Catalyst Sale Podcast: Sales Training | Sales Strategy | B2b | Selling | Marketing

James Buckley, sales leader and host of the Daily Sales Show via Sell Better brings energy and passion to the world of sales. Known for his insightful, high-energy hosting style, James leverages daily interactions with sales experts to provide accessible advice for both new and seasoned sales professionals. With a background that spans from cold-calling to guiding in-depth sales panels, James emphasizes the power of experimentation, contextual outreach, and genuine connections in the sales world. Key Quotes "It’s not your job to convince or persuade people to buy what you have; it’s your job to sell what you have to the people that need it." "Reputation is so important…you are the first impression." "Pragmatism is the religion of sales—we do what works. When you find what works, double down on it." James Buckley discusses the importance of authenticity, targeted communication, and reputation in sales. He emphasizes experimentation, value-driven content, and creating genuine relationships with clients. By em

"You can't reflect on what you're going to do or what you've read in a book. You have to go out there and do the work." "Humility is realizing that I was trying to be pretty good at a lot of things, but you can't be great at everything." "You don't realize how burned out you are until you stop, and suddenly, you're not obligated to report to work." Jeff Bajorek joins Mike this week, and dives into lessons learned from burnout, the critical role of humility, and the importance of staying focused. He shares personal stories about navigating ego, asking for help, and regaining balance after being overextended. The episode offers practical advice for aligning personal and professional growth. Find your catalyst at https://www.findmycatalyst.com/ 5 Key Takeaways: Embrace Humility for Growth: Understand that you can't excel at everything. Humility enables you to ask for help when needed. Success comes from focusing on fewer things and mastering them. Overcoming Burnout: Recognize the signs of burnout befor

  In this solo episode of Find Your Catalyst, host Mike Simmons explores the concept of leadership, focusing on how true leadership begins with self. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-worth in building strong leadership skills. Mike shares practical insights on how to develop essential leadership qualities like problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and execution. This episode is brought to you by the Leader Lab - learn more at https://www.findmycatalyst.com/leaderlab Three Key Quotes: "Leadership is how we move forward—how we advance from where we are today to where we want to go." "If you're looking for leadership, start with a mirror. Leadership starts with self." "Self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-worth—these are the foundations of leadership." Mike shares practical tips for improving leadership by honing skills like problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and execution. Mike emphasizes that understanding personal values

"Leadership is how we move forward. It's about making progress and maintaining momentum." "If you give people the tools to lead themselves, you unlock their ability to act and drive results for your business." "Leaders fall short when they focus on preference over principle. It's about principles that guide decision-making." Mike Simmons and Tim Dyck discuss leadership's core components, emphasizing forward momentum and decision-making autonomy. They share personal experiences, analyze leadership failures, and advocate for implementing guiding principles. By empowering people to lead themselves, they argue, organizations can foster better leadership from the ground up. Find your Catalyst at https://www.findmycatalyst.com/ 5 Key Takeaways on Leadership: Leadership is Movement Forward Leadership isn't about position; it's about progress. Forward momentum depends on clear direction and decision-making. Leaders help guide teams by offering clarity and purpose. The Power of Guiding Principles Clear princi

In this episode, Mike Simmons breaks down key leadership skills, emphasizing how leaders can move teams forward through guidance, direction, and motivation. He stresses the importance of communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. Leadership starts with leading oneself, and when done effectively, it translates into leading others and organizations successfully. Mike shares insights on the fundamentals of leadership, pulling from personal experiences and lessons from leaders like Chuck Schluter. He explains how understanding objectives, knowing your current state, and designing a path forward are core to effective leadership. Key Quotes: "Leadership is how we move forward—ourselves, our teams, and our organizations." "Leaders provide guidance, direction, and motivation." "Start with a mirror. If you want to find a leader, begin with yourself." 5 Key Takeaways: Leadership is about Movement Leaders drive progress by setting a clear direction. Achieving results comes from planning with both short-te

Tracey Cesen is the founder of Forever Human AI, a professional services company focused on ServiceNow solutions. With a background in both business and technology, Tracey’s ability to connect the two has defined her career. In this episode, she discusses her journey as an entrepreneur and the lessons she's learned balancing business and family. Three Key Quotes from Tracey: "You're not just raising kids; you're raising adults. That mindset shift is important in both parenting and business." "Busy is a word we throw around too much. The real question is—are we focusing on what matters?" "Starting my own company gave me the chance to create something I believed the world needed, even if it was scary." In this episode, Tracey Cesen, founder of Forever Human AI, shares her journey as a first-time business owner. She talks about balancing family, overcoming challenges, and bridging the gap between business and technology. Tracey also highlights the importance of purposeful actions over being "busy" and leadin

Paul Michelman, Editor in Chief with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), has a deep background in content curation and digital transformation. He shares insights into the development of GENE, a conversational AI agent co-hosting podcasts, and how generative AI is reshaping content creation, management, and executive engagement at BCG. Key Quotes "Necessity is the mother of the best kind of invention." "GENE...wasn't a traditional technology product. It was built to be fit for purpose." "The future of management is managing the bots that are managing the business." – Tim O'Reilly, quoted by Paul. Paul Michelman discusses the creation of GENE, a conversational AI co-host at BCG, and its role in helping executives envision the future of business. He delves into how AI is transforming content development, emphasizing the importance of blending technology with human creativity for better outcomes and fostering innovation. Find Your Catalyst at https://www.findmycatalyst.com/ 5 Key Takeaways The Catalyst of Necessit

In this episode, host Mike Simmons shares insights on 2025 business planning. He discusses the importance of early planning, aligning strategies with objectives, and using tactics to achieve goals. He also introduces the 30-Day Blueprint to Success and the rebranding of The Phoenix Club to The Leader Lab, designed for leaders seeking to think and do differently. Three Key Quotes: "If you're doing the work but not making progress, something's wrong." "Speed to impact is more important than going fast." "Leadership is about moving things forward." Mike Simmons emphasizes the importance of 2025 planning, encouraging listeners to start early, define clear objectives, and align strategies with tactical actions. He also introduces the Leader Lab, a community designed to support leaders in making strategic progress. The episode provides a framework for goal-setting and execution. The Phoenix Club is now The Leader Lab - go to https://www.findmycatalyst.com/ to learn more 5 Key Takeaways: Early Planning is Crucia

Tim Dyck is the founder of Best Culture Solutions, a company focused on aligning people with the right roles in organizations. Tim specializes in recruitment, career transitions, and people strategies, helping businesses optimize their workforce for success. 3 Key Quotes: “Every problem in every business is a people problem.” “People are choosing more control over how, when, and where they work.” “Fractional work can drive greater value for both sides when done well.” In this episode, Mike Simmons and Tim Dyck discuss how work is evolving, focusing on recruitment, people strategies, and fractional work. They highlight the importance of aligning talent with company needs and the benefits of hiring fractional professionals to solve specific business problems efficiently. Find Your Catalyst at https://findmycatalyst.com 5 Key Takeaways: People Strategies are Critical to Success: Every business issue ties back to people. Aligning people with the right roles improves productivity. Effective people strategies

In this solo episode, Mike Simmons discusses leadership from the perspective of self-leadership. He emphasizes the importance of looking inward before seeking leadership from others. Mike provides practical insights into building leadership skills through self-reflection, goal-setting, and problem-solving. He also touches on how mindset plays a crucial role in the journey to effective leadership. Key Quotes “If you're looking for leadership, start with a mirror.” “Leadership is how we move forward, and to do that, we must first know where we are and where we want to go.” “Before we can lead others, we must first demonstrate that we can lead ourselves well.” In this episode, Mike explores the essence of leadership by starting with self-leadership. He shares practical tools for decision-making, goal-setting, and problem-solving, all while reinforcing the importance of mindset. Simmons encourages listeners to take personal responsibility and develop the skills necessary to move themselves and others forward. F

Jen Bergren is an expert in process documentation and operations, with a strong focus on helping organizations become more efficient. She’s passionate about simplifying processes, improving onboarding experiences, and ensuring that organizations can operate smoothly and creatively through thoughtful documentation. Jen is a key voice in operational strategy and process improvement, especially in remote and asynchronous work environments. 3 Key Quotes: "If you follow a process, you can be even more creative and more innovative." "Start small... don’t try to document your entire sales process the first time." "The fear is that documenting will take time, but not doing it wastes more time in the long run." Jen dives into the importance of process documentation and its impact on business efficiency. She discusses overcoming the resistance to documenting procedures, how to prevent overcomplicating processes, and the benefits of strong onboarding. Her insights focus on creating clarity and efficiency, which help

In this episode, host Mike Simmons dives into event strategies and tactics. He shares insights on different types of events, how to plan for them, and how to make the most out of attending or speaking at events. Whether you’re attending a massive trade show or a small niche event, this episode offers actionable advice for maximizing your impact. Key Quotes from Mike Simmons: "Participating in events is an investment—time, energy, and money—so make sure it’s the right fit for you." "One of the best ways to meet people is to attend sessions, observe, and engage with them afterward." "Going to an event as an attendee is just as valuable as being a sponsor, especially for smaller businesses." Mike Simmons shares strategies to maximize the value of attending or hosting events. He covers the types of events, such as large trade shows, vendor-specific, and smaller niche events, and offers tips on pre-event preparation, making connections, and post-event follow-up. This episode is packed with practical, actionable

"Start. Right…you can make a lot of plans, but sometimes it's just about jumping into the cold water and seeing if you can swim." "Partnerships are not a transactional relationship. It's about working together towards a mutual goal." "Revenue is not a goal—it's a result. Understand what you want to achieve and how you can align with your partner's goals." In this episode, Martin Scholz discusses the importance of partnerships and the complexities involved in building them. He emphasizes the need for alignment within organizations, clear communication, and the value of just starting when it comes to creating community initiatives. Martin shares insights on leadership, alignment, and incentivization strategies. 5 Key Takeaways The Power of Starting Don't wait for the perfect plan—sometimes, you just need to begin. Building a community starts with initiative and grows through consistent effort. Experimentation is key; learn as you go. Understanding Partnerships Partnerships are about mutual benefit, not

Three Key Quotes "If you want to fail, pitch without context. Your customers care about solving their problems, not your product." "Don’t try to be the hero. Remember, your customer is the hero, and you’re the guide helping them solve their problems." "If you always make it about you, you will fail. Focus on the needs of others to truly succeed." This episode highlights ten behaviors that can lead to failure in sales and business, from pitching without context to always focusing on personal gain. The host encourages listeners to avoid these mistakes and instead adopt a service-oriented, customer-focused mindset that enhances success and leads to more fulfilling work. The Top 10 List: How to Fail at Business and Sales Pitch Without Context Ignore the customer’s specific problems. Present your solution without understanding their needs. Fail to connect your pitch to what’s important to the customer. Assume Instead of Validate Make assumptions about what the customer wants. Skip asking clarifying questi

Sean Barnes is a business leader who recently transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship. With a background in IT and a passion for helping others grow, Sean now leads a small but dedicated team. His insights into leadership, business strategy, and personal development make him a valuable resource for those looking to find their catalyst in both professional and personal growth. Key Quotes: On Support and Expectations: "I quickly realized that it doesn't matter how great we are at the thing we do if we don't know how to get our brand out there and sell." On Building Relationships: "I spent years pouring and helping and supporting others, but when I went out on my own, I quickly realized that not everyone would support me in the way I had supported them." On Growth: "Growth is uncomfortable. It’s going to suck. But the last thing we want to do is look back on our life and think, 'I could have done more.'" In this episode, Sean Barnes dives into the realities of entrepreneurship, from the challenges of bran

