Sales is NOT a Dirty Word

Repeat after me - some money is NOT better than no money.  In this Sales is NOT a Dirty Word episode, I walk through a real client situation that exposes how easy it is to agree too quickly, stay vague to preserve harmony, or assume clarity will come later.  Those small boundary lapses rarely feel urgent in the moment, but over time they erode trust, damage mental health and compromise results. What this conversation keeps returning to is a simple but often resisted truth: boundaries are not performative self-care. They are structural. They make responsibility, scope, and value explicit, which is what actually protects working relationships. Inside this episode, you will learn: Why exceptions and special arrangements tend to fail without shared context How to articulate scope clearly without defensiveness or rigidity What to say when requests drift beyond what was originally agreed upon Why betting on future potential creates misalignment rather than goodwill The language and reframes to use to prevent difficult conversations later, rather than managing them after the fact If you have ever felt uneasy about an agreement but moved forward anyway, or worried that naming your limits would damage the relationship, this offers a more grounded way forward. If you want support developing clear, humane boundary language or navigating complex client dynamics without escalation, you can book a Sales Level-Up Call and we will work through it together in real time:  https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup 01:18 – The “special rate” client story that sparked this episode02:40 – When assumptions backfire: budget complaints and blurred lines04:05 – The danger of betting on potential instead of present reality05:15 – Why clients can’t value what you don’t name06:30 – Three ways to respond to out-of-scope requests08:10 – How to frame boundaries with confidence and clarity09:50 – Why no boundaries = lost clients and revenue11:00 – The myth of “some money is better than no money”12:10 – A powerful reframe: boundaries make you more referable #SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesBoundaries #PeoplePleaserRecovery #ClientCommunication #HighIntegritySales #ServiceProviderLife #ScopeCreep #ClientExpectations #SalesWithoutPressure #BlackSheepSales #AleashaBahr #SalesMindsetShift #PricingWithConfidence #SalesCoaching #SalesStrategy #EmotionalIntelligenceInSales #ClientRedFlags #SalesPodcast #NoMoreDiscountDeals #BoundariesBuildTrust Connect With Aleasha:Website - https://aleashabahr.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleashabahr/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@aleashabahr 

After reviewing hundreds of sales calls, there are phrases people use in sales conversations that quietly sabotage the sale. The intention is usually to be polite. However, on an unconscious level, they erode trust, clarity, and authority. Buyers do not need more politeness. They need clarity. And a confused mind always says no. In this episode of Sales Is Not a Dirty Word, I break down the most common language patterns I hear people unintentionally use on sales calls that make buyers hesitate or mentally check out.  These are habits people use without realizing it, and once you hear them, you cannot unhear them. Phrases like “I think,” “kind of,” “maybe,” and “does that make sense?” weaken credibility and create confusion.  You will also learn why the fear of overpromising often causes service providers to undersell themselves. That fear shows up in language, and buyers feel it immediately. Inside this episode, discover: • How uncertain language creates buyer doubt • Why confusion, not price, stops sales from closing • What confident, experience-based authority sounds like • How to ask check-in questions that create clarity If you want direct feedback on where your language may be costing you sales, book a Sales Level Up Call: https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup Because the problem many times isn’t your offer - it’s your language.  03:10 Why saying “I think” undermines authority 04:25 How soft language creates buyer hesitation 05:40 Why “does that make sense?” causes confusion 06:55 Confusion vs price as the real reason deals stall 08:05 Opinion language vs experience based authority 09:15 How fear of overpromising leads to underselling 10:25 What buyers actually need instead of politeness 11:30 Final thoughts on clarity, confidence, and trust   #SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesConversations #SalesLanguage #SalesCommunication #AuthenticSelling #SalesCoaching #ServiceProviderSales #HighTicketSales #SalesConfidence #SalesStrategy #SalesPsychology #BlackSheepSales #EthicalSelling #SalesSkills #ConversionOptimizationConnect With Aleasha:Website - https://aleashabahr.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleashabahr/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@aleashaba

Most people are not bad decision makers. They are just repeating the same decision pattern (without realizing it) and wondering why nothing changes. In this new Sales is NOT a Dirty Word episode, I break down one of the most overlooked responsibilities in highly effective, ethical selling.  Helping someone recognize the decision pattern that is keeping them stuck. Not through pressure, information dumping, or manipulation. Instead, it’s about clarity, asking better questions, reflecting behavior honestly, and allowing someone to examine their own choices without shame or force. If you sell a product or service that genuinely helps people, this will change how you think about sales conversations, objections, and what it actually means to serve someone well. What You’ll Discover When Listening: Why repeating the same decision always produces the same result How to identify decision patterns that keep buyers stuck The difference between telling (which creates resistance) and questions that create insight Getting clearer on qualification that protects you from nightmare clients If this resonates, there is a strong chance decision patterns are already showing up inside your sales process. Your messaging.Your qualification.Your close. Each one either reinforces clarity or quietly allows the same stuck loops to repeat. If you want a clear, honest look at what is really happening inside your sales conversations, book a Black Sheep Sales Audit. This is not a pitch. It is a diagnostic. 👉 Book your audit here: https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup Key Moments[01:40] Why pushing for a yes creates refunds, resentment, and regret[03:55] Why telling is selling and why it never works[04:30] How to reflect someone’s priorities back to them without confrontation[05:10] The mindset shift that unlocks a different decision[06:00] Why clarity feels relieving, not salesy[07:20] How breaking decision patterns improves more than just sales #SalesIsNotADirtyWord #EthicalSales #SalesMindset #DecisionMaking #ConsultativeSelling #SalesLeadership #BusinessGrowth #BlackSheepSales #SalesPsychology #BuyerBehavior #SalesConversations #DecisionPatterns #SalesStrategy #FounderSales #ConsultativeSales #SalesCoaching #ClientAlignment #SellingWithIntegrity Connect With Aleasha:Website - https://aleashabahr.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleashabahr/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@aleashabahr

Most salespeople spend their time perfecting their pitch, memorizing scripts, and thinking about how to close.  But here’s the truth: what separates a top performer from someone average in sales is not what you say - it’s what you ask. When you lead with curiosity, you stop guessing. You stop assuming.  Instead, you uncover what your prospects really want, what they truly need, and what they mean beneath the surface. In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I break down exactly how to leverage curiosity at the center of every sales conversation to close more.  You will discover: ✔ How curiosity builds trust faster than any sales pitch ✔ How to uncover the real reason behind surface-level questions ✔ What to say when a buyer asks for pricing or packages too early ✔ How curiosity can dissolve objections before they even appear ✔ The mindset that creates clarity, confidence, and focus in every sales conversation ✔ Why assumptions on both sides often lead to lost deals If you want to close more clients without pressure and turn every conversation into a partnership, this episode gives you the exact mindset and approach to make it happen. Sales teams struggling with listening, rushing scripts, or losing deals too quickly will benefit enormously from this episode. If you want to take your full sales system to the next level, book a Black Sheep Sales Audit today: https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup #SalesIsNotADirtyWord #CuriosityInSales #SalesSkills #ActiveListening #SalesStrategy #AuthenticSelling #SalesLeadership #BlackSheepSales #SalesConversations #SalesTraining #HighTicketSales #EthicalSelling #SalesCoaching #BuyerPsychology #FitFirstSelling

One of the most expensive mistakes founders make happens the moment a salesperson starts performing.  Revenue rises. Momentum builds. …and then the first large commission check appears.  Instead of celebrating the growth, the owner panics. They see the payout instead of the profit. Here’s the thing: a big commission check is not the problem. It is proof your business is scaling and that’s something to celebrate!  If your sales person is making good money - that means you’re making good money. You should definitely be making more than when they weren’t there.  And if you’re not - that’s a problem with the plan - not the rep. In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, common comp plan issues, how owners unintentionally sabotage their best performers and the ripple effect that can end up costing you a lot more money than you save.  Listen in to discover:  ✔ Why flat commission plans cap performance✔ The mindset shift that makes big commission checks feel good, not scary✔ How changing a working plan destroys trust and pushes talent out✔ Why competitive compensation attracts the top 1 percent of salespeople✔ How to create a tiered monthly ladder that encourages performance✔ Why reducing commission always costs more through turnover and lost deals✔ The real financial impact of replacing a salesperson and why sales has the highest churn rate You’ll learn how to design a comp plan you never resent paying and how to use incentives to shape the behaviors that move your business forward. If you want a compensation plan that matches your margins and growth strategy, book a Black Sheep Sales Audit at calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup  #SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesCompensation #SalesLeadership #CommissionPlan #SalesStrategy #SalesTeamSuccess #BlackSheepSales #SalesManagement #SalesHiring #SalesCoaching #SalesCompensationPlan #BusinessGrowth #FounderTips #SalesRetention #AuthenticSelling