The Art of Sales with Art Sobczak

What if you could never lose on a sales call again - even when prospects say no? Most salespeople approach calls with one goal: get the sale or appointment. When that doesn't happen, they feel rejected and start avoiding the phone altogether. In this episode, Art reveals the "Secondary Objectives" strategy that turns every conversation into a win. Whether you're building rapport, gathering intelligence, or learning about their decision process - you'll discover multiple ways to succeed on every call. Plus: A simple 3-call challenge that will eliminate call reluctance and transform how you approach prospecting forever. This tactical mindset shift comes straight from Art's Ultimate Sales Professional course and has helped thousands of salespeople become truly rejection-proof.

In this second part of Art's exclusive mastermind session recorded on a Mediterranean cruise, four extraordinarily successful entrepreneurs reveal the mindset shifts, identity traits, and beliefs that took them from startups to multimillion-dollar exits. Meet the panel: Tim Murphy - Built Presidential Pools from cleaning pools to 35,000+ pools and the largest pool builder in the US Tim Barone - Grew Vantage Mobility from $5M to $350M in wheelchair accessible vehicles Darren Wellborn - Scaled his civil engineering startup to 500+ engineers across 6 locations Louis Basile - Co-founded Wildflower Bread Company, growing from home kitchen recipes to 16 restaurant locations You'll discover: ✓ Why thinking of work as "fun" rather than work changes everything  ✓ The "zero debt" philosophy that eliminated fear and accelerated growth ✓ How to hire people smarter than you (and why most entrepreneurs struggle with this) ✓ The power of giving employees "a piece of the action" and why it creates unstoppable momentum ✓ Why "refusing to fail" doesn't mean avoiding risk—it means the opposite ✓ The mindset shift from "running in the business" to "running the business" ✓ How authenticity and curiosity become competitive advantages Key insight: These leaders didn't just build companies—they built cultures where employees became family, customers became advocates, and even competitors became allies. Whether you're a solopreneur, sales professional, or building a team, these battle-tested insights will shift how you think about success, leadership, and what it really takes to dominate your market. Part 1 (Episode 314) covered their strategies and tactics. Part 2 reveals the thinking behind the success.

Art takes listeners aboard a cruise ship for a unique mastermind session with four incredibly successful business people... friends of his who built and sold multimillion-dollar companies. This rare group conversation features: Tim Murphy - Built Presidential Pools from startup to 35,000+ pools and the largest pool builder in the US, selling twice over 35 years Tim Barone - Grew a handicapped van conversion company from $5M to $350M in revenue over 25 years Louis Basile - Founded and built Wildflower Bread Company into 16 locations over 28 years before selling in 2024 Darren Welborn - Started an engineering firm at 27, grew it to 500+ employees across six states, and sold at age 44 Each shares their sales philosophies and what set them apart from competitors.  Common themes emerge around the power of referrals, creating exceptional customer experiences, building strong company cultures, and the critical importance of employee retention and training. The group also discusses real-world examples of turning customer problems into opportunities and why "settling the claim" should be every company's philosophy. This is Part 1 of a two-part series, with Part 2, episode 315, focusing on the mindset and thinking patterns that separated these entrepreneurs from the pack.

Even top-performing sales pros feel it. Fear. Resistance. That creeping hesitation before hitting “send” or dialing the next number. In this honest, no-fluff episode, we're talking straight about fear in sales—where it hides, how it disguises itself, and most importantly, how to stop letting it drive the bus. You'll learn: Why fear isn't your enemy—and how to turn it into motivation How disguised fear shows up as procrastination, perfectionism, or "just one more tweak" A powerful reframe to become rejection-proof (hint: it's not about getting a yes) Why “feeling ready” is a trap—and how imposter syndrome really works The one tool fear absolutely hates (and how to use it every day) Whether you're brand new or a seasoned sales pro, this episode will give you practical, mindset-shifting tools to stop fear from calling the shots—and start showing up like the pro you already are.

Think you're not in sales? Think again. In this episode, Art breaks down why everyone sells—whether or not it's in your job title. You'll discover the three big reasons people fear selling, how to reframe what sales really is (hint: it's helping), and the five mindset and action shifts that let you sell naturally, confidently, and without ever feeling pushy. If you've ever influenced, advised, persuaded, or guided anyone… you've sold. Now let's make sure you're doing it the right way.

