{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/66974a8895ba0dafbf012c6d/692f965c82364902e051ed18?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"An honest take on stalled growth and the cringe factor in selling w/ Sam McFarlane","description":"<p><strong>Episode Description</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>Today we sit down with <strong>Sam McFarlane</strong>, founder of <em>Sam Says</em>, a digital marketing agency specialising in social media, content creation, and email marketing for service-based business owners. With more than 13 years in business and a background in corporate marketing, Sam has built a reputation for thoughtful, consistent digital support for coaches, consultants, and small professional services who need help staying visible online.&nbsp;</p><p>In this conversation, Sam opens up about the <em>real</em> journey of growing a service-based business from juggling school drop-offs to managing client load and the surprising truth about what’s actually holding her back from the next level of growth. We explore why so many women find selling cringe, the emotional and psychological blocks around asking for money, and how simple tweaks to your sales journey can turn more conversations into clients.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>In this episode, we explore:</strong>&nbsp;</p><ul><li>How networking and referrals built her entire client base&nbsp;</li><li>Her honest reaction to the “cringe factor” of sales and how to reframe it&nbsp;</li><li>The juggling act of working <em>in</em> the business vs. working <em>on</em> the business&nbsp;</li><li>Why so many women feel uncomfortable with selling and asking for money&nbsp;</li><li>The hidden gap in her sales process (and why 50% of proposals were going silent)&nbsp;</li><li>The importance of mapping the client journey so you know where things break down&nbsp;</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Key Quotes</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>“The proposal goes out and then you sit and wait. Sometimes I only follow up once. I know the fortune is in the follow-up — I just don’t do it.”&nbsp;</p><p>“Absolutely not. I'm terrible. The thought of selling just makes me cringe. I don't want to be that really slimy, salesy person that people see coming.”&nbsp;</p><p>“That's probably why I'm at that point where I can't break through to that next level. I hate it. Just, the thought of it just makes me just cringe.”&nbsp;</p><p>“You can’t help but take it personally. They say business isn’t personal, but when it’s your own business, how can it not be?”&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Learn more about how we support B2B sales teams</strong></p><p><br></p><p>👉 Sales training programs for B2B teams: <a href=\"https://sellabilities.com.au/sales-training-programs/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://sellabilities.com.au/sales-training-programs/</a></p><p>👉 What a high-performing sales training approach looks like: <a href=\"https://sellabilities.com.au/b2b-sales-training-approach/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://sellabilities.com.au/b2b-sales-training-approach/</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>You can get involved with the podcast online:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Find out more about Sellabilities and the podcast on our website: https://www.sellabilities.com.au/&nbsp;</p><p>Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/sellabilities_sisterhood&nbsp;</p><p>Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sellabilities/&nbsp;</p>","author_name":"Christina Bruce"}