#sales success Tag

So, Who Exactly is the Key Decision Maker, aka Economic Buyer? While many use the term “key decision maker,” I prefer the term “economic buyer,” as popularized by sales trainers and authors Robert Miller and Stephen Heiman.1 There is always one person—or sometimes a small group—who fulfills this role for a given sales opportunity. They possess both influence and authority. They can approve a deal when others cannot, and just as easily veto a decision that others support. While they may not attend every meeting, they are typically present when a final recommendation or proposal is presented. In recent years, particularly in enterprise...

Can a sales pro with little formal training—and only a limited understanding of the enterprise sales cycle—consistently exceed quota? Most sales leaders would probably say no. After all, today’s complex selling environments demand structured methodologies, disciplined qualification, and carefully managed sales processes. Yet during my career, I encountered a salesperson who seemed to defy that logic. I'm not talking about seasoned sales pros who, thanks to years of experience, have reached the point of unconscious competence—that is, selling comes as naturally to them as breathing. Experts often describe this as the highest stage of sales mastery, marking the progression from unconscious incompetence to...

Sales professionals often ask for my perspective on social media. The landscape now includes platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, Reddit, Tumblr, Quora, WhatsApp, and YouTube—each offering distinct advantages and disadvantages. However, ignoring social media is no longer an option. Every sales professional should evaluate which platforms align best with their target audience, sales objectives, and brand strategy. In today’s digital environment, a complete absence from social media can severely limit visibility, credibility, and professional growth. On the other hand, one can get consumed trying to maximize usage of many social media platforms. This...