We’ve just seen a golden age for people wanting to start their own small business. The 10 to 15 year period from the 2008 recession to COVID-19 was a bull market that saw improved and more affordable technology available for small business owners. As a result, small businesses exploded into existence, particularly for women entrepreneurs.

But the economy is cyclical, and there comes a time when the bull market slows down. In the last few years, we’ve seen that lots of businesses had to adapt or get shut down during the pandemic lockdowns. We’re watching inflation cause expenses to skyrocket. And your customers and clients are feeling the impact.

The economy is uncertain right now, and perhaps your sales are slowing down as a result. People might be telling you that they need a little more time to budget for your signature offer, or they’re less willing to commit to a long-term program and higher dollar amounts. So your sales process will have to change.

Today kicks off a new series all about how the sales process is changing. In this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO, you’ll learn about what to do if your sales strategy is no longer producing the results you want right now. I’ll teach you how to prevent your business from slowing down so much that it threatens to shut down.

On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:

9:11 - There’s been a big change in B2B vs. consumer-facing sales strategies over the last few years. What is it?

13:29 - Adding in a personal touch somewhere to your sales process will improve your overall results. I reveal how I do it.

17:14 - Here’s another high-touch tactic I do that you can add to your marketing.

19:45 - People want to know who they’re giving money to, so are you making your company’s values explicitly clear?

27:40 - How can you make your business relevant to clients and customers right now? It’s all about meeting them where they are.

34:48 - One last thing to think about that will help you so much as a small business owner.

Mentioned in Why Your Old Sales Strategy Might Not Be Working

• The CEO Collective
• The CEO Retreat
• Loom
• “The Vulnerable Side of Visibility with Erica Courdae” podcast episode
• Marketing Strategy Intensive
• Uncommonly More
• Racheal on Instagram and TikTok
• Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Are you running your business… or is your business running you?

It’s time to get your business in order so you can step into your role as a confident, in control CEO! Join Racheal Cook for this free 4-part training series May 20th-24th to sustainably scale your business with more ease and less stress.

RSVP at http://www.theceocollective.com/success

Do you struggle internally with selling because you feel like you’re pushing people to buy things they don’t need? You want to improve your sales skills and feel like you’re advocating your offers out of service, not desperation.

You need sales confidence. And my guest today, Leslie Lyons, is a sales and leadership coach with a no BS approach who’s all about helping women embrace sales confidence. She just has a way of talking about sales and encouraging people to make more sales that’s so refreshing to hear.

In this episode of the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast, you’ll learn about how to get more confident at selling. You’ll also discover how to re-examine your relationship with sales and money so that you can truly step into your purpose and be of service to people you’re here to help through your business.

On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:

8:22 - Leslie describes the kind of household she grew up in and reveals why having money is key for women in relationships.

12:34 - How are women in the Western world conditioned when it comes to money? And how does white feminism tie into it?

17:52 - How did Leslie find out she was good at sales? She reveals her very first sales job and the foundational piece to having sales confidence.

26:54 - Leslie discusses how to build up sales confidence so you don’t feel so hesitant, uncomfortable, or awkward when advocating for your offer.

30:33 - Other than stereotypes about selling, here are a couple of other reasons why women hesitate to do it (and what we make them mean about ourselves as individuals).

34:30 - What lesson can Kanye teach you as an entrepreneur in sales situations?

38:27 - I learned an important sales lesson as a kid. And it demonstrates why Leslie focuses on sales confidence instead of sales strategy.

41:40 - Here’s something else that can keep you attached to your business and make it personal.

Mentioned in How to Embrace Sales Confidence In Your Business with Leslie Lyons

• Leslie D. Lyons
• Leslie’s podcast: Pleasurable Profits: Sales & Leadership for Non-Traditional CEOs
• Leslie on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Racheal on Instagram and TikTok
• Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Are you running your business… or is your business running you?

It’s time to get your business in order so you can step into your role as a confident, in control CEO! Join Racheal Cook for this free 4-part training series May 20th-24th to sustainably scale your business with more ease and less stress.

RSVP at http://www.theceocollective.com/success

Can you afford to take 30 days away from your business? What would happen if you can’t but took the time anyway?

Sometimes, things come up. Personal or family illness, the impending birth of a new baby, or just needing a break can spark the need for taking some extended time off.

But for a lot of small business owners, taking that time would essentially shut the business down. You’d stop marketing, working with clients, and making sales... unless you have systems in place that keep your business running when you slow down.

This past April, I had to step away from my business because of a flare-up of my chronic illness that caused me extreme pain and kept me up at night. But if you listened to the show in April, you’d never know that because I had systems in place that could help me weather that situation.

So in this episode of the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast, you’ll learn the systems I use to make sure that my business runs smoothly even if I have to step back for a bit. By growing through some of the systems I use in my 5-part framework, I’ll teach you how you can keep on serving your clients and generating revenue while you’re away.

On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:

5:09 - I talk about the biggest changes I’ve made for more flexibility in the “delight” stage of my framework.

9:18 - What do these changes look like functionally inside of The CEO Collective?

18:20 - How do I make sure sales keep coming in even if I have to step away from my business?

25:08 - If you think you need to be active in the nurture marketing stage all the time, systems are your friend here. I reveal how.

31:29 - Where do I spend the majority of my time, and why should you do the same?

39:33 - It took me a long time to follow this final piece of advice.

Mentioned in The Systems That Keep Your Business Running When You Slow Down

• The CEO Collective
• The CEO Retreat
• 90-Day CEO Operating System
• The CEO Planner
• Marketing Strategy Intensive
• Fired Up & Focused Challenge
• Plan Your Best Year Ever Challenge
• More Business Growth Tools
• Help Scout
• Uncommonly More
• Racheal on Instagram and TikTok
• Rate and review on Apple Podcasts