30 Minutes to President's Club | No-Nonsense Sales

🎁 Save $50 — Get our step-by-step discovery video course for just $249 with code PODCAST https://www.30mpc.com/course/discovery-course -- ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Use Humbling Disclaimers: Preface tough questions with softening statements like, “I’m not quite sure how to ask this,” or “This might feel direct.” It lowers defensiveness and makes hard questions land better. Dig Into Prospect Rumblings: Prospects often hint at problems rather than state them outright. Listen for vague concerns and use a humbling disclaimer to drill deeper into the real issue. Refine Bucket Questions: Instead of stating, “Every CRO faces these three problems,” add nuance: “Many CROs I speak with mention challenges like…” This avoids defensiveness and keeps the conversation open. Follow a Clear Flow: Get permission to ask questions, surface problems without assumptions, prompt for real examples, then use humbling disclaimers to quantify impact without making prospects uncomfortable. CHARLES' PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB Founder @ DiscoveryCoach.io Sales Enablement Manager @ AlphaSense Lead Revenue Enablement Manager @ CB Insights Senior Sales Training Manager @ CB Insights RESOURCES DISCUSSED Discovery Course Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

There is an extreme over-rotation in sales on setting next steps. Setting next steps is NOT always a good thing. 🛑 Bad: Never setting next steps 🟡 Okay: Setting steps on every deal 🟢 Good: Setting steps on REAL deals Instead, first determine if the deal is worth setting next steps with at all. Then, you should recommend the appropriate next step, but only if your prospects have proven that it's worth keeping them in your pipeline. That's where the Five Minute Drill comes in: Three questions you can ask at the end of every single call to determine if and how you set a next step. 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 1: 𝐃𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐲? If you can practice ONE THING, it's this. Any time you offer a demo, a pilot, a proposal, you are giving your time away to a prospect. And that's fine. But only if you get something in return. If you're investing more time with them, you should expect that they won't waste it and affirm that this is actually leading somewhere. 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 2: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐲? You can't properly suggest a next step until you understand their timeline to solve the problem we just agreed upon. If they want to solve this problem in 3 weeks, we'll use their answer to drive far more urgency than if this weren't a problem to solve for 6 months. 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 3: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐲. Guess what, the last question isn't a question. You should always suggest and confirm next steps because you've sold your software far more times than they've bought it. Frame your ask in terms of their best interest, not yours. Based on what you learned in the first two questions: what is the next step you need to take to solve their problem by the time they want it solved? And don't just suggest one next step, suggest next-next steps so they explicitly buy into a sales process, not a free 60 minute demo. Full breakdown of the 5 minute drill: https://www.30mpc.com/newsletter/how-to-set-next-steps-in-sales-with-the-5-minute-drill Join our weekly newsletter: https://hubs.li/Q02NJQ8p0 Things you can steal: https://linktr.ee/30mpc_youtube #30Minutestopresidentsclub #30mpc

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: No Last-Minute Coaching: Avoid changing a rep’s game plan in the 30 minutes before a call. It signals distrust and forces them to scramble, leading to a worse outcome. Stick to One Coaching Theme: Don’t introduce a new area of improvement after every call. Focus feedback on a consistent theme to drive real progress. Align on Call Emotion: Before a discovery call, ask your rep how they want the prospect to feel. This sets the right tone and helps shape their delivery. Know Your Role in Calls: As a manager, decide if you’re leading, coaching, or just reading the room. Adapt based on the rep’s experience level and the call type. ALEX'S PATH TO PRESIDENT'S CLUB: Founder & CEO @ Alluviance Director of Sales Commercial @ Outreach Director of Sales Corporate @ Outreach Territory Account Executive @ Microsoft RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

🎁 Save $50 — Get our step-by-step discovery video course for just $249 with code PODCAST https://www.30mpc.com/course/discovery-course -- ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Deflect Product Questions Early: When a prospect asks about your product upfront, redirect by asking what’s happening in their business that made them look in the first place. Avoid the trap of leading with features. Reduce Technical Objections: If a prospect fixates on a small technical blocker, refocus on the bigger business problem. Aligning on major pain points can make minor technical concerns less of a deal-breaker. Dig Beyond Surface Problems: Low win rates aren’t the real problem. The true impact is missing revenue targets, losing reps, or struggling to hit quota. Always tie issues to business consequences. Identify the Root Cause Before Solving: Before proposing solutions, confirm the real problem, its impact, and the root cause. Then present your solution in a way that connects all three. KEENAN'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: CEO @ A Sales Growth Company Author of Gap Selling VP of Sales @ 2Wire VP of Sales @ Avaya RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Provide Hypotheses, Not Generic Questions: Instead of broad questions, offer informed hypotheses to invite deeper discussion. Ask Questions to Guide Next Steps: Use questions to guide the process without being pushy, keeping the prospect engaged. Teach Process Over Just Problems: Beyond identifying issues, recommend processes (like a custom demo over a POC) to build trust. Uncover Intent Behind Extra Steps: When extra steps are requested, ask what they aim to learn to suggest simpler options. DAN'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Senior Vice President of Global Sales @ Challenger VP of Sales, Account Management @ Challenger VP of Sales, Major Accounts @ Challenger Managing Vice President, Sales & Community @ Evanta RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

PLAYBOOK TAKEAWAYS: Aim for 70% attainment and 70% participation to create a winning culture. Avoid feast-or-famine environments where only a few reps succeed. Use historical data to set quotas based on pipeline, win rates, and deal size. Every quota increase must be backed by an investment in pipeline, win rates, or deal size. Revisit quotas once per year, unless there’s a massive skew in attainment. Communicate quota changes with transparency and clear justification. Avoid high attainment with low participation, which creates resentment and turnover. Quota planning should be a business decision, not just a sales decision. Keep top reps busy before adding more headcount to avoid diluting pipeline. Simple, fair comp plans drive engagement and motivation. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Create a Not-To-Do List: Identify low-value tasks to eliminate instead of just adding more effort. Free up time for strategic activities like prospecting and closing. Prioritize RGAs: Focus only on activities that create new pipeline or advance existing deals. Everything else is a distraction. Enterprise Deal Timeline: Q1 is for building a POV and landing initial meetings. Q2 is for discovery and securing an executive sponsor. Q3 is for proposal, negotiation, and procurement. Q4 is for closing. Rule of 100 for Enterprise Outreach: Target the top 20% of accounts with high potential. Reach out to 10 executives with at least 10 touches each—totaling 100 strategic touchpoints per account. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Founder of Ian Koniak sales training/consulting Strategic Account Director @ Salesforce.com Director of Sales @ Ricoh RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Ian’s free training

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Segmented Team Structure: Down-market teams focus on landing new logos, passing them to expand teams, while up-market AEs handle both acquisition and expansion with retention-based comp. Enterprise Sales Strategies: Use top-down (sell wall-to-wall) or land-and-expand approaches, with the latter yielding higher LTV by scaling through business units first. Deal Inspection Triggers: Monitor $50K deals at stage 3 for POCs and access to power, and stage 5 for mutual action plans and the paper process. Consistent Review Rhythm: Reps update pipelines Monday, managers review Tuesday, deal reviews happen Wednesday, and Eleanor finalizes calls Thursday. ELEANOR'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Head of Sales @ Retool Global Head of Commercial Retention & Regional Director of Commercial Sales @ Segment Global Head of Commercial Renewals and Retention @ Segment Head of Customer Success and Solutions engineering @ Clever Inc RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Understand Rep Motivation: Identify what drives each rep—money, career growth, or exploration—then get their permission to push them toward that goal, laying the foundation for future coaching. Call Out the Situation First: Before changing a rep’s behavior, acknowledge the dynamic at play so both parties are aligned. This prevents resistance and confusion. Leverage Top Performers: Coach high performers by challenging them to reach the next level and putting them in the spotlight to lead trainings, reinforcing best practices for the team. Coach in Buckets: Break down calls into sections and ensure reps get the fundamentals right before refining their style, making feedback more structured and actionable. ALEX'S PATH TO PRESIDENT'S CLUB: Founder & CEO @ Alluviance Director of Sales Commercial @ Outreach Director of Sales Corporate @ Outreach Territory Account Executive @ Microsoft RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Understand the VEX Scale: Classify prospects as Vetted (using a competitor), Educated (familiar but undecided), Cold (new to the space), or Self-Service. Tailor your approach accordingly. Ask About Their Journey: Send an email upfront asking where they are in their learning process. This helps you position the conversation at the right level. Skip Basic Discovery for Vetted Prospects: If they already use a competitor, focus on their current solution’s gaps and ideal outcomes instead of re-explaining the category. Avoid Restarting Discovery: When new stakeholders join later calls, recap prior findings first, then ask how those problems impact their specific role. JAKE'S PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB CEO @ Skaled Consulting VP Sales @ Nowait, Inc. (acquired by Yelp) Head of Sales & Customer Success @ Chartbeat Vice President of Sales, Success, and Sales Operations @ Glassdoor RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Identify Strategic Initiatives: Focus on big company bets that are close to revenue, such as IPOs, international expansions, or mergers and acquisitions. Double Personalize Outreach: Combine company-specific observations with industry trends to create messaging that feels hyper-relevant. Build a Strategic Research Framework: Create a table to map key initiatives (e.g., IPO readiness) on one side and sources of information (e.g., 10-K reports, CEO interviews, press releases) on the other. Leverage AI for Efficiency: Use tools like ChatGPT or Copy AI to analyze information from sources like job postings, financial documents, or industry trends. KYLE'S PATH TO PRESIDENT'S CLUB: CMO @ Copy.ai CMO @ Clari VP, Revenue Growth & Enablement @ Clari Director Sales Development & Enablement @ Clari Sr. Director Sales Development & Optimization @ Looker RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Interview Kits for Prep: Send candidates an interview kit outlining expectations, key questions, and details on interviewers. Poor answers indicate lack of prep or poor fit. Evidence-Based Questions Only: Avoid hypotheticals. Ask for proof of past performance (P.O.P.) to assess real experience and capabilities. Screening Videos Save Time: Require a three-minute video on a key trait (e.g., perseverance). Evaluate clarity, instructions-following, and presentation skills before a live interview. Live Deal Review Test: Have candidates walk through a real deal they closed. Assess how they sourced, ran discovery, demoed, and closed, treating it like an actual deal review. KD'S PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB CRO @ Finally SVP of Sales and Partnerships @ Bench Accounting Practice Lead, Revenue Leadership @ Winning by Design VP of Inside Sales @ PatientPop Inc. Head of Sales Enablement & Development @ ServiceTitan VP of Sales @ SnackNation RESOURCES DISCUSSED Read: Join our weekly newsletter Steal: Templates, drips, scripts

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS ChatGPT Research Triangle: Before outreach, prompt ChatGPT with the industry (including sub-industry), job title, and your product’s value. This ensures messaging aligns with trends relevant to the prospect. Use Industry Jargon: Ask ChatGPT for insider terminology that VPs in specific industries use. This makes your messaging sound more credible and tailored to their world. Refine Email Sequences: Provide ChatGPT with your email templates and ask it to integrate industry-specific revenue drivers. This keeps messaging structured while adding personalization. Smarter Discovery Questions: Use ChatGPT insights to refine questions that demonstrate expertise. Instead of generic asks, tailor them to industry trends and job-specific challenges. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB CEO @ Skaled Consulting VP Sales @ Nowait, Inc. (acquired by Yelp) Head of Sales & Customer Success @ Chartbeat Vice President of Sales, Success, and Sales Operations @ Glassdoor RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Signal Prioritization: Categorize signals (e.g., high-intent, time-based) with different response SLAs to ensure timely outreach. Call Blitz Culture: Multiple weekly call blitzes with a virtual sales floor create a high-energy, team-building cold calling environment. Effective Personalization: Don’t rely on signals alone; combine them with company insights to craft personalized, compelling outreach. 80/20 Email Framework: Provide reps with an 80% completed template (signal, company insight, ideal state, light CTA), letting them personalize the final 20%. FLORIN'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Head of Sales Development @ Common Room Director of Sales @ Barley Senior Manager, Sales Development @ Loopio Manager, Sales Development @ Loopio RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Focus on High-Impact Problems: Prioritize fixing widespread issues over the loudest complaints. High-volume problems drive more meaningful change than squeaky-wheel issues. Leverage 2x Multipliers: Target improvements that can double key metrics rather than marginal gains. Align leadership early so they understand why other issues aren’t top priority. Weekly Wiggle Wednesdays: Hold a one-hour leadership meeting to refine sales tactics. Use the four D’s: define, document, demonstrate, and deliberately practice new strategies. Transparent 1:1 Tracking: Link manager-rep 1:1 docs to the director’s 1:1 doc. Track each rep’s key metric, issue diagnosis, and growth plan for better coaching visibility. KD'S PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB CRO @ Finally SVP of Sales and Partnerships @ Bench Accounting Practice Lead, Revenue Leadership @ Winning by Design VP of Inside Sales @ PatientPop Inc. Head of Sales Enablement & Development @ ServiceTitan VP of Sales @ SnackNation RESOURCES DISCUSSED Read: Join our weekly newsletter Steal: Templates, drips, scripts

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Permission-Based Introduction: Identify an executive, then request an intro to their top lieutenant by tying outreach to an executive-level metric they care about. Funding Intent Matters: Don’t just track funding announcements—dig into how the company plans to use the money and align outreach to support that goal. AE & SDR Account Strategy: AEs select accounts, build a POV, and own outreach to execs, while SDRs focus on below-the-line contacts with AE guidance. Account Tiering System: Rank accounts as green (30-50), yellow (130), or red (30-50) based on deal size and buying likelihood to prioritize outreach effectively. MADDY'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Account Executive @ Webflow Account Executive @ SafeGraph Account Executive @ Procore Technologies Account Executive @ Procore Technologies Senior Business Development Rep @ Procore RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Know Competitors' Fiscal Periods: Be aware of when your competitors’ fiscal periods end to anticipate price drops and position yourself better. Phased Approach: When price matters, propose only the essentials for day one to make your quote smaller and easier to accept. Timeline Stack: Identify key timeline drivers, like contract end dates or business seasonality, to create urgency. Turn Want into Why: During discovery, dig deeper to find the real business problem behind a customer’s desire for change. JOHNNY'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB Commercial Account Executive @ Talkdesk Enterprise Sales Development Manager @Talkdesk Team Lead, Enterprise Sales Development @ Mimeo Enterprise SDR @ Mimeo RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

Nick, Armand, and Mark Kosoglow talk through how and when you should make different sales hires as your sales team grows. ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Hire Builders First: Early sales hires should create processes, while later hires follow them. CEO Sales Involvement: Founders should sell until they define the product and process, then transition to AEs. Scaling Key Roles: Maintain a 1:1 AE to SDR ratio early, shifting to 2:1 later. Hire RevOps early; SE and enablement depend on need. Manager & Director Timing: Keep managers at 8 reps max, stretching to 10-12 if needed. Delay director hires until managing at least three managers. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Stages of Sales Leader Episode Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Align Messaging to Roles: End users want simplicity, managers focus on team metrics, and execs care about goals and risk. Match your message accordingly. Use Credible Content: Share third-party sources like Gartner or HBR instead of only company case studies to build trust. Amplify the Problem Early: Send data or insights highlighting the problem’s urgency in the early stages of the sales cycle. Simplify Implementation Late: Provide resources like change management guides to ease rollout and reduce risk. KRYSTEN'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Founder @ KrystenConner.com Enterprise Account Executive @ UserGems Enterprise+ Account Executive @ Outreach Enterprise Accounts, Financial Services @ Tableau Software Strategic Accounts @ PowerSchool RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Facial Expressions Control Tone: Your facial expressions influence your tone. For example, leaning in creates a concerned tone, while tilting your chin up can convey curiosity. Slow Down Your Questions: Asking questions too quickly leads to poor answers. Slow down the second half of your question to give prospects time to think and respond meaningfully. Master the Five Types of Tone: Use different tones—curious, confused, concerned, challenging, and playful—to guide conversations and elicit the right responses. Challenge Prospects with a Direct Tone: A challenging tone helps push prospects to take action, especially when addressing tough issues like low-quality leads. JEREMY'S PATH TO PRESIDENT'S CLUB: Founder @ 7th Level VP of Sales @ Pinnacle Security RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Ban Product-Specific Language: Prohibit product-focused terms like "roles-based access" in deal reviews. Instead, prompt reps to explore the customer’s "why" behind their needs, driving better customer questioning and understanding. Tie Incentives to Certifications: Require reps to complete critical certifications (e.g., discovery certification) to access desirable benefits, such as inbound leads, ensuring alignment between AE and leadership goals. Consistency in Value Framework: Maintain your value selling framework across every sales stage—from discovery to demo to proposal—ensuring consistent messaging and alignment throughout the cycle. Embed Framework into Processes: Update all sales processes, stages, and deal reviews to reflect new frameworks. Regularly reinforce these changes in weekly reviews to ensure training sticks and drives lasting behavior changes. ELEANOR'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Head of Sales @ Retool Global Head of Commercial Retention & Regional Director of Commercial Sales @ Segment Global Head of Commercial Renewals and Retention @ Segment Head of Customer Success and Solutions engineering @ Clever Inc RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

Nick and Armand break down the perfect 5 stage sales process to get your deals closed fast. Stage 1 Problem Agreement: Ensure both parties align on the problem being solved before moving forward. Stage 2 Solution Agreement: Confirm the solution addresses the agreed problem effectively. Stage 3 Power Agreement: Secure buy-in from decision-makers and key stakeholders. Stage 4 Commercial Agreement: Reach consensus on pricing, terms, and conditions. Stage 5 Vendor Approval: Navigate internal processes to finalize and approve the deal. Map these stages to your sales cycle, define clear exit criteria for each, and identify opportunities to combine calls or stages to accelerate deal velocity. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: In rip-and-replace deals, start by asking why the existing solution was chosen to understand the problems and motivations behind it. Late in the deal, confirm with your champion if you’re their top choice. Use their guidance to strengthen your position against competitors. When prospects compare you to competitors, suggest specific aspects to evaluate that highlight your strengths and expose competitors' weaknesses. In rip-and-replace deals, emphasize key product gaps that significantly impact the business, and ensure decision-makers are committed to addressing them. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB" Founder & CEO @ Outbound Squad Owner @ Jason Bay Consulting Director of Marketing @ Chamber DS, Inc. Marketing Director & Corporate Sales Trainer @ National Services Group, Inc. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Name Badge Optimization: Design name badges with legible names and role-based color coding. Bonus: add a fun fact to encourage interaction and make glancing at the badge feel natural. Post-SKO Follow-Up Plan: SKO momentum fades quickly. Implement a follow-up plan within days to sustain energy and carry it into the sales year. Session Energy Management: Use high-energy sessions earlier when attention is stronger. Save interactive or fun activities for post-lunch when engagement dips. Pre-Vet Presenters: Plan sessions a month in advance and require presenters to rehearse. Avoid costly, unpolished presentations that waste valuable sales time. JD'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Chief Revenue Officer @ Kantata Chief Revenue Officer @ Motus Managing Director @ Bravo Solution Vice President, Americas @ Workplace Systems RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Get Permission to Reframe: Before turning a perceived weakness into a strength, ask for permission to tell the story. This keeps the approach authentic and avoids sounding overly salesy. Anchor High for Multithreading: When requesting additional stakeholders, ask for more than you need. If they say no to six but yes to two, you've still gained ground. Reframe Intentional Limitations: When faced with an objection or missing feature, consider if it’s intentional by design. Reframe it as a benefit aligned with the prospect’s goals. Prep for Large Meetings: Divide the room strategically. Prep with your champion, pre-call each stakeholder, then personalize questions in the meeting to tailor the conversation. DAVID'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Senior Account Executive MM @ LinkedIn Account Executive SMB @ LinkedIn Sales Development Representative @ LinkedIn Creator Manager @ LinkedIn RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Club Pass

