I help organizations create modern learning strategies for their people, partners, and customers | AE @ Docebo | 🎙Host of Stories of Selling Human

Sometimes in your life it feels like you lose everything.  

Like the year I was laid off.  Interviews pushed from COVID 19,  But then the real bomb hit,

My Dad got diagnosed Leukemia.

Just 5 months later, unfortunately my Dad passed away.  Despite losing so much, I'll never lose what my Dad taught me about life.  Things like selflessness, a relentless work ethic, and a thirst for knowledge.

His best lesson was how to create genuine connections with everyone in your life.  I've taken that approach to sales my whole life.  I’m still the 8 yr old kid who loved meeting people so much that he went door to door selling Ham and Cheese out of a catalog.

I got genuine connections out of it and the Sony Boombox I won wasn’t half bad either!

Highlights from 15 years in professional sales:

🔥 I launched a new team where I successfully recruited financial producers for a firm owned by Fran Tarkenton, Hall of Fame QB.

🔥I was named the top sales rep in an office of over 50 media sales people.  Judged not just by sales attainment but also by activity.

🔥At Monster, I sold the biggest partnership contract in the history of our team. $300k ARR, 3 year deal. 

What am I most proud of professionally?

A 15 minute meeting.  I drove 3 hours to Chicago to meet a client I’ve never met in person.  For 15 mins to say hi and drive back.  It wasn’t to close a deal.  It was just a Tuesday. 

Those “Just Tuesday” moments are why I love this gig.

I’ve had success in my career because I genuinely seek to understand people. 

An understanding strategy IS my sales strategy.

My relentlessness isn’t driven by my product or a sales number. I'm motivated by digging deeper to discover the “un-discovered” problem.   Sales is something that happens for and with your buyer not to them.  You're a guide on a discovery together with the intention to help and add value.  ALWAYS.

The best feeling in sales isn’t ringing a bell, (even though that’s always fun). 

The real joy is in being told three simple words.

“I trust you.” 

That’s what really lights me up and what I'm going for.

Finally, my approach in sales is guided by attuning yourself to what someone’s entire world is like, actively listening without any agenda, being genuine, and putting them first.

I call these things, “Selling Human”.  I practice it daily.  I think we can all do it.

I choose to study it.

If you want to learn it with me, listen to my podcast:  Sell By Being Human 
(wherever you get your podcasts)

AND for more,

Follow #sellbybeinghuman

Alex Smith

It’s Wednesday, and instead of putting out a podcast episode, I’m putting out a shout out.

Shout out to my friend Jen Mueller.

I get reached out to by lots of people to be on the Sell By Being Human Podcast  

But I was absolutely giddy when Jen’s team reached out to me to have her on.

Jen is a long time sports reporter in Seattle.

She’s covered the Mariners, Seahawks and many of the famous teams and events in that region for years.

And if that’s not enough, she has an awesome cooking show and is an engaging keynote speaker.

I always say we all can sell things through the lens of human connection.

Jen sells the value of spending time with her to the players on the team.

She’s not just asking questions.

She’s building relationships.

It’s how she sees the players that gets them to want to tell her things most reporters don’t hear.

Take a listen to how she does that effectively in our episode below. 👇 

So it meant so much for me to see this pic this morning of her on the team plane with the Superbowl trophy!

Congrats Jen.  🏆. 

You are the Champion!

#sellbybeinghuman

I help organizations make learning enjoyable across their people, partners, and customers | AE @ Docebo | 🎙Host of Sell By Being Human

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I’m getting on a plane to see my mom this week but I also need your help.

Hoping someone out there has worked with a parent that is searching for assisted living or memory care.

This week we’ll be looking at some places and its a whole journey I’ve bever been a part of before.

So always good to find people that have travelled that same journey.

I also know its big to shout out birthdays on Linkedin recently so shouting out my Mom for turning 79 this past week!

79 has brought a lot of joy and tough realizations.

She’s the same age as my Dad was when he passed away 6 yrs ago.

As your parents age you start counting experiences you’ll have with them in person on your hands.

Trying to squeeze in more time because you know it’s finite.

I always hear people say, 
I’m not ready for my parents to get there.

But its not about being ready.

You’ll never be ready.

Its about being present.

So value the time you have before it’s too late.

Lucky that we have this week and hopefully more weeks in our future to be present.

Presence is the present at 79.  😊

She wasn’t trying for the Gold.

But she got it.

I love a good comeback story and what it can teach us all.

A skater that won world championships as a 16 year old in 2019.

Her whole life was skating.

Pressure.

But she said she didn’t have the time to know herself so she left the sport.

She found joy on a ski trip.

Instead of chasing medals.
She chased joy.

The medal was a residual of joy.

In practice rounds where others were thinking over every jump.

She was taking pictures on the ice.

So it’s no wonder she skated flawlessly.

Alyssa Liu teaches us all.

Find joy first.

Your goals will follow.

#teamusa #olympics

Hey, I know that guy on the TV!  Props to Keenan for an awesome move this weekend.

Jim Keenan aka Keenan . has been a huge mentor to me from afar with his book Gap Selling.

Excited for his coming book Gap Prospecting.

Anyone who wants to know the essence of sales, I always direct them to his book.

Sales is about finding problems worth solving and he outlines it perfectly in this book.

For Christmas this year, he surprised his family with a trip to The Olympics.

To make it even sweeter, one of his daughters is in serious competition to be an athlete there one day in moguls.

Dual moguls is wild, a race to the finish with tricks in between.

I love it bc you can fall but still win with the difficulty of your tricks.

Congrats to all the medalists but especially Elizabeth Lemley who go on the podium with bronze after a tough fall.

And props to the entire Keenan clan cheering them on.

And also, like your sales skills, your sign game is on another level.

#teamusa #olympics

Today, I'm posting the last episode of my podcast.  Well sort of.  The last episode before a new look.

I've always thought that everyone in the world is in sales.
But the only ones that admit it are those with it in their job description.

So I set out to find people in every profession.
That sell things through the lens of human connection

Nurses
Magicians
Parents
Teachers
Entrepeneurs
Speakers
Marketers
HR Leaders
Learning Professionals

I've interviewed them all.

And some themes emerge when I ask people:

What does it mean to you to Sell By Being Human?

To Be Curious
To Align Yourself
To Care About The Person
To Find Value
To Listen
To Solve Problems

My 153'rd episode is with Amos Balongo.

Amos moved from Africa to America when he was a boy.
Learned English and how to make an impact through relationships.

He's now a keynote speaker and executive communications coach.

Unlikely road, maybe.  But not when you meet him.

I love his approach to speaking below.

There's a difference between:

Speaking At People
Speaking To People
And Speaking Into People

Can't wait for you to see a new look.  

More on this coming!

This year, I'm going hard into this.
Maybe it doesn't grow.  Maybe it does.
Or maybe it's a foundation for something else.

Either way, look to see more as I dig into even more professions that you never thought were in sales but are.  

And contrast them with professional sellers.

And help everyone unlock the human side of sales in your own work.

#sales #sellbybeinghuman

Philanthropy Fuel

Bringing high-end, people centric business development approaches to the nonprofit sector

Founder & Facilitator

The Nonprofit Hive

Proud to be part of a small group of dedicated nonprofit professionals and changemakers who actively contribute to The Nonprofit Hive by:

- Fostering connections that help peers find support and collaboration.
- Sharing insights that elevate the entire sector.
- Amplifying the impact of our community by mentoring, engaging, and spreading the word.

Hive Ambassador

Canon Business Process Services, Inc.

Guided the strategic direction of the national sales and marketing efforts, fostering both employee and organizational growth. My role involved spearheading initiatives to secure new accounts and elevate brand visibility, while simultaneously nurturing and expanding existing client relationships. Central to my approach was a focus on outperforming competitors through innovative strategies, team empowerment, and a commitment to excellence in every aspect of our operations.

Vice President National Sales & Marketing

Regional Vice President, Enterprise Account Sales

Regional Sales Manager / Regional Vice President of Sales - Eastern Region

Uniscribe Professional Svcs

Business Development / Business Analysis

Pitney Bowes Management Services

Senior Account Executive

Hey there, LinkedIn community!

Through 35 years navigating the fast-paced world of B2B sales and marketing, I gained a wealth of insights into building relationships, solving problems, setting people up for success and driving results. In the summer of 2024, I launched Philanthropy Fuel to bring those lessons to the nonprofit world, and I’ve been fortunate to interact closely with fundraising professionals and leaders ever since.

Philanthropy Fuel is dedicated to empowering fundraising and development teams to create lasting donor relationships, overcome challenges, and achieve meaningful impact. Whether through workshops, coaching, speaking engagements, or facilitation, I help nonprofits align their mission with actionable strategies that drive long-term success. I stress the importance of focusing on the transformational vs. the transactional.

Why? Because I believe that authentic connections and effective strategies are game-changers—not just in business, but in building a better world. My goal is to equip fundraisers with tools to amplify their impact while reigniting their passion for their purpose.

When I’m not working to help those who are helping others, you’ll find me outdoors hiking, biking, or snapping photos of nature. I’m passionate about volunteering at my local dog shelter, traveling, and discovering new adventures. My wife and I are also big 80’s alternative music fans. And you'll notice our amazing rescue dog Griffin making some guest appearances in my videos and posts.

If you’re a fundraiser or nonprofit leader ready to strengthen donor relationships, tackle burnout, or reimagine your strategy, let’s connect. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

Dan Drucker

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆.

Not because they don’t care.
But because these phrases signal outdated thinking.

“Now more than ever.”
When everything is urgent, urgency stops meaning anything.

“Be the voice for the voiceless.”
This lands less as empowerment and more as a savior narrative.

“Your donation changes everything.”
Vague promises don’t build trust. Context does.

Younger donors aren’t disengaged.
They’re paying close attention to language, tone, and intent.

They respond to honesty over hype.
Transparency over polish.
Partnership over pity.

This week’s Fuel Tank explored what younger donors wish nonprofits would stop saying and what actually resonates instead.

Details in the comments if you missed it.

Founder, Philanthropy Fuel | Strategic Corporate Partnerships for Nonprofits | Creator of The Corporate Partnership Build

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱.


They’ve grown up navigating constant marketing, nonstop information, and performative messaging.

They don’t argue with what feels outdated.
They don’t complain.
They simply move on.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Language that relies on guilt.
Stories that strip dignity.
Appeals that ask for trust without transparency.

None of that resonates the way it once did.

This week’s 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗸 explores what younger donors wish nonprofits would stop saying and what actually builds trust and engagement instead.

Details in the comments if you want to read it before it drops.

I shared something a little different with Fuel Tank subscribers last week.

It’s called 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 - my attempt to make sense of what many fundraisers are quietly experiencing right now.

Donors aren’t disengaging.
They’re navigating uncertainty.
Filtering decisions through identity.
Acting more slowly, and evaluating trust earlier.

This isn’t a list of trends.
And it’s not prediction for prediction’s sake.

It’s a synthesis of real patterns, where urgency is losing power, where language is misfiring, and where friction shows up even when donors care deeply.

A few people asked if I’d make this easier to share.
So I’m releasing it publicly as a short PDF for anyone who might find it useful.

If you work in fundraising, development, or nonprofit leadership, I hope it helps you feel a little more oriented as you think about the year ahead.

If this kind of thinking resonates, I explore these shifts each week in The Fuel Tank (always free).

Link in the comments.

taplio

The Battle

Alex Smith

Dan Drucker

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