Richard Palmer

Let’s be honest for a second. Most people hear the word "sales" and their skin starts to crawl. They picture a slicked-back character in a cheap suit trying to sell them a car that shouldn’t even be on the road. They think of cold calls at dinner time or aggressive LinkedIn messages that ignore the word "no." If you’re a small business owner, you probably fear being that person. You have a product or service that actually helps people, but the moment you have to ask for money, you feel a knot...

You wake up on a Monday morning and check your calendar. You see a "discovery call" or a "sales meeting" scheduled for 10:00 AM. Immediately, your stomach tightens. You start thinking about the "scripts" you’re supposed to follow. You worry about coming across as desperate or, worse, like one of those "hustle-culture" salespeople who won't take no for an answer. You don't want to be pushy. You don't want to persuade someone to buy something they don't actually need. So, you hesitate. You hold...

You didn’t start your business because you wanted to be a salesperson. You started it because you’re a brilliant consultant, a talented designer, a dedicated baker, or a visionary builder. You have a skill, a passion, and a desire to help people. But then reality set in. To keep the lights on and the business growing, you have to sell. For many small business owners, this is where the stress begins. The word "sales" often conjures up images of pushy characters, scripted pitches, and...