Join John's Newsletter FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Executive time crunch: If an exec only has five minutes instead of 30, ask, "What’s the one thing you need to hear to earn another meeting with your full attention?" Focus on that. Lead with a hypothesis: Instead of asking generic discovery questions, start with a hypothesis about their priorities based on research, showing you did your homework. Decision criteria: Prospects may focus on the wrong decision factors. Share a list of common criteria and ask them to rank their priorities to guide the discussion. Demo as you go: Don't save all product demos for the end. Show small pieces of the product during the conversation, interspersing discovery throughout. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: SPFs for Short-Term Change: Use SPFs to drive short-term behavior changes. Long-term shifts should align with consistent metrics in your "iron square" framework. Strict Holdover Rules: Allow one quarter for closing open opportunities after a territory change if they’re past stage two. No exceptions ensure fairness and consistency. The Iron Square: Track rep productivity with win rate, AE-sourced pipeline, total pipeline generation, and forecast accuracy, with quota attainment as the central North Star. Customer-First Processes: Avoid letting internal rules disrupt customer experience. Build buffer zones in ROEs and territories to minimize deal handoffs. ELEANOR'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Head of Sales @ Retool Global Head of Commercial Retention & Regional Director of Commercial Sales @ Segment Global Head of Commercial Renewals and Retention @ Segment Head of Customer Success and Solutions engineering @ Clever Inc RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

The cold calling course is here! (20% off with 20-OFF-YR1 before 01/10): https://clubpass.30mpc.com/cold-calls-to-presidents-club Actionable Takeaways The biggest mistake in The Problem Proposition: going through the motions instead of joining the pain. Join the ridiculousness of the triggering problem. Almost brush over your one-sentence solution. Shrug your shoulders during the interest-based CTA.

The cold calling course is here! (20% off with 20-OFF-YR1 before 01/10): https://clubpass.30mpc.com/cold-calls-to-presidents-club Actionable Takeaways No Value Propositions. Buzzwords make you sound like a telemarketer, and benefits fall flat without the context of a problem. Triggering Problem. Instead, lead with a problem so specific that it triggers your prospect and reminds them of a painful memory. One-Sentence Solution. If you get the problem right, all you need is one sentence to explain your solution (we do X so that the problem goes away). Interest-Based CTA. Validate their interest before you ask for the meeting, using softening language, no-based questions, and mini push-aways.

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Set Multiple Agendas: Before showing a high-level demo, re-establish the agenda. Explain what you'll show, present it, then recap by tying it back to the meeting's outcome. Dangle the Carrot: Identify one problem to address in your demo, then ask for two or three more use cases. Use curiosity to uncover additional discovery points before diving into the demo. Anchor to an Outcome: Start the call by setting a clear decision-oriented goal, such as determining if further evaluation is worth their time. Be Blunt About Goals: In rip-and-replace scenarios, state the stakes directly, like weighing the pain of switching versus the potential benefits. This disarming honesty builds trust. MARK'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Commercial Sales Manager @ Procore Sales Manager, Emerging @ Procore Enterprise Account Executive @ Procore Senior Account Executive, Mid-Market @ Procore RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Michelle Cecil Episode

RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Club Pass (Course & Community) Johnny Larson (New Club Member) Johnny's Past Episodes: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Q1 Tactic Teardowns (Sales Nav, Pitch Script)

FOUR ACTIONABLE LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS: Simplify Dashboards: Skip filters and create pre-built reports for dashboards. It saves time and provides clearer insights without extra clicks. Trim CRM Fields: Remove unused CRM fields. If you’re not reporting on them or they’re filled with junk data, they’re just slowing you down. Analyze Mature Pipeline: For accurate win rates, focus on qualified deals created in earlier quarters. Allow time for deals to mature before assessing. Core Metrics Dashboard: Track four key metrics—intro meetings, late-stage deals, win rates, and inbound versus outbound pipeline. JOHN'S PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB COO @ Growth Assistant VP of Sales @ Lattice Sales Director @ Lattice VP of Sales @ Appcues RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

