Listen "149: Learn to Love Selling: The 4-Part Framework for Sales Success | Mark Cox"
Episode Synopsis
Research shows that high-performing sales teams drive up to 80% of a company’s revenue (Harvard Business Review). Yet most teams are flying blind and relying on outdated sales plans, inconsistent outreach, and a lack of new leads for their business. pipelines. In this episode, we’re joined by author and leading expert in B2B sales coaching, Mark Cox. Whether you're new to sales or a seasoned sales leader, Mark offers invaluable insights and practical tools to help you master the art of selling in today's world. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why great salespeople are made, not born The four (plus one) elements of a high-impact sales playbook Why discovery is the most underrated stage in sales How to avoid the “cycle of doom” in demand gen When to reassess your value prop and how to find your competitive edge Why promoting your top seller might kill your team if you’re not careful Timestamps: 00:01 – Intro to Mark Cox 00:15 – Are salespeople born or made? (Hint: It’s a skill) 01:21 – Reigniting a love for learning through an Executive MBA 03:35 – Why senior leaders often stop learning 05:29 – What inspired Learn to Love Selling 06:58 – Who the book is for 07:34 – Why most sales plans gather dust 08:55 – The 4 Core Elements of a Sales Playbook 12:23 – The “fifth” element: Awareness campaigns 13:44 – What makes a value prop terrible (and how to fix it) 15:29 – How often should you reassess your value prop? 18:09 – What makes In the Funnel different? 20:02 – Ask your clients for your differentiation 22:48 – Client interviews as a learning tool 24:58 – Demand Gen: The “X-Factor” skill in B2B sales 27:58 – Ranking modern demand gen tools: phone, email, LinkedIn 31:54 – The “hat trick” approach to outreach 34:12 – Working conferences like a pro 38:26 – Discovery meetings: the most important sales phase 43:36 – Why discovery never ends 45:44 – Helping sales reps kill zombie deals 49:23 – The 3 key stakeholders of a sales leader 51:49 – Coaching vs. Telling: What great leaders do differently 54:54 – Avoiding the “hero” trap as a new manager 58:49 – Should you promote your top rep to sales manager? 01:01:59 – What makes a great sales leader 01:04:20 – Closing thoughts & where to find Mark Resources Mentioned: Book: Learn to Love Selling by Mark Cox Website: In the Funnel LinkedIn: Connect with Mark Cox Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck Book: Social Selling by Tim Hughes Book: Multipliers by Liz Wiseman Book:
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