Episodes
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John Barrows is joined by Dan Sperring, founder of AlignICP, to unpack one of the most overlooked—but critical—elements of GTM success: your Ideal Customer Profile.
Dan has made it his mission to help sales and marketing teams work together to define, refine, and activate a high-impact ICP strategy. The conversation dives into common ICP mistakes (like defaulting to company size or segment), how your ICP evolves year over year, and what characteristics actually matter when targeting the right customers.
John and Dan also break down the data on vertical vs. horizontal selling, discuss sales efficiency, and share real-world tips for aligning GTM teams to hit their number more effectively—with less waste.If you want to stop guessing and start closing with clarity, this episode is a tactical must-listen.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansperring/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/86145623/
Check out Dan's Website: www.alignicp.com
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Karen Kelly is a sales strategist, speaker, and founder of K2 Performance Consulting, where she helps B2B companies sell with confidence, clarity, and purpose. In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows sits down with Karen for a tactical and inspiring conversation that covers everything from her immigrant upbringing and biology background to coaching, confidence, and creating safe spaces for buyers.
They explore her concept of hypothesis selling, the importance of showing up with perspective during qualification, and how reps can catch that elusive “sales groove.” Karen shares actionable coaching strategies, the power of preparation, and how to detach from what others think in order to show up more authentically in sales conversations.
The episode also highlights Karen’s advocacy for women in sales—and why opening more doors in the industry isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s smart business. This one is packed with wisdom, heart, and practical advice for anyone serious about elevating their sales game.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kelly-sales-trainer-/
Connect with Karen on IG: https://www.instagram.com/k2perform/
Check out Karen's Websites: https://www.k2perform.com/, https://k2salesacademy.com/ and https://k2perform.webflow.io/webinar-series-2#registerednurse
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Episodes manquant?
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On today's episode, John Barrows sits down with Blair LaCorte—a transformational leader whose career has spanned aviation, AI, tech, entertainment, and aerospace. With multiple highly successful exits, Blair brings battle-tested wisdom to the table, but what sets him apart is his focus on people, purpose, and emotional intelligence. They explore everything from growing up with entrepreneurial parents to the role of money as a vehicle for freedom—not fulfillment.
Blair opens up about risk-taking, self-awareness, and his philosophy on living outside the “safe zone” without slipping into complacency.The two also dive deep into the future of human connection in a world dominated by AI, arguing that EQ—not IQ—is where we’ll win from here on out.If you’re a founder, leader, or anyone trying to grow in uncertain times, this conversation is packed with grounded insights, personal stories, and strategic wisdom. Let’s make it happen.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Blair on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-lacorte-68084/
Check out Blair's Website: https://mastermindinnovate.com/
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In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows sits down with Kelly Cheng, CMO at Goldcast, for a wide-ranging and insightful conversation on sales, marketing, and the evolving buyer journey. From her early days as a self-proclaimed rebel growing up in Hong Kong to working with top brands like Adobe and Microsoft, Kelly brings a fresh, strategic perspective to how modern go-to-market teams win mindshare before buyers are ready to buy.
They dive into “mindshare marketing,” the challenge of measuring brand ROI, and why most of your market isn’t in-market—and why that’s exactly where your attention should be. Kelly also shares her thoughts on video’s role in building trust at scale, the problem with attribution models, the shifting role of SDRs, and the impact (and ethical complexity) of AI influencers.
If you care about building long-term success in a noisy, AI-driven world, this one’s packed with real talk and actionable insights.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyhcheng/
Check out the Goldcast Website: https://www.goldcast.io/
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In today's episode, John Barrows sits down with Dustin Crawford, VP of Sales at Otter.ai, for a deep dive into the intersection of sales, psychology, and modern leadership. While Otter.ai is a sponsor of the show, this conversation goes far beyond the product—it’s about the why behind how salespeople operate and how leaders can unlock their team’s full potential.Dustin shares insights on everything from asking better questions and reading buyer psychology, to navigating the balance between transparency and confidence as a leader. They explore the value of optimistic vs. pessimistic reps, the importance of identifying buyer sophistication, and how to drive urgency without overstepping.If you’re looking to level up your leadership, improve rep performance, or just understand the mental game behind great selling, this one’s packed with actionable takeaways.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Dustin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincrawford/
Check out Otter.ai Website: https://otter.ai/
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In this episode, John Barrows is joined with with Alyssa Merwin, Global VP of LinkedIn Sales Solutions, to unpack the findings from LinkedIn’s brand-new ROI of AI Report—a first-of-its-kind look at how AI is truly impacting sales outcomes, not just activity metrics.With over $1 billion in revenue under her leadership and a rich career path shaped by EQ, adaptability, and grit, Alyssa shares how she’s guiding one of the most innovative sales organizations in tech. The conversation dives into her journey from a liberal arts background to sales leadership, her time at Corporate Executive Board (home of The Challenger Sale), and what she’s seeing as the biggest shifts in modern selling.The takeaway? If you’re not using AI in your sales process every day, you’re falling behind. This episode is a wake-up call—packed with insights, data, and leadership wisdom from one of the top voices in the industry.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa1/
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John Barrows reconnects with longtime friend and Pavilion CEO, Sam Jacobs. Sam is the author of the bestselling book Kind Folks Finish First, and he’s on a mission to prove that building with integrity and empathy isn’t just good for the soul—it’s good for business.John and Sam dive into the hard lessons learned from the rollercoaster ride of 2023, how timing and positioning can humble even the best ideas, and why leading with values matters more than ever. They also break down the evolving role of the CRO in today’s AI-driven world, the power of community, and how authenticity is becoming the new competitive edge.This conversation is real, reflective, and packed with insight for anyone trying to do good business—without losing their soul in the process.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samfjacobs/
Check out Sam's Website: https://www.joinpavilion.com/
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Kevin Evers is a senior editor at Harvard Business Review and author of the upcoming book There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift. In this episode, Kevin and John break down what makes Taylor Swift one of the most brilliant business minds of our time.
From reclaiming her masters to building an unbreakable bond with fans, Swift’s ability to scale the unscalable, adapt to change, and maintain authenticity offers powerful lessons for sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Whether you’re a Swiftie or not, this conversation is packed with insights on vision, branding, and long-term success.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-evers1/
Connect with Kevin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/there_is_nothing_like_this/
Get Kevin's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Nothing-Like-This-Strategic/dp/B0DD2XL7C5
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In this special debrief episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows sits down with Dale Dupree—founder of The Sales Rebellion and one of the standout voices from the recent Sales Play event in NYC. What starts as a post-event reflection quickly turns into a deep, unfiltered conversation on modern sales, personal transformation, and cultural shifts in the industry.Dale and John unpack the bold themes and subtle symbolism behind Glengarry Glen Ross, from gender and race dynamics to toxic sales archetypes. They also explore why Dale believes we’ve lost the “benefit of the doubt” in society—and why it’s time to bring empathy back into business. They also dive into a spicy moment where Dale called AI a “trend”… and the room nearly exploded.This one is raw, thoughtful, and 100% Rebellion. Buckle up.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Dale on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/copierwarrior/
Check out Dale's Websites: crumpledletter.com, thesalesrebellion.com, and copierwarrior.com
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In this special Make It Happen Mondays episode, John Barrows takes you inside an intimate, after-hours debrief unlike anything we’ve released before. After a full day of sales content, networking, and roundtable discussions in NYC with 18 of the top minds in sales and tech, the group capped the night with a viewing of the Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross, starring Bill Burr, Kieran Culkin, and Bob Odenkirk. What followed was a raw, insightful, and unfiltered conversation back at John’s suite—covering everything from the timeless truths (and toxic flaws) of classic sales culture, to modern reflections on gender, race, authenticity, and the future of our profession.Featuring Jeff Hoffman, Morgan J Ingram, Doug Landis, J. Ryan Williams, Ashley Welch, Stefanie Boyer, Jaime Diglio, Sara Uy, Roderick Jefferson, Kasey Jones, Jen Igartua, Aneesh Lal, and more—this is your Sales MBA, served with bourbon and brutal honesty.You’ve never heard a sales conversation like this before. Buckle up.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
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In this special crossover episode, John Barrows is joined by Doug Landis and Jen Allen-Knuth for the one and only recorded session of a pilot project called Authenticated—a podcast experiment designed around unscripted, authentic conversations with inspiring leaders.The guest? None other than David Cancel, Founder and former CEO of Drift. David drops incredible insight on sales, marketing, leadership, and strategy—backed by decades of hard-won experience. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to learn directly from one of the best in the business, this is that moment. This is Authenticated. Unfiltered. Unpolished. Unmissable.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with David Cancel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcancel/
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Steve Lucas is a seasoned enterprise software executive and the CEO of Boomi, leading AI-driven digital transformation. In this episode, he and John Barrows dive deep into the evolving role of AI in business, sales, and leadership.They explore insights from Steve’s book, Digital Impact: The Human Element of AI-Driven Tech Transformation, and discuss how AI can actually bring back human connection instead of replacing it. Steve shares why companies and professionals must integrate AI into every aspect of their work—and what happens if they don’t. If you’re wondering how to stay relevant in an AI-powered world, this is the conversation you need to hear.
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nstevenlucas/
Get Steve's book here: https://boomi.com/content/digital-impact-affiliate-pre-order/
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Larry Kim is the founder and CEO of Customers.ai and the visionary behind WordStream, which he scaled to a $150M exit. In this episode, John and Larry dive into the battle between product-driven growth and go-to-market strategy, exploring why Larry believes a strong product trumps traditional sales tactics.Larry shares lessons from scaling two companies, including his experience hiring (and firing) sales leaders, the power of founder-led sales, and how he slimmed down his team while tripling revenue. If you’re building a business, selling in a competitive space, or struggling with product-market fit, this episode is packed with game-changing insights.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Larry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrykim/
Check out Larry's Website: https://customers.ai/
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John Shulman is the Founder and President of Alignor, a negotiation expert with Harvard credentials, and a consultant to business leaders worldwide. This episode is all about the art of negotiation—from handling tough procurement conversations to defending price in a world of price-focused buyers.Learn about the interest-based negotiation approach, where it aligns (or conflicts) with today’s high-stakes sales environment, and how AI is reshaping the way we negotiate. If you are looking for sharpen your negotiation skills and close better deals real with world strategies and insights, this episode is a must-listen.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with John Shulman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-shulman-1b12202/?
Check out John Shulman's Website: https://www.alignor.com/
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Elina Teboul is a leadership expert, former attorney, and author of Feminine Intelligence: How Visionary Leaders Can Reshape Business for Good. In this episode, Elina and John dive deep into the balance between logic and empathy in leadership, the flaws in modern capitalism, and how embracing feminine intelligence—not feminism—can drive business success.
They discuss the importance of values, “awake” capitalism vs. “woke” capitalism, and how businesses can thrive by integrating emotional intelligence with traditional business strategy. Plus, they explore AI’s potential impact on leadership and the future of work. This conversation is a wake-up call for anyone looking to lead with impact.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Elina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elinateboul/
Connect with Elina on IG: https://www.instagram.com/elinateboul/
Check out Elina's Websites: https://elinateboul.com/ and https://feminineintelligencebook.com/
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Shari Dunn is a polymath—an accomplished journalist, attorney, CEO, news anchor, and university professor—who brings a wealth of experience to this powerful conversation. She joins John Barrows to discuss her book, QUALIFIED: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work.
Shari explores the hidden biases in hiring and promotion, the concept of “competency checking,” and the importance of seeing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a strategic imperative for business success. This insightful conversation offers actionable steps for redefining how we evaluate talent and building workplaces where everyone can thrive.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Shari on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharidunn
Check out Shari's Website: https://thesharidunn.com
Connect with Shari on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thesharidunn.com6/
Order Shari’s book, Qualified: https://thesharidunn.com/buy-now
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Sydney Sloan is a seasoned marketing leader and the CMO at G2, the world’s largest software marketplace. In this episode John and Sydney discuss the evolving relationship between sales and marketing, the rise of AI, and how businesses can stay ahead. Sydney shares her personal experience with burnout, the importance of energy management, and how taking a step back helped her gain fresh perspectives. They also dive into AI-driven intent data, hyper-personalization, and what sales reps must do to stay relevant in an ever-changing landscape. If you want to future-proof your sales and marketing strategy, this is a must-listen conversation!
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Sydney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydsloan/
Check out G2's Website: https://www.g2.com/
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Alex Buckles is back! As the CEO of Forecastable, Alex helps sales teams drive more qualified leads by tapping into their partner networks. In this episode, John and Alex dive deep into the tactical strategies reps and sales leaders can use to activate their company’s ecosystem—partners, investors, advisors, and employees—to generate real revenue.John is so impressed with Alex’s approach that he’s incorporating it into his own strategy and launching a free webinar on February 20th to help sales teams start seeing results within 60 days. This conversation is packed with actionable insights—if you want to differentiate yourself and drive sales through partnerships, don’t miss it! Check the show notes for webinar details.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
SIGNUP TO THE WEBINAR: https://my.demio.com/ref/8sxvVCvt8n1REFrI
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexbuckles/
Check out Alex's Website: https://forecastable.com
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John Barrows is joined by Jonathan Lister, COO of Vidyard and former VP of Global Sales Solutions at LinkedIn. With over 25 years of experience in B2B tech and SaaS, Jonathan shares his journey of building billion-dollar organizations and explains the critical role of curiosity in leadership and hiring.Jonathan breaks down the evolving role of sales in the AI era, emphasizing the shift from quantity to quality in personalized selling. If you’re ready to unlock talent, embrace change, and shape the future of sales, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanlister/
Check out the Vidyard Website: https://www.vidyard.com/
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John Barrows sits down with Alex Newmann, founder and CEO of Newmann Consulting Group. Alex specializes in helping B2B companies transition from founder-led sales to scalable, repeatable sales systems. Together, they unpack the challenges founders face when building a sales team, share actionable strategies for avoiding common pitfalls, and discuss the realities of entrepreneurship. If you’re a founder looking to scale your business, this is the must-listen conversation to kickstart your journey.
Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/
Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/
Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1
Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexnewmann/
Check out Alex's Websites: https://www.alexnewmann.com/ and https://victoryhub.io/
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