In this episode, Bryan is joined by John Barrows to talk about the high-stakes final stage of the sales process, where deals are either won or lost. Together, they explore why so many sales teams stumble here, often resorting to last-minute discounts or high-pressure tactics driven by forecast anxiety.

Bryan and John share strategies to keep control of the process, including engaging procurement early, coaching reps through nuanced situations, and avoiding the trap of reactive discounting. They also dive into the balance between the science (process) and art (closing) of sales—why the art has been lost in today’s risk-averse market, and how leaders can teach reps to customize their approach for authentic, effective selling.

Whether you’re a sales leader or an individual contributor, this episode will show you how to play to win, not just avoid losing, when it matters most.

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Curious about certification in the Blind Zebra Sales Operating System? Learn more here.

Discover how to build the introductory video that works 24/7 for your pipeline on October 3rd, 12PM EST. Join at advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

Discover how to build the introductory video that works 24/7 for your pipeline on October 3rd, 12PM EST. Join at advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

Tired of perfecting your sales skills but struggling to get in front of the right people? Bill and Bryan tackle the universal challenge every B2B professional faces: visibility. Using a real client case study from the tax law industry, they reveal why traditional cold calling is dead and share actionable strategies to become visible where your prospects are already looking.

Discover how to leverage weekly insight videos, LinkedIn article publishing (including the brilliant interview strategy that gets you access to C-suite executives), strategic conference attendance, and hosting your own executive events. Plus, learn why 80% of sales success comes down to getting the meeting – not perfecting your pitch.

Ready to stop being the best-kept secret in your industry? This episode shows you exactly how to get found.

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Is it time to make a BOLD move in your business? If so, download our brand new book, "12 Bold Moves - Insider Secrets to Reinventing Yourself and Your Business." http://12boldmoves.com

The Insider program is open for enrollment. To check out our small learning group, go to http://advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

If you haven't already, join 14,000+ other sales professionals in our LinkedIn group at advancedsellingpodcast.com/linkedin

Discover how to build the introductory video that works 24/7 for your pipeline on October 3rd, 12PM EST. Join at advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

In this episode, Bill and Bryan debunk one of the most persistent myths in sales training - that you can create urgency in buyers through clever tactics and techniques. They explore why deals are taking longer to close in 2025, examining both macro factors (economic uncertainty, decision-making complexity) and micro factors (changed buyer behavior, technology overload).

The guys discuss how traditional urgency-creating methods like pattern interrupts and pressure tactics are not only ineffective but counterproductive in today's market. Instead, they reveal a modern approach focused on two key strategies: de-risking for the buyer and providing thorough explanations of what happens after the purchase.

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Is it time to make a BOLD move in your business? If so, download our brand new book, "12 Bold Moves - Insider Secrets to Reinventing Yourself and Your Business." http://12boldmoves.com

The Insider program is open for enrollment. To check out our small learning group, go to http://advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

If you haven't already, join 14,000+ other sales professionals in our LinkedIn group at advancedsellingpodcast.com/linkedin

Bill and Bryan explore a growing trend that's reshaping the sales landscape: the rise of "accidental salespeople." These are the technical advisors, project managers, engineers, and executives who don't have "salesperson" on their business cards but find themselves increasingly vital to the buyer-seller relationship.

The guys discuss why these technically-minded professionals are becoming more important than ever, especially as traditional SDR/BDR approaches burn out prospects with low response rates. They argue that it's often easier to teach technical people the 20% of sales skills they need than to teach salespeople deep technical expertise.

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Is it time to make a BOLD move in your business? If so, download our brand new book, "12 Bold Moves - Insider Secrets to Reinventing Yourself and Your Business." http://12boldmoves.com

The Insider program is open for enrollment. To check out our small learning group, go to http://advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

If you haven't already, join 14,000+ other sales professionals in our LinkedIn group at advancedsellingpodcast.com/linkedin

Stop being just another vendor - become THE expert they can't ignore. Join ASP Insider September 8th: http://advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

Discover how to build the introductory video that works 24/7 for your pipeline on October 3rd, 12PM EST. Join at advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

What happens when two conversational AI engineers realize they can't sell their own startup? They build an AI sparring partner to teach themselves—and accidentally create a game-changing sales training platform.

We welcome the founders of Hyperbound.AI, Sai Guduguntla and Atul Raghunathan, who share their remarkable journey from technical founders struggling with sales to building a platform that's helping thousands of sales professionals practice and perfect their craft. In just 20 months, their AI-powered role-playing tool has been tried by reps from over 15,000 companies.

Ready to try it yourself? Visit Hyperbound.ai—no login required, no sales call needed. Just jump in and spar with an AI buyer that might be sassier than your toughest prospect.

Whether you're a sales leader managing 20 reps or 2,000, this episode reveals how AI is transforming sales training from a once-in-a-while event to an always-available competitive advantage.

Discover how to build the introductory video that works 24/7 for your pipeline on October 3rd, 12PM EST. Join at advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

In this early Labor Day release, Bill and Bryan dive into expert frameworks—essential tools for positioning yourself as a knowledgeable sales professional in today's market. Bill breaks down the critical video framework every salesperson needs.

Learn the three-part video structure that actually gets attention: the hook that stops the scroll in the first 5 seconds, the story that keeps them engaged, and the call-to-action that drives results. Discover why social media has shifted from a follower platform to an interest platform, and how this changes everything about creating content for your prospects.

Whether you're struggling with video content or just want to hear Bryan's HoloDome adventure, this episode delivers practical frameworks you can implement immediately.

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Is it time to make a BOLD move in your business? If so, download our brand new book, "12 Bold Moves - Insider Secrets to Reinventing Yourself and Your Business." http://12boldmoves.com

The Insider program is open for enrollment. To check out our small learning group, go to http://advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

If you haven't already, join 14,000+ other sales professionals in our LinkedIn group at advancedsellingpodcast.com/linkedin

Discover how to build the introductory video that works 24/7 for your pipeline on October 3rd, 12PM EST. Join at advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

In this episode, Bryan Neale and Marcus Chan dive into the sales “red zone”—the late stage of the sales cycle where too many deals stall or fall apart. They explore how sales teams can avoid costly mistakes by addressing pricing, multi-threaded stakeholder engagement, and risk management early in the process.

Marcus introduces his ADVANCE Framework, a practical tool for sales leaders to audit deals and improve forecasting accuracy. The conversation also highlights the importance of monthly business reviews (instead of quarterly), fostering radical transparency, and holding reps accountable for both commitment and stretch goals.

Whether you’re a frontline sales leader or an individual rep, you’ll walk away with strategies to:

• Diagnose hidden leaks in your pipeline and stalled deals
• Discuss pricing early to avoid late-stage surprises
• Build stronger stakeholder engagement with executive sponsors
• Replace discounts with risk-removal tactics that build trust
• Use monthly business reviews to drive accountability and forecasting accuracy

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Join Bryan on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 12:00 pm ET for Sales Playbooks Don't Work if Nobody Uses Them. Register here.

Curious about certification in the Blind Zebra Sales Operating System? Learn more here.

Discover how to build the introductory video that works 24/7 for your pipeline on October 3rd, 12PM EST. Join at advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

In this episode, Bill and Bryan shift the focus from post-sale customer experience to what they call "PX 90" - the prospect experience during the sales process. After Bryan shares a fantastic customer service call with Southwest Airlines, they dive into practical ways salespeople can go above and beyond for prospects before they become customers.

The guys share practical, low-cost ways to go above and beyond for prospects that will differentiate you from the competition and elevate your position in their minds. From personalized follow-ups to strategic introductions, discover how small gestures can create big impacts in your sales process.

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Is it time to make a BOLD move in your business? If so, download our brand new book, "12 Bold Moves - Insider Secrets to Reinventing Yourself and Your Business." http://12boldmoves.com

The Insider program is open for enrollment. To check out our small learning group, go to http://advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider

If you haven't already, join 14,000+ other sales professionals in our LinkedIn group at advancedsellingpodcast.com/linkedin

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Discover how to build the introductory video that works 24/7 for your pipeline on October 3rd, 12PM EST. Join at advancedsellingpodcast.com/insider