Chris Orlob

Grew Gong from $200k to $200M+ | Online Courses for SaaS Sellers (pclub.io) | Solving Revenue Hiring (QuotaSignal)

"You can have anything you want if you master every aspect of selling." My mentor told me that over a burger when I was 22 years old. Having only $40 to my name, along with a wife and my first child to support, I took that seriously. I made a commitment to master every aspect of selling, and to earn more money than I could imagine. And I was going to do it in SaaS.

When I first became an account executive, I struggled to find repeatable, consistent success. Some months I did well. Some I missed by a mile. After reading hundreds of books (literally) and debriefing every one of my sales calls (thousands) in a journal, I started to crack the code, little by little. 

Soon, things started to go incredibly well. I started to earn multiple six figures a year, which helped me launch my first business. Not too long later (after plenty of mistakes!), I joined forces with a little company called Gong.io, while they were doing less than $200,000 a year in ARR. Figured I'd help them grow to $10M and be done.

5.5 years later, we grew from $200k to $200 million in ARR and a $7.2 billion valuation. I was fortunate enough to earn my first seven-figure income. A decade pursuit of mastering every aspect of sales had come to fruition (though I'm still not done). That felt amazing. 

I kept finding myself telling people, "You can have anything you want if you master every aspect of selling," just like my mentor had told me all those years ago. Because I experienced it first-hand.

My passion for mastering every aspect of selling started to extend to helping OTHER people do it. Soon, I started pclub.io - a business dedicated to helping B2B tech salespeople master every aspect of selling (and earn more money than they've ever dreamed of). 

Since starting, I've helped over 11,000 sales professionals and leaders. Many of which have gone on to turbo charge their sales success:

“Exceeded 245% of my target." -Christian Allen, AE at ZoomInfo

"CLOSED the most ARR in company history” -Marshall Weil, AE at Freewill

"Made 152% of my number” -Jasi Johnson, AE at Gartner

"I made it to Club One - the new program rolled out for the top 1%. -David Rosenstein, AE at LinkedIn


Many of these stories included people who started out thinking, "Maybe this is possible for other talented people, but not for me." But selling is nothing more than a series of skills. Anyone can master it, and I can teach you how.

Like I always tell people, "you can have anything you want if you master every aspect of selling."

Begin writing YOUR success story by visiting www.pclub.io

Co-Founder & CEO

pclub.io is the #1 skill transformation platform for revenue teams. We work with the top 0.01% of sales earners, practitioners, and leaders to create top-rated online courses that help you grow your sales skills to life-altering levels. Instead of spending years mastering sales through trial and error or going through stodgy ‘one size fits all’ sales training, you’ll get to the steal the playbooks, frameworks, and skills of the top 0.01% sales earners on the planet, accelerating your mastery curve, income, and revenue to unrecognizable levels.

I watched a rep lose a $400K deal in 30 seconds. Not because of price. Because of one sentence: "So, uh, what do you think we should do next?"

The buyer paused.

Then said: "Let me think about it and get back to you."

That deal never closed.

Here's what happened:

The rep gave away all their power by asking the buyer to lead.

I see this constantly.

AEs end calls with:

- "What are your thoughts on next steps?"

- "Where do you want to go from here?"

- "What makes sense to you?"

They think they're being collaborative.

But they're actually communicating:

"I don't know what we should do. You figure it out."

The best AEs?

They ALWAYS know the next step.

Before the call even starts.

They end calls with:

"Based on what we discussed, here's what I recommend we do next. We should schedule 45 minutes next Thursday with you and your VP of Sales to walk through how this impacts your Q2 plan. I'll also bring my CRO to speak to the executive-level implications. Does that feel like the right next step?"

Notice the difference?

One is asking.

One is leading.

Here's the truth:

You've sold your product 100+ times.

Your buyer has bought it 0-1 times.

Who should be leading?

You.

Selling is an act of leadership.

If you don't know the WHAT (next step), WHO (involved), and WHY (reasoning), you're not leading.

You're following.

And followers don't close deals.

Leaders do.

The question:

Are you leading your deals or following your buyers?

P.S. We’re opening an “early access” VIP list to our coming Black Friday annual enrollment event to get in before the rush crowd. Join here: https://lnkd.in/g6ntF9Xb

JSESSIONID

li_at

CEO at pclub.io - helped grow Gong from $200K ARR to $200M+ ARR, now building the platform to uplevel the global revenue workforce. 50-year time horizon.

Sales leaders: After working with 5,000 revenue orgs, I've seen 5 patterns in every great sales team.

From InsideSales, to Gong, to pclub.io – my career has been in the walls of revenue teams.

5 things the best do:


1. They know where they win.

They don’t chase the market.

They chase the segment where they have unfair advantage.

They define a surgical ICP and stop wasting cycles on deals that never close.

They’re obsessed with:

• Where they win
• Where they lose
• Where win-rate is too low

Then they operationalize it.

They don’t just "know" where they win.

They run the business around it.

One CRO I talked to said this:

“If you want higher close rates, stop chasing bad deals.”


2. They’re obsessed with narrative.

Once they know the territory, they design the narrative that unlocks it.

They refine messaging until buyers think:

“They understand my world better than I do.”

Narrative isn’t a marketing exercise.

It’s fuel that drives revenue.

When you nail it, everything is easier.

Whether it’s the CMO, CRO, or even CEO, someone holds this job:

“Chief Narrative Officer.”


3. They build a performance culture.

The best sales teams take a page from Netflix:

“We’re not a family. We’re a pro sports team.”

• Camaraderie? Yes.
• Psychological safety? Yes.

But also:

We’re here to perform.

If someone isn’t pulling their weight, the culture addresses it.

Elite teams balance two forces:

A) High standards
B) High safety

The paradox:

The more transparent you are about:

• Performance expectations
• PIP criteria

…the less fear exists.

Performance expectations create short-term fear.

But ambiguity creates permanent fear.

Open expectations remove "wondering."

Reps know where they stand.

That frees them.


4. They build rock-solid stages & exit criteria.

Great teams don’t use vague stages like Discovery → Demo → Proposal.

They design a sales process that exposes the reality of a deal.

• Clear stage definition
• Binary exit criteria
• Aging discipline

This clarity drives predictability:

• Reps stop guessing
• Managers coach w/precision
• Forecasts stop lying

Process definition is the compass.

But here’s the trap:

Having a clean process still isn't enough for consistency.

Sales stages and exit criteria only define what to do.

They do not equip reps with how to do it.


5. They treat skills like a performance system.

Strong leaders don’t just tell reps what to do.

They build the skill capacity to do it.

Once you define a great process, a hard truth emerges:

Many reps don’t have enough skill capacity to do it.

Great teams systematize skill excellence.

They treat skill capacity like a monetizeable asset.

These teams don’t view skills as “our people should already have these.”

They design skill profiles, measure them, train them.

Process without skill is academically strong, commercially weak.

Skill without process is chaos.

Do both?

You unlock revenue excellence.

Which of these 5 stood out most?

If you work in sales and you're not locked in, focused, maximizing your productivity during working hours? You're wasting the reason to be in the profession.

Sales is the highest paid hard work and the lowest paid easy work.

You can half-ass your way to a decent living in sales.

But $300K? $500K? Seven figures?

That game only rewards the serious.

A multimillionaire once told me: "Rule #1: Thou shalt not f*** around."

He smiled when he said it. 

But I could tell he wasn't joking.

Here's what I see most reps doing:

They show up. 

They take calls. 

They send emails.

But they're not locked in.

They're distracted. 

They're coasting. 

They're treating it casually.

And then they wonder why they're stuck at $150K while their peers are clearing $400K.

The difference?

The top reps treat sales like a performance job.

Because it is.

They manage their time like a CEO.

They manage their energy like an athlete.

They invest in their skills like their income depends on it because it does.

If you're in sales for the money, act like it.

Lock in. 

Focus. 

Maximize every hour.

Or get out and do something easier.

Because if you're going to treat it casually, you're in the wrong profession.

P.S. If you want the exact 50 questions I use to build pain, urgency, and desire in deals, grab the full list here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g2giY-ab

The BEST sales lesson I ever got came from a billionaire's head of sales: "Are we lying, cheating, or stealing? I've never seen growth this fast."

That was Charlie Munger asking Chet Holmes.

Chet had just taken a magazine from dead last (15th out of 15) to #1 in market share.

In 3 years.

Here's what he did:

He identified 167 accounts that represented 95% of industry revenue.

Then he STOPPED pursuing the other 1,833 accounts.

Completely.

Cold turkey.

Instead, he focused 100% of his energy on those 167.

Mailed them every 2 weeks.

Called them every 2 weeks.

Faxed them every 2 weeks.

For 4 months: Zero responses.

But he didn't quit.

Month 5: Landed Xerox (biggest deal in company history).

Month 6: Had 28 of the 167.

3 years later: Had all 167.

Every. Single. One.

Here's what this taught me:

Most AEs spread themselves too thin.

They chase every lead.

They respond to every inbound.

They try to close everyone.

And they end up closing no one.

The best AEs?

They identify their top 20% of accounts.

Then they ignore the rest.

They run a relentless, multi-month campaign on their dream accounts.

Not one email.

Not one call.

A drumbeat.

I did this at Gong:

We had Tier 1 accounts.

Every rep could answer: "What are you doing to break into [Tier 1 account]?"

Not "I sent an email last week."

But "I've been running a 6-month campaign with executive outreach, direct mail, and strategic touches."

The lesson:

Stop chasing everyone.

Start obsessing over the accounts that matter.

Then run a campaign so persistent they can't ignore you.

That's how you go from 15th to 1st.

P.S. Are you a seller who refuses to be average? We’re opening an “early access” VIP list to our coming Black Friday annual enrollment event to get in before the rush crowd. Secure first-access here: https://lnkd.in/g6ntF9Xb

The biggest shift in B2B sales that no one is talking about:

Sales is becoming PROFESSIONALIZED.

The old era was simple:
• Charisma
• Dinners
• Being good with people

That era is fading fast.

The new era is different:
• Precision
• Strategy
• Engineered deal process
• Skill depth

The old era was revenue backslappers.

The new era is revenue athletes.

The teams who embrace this shift will dominate the next decade.

Buyers who decline calendar invites... but then offer up several available times to reschedule... You are a hero to salespeople everywhere.

Tech sales is one of those rare careers that breaks social classes, fast.

People in lower class backgrounds can quickly break into the upper class.

And with a much lower barrier to entry than other careers.

I've seen people go from $40k to $200k in about 18-24 months.

I've seen people in their mid 30s become seven-figure earners.

Tech sales is truly an economic equalizer. 

#techsalesforpresident

"You have no ****ing idea what my day looks like."

The VP Sales practically YELLED that at me.

Spiraling me into a 37 minute depression.

I was running a sales demo early in my sales career.

This hard-nosed VP Sales was my potential buyer.

And that's what he blurted out at the end.

Right after I asked him how the demo was resonating.

No doubt this guy was tough.

You could even call him a jerk.

But sensing he just crushed the soul of a new AE just trying to figure things out, he softened up:

"Look, you didn't do a bad job. You know your product well," he said.

"But you're the one who asked for this meeting. And you showed me 7 or 8 things. Only one of them would even somewhat help me," he went on.

"The rest of them? I'm not even sure what they solve." He said bluntly.

"You could have left those other 7 things out of this demo entirely."

Those words hung in the air like cigar smoke floating out of this mouth.

I stewed on this every night for a few weeks.

Seeing the same thing happen to my peers, I came up with a new rule:

Every feature had to EARN its spot in my demo.

To make the cut, I'd need to be able to finish one of these sentences:

FIRST:

"Earlier, you shared you were struggling with X. Let me show you how we address that."

SECOND:

"Many of our customers struggled with Y. Is that the case with you? [If yes]: Ok. Let me show you how we address that."

If I couldn't finish one of those?

Then that feature was "cut from the team."

At least for THAT particular demo.

The lesson?

Solve your buyers' problem exactly.

No less.

But also: No more.

Ok.

P.S. If you want the exact 50 questions I use to build pain, urgency, and desire in deals, grab the full list here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g2giY-ab

Be the kind of salesperson that it would suck to compete against.

Most AEs get the first 5 minutes of a discovery call wrong. They either don't set the stage at all or they overcomplicate it (and sound weird).

Here's the framework I've used to set up thousands of sales calls and avoid friction with your buyer:

STEP 1: Transition from small talk.

After spending a few minutes on rapport, you need a smooth way to transition to business.

Best phrase I know to do it?

"Mind if we talk through the agenda?"

STEP 2: Set the objective.

This is NOT the agenda.

The agenda is the LINE ITEMS of things you'll discuss.

The objective is the OUTCOME of the meeting.

Complete this sentence:

"Here's what I have in mind for the objective of this meeting. Let me know if you have anything else in mind? This meeting will be successful if _______________."

Notice the 'softening language.'

You're making a firm suggestion wrapped in soft language.

That gives your buyer a sense of control and autonomy.

Plus, it eases any initial 'sales resistance' they have.

STEP 3: Set the agenda.

With the outcome of the meeting defined, NOW you can set the agenda.

Here's the key:

Propose 2-3 topics that SERVE the objective you just established.

"The way we can accomplish the objective is by talking through a couple things. First, _______________. And then, _______________.

Does that feel right?"

STEP 4: Set the DECISION to be made at the END of the call.

Let your buyer know you'll want both of you to be in a position to make some sort of decision at the END of the call.

That makes it FAR easier to secure next steps (or disqualify if it makes sense).

"By the end of the meeting, it would be a win if we're both in a position to decide either it makes sense to schedule a next logical step based on what we learned, or that it doesn't, and we can revisit another time."

STEP 5: Gain alignment with the 'F-Word'

End your talk track with:

"Does that feel like a fair way to approach the call?"

This accomplishes two things:

- They're aligned and feel ownership
- They are likely to agree (hard to disagree with 'fair')

Put all those together in a concise, 30-second sound bite.

You've got a formula for better sales calls.

P.S. Hey AEs — your comp plans isn’t the problem. Your skill gaps are.

Take this 2-minute quiz to see exactly how much income you’re missing out on.

Average results: $39,392 left on the table.

Where do you stack up: https://www.pclub.io/quiz

Being an account executive is better than getting an MBA.

You will become better at:

- Sales
- Writing
- Finance
- Leadership
- Negotiation
- Business acumen
- Time management
- Managing difficult people

It's truly a real-world MBA.

I can't think of any other profession where you can make multiple six-figures in your 20s without an Ivy League degree.

The problem?

Most salespeople "fell into" sales.

They don't take it seriously.

So they squander the opportunity.

And instead use their commissions to live a drunken existence on the weekends.

But if you lean in to this opportunity?

Like... TRULY lean in and master it?

You can write your own check.

And maybe even retire before you're 40.

P.S. If you want the exact 50 questions I use to build pain, urgency, and desire in deals, grab the full list here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g2giY-ab

19 sales cheat codes I wish I knew when I started out:

1. Buyers will spend more to relieve pain than to achieve gain. Stop obsessing about product benefits. Start obsessing about customer problems.

2. The biggest opportunity your competition is probably not leveraging is deep multi-threading.

3. The demo flow your product team teaches you never works. They mean well, but they are too interested in making customers aware of every feature. Only show the features that solve problems. Leave off the rest.

4. One of the best sales hacks is responding fast. Responding fast to inbound leaders. Responding fast to prospect emails. Buyers mirror your speed.

5. Personalization will help you book more outbound meetings. But there are diminishing returns. Adding way too much personalization creates a lot of work and doesn’t add to conversion.

6. Offering an 'end of month' discount only ever works if your buyer has total control over pulling the trigger. If they have to get approval from others, go through legal, procurement, etc. it’s not going to move the needle.

7. Spend more time getting new influencers up to speed on past conversations you’ve had with their colleagues.

8. A great question will always have more influence power than a great statement.

9. People don’t buy because of ROI. ROI doesn’t create demand. It justifies demand. Position your ROI accordingly.

10. Your perfect sales technique will not close the deal if you're talking to the wrong person. I still remember the best discovery call I've ever run. I didn't close the deal. Wrong person.

11. Social selling isn't better than cold email. Cold email isn't better than cold calling. These channels work together. Leverage them as 'land, sea, and air.' Stop thinking binary.

12. If you can describe your buyer's problem better than they can describe it, their light bulbs will turn on. It's a beautiful thing. Buyers favor the seller that can best articulate their problems.

13. Get to know your market like the back of your hand. If you know your buyers so well that you can peer into their soul, you'll rarely lose.

14. Buyers never reveal the real problem after the 1st or 2nd question. Uncovering the 'need behind the need' is the closest thing to a magic bullet in sales.

15. Executives want to know you've done your homework. If you show up to a sales call with a C-SUITE exec and ask a generic question, you'll lose them forever.

16. Never negotiate price until it's the last open issue. If agreeing on price doesn't close the deal, it's too early to negotiate.

17. Every time you demo a feature, preface it with the problem it solves. You'll double your demo effectiveness with this change alone.

18. Stop blaming buyers for falling short. If they said they were going to sign last month, and they didn’t, that’s your fault. Not theirs.

19. The best product demos are more about the customer than they are about the product.

P.S. Early VIP access: https://lnkd.in/g6ntF9Xb

The fastest path to time, location, & financial freedom for non-technical people: Remote tech sales.

I’m not sure people realize how wild the moment is.

I know 23–28-year-olds making $200K–$300K a year.
• Working remotely.
• 40 hours a week.
• Sometimes 35.
• No degree.
• No code.
• Just the right role and a dialed-in sales process. 

If you zoom out, it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

For ambitious non-technical people, tech sales is the new American dream.

The fastest way I’ve ever seen someone change their entire socioeconomic trajectory in under 12-24 months.

If tech sales changed your financial life, tell your story in the comments.

PSA for Sales Leaders: MEDDPICC is not a sales methodology. MEDDPICC is a deal health framework.

If you tell your reps "do MEDDPICC" without giving them the skills to do it?

You're destined for some disappointing pipeline reviews.

8 (painful) differences between the best and worst SaaS Sellers ⤵⤵

1. Pricing.

The best salespeople can quote you $350,000 with a straight face. Totally casual. Zero hangups. Calm, cool, collected.

The worst salespeople tremble and shake when they talk big money. They’re uncomfortable talking about price and it shows.

2. Discovery.

The best salespeople uncover the ‘need behind the need.’ They don’t stop with surface level need. They go deep, but in a conversational way.

The worst salespeople show their product at the slightest hint of a need they can solve. Discovery be damned.

3. Prospecting.

The best salespeople know that’s it’s too early to sell the benefits of their product. So they do something different. They agitate the problem. They articulate the buyer’s pain better than the buyer can.

The worst salespeople focus their outreach on the product. It’s benefits. How it works. It’s features. The ROI.

4. Discounts.

The worst salespeople lob huge discounts “if you sign this month.” Even if the buyer is nowhere near a decision.

It’s not that the best salespeople never use discounts. But they only give ‘qualified discounts.’ The ask why the buyer is asking for it. They qualify whether the buyer has the authority to act on it. Only then do they consider it.

5. Next Steps.

The worst salespeople “pencil in” a meaningless calendar invite as a next step. Or worse, they schedule nothing and follow up via email.

The best salespeople know what the next step should be, who should be involved, and why. Plus, they see around corners. They are thinking about the next THREE steps. Not just the next one.

6. Demos.

The worst salespeople show you ever feature. The more they show, the more value they build, they think.

The best salespeople “solve exactly.” They show you exactly what pieces of their product solve your problem. They leave out everything else.

7. Negotiation.

The worst salespeople don’t negotiate. They haggle. The only tool they have in their negotiation kit is to give something away and ask for something in return.

The best salespeople treat negotiation as problem solving. They ask about the buyer’s underlying need behind the concession request. They find creative ways to address it.

8. Skill Acquisition.

The worst salespeople think sales is a born trait. You have it or you don’t.

The best salespeople know that “sales” is just a collection of skills. Each one can be learned, practiced, reinforced, and mastered. So they build their skills accordingly.

These are 8 key differences.

The good news?

You can move from “worst” to “best” with new skills.

You’re not YEARS away from anything you want.

You’re SKILLS away from anything you want.

New skills are how you collapse a decade into a year.

P.S. We’re opening an “early access” VIP list to our coming Black Friday annual enrollment event to get in before the rush crowd. Secure first-access here: https://lnkd.in/g6ntF9Xb

Hey tech salespeople:  What inspired you to get into tech sales to begin with?

I want to hear your story in the comments!

Here's mine:

I spent 5 years pursuing a dream of being a pro drummer.

But by age 20, I had practiced so much I got tendinitis (and scar tissue) on both elbows, effectively ending that as a career option.

So I made a vow:

"If I can't be a pro drummer, then I'm at least going to find a way to make as much money as possible."

That led to a conversation with my college roommate:

"If you want to do well for yourself economically, focused on becoming great at selling."

He then encouraged me to look into a local SaaS company called InsideSales.com.

I joined as an SDR and the rest was history. 

What's your story?

InsideSales.com

Last year, an AE told me she wanted to earn $350,000 a year.

“Best advice on how to get there?” she asked.

So I told her a story.

Years ago, I had dinner with the CEO of Gong.

I asked him a question no CEO should be able to answer:

“How do you build a billion-dollar company?”

But he had an answer anyway.

He said:

“First, build a product so good a weak sales team could sell it.

"Second, build a sales + marketing machine so good it could sell a weak product. Do both and you’re on your way.”

Then I told her:

“Becoming a high-earning salesperson works the exact same way.”

Step 1 → Break into a company with a killer product that practically sells itself.

Step 2 → Build elite-level sales skills so you could sell anything if you had to.

Do both?

You’re unstoppable.

Here’s what most aspiring high-earners get wrong:

They apply to the “hot” companies…

But those companies only hire people with the skills to match their reputation.

Great product + weak skills = no interview.

Great skills + weak company = low ceiling.

You need both:

• The right company
• The right skills

That’s the $300k+/year formula.

That’s how you get your shot at big money.

And that’s how you turn that shot into a career-defining year.

You aren’t “years” away from your dream life.

You’re just a few skills (and maybe the right company) away.

And if you want help with both…

I’m opening Early Access to our Black Friday program next week.

Inside it is our brand-new January training:

BREAK INTO THE BIG TIME

How to land interviews — and offers — at high-earning companies with world-class products. 

The tech companies where sellers routinely earn $300k+.

Plus: the income acceleration platform that helps you capitalize once you’re in.

Bad news? First 200 people only.

Grab your early access spot here and get an enrollment invitation before everyone else here: https://lnkd.in/g6ntF9Xb

Drop an “IN” in the comments if you're looking forward to hearing the updates about it.

Your dream job + elite skills = a different life.

Making $300,000+ a year in tech sales is dead.

Unless you follow these two rules:

Years ago, I had dinner with the CEO of Gong.

Here’s what I asked him:

“How do you build a billion dollar company?”

What he said has influenced me ever since:

“First, build a product so good a weak sales team could sell it.”

“Second, build a sales team so good they could sell a weak product.”

“Do both, and you re-write history.”

Mic-drop line.

And here’s what I realized:

That’s also the key to making $300k (or more) in tech sales:

First, sell a product so good, you could sell it even if YOU weren’t very good.

Second, become so good at selling that you could sell a weak product.

Do both?

That's your only shot at a 7-figure W2.

This morning, we announced the system that helps you do BOTH.

Our annual Black Friday enrollment event opened.

It’s your path to cracking $300k+ in 2026.

Here’s how:

First, master every aspect of tech sales with the world’s top skill transformation platform.

🔥 Learn from the top 1% revenue experts
🔥 Master skills that impact your income
🔥 Become an elite seller 

As I’ve said:

You’re not years away from everything you want.
You’re skills away from everything you want.

Second, our Black Friday bonus:

🎁 Free admission for our Break Into the Big Time live training in January.

This isn’t a skills training.
This isn't a process training.

This is how to break into companies where earning $300k+ is possible.

You’ll learn to identify, interview with, and join the hottest tech sales teams on the planet.

Because there are only two paths to great money in tech sales:

➡️ Wait for the “perfect” company
➡️ Or become the seller every company fights for

The highest paid salespeople don’t choose.

They insist on both.

They build the fuel reserves (killer skills).

Then they choose the rocketship (killer company).

If you refuse to sit on the sidelines and watch others win in 2026?

👉 Enrollment is open now for Black Friday: https://lnkd.in/gSpnHq7y

Become the most formidable version of yourself.

The outcomes take care of themselves. 

Let me know in the comments if you're in (or if you have questions).

SaaS sellers that will make $300,000+ in 2026 know these 7 things:

1. Their desired W2 (annual income), down to the dollar.

2. Every lever in their comp plan so they know how to get there.

3. How much ARR they need to close to reach their target income, based on their comp plan.

4. Their ACV, and how many deals they need to close to reach their target.

5. Their personal close rate, and how many new opps they need to find to close their target revenue amount.

6. The daily activity they need to execute to find the new opps they need to find to reach their goals.

7. The new skills they need to improve the entire system.

Clarity is power.

After that, it's just about working the system.

P.S. Are you a seller who refuses to be average? We’re opening an “early access” VIP list to our coming Black Friday annual enrollment event to get in before the rush crowd. Secure first-access here: https://lnkd.in/g6ntF9Xb

Last week, I met with the SVP of Sales at a $1B company.

Here's what he said about a "must win" deal they lost:

“Our relationship with this customer was amazing,” he said.

“Our rep even stayed overnight at their house during the sales cycle. They became close friends.”

And yet… they still lost to a competitor.

Why?

Because the competitor simply out-sold them:

• A tighter business case
• Better articulated differentiation
• A sharper understanding of the problem
• They built consensus, not just relationships

Then he said the line that stuck with me:

“We had the relationship acumen. They had the sales acumen.”

3 lessons I took away:


1. In 2025, buying decisions and relationships are decoupled.

Being liked isn’t enough.
Being trusted isn’t enough.
Win­ing and dining isn’t enough.

Not when your competitor has:

• A more formidable skillset
• A winning deal strategy
• A killer sales process

Those beat relationships every day.


2. Sales is becoming professionalized.

Sales used to be the least “professional” profession.

Charisma. Charm. Relationships.

The Wild West. No shared standards of excellence.

That era is dead.

Modern sales cycles are won by teams who run a more skilled, more strategic, more engineered process.

This is no longer about personality.

It’s about precision.


3. Skill capacity is the CRO’s new competitive advantage.

Teams with higher skill IQ win more deals. 

Full stop.

We’re now seeing early data to back this up:

Nine of our business customers in the last 90 days have correlated their pclub.io Skill Adoption in Gong with CRM outcomes.

The uplift is unmistakable.
• Higher win rates
• Faster cycles
• Bigger ACVs

That data is telling us that skills are money in the bank.

It shouldn’t be surprising:

When products blur, and relationships alone can’t carry you…

Skill becomes the moat.

It’s easy for competitors to copy your features.

It’s hard for them to match a tightly trained revenue team.

The companies who grasp this will dominate the next decade.

P.S. If you're a leader and want to see what the revenue lift can look like when you go all in on this, DM me.

40+ Linkedin Money-Making-Influence Resources I Toxic Boss Immunity I Frequency of INFLUENCE: ETHICAL PERSUASION I $20k Brain-Based Sales System | HarvardX Neuroscience Research I Keynote 🎤 I X-Microsoft I Captain ⛵

$20k Monthly Brain Based Sales System Without Chasing the "Yes"

You know the feeling:
😳 Your brain lights up with “What if they think I’m pushy?” the second you open a DM.
😬 You’d rather post and pray the right people find you than risk being ghosted.
😅 You tell yourself that if you were really good, clients would just show up.

You don’t want to fake connection just to pitch.
You want sales that feels human. Real conversations, not pressure tactics.

You’re not bad at sales.
Your brain is just protecting you.

The amygdala flags rejection as danger.
Your prefrontal cortex freezes.
And boom hesitation, overthinking, silence.

That’s where my work comes in.
I teach the Neuroscience of No-Pressure Sales so you can sell with calm confidence instead of fear.

No scripts. No manipulation.
Just science, psychology, and simple tools to retrain your nervous system so selling feels natural again.

When your brain is relaxed, your authenticity returns.
You stop pitching and start connecting.
Outreach stops feeling like an intrusion and starts feeling like service.

This is sales made easy for coaches who hate selling.

✨ Ways to get started with me:

✅ If you're a coach DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a business owner DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a sales leader DM me "Butter"
✅ Attend my next workshop for FREE BRAIN BASED SALES SECRETS. https://forms.gle/HvTRDEZEuu7bgQEF8
✅ Subscribe to the Be Like Butter Bugle: Weekly brain hacks for resilience and influence. https://synaptic-solutions.kit.com/newsletter

Personal interests: 
- Captain ⛵️ 
- Recovering Sugar Addict 🍭 
- Trash TV consumer 🗑️

Sales Coach | Toxic Boss Coach | Neuroscience Coach | Executive Coach | Master Behavioral Strategist | Speaker | Advisor | Expert | 7 figures | Virtual Speaking | Sales Performance Brain Hacker | Mindset Coach I Corporate Trainer I Influence I Key Note Speaker

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

Leaders don't do things for you. 

They inspire you to grow into someone who can do them 

Your brain's mirror neurons are fascinating...

When we observe great leadership, 
Our neural networks literally reshape themselves 🧠

Here's what happened in my team's brains 
When I shifted from problem-solver to growth catalyst:

1️⃣ Neural Leadership Networks
↳ Prefrontal cortex activation in decision-making up 
↳ Stress response pathways decreased
↳ Reward circuits fired during problem-solving

2️⃣ Learning Circuit Activation
↳ Neuroplasticity peaked during challenges
↳ Dopamine loops strengthened team bonds
↳ Cognitive flexibility increased 

3️⃣ Performance Neuroscience
↳ Cortisol levels dropped 
↳ Oxytocin boosted trust signals
↳ Group synchronization improved

Science shows: When leaders step back,
The team's collective neural networks step up.

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

PS: What neural pathway did your best leader help you strengthen? 🧠

Video credit: Unlnown

-------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share to build stronger leadership brains
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

The hard things you avoid 

Are the exact things that free you

Most people avoid the hard stuff.
Not because they are lazy.
Because their brain is trying to protect them.

The prefrontal cortex wants long term wins
But the amygdala wants immediate comfort
So every hard task feels like a threat
And your brain tells you to delay it
Even when it hurts you later.

Here is how to flip the switch
So your brain stops fighting you
And starts working for you.

1/ Reduce the threat signal
 Big tasks feel dangerous
 So your brain freezes
 Break the task into the smallest next move
 Science: Small steps lower amygdala activity
 And increase dopamine for starting

2/ Front load the friction
 Do the hardest task first
 Before your brain is overloaded
 Science: Your decision making power is highest early
 And cortisol rises as the day goes on

3/ Create a reward loop
 Your brain needs a reason to try
 Pair the hard task with a positive cue
 Tea, music, a small celebration
 Science: Dopamine releases faster
 When a reward is tied to effort, not outcomes

When you train your brain to face hard things
You stop leaking energy
You build momentum
And the tough stuff becomes automatic

P.S. Whats your best procrastination buster? 

Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Video Credit: Unknown

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➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon  to get more brainy tips
♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

I used to shrink parts of myself to fit into corporate.

It quietly drained the life out of my ideas (and me).

At the time, I thought success required self-erasure.
I hit every goal on the board.
But I felt empty.

 🧠 Promotions
 🧠 Pay raises
 🧠 Prestige

None of it mattered.
My spark was gone.
And so was my creativity.

Have you ever noticed how your brain invents ideas
When you’re not even trying?

Your imagination lights up your neural networks
Like a synchronized light show.

Brain imaging reveals that
Most of your regions activate during visualization.

Here’s what fuels your imagination 👇

1/ Your Brain’s Creative Engine
 ↳ Default Mode Network turns on as the PFC steps back
 ↳ Memory blends with emotion to create new associations
 ↳ Your brain recombines patterns without limits

2/ The Moment Insight Strikes
 ↳ Gamma bursts peak during big realizations
 ↳ Hippocampus sends raw material to the DMN
 ↳ New pathways strengthen the more you play with ideas

3/ Your Creativity Enhancement Tools
 ↳ Take short intentional pauses for DMN activation
 ↳ Change scenes to trigger fresh circuitry
 ↳ Welcome boredom because it sparks innovation

Creativity is not magic.
It is a neural process you can train.
All you need is the space and permission to
Reconnect with curiosity and let your mind roam.
Don’t lose your spark chasing goals that dim you.

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

PS: When does your imagination run wild?

Video Credit: Unknown

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share to help others reclaim their creativity
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Your brain won't save you.

Your heart will. 

For two weeks, I volunteered to help rescue animals.
Feeding, cleaning, comforting the scared and the broken.

They had nothing to give back
but showing up still felt right.

Because giving changes you.
It pulls you out of fear and back into purpose.

And right now, the world needs more of that.
 💔 People are hurting.
 💔 Jobs disappearing.
 💔 Markets spiraling.
 💔 Stress levels through the roof.

Everyone’s doing their best just to stay afloat.
But when everything feels unstable,
most people grip tighter.
They try to control.
They chase.
They push harder for the “yes.”

That’s exactly why it stops working.
The brain senses pressure and shuts down trust.
You can’t sell, serve, or lead from scarcity.
You can only do it from calm generosity.

That’s why I’m giving away what I’ve learned.
The exact framework that helped me break free from corporate,
build consistency on my own,
and stop chasing clients who weren’t ready.

It’s called Stop Chasing the Yes.
A workshop to help you
 – Build your own predictable client system
 – Shift from pressure to presence in every conversation
 – Lead with calm confidence instead of fear

If you’ve been giving everything and still feel stuck,
this is your next step.

Because giving works best
when you give to yourself too.

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

P.S. Do you volunteer, if so where?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for more neuroscience tools for calm influence
♻️ Repost to help others give without burning out

The only true failure in life is quitting. 

Success is never a straight line. It certainly wasn't for me.

I've had many failures and setbacks along my path.
Layoffs.
Failed ventures.
Bad investments. 

Life is messy. 
Mess is a part of life.

Enjoy the messiness. 
And, your brain kinda likes it messy too.

Why your brain craves zigzag paths 🧠

(The science of why progress feels so messy) 👇

Your neural pathways aren't built in straight lines
And neither is your path to greatness
Here's what's really happening in your brain:

1️⃣ The Neural Reality
↳ Growth pathways form through trial and error
↳ Each "failure" strengthens neural connections
↳ Your brain requires contrast to learn

2️⃣ The Resilience Loop
↳ Setbacks activate problem-solving networks
↳ Stress actually enhances memory formation
↳ Recovery periods boost cognitive flexibility

3️⃣ The Growth Paradox
↳ Progress activates dopamine reward system
↳ Plateaus create new neural foundations
↳ Breakthroughs happen during apparent standstills

Your "messy" journey is how your brain is designed to learn and grow.

P.S. What was your latest messiness?

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Video Credit: Unknown

-------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if you're ready to embrace the zigzag
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Most people’s LinkedIn strategy: grind harder and hope

Mine: close clients while living life on my own schedule

I’ve wandered through the Greek islands
- Boat rides to hidden beaches
- Mornings working with seaside views
- A weekend in Skopelos without realizing it was a movie set

I spent a month in Athens
- Day trips to Agistri, turquoise blue waters
- Afternoons coaching clients

Why am I sharing this?
 Because your brain says “that’s not for me”
 Because it tells you to stick with the familiar
 (It’s called comfort bias and it keeps you stuck)

But here’s what no one will tell you:
If you want it, this life is closer than you think

Here’s how your brain makes it happen:

1️⃣ The Belief Reset
 ↳ Your brain avoids what feels out of reach
 ↳ Turn “impossible” into doable with simple shifts
 ↳ Stack wins until change feels normal

2️⃣ The LinkedIn Advantage
 ↳ Know what your ideal client looks for before they decide
 ↳ Post and message in ways that feel safe and personal
 ↳ Use a system that works even while you’re away

3️⃣ The Lifestyle Flywheel
 ↳ Every yes starts before the offer is made
 ↳ Match your approach to their decision process
 ↳ That’s how I work from coastlines and mountain trails

The point?

It’s not about more work
It’s about the right work for the brain

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

P.S. Where would you take your laptop first?
P.P.S. Pic from Poseidon's Temple (10/10)
-----------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
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One more trip around the sun.

It's been a doozy.

Every birthday, I pause and reflect on my last year.
This year was the year that stretched me in every direction.

I lost my favorite person (my Belley Bean)
That loss began an 8 month walkabout across the globe.

I found my spiritual side.
I found strength I didn't know I had.

I escaped 3 typhoons
I sailed the Mediterranean
I ate the most amazing food 
I chopped a bajillion bananas
I swam in the Blue Cave in Croatia
I cared for 140 elephants and 700 dogs
I got bit and headbutted by deer in Nara
I moved what felt like a million watermelons
I spoiled myself at a Japanese Onsen regularly
I calmly navigated a stalker sitch right up to my airplane 
I lost a toenail trying an advanced yoga post in Cabo San Lucas

I missed my family.
I missed my friends.

I grew.
I grew so much.
I think I grew more this year than any year before.

I admired the precision of Japanese trains.
I learned Thai people do not use chopsticks.
I went from a 3k to 50k community in 8 months.
I was stunned by the beauty of the Greek islands.
I made new friends in the most unexpected places.
I built a predictable, brain-based revenue machine.
I helped countless clients do the same for their businesses.

This year was not easy.
It was not predictable.
But it was deeply transformative.

Here is to another year of becoming.
Here is to letting go, leaning in, and staying open.

And if you are reading this…
Thank you for being part of my journey.

P.S. Today, I am Seattle celebrating!
Wanna celebrate with me?

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

-----------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales strategies

You have more answers than you think. 

You just don't know it...yet.

Most people say they want to think outside the box.
But few ever leave it.

Because the box feels safe.
It’s made of habits, rules, and comfort.
It’s your brain’s way of protecting you from uncertainty.

But that same safety is what keeps you small.
Every great idea, every business, every leap
starts the moment you question the walls around you.

When you think differently, new neural pathways fire.
Your prefrontal cortex lights up.
Dopamine releases as you connect unfamiliar dots.
That’s not chaos. That’s creativity.

Thinking outside the box trains your brain to
🧠 see possibilities instead of patterns,
🧠 stay adaptable when the world shifts,
🧠 and turn fear into curiosity instead of paralysis.

Inside the box, life feels predictable.
Outside, it feels alive.

If you want freedom, income, and purpose,
you can’t just color outside the lines.
You have to stop believing they’re even there.

That’s the work we do inside my workshop
Because the world doesn’t reward safety.
It rewards those who think beyond it.

🧠 Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Usually, the answer is already within you 
(channeling Yoda today).

P.S. When was the last time you already knew the answer...you just had to remember you did?

Video credit: Unlnown

---------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for more neuroscience tools for clarity and creativity
♻️ Repost to help more people break out of their mental box

The real threat to your number isn't the market.

It's the things your reps never say.

Everyone talks about activity.
Everyone talks about coaching.
Everyone talks about pipeline discipline.

But nobody talks about the truth gap.

The space between what your reps say...
...and what is actually happening.

That gap is where bad quarters grow.

😱 The rep who says “all good” while confidence tanks.
😱 The pipeline that looks clean but is full of dead deals.
😱 The silent fear that turns into quiet quitting.

You see these problems too late.
You take the hit.
You carry the blame.

And you never get the early signal
that could have saved the quarter.

Your top threat is not performance.
It is blind spots.

Sales Sage closes them.
Ten minutes.
A simple pulse.

✅ Signals you will never see in a meeting.
✅ Patterns no CRM can surface.
✅ Emotional shifts that predict misses

BEFORE they show up in your number.

If you want to know what your team is really telling you
before it becomes a fire you have to put out

Take advantage of the 14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud 
(before it blows up your number)

You will never manage your team the same way again.

P.S. The pic looks like a mix of me and Data from Star Trek, right?

----------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if you are tired of surprise misses
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"Get out of my head."

That is what I hear a LOT. 

It's also what my clients hear.
If you want to win in business
Learn to enter your ICP’s mind.

Not their surface answers.
Their unspoken thoughts.
The quiet stuff they never say out loud.

Your ICP is thinking about risk, safety, and reputation.
Their nervous system scans the world for certainty.
Your job is to understand the subtext they hide.

Here are 5 ways to read your ICP’s real inner world:

1️⃣ Listen for the pause
 When they hesitate, note the silence.
 Write down what fear that pause might signal.
 Ask one gentle question to explore it.

2️⃣ Name the problem better than they can
 Say the thing they hint at but avoid.
 Use words they have not said yet.
 Their brain relaxes when it feels understood.

3️⃣ Track their emotional patterns
 Notice where their tone shifts.
 Spot excitement, tension, or doubt.
 These shifts reveal what they truly value.

4️⃣ Map their failed attempts
 Ask what they have already tried.
 Look for frustration in their answers.
 This reveals hidden pain they rarely voice.

5️⃣ Reflect their vision back to them
 Repeat their goals in simple language.
 Show them the future they want.
 The brain trusts what it can picture clearly.

When you understand the thoughts they never say,
your ICP feels seen at a deeper level.
They think you can read their mind.
And trust becomes the easiest part of the sale.

P.S. When is the last time you thought someone was in your head?

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

-------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share to help others build resilient minds
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

The number 1 reason you’re invisible on Linkedin...

You aren't breaking through the RAS filter

Your prospect never sees most of what you say.
Their brain deletes it before it gets inside.

The Reticular Activating System filters everything.
It looks for relevance, novelty, safety, and clarity.
If your message feels routine, it gets ignored.
If it feels vivid and personal, it gets through.
Here are ten ways to pass the filter fast.

1/ Pattern breaks win
Don’t start predictable
Do open with novelty
Science: RAS flags newness first

2/ Short lines keep attention
 Don’t write long blocks
 Do use simple spacing
 Science: Low load keeps thinking open

3/ Make it about them
Don’t lead with yourself
Do mirror their world
Science: RAS checks for self relevance

4/ Signal credibility fast
Don’t over explain
Do give one strong proof
Science: Fast heuristics shape trust

5/ Use micro commitments
Don’t push for yes
Do ask tiny questions
Science: Micro wins open dopamine

6/ Use visual outcomes
Don’t stay vague
Do paint clear images
Science: RAS tags vivid scenes

7/ Match their energy
Don’t push your pace
Do mirror tone
Science: Mirror neurons sync fast

8/ Validate their words
Don’t jump to fixes
Do echo their phrasing
Science: Neural validation needs match

9/ Create safety, not pressure
Don’t force urgency
Do slow the tempo
Science: Threat shuts attention down

10/ Give one next step
Don’t dump info
Do guide clearly
Science: Sequence reduces neural noise

When you speak to the brain instead of the ego
You stop sounding like everyone else
You bypass resistance
You increase trust
And your message finally lands

P.S. Which one has worked for you??

Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe
Dec 15 - 11am - 2pm PST

----------------------------------------------------------------
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon  to get more brainy tips
♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

Persuasion isn’t pressure.

Persuasion is helping someone feel safe.

Here are 8 ethical persuasion swaps that actually work 👇

Most people try to persuade with logic or force.
But the brain listens to safety signals first.
When you protect autonomy and reduce threat,
People open up, not shut down.

Here are the 8 upgrades:

1️⃣ Regulate before you relate
❌ Don’t say: 
“Let me just explain why this makes sense.”

✅ Say this:
“Before we dive in, take a breath. I want this to feel clear.”

🔬Science:
 A calm nervous system sends safety cues.
 Their mirror neurons match your steadiness, lowering resistance.

2️⃣ Lead with curiosity
❌ Don’t say:
 “Here’s what you need to do.”

✅ Say this:
 “What feels hardest about this right now?”

🔬 Science:
 Curiosity keeps the amygdala quiet.
 Questions activate the prefrontal cortex, the part that evaluates options calmly.

3️⃣ Validate before redirecting
❌ Don’t say:
 “I understand, but…”

✅ Say this:
 “It makes sense you’d feel that way.”

🔬 Science:
 Validation reduces cortisol.
 It signals “You’re safe to express hesitations,” which reopens trust pathways.

4️⃣ Protect autonomy
❌ Don’t say:
 “You should really move forward.”

✅ Say this:
 “Want to explore this together?”

🔬 Science:
Autonomy is a core human need.
When someone feels in control, dopamine rises and decision-making improves.

5️⃣ Reframe with clarity
❌ Don’t say:
 “You’re overthinking this.”

✅ Say this:
 “What might shift if this were already solved?”

🔬 Science:
Reframing widens cognitive perspective.
It moves the brain out of threat mode and into problem-solving mode.

6️⃣ Align intentions
❌ Don’t say:
 “I just want you to see my point.”

✅ Say this:
 “We both want a solution that actually works for you.”

🔬 Science:
Shared goals increase oxytocin.
Oxytocin boosts collaboration and reduces defensiveness.

7️⃣ Match energy before guiding
❌ Don’t say:
 “Relax, it’s not a big deal.”

✅ Say this:
 “I hear how this feels for you. Let’s slow it down together.”

🔬Science:
Attunement regulates the nervous system.
The brain trusts what feels familiar before it trusts new direction.

8️⃣ Close with clarity, not pressure
❌ Don’t say:
 “So… are you ready or not?”

✅ Say this:
 “Here’s what the next step looks like. Does this feel right to you?”

🔬 Science:
Clear choices reduce cognitive load.
When the brain knows the path, uncertainty drops—and commitment rises.

Ethical persuasion is simple:
 🧠 Lower threat
 🧠 Raise clarity
 🧠 Protect autonomy

That’s how influence becomes trust.

P.S. Ever notice how pressure makes you want to run?

My workshops are open again.
Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

----------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales tools
♻️ Repost to help more people influence with integrity

Your biggest risk is the rep who says they're "fine."

Your rep's "fine," is eerily similar to your spouse's "fine."

TL:DR It's definitely not "fine."

You don't lose a quarter in one moment.
You lose it in tiny blind spots.

A rep who says they're fine.
A pipeline that looks clean.
A deal that feels safe until it slips.

Then your forecast cracks.
Your VP starts asking questions.
And you wonder what you missed.

What every manager thinks but never says out loud:

You're managing stories, not data.
Your team tells you what feels safe to say.
Not what protects your number.

Sales Sage shows you the parts they leave out.
A simple 10 minute pulse surfaces early risk.

😶‍🌫️ Stress signals. 
😶‍🌫️ Confidence drops.
😶‍🌫️ Hidden struggles that turn into missed targets...
If you catch them too late.

We give you visibility your dashboards say they give you
But can't

The minority report for sales teams. 
14-day free beta: https://salessage.co for early adopters

4 reasons your deal stalls

(and what to do to get it moving again)

1️⃣ Cognitive overload
Buyers aren’t ignoring you.
Their brain’s overwhelmed.
Inbox stress. Competing priorities.
PFC taxed. No room for new info.

Solution: Simplicity + clarity.
Lower their cognitive load first.

2️⃣ FOMU: Fear of messing up
It’s not the budget.
It’s the risk of being wrong.
Wrong call. Future pain. Career damage.
ACC fires. Danger signals spike.

Solution: Normalize hesitation.
Show the low-risk path.
Make them feel safe, not pressured.

3️⃣ Neurological alignment
Deals close when nervous systems sync.
Matching pace, language, and rhythm.
That’s what creates trust.
Miss the alignment and buyers pull back.

Solution: Listen deeper.
Reflect priorities. Mirror their world.
Create the feeling of “you get me.”

4️⃣ Clear path forward
If buyers can’t see the path,
their amygdala fills the gaps with danger.
Ambiguity = risk.
Risk stalls deals every time.

Solution: Structure + structure.
Short runway. Clear phases.
Small wins that feel safe.

Why all four matter
 - Overwhelm fuels FOMU.
 - FOMU breaks alignment.
 - Misalignment makes the path feel risky.
 - A vague path increases overwhelm.

Fix all four and everything shifts.
✅ Buyers settle.
✅ Their nervous system calms.
✅ They feel seen.
✅ Trust forms.

And the path becomes obvious.
That’s when you stop “selling”…
…and start facilitating clarity.

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
https://salessage.co/

---------------------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if you’re done pushing and want to start aligning
 ➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based sales insights

Confidence isn’t a personality trait. 

It’s a regulated nervous system.

You can't sell if your brain is in survival mode.
But you can train your mind to stay calm under pressure.

High pressure flips your nervous system fast.
 😱 Your heart speeds up.
 😱 Your thoughts race.
 😱 Your brain shifts into threat.
 😱 That’s when deals slip and confidence drops.

It’s not about skill.
It’s about regulation.
Your brain needs clear signals to stay steady.

Here are 3 ways to keep your brain calm when things get tense:
✔️ Slow your exhale
 A long exhale activates your calm system.
 It tells your brain you're safe.
 Clear thinking returns fast.

✔️ Name what you feel
 A quick "I'm feeling pressure" helps the amygdala settle.
 Your brain relaxes when you name the feeling.

✔️ Ground your senses
 Notice one thing you see, hear, or feel.
 This pulls your brain out of threat mode.
 Your thinking brain comes back online.

When your brain stays regulated, you stay in control.
✅ You listen better.
✅ You ask smarter questions.
✅ You hold your power in the conversation.

Prospects feel your steadiness and trust you more.
Your mind isn't the enemy under pressure.
It just needs direction.

P.S. What's the hardest moment for you to stay calm in a call?

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♻️ Repost to help someone keep their calm today

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🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

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The Battle

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Chris Orlob's LinkedIn Performance

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