The top 15 sales tips shared on the podcast in 2024 (full episodes linked below) Prospecting Best Practices: "That's Exactly Why I Called" Response: Use objections as a reason to keep the conversation going (Sara Uy) Presuppose the Problem: Start with, "You've probably looked into X before, huh?" to reduce sales pressure and uncover nuance (Josh Braun) Call Yourself First: Test new phone numbers for spam labeling before dialing prospects (Ken Amar) Effective Email Structure: Combine business initiatives, industry trends, and triggers for personalized, resonant cold emails (Kyle Coleman) Heard the Name Tossed Around Opener: Open with network credibility, then focus on problem-centric pitches (from the "Cold Calling Sucks" book) Discovery & Sales Process Best Practices: Problem Storytelling: Turn problem agreement into a story by asking, "When did you realize this was a problem?" (Charles Muhlbauer) The 1–10 Feedback Question: Ask prospects to rate your demo and explore what would make it a 10 (Steven Bryerton) Don’t Mistake Activity for Achievement: Align sales stages with outcomes (Mark Kosoglow) Use Labels in Negotiations: Diffuse tension by labeling emotions, e.g., "It seems like you just want to get a good deal," to avoid triggering defensiveness (Chris Voss) Lead, Don’t Ask, Mid-Cycle: Overcome indecision by offering clear recommendations and removing irrelevant options (Matt Dixon) Leadership Best Practices: Invert the Hiring Funnel: Sell candidates on the opportunity first, then test skills later (Hiring Playbook) Disarming Transparency in Hiring: Share risks and weaknesses with candidates to surface objections early and build trust (Mark Kosoglow) 20/80 Training Rhythms: Spend 20% of the time introducing new skills and 80% reinforcing them weekly (Training Playbook) Pipeline Squeeze: Ask key questions (e.g., deal size, close date, buyer awareness) to assess pipeline health and socialize results (John Sherer) Document the Wiggle (W.G.L.L): Define "what good looks like," then practice targeted scenarios repeatedly for efficiency (Kevin Dorsey) Thanks sellers for tuning in this year! See you in 2025 with more of the most actionable tips in sales, be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.

Enjoy this clip from episode 247 w/ Charles Muhlbauer ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Instead of focusing on quantifying pain, ask deeper questions about the problem’s origins and previous solutions, this will naturally reveal the impact Find out if the problem is known and cared about across the company or just by one person Ask easy, non-pushy questions like “Why is that a problem?” to get the prospect to share the impact without feeling pressured Position involving decision-makers as beneficial for them, making it easier to get in front of power PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Founder @ DiscoveryCoach.io Sales Enablement Manager @ AlphaSense Lead Revenue Enablement Manager @ CB Insights Senior Sales Training Manager @ CB Insights RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Prioritize Storytelling: Assess storytelling skills during interviews and coach reps on it. It's a foundational human communication skill that drives sales success. Evaluate Questions Asked: Learn as much from the questions a rep asks as you do from their answers. It reveals their curiosity and understanding. Mock Pitch Preparation: Let candidates pitch your product with basic information provided, such as target personas, company size, and common challenges. Avoid setting them up to fail. Grade with Context: When evaluating candidates, adjust expectations. Benchmark them one level lower than your top AEs to account for their lack of product knowledge. ANDREWS'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Head of Sales @ Superhuman Sr Director of Sales @ Scale AI Head of Global Email Sales & GTM @ Twilio Manager Enterprise Sales @ Twilio RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Leverage POC Momentum: Initiate vendor review at the POC’s peak excitement. Parallel process legal and finance steps to accelerate the deal. Involve Executives in POCs: Require VP-level involvement for POCs. Share examples of risks when executives are excluded to build alignment and trust. Confirm POC Entry Criteria: Secure problem agreement, power alignment, and price understanding before starting a POC to avoid misalignment. Set Realistic Exit Goals: Use achievable metrics, like output benchmarks, within the POC timeframe. Avoid long-term criteria that extend beyond the POC. DEREN'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB SVP of Sales @ JustCall VP WW Sales @ Ambassador Labs Global Head of Data Analytics Sales @ Google Head of Looker North American Sales @ Google RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS If you make a mistake while recording a prospecting video, don't discard it. Send it anyway, as it can add authenticity and still lead to positive outcomes. When you feel the conversation winding down, go straight to asking for the meeting to increase your chances of booking it. After sending a LinkedIn video, start by asking, "What did you think of the video?" followed by "What didn't you like about the video?" to engage prospects. Leverage your last interaction—whether it's a video, voicemail, or previous call—as the reason for your next outreach to create continuity and context. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Sales Director @ Pareto Senior Business Development Manager @ Pareto Senior Account Executive @ Pareto Account Executive @ Pareto Business Development Representative @ Pareto RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

Get your forecasting resources ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Commit Deal Essentials: Reps must report four details for commit deals: dollar amount, close date, economic buyer, and their engagement. If not engaged, share the plan to involve them. Three Forecast Methods: Use a top-down pipeline view, a bottoms-up deal analysis, and AI tools for better forecast accuracy. Combining these improves reliability. Quarterly Milestones: By month one, secure 50% of forecasted deals. Month two should see 60% closed, leading to 100% by month three. Prioritize Best Case Deals: Spend less time on commits with clear criteria. Focus on best-case deals and strategies to convert a few more into wins. TAYLOR'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: VP of Sales @ Xactly RVP, Sales - NA Growth & Commercial @ Xactly RVP, Sales - West & NA Growth Head of GTM @ roOomy RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Streamline Proposals: Remove unnecessary features to cut costs and stand out from competitors with bloated quotes. If prospects need a feature, they’ll request it, giving you control to reintroduce it strategically. Ask Questions on RFPs: Use RFP responses to ask about priorities and requirements, opening the door for discovery and tailoring your response to their needs. Disqualify Early: Disqualify deals if your product isn’t a fit or their problem seems like a “nice-to-have.” Identifying this early saves time and lets you focus on better opportunities. Test Product Gaps: If a feature is missing, ask how critical it is to their goals. Confirm whether this gap is disqualifying or if the deal can move forward. JOHNNY'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB Commercial Account Executive @ Talkdesk Enterprise Sales Development Manager @Talkdesk Team Lead, Enterprise Sales Development @ Mimeo Enterprise SDR @ Mimeo RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Give Johnny a Follow

FOUR ACTIONABLE SALES TAKEAWAYS During demos, connect features shown to insights gathered during Discovery. Address confusion promptly and facilitate discussions rather than relying on your Solutions Consultant. Make your effort visible to prospects when working on the business case. Let them know you're actively involved and invite collaboration, which fosters reciprocity. Refine and finalize your business case incrementally. Use the demo to make the case tangible and save detailed financial discussions for the final business case meeting. When negotiating and faced with a request for a discount, refrain from immediate responses. Silence can be powerful as it prompts the prospect to reconsider or elaborate on their request. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Enterprise Account Executive @ Webflow Senior Account Executive @ Webflow Account Executive @ Webflow Senior Corporate Account Executive @ Udemy RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

Mark and Armand walk through the steps needed to provide effective ongoing training to your sales team. ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Use a capability & cognitive load matrix to decide what to focus your training on The best person for the job to be running that training and sales enablement is the most respected rep or manager on the team Train your managers before you train your teams Establish existing weekly rhythms then drop the reinforcement into one of those existing rhythms so you're not adding new meetings RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Ask for Competitor Proposals: If a prospect cites competitor pricing, request their proposal to directly compare offerings and address discrepancies. Rank Negotiation Priorities: When prospects negotiate on multiple factors, ask them to prioritize what matters most, then focus concessions on top-ranked items. Meet Two Key Pricing Criteria: Share pricing only when the prospect acknowledges your solution addresses a critical pain and they influence or approve purchasing decisions. Create a Cost for Discounts: When asked for a discount, request the prospect to identify features or services they are willing to remove, framing concessions as a trade-off. JOHNNY'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB Commercial Account Executive @ Talkdesk Enterprise Sales Development Manager @Talkdesk Team Lead, Enterprise Sales Development @ Mimeo Enterprise SDR @ Mimeo RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal How to finish a negotiation in one cut

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Explore two types of impact with your prospect: hard metrics (e.g., hours spent, money lost) and soft impact. Address pain points in other departments to accelerate deals and improve win rates. Turn situations into problems by asking questions that highlight known pain points with competitors. If ghosted late in the deal cycle, offer to email the next key contact directly to prompt a response. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Account Executive @ Webflow Account Executive @ SafeGraph Account Executive @ Procore Technologies RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Uncover what’s not working: Use varied questions in one-on-ones, like “If you had a magic wand, what would you change?” or “Where have we let you down in the sales cycle?” to surface actionable feedback. Run radical candor sessions: Gather reps for skip-level feedback on their manager. Facilitate discussions on what the manager should keep, stop, or start doing, and provide actionable feedback to the manager for growth. Stay connected with the team: Conduct regular skip-level meetings, whether quarterly one-on-ones or group discussions, to maintain trust and understand team challenges directly. Lead with strategic priorities: Focus on 2-3 key quarterly initiatives, like improving prospecting systems or revamping coaching processes, to drive long-term business impact beyond daily operations. STEPHANIE'S PATH TO PRESIDENT'S CLUB: VP of Global Sales at PandaDoc Chief Revenue Officer at Sprig Chief Revenue Officer at FlowHub VP of Sales, SMB at Glassdoor RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Leverage Twitter for Outreach: Use X (formerly Twitter) creatively to direct prospects to your personalized email. Vin records and tweets videos at CMOs to grab their attention. Smart Follow-Up Strategies: If emails aren’t opened, start a new thread. If they’re being opened, reply to the same thread to keep your outreach efforts visible. Cold Email Framework: Craft emails with an observation, the problem, a solution, and a clear call to action for maximum impact. Use Unique Triggers for Follow-Ups: Don’t repeat the same email. Write four emails based on different research triggers to keep your outreach relevant and engaging. VIN'S PATH TO PRESIDENT'S CLUB: Founder @ CreatorBuzz Senior Account Executive @ DemandBase Account Executive, Mid-Market @ DemandBase Enterprise Business Development Rep @ DemandBase RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Schedule regular meetings with your champion to maintain deal momentum and reduce scheduling friction Schedule multiple next steps simultaneously if they're not dependent on each other to accelerate the deal. Determine whether the prospect will present, ask, or inform the board about the purchase, and prepare accordingly. Ask your champion questions that they might not know, prompting them to involve higher-ups who can provide answers. SAM'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: CEO @ Sam Sales Head of Enterprise Sales @ LinkedIn Vice President North America Sales @ ON24 RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Segmented Team Structure: Down-market teams focus on landing new logos, passing them to expand teams, while up-market AEs handle both acquisition and expansion with retention-based comp. Enterprise Sales Strategies: Use top-down (sell wall-to-wall) or land-and-expand approaches, with the latter yielding higher LTV by scaling through business units first. Deal Inspection Triggers: Monitor $50K deals at stage 3 for POCs and access to power, and stage 5 for mutual action plans and the paper process. Consistent Review Rhythm: Reps update pipelines Monday, managers review Tuesday, deal reviews happen Wednesday, and Eleanor finalizes calls Thursday. ELEANOR'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: - Head of Sales @ Retool - Global Head of Commercial Retention & Regional Director of Commercial Sales @ Segment - Global Head of Commercial Renewals and Retention @ Segment - Head of Customer Success and Solutions engineering @ Clever Inc RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Identify Strategic Initiatives: Focus on big company bets that are close to revenue, such as IPOs, international expansions, or mergers and acquisitions. Double Personalize Outreach: Combine company-specific observations with industry trends to create messaging that feels hyper-relevant. Build a Strategic Research Framework: Create a table to map key initiatives (e.g., IPO readiness) on one side and sources of information (e.g., 10-K reports, CEO interviews, press releases) on the other. Leverage AI for Efficiency: Use tools like ChatGPT or Copy AI to analyze information from sources like job postings, financial documents, or industry trends. KYLE'S PATH TO PRESIDENT'S CLUB: CMO @ Copy.ai CMO @ Clari VP, Revenue Growth & Enablement @ Clari Director Sales Development & Enablement @ Clari Sr. Director Sales Development & Optimization @ Looker RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Gauge your prospect’s enthusiasm by asking where they fall on a scale from one to ten, providing more insight than a simple yes/no question. Ask your prospect what they discuss in internal meetings to tailor your pitch to resonate with their executive team. Avoid showing too much software to prevent prospects from associating the product with unnecessary features and higher costs. Recap previous conversations and then ask the executive what you might have missed, ensuring you address their specific needs while demonstrating your product. STEVEN'S PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB SVP of Sales @ ZoomInfo VP of Sales @ ZoomInfo Director of Sales @ ZoomInfo Manager, Enterprise Sales @ ZoomInfo RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

Mark Kosoglow walks through the key skills, responsibilities, and attributes for a Sales Leader at each phase of company growth Doer Phase (0 to $1M ARR): The initial stage focused on finding product-market fit. The sales leader handles everything, including cold calls, demos, building sales systems, and refining the sales process. They act as an individual contributor, ensuring the company moves forward without distracting other key team members. Key trait: Being a hands-on, self-reliant executor. Builder Phase ($1M to $10M ARR): The leader transitions to hiring and scaling the team, typically starting with individual contributors (AEs and SDRs). Still involved in selling but begins to set foundational systems, processes, and training. They document best practices and create repeatable frameworks while maintaining some "doer" responsibilities. Key trait: Hiring and building effective teams and processes. Doctor Phase ($10M to $25M ARR): The leader becomes more metrics-driven, focusing on diagnosing and optimizing performance based on data. Begins managing managers and spending more time collaborating cross-departmentally (e.g., with RevOps, marketing, and customer success). Key trait: Using data and metrics (L1 and L2) to prevent thrash and fine-tune the organization’s operations. Architect Phase ($25M to $100M ARR): The leader’s role expands to a more executive level, crafting the overall blueprint for the sales organization in alignment with other departments. Focus on segmentation, pricing strategies, and designing compensation plans that drive desired behaviours. They influence larger strategic initiatives and ensure the execution aligns with organizational goals. Key trait: Seeing the big picture and designing a cohesive GTM blueprint. Communicator Phase ($100M+ ARR): The leader’s primary role becomes communication: setting clear expectations, timelines, and evaluating the mental models used by the team to meet goals. The focus shifts outward, ensuring alignment across broader organizational and market dynamics. Key trait: Clear and effective communication to drive alignment and execution at scale. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal