Catalyst Sale Podcast: Sales Training | Sales Strategy | B2b | Selling | Marketing

Key Quotes: "If you've been hammering nails in with a wrench your entire life and someone gives you a hammer, it will feel almost like you had discovered fire for the first time." "Focus on doing what you're made for and delegate the rest to drive success in your life and business." "The Eisenhower matrix helps you derisk the decision-making process by distinguishing between urgent and important tasks." Join Mike Simmons as he explores how to simplify decision-making using the energy vs. impact quadrant and the Eisenhower matrix. Learn to focus on high-impact tasks that energize you, delegate low-impact activities, and make informed decisions to boost productivity and effectiveness in your personal and professional life. 5 Key Takeaways: Energy vs. Impact Quadrant: Identify tasks that energize you versus those that drain you. Focus on high-impact activities that provide energy. Delegate or eliminate low-impact tasks that consume your energy. The Power of Delegation: Delegate tasks that drain you but

Key Quotes "Support is reactive. It's something that is absolutely necessary. People are gonna break things; people are gonna need help." "Success is proactive. How do we design for success given what I know about what the future looks like inside your business?" "If your success team is acting reactive, they might be a support team, and you are just calling them something different." Summary This episode delves into the differences between support and success in business, advocating for proactive success planning to ensure growth and customer retention. Mike shares practical insights on how businesses can effectively design and implement success strategies. Key Takeaways Understanding Support Definition: Support is reactive, addressing issues as they arise. Examples: Customer support, medical support, structural support. Importance: Essential for addressing immediate problems and providing necessary assistance. Understanding Success Definition: Success is proactive, planning for future achievements.

Three Key Quotes: "The big thing is having a high level of clarity around what it is that you want to do. Do you even know what you want to do?" "My goal when it comes to where I'm spending time, energy, and resources is to get this access to move further to the right." "If you continue to read about things but not put those things into practice, you're going to get yourself into a situation where you will start to feel frustrated." Mike dives into how to achieve your goals better and faster by focusing on clarity, strategy, and leveraging tools and processes. Learn to identify what energizes you, implement effective systems, and surround yourself with the right people to create a supportive and productive environment. 5 Key Takeaways: Clarity and Focus: Identify what truly energizes you. Eliminate tasks that drain your energy. Focus on high-impact activities. Strategy and Tactics: Develop a clear strategy with no more than three main focuses. Implement specific tactics to execute your

Mor Assouline is a seasoned sales consultant and entrepreneur, known for his expertise in B2B sales and building high-growth consulting businesses. Mor started his own consulting business, achieving six-figure success within the first year. He is particularly skilled in leveraging LinkedIn for lead generation and building a personal brand. Mor emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, effective time management, and continuous learning through communities and coaching. Three Key Quotes: "I always look at my calendar and move things around. There are a few things that I do on LinkedIn to generate leads, and if it weren't for LinkedIn, I would have been in trouble." "When I speak to prospects, I'm no longer concerned with them buying someone else’s course. You can buy theirs and mine too; it's not a big deal." "I'm optimizing for cash right now. I will burn myself out just to get the work done because I need to buy back my time." In this episode, Mor Assouline shares his journey from being a VP of Sales to

Key Quotes "Say what you're gonna do, and do what you say you're gonna do. It's simple to say, but really hard to do." "Don't make assumptions. Validate an understanding when you're going through the process." "Do your best, and then let it go. You've gotta give yourself space and time to move on to the next." In this episode, the Mike emphasizes the critical role of setting expectations and maintaining clear communication. They share practical strategies for handling unforeseen changes, leveraging insights from "The Four Agreements," and fostering self-awareness and confidence. The discussion underscores the value of integrity and resilience in achieving personal and professional success. Key Takeaways Setting Clear Expectations Communication Consistency: Always follow through on your commitments. Adaptability: Be prepared to reset expectations when circumstances change. Progress Updates: Regularly update stakeholders to maintain transparency. Effective Communication Active Listening: Ensure that me

Balancing Growth & Infrastructure. Cyndi Laurin is an expert in organizational growth and development, focusing on helping businesses navigate through different stages of growth. Her insights are crucial for understanding how companies can manage their growth effectively while maintaining a healthy internal structure and culture. Key Quotes On defining growth: "Growth means different things to different people. For a startup, it's about proving your product. For more advanced clients, it could mean regional expansion." On the risk of rapid growth: "If you keep growing fast in multiple directions, you'll find yourself running around in circles and running your team ragged." On leadership and alignment: "Taking the time to pause and gain clarity around the definition of what it is that we're talking about is really important." In this episode, Cindy and Mike discusses the multifaceted nature of growth in businesses, emphasizing the importance of clear definitions, alignment, and balanced pacing

Mike Simmons is a seasoned facilitator and organizational consultant who specializes in enhancing the effectiveness of internal meetings through clarity and alignment. With a focus on practical strategies and actionable insights, the guest helps organizations achieve their goals, solve problems, and make informed decisions. Key Quotes "Start with a simple question: What is the specific thing we're working on?" "As a leader, your job is to pull that information out of folks to ensure everyone agrees on a clear definition." "In every meeting, there should be knowledge transfer, action steps, and a shift in thinking." In this episode, we explore how to make internal meetings more effective by fostering clarity and alignment. The guest shares strategies for defining objectives, validating alignment, and ensuring actionable outcomes. By simplifying approaches and focusing on key elements, organizations can improve decision-making, problem-solving, and overall effectiveness. 5 Key Takeaways Importance of Clear

Mike dives into the COM-B model of behavior change, which was developed from research conducted in the UK. The discussion centers on understanding how leaders, teams, and organizations can leverage this model to suppport behavior change among their teams. Key Quotes "The first thing we need to look at when we're trying to determine why someone does the thing that they do is first understand capability." "If you're lacking any of these three, then you're gonna be in a situation where it's gonna be really really difficult to change behavior inside your organization." "Sales is a thinking process. Business is a thinking process. Life is a thinking process. How are you thinking differently about your process?" Summary This episode explores the COM-B model for behavior change, focusing on the elements of Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation. The host emphasizes how organizations can assess and enhance these factors to facilitate effective behavior change among employees. Key Takeaways Understanding Capabili

Three Key Quotes "Simplify your go-to-market strategy by compartmentalizing tactics to support various conversions." "Demand, acquisition, retention, and expansion are the pillars of a successful GTM strategy." "By separating customers into strategic, general, and high-turnover categories, you can optimize where to put your time and resources." Mike covers the "Dare to Grow" model for simplifying go-to-market strategies. It emphasizes the importance of segmenting customers and processes to improve efficiency and outcomes. The model includes three main strategies: demand generation, customer acquisition, and retention and expansion, providing a structured approach to drive growth. Five Key Takeaways 1. Demand Generation One to Many: Focus on traditional marketing efforts such as newsletters and social media to reach a broad audience. One to One: Engage directly with potential customers through personalized conversations and outreach. Channel Partnerships: Leverage existing relationships and referrals to exp

Key Quotes: "It was a beautiful thing I couldn't be happier to have been wrong in my predictions." "McDavid's goal... it looks like a dance. He starts on one side of the offensive zone, slides across the front of the goal, and scores on a backhand shot." "One of the cool things about this Stanley Cup final is it will be the longest trip for each team... It's Miami to all the way up to Edmonton." Jacquelyn and Mike review the previous Stanley Cup playoff series and preview the finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers. They discuss key players, thrilling moments, and make predictions while highlighting the unique aspects of this year's finals, including the extensive travel involved. 5 Key Takeaways: Previous Series Outcomes: Jaclyn predicted the Panthers would win in six games, and they did. Mike predicted the Oilers would win against Dallas, and they did, but in six games instead of seven. Predictions highlight the unpredictability and excitement of the playoffs. Remarkable Performa

Three Key Quotes: "The first thing we want to do to get better at call planning and holding effective meetings is to know who we're communicating with." "Start with their objectives first, not your own biases. Figure out what they are looking to accomplish." "The desired next steps are they like, comment, share with others, and apply what they've learned." This episode covers a simple yet powerful model for effective communication. Our guest explains the importance of understanding your audience's objectives, setting clear goals for your message, and defining actionable next steps. By applying these principles, you can improve both internal and external communications, driving better outcomes. 5 Key Takeaways: Know Your Audience Identify who will be in the meeting or watching the video. Understand their roles and how complexity increases with more participants. Tailor your message to the specific needs of your audience. Anticipate Their Objectives Consider what the audience wants to achieve. Align yo

Three Key Quotes: "The most common mistake with any of this is lack of clarity around what the objective is." "Work your thirty, sixty, ninety and then come back in and start to reflect and assess how you've made progress against it." "Stop overcomplicating your approach to goal setting and execution, simplify it through the game plan." This podcast episode delves into simplifying execution to achieve results. The Mike emphasizes clarity in setting objectives, devising strategies, and aligning tactics. By using a structured approach of thirty, sixty, ninety-day plans, listeners are encouraged to break down tasks, measure progress, and make necessary adjustments for success. 5 Key Takeaways: Clarity in Objectives Clearly define what you want to achieve. Break down the objective into specific, manageable parts. Ensure everyone involved understands the goal. Strategic Planning Identify multiple paths to reach your goal. Limit your strategies to three to maintain focus. Align your actions with chosen str

Three Key Quotes: "The proposal is not about you. It's about the person on the other side." "If you can't answer these questions—what, why, how, and cost—you haven't earned the right to deliver a proposal." "Clarity in communication leads to better feedback and successful proposals." Mike Simmons kicks off the "Tactical Tuesday" series, focusing on how to simplify proposals using a structured approach. He highlights common proposal mistakes and offers a framework for creating client-focused proposals. Key points include identifying client problems, understanding business impacts, outlining solutions, and clearly presenting costs. Five Key Takeaways: Understanding Client Problems: Identify specific problems the client needs solving. List up to five key issues to maintain clarity. Ensure the proposal addresses these problems directly. Importance of Solving Problems: Explain the business impact of addressing the client's issues. Highlight the risks of not solving these problems. Provide clear reaso

Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Round Three Analysis and Bold Calls It's round 3 - We are down to the final 4 teams.  The rest of the NHL is now on the golf course.  This episode is brought to you by FairwaysHit.com If you are looking for a last minute father's day gift for the golfer in your life - please check us out. Jacquelyn Nicholson is back to recap our round 2 picks and dive into round 3. Sales is a thinking process. Business is the thinking process. Life is the thinking process. How are you thinking differently about your process? - Mike Simmons Jacquelyn on LinkedIn Join the Phoenix Club Work with Mike and improve team performance Golf Gifts for Father's Day

Relationships, Knowledge Transfer, and Growth: Mastering Training, Coaching, and Mentoring Discover the unexpected truth about coaching, mentoring, and training! Uncover the surprising distinctions between these tools and how they can impact your personal and professional growth. Learn the key to building strong mentor-mentee relationships and effective knowledge transfer techniques. Dive into the world of leadership skill development and unlock the secrets to enhancing your leadership abilities. Are you ready to be surprised by the power of these tools? Keep reading to find out more! In this episode, you will be able to: Master the art of effective knowledge transfer and enhance your leadership skills. Build strong and impactful mentor-mentee relationships for personal and professional growth. Learn the differences between training, coaching, and mentoring to become a more versatile leader. Elevate your personal coaching techniques for improved professional development. Uncover powerful stra

Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Round Two Analysis and Bold Calls It's round 2 - what could be better than a friendly chat with Jacquelyn Nicholson. She kicked my butt with here round 1 predications.  After the chat, we get into things to and not to do when it comes to events. If you want to fast forward to that, go to minute 20 of the podcast. Sales is a thinking process. Business is the thinking process. Life is the thinking process. How are you thinking differently about your process? - Mike Simmons Join the Phoenix Club Join the next GAME Plan Cohort Work with Mike and improve team performance

Jacquelyn and Mike are back with their round 1 predictions for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Who do you think makes it out of the 1st round? This episode is brought to you by Catalyst A.C.T.S. and The Phoenix Club. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Check out the Phoenix Club for a community of preneurs who think differently and want to do differently. Whether you're an entrepreneur, solopreneur, intrapreneur or wantrepreneur, this community is for those who want to make a difference in their work and life. Join the Phoenix Club to connect with a group of people committed to leadership, self-improvement, and helping others. This community provides a space for individuals to come together and accomplish great things. Support the Find My Catalyst podcast and listen to the 365 episodes available, covering evergreen content about people, culture, revenue, and execution. Check out the early episodes to see the improvement in podcast management and content creation.

From Scientist to Sales Pro: Unlocking Your Potential for Career Growth Does this sound familiar? You're transitioning to a sales role or industry and want to excel in revenue-related positions. Perhaps you've been told to focus solely on traditional sales techniques without embracing data-driven decision-making. The pain of this ineffective action is feeling stuck in outdated methods and missing out on opportunities for growth and success. It's time to break free from this cycle and achieve real results. My guest is Randi-Sue Deckard Randi-Sue Deckard's career trajectory is a captivating story of transformation and resilience. Transitioning from a clinical lab scientist to the Senior Vice President of Client Engagement at Bessler, Randi-Sue's journey is a testament to the power of embracing change and leveraging data-driven decision-making. Her wealth of experience in sales, marketing, and customer success positions her as a valuable guide for professionals seeking to excel in revenue-related roles. R

Getting Comfortable with Discomfort: Pushing Myself Further in 2024 Through Goals If you're feeling frustrated because your team isn't fully aligned with your vision, then you are not alone! Perhaps you've been micromanaging your team, but instead of improved collaboration, you're met with resistance. If you're feeling overwhelmed by a lack of personal and professional growth, then you are not alone! You may have set goals, but without clear objectives and a supportive community, it's difficult to make progress. In this episode, Mike takes time to reflect and look forward. Some of the things that come up include. Embracing successful business changes and rebranding strategies. Uncover the importance of building a supportive community. Gaining clarity and focus Setting big goals. Failure is okay. Just fail forward as you go through it. - Mike Simmons Business Changes and Rebranding The episode reveals Mike's significant business changes throughout the year, including a shift in focus towar

I think sales is one of the most amazing professions that you can get into because you get the opportunity to give of yourself and not necessarily expect anything in return. But guess what? If you do it well, you will get rewarded. - Paul Fuller Unlocking Growth: Aligning Sales Strategy for Results If you're feeling frustrated because your sales team's efforts are not translating into the revenue growth you desire, then you are not alone! Despite implementing various sales strategies and techniques, you may be seeing little to no improvement in your bottom line, leaving you wondering what else you can do to drive growth. Perhaps, instead of the streamlined and effective sales process you envisioned, your team is facing confusion, misalignment, and missed opportunities, hindering your ability to achieve the desired results. Paul Fuller, a seasoned sales professional and leader, boasts a wealth of experience in refining sales processes and driving revenue growth. His passion for enhancing effectiveness and