Is name-dropping a powerful credibility booster or a fast track to sounding desperate? In this eye-opening episode, Art reveals the shocking truth about strategic name-dropping that most sales professionals get completely wrong. Discover why mentioning the right name can boost your email open rates by an astonishing 468%, while the wrong reference can instantly kill your deal. Art shares his embarrassing early-career mistake that taught him the "3 R's" framework for name-dropping that actually works. You'll learn: When name-dropping creates instant credibility (and when it backfires) The psychology behind why prospects are drawn to certain references A simple test to determine which names to use with specific prospects Real-world examples of name-dropping wins and epic fails Plus, Art challenges you with a practical exercise that will transform your approach to establishing credibility in any sales situation. Whether you're a seasoned sales pro or just starting out, this episode gives you an unfair advantage in a world where first impressions make or break deals.

Ever had a prospect who knows they have a problem but just hasn't pulled the trigger on fixing it? In this episode, I share two simple but powerful questions that uncover what's been holding them back—and more importantly, what's finally pushing them to take action now. We'll break down the psychology behind these questions, how a paver salesman used them on me to close a deal I had been putting off for years, and how you can apply them to your own sales conversations to create urgency without pressure. Plus, I'll share five variations of each question so you can make them sound natural in any situation. Use this strategy, and you'll have prospects convincing themselves why they need to move forward today. Hit play now and start turning hesitation into action!

Art breaks down a real-life sales experience with a local painting company and uncover the critical sales mistakes that cost them the job. From the first contact to the follow-up (or lack thereof), we'll dissect what went wrong—and more importantly, how sales pros can avoid making these same costly errors. You'll learn: -Why rigid qualifying questions can push buyers away -The power of asking the right questions—and actually listening -How unnecessary upselling can lose trust and sales -Why speed and simplicity in quoting are game-changers -The importance of following through on promises Listen in and make sure you're not making these common mistakes in your own sales process!

Asking prospects “Do you have a problem?” is ineffective, and causes conversations to die. A better approach that gets them to open up is using "assumptive problem quesitons.  These get them to relive their challenges, and create urgency for a solution. Art breaks down the psychology behind these questions, shares examples from different industries, and provides an actionable exercise to create your own. Learn how to turn conversations into results and position yourself as the trusted expert every prospect needs. Art also announced the opening of the new, revised Smart Calling College prospecting and sales training program: http://SmartCallingCollege.com

There are four pillars that comprise being the Ultimate Sales Professional, and not someone who just does sales. Being fearless and rejection-proof, Being others-focused in your thinking and actions, Mastering a proven prospecting and sales process, and messaging, Having the discipline, habits, and radical responsibility to do the work. You'll hear the problems and challenges you might experience when someone is lacking in any of these areas, and what to do to excel in all of them. To learn about Art's new Smart Calling Ultimate Sales Pro Mastery coaching and training program mentioned in this episode, go to http://SmartCalling.com/coaching.

We explore the art of being genuinely interested in others—both in social settings and sales conversations. Inspired by observations at recent holiday parties, Art shares how most people fail to listen effectively, turning conversations back to themselves instead of encouraging others to share. This behavior isn't just socially frustrating—it's costly in sales. Learn to recognize critical "problem/trigger words" like “We're noticing…” or “The problem is…,” and discover simple, powerful questions to dig deeper, uncover pain points, and build trust. By staying curious, listening intently, and prompting prospects to share more, you'll not only get better information but also create emotional connections that drive results. You'll hear how to master the techniques of “Tell me more about that” and “What's causing this?” to transform your conversations, make yourself more interesting, and ultimately close more sales.

MK Mueller has changed lives worldwide with her "8 to Great" simple methodology for having a positive attutude, ALL of the time.  As salespeople, we know that our attitude has more of an effect on our results, and income, than any sales process or technique. MK shares tips, stories, and how-to exercises than anyone can implement right now to get and keep our attitude at high levels.

The election is over. Some are ecstatic, others angry. Those who rely on the results to determine their happiness and success will be greatly disappointed. Ultimately, if you want change, YOU need to change. No outside influence affects your destiny like you do. In this episode you'll hear how to take control of your own success. And, if this message resonates, get notified of my new coaching program that covers this very necessary aspect that is absolutely required to be the Ultimate Sales Professional. https://smartcalling.training/sales-pro-mastery-notify/

Asking someone "Why?" they do or say something has the potential to put someone on the spot and feel like they need to defend themselves.  A scientifically-proven better option is to word questions with "How?" In this episode you hear the reasoning, and specific examples of how to use "How?" to get more and better information, build relationships, and make more sales. 

Probably the biggest roadblock to success for most salespeople is the fear of rejection. But, rejection doesn't actually exisit. It is the story that someone attaches to an experience. When we take control, and tell ourselves different, better, and positive stories, rejection doesn't happen. You'll hear exactly how to do this, and how to never be rejected again.

Someone who is always the victim has little chance to succeed in professional sales. Sales, when done at the highest level is all about taking responsibility, ownership, and leading. If someone is not getting the results they want, it is on them. Not because of anything, or anyone else. In this episode you'll hear what to do to identify victim tendencies, and specific actions to take full ownership, all of the time.

An objection some salespeople hear is, "I only want to pay if I get the results you say we'll get." Art shares how he suggested a fellow coach handle that actual objection that she received from a prospect, and the exact process that you can use to prepare for and address your own objections. And it's not by using silly, adversarial objection "rebuttal" techniques, but instead getting someone talking and explaining the reason behind their belief. The process is covered more in-depth in Art's free objections masterclass that you can get access to immediately at http://Smartcalling.training/objections

A famous saying is that "You can't NOT communicate." Meaning that everything you do or say that is observed by someone, whether it is intentional or not, is creating feelings in others. We can be much more successful in sales, and in life, by focusing on how we can make more of those feelings positive. Art shares contrasting examples from a recent vacation to Cabo San Lucas where he experienced both great and negative feelings from simple interactions.  You'll also hear simple things you can do right now to make the lives of others better every day, including yours in the process.

Many prospects don't want to abide by our timetable. They want to know what the price is, before we are ready to go there.  How you respond makes the difference between annoying them, giving them a price that seems unreasonable for them, OR helping them realize you need to learn more about what they really want so that you can give them the best price. In this episode you'll hear several examples of exactly what to say to get them talking, so you can present price in a way where you have developed value way higher than the price.

An even bigger problem than losing out to a competitor is losing a deal due to no decision.    James Muir wrote an entire book on how to prevent deals from getting stuck in the first place, and then how to get them unstuck.   In this episode he shares what to do to prevent stalls, the five issues that cause deals to stick, and exactly what to do and say to get them unstuck.

The best way to get voice mails responded to, and create instant interest on prospecting calls is to make your messaging relevant to them by personalizing and customizing it. And the best source of intel to do that is other people who will give it to you. You ask questions, doing Social Engineering. You'll get the simple, proven, four-step process, with word-for-word messaging you can use and adapt to begin collecting that information today. And once you have it, you can plug it into the Smart Calling voice mail and opening process with the free fill-in-the-blanks template you can get at http://salesbyphone.com.

When a sales rep is told, "Just be yourself" on calls, instead of being totally prepared, that is some of the worst advice ever. Unless the rep is a skilled, knowledgeable, experienced, prepared person already, just being themself can result in disaster. Maybe you've been there. Art breaks this down, and discusses what we DO need to do in order to become the best version of ourselves, who is authentic, smooth, and connects at a human level. Also he references the newly revised site, with lots of valuable training resources, both free and premium, http://smartcalling.com.

There is a difference between simple price comments, like, "Wow, that's more expensive than I thought," and real price objections, like, "We don't have that in the budget." The problem for a lot of salespeople, is that at the first sound of a price comment, they begin dropping price. Unnecessarily. You'll hear Art's experience with a tree service owner who cut his profit in half, and what you can and should do when you hear simple price statements and comments. And, to get's Art's free masterclass, "How to Easily Handle Sales Resistance and Objections--Without Using Goofy and Uncomfortable Rebuttals," go to http://SmartCalling.Training/objections 

Most sales training on objections contradicts how normal people think and speak. Because, it suggests you tell someone they are wrong.   And what is the result of that? The opposite of the intended result: they become more defensive. And it feels sleazy for the person saying it.   In this episode Art gives the professional, conversational process to help lead someone through a process, so they will first be open to your ideas, and eventually change their mind, feeling like it is their idea.   And he offers a free objections masterclass at http://Smartcalling.training/objections    

The old mantra is that the ABC's of sales are "Always be closing." Not only is that wrong, but it adds to the negative stereotype of salespeople. The beneficial, real ABC of closing is "Always be curious." Art explains why, and what you can do to enhance your curiousity muscle.

Success in sales, and life for that matter, does not rely on having more information. Everyone has access to that. It always relies on the person. Their identity and values. One of the many components that go into BEing a truce sales professional is being others-focused. In this episode Art shares a three-letter acronym, that when you use it to remind yourself of one key concept about every human interaction, will change your life and that of others you speak with.

Voice mail can help make a positive impression, create curiosity and interest, or kill any chance of speaking with a prospect.  Likewise with the greeting you leave for those who call you. Art shares tips on what to say and avoid on voice mail so that you are perceived like the professional you are.

If you browse LinkedIn, you'll see lots of -new-to-the-scene "gurus" trying to pump up their Likes and Comments by saying things are old, outdated, dead, and don't work anymore. Then they suggest what is "new." Art breaks this down, and shows that what supposedly is new, always worked, and always will, and what specifically we need to do as sales pros to show consistent success.

If a salesperson avoids placing the prospecting or sales calls, in addition to the typical guilt they experience, and the potential lost opportunities, they are actually being selfish. That's because they are depriving possible future customers of the value they could receive. In this episode Art explores this more, the causes of call avoidance, ane what to do to get rid of it, and quit being selfish.  

Think about the last time you spoke with someone whose words were so foreign to you that you had no idea what they were saying. And by foreign, that could be being overly technical, or using jargon that you never use in your world. That's what some salespeople do, and it kills sales. In this episode you'll hear examples of how that happened with Art, and specific what-to-do's in order to be sure you are speaking their language so you connect at a high level.

A very simple--but not always followed--principle is that those who expect to win, do so more often than those who think they don't have a chance. This applies to sports, and sales. Art shares a story about what George Brett had to say about this, and explains how it applies to all of your calls, and how you can win more of them.

Richard Weylman works with businesses worldwide, helping them create customer experiences that keeps them coming back. In this episode, he shares what customers really want, that you can model in your own business, and sales. He shares a number of instantly-useable, how-to's and what-to-say messaging examples that you might not have heard before, and perhaps even correct mistakes that repel prospects and customers.

Today's guest, Jason Bay, specializes in helping sales pros use outbound calling to get through to, and engage more new buyers.    In this episode we discussed, -The two key components for prospecting success and getting to buyers today.  -How to increase your "pick up rate," which is the percentage of people actually answering your call. -How to respond when someone objects to being called on their mobile phone. -What's working now with cold email to get responses. -Plus more!

Many people ask questions, then don't even listen to the answers. It's like driving somewhere, but when you arrive, don't remember anything about the drive because your mind was totally immersed in something else. This is "sleepwalking" through the communcation process, and it is dangerous for us as sales pros. You'll hear specific how-to's on how to avoid it, and what TO do to be a high level questioner and communicator.

Best-selling authors Bob Burg, and Jeff C. West have teamed up to write an excellent new sales parable in book form. Filled with lessons on leadership, sales skills, music, and entertainment, it's a short, fun read, which will both new and veteran sales pros, or anyone who communicates. In this special video episode, Bob and Jeff share with Art lessons from the book, the inspiration for it, what it's like to collaborate on a book, and more.

The saying is that people buy from those they know, like, and trust. But, how is trust built? There isn't a standard playbook for that. But, in this episdoe Art covers 13 strategies and tactics you can use to build more trust and credibility with prospects and customers. This is an excerpt from a comprehensive training Art did for his coaching members. You can get that at http://ArtSobczak.training/Know-Like-Trust.

There are many things we should not assume, in life, and sales. One thing we can assume, though, is that someone is experiencing a pain or a problem (IF you have done your homework, and have targeted your prospects well.) By assuming a problem, we can avoid dumb, go-nowhere sales questions, and instead, ask great questions that get them to talk about that pain or problem. These questions are easy for them to answer, as opposed to the dumb ones that give us answers we can't use, since we asked them to do too much work to answer. You'll hear exactly how you can easily create your own Assumptive Problem questions to get people talking about problems you can help them with.

Most TV commercials are just plain dumb, and often annoying. However, one company understands sales and persuasive messaging, and gets it right. That's Fisher Investments. In this episode Art breaks down one of their commercials and points out the sales techniques at work, and how you can use them too.

The not so secret, "secret" of the top achievers in anything is that they THINK differently than those who do not come close to their levels of accomplishment.    One of those important areas of thinking is having an abundance--not scarcity--mindset.   In this episode you'll hear specific examples and actions you can take to model that thinking in your own life and sales profession to reach levels that are yours for the taking.

When someone whom you thought was a great prospect then goes silent on you, that's the sign of a problem you could have avoided. It's actually the same problem that occurs when you take an easy order from someone who just volunteers to buy quickly. It's not knowing WHY someone might, will, or does buy. In the former case, the result is evident. No sale. When they do buy, we potentially miss out on many more sales, and opportunities to help the customer. You'll hear what to do in both situations, with specific messaging and questions to use.

This popular episode is being presented to complement a free training webinar, "Get the Sales Meeting No One Else Can- Intel Secrets for Finding the Right Person, at the Right Time, with the Right Message." Sign up at http://salesbyphone.com/webinar. To be relevant in today's noise-filled sales world, we need to customize and personalize our messaging so it is all about the prospect and customer. Some say that is being creepy. It could be, when used the wrong way. You'll hear the right way, along with examples, to make your messaging stand out, and engage prospects and customers.

Can you imagine someone being so impacted by a mentor that they write an entire BOOK and publish it as thanks? That's exactly what sales pro Tim Rohrer did with his sales manager. His book, "Sales Lessons of the World's Greatest Mentor" details his relationship with his sales manager, and the many life and sales lessons he learned on the way to becoming a top sales producer.  We all will benefit from these insightul, real-world tips and strategies.

THE best way to deal with objections is to prevent them from coming up in the first place. One way to do that is to be sure you are only talking about what the other person is interested in. The other is to get them visualize themselves already owning, using, and getting value from your product or service. We do that with one simple question. You'll hear the template for the question, examples of it in use, and how you can use it in your own sales situations.

Many salespeople destroy any chan"langce of having a meaningful conversation--much less a sale--by using language that creates immediate resistance. Today's guest, Liz Wendling, is a sales trainer specializing in helping salespeople avoid "language landmines," "word bombs," and "phrase grenades," and shows them what to say instead to create interest and engage prospects and customers. You'll hear lots of things to avoid, and what you can replace them with to get more people talking, and buying from you.

Most salespeople have a dream customer they would love to have, who would make a great impact on their business, income, and life. Yet, they have not pursued them yet. The reason usually lies within the salesperson's own mind. You'll hear what to say, do, and think to get in action to have a chance with this customer becoming a reality, and many more like them.

So often when a sales call is reaching a dead end, the salesperson says, "Well, keep us in mind for the future." That's a waste of words, since the prospect has no intention of remembering the salesperson past the next 10 seconds. But, there might actually be potential now, or in the future. Here's what to say to find out.

When a prospect or customers says, "The timing isn't right, right now," what should you do? What you should NOT do is just offer to call back at future date. That could just move the next brush off further out.  We do want to figure out, first, if they are or would be a buyer, why the timing isn't right, and get commitment that they will buy in the future. You'll hear exactly how to do this, along with messaging examples you can use and adapt.

Art answered the coldest of cold calls, where the rep made four fatal mistakes in just the opening sentences, then it got worse. Sadly, it's typical of some of the nonsense that is taught about prospecting. Instead of just getting rid of the clueless caller, Art used it as an opportunity to coach him on what could and should have been said to create interest and engage. Hear what you should avoid, and do, on prospecting calls to take out the "cold," make them Smart, and actually have meaningful conversations with curious, interested buyers.

The worst sales advice you could ever get is, "Just be yourself. Don't have a script. Let it flow." What if a doctor or lawyer did that? You'll always sound smoother when you're prepared, and the ultimate goal is to reach the level of "knowing" what to say.  You'll hear how to do it in this episode.  

Salespeople often waste time with people who have no intention of doing anything about their problem or situation. That's why it's important to get agreement on two different levels. You'll hear what these are, and Art's personal example of how a grill cleaner did not do it with him. And you'll get questions you can use in your own sales situations.

Lots of potential sales are squandered every day, with people who have actually proactively shown interest in a company's product/service. You'll hear when and how to respond, and what to say to close more of these opportunities, more quickly.