Podcasts about Outbound

In this episode, Jason, Clara Johnson, and Amanda Long from Outbound Squad, talk about why outbound needs its own methodology, the three core parts of Too Good To Ignore, how to scale it across your team, and practical plays your reps can use to book more meetings. Check out more free content and get help with outbound at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://outboundsquad.com.⁠

Should your dealership replace its human BDC with AI? Not so fast. In SDR #372, Chris Collins, Hogi, and Adam break down what AI phone systems can—and still can't—do inside a dealership service department. Drawing on experience inside hundreds of dealerships, the team compares AI and human BDCs based on the outcome that actually matters: loading the shop, retaining customers, and creating a better service experience. AI can be a useful tool, but it doesn't know when a technician calls out, when a repair becomes a holdover, when the shop runs out of work, or when a customer's situation requires judgment and empathy. A trained BDC employee can react in real time, build relationships, recover missed opportunities, and become part of your dealership's future advisor bench. In this episode: • Why dealerships are rushing into AI-powered BDCs • The customer-service failures that expose AI's limitations • How one dealership chatbot reportedly agreed to sell a Tahoe for $1 • Why your BDC must understand what is happening inside the shop • How outbound calls recover declined work, no-shows, and lost customers • Why a human BDC can improve retention and manufacturer maintenance utilization  • How the BDC develops your next generation of service advisors • Where AI belongs today—and why dealerships shouldn't go all-in yet The question isn't simply whether AI costs less. The real question is whether you're trying to save a nickel today or build a stronger, more profitable customer base for the future. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to Service Drive Revolution 01:00 AI or humans: Which BDC is better? 02:11 Driverless cars and the limits of automation 05:25 Bill Nye and Books That Changed My Life 11:49 A $600 customer-service nightmare 16:38 When airline AI can't solve the problem 22:01 The chatbot that sold a Tahoe for $1 23:00 Why AI still requires human oversight 28:19 Companies bring human employees back 33:14 The dealership BDC debate begins 34:15 Why AI phone vendors are everywhere 35:25 Are you saving money or making money? 36:46 Customers still want a real person 37:06 What a service BDC should actually accomplish 38:53 Outbound calls, retention, and declined work 40:26 The advantage of an in-house human BDC 41:26 Your BDC is your future service-advisor bench 43:40 The verdict: Is AI ready to replace your BDC? 47:09 Join the SDR Academy #ServiceDriveRevolution #AutomotiveBDC #FixedOperations

Today, I'm looking at why my pipeline is never really full. Even when I have a customer base or an established business, I still need to continue creating opportunities and communicating the value of what I have. Outbound is not just for beginners, because the highest performing businesses never cease filling their pipeline. I have to make sure new people enter the pipeline and that existing people have a reason to come through again.  Show Notes: [03:11]#1 Visibility is never permanent.  [09:55]#2 Opportunities rarely arrive in sufficient quantities. [15:44]#3 The best operators do not wait to be chosen.  [19:14] Recap Next Steps: --- Execution is not a talent.   It is a standard. If your results don't match your ability, something in your approach is out of alignment. Most people do not have a motivation problem.   They have a consistency problem. Power Presence is the system for operating with greater discipline, clarity, structure, and execution under pressure. Learn more: → http://www.PowerPresenceProtocol.com  Know what to do but not always doing it?  Measure your execution at → http://RateMyExecution.com. Get Dre's free Daily Game email at http://WorkOnMyGame.com. Every day you'll receive one practical lesson on leadership, mindset, discipline, and execution to help you perform at a higher level. No fluff. Just game

If you work with an agency, there are a few things you usually only learn once the campaign is already running. In this special in-person episode, Michael sits down with Belkins Managing Director Alex Sribnyi to talk about what actually happens behind the scenes of B2B lead generation: why some agency-client relationships work, why others fall apart, what companies often misunderstand about outbound, and how the role of an SDR is changing. Alex has spent more than 10 years in the industry, managed hundreds of SDRs and Account Managers, and worked across thousands of B2B client strategies. So this conversation goes well beyond theory. Michael and Alex get into:

What happens when you combine digital marketing with real estate investing? Bryan Driscoll started in digital marketing, working in areas like SEO, e-commerce, and health insurance. After buying his first property from a wholesaler, he realized he could potentially generate those real estate leads himself—and that experiment eventually grew into a marketing business focused on real estate investors. In this episode of the Jake & Gino Podcast, Bryan breaks down how real estate investors can use marketing to find better leads, build their brand, raise capital, and ultimately acquire more real estate. Bryan also explains why one of the biggest problems investors face isn't a lack of tools—it's not taking action. And his approach to real estate is simple: use the income you generate today to build assets that can create wealth for your future. If you're a real estate investor looking to generate more leads, find better deals, build your personal brand, or use AI to improve your marketing, this episode is for you. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro & Meet Bryan Driscoll 01:07 Bryan's Real Estate Investing Strategy 01:43 From Digital Marketing to Real Estate Lead Generation 02:49 Why Real Estate Investors Struggle With Marketing 03:48 Who Should Handle Your Leads? 05:04 Outbound vs. Inbound Marketing 05:32 Facebook Ads & Lead Quality 06:56 Facebook Native Leads Explained 08:07 Who Should You Target? Finding Your Ideal Avatar 09:38 Why Website Leads Can Be Higher Quality 10:29 What Should a Real Estate Lead Cost? 11:45 Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads 13:02 How to Get Started With Google PPC 14:39 How to Choose the Right Marketing Agency 16:46 What to Look for in a Marketing Company 18:18 The KPIs Every Investor Should Track 19:15 How Much Should a Real Estate Deal Cost? 20:26 Bryan's First Marketing-Generated Leads 21:58 What's Working in Real Estate Marketing Right Now? 23:39 How Often Should You Adjust Your Facebook Ads? 25:35 Don't Fix What Isn't Broken 27:11 When Should You Hire a Marketing Agency? 27:47 Marketing vs. Real Estate: Which Does Bryan Prefer? 28:03 Using Real Estate to Build Long-Term Wealth 29:23 Why Real Estate Investors Need to Build Their Personal Brand 29:36 Sponsor Break 29:52 How Marketing Helped Build Bryan's Real Estate Portfolio 30:18 How Bryan Built 14 Properties Using the BRRRR Strategy 31:27 Bryan's Long-Term Wealth Strategy 33:30 Marketing for Multifamily Real Estate 35:30 Building Relationships With Property Managers 37:18 Phone, Text & Direct Outreach for Multifamily 39:38 Building an Investor List With Facebook & Google 40:13 How to Turn Social Media Followers Into an Email List 42:07 The Biggest Mistake Real Estate Investors Make 43:24 Building Websites With AI 44:40 The CRM Bryan Recommends 45:25 How to Start Your Marketing Strategy 46:59 Using AI to Find Your Ideal Customer 47:32 AI Tools for Creating Marketing Ads 48:05 The Future of Real Estate Marketing 48:56 Why Your Marketing Message Matters 49:21 Where to Find Bryan Driscoll

Shutterstock Track 1219389 Monetization ID TFGEPGEI0LHEIJAI Kia ora. Welcome to Monday's Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand. I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from interest.co.nz. Today we lead with news we are facing a new burst in inflation as commodity prices rise, oil and gold both are rising, and benchmark interest rates are stuck high waiting to see where these tea leaves settle. Locally this week we will get June migration data, and inflation expectation updates. There also will be the July PMI update and probably the July REINZ results as well. In Australia, look out for their NAB business sentiment update, but the key event will be the RBA's rate review on Tuesday even if no-change is expected or priced in. That is despite their CPI at 3.8% and running way above their target range of 2% to 3%, and showing little sign it will get back within range any time soon. In the US, they will release their July CPI data too (expect 3.4%), their PPI (expect 5.5%) and another consumer sentiment update. In China, we are awaiting their new yuan debt data which should come late this week and be another quite weak result (expect just +¥45 bln). Over the weekend China released their CPI inflation data, revealing an annual inflation rate of just 0.5% in July, down from 1.0% in the previous month. Analysts had expected an 0.8% rate in July so this was their lowest level since January. Food prices dropped 1.5% year-on-year, following a 1.6% decline in the previous month and marking the fourth straight month it fell. But beef prices rose +4.5% and lamb prices by +6.2% in July from a year ago. Dairy product prices were -1.5% lower however. Meanwhile, China's producer prices rose +3.5% in July from a year ago, slowing from a 4.1% rise in June, and that is their steepest rise in nearly four years. The retreating pace is due to weaker commodity prices, softer domestic demand, and continued pressure from overcapacity. There is also intense price competition in some industries. China's exports surged almost +24% to US$398 bln in July in a better than expected result. The gains were driven by strong demand for AI-related technology products and a rush by manufacturers to ship goods to the US ahead of potential new tariffs. Outbound shipments to the US rose +17%, the EU by +16%, and to ASEAN nations by +38%. And while China reported relatively stable foreign exchange reserves as at the end of July, they also reported that their official gold holdings rose +640,000 oz, almost +20 tonnes in one month. That is the most in a 21 month streak of gold buying. Meanwhile Typhoon Dolphin is heading for the China coast after clipping Okinawa, due to strike south of Shanghai. It is a Cat 3 storm and over 1 mln people have been evacuated to safer ground. Taiwanese exports stayed very high at US$75.3 bln, just off record levels, but as time rolls on with these high or record high levels, the year-on-year gains are fading. Still, they managed to report a +33% rise from a year ago, an unusually strong gain. And their trade surplus remained unusually large at +US$17.2 bln, up from +US$14.3 bln in July 2025. Across the Pacific in the US economy, and even with Trump loyalists controlling the data agency, US non-farm payrolls were reported contracting in July, down -23,000 at the headline level when a very modest +80,000 was expected. That is their worst July result in at least a decade. And it get much worse if you look at actual data because payrolls shrank almost -1.1 mln in July from June before seasonal adjustment. This is the real number of people who lost employment in the month. Their participation rate inched down while their jobless rate was little-changed at 4.1%. US inflation expectations for one year ahead edged down to 3.6% in July from 3.7% in June which was the highest since September 2023. The July level is the new baseline since the US attacked Iran. Prior to that, this survey recorded about 3% for the prior two years. Earnings in the same survey are seen to rise +2.8%, so that continues to record an underwater expectation for household finances. US consumer debt levels rose +3.3% in June with revolving credit rising +6.0% on the same basis as both credit card debt and car loans rising sharply. Student loans recorded an unusual fall. A weakening labour market and both stubbornly high inflation and inflation expectations will complicate the discussions in Warsh's Fed meetings. Do they cut, hold or raise. There are probably votes for all three options. Markets currently price in half a chance of a +25 bps hike in September. And Trump is back trying to screw the scrum. There was quite the contrast in Canada with them reporting their employment rose +75,100 in July from June. It will have been a very long time since they had a gain that exceeded their southern neighbour. Their jobless rate fell to 6.4% and a two year low while their participation rate inched up. Bird flu is spreading in Australia, even if the number of reported cases is still quite minor. There is no way to properly track it, and by the time reports are received, infection is well established.... The UST 10yr yield is now just on 4.66%, up +2 bps from this time Saturday but down -8 bps for the week.  The price of gold has risen to US$4343/oz, up +US$6 from Saturday, up +US$293 or +7% from a week ago. Silver has held little-changed at just over US$63.50/oz. That is up +US$5.50/oz for the week or a +9.5% gain. Oil prices are unchanged from yesterday and still just over US$78/bbl in the US, while the international Brent price is still just on US$83.50/bbl, A week ago these prices were US$84.50 and US$88/bbl respectively. Hormuz transits are still very constrained. There have been only three crude tanker and 6 cargo ship exiting over the past 24 hours (3 dark with transponders off) and eight entering for new loads (3 dark), again all Iran-linked. The Red Sea activity is still low with just 20 either way at the Yemen chokepoint. The Kiwi dollar is unchanged from Saturday at just over 58.9 USc, making it unchanged for the week. Against the Aussie we are little-changed at 83.4 AUc. Against the euro we have held at 51 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at 62.6 which is up a bit less than +10 bps from this time Saturday essentially unchanged for the week. The bitcoin price starts today at US$65,151 and up +0.6% from this time Saturday, up +3.3% from last week. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been very low however at just on +/-0.3%. You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz. Kia ora. I'm David Chaston and we'll do this again tomorrow. Track 1219389 Monetization ID TFGEPGEI0LHEIJAI Audio soundtrack opening is licensed from Shutterstock, Track 1219389 Monetization ID TFGEPGEI0LHEIJAI

Welcome solo and group practice owners! We are Liath Dalton and Evan Dumas, your co-hosts of Group Practice Tech. In our latest episode, we have an exciting update about how to make your Google Workspace email HIPAA-secure. We discuss: The encryption mechanism, TLS, and how it fits into HIPAA Security Rule standards Ways that behavioral health practices typically manage email security Escrow style email The transmission security standard under HIPAA Google's transparency report about safer email HIPAA-friendly conventional email vs. HIPAA secure email Two limitations to be aware of and a risk management and ethics perspective  How to set up this configuration in Google Workspace Listen here: https://personcenteredtech.com/group/podcast/ For more, visit our website. PCT Resources: Article: A Practical Way to Secure Outbound Email in Google Workspace: What Mental Health Practices Need to Know Read PCT's complete explanation of the global routing rule, what enforced TLS changes for mental health practices, what it does and does not protect, and the steps practices should take before relying on it for email containing protected health information. PCT's Free Google Workspace Configuration Help Center Access PCT's video tutorial demonstrating how to configure the global outbound routing rule, along with additional step-by-step guidance for configuring Google Workspace for HIPAA-compatible use. Office Hours for Solo Practitioners Get direct consultation and ongoing support for applying HIPAA requirements to the particular needs of your practice—including email, client communication, technology selection, policies, and implementation. Group Practice Office Hours Practice leaders can receive direct support with developing communication systems and workflows that are HIPAA-compatible, effective, efficient, and workable for the practice, its team, and its clients. Article: 3 Kinds of Email Security: How to Make an Informed and HIPAA-Aware Choice Learn about PCT's framework for distinguishing among conventional email, TLS-secured email, and escrow or portal-style secure messaging—and choosing the option that fits the information, workflow, and client circumstances involved. Resources: Google Workspace Admin Help: Send Email Over a Secure TLS Connection Google's instructions for requiring TLS when sending email to specified recipients and preventing delivery when a secure connection cannot be established. Google Transparency Report: Email Encryption in Transit View Google's current data on the percentage of email sent and received by Gmail that is encrypted while traveling between email providers. HHS: Does the Security Rule Allow for Sending Electronic PHI in an Email? HHS guidance explaining how the HIPAA Security Rule applies when electronic protected health information is transmitted by email. HHS: Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule Permit Providers to Use Email With Patients? HHS guidance addressing email communication with patients, reasonable safeguards, and patients' requests to communicate through alternative means.

In this episode of the Sorghum State Podcast, host Maddy Meier takes listeners inside a recent outbound trade mission to China, where Kansas Sorghum and United Sorghum Checkoff Program leaders met directly with international customers to strengthen relationships, better understand market needs and create new opportunities for U.S. sorghum producers. Joining the conversation are Adam York, CEO of Kansas Sorghum; Florentino Lopez, independent agricultural consultant with Creando Mañana, LLC; and Kim Baldwin, McPherson-area sorghum producer and Chairwoman of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program. Together, they discuss the importance of international market development and how conversations with global customers help create long-term demand for the sorghum Kansas farmers grow each year.During the mission, the delegation traveled across four Chinese cities, meeting with feed manufacturers, grain buyers and industry leaders before attending the 2026 China Imported Grains & Feed Conference in Shanghai. The group shares what they learned from customers, including what they value most about U.S. sorghum and how strong relationships continue to shape future market opportunities.The episode explores the history of U.S.-China trade relationships, the role of market development efforts and how trade missions help connect producers with customers around the world. Listeners will learn how conversations that happen thousands of miles away ultimately impact Kansas farms by helping maintain and expand demand for sorghum.To learn more about Kansas Sorghum's market development efforts, research initiatives and programs supporting producers, visit ksgrainsorghum.org. To support the future of the sorghum industry, learn more about membership opportunities at sorghumgrowers.com/join.

You met them at an event. Or through a LinkedIn message. Or an intro you asked for.However you found them, you thought the conversation you had was good. They showed real interest and said to follow up.So you did.And then nothing.If you're like most independent consultants, you've got a stack of these. People you went out and found, who seemed genuinely interested, and then went silent.You did the work to create the lead.You had the conversation.And it still died on the vine.They ghost you.They say they'll circle back, and don't.They're genuinely interested on Tuesday and unreachable on Wednesday.Here's the thing. It's not random. And it's not you being bad at sales.There are five specific reasons outbound leads stall out before they become clients. Most consultants are tripping over three or four of them at once and don't even know it.In Episode 282, Melisa Liberman walks you through all fiveY, and gives you the root cause and concrete fix for each one. You'll spot the ones costing you clients right now.You'll hear the mindset shift sitting underneath all five.And you'll know exactly what to do differently in your next outbound conversation.If you're generating conversations and watching them stall or go nowhere, this is the episode that tells you why, and what to do about it.Timestamps for Key Moments:[00:00] Why outbound leads are different and why this episode matters[00:03] Agenda overview[00:04] Companion resource: free live training at icworkshop.info[00:06] Why the source of the lead changes your entire business development process[00:09] Overview of the five reasons and what they have in common[00:33] The mindset underneath all five reasons[00:36] Put this episode into actionResources Mentioned:Free live training: How to Always Have Your Next Consulting Client Lined Up Without the Constant Pressure. Register at www.ICworkshop.infoFull Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-282Want More?Get Melisa's Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/bookVisit Melisa's Website: https://www.melisaliberman.com/Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melisa-libermanWant help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

Shutterstock Track 1219389 Monetization ID TFGEPGEI0LHEIJAI Kia ora. Welcome to Friday's Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand. I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from interest.co.nz. Today we lead with news oil prices are up today as Iran flexes its diplomatic muscle and threats, one of which is an effort to block US ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile Trump is backing away from more action in the region, potentially leaving US allies in the lurch. Through all this, crude prices are rising again, and US pump prices never dopped back during the recent fall in crude prices. That has bond markets worried that inflation may be about to turn up again, and yields rose somewhat today. In the US, July job cut announcements were very low. In fact, US-based employers announced 33,429 job cuts in the month, the fewest in two years. But AI led all reasons for job cuts for a fifth straight month and was responsible for almost 11,000 during the month. The tech sector cut the most jobs, followed by the financial sector. Cut is government , and services were almost non-existent. This data comes ahead of tomorrow's July non-farm payrolls report which is expected to show jobs growth a very low +80,000. US jobless claims dipped last week but only by what seasonal factors would have expected. There are now 1.84 mln people on these benefits slightly lower than a year ago, and two years ago. Tough eligibility restrictions are restraining enrollment in conjunction with tougher restrictions on eligibility for SNAP (food stamps). More than 4 mln people have been cleared from these programs and much tougher restrictions are coming. The USDA has restricted access to data recording the numbers of people receiving this assistance. While still elevated, the NY Fed's Global Supply Chain Pressure Index eased low in July. In Europe, retail sales sagged slightly in June, dipping -0.1% from May when a +0.1% rise was expected. That leaves them up +1.2% from a year ago on a real/volume basis. Meanwhile, German factory orders rose +3.1% in June from May to be +6.5% higher than year ago levels, an accelerating pace from May. Apart from a few newsworthy bumps in between, in fact these order levels have been on an upswing since September 2025. Strong export growth in June delivered Australia an unexpected trade surplus, of +AU$1.9 bln when a deficit of -AU$1.1 was expected after May's -AU$2.4 bln deficit. Their exports rose +8.6% from a year ago, boosted by an unusual rise in gold exports, up more than +25% from the same month a year ago. Global container freight rates turned up marginally last week from the prior week to be +77% higher than year-ago levels. Outbound rates from China to the US drove the rise, which rates to and from the EU were lower. Those rates have to compete with the very fast & successful overland rail service out of China. Meanwhile, bulk cargo rates jumped more than +12% in the past week to be +60% higher than year-ago levels. The UST 10yr yield is now just on 4.67%, up +5 bps from this time yesterday.  The price of gold has dipped to US$4245/oz, down -US$8 from yesterday. Silver has dipped -50 USc at just over US$61.50/oz. Oil prices are up +US$3 from yesterday and now just under US$77.50/bbl in the US, while the international Brent price is now just under US$82.50/bbl and up +US$3.50. Hormuz transits are still very constrained. There has been no crude tanker and 11 cargo ship exiting over the past 24 hours (5 dark with transponders off) and nine entering for new loads (4 dark), again all Iran-linked. The Red Sea activity is still low with just a few more than than 20 either way at the Yemen chokepoint. Alternative routes are now making a significant, if costly, difference. The Kiwi dollar is down -20 bps from yesterday at just under 58.7 USc. Against the Aussie we are little-changed at 83.4 AUc. Against the euro we have dipped -10 bps to 50.9 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at 62.4 which is down -10 bps from this time yesterday. The bitcoin price starts today at US$64,550 and down -0.2% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has stayed low at just on +/-0.6%. You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz. Kia ora. I'm David Chaston and we'll do this again on Monday. Track 1219389 Monetization ID TFGEPGEI0LHEIJAI Audio soundtrack opening is licensed from Shutterstock, Track 1219389 Monetization ID TFGEPGEI0LHEIJAI