"Mindset is critical. Attitude and belief—what attitude do you bring to each situation, and how do your beliefs impact that attitude?" "Apply old skills into a new context to move things forward... it's a cool way to create innovation." "Tools help you create leverage." 50-Word Summary: Mike Simmons discusses the importance of mindset, skill set, and tool set in successfully navigating life’s transitions, using his personal experience as an empty nester. He highlights the value of a positive attitude, continuous skill development, and effective tools in overcoming challenges and moving toward a better future. 5 Key Takeaways: Mindset Matters A positive attitude helps navigate challenges. Belief in a better future motivates action. A strong mindset prevents getting stuck during transitions. Continuous Skill Development Always build and refine skills. Effective communication is key: ask questions and listen. Applying old skills to new situations fosters innovation. Leveraging Tools Tools like effec

On Leadership: "We all want our employees and our loved ones to do the right things, but often we don't get a chance to see that. We are very aware when they screw up, but the day-to-day—boy, I hope they make the right decision today." On Vulnerability in Leadership: "As a leader, if you show vulnerability, it shows weakness, which is absolutely B.S., in my opinion. Knowing your employees is the absolute best practice you can do." On Learning from Nature: "The natural environment and the work environment are so similar. The ecosystem thrives because of disaster, just like businesses can grow stronger after challenges." Donald Forgione shares insights from his extensive career as a park ranger, emphasizing the importance of leadership, vulnerability, and understanding the environment—both natural and professional. His stories highlight how observing and learning from nature can inform better business practices and stronger, more resilient teams. 5 Key Takeaways: Leadership Through Example: Employees often

"Everything is theoretical until you put it into practice; then it becomes practical." "To maintain focus, I gain clarity—clarity around what’s important to me and those I work with." "You learn more with the questions you ask than with the statements you make." Find your Catalyst at https://www.findmycatalyst.com/ Mike discusses the transition from theory to practice, emphasizing that clarity is key to maintaining focus. He provides actionable advice on applying theory, setting priorities, and effective hiring practices. By asking the right questions and understanding what truly matters, you can drive better results in business and life. 5 Key Takeaways: Theory to Practice Everything starts as theory; it becomes practical through action. Learn, think, and act—understand the theory, reflect on its application, and then apply it. Personal experience and reflection are crucial in making theory useful. Maintaining Focus Clarity is essential for maintaining focus—know what’s important. Regularly ask, “Wh

Jeff Conroy is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience as a CEO. He recently authored the book Nonprofit Leadership Success, which delves into the challenges and strategies of leading nonprofit organizations. Jeff is passionate about effective leadership, the importance of coaching, and the unique dynamics that drive nonprofit success. Key Quotes: "Coaching is someone who has experience that I can have conversations with, who understands what I need as a nonprofit CEO." "Leadership begins with a relationship—your influence depends on the kind of relationship you have with people." "Nonprofits need to act like a business; otherwise, they won't be in business." In this episode, Jeff Conroy discusses the importance of leadership in nonprofit organizations, drawing from his book Nonprofit Leadership Success. He emphasizes the need for strong relationships, the role of coaching, and how nonprofits can thrive by adopting business-like practices while staying true to their mission. 5 Key Takea

"Leadership starts with self, so you are all leaders." "Enable and empower people to achieve the results they want to achieve through a combination of people and process." "If your people aren't getting fired up about the work that they're doing, something's wrong." Find Your Catalyst at https://www.findmycatalyst.com/ Mike Simmons discusses the concepts of enabling and empowering others by providing clear communication, objectives, and processes. The host outlines practical strategies for leaders to help their teams succeed, emphasizing that leadership begins with self-awareness and the proper alignment of goals. The discussion is practical, actionable, and rooted in personal experience. 5 Key Takeaways: Define Objectives Clearly Clear objectives are crucial for empowerment. Aligning goals helps everyone understand their roles. Simple tools like goal-setting cards can clarify objectives. Set Timelines Deadlines provide structure and accountability. Setting a timeline helps manage expectations. It’s