Sales is changing faster than most people realize, and artificial intelligence is leading the charge. In this episode of the Close The Deal Podcast, I sit down with Henry Hayes, founder of Disrupt Ready and adjunct professor at LSU, to unpack what AI really means for sales pros today.

We dig into why buyers instantly spot self-serving sales tactics, how mentorship pulls your career forward, and why ignoring AI is like ignoring the internet back in the ’90s. Henry shares practical ways to get started—plus the tools he recommends, including ChatGPT, Otter.ai, Fireflies, Heygen, and Synthesia.

Henry’s bottom line is clear: AI won’t replace great salespeople, but it will replace those who refuse to adapt.

If you’re ready to cut out the boring work, sharpen your focus on customers, and thrive in a world that’s changing fast, this conversation is for you.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Knowing how to overcome objections is one thing - but hearing it in action is where the real learning happens. In Part 2 of this Close The Deal conversation, sales trainer Lisa Laird role-plays the most common objections salespeople face from owners and demonstrates exactly how to respond with confidence.

You’ll hear Lisa walk through:

> The perfect response when prospects ask you to “Send an email with prices”
> What to say when you hear “I’m not interested”
> Turning “It’s not a good time” into a future meeting
> Rebuilding trust after a prospect’s bad past experience

This isn’t theory - it’s word-for-word practice you can adapt to your own sales conversations. If you want to sharpen your objection-handling skills and close more deals, this role-play session is pure gold.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Every salesperson has heard it before: “Leave your card.” “Just email me.” “I’m not interested.”

In this episode of the Close The Deal Podcast, sales trainer and 20-year insurance veteran Lisa Laird reveals how to flip the top 5 most common objections into opportunities that close.

Lisa shares:

• Why confidence (not aggressiveness) is the key to sales
• Her GET Method for securing appointments fast
• How to respond when a prospect wants you to “just email prices”
• The persistence strategy that turns “not a good time” into a meeting
• How to rebuild trust after a prospect’s bad past experience

Lisa’s mindset shifts and field-tested tactics apply to every industry. If you want to sharpen your objection-handling skills and boost your close rate, this episode is a masterclass.

👉 Visit CloseTheDeal.com
for more sales tools, podcast episodes, and resources.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.