► kostenloses Startgespräch buchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linkly.link/24kPi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ► Kickscale - 50 Meetings kostenlos: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://2ly.link/1zdl4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Neukundenakquise im Software- und IT-Vertrieb scheitert 2026 selten am Produkt und fast immer am Adressaten: In dieser Episode bekommst du vier Akquise-Tipps aus meinen Live-Coachings mit SDRs und Account Executives, die im Outbound am häufigsten den Unterschied gemacht haben. So kann ich dir im Sales helfen:zur Software Sales Formula: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.softwaresalesformula.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠zum Sales Gym: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sales-gym.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kickscale:Extended Free Version: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://2ly.link/1zdl4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Timestamps:(0:00) Warum Entscheider dich gerade vertrösten(2:00) Tipp 1: Message für den Economic Buyer(2:50 Warum Budgets jetzt zentralisiert werden(4:30) Top-down anrufen und trotzdem gewinnen(7:10) Strategische Initiative als Türöffner(9:30) Tipp 2: Beim perfekten ICP kein Aufgeben(10:20) 13 Monate Dranbleiben: der Skilift-Deal(12:20) Der Frontdesk-Hack gegen Ghosting(14:00) Tipp 3: Mailbox raus, Video Prospecting rein(17:20) Video Prospecting Skript in 60 Sekunden(19:10) Tipp 4: Charmante Betriebsspionage(23:50) Bonus: Akquise im August richtig nutzenInfos:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jiri@softwaresalesformula.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.softwaresalesformula.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sales.gym.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Most sellers burn great accounts by spamming the exact same pitch 14 times. In this episode, Nick Cegelski and Armand Farrokh break down their exact playbook, including: 

Outbound sales models relying on cold email and automated LinkedIn outreach are rapidly collapsing as C-suite decision-makers filter out generic digital noise.In this collaborative episode recorded live on The Optimist Brief with host Dan Lescarbeau (VP of Marketing at Iris North America), guest Dylan Conroy, host of The Ad Podcast, breaks down how establishing an executive media platform turns cold sales friction into an asymmetric business development engine. Conroy outlines how growth strategists and independent agencies leverage human-in-the-loop generative AI to automate background administration, prototype visual pitch assets in minutes, and achieve the execution scale of legacy holding company networks. Key tactical themes covered:Replacing transactional sales pitches with a value-first media model that grants direct access to enterprise prospects. Utilizing generative AI image and text tools to prototype client creative concepts in real time during preliminary pitch calls. Automating routine inbox and administrative workflows to maximize executive bandwidth for in-person relationship building. Leveling the playing field for boutique agencies competing against global holding networks through AI-enhanced operational efficiency. Structuring international event presence to convert passive conference attendance into a disciplined client acquisition pipeline. Connect & Scale Your Performance:Follow Guest Dylan Conroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/Explore Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-performance-marketing/Follow Host Dan Lescarbeau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danlescarbeau/Explore Iris Worldwide: https://www.iris-worldwide.com/

Shutterstock Track 1219389 Monetization ID TFGEPGEI0LHEIJAI Kia ora. Welcome to Friday's Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand. I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from interest.co.nz. Today we lead with news tankers in the Red Sea have been hit by missiles fired from Yemen. This is unnerving global markets today, and oil prices have jumped everywhere. Bond yields are surging, pushing up mortgage rates and weighing on equity valuations, especially for tech firms. But first in the US, there were 192,000 initial jobless claims last week, a notable drop and far lower than seasonal factors would have accounted for and lower than expected. There are now 1.85 mln people on these benefits, also lower than a year ago but actually an increase from a week ago as claimants are staying on benefits longer even if it is now much harder to get initially qualified. The Chicago Fed's National Activity Index came in slightly below trend, but enough to suggest the US economic expansion was still in place in June. But if the Atlanta Fed's GDP Now tracking is to be believed, that expansion is at a modest level. Consensus forecasts are being trimmed too. The US Treasury 10 year TIPS yield of inflation-protected bonds jumped about +30 bps today and back to the highs we last saw in the pandemic and prior to that in the GFC. Canadian retail sales expanded in June, extending their positive track to six consecutive months. This was for both value and volume terms, to be +5.9% higher than year ago levels. Canadian CPI is running at 2.8%. Across the Pacific, China's foreign direct investment rose +US$11.1 bln in June, better than expected and better than the -US$7.6 bln fall in the same month in 2025. Meanwhile, China's consumer trade-in subsidy program is losing momentum as appliance and car demand weakens. South Korea said its economic activity expanded an impressive +3.7% in Q2-2026, almost the same as the +3.8% in Q1. This is their fastest expansion since Q4-2021, and came in above market estimates of +3.5%. Strong exports were a key factor in this result. Singapore's June CPI came in at +1.9% in June and although that was its highest since August 2024 it was less than the 2% expected. And that was because there was no change from May. In India, we should keep an eye on youth protests, because they are spready and gaining surprisingly wide support. In Europe and as expected by many, the ECB left its key interest rates unchanged at its July meeting overnight, following the +25 bp hike in June. Since then, policymakers have struck a more cautious tone, adopting a "wait-and-see" approach as softer inflation, wage growth, economic activity, and inflation expectations have reduced the urgency for another move. But that may have changed today with the unexpectedly large spike in oil prices. But who knows how fast that may change again? Markets anticipate another ECB rate hike in September. Staying in the EU, consumer sentiment improved in July. That is to say it got less negative. And in a decision likely to intensify trans-Atlantic trade tensions, European Union regulators overnight hit Google with a €890 mln fine for illegally undercutting competition through its dominance in search. Google will not be hurt by this directly in the short term because it reported almost +US$41 bln in profits in Q2-2026 alone. If it is hurt, it will be from their heavy cash burn for its AI buildout. The Australian labour market grew surprisingly strongly in June, adding +76,300 new jobs, far better than the +15,000 expected. Their jobless rate was stable at +4.4%. More than half the new jobs were in NSW, with good gains also in Queensland and Western Australia. But Victoria shed jobs in the month. This strength will add spine to the RBA's fight against rising inflation (4.0%) because they will be now less worried about a weak economy The RBA next meets on August 11, 2026 - 17 days away. Global container freight rates fell -4% last week to be +74% higher than year ago levels. Outbound rates from China were the basis of the pullback from the prior week. Bulk cargo rates were down -8% for the week, and these are now a third higher than year-ago levels. The UST 10yr yield is now just on 4.70%, up +4 bps from this time yesterday and its highest since January 2025.  Wall Street is -1.4% lower today on the S&P500 with the Nasdaq down -2.5%.  The price of gold has fallen to US$4042/oz, down -US$98 from yesterday. Silver is now just on US$57.50/oz, down -US$2.50 from yesterday. Oil prices are another +US$6 higher from yesterday at just on US$93/bbl in the US, while the international Brent price is now just on US$101.50/bbl and up +US$7. Hormuz transits are still just a trickle There have been no crude tankers and 5 cargo ships exiting over the past 24 hours (5 dark with transponders off) and 8 entering for new loads (1 dark). The Red Sea is also now effectively blocked at Yemen although a small handful of ships are still getting through (less than 20 each way). More than 700 vessels are waiting for things to calm down. The Kiwi dollar is another -40 bps lower from yesterday at just over 57.7 USc. Against the Aussie we are also down -40 bps at 82.8 AUc. Against the euro we are down -30 bps at just over 50.7 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at 61.6 which is down -40 bps from this time yesterday. The bitcoin price starts today at US$64,762 and down -2.1% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been extreme at just on +/-7%. You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz. Kia ora. I'm David Chaston and we'll do this again on Monday. Track 1219389 Monetization ID TFGEPGEI0LHEIJAI Audio soundtrack opening is licensed from Shutterstock, Track 1219389 Monetization ID TFGEPGEI0LHEIJAI

On this week's episode of the podcast, I am joined by Ananya Sen and Saharsh Agarwal to discuss their research on the impact of Google's AI Overviews on web publisher traffic. We explore the results of their field experiment, currently in pre-print, which utilized a custom browser extension to measure how generative search results influence outbound clicks and user satisfaction. The results of the field experiment suggest a significant reduction in traffic for certain queries, challenging the narrative that these interfaces only filter out low-quality interactions. We dive into the implications for the broader web ecosystem, including the risks posed to smaller publishers and the role of data licensing deals. Among other things, we discuss:How generative search interfaces might fundamentally alter the symbiotic relationship between search engines and the publishers who provide their dataWhether the removal of low-quality clicks truly compensates publishers for the overall decline in traffic driven by AI-generated summariesWhat happens to smaller publishers when major outlets secure exclusive data licensing deals that prioritize their content in search resultsWhy AI Mode represents a potential endpoint for search that could essentially eliminate outbound traffic for a majority of queriesWhether the long-tail of the internet can survive a transition where search engines become information destinations rather than mere conduitsThanks to the sponsors of this week's episode of the Mobile Dev Memo podcast:⁠⁠INCRMNTAL⁠⁠⁠. True attribution measures incrementality, always on.Xsolla⁠. With the Xsolla Web Shop, you can create a direct storefront, cut fees down to as low as 5%, and keep players engaged with bundles, rewards, and analytics.⁠Branch⁠. Branch is an AI-powered MMP, connecting every paid, owned, and organic touchpoint so growth teams can see exactly where to put their dollars to bring users in the door and keep them coming backInterested in sponsoring the Mobile Dev Memo podcast? Contact Mobile Dev Memo advertising.The Mobile Dev Memo podcast is available on:SpotifyYouTubeApple Podcasts

In this episode, I sit down with Zac and Jack from We Have a Meeting to unpack how their done-for-you outbound service has generated over £4M in live pipeline for 9 recruitment companies in the last 12 months, without relying on candidate flips or any of the usual recruiter BD tactics.We dive into their full outbound system: how they build and enrich data before a single call is made, the VAR process that quality-checks every meeting booked, and the "Trojan Horse" strategy they use to break into markets they've never worked in before.Connect with Zac here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-thompson-33a9a39b/Connect with Jack here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-frimston-5010177b/-------------------------Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JySSf2QrVWE-------------------------Podcast Sponsors: Claim your exclusive savings from our partners with the links below:Sourcewhale - Check Out Sourcewhale & Claim Your Exclusive Offer Here.Atlas - Check Out Atlas & Claim Your Exclusive Offer HereRaise - Check Out Raise & Claim