If you feel stuck in a rut, trying to grow your sales and business, and not seeing the results you want…know you’re not alone! It's like spinning your wheels but not moving forward, and it can be frustrating. You may be putting in the effort, but not getting the personal and professional growth you're aiming for. It's time to break free from this cycle and achieve the success you deserve.

We can think about things all that we want, but until we put it into action and just take the next step and the next step after that, they're simply thoughts. - Amy Franko

Let’s meet this week’s guest, Amy Franko, a trailblazing entrepreneur and sales strategist. Amy brings a unique blend of tenacity and strategic prowess to the forefront. With a remarkable career spanning technology giants like IBM and Lenovo, Amy's journey from a quota-carrying sales role to founding her own thriving enterprise is a testament to her unwavering drive and adaptability. Her insights and expertise in custom training and development for enterprise-level clients, coupled with her impactful work in the mid-market space, position her as a guiding force in the realm of sales leadership. Amy's multifaceted endeavors, including her role as an angel investor and her impactful contributions to the Girl Scouts, reflect her deep-rooted commitment to empowering individuals and fostering growth. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of rethinking revenue and investing in oneself for long-term success.

Key highlights in this episode:

• Moving from corporate sales to entrepreneurship.
• Investing in yourself and finding help.
• How angel investing can help your personal mission.
• Examples of personal and professional growth.

Embracing Entrepreneurship The discussion touches on the significance of embracing entrepreneurship as a pathway to personal and professional growth. The entrepreneurial journey serves as a testament to the courage and resilience required to take the leap into starting one's own business. Investing in oneself is a powerful driver of personal and professional success. Amy encourages listeners to bet on themselves, seek out resources, and take deliberate steps toward their goals. The conversation highlights the rewards and challenges of pursuing entrepreneurship and the impact it can have on an individual's career trajectory.

Never hesitate to bet on yourself. You are your best investment. So, invest in what you need. - Amy Franko

About Amy Franko

As a sales leader, Amy Franko built a successful and lucrative B2B sales career with global tech giants IBM and Lenovo. She then took a pivot into entrepreneurship in 2007, launching Amy Franko Associates, with a specific focus on sales consulting, sales training, and sales leadership excellence.

She has built her organization from the bottom up, from her very first client to today, with the hundreds of Fortune 1000 clients she has served over the years. She has created significant growth and success, consistently selling major engagements with repeat business and loyal clients.

Resources in this episode:

• Find Amy on LinkedIn and let her know you heard her on the Rethinking Revenue podcast.
• Visit Amy's website to access free sales resources for sales leaders and professionals.
• Read Amy’s book, The Modern Seller

Many companies need to rethink revenue to survive. But this week’s episode dives into a full company transformation involving everything from a complete product overhaul to an entire shift in team management. Imagine the surprising strategies and innovative leadership that made it possible. The transition from print to digital media can be daunting, especially when trying to figure out effective team communication strategies and goal setting for performance metrics in sales.

Our special guest this week is Nick Fortine, Market President for Columbus Business First. With a background in technology and a successful history of leading sales teams through significant transitions, Nick's insights into building a digital sales strategy is highly regarded. His instrumental role in guiding Columbus Business First through the transition from print to digital media, along with the successful diversification of revenue streams, positions him as a key voice in rethinking traditional sales approaches. Nick's practical knowledge and understanding of effective team communication strategies and goal setting in sales make him a valuable resource for sales leaders and managers in any industry.

Crafting a Winning Digital Sales Strategy This is essential for organizations seeking to thrive in the digital era. Nick's experience underscores the complexities of adapting to a digital landscape, retraining the sales force, and recultivating the customer base. The conversation provides valuable insights into the challenges and strategies of building a successful digital sales approach. Nick touches on technology and AI in the digital advertising space. He emphasizes the need to leverage technology for efficiency and effectiveness in prospecting activities. He briefly discusses the impact of AI and the importance of staying ahead of the curve in the digital advertising space.

You can never over-communicate. Whether it's the overall mission, the vision of the organization, the execution strategy, how the operating model plays into tactical execution, the role of the sales team, or the role of those individual contributors in carrying out the strategy. - Nick Fortine

Key highlights in this episode:

• Mastering the transition from print to digital media requires more than just a website.
• Elevate team communication strategies to foster a culture of collaboration and success.
• Set and exceed sales goals while optimizing performance metrics to drive lasting results.
• Setting impactful sales goals and utilizing performance metrics to drive continuous improvement.

About Nick Fortine

Nick gets tremendous energy from working with talented, passionate teams to exceed client expectations and build great companies. He has led teams in a variety of successful companies – from zero revenue startups to publicly traded global organizations.

About Columbus Business First

The number 1 source for Columbus local business news and intelligence where you’ll find the latest breaking business news, updated throughout the day. Get current business headlines with daily newsletters, weekly digital editions, and more. You can find out how to become a regular subscriber and receive information about how to become an advertiser. The Columbus Business First has everything you need to grow and protect your business in your local community.

Resources in this episode:

• Find Nick on LinkedIn
• Visit Columbus Business First to sign up for a membership and access valuable business news, resources, and event networking opportunities.
• Attend Columbus Business First events for excellent networking opportunities, engaging speakers, and great food, providing a valuable prospecting tool for business growth.

Have you ever had a dry pipeline? Of course you have, we all have! But, what did you do to overcome it? Tune in to this week’s episode as we speak with an entrepreneur about an all-too-common problem…pipeline!

Lindsay Sutula, the founder of Topfox Marketing, brings a wealth of entrepreneurial spirit and experience to the podcast. Having started her journey in Iowa, she's no stranger to the ins and outs of business from picking up cans on a golf course to eventually founding a successful digital marketing agency. With a background in PR and a stint in the Boulder, CO tech scene, Lindsay's expertise lies in serving B2B companies producing $1m-$20m in annual revenue. Her journey from saxophone performance major to agency owner is a testament to her adaptability and innovative approach to marketing, making her insights valuable for business owners and marketers navigating lead generation challenges.

“The 'we've always done it that way' trap is really sneaky.” – Lindsay Sutula

Key highlights in this episode:

• Success is never a straight line: Lindsay shares a pivotal moment in early 2023 when she faced an unfamiliar challenge…a dry pipeline.
• Addressing the pipeline problem through deep niche targeting and account-based marketing (ABM).
• Valuable lessons for businesses at any stage of growth that highlight the necessity of adaptability.
• Stepping out of your comfort zone and charting new paths toward success.
• Continuous evolution and the courage to question and adapt long-standing practices.

About Lindsay Sutula

Lindsay is the Founder & CEO of Top Fox Marketing, where she is dedicated to helping businesses achieve their growth goals through innovative marketing strategies and tactics. With a passion for empowering her team and clients, Lindsay is committed to fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration. As the leader of Top Fox Marketing, Lindsay brings a wealth of experience in marketing and sales from her previous roles in small to medium-sized B2B companies in tech, advertising and telecom. Lindsay began her career in entertainment PR, working with Jazz at Lincoln Center and Palmetto Records.

About Top Fox Marketing

Top Fox Marketing exists to help brands grow. With deep brand and agency experience working for both B2B and B2C, our leadership team has been on both sides of the table. We’ve worked with global brands, emerging brands and just about everything in between.

Top Fox Marketing is the culmination of our collective experience and a reflection of where we want to be as accomplished marketers–sitting at the most fulfilling seats at the table. A place where we get to work hand-in-hand with purpose-driven brands to make a positive impact.

Complementing our leadership team is a carefully cultivated network of trusted marketing specialists that we activate on-demand. This cost-wise approach enables us to provide you with precisely the marketing you need, when you need it. No more, no less.

Resources in this episode:

• Find Lindsay on LinkedIn
• Visit Top Fox Marketing