SALES with ASLAN

Hosted by ASLAN Training and Development

Business

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Episodes

248

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Selling is serving. Let us serve you with tips, stories and experts on topics you care about. Buyer behavior has changed dramatically. Customers have more information available to them, and therefore are unreceptive, or closed, to sellers. And the harder we sell, the more closed customers become. Traditional selling approaches are working against sellers. ASLAN helps sellers make that shift, from 'typical' selling to a different approach that makes us more influential because we embrace the truth that the customer's receptivity is more important than your value prop or message.

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60 recent

June 1, 202630 min

EP 246 Truth #9 Discipline is Greater Than Talent

Discipline beats talent in sales because talent may create early momentum, but discipline creates repeatable results.That is the simple truth behind the latest episode of Sales with ASLAN. Tom and Tab unpack an idea that isn't the flashiest idea in the series, and it is not new to most leaders. But it may be one of the most important reminders for sales organizations trying to improve performance, especially when teams are surrounded by more tools, more messaging, and more pressure than ever before.The best sellers are not always the most charismatic, naturally gifted, or quick on their feet. They are often the ones who know what matters, build a plan around it, and consistently do the work other sellers avoid.Key TakeawaysDiscipline creates consistency that talent cannot guarantee: Natural ability can help, but disciplined sellers are more likely to follow the process, stay focused, and keep executing when the work gets difficult.Outworking the competition is a sales advantage: The seller who prepares more deeply, personalizes more carefully, and follows through more consistently often separates from competitors with more resources or name recognition.Lack of discipline often starts with lack of clarity: Sellers struggle to stay disciplined when they are not clear on what they want, what actions matter most, or what plan they are actually following.Small, smart choices compound over time: Sales improvement rarely comes from one heroic push. It comes from consistent behaviors repeated long enough to create a meaningful difference.

May 28, 202633 min

EP 245 Truth #8 Attention Follows Need or Novelty

In a crowded market, attention is harder to earn than ever. Buyers are overwhelmed by emails, messages, meetings, AI-generated outreach, and competing priorities, so generic sales messaging gets filtered out quickly.In this episode of Sales with ASLAN, Tom Stanfill and Tab Norris continue the “30 Truths for 30 Years” series with a simple but critical idea: attention follows need and novelty.They unpack why buyers pay attention to what is already on their “whiteboard,” how sellers can create relevance before asking for time, and why a disruptive truth can break through when product-centered messaging falls flat.Listen in to learn how to:- Connect messaging to the buyer’s real priorities- Use need and novelty to earn attention- Avoid generic personalization in an AI-driven outreach environment- Create disruptive truths that build credibility- Lead with the buyer’s world before introducing your solution Because buyers do not owe sellers their attention. Sellers have to earn it.

May 13, 202634 min

EP. 244 Truth # 7 Top Sellers Focus on Identifying Barriers, Not Closing

Most salespeople stumble at the finish line because they focus too much on closing rather than uncovering the real barriers that prevent deals from closing. What if the secret to more sales isn’t about closing harder, but about understanding what’s genuinely stopping potential clients in their tracks? In this eye-opening episode, sales experts Tom and Tab reveal how top sellers don’t focus on closing, but on identifying barriers that stand in the way of progress. You’ll discover why pushing for a close often backfires and how a shift to barrier-focused conversations can transform your results. They share practical tactics for diagnosing the true hesitations, asking better questions, and creating a partnership mindset that builds trust—resulting in more commitments and fewer stalled deals.This isn’t just theory; Tom and Tab share real-world stories, practical frameworks, and mindset shifts that unlock the secret to closing more deals without pressure or sleaze. This series is perfect for sales leaders, account managers, and entrepreneurs eager to build trust, reduce friction, and see sustained growth. Are you tired of the pushy sales tactics that kill deals? Want to master the art of barrier diagnosis and make every conversation count? Tune in now to transform your approach and start closing smarter today.

May 7, 202629 min

EP. 243 Truth #6 Customers Trust Partners, Not Reps

In the latest episode of Sales with ASLAN, Tom Stanfill and Tab Norris unpack new research from nearly 500 buyers and 500 sellers.New buyer-seller research shows buyers are less dependent on sales reps for information. Learn why sellers need to become trusted partners, not product representatives.The headline is simple, but uncomfortable: buyers don’t need sellers for information the way they used to. AI, digital research, peer networks, and internal buying committees have changed the role of the rep. But that doesn’t mean sellers matter less.It means the standard for earning trust has gone way upThey dive into why ...- Buyers don't want representatives but partners- Unique Insight and custom solutions create movement- Lack of prep loses trust- Business discovery has to replace product pushing Tune in to learn what this research means for you and how you can help shift your team in the direction buyers want.

April 9, 202635 min

EP. 242 Truth #5 Clear Your Mental Cache

What if your expertise is actually making you less curious?In this episode of Sales with ASLAN, Tom Stanfill and Tab Norris are joined by bestselling author and sales engineering expert Chris White to unpack the idea of “clearing your cache.”They explore why sellers often rely on assumptions instead of truly listening, how paraphrasing builds trust, and why customers need to feel uniquely understood before they are open to influence.If you’ve ever jumped to the answer too quickly, this episode is for you.Key Takeaways- Customers decide when they feel understood- Paraphrasing builds trust and clarity- Expertise can make sellers less curious- Virtual meetings make emotional cues easier to miss- Influence starts with understanding, not assumptions

March 12, 202639 min

Ep. 241: Truth #4: To Sell More, Focus on the Buyers Process, Not Your Commission

Many sellers believe the key to winning more deals is learning how to close better.But the real problem is not closing. It is failing to advance the opportunity.In this episode of Sales with ASLAN, Tom Stanfill and Tab Norris unpack one of the most practical truths from ASLAN’s 30 Truths for 30 Years series:To sell more, focus on the buyer process, not your commission.When sellers focus on their own outcome, they often push for premature decisions, rely on generic follow-up, and allow deals to stall. But when they focus on helping the buyer move through their decision process, opportunities advance more naturally, and trust grows.Tom and Tab discuss why many deals stall, how to secure meaningful next steps without sounding pushy, and how great sellers lead the buying process in ways that serve the customer.In this conversation, you will learn:• Why traditional “closing” advice often creates the wrong mindset• How to advance a sales opportunity by focusing on the buyer journey• Why every meeting should end with a clear commitment• How to get next steps without sounding transactional or pushy• What happens when sellers avoid creating a fork in the roadIf you want to improve sales conversations, opportunity management, and your ability to advance deals, this episode will give you practical ideas you can use immediately.

February 25, 202631 min

EP. 240 Truth #3 You are the Best Person to Sell Your Solution

In complex B2B sales, deals rarely fall apart because the solution is weak. More often, they stall because sellers are working through the wrong people.In out latest episode of Sales with ASLAN, Tom Stanfill and Tab Norris unpack a critical truth from our 30 truths for 30 years series: rank does not equal influence. The highest title in the room is not always the person driving the decision, and trusting someone else to sell your solution internally is a risky strategy.Tom and Tab explore:• Why deals stall when sellers rely on evaluators instead of true decision makers• How to identify real influence inside an organization• What to watch for in language and meeting dynamics• The role of a coach in navigating political structures• Why sellers must take responsibility for engaging decision makers directlyIf you want to protect your solution, avoid stalled deals, and help customers make informed decisions, this conversation will reshape how you approach influence in complex sales.

February 5, 202635 min

Ep. 239: 30 Truths for 30 Years, Truth #2 - Motive is Ultimately Transparent

Motive is ultimately transparent, and it can make or break your influence in sales and in life.In Truth #2 of ASLAN’s “30 Truths” anniversary series, Tom Stanfill and Tab Norris unpack why people can sense your intent, even when your words sound right. From “commission breath” to the subtle facial cues that give you away, they explore how motives show up through posture, questions, listening, and the next step you push for.You will learn how to “reset the compass” before high-stakes conversations, shift from trap questions to curious questions, and step into the identity of a trusted partner who represents the customer, not the product.If you want more receptivity, more credibility, and better outcomes, this one is a must-listen.

January 21, 202625 min

Ep. 238: 30 Truths for 30 Years, Truth #1 - Willingness > Message

This episode kicks off a special year for Sales with ASLAN as we celebrate 30 years in business by revisiting the most important truths we have learned along the way.Tom and Tab start with the most foundational and most counterintuitive insight of all: the customer’s willingness to listen matters more than your ability to communicate.From early days making cold calls to conversations with Fortune 100 leaders, from leadership teams to marriages and parenting teenagers, this truth shows up everywhere. When someone is not receptive, even the best message fails. When they are, influence becomes possible.In this conversation, Tom and Tab unpack why traditional persuasion often backfires, why modern buyers are more resistant than ever, and what it really takes to create fertile soil before planting the seed.

January 14, 202649 min

EP. 237 From Content to Capability: Leveraging AI to Accelerate Training Adoption

Only a day after training, most teams forget half of what they learned. By the end of the week, nearly all of it is gone. Not because the content was bad, but because the human brain is wired to forget.That is the Forgetting Curve, and it exposes a deeper issue in sales enablement. Too many organizations measure success by recall instead of change. Memory is easy to test. Behavior is harder. But behavior is the only thing that drives results.At ATD Sell 2025, ASLAN VP of Training Jesse Rome tackled this challenge head on. He explored why traditional training metrics fall short, why the gap between enablement efforts and real capability keeps widening, and how AI can either add noise or accelerate what actually works.This episode reframes the goal of sales training, from helping reps remember more, to helping them become different in the moments that matter.