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Thoughts On Regrets and Next Steps #536 It's not the mistakes in my life I regret, but the opportunities missed. Today I stand at a crossroads, certain I can't turn back, yet unsure which direction to go forward. The passing of my son has made this all too clear. In today's Sales Babble Podcast I discuss my thoughts on regret, and options I'm considering on how best to serve the world. Our lives are brief and the chance to make a difference is limited. It's time for me to pivot and I'm wondering if you can help. Could you do me a favor? Listen to this episode in the link below, it's not very long. Answer this, what do you think I should do? Given my experience in business and podcasting, what options do you think I should consider? Thank you. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve i

Due to death of my son Tim Helmers, I'm pausing the podcast.

Go With The Flow Selling #534 Too often we're overly concerned about the competition or comparing ourselves to others. This fear whips us into a frenzy and we fail to economize our energies, to the detriment of our pipeline. You've been told time and time again to get organized, follow the process, and leverage the power of your CRM. But this advice falls on deaf ears. What if there was a better way? A way of selling that has a natural flow that avoids obstacles and reaches its destination the fastest way possible. Maybe a river would be a good metaphor. What can we learn from the nature of water and how it applies to selling? You know the Tao loves to envision our lives in the context of flowing water.  Right? Go with the flow selling. That's our topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://

Pain is Inevitable Yet Suffering is Optional When Selling with Caitlin Doemner #533 Today we take a break from the Tao of Sales Babble and I invited a guest to join us and babble about an emerging branch of sales.  Our guest is Caitlin Doemner a Speaker, Author, and Podcast Host at Ecstatic Business. Caitlin is an entrepreneur & somatic psychology researcher. Today we babble about her interest in blending ancient wisdom with neuroscience and how it can transform sales performance. In this episode, we dive into enhancing emotional intelligence to eliminate pain and suffering when selling. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating refe

How To Grow Confidence When Selling #532 Often these days I see a lack of mindfulness and confidence in the profession of sales. Despite possessing strengths, and skills, sellers often fail to acknowledge their weaknesses and gaps. Not all sellers. Take you, for instance! Here you are, actively listening to Sales Babble and committed to enhancing your sales skills. Contrast that with your peers, who dismiss the idea of continuous improvement. You stand out because you believe in your ability to become better. That kind of confidence is invaluable. Lao Tzu frequently speaks about acceptance and its empowering effects, making our discussion on confidence timely.”  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discussed all things sales: prospecting, qual

What It Means To Be A Sales Engineer with Jason Hadley #531 Today we pause The Tao of Sales Babble to share a conversation with Jason Hadley. Jason is a Sales Engineer at LightHouse Worldwide Solutions and was a guest on the Cannabis Advocate podcast, another podcast I host. Jason shares advice on prospecting, presentations, and closing regarding B2B sales. It's a refreshing conversation from a real sales guy in the trenches. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a

Why Be the Seller Who Cares #530 Several years ago, I saw Zig Ziglar at the United Center. Zig was a famous author, salesperson, and motivational speaker. Zig was one of many famous headline speakers that morning and he provided a very engaging speech with over 10K people attending. I remember him sharing one of his favorite lines, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care... about them!" Too often sellers forget this! Customers have choices. There is more competition than ever before. So how do you differentiate? Compassion! It's knowing what buyers truly desire, which is to have someone take away their problems. When prospects get the sense that you care about their problems and that you have their best interest in mind, they will trust that you have the solution. That's how to stand out. Caring for them, taking care of them, just being a good person, and showing some compassion. That’s our topic for today.   Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful sellin

Why You Should Never Assume When Selling #529 Not assuming a prospect’s desires is a strength, but knowing what’s good for them? That's a weakness. So too, is the act of taking for granted and presuming, because that instills weakness. Great sellers know the cure is to find solutions that match the prospect's needs. Great sellers know prospects are unique like snowflakes, each with struggles and frustrations. Assuming all prospects are alike is dangerous territory. Lao Tzu wrote, "True words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not true. Those who are good do not argue; those who argue are not good. Those who know are not learned; the learned do not know. The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself." (TTC #81) Stop assuming you know what’s best for your customers until you have an open conversation. It's not until they share will you know how to help. The more you help, the more you will help yourself. It's a paradox. I know! But it's also true.  Sales Babble shares selli

How To Sell Using the Buyer's Language #528 Have you ever struggled to build rapport with a prospect in a new industry? In every professional field, there is a distinct vocabulary understood by few. This specialized language includes unique terms, phrases, and acronyms essential for effective communication. To excel at selling, you must not only grasp this vernacular but also possess the ability to decipher the language of the buyer. Today, we explore the art of understanding the buyer's language. This skill is crucial for establishing rapport, demonstrating expertise, and ultimately succeeding in sales. By honing this skill, sales professionals can deepen their connections with clients, anticipate their needs, and foster trust, which enhances their effectiveness in the marketplace. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and

How To Generate New Leads #527 Today we’re diving into the world of lead poverty. You know, those times when you open up your CRM to follow up and it’s nothing but the same leads you’ve been talking to for months. These people are NOT going to buy, well at least not this week. When you get into this situation, you’re doomed. And not only that, it can annoy prospects who want to buy, but not right now. Stop bothering these people!  Today we’ll chat about how to break free from this lead scarcity and get your sales mojo back on track. But where do we even begin uncovering and discovering these elusive new leads? Where do we go to find them? What can we do to fill up our CRM? That’s the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discus

Erase Your Fear of Cold Calling #526 Have you ever noticed how we all get a little jittery when it comes to cold calling? It's like we'd rather face a dentist's drill than pick up that phone! A lady once told me never did vacuuming look so good as when it was time to make a cold call. But here's the kicker: doing nothing just makes the jitters worse. On the flip side, taking action? Well, that's where the magic happens. In today's episode, we're diving into the psychology of our phone phobia and embracing a wu-wei approach. Instead of dodging the discomfort, let's lean into it and see it for what it really is. Bottom line: it's not as scary as it seems. After listening to today's episode when you're hesitating to make that call, Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100

Echoes Across The Tracks with Dave Moravec #525 To grow a business you need to be in constant contact with strangers who may become new prospective customers. If we don't put effort into meeting new people, growth can stagnate. For many, this is a very uncomfortable situation. Growth requires putting yourself out there, so it begs the question what's the best way to get comfortable, being uncomfortable? Today we take a break from the Tao of Sales Babble and meet the author of a newly published book now available on Amazon. The author is my good friend, and former guest Dave Moravec who spins a tale about an unexpected connection with a New Orleans cab driver that leads Charlie, a Business Consultant and Author, to hear Echoes Across the Tracks.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’v

How To Know When It's Time To Pitch #524 This week I babble some on some experiences I've had sellers clumsily pitch me on something I have no interest in. You've probably experienced this too. Lao Tzu has some thoughts on this. He spoke about labeling, judging, and the issues that come with language. In our situation, this episode discusses how to know when it's time to pitch. We also talk about slowing down the sale. This way, sellers can fully understand the prospect's problems, issues, and desires. There is no reason to guess what matters to the buyers. If you ask and fully listen to their response, you'll have all you need to solve their problem. When to pitch, that's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all t

How to Buyers to Close Themselves #523 Do you struggle to close deals? Next to getting a sales appointment, closing is the second most difficult task when selling. Some think closing a deal and getting the prospect to put their name on the dotted line is a monumental task. You commonly hear that it takes an assertive winner-takes-all attitude to be successful in sales. But that's not how it works with a Taoist perspective. I must confess, there is a certain truth to the idea of ABC, Always Be Closing. Because if you start off on the right foot,  with the intention to help your prospects, you'll advance the sale by patiently with every answer to every question the buyer asks. Eventually, buyers close themselves. This is Wu-wei in action. That's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://

What Bartenders Can Teach Sales People #522 Have you ever heard this quote from the stoic philosopher Epictetus? 'We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.'  You probably have but way too many salespeople have never learned this lesson. Instead, as soon as there is a break in the conversation, they jump to a solution and start to pitch. And then they're confused about why prospects don't buy or return their calls. But consider a great bartender. They ask good questions and are more than happy to listen. Bar patrons are lonely for an empathetic ear and the same is true for your prospects. This is how bartenders build trust and a loyal following. You can do this too. Sellers can learn from bartenders by talking less and listening more. That's the topic for today.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for th

Grow Fast Podcast with Mark Shriner I had the good fortune to be a guest on Mark Shriner's new Grow Fast Podcast. Mark and I talked about selling, Taoism, and the power of podcasting. Mark graciously gave permission to have this interview shared with the Sales Babble listeners. I'm excited to share this babbling today!  The Dao of Sales, or How to Sell without "Selling" Mark described the interview this way "Pat Helmers is the Host of the Sales Babble Podcast. Pat is also the Founder of Habanero Media and a tech startup consultant. In this episode, Pat talks about the book he's writing called The Dao of Sales Babble and explains how, oftentimes, it's much more productive and rewarding, not to force sales. Instead, Pat argues, that we would do better trying to sincerely understand our prospect's needs, and helping them to meet those needs. Mark and Pat also discuss opportunities for new podcasters and the benefits of hosting a niche podcast." Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful sell

The Perfect Apology #520 We all make mistakes, it's part of being human. The same is true in business. Companies screw up to the detriment of their customers. When this happens, it often falls on the sales professional to apologize, even if they had nothing to do with it.  How about your personal life? Have you wronged someone but struggled to say you're sorry in a way that prompted forgiveness? Did they accept your apology?  This is the human experience where too often our egos get in the way and we refuse to admit we’re wrong. Or if we do apologize we layer on excuses to make us feel better but it does nothing to further forgiveness. What can we do, to make wrongs right? This is the topic for today, the perfect sales apology. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s

You Can't Win Them All #519 When it comes to selling, the importance of flexibility, gentleness, and resilience when facing adversity is often overlooked. It’s easy to get stuck on a deal and put too much energy into it due to some sunk-cost fallacy. Don’t do that!  In today’s episode, we discuss about on how rigidity and resistance lead to defeat, while flexibility and adaptability lead to victory. Next, we remind ourselves what  Tao Te Ching says about softness and weakness and how it can ultimately overcome hardness and strength. As deals come and go, Master Sellers embrace change and go with the flow with the natural course of events. Go with the flow!   Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying

The Tao of Storytelling Selling #518 Let me tell you a story. It's not a story of lost love or intrigue. Nobody's murdered, nor is society thrust into a dystopian future. Instead, this is a story about stories. It's a story about showing, not telling, and selling with storytelling. Storytelling Selling. It’s a tale with both heroes and villains with adventures and drama tied into capturing the interest of prospects in a way that they identify with your fable. Today's episode explores ways a personal story can turn prospects into heroes and, in time, loyal clients. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, u

How To Sell When Nobody Knows You #517 What do you do when your business is the best-kept secret in town? How do you get people to know about you? How do you create awareness and most importantly, how can you get buyers to trust in you, your company, and its products?  This is a situation for all startups. It's also the case for established businesses creating new products or entering new markets. If this is your case, you're in for a treat. In today's episode, we share the idea that water, though soft and gentle, can overcome resistance and erode even the hardest of substances through its persistent and patient action. The same is true when it comes to a skeptical marketplace. In time, a persistent yet patient Master Seller can bring a new product or service to market.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See h