Looking to simplify your sales approach and win more business in an increasingly complex world? Join us as Bob Marsh, Chief Revenue Officer at Bluewater Technologies, shares his philosophy of "winning through simplicity." Bob offers critical insights on reducing friction in sales, building trust with clients, and simplifying the sales process to achieve better outcomes. In this episode, he provides a powerful guide on removing friction from the sales process and building deeper customer connections.

You will learn:

• Why the world is getting more complicated and how to manage overwhelm

• The four pillars of Bob's "Winning with Simplicity" framework

• How to build "noise-canceling confidence" and why it matters

• The game-changing "CEO fist bump" tactic that can drive more sales

• Why you need to aim for "third layer connections" with prospects

• How to reframe selling as an act of service, not manipulation

• The art of using options effectively without confusing customers

• Why "time management" is out and "impact optimization" is in

• Bob's top tip for selling more by smoothing out friction points

• The importance of building trust and demonstrating expertise to customers

• Benefits of understanding where friction exists in the customer's decision-making process

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Need help to make your marketing efforts truly effective in today's noisy digital landscape?

Look no further.

Tune in as Jacqueline Woods, Teradata's Chief Marketing Officer, shares her data-driven approach to modern marketing strategy!

In this episode, Jacqueline Woods shares her insights on targeted marketing, segmentation, and the science behind successful marketing campaigns.

We’ll cover:

• Why precise targeting is crucial in today's crowded marketing landscape.

• How to effectively segment your audience by role, industry, and solution.

• How lower barriers to entry have increased competition.

• The power of a three-dimensional marketing matrix in reaching your customers.

• Why understanding different roles' priorities is key to effective messaging.

• How to leverage insights from one industry to innovate in another.

• Why marketing should be data-driven and intentional.

• Why some low-ROI activities might still be strategically important.

• How to balance data-driven decisions with strategic considerations.

• Why understanding customer needs is the foundation of successful selling.

• How to articulate your unique value proposition effectively.

• The critical importance of intentional, data-backed marketing decisions.

• How to avoid common pitfalls in pricing and promotion strategies.

Follow Mark:

LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager

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Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

Are you tired of the confusing jargon and twisted theories surrounding business strategy?

Join Dr. Chuck Bamford's direct approach to strategy - a method that cuts through the noise and gets straight to the point!

In this episode, Mark Drager sits down with Dr. Chuck Bamford, a managing partner at Bamford Associates who also teaches at the University of Notre Dame. With over two decades of experience teaching strategy and entrepreneurship, he's authored six strategy textbooks and won numerous teaching awards. Today, he's here to share his insights on creating practical strategic plans that drive real business growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The crucial difference between strategy and planning.

• Why strategy is about getting customers to choose you over competitors.

• How to identify what truly separates your business from others.

• The importance of shouting your competitive advantage from the rooftops.

• Why your employees aren't your competitive advantage (and what is).

• How to craft a meaningful mission statement that drives success.

• The danger of over-engineering your products or services.

• Why the ability to change strategy quickly is key to long-term success.

• How to dig deep and get beyond surface-level concepts in your strategy.

• Benefits of systems and standards in creating a sustainable competitive edge.

• Why many companies' value statements are 'garbage' and how to create meaningful ones.

• How to use 'Northstar goals' to guide your organization.

• The critical step of getting all employees moving in the same strategic direction.

Follow Mark:

LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager

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Want more free tools?

Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way not to get so burned out as an entrepreneur?

There is.

It's called the "Burnout Prevention" strategy. Julie Bee discovered it while running her business and hasn't stopped using it.

She first explained the "Burnout Prevention" strategy in her book "Burn: How Business Owners Can Overcome Burnout and Fuel Success". Now, entrepreneurs everywhere are embracing these techniques.

Today, Julie joins Mark, sharing six strategies to prevent and overcome burnout as an entrepreneur.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to recognize the early signs of burnout.

• Why taking a vacation isn't always the best advice for burned-out business owners.

• The importance of having a support group versus a networking group.

• Why burnout often happens after a huge success.

• How to leverage burnout for future growth and success.

• The 3-stages of burnout: attentional, emotional, and physical.

• Why entrepreneurs need to plan for potential burnout.

• How to identify your burnout "red flags" and triggers.

• The dangers of entrepreneurial "analysis paralysis".

• Why vulnerability and asking for help are crucial in preventing burnout.

• How to use the "perspective" of others to prioritize your focus.

• The importance of paying attention to insights gained during burnout.

Follow Mark:

LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager

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Want more free tools?

Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

What if, instead of chasing your customers, you created an experience that had your customers flocking to you?

This week, Mark is joined by experiential marketing expert Brook Jay, the founder and CEO of All Terrain, an award-winning marketing agency renowned for its innovative brand strategies and activations. Her keen insights into consumer behaviour and exceptional storytelling abilities have allowed her to lead groundbreaking campaigns for global giants like Ferrari, Nike, and PepsiCo.

In this episode, Brook shares insights on building emotional connections, standing out in crowded markets, and tracking the success of experiential marketing campaigns.

Here are some of the topics Mark and Brook discuss in this episode:

• What is experiential marketing?

• From live events to pop-up attractions: the many forms of experiential marketing

• The pros and cons of experiential marketing

• How experiential marketing helps forge strong emotional connections with consumers

• B2B or B2C - can experiential marketing work for both?

• How to sell more by engaging people in memorable and authentic ways

• Measuring your ROI when using experiential marketing

• How storytelling and community building strengthen brand loyalty

• Experiential marketing’s real-time adaptability ensures campaigns stay relevant and effective

• Brook’s #1 strategy for selling more

Follow Mark:

LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager

Instagram: https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi

Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

If you’re struggling to unite your team, it may be time to get back to basics.

This week, Mark is joined by Chris Costello, an executive leader with a remarkable track record of turning around struggling teams and driving significant growth. She has led multi-billion dollar revenue bases and built teams that excelled in even the most challenging environments.

Chris is known for her ability to meet customer needs through innovative solutions and for her bold, result-driven leadership style. In this episode, she shares insights on building trust, creating clear goals, and leading both small and large teams to success.

Here are some of the topics Mark and Chris discuss in this episode:

• Why authentic leadership is so important

• The KPIs Chris focuses on as a leader

• Why your direct reports need to share your vision

• Avoiding analysis paralysis by blending data and intuition

• The importance of having leaders that trust you and leaders you can trust

• Why leaders need to show up and engage with C-suite and top-level events

• How being accessible to your team allows you to serve customers quickly

• The motivating power of recognizing your team

• Why executives need to go after those large strategic deals

• Chris Costello’s #1 tip for selling more

Follow Mark:

LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager

Instagram: https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi

Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

This week, Mark speaks with Jonah Berger, a Marketing Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School about ways to positively leverage influence within your organization.

Jonah is a world-renowned expert on change, word of mouth, influence, consumer behaviour, and how products, ideas and behaviours catch on. He’s worked with big names like Apple, Google, and Nike, and written the bestsellers Contagious, Invisible Influence, The Catalyst, and Magic Words. He speaks with Mark about using the hidden strategies of influence to drive action and change minds.

Here are some of the topics Mark and Jonah discuss in this episode:

• Why we are so easily influenced

• Some subtle ways we are influenced every day

• How relying on our friends and peers helps us make better decisions

• Why being influenced is perceived negatively, but it often makes us better off

• How influence can be helpful in both mundane and important decisions

• Overcoming our ingrained anti-persuasion radar

• Why the “Ask, Don’t Tell” method is so successful

• The more we understand about human behaviour, the better off we'll be

• How hedges reduce persuasion

• Why you should consider being very certain about a smaller set of things

Follow Mark:

LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager

Instagram: https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi

Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

When was the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile? Or took the time to comment on a post while scrolling through your feed?

This week, Mark speaks with Joshua B. Lee about how a well-optimized social media presence and authentic engagement allow you to build meaningful connections and establish a robust social and professional network.

Known as the "Dopamine Dealer of LinkedIn," Joshua is an entrepreneur, storyteller, author, and a firm believer in weaving genuine human connections into the digital tapestry.

He is the author of Balance is Bullsh*t, and the founder of Standout Authority, where he helps professionals and entrepreneurs shine on LinkedIn by breathing life into their personal brands.

He shares his expertise on creating authentic connections in the digital world and leveraging LinkedIn for business growth.

Here are some of the topics Mark and Joshua discuss in this episode:

• How a well-crafted LinkedIn profile can open new doors for your business

• Why regular updates and active personal branding are crucial

• The top three things business owners should be doing to maximize their presence of LinkedIn

• Why leaders should ensure their LinkedIn profiles are comprehensive and reflective of their professional journey, not just a resume

• How to use the XYZ statement approach on your LinkedIn profile

• How engaging thoughtfully by providing insights elevates your visibility

• Why you should prioritize genuine relationship building, not just making the sale

• How leveraging personal stories and experiences in interactions helps humanize connections

• Why you should be encouraging and training your teams to engage on LinkedIn

• Josua B. Lee’s #1 strategy for selling more

Follow Mark:

LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager

Instagram: https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi

Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe