CTAs shouldn’t be at the top 😬 

Listen, we don’t ask for much. A bit of attention on your Friday.

A laugh or two… maybe?

But Andrea created this fresh newsletter template from scratch and now we’ve got an awesome CTA section.

So, from this point forward, this’ll always be at the bottom. Promise. 🤞 

Whenever you’re ready, here are a few ways for us to work together:

1. Get to know Elana and Ryan. We even made a silly video for you a few months ago.

2. We’re hosting a webinar this month: The 5 Secrets to Building Killer Sales Teams. Sharing is caring (and a great way to add value for your prospects and clients). We give away our blueprint, and we even send the actual templates after the workshop.

3. We not only teach recruiting, we also fancy ourselves as the best sales recruiting firm on the planet (we joke a lot, but not about Talent Harbor).

We also believe that 30% commission is ransom, not recruiting. So if you’d like to learn more (or just trade sea stories), here’s a link directly to my calendar.

Ok, back to the show.

👋Welcome to the Sales Struggle Bus (Now Boarding)

Sales is already a beast when everyone’s ballin’ — but what happens when budgets shrink tighter than a TikTok influencer’s jeans?

We’re talkin’ ramen-for-dinner vibes 🍜, “I swear I’ll circle back next quarter” ghosting, and energy that screams, “Please just take a meeting with me 🙏.”

Down markets suck. But you know what doesn’t? Having a battle-tested playbook (and a bit of humor) to power through.

🎙️ We’ve Got Scott Wilson in the Hot Seat!

That’s right—Scott Wilson just grabbed the mic in this week’s Funnel Vision Spotlight—and trust us, he’s not begging for a meeting. 😎

From ditching “Eau de Desperation” to mastering the pause like a sales Jedi, Scott’s breaking down how to survive the slump without sounding broke. 💼🔥

🎧 Watch the full interview now (and close smarter, not sweatier).

❓️To the mailbag…

📩 Lately I feel like I’ve been selling with the energy of someone trying to re-home a used cat on Facebook Marketplace: ‘Yes, she’s lovable… but bitey.’

The market’s cold, buyers are cautious, and and I’m increasingly finding myself giving off “please take a meeting with me” vibes.

How do I stop sounding desperate and start closing deals again?

John K., Business Development Representative, Wilmington, DE.

Breaking character for this one: I feel you, John. The fear is real. And so are the solutions. Let’s unpack how to sell in a down market, especially when it’s got you shook.

💡TIP 1: Check Yo Self Before You Wreck Yo Self

Ice Cube said it best with his hit song. You can be your own worst enemy when things go sideways.

Prospects sense when you're nervous. It’s like you’re wearing the worst cologne of all time—Eau de Desperation. 🫠 

It clings to your resting pitch face.

It can even waft from your trying-too-hard follow up emails.

That nervous energy? It seeps into your tone, your follow-ups, even your LinkedIn DMs.

👉 Before you send that “Just checking in!” message (😬), stop and ask:

Am I speaking from power… or panic?

Fix the vibe before you pitch the product.

🤫TIP 2: Stop Filling Silences—Own Them Like a Boss

Once upon a time (last week 😅), I thought silence = failure.

It doesn’t.

Your prospect may be using that dead air to mentally process.

Inwardly, they might be thinking to themselves, “This is a good deal. I really want to work with you.” 💭

Instead of going into fear mode during a chitchat lull, then launching into an impromptu case study to remind them of your value, kick back.

Chill. 🛑

Enjoy the Silence. That’s what Depeche Mode did. (Man, we’re on it with these musical pop references! You’re welcome.)

Seriously though, once you ask a strong question, stop talking.

Profit from the pause. (Sidenote: that would be a good name for a sales manual.)

💅TIP 3: Fake It (a Little) To Make It

Confidence sells. Panic repels.

It’s hard to project abundance when you’re deals are stalled and it feels like the world is crashing down around you.

Here’s an idea.

We recently heard from a client who used social media proof to show their work is still in demand. High demand.

They pulled it off by posting super positive video testimonials on their Insta feed. 

Bottom line: Even if you’re sweating bullets behind the scenes, don’t let the prospect see you sweat. It’s gross. And goes terribly with your Eau de Desperation cologne.

Instead, casually drop in your wins—whatever they may be. Especially if they’re recent ones you can easily pull up on your phone.

🧘‍♀️This Too Shall Pass [like a kidney stone]

Yes, the market’s wild. Yes, your inbox might be quieter than a mime in a library 📬.

But remember:

• 👉️ Life is cyclical.

• 👉️ Markets are cyclical.

• 👉️ Business is cyclical.

You can’t ride the highs if you haven’t survived the lows.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill (…or possibly your sales manager after three bad quarters.)

Hang in there. Keep showing up. And don’t forget: whatever the economy throws at you, we’ve got answers—plus a healthy dose of sarcasm.

THAT’S A WRAP

We’ll be back before you know it 😉

To your sales success, 🚀

-Elana & Ryan
Find Elana On LinkedIn 
Find Ryan On LinkedIn

P.S. Don’t ghost us — vote below or drop a quick reply. We really wanna know!

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