The Center for Sales Strategy Blog

Let’s cut straight to it: Talent is something you’re born with.

You can’t create, mold, or magically inject it into someone. You either have it or you don’t. As much as we love a good rags-to-riches story, the truth is, talent can’t be trained into someone—it’s hardwired. And if you’re trying to force a square peg into a round hole by “developing talent” in someone who simply doesn’t have it, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Let’s cut to the chase—there’s no magic formula to building a successful sales team.

Unless, of course, you consider “hiring the right people” a kind of magic. The foundation of any high-performing sales structure starts with one thing: talent.

You can have the latest CRM, a killer product, and the best marketing team behind you, but you're spinning your wheels without the right people in the right roles.

Recruiting the right talent isn’t just important—it’s everything.

If you’ve seen Moneyball, you know that Billy Beane, the GM of the Oakland A’s, didn’t just play the game—he changed the game.

It’s not just a great underdog story; it’s a masterclass in using data to build a winning team, even when the odds (and budget) are stacked against you.

Beane’s approach? Simple: find undervalued talent, tap into their potential, and use data to outsmart the competition.

But what does Moneyball have to do with hiring and coaching salespeople?

Everything.

You're a closer! It's what you do...close deals.

You know, that sweet moment when the handshake seals the deal, and you walk away knowing you’ve added another win to the board.

But what if I told you that you could boost your closing ratio with just a small tweak to your proposals? It’s not rocket science—just a simple addition that can make a world of difference. I’m talking about adding a section called “Measures of Success.”

Let’s talk about something we all know but often overlook—your brand.

No, I’m not talking about the company you work for; I’m talking about you. Yep, you’re a brand, whether you realize it or not. And in today’s world, if you’re not leveraging your brand to build influence and drive business, you’re missing out. Big time.

If you’ve ever thought, "I need more meetings on my calendar," this blog is for you.

We all know that increasing your online visibility is a game-changer. But how do you do it without turning into a social media zombie?

Fear not, my friends! Here are five effective ways to boost your online profile and exposure, making those new business appointments roll in like never before.

New business development is a cornerstone of sales success. Whether you’ve heard it described as a 5-step, 6-step, or even a 9-step process, the number of steps doesn’t matter as much as the quality of execution.

Let's break down the most critical steps to kickstart your new business journey: identifying great leads and securing that first meeting. If you can't master these, the rest of the process is moot.

In the world of sales, you are either a top performer or you're not!

Yes, there are new salespeople and journeyman sellers, but the reality is that even these sales reps are going to be top performers or not.

Top performers are driven, competitive, hard-working, positive, persuasive, and problem-solvers! They make the most of every day, every meeting, and every opportunity. They are prepared, confident, and start the day running.

So, the question of the day is, "Do you WANT to be a top performer or not?" If you do, then these are four things that you need to do every single Friday until you retire.

There is a hierarchy in the sales world.

Most sales leaders come from the days when salespeople were responsible for every step in the sales process. You had to find your leads, get an appointment, and ultimately close the deal. You only ate what you killed.

We were hunters, so we tend to favor and even value hunters more than farmers. When I say farmers, I mean salespeople who spend most of their time nurturing clients, building relationships, and growing them.

We're tackling a crucial aspect of sales that's as important as your morning coffee: sealing more deals.

To close more opportunities, it's critical that we limit or completely remove as many objections during the presentation as possible. One way to do that is to remove the surprises. Surprises are great for a birthday party, but they can be devastating during a business meeting.