Sales is NOT a Dirty Word

How to Hire the Right People (Without Wasting Time or Money) with Madi Wagonner

Hiring the right people shouldn’t feel like gambling with your time, money, and peace of mind. Yet for many founders, it often does. The problem isn’t a lack of good talent; it’s the absence of a clear and intentional structure behind the hiring process. Without it, even the most well-meaning entrepreneurs end up hiring reactively instead of strategically.
In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, Aleasha Bahr sits down with Madi Wagonner, founder of Building Remote, to explore what it really takes to build a hiring system that consistently attracts self-driven, resourceful people who take ownership and contribute real value.
Madi is known for helping entrepreneurs “fire themselves” from day-to-day operations so they can focus on higher-level leadership, growth, and the work that fuels them. Her approach to hiring and onboarding doesn’t just fill empty seats. It builds alignment, loyalty, and a shared sense of purpose that keeps teams performing long after the honeymoon phase ends.
You’ll learn: ✔ Why most hiring failures happen before the first interview even begins ✔ How to write job descriptions that filter for the right people and naturally repel the wrong ones ✔ The 4–6 week hiring process that turns uncertainty into confident decision-making ✔ The onboarding method that creates motivation, ownership, and trust from day one ✔ How to recognize candidates who are resourceful, adaptable, and aligned with your company’s vision ✔ Why approaching hiring like a sales process helps you attract, not chase, top talent
If you’ve ever felt drained by bad hires, or caught yourself thinking, “No one can do it like I do,” this conversation will challenge that mindset and give you a roadmap for doing it differently. With the right structure, you can build a team that not only supports your business but grows with it.
👉 Learn more from Madi Wagonner at buildingremote.co. It’s time to hire with clarity, lead with confidence, and build a business that thrives without burning you out.

The Top 3 Sales Team Management Mistakes (and What to Do Instead)

Most sales teams are still managed the outdated way: fear, cutthroat competition, and impossible quotas. The cost is burnout, turnover (so expensive!) and lost revenue.
In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, Aleasha Bahr exposes the top 3 mistakes sales leaders make when managing teams — and shares what to do instead to build a culture of collaboration, motivation, and long-term growth.
You’ll discover: ✔ Why pitting sales reps against each other destroys culture — and how to replace it with a team-driven goal that boosts performance ✔ The hidden reason promoting your top rep to manager backfires — and how to choose the right leader instead ✔ Why tiered compensation ladders outperform flat commissions every time ✔ The specific leadership training sales managers actually need to succeed ✔ How to set goals that drive motivation instead of discouragement
If you’re still managing with old-school tactics, this episode is your roadmap to higher performance, stronger retention, and scalable revenue growth.
👉 Ready to build a sustainable sales system that consistently closes without burning out your team? Book your Black Sheep Sales Audit today: https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup

How to Hire Your First VA Without the Headache with Kris Ward

Hiring your first VA shouldn’t feel like trial by fire. Yet for most entrepreneurs, the process is stressful, disappointing, and downright painful.
In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I sit down with Kris Ward, the creator of the Win the Hour, Win the Day philosophy, to talk about how to finally build a team that supports your business instead of draining it. 
Kris has helped thousands of entrepreneurs escape the cycle of overwork by teaching them how to hire, onboard, and lead virtual assistants in a way that actually works.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn: ✔ Why most VA hires fail (and how to avoid it) ✔ The 12-step hiring process Kris uses with a 90% retention rate ✔ The difference between assigning work vs. delegating (and why it matters) ✔ How to build systems that give you freedom, not more stress ✔ Why leadership is a learned skill — not something you’re born with
If you’ve ever thought “it’s easier to just do it myself,” this episode will show you a smarter, simpler way to grow your team and get your time back.
👉 To dive deeper into Kris’s methods and grab her free guide on the 12-step hiring process, visit freegiftfromkris.com.
#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #HireSmart #VirtualAssistantTips #VABusinessSupport #WinTheHourWinTheDay #BlackSheepSales #EntrepreneurLeadership #SalesStrategy #TeamBuildingForEntrepreneurs #ScaleYourBusiness #DelegateBetter #VAHiringMistakes #SmallBusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurProductivity

Client Retention Strategies That Are More Profitable Than New Sales

Most businesses think the sale ends once the contract is signed. In reality - that’s just the beginning.
In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I break down why client retention and upselling are the biggest untapped sources of revenue for service providers — and how to build a system that keeps clients investing with you long after the first sale.
Too many founders chase new clients while ignoring the ones they’ve already won. 
As a result, they have unpredictable revenue from month to month that keeps them on edge and burnt out.
There’s a much easier way to create predictable revenue with less effort than constantly chasing new leads. 
Inside this episode you’ll learn: ✔ Why fulfillment should be even stronger than your sales process ✔ How to design entry-level offers that naturally lead to bigger investments ✔ A framework for “pre-selling” upsells inside your proposals ✔ The secret to client meetings that reinforce value and set up the next step ✔ Why your existing clients should account for the majority of your revenue
If you’re stuck on the new client hamster wheel, this episode will show you how to finally grow revenue without burning out chasing cold leads.
👉 Ready to experience more income with less stress? Book your Black Sheep Sales Audit at https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup and get a custom sales system that turns prospects into long-term, high-value clients.
#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #ClientRetention #UpsellingTips #SalesStrategy #SalesForServiceProviders #BlackSheepSales #AuthenticSelling #ClientSuccess #RetentionMarketing #GrowYourBusiness #SalesCoaching #ServiceProviderSales #SalesWithoutPressure #RevenueGrowth #CustomerExperience

Inclusion, Identity, and Main Character Energy with Jackie Roby

How often do you feel like you’re living your life for everyone else?
Always showing up. Always giving.Always putting your own needs last.
It’s easy to slip into that role without even realizing it — until one day you wake up and realize you’re not living as the main character in your own story.
In this episode of Sales is NOT a Dirty Word, I’m joined by Jackie Roby, Relationship Mindset Coach and founder of Inspired Journey Consulting, to talk about what it really takes to step into your main character energy. Jackie shares how her MAGIC Methodology helps women of color and allies stop over-giving, drop the hustle culture, and reclaim their sense of self-worth.
Here’s what you’ll hear: ✔ Why so many women fall into the “side character” trap ✔ How hustle culture quietly robs us of joy and identity ✔ The link between generational patterns and burnout ✔ How to start rewriting the story you’re living right now
If you’ve been feeling exhausted and drained with no joy or fulfillment to show for it, this episode is for you. 
Jackie’s mission is to help women rewrite their stories and start living unapologetically. To explore her coaching and resources, head to https://inspiredjourneyconsulting.com/. 
 
#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #MainCharacterEnergy #SelfWorthCoach #WomenOfColorEmpowerment #HustleCultureRecovery #MindsetShift #AuthenticLiving #BlackSheepSales #InclusiveWellness #MindsetCoach #SelfWorthReset #StopOverGiving #SalesWithoutPressure #EmpoweredWomen #InspiredJourneyConsulting

Sales Leadership Tips: Balancing Top Performers and Team Success

At some point, every sales team has experienced a “sales diva” 
You know the type: the top-performing rep who plays by their own rules. They cherry-pick leads, dodge meetings, ignore the CRM, and expect special treatment because of past wins. 
It starts small and it’s a slippery slope into a toxic preferential culture that can hurt the other sales reps performers.  
In this episode of Sales is NOT a Dirty Word, I reveal why “sales divas” quietly destroy team culture, stall long-term growth, and keep founders stuck in a cycle of dependency. More importantly, you’ll learn how to break the pattern before it sabotages your revenue.
In this episode, you’ll discover: ✔ Why catering to one “star” rep kills motivation across your entire sales team ✔ The hidden dangers of relying on a single person for 80% of your revenue ✔ How to coach mediocre sales performers into confident top performers ✔ What to say when your sales diva refuses to collaborate or follow process ✔ The leadership shifts that build accountability, trust, and shared success
Your best salesperson should never feel like they’re holding your company hostage. 
If your team feels uneven, cutthroat, or overly dependent on one high performer, this episode will show you how to reset your sales culture, protect your revenue, and build a team that wins together.
#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesLeadership #SalesCulture #SalesTeamPerformance #SalesManagementTips #SalesStrategy #HighPerformingTeams #AuthenticSelling #SalesCoaching #LeadYourTeam #ServiceProviderSales #SalesProcessFix 

How to Make Money as an Influencer and Content Creator with Justin Moore

Most people think brand deals are only for influencers with millions of followers, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
This week on Sales is NOT a Dirty Word, I sit down with Justin Moore — sponsorship coach, author, and founder of Creator Wizard — to talk about how creators, experts, and entrepreneurs of all sizes can land sponsorships without selling their soul to shady managers or chasing viral fame.
Justin has personally earned over $5 million in sponsorships, run an influencer marketing agency that’s helped creators earn millions more, and now he’s on a mission to help creators land 1 million paid brand partnerships by 2032. 
His experience on both sides of the table gives him an insider’s perspective on how brands choose who to work with and why they pass on others.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
✔ Why you don’t need a massive following to get paid sponsorships
✔ The “Sponsorship Continuum” and how to pitch differently at each stage of your journey
✔ The hard truth about managers and why 99% of creators don’t need one
✔ How to avoid predatory contracts and keep ownership of your content
✔ Why niche creators often make more than “big name” influencers
✔ The biggest myths about sponsorships and what brands actually value most
 
If you’ve ever thought sponsorships were out of reach for you, this episode will change your perspective — and give you a roadmap to start earning through brand partnerships no matter your audience size.
👉 Want to go deeper? Justin’s new book Sponsor Magnet lays out his proven framework for securing brand deals, even if you’re just starting out. Grab it at sponsormagnet.com and unlock the tools to build partnerships that pay.
#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #InfluencerMarketing #BrandPartnerships #SponsorshipCoach  #CreatorEconomy #MonetizeYourContent #SponsorshipTips #SocialMediaStrategy #AuthenticSelling #BlackSheepSales #ContentCreators #SalesWithoutPressure #InfluencerTips #PartnershipMarketing #OnlineBusinessGrowth

Stop Losing Deals: The Right Way to Use Pitch Decks

A pitch deck can be your strongest sales tool or your biggest sales killer.
The difference comes down to strategy. Although there is a pitch deck - it’s essential to ask strategic questions - not just “make sense?”, “sound good” or “have any questions”?
Because deep, strategic questions are how you build important trust and gather necessary information to closing the deal. 
In this episode of Sales is NOT a Dirty Word, I break down the steps to creating a pitch deck that actually converts, including: ✔ The top 3 pitch deck mistakes that cost you sales ✔ How to build a slide sequence that keeps prospects leaning in ✔ Why most follow-ups fail and how to fix yours ✔ The secret to making a sales presentation interactive ✔ A proven way to position features without losing attention
If you want your pitch deck to finally drive conversions instead of crickets, this episode is the blueprint.
#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #PitchDeckTips #SalesPresentation #SalesStrategy #CloseMoreDeals #SalesProcessFix #AuthenticSelling #BlackSheepSales#EntrepreneurSales #SalesCoaching #ServiceProviderSales #SalesWithoutPressure #PresentationSkills #SalesTraining #SalesLeadership

How to Stop Avoiding Your Finances and Start Owning Them with Melissa Leon

Money talk can feel like stepping into a dark room barefoot… you never know what you’re about to step on.
In this episode of Sales is NOT a Dirty Word, I sit down with Melissa Leon, a finance pro who has seen the real story behind hundreds of business and personal bank accounts. 
Spoiler: nobody has it all together, no matter how it looks from the outside.
We cover: ✔ Why your business and personal finances are more connected than you think ✔ The most common “money closet” skeletons business owners hide (you’re not alone!) ✔ Why credit cards can quietly drain your future ✔ The truth about “good” vs “bad” debt ✔ The one shift that can help you feel empowered by your numbers instead of avoid them
If you’ve ever felt shame about your bank balance or avoided looking at your statements because you didn’t want to “face it,” this conversation will make you feel seen, understood, and ready to take control.
Your finances don’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Listen now and start making money decisions that actually serve you.
#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #MoneyMindset #SmallBusinessFinance #EntrepreneurMoneyTips #MoneyManagement #DebtFreeJourney #BusinessFinances #FinancialClarity #WomenInBusiness #AuthenticSelling #BlackSheepSales #ServiceProviderSuccess #FinanceTipsForEntrepreneurs #MoneyConfidence #OvercomingDebt #CashFlowTips #MoneyShame #FinancialEmpowerment

How to Set Up a Loyal, High-Performing Sales Team

You hired a sales team so you could focus on growing the business, not spend hours training, managing and baby sitting them. 
But if your team isn’t performing as well as you, the problem might not be them — it’s often  how they’re being set up.
In this episode of Sales is NOT a Dirty Word, I walk you through how to create a sales system that sets your team up for success — and why hustle culture is the fastest way to lose both money and people.
You’ll hear: ✔ Why most sales teams experience high churn - and how to eliminate that ✔ The “no system” trap that leads to lost sales ✔ How to set up every rep to be a top performer ✔ The real cost of flat-rate commission (and what to do instead) ✔ How to build a team culture that delivers results and loyalty
If you’ve been feeling stuck because your team isn’t closing like you do, this episode will show you the biggest levers to pull for fast, lasting change.
 
Ready for a sales team that actually closes like you — without you taking over a full time job to micromanage them? Book a Black Sheep Sales Audit at https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup  and get a sales system that finally converts even BETTER than you! 
 
#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesTeamLeadership #SalesStrategy #SalesManagementTips #SalesTeamSuccess #SalesWithoutMicromanaging #MotivateYourTeam #AuthenticSelling #BlackSheepSales #ServiceProviderSales #SalesLeadership #SalesProcessFix