Sales is NOT a Dirty Word

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

Everyone is racing to automate sales. Buyers are racing to avoid anything that sounds automated. People are talking about AI in sales like it is the magic solution to every problem. But if you have actually used it, you already know it is far from perfect. In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I break down what AI consistently gets wrong in sales, how to use it in a way that drives sales instead of damages them.  AI tools are producing cold messages that sound robotic, repeat common errors, and chip away at trust with every send. Automation made it faster to reach people, but it also made it easier to sound like everyone else. Here is what you will learn: ✔ The real risk of relying on AI for sales communication ✔ How a high AI error rate can quietly damage your brand reputation ✔ What AI is actually useful for and where it should never be used ✔ Why trust and genuine human connection are now your strongest differentiators ✔ How creativity and personalization help you break through the noise ✔ The future of outreach and why pattern interrupts consistently win If your messages are not landing the way they used to, this episode explains why and shows you how to fix it quickly. When buyers are drowning in AI generated noise, you have to do something different to get a different result.  👉 Listen now and learn how to use AI as a tool, not a crutch. If you are ready to make your sales strategy more human, more personal, and far more effective, book a Black Sheep Sales Audit with me: https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup. Let us build a system that helps you stand out, not blend in. #SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesAndAI #AIFail #SalesLeadership #SalesStrategy #AuthenticSelling #HumanCenteredSales #SalesAutomation #SalesCoaching #SalesTraining #SalesSuccess #SalesProcess #SalesEthics #BlackSheepSales #TrustInSales

Most salespeople are trained to talk, not to truly communicate. We’re told to “use this script,” “say this line,” or “overcome objections” as if we’re robots following a formula. But the reality is that the best salespeople are the ones who understand their prospect the best and LISTEN to them.  In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I sit down with Shawn Karol Sandy, CRO and seasoned sales expert, to talk about the science of communication and why it changes everything about how we sell. Shawn breaks down how fear, empathy, and even basic human biology affect the way we connect and close. She shares how awareness, tone, and timing can completely shift a sales conversation from pressure to partnership. We get into what actually happens in your body when you sell, why so many people lead with fear without realizing it, and how small, intentional changes in how you communicate can make you instantly more trustworthy and effective. You’ll hear: ✔ The science of communication and how it shapes every sale you make ✔ How fear sneaks into sales conversations and shuts people down ✔ Why empathy and curiosity are the most powerful sales tools you have ✔ How to make every touchpoint a preview of what it’s like to work with you ✔ The small, 10% improvements that can completely change your results ✔ Why manipulation and outdated tactics no longer work in modern sales If you’ve ever walked away from a sales call thinking, “I said all the right things, so why didn’t it land?” this episode will show you exactly what’s missing. Because at the end of the day, selling isn’t about convincing. It’s about connecting. And once you understand how humans actually communicate, every part of your sales process becomes easier, faster, and more natural. 👉 Connect with my guest, Shawn Karol Sandy, on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/shawnsandy/ and keep learning how to sell with science, empathy, and confidence. #SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesLeadership #SalesCommunication #EmpathyInSales #SalesPsychology #SalesCoaching #SalesTraining #ModernSelling #AuthenticSales #SalesSuccess #SalesStrategy #BlackSheepSales #HumanCenteredSales #SalesMindset #B2BSales

Let’s be real. Sales onboarding standards are so low they’re non-existent. There are none.  In too many companies, new reps are thrown into the deep end and told to “figure it out.” They’re expected to sell a product they barely understand, position it without a strategy, and hit quota within 90 days. It’s not a learning curve. It’s a setup for failure. In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I break down why poor onboarding is one of the biggest performance killers in sales teams today,  and how redesigning it can instantly reduce turnover, strengthen confidence, and empower new hires close faster. You’ll learn what effective sales onboarding should include, why it’s the foundation of employee retention, and how it turns seemingly mediocre sales hires into consistent performers. Here’s what we’ll cover: ✔ Why “sink or swim” onboarding is destroying your sales potential ✔ What new reps actually need to start producing results in 30 days ✔ The difference between a salesperson and a sales strategist — and why it matters ✔ How to equip your team with tools, talk tracks, and clarity from day one ✔ The exact onboarding framework that cuts ramp-up time and increases revenue If your new hires are struggling to gain traction or your sales team feels like a revolving door, this episode will show you what’s missing and how to fix it fast. 👉 Want help building a sales onboarding process that actually sets your team up to win? Book a Black Sheep Sales Audit at https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup and turn your sales onboarding into a true launchpad for success. #SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesOnboarding #SalesLeadership #SalesTeamSuccess #SalesStrategy #BlackSheepSales #AuthenticSelling #SalesTraining #SalesRetention #SalesPerformance #SalesCoaching #SalesProcessFix #SalesManagement #HighPerformingTeams #BusinessGrowth