sales tips
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What Salespeople Can Learn from Harry Potter
- January 6, 2026
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
Kick off 2026 with a killer January by mastering the first 10 seconds of every cold call. Inspired by the jaw-dropping magic of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, Dave Kurlan reveals why most salespeople sound boring, stiff, or scripted — and how to deliver a “magical” opener that grabs prospects instantly and books more meetings.
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The Nutcracker Ballet Has 3 Relevant Sales Competencies
- December 15, 2025
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
During a first sales call, suppose your salespeople hear one prospect say, “This has been a very interesting and productive conversation and we might have some interest in this.” And imagine another prospect at the same meeting says, “We’ll get back to you next month and let you know what kind of progress we’ve made.” And still a third might say, “In the meantime, please send us a proposal with references and timeline.”
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8 Cold Calling Lessons from Matthew (The Biblical Sales Team, Part 6)
- November 17, 2025
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
In the sixth installment of the Biblical Sales Team series, we dive into Matthew chapter 10, where Jesus sends out his disciples to spread the word. Drawing parallels to modern sales, discover 8 timeless lessons for cold calling success: from smart targeting and seeking referrals to handling rejection like a pro and prioritizing low-hanging fruit. Whether you’re knocking on doors or picking up the phone, these ancient insights remind us that effective prospecting beats automated emails every time. Plus, why demos should wait for qualified leads and how to craft a killer positioning statement.
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Eggs, Toast, and Bacon Aren’t Original—Neither Is Sloppy Sales Prep
- August 24, 2025
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
Dave’s cracking up over a restaurant’s “original” eggs, toast, and bacon combo—and calling out salespeople who skip their homework. Learn how AI like Grok can supercharge your prospect research in seconds.
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8 Movie Scenes to Frame Your Mind for Killer Sales Calls
- August 5, 2025
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
Discover how clips from classics like CSI, Dumb and Dumber, and Better Call Saul can pump you up, teach active listening, and help close deals—perfect motivation for your next sales call!
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5 Keys to Account Management Success; 10 Keys to a Strong Customer Partnership
- June 13, 2025
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
A new sales rep’s 60-second flop at an optometrist’s office exposes critical account management mistakes. From unprofessional attire to zero relationship-building, her visit was a disaster. Discover the 5 keys to account management and 10 keys to strong partnerships—like trust, respect, and communication—to make your sales team unstoppable
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Sell More by Understanding this God, Garden, and Baseball Analogy
- June 9, 2025
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
Discover how faith in God, weeding a garden, and the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry reveal powerful lessons for boosting your sales. Learn to trust your process, balance efficiency with precision, and leverage unique strengths to close more deals.
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How to Master the Sales Discovery Call
- April 11, 2025
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
Good salespeople know that the key to a sales process that will result in a sale, is uncovering their prospect’s compelling reason to buy. Period. Not “period” as in that’s all they have to do, but “period”, as in nothing else in the process will matter if they don’t uncover the compelling reason to buy. Easy (to state). For most salespeople, even the good ones, it’s not that easy. How can they determine if what they heard is actually compelling? Is it compelling to the prospect? Is it compelling to the salesperson? Do those two determinations have equal value?
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Top 20 Reasons Why Sales Opportunities Don’t Close
- January 28, 2025
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
Sales Leaders who are frustrated with low win rates place the blame on closing skills when, in reality, it has NOTHING to do with closing! Watch this 2-minute video for an explanation and then continue reading below.
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The Nutcracker and 3 Sales Competencies That Cause Low Win Rates
- December 6, 2024
- Posted by: Dave Kurlan
- Category: Understanding the Sales Force
During a first sales call, suppose your salespeople hear one prospect say, “This has been a very interesting and productive conversation and we might have some interest in this.” And imagine another prospect at the same meeting says, “We’ll get back to you next month and let you know what kind of progress we’ve made.” And still a third might say, “In the meantime, please send us a proposal with references and timeline.”