Summary:

What can you learn about sales and connections from a guy on a mission to connect housands of people via cocktail parties?

Today I bring on Eric Melchor, a channel manager at Honeywell, and a Texan at heart living in Bucharest. Those two things may not go together but Eric followed his wife to Europe and he's connected hundreds of people over conversations at local cocktail parties.

We explore the significance of human connection in sales, the power of storytelling, and the importance of authenticity in building trust. Eric shares his unique approach to networking through cocktail parties, emphasizing the value of personal connections over traditional networking methods. The conversation highlights the role of icebreakers in fostering meaningful conversations and offers practical strategies for engaging with others, both online and in person. I'm a big believer in people buying into the human side of you and Eric gives you tools to do this yourself through the way he connects one time guests.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Human Connection in Sales

03:08 The Power of Storytelling in Sales

06:06 Personal Background and Influences

08:59 Creating Comfortable Environments for Connection

11:59 The Cocktail Party Concept

15:07 Unexpected Outcomes from Networking Events

18:01 Building Relationships Beyond Job Titles

21:02 Curating Connections for Events

23:47 Practical Tips for Strengthening Connections

27:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Eric

• LinkedIN
• Heading to Bucharest? Reach out to Eric for a Cocktail Party

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Summary:

Today we bring on Jen Mueller, a seasoned sports broadcaster and communication expert.

Jen Mueller is a business communication expert and the founder of Talk Sporty to Me, where she helps companies level up their communication skills with actionable strategies inspired by her 25-year career as a sports broadcaster.

An Emmy-award-winning producer, Jen is in her 16th season as the Seattle Seahawks sideline radio reporter and has spent 18 years with the Seattle Mariners on ROOT SPORTS. She’s known for building strong relationships, delivering meaningful content in short bursts, and expertly handling post-game interviews (while dodging Gatorade baths!).

She’s also the author of three books on communication and the creator and host of “I Cook, You Measure”—a YouTube cooking show that blends instruction with connection over food and wine.

Our conversations explores the nuances of human connection in sales and broadcasting, emphasizing the importance of empathy, consistency, and effective questioning. Jen shares her experiences interacting with professional athletes, particularly in challenging situations and losses. She tells stories of the significance of small gestures, like thank you notes, in building relationships. We talk about practical strategies for asking better questions and creating safe spaces for honest dialogue, ultimately showcasing how personal connections can enhance professional interactions.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Human Connection in Sales

02:47 The Art of Meeting Athletes Where They Are

06:01 Building Relationships Through Consistency

08:48 The Importance of Intentional Communication

12:08 Navigating Tough Conversations After Losses

14:51 Learning from Experience and Trial

17:56 Asking Better Questions in Interviews

21:00 Handling Difficult Post-Game Interviews

24:10 The Impact of Losses on Athletes and Reporters

28:01 Navigating Tough Conversations

30:21 The Importance of Clear Communication

32:00 Creating a Comfortable Interview Environment

34:07 Crafting Effective Questions

37:51 Understanding Client Needs

39:51 The Impact of Small Interactions

42:50 Memorable Moments in Sports Journalism

51:26 Personal Insights and Quirks

Connect with Jen!

• LinkedIN

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• Youtube

Summary:

Today I speak to Jared Cook, a seasoned expert in customer success and sales. Jared has most recently been a SR VP of Customer Experience at Docebo and has held senior roles in Customer Success at companies like Domo and Adobe. He is the founder of Crush Churn Consulting where he helps companies reduce churn by 30%.

Our conversation explores the importance of human connection in sales, the role of customer success in driving retention, and the need for genuine relationships with customers.

Jared shares insights from his childhood about sales, emphasizing the importance of confidence, connecting on a human level as a leader, and a seller, and understanding customer needs.

There are so many useful approaches that Jared shares on having difficult interactions with clients to creating a personal connection with a new team that you can take into what you do.

If you want practical strategies for improving customer retention and preventing churn, and implementing curiosity and empathy in your sales interactions. You'll walk aways with foundational skills to integrate your personal and professional lives to foster deeper connections with the people your work with and the clients you serve. This was a fun one to learn from an executive is customer success and how those skills can help you in sales!

Sound Bytes:

"It's about helping a human solve a problem."

"You can create human connection at scale."

"I'm always up for an adventure."

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Human Connection in Sales

02:41 Defining Selling by Being Human

05:01 Lessons from Childhood: Sales and Confidence

10:47 Integrating Personal and Professional Life

17:24 The Role of Customer Success in Sales

21:28 Curiosity as a Sales Tool

28:09 Improving Customer Retention Strategies

33:18 Identifying and Preventing Customer Churn

39:36 Building Genuine Connections with Customers

Connect with Jared

• LinkedIN
• Website

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