What if I told you you’re struggling in sales because you’ve been approaching it the wrong way? In this episode of the Sell by Being Human podcast, Alex Smith sits down with sales coach and entrepreneur Natasha Hemmingway to flip the script on everything you think you know about selling. Her message is simple but powerful. Sales is serving. And hustle? It might actually be pushing your dream clients away.

Natasha shares how growing up with a servant leader mom shaped her philosophy of heart over hustle, and why mindset, not strategy, is usually what holds entrepreneurs back. They unpack fear of rejection, fear of pricing too high, burnout, and the sneaky subconscious patterns that sabotage growth.

You’ll also hear her practical fear-to-faith framework, why most entrepreneurs are undercharging, and how being crystal clear in conversations builds trust fast.

If you want to grow your business without feeling pushy, awkward, or salesy, this conversation will change how you show up and how you close.

Key Takeaways

1. Why hustle energy can secretly sabotage your sales
2. The “Fear to Faith” cycle that breaks limiting beliefs
3. How your subconscious affects pricing, confidence, and closing
4. Why most entrepreneurs are undercharging
5. The truth about “not all money being good money”
6. How to qualify clients with clarity and integrity
7. Why connection always beats persuasion

In This Episode:

1. [00:00] Introduction & guest welcome
2. [01:04] Personal connection & authenticity in sales
3. [03:17] Natasha’s take on Sell by Being Human
4. [05:06] Mindset and self-relationship in sales
5. [06:14] Role models: Servant leadership & early influences
6. [09:14] Sales beyond traditional roles
7. [11:01] Defining hustle (and why it backfires)
8. [13:31] Balancing hustle and heart: Client challenges
9. [14:35] Strategy vs. mindset in sales success
10. [18:38] Practicing what you preach: Natasha’s own journey
11. [19:41] Faith, surrender, and decision-making
12. [21:13] Qualifying clients & setting boundaries
13. [22:03] Authenticity and invitation in sales calls
14. [26:13] Sales as a universal skill
15. [27:12] Sales in family & daily life
16. [29:43] Mindset, fear, and the subconscious
17. [30:20] Breaking through fear: The fear-to-faith cycle
18. [36:13] Pricing, value, and worth in sales
19. [38:06] What makes Natasha... Natasha
20. [40:10] Family support & self-care
21. [42:02] Where to find Natasha
22. [42:19] Closing & gratitude

Notable Quotes

1. [01:49] "At the end of the day, we aren't what we do; we are who we are" — Natasha
2. [03:24] “Selling with heart, not hustle, is selling by being human." — Natasha
3. [03:48] "I always say sales equals serving; you are serving a person." — Natasha
4. [12:01] "Hustle can lead to burnout, and hustle can actually push people away from you." — Natasha
5. [34:12] "If you don’t ask, you don’t know, and if somebody says no, what do you lose? Nothing." — Natasha
6. [36:36] "General rule of thumb for most entrepreneurs: you are not charging enough. Period." — Natasha
7. [39:09] “No matter the time or day, I’m always going to be there; I show up for people.” — Natasha

Our Guest

Natasha Hemmingway is a sales coach, consultant, and pricing profitability expert helping entrepreneurs and corporate sales teams grow revenue without sacrificing authenticity. Her philosophy Heart, Not Hustle empowers professionals to sell with integrity, confidence, and sustainable strategy.

Summary:

Today I bring on executive communications coach Amos Balongo, who shares insights on the importance of human connection in sales. I'm always interested when people come from completely different cultures to sell themselves and what they do. They are corced to learn how to see people as individuals and Amos will share how to do that in your own life. It seems unlikely that a boy from Africa that knew no English could go on to being a successful keynote speaker and executive consultant but Amos will explain how he used sales and human connection to do it.

Amos discusses his journey from Africa to becoming a keynote speaker, emphasizing the need for authenticity, understanding audience needs, and the power of storytelling.He highlights the significance of personal growth, the impact of philanthropy, and the necessity of building trust with clients. The conversation concludes with a rethinking of sales as a service rather than a transaction, encouraging listeners to focus on improving others' lives.

Key Moments:

02:13 The Essence of Selling by Being Human

06:00 Amos's Journey: From Africa to Keynote Speaker

11:50 Understanding People: The Key to Connection

17:50 The Art of Speaking: Motivating and Inspiring Audiences

23:48 Storytelling as a Tool for Connection

29:44 Finding the Right Fit: Coaching and Client Relationships

35:19 Disruption and Growth: Personal Development Insights

38:29 Final Thoughts on Sales and Human Connection

Connect with Amos

1. LinkedIN

Connect with Us!

1. LinkedIN:
2. Website:

Summary:

This episode I speak with Mark McDougall, a web designer and developer, about the importance of human connection in sales as a product designer. In Mark's line of work. he has to connect to business owners, marketers, and entrepeneurs on ways to make their websites more effective.

Notice I didn't say, he has to tell people their baby looks ugly?

We talk about how empathy and understanding client needs are crucial for successful selling, especially for solopreneurs. He shares tips on how he consults with people to understand their motivations for their websites. Mark shares his journey from corporate life to freelancing, emphasizing the lessons learned through experience. The conversation also covers effective cold emailing strategies, the significance of crafting engaging subject lines, and the value of vulnerability in sales interactions. You'll also learn Mark's funny but logical metaphor on how strawberries apply to understanding concepts of value.

Mark provides insights into managing sales conversations and offers advice for those starting their own businesses, highlighting the need to embrace the unique aspects of one's personality in the sales process.

Takeaways

Empathy is essential for effective selling.

Understanding client motivations leads to better sales outcomes.

Cultural background can influence sales techniques.

Trial and error is a key part of learning sales.

Cold emailing should focus on genuine interest in the recipient.

Crafting personalized subject lines increases email open rates.

Building rapport is crucial in sales conversations.

Vulnerability can foster deeper connections with clients.

Sales is about mutual value exchange, not just transactions.

Being comfortable with awkwardness can enhance sales interactions.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Human-Centric Selling

02:58 The Importance of Empathy in Sales

06:09 Cultural Shifts and Personal Background

09:00 Lessons from Corporate Experience

11:59 The Shift to Solopreneurship

15:10 Understanding Client Needs

17:41 Cold Email Strategies

21:00 Crafting Engaging Subject Lines

24:08 Creating a Human Connection

26:59 Managing Sales Conversations

29:54 Being Vulnerable in Sales

32:51 Advice for Solopreneurs

35:55 Embracing the Weirdness in Sales

38:38 Conclusion and Resources

Connect with Marc, and learn about strawberries and value

1. LinkedIN
2. Why selling is like strawberries

Connect with Us!

1. LinkedIN:
2. Website: