In this heartwarming episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch welcomes Levi Ware—musician, speaker, and co-founder of the Melodic Caring Project (MCP). Levi shares the incredible origin story of MCP, a nonprofit that streams live concerts to children and families navigating serious illnesses.

If you've ever wondered how to start a nonprofit rooted in passion and purpose, this episode is for you. Levi takes us behind the scenes of MCP’s early days, including the emotional first concert, the power of community, and how he turned a personal mission into a scalable, impactful organization.

From maintaining authenticity to navigating personal sacrifices and innovating through COVID-19, Levi’s journey offers both inspiration and practical wisdom for aspiring changemakers.

Listeners will come away with:

• A deeper understanding of how to turn a passion project into a nonprofit

• Powerful stories of connection and healing through music

• Actionable advice on launching and sustaining a mission-driven organization

Timestamps (Adjusted):
00:43 Welcome to the Sales Maven Show
01:22 Meet Levi Ware & the Melodic Caring Project
04:43 How the Idea Was Born
09:24 Katie’s Story – The First Concert
14:00 Braden’s Story – Expanding the Vision
19:35 Building with Purpose & Relationships
25:19 Turning Music into a Mission
28:17 The Family Impact of Illness
31:15 How to Start a Nonprofit from the Heart
33:42 Staying True to the Mission
38:05 Pivoting During a Pandemic
44:12 The Sacrifices Behind the Scenes
48:33 What’s Next for MCP
51:20 How You Can Get Involved
54:26 Campaigning for Sustainable Support

To learn more or support MCP, visit: MelodicCaring.org

Find Nikki:

Nikki Rausch

nikki@yoursalesmaven.com

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To download free resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven

In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch chats with Jill Shroyer, a trusted member of the Sales Maven Society and founder of Expedition HR. Jill shares how she's streamlined her sales process and grown her business by improving how she consults with potential clients.

You'll hear practical strategies for navigating tough HR conversations, shortening discovery calls without sacrificing results, and asking better questions to build stronger client relationships. Jill emphasizes the power of simplifying how she consults with prospects—and how that shift has positively impacted her business.

If you’re looking to refine your sales process and make your consults more effective and efficient, this episode is full of gold.

Timestamps
00:43 – Welcome to the Sales Maven Show
01:14 – Meet Jill Shroyer of Expedition HR
02:08 – How to Navigate Difficult HR Conversations
06:54 – Streamlining Consultations for Better Results
08:15 – The Art of Asking Impactful Questions
11:20 – Improving How You Consult With Prospects
27:02 – Wrap-Up and Where to Find Jill

🔗 Learn more about Jill’s work at expeditionhr.com

Timestamps
00:43 – Welcome to the Sales Maven Show
01:14 – Meet Jill Shroyer of Expedition HR
02:08 – How to Navigate Difficult HR Conversations
06:54 – Streamlining Consultations for Better Results
08:15 – The Art of Asking Impactful Questions
11:20 – Identifying and Responding to Buying Signals
27:02 – Wrap-Up and Where to Find Jill

🔗 Learn more about Jill’s work at expeditionhr.com

Find Nikki:

Nikki Rausch

nikki@yoursalesmaven.com

Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

Sales Maven Society

Work With Nikki Discussion

To download free resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven

In this solo episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch tackles a topic every business owner faces but few like to talk about: harsh feedback.

Whether it’s an offhand comment online or unsolicited criticism from someone who isn’t your ideal client, knowing how to handle negative feedback is a crucial skill for any entrepreneur. Nikki shares practical strategies to navigate tough comments confidently and grace, without letting them derail your progress.

This episode explores:

1. How to determine whether feedback is worth your energy

2. What to do (and not do) when someone criticizes your content or business

3. The importance of focusing on your ideal audience

4. Smart ways to repurpose content that’s received pushback

5. Real-life examples of how Nikki has dealt with critical responses

If you've ever felt discouraged by a comment or questioned whether you should keep showing up, this episode reminds you of your value and keeps you focused on serving the people who matter most.

🎧

Timestamps

00:43 – Welcome to the Sales Maven Show

01:06 – Facing criticism as a business owner

03:12 – Processing feedback with clarity

05:25 – How (and when) to respond

08:06 – What to do with unsolicited advice

19:34 – Final encouragement for moving forward

Find Nikki:

Nikki Rausch

nikki@yoursalesmaven.com

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Sales Maven Society

Work With Nikki Discussion

To download free resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven

In this episode of The Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch welcomes her inspiring client, Samantha Irwin, for a conversation packed with strategies to help you close more sales through exceptional customer service. Samantha works with women business owners to elevate frontline service and create customer experiences that drive loyalty—and revenue.

They dive into:

• How to engage staff in ways that help close sales

• Simple yet powerful techniques to delight customers and boost conversions

• Why consistent training is key to higher-performing teams

• Samantha’s personal journey of growth in sales and business leadership

She even shares a creative sales lesson inspired by her garden that will stick with you long after the episode ends.

If you're looking for practical ideas to improve your customer experience and close more sales, this episode is for you.

🎧 Timestamps
00:43 – Welcome to the Sales Maven Show
00:52 – Meet Samantha Irwin: Her mission and success
01:34 – Creating exceptional customer experiences that close sales
03:23 – How Samantha supports business owners
04:19 – Connecting with customers through engaged staff
05:29 – Why employee training drives revenue
12:34 – Samantha’s transformation in sales
15:28 – Lessons from the garden: Sales insights in bloom
22:25 – What’s next for Samantha
23:47 – Final thoughts and takeaways to help you close sales

Find Nikki:

Nikki Rausch

nikki@yoursalesmaven.com

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Sales Maven Society

Work With Nikki Discussion

To download free Resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven

Ever wonder what it really takes to spark a meaningful connection and keep a conversation flowing with ease? In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch is joined by Jake Stahl, CEO of Orchestraight and a top expert in neurolinguistic programming and sales strategy, to show you how to make great conversation—and turn it into a powerful tool for building rapport and increasing sales.

Jake unpacks his signature two-ten rule for active listening, shares techniques for course-correcting conversations in real time, and explains why the key to communication often starts with checking your ego. You’ll also hear surprising tips on how something as simple as your headshot can influence rapport before you even speak.

If you’re looking to up your influence, connect more authentically, and master the art of persuasive dialogue, this episode is a must-listen.

• [00:44] Welcome to the Sales Maven Show

• [01:21] Introducing Jake Stahl: Communication Powerhouse

• [03:26] The Concept of Orchestraight

• [05:18] Crafting the Perfect Conversation

• [08:20] The Importance of Active Listening

• [15:31] Setting and Achieving Conversation Goals

• [24:04] The Two 10 Rule: Enhancing Conversations

• [25:28] Active Listening Techniques

• [29:05] Course Correcting Conversations

• [33:21] The Power of Apologies

• [36:05] Crafting the Perfect Headshot

• [38:12] Personal Insights and Business Excitement

• [42:19] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

👉 Connect with Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakestahl/

Find Nikki:

Nikki Rausch
nikki@yoursalesmaven.com
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Sales Maven Society
Work With Nikki Discussion
Download free resources: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven

What if one conversation could shift the direction of your business and lead to more successful sales?

In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch welcomes back returning guest Tracey Warren for an inspiring conversation about business evolution, mission-driven work, and the power of strategic offers.

Tracey shares how she transitioned from social media marketing to helping nonprofits build stronger donor relationships and create lifelong supporters. She also reflects on a breakthrough moment during a 15-minute spotlight coaching session with Nikki—where they designed a VIP Day offer that will now help nonprofit teams collaborate more effectively, reignite momentum, and ultimately drive more successful sales and support for their causes.

Tune in to discover the impact of intentional offers, the importance of community, and how VIP Days can help organizations reach their goals faster and more efficiently.

Find Nikki:

Nikki Rausch

nikki@yoursalesmaven.com

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Sales Maven Society

Work With Nikki Discussion

To download free Resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven

If you’ve ever hesitated when discussing pricing or faced resistance from clients, this episode is a must-listen! Nikki walks you through the key mindset shifts and practical techniques to confidently communicate the value of your offer, handle objections with ease, and guide clients smoothly through high-ticket sales conversations.

You’ll discover:

• How to present high-ticket pricing in a way that resonates with your clients
• The power of pre-framing pricing discussions to avoid sticker shock
• Why asking about budget early can streamline the sales process
• How to position pricing around value and results rather than just features
• The importance of standing firm on your pricing—without over-explaining or discounting

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting to sell high-ticket offers, this episode will give you the tools to present your pricing with confidence and close more deals.

Tune in now to master the art of high-ticket sales!

00:54 – Understanding sticker shock in sales conversations
01:56 – Pre-framing pricing discussions for smoother conversations
02:10 – Asking the right questions to uncover client budgets
03:30 – Common pricing mistakes that hurt your sales
07:21 – Using real-world examples to strengthen your pricing pitch
10:35 – Standing firm on your pricing without over-explaining
16:47 – Final takeaways & best practices for high-ticket sales

Find Nikki:

Nikki Rausch

nikki@yoursalesmaven.com

Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

Sales Maven Society

Work With Nikki Discussion

To download free Resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven

Networking isn’t just about handing out business cards—it’s about building genuine relationships that help you and your business thrive.

In this episode, Nikki welcomes Faithann Basore, business owner and CEO of Window Cleaning Plus and The Networkers Tour Guide. Faithann shares how networking saved her business during COVID and provides actionable strategies to make your networking efforts more effective.

Learn how to craft a memorable elevator pitch, build rapport effortlessly, and confidently ask for referrals. Faithann and Nikki also discuss why reciprocal relationships are key to long-term success and how small shifts in your approach can lead to big networking wins.

In This Episode:
[01:22] Meet Faithann Basore: Entrepreneur & Networking Expert

[02:42] Why networking is crucial for business success

[05:33] How to craft an elevator pitch that sticks

[07:19] Developing the right networking mindset

[19:39] Faithann’s personal anecdotes & lessons learned

[24:16] How generosity and support strengthen connections

[26:36] Creating responses that leave a lasting impression

[27:57] The framework for successful networking

[29:12] Confidently asking for opportunities

[29:40] Building rapport & making meaningful connections

[32:15] Practical networking tips you can apply today

Resources & Connect with Faithann:
https://www.thenetworkerstourguide.net

Find Nikki:

Nikki Rausch

nikki@yoursalesmaven.com

Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

Sales Maven Society

Work With Nikki Discussion

To download free Resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven