father's role as a CNC machinist
15:43: Lisa's experience in retail sales at The Buckle
20:34: Lisa's role as a Principal Connected Solutions Architect at Verizon
25:23: Importance of empathy and understanding in sales
26:00: Setting Expectations and Asking Questions
27:08: Different Communication Styles
28:05: Building Relationships and Getting to Know Teammates
29:04: Personal Conversations and Connecting on a Human Level
30:29: Balancing Work and Personal Life
31:22: Advice for Non-Sales Salespeople
32:05: Using Data and Building a Compelling Story
33:33: Being Open-Minded and Collaborative
34:32: Understanding Stakeholders and Speaking Their Language
36:11: Selling Through the Lens of Human Connection
40:53: Treating People with Kindness and Building Relationships
45:20: Being Genuine and Putting People First
46:18: Lisa's Childhood Sales Experience
Connect with Lisa:
LinkedIN
Connect with Us!
LinkedIN: Website: -
What's it Mean to Be Authentic in Sales? - Dee Acosta, Sr Sales Mgr - Modigie
Summary:
In this episode, host Alex Smith interviews Dee Acosta, a senior director of sales and strategic growth at Modigie. He's been a #1 seller at his company numerous times and very active in sales communities. We discuss the concept of selling by being human and the importance of authenticity in sales.
Dee shares examples of authentic people in his life and how their authenticity has contributed to their success. We also talk about the challenges of being authentic and the importance of trying to let out your authenticity even when you're not feeling really positive.
We emphasize the need for thoughtful and personalized conversations, rather than generic small talk. Pre-research should focus on understanding the buyer's initiatives and leadership, rather than individual details. Human skills, such as radical candor and domain expertise, play a crucial role in sales success.
Key Moments:
00:00
Introduction and Background
01:26 Dee's Sales Journey
04:14 - Authenticity in Sales, How to exhibit it.
06:12 - Examples of Authentic People
08:40 - Sharing Personal Experiences
09:08 - Challenges of Authenticity
12:27 - Being Authentic on LinkedIn
22:16 - Domain Expertise in Sales
Connect with Dee
LinkedIN
Connect with Us!
LinkedIN: Website:
Customer Reviews
Great podcast that covers all components of selling
Alex has a great variety of guests from each stage and component of selling. He gets his guest to open up about their work and themselves. Like how he has people from marketing, pre-sales, sales people, and sales management on his show. He gets into how these different departments interact as part of a solution for a client.
Great Stories! Awesome Sales Strategies!
If you’re looking for a sales podcast that’s injected with humanity, *this is it!* Alex does a great job of asking questions that get to the art of selling. Great guests also offer next-day tips on the science of selling. The episode with Jonathan Mahan of The Practice Lab has a dozen turnaround applications to be a better human seller!
Helpful for sales professionals & interesting for anyone!
Alex is an outstanding host & very good with asking engaging questions. He continues to bring very interesting guests from all walks into the conversation about the human side of selling. I’ve taken away key ideas and real-life tips that I aim to implement and/or experiment with as I approach my profession. This is a great avenue for learning about other podcasts and authors as well. Hands down, 5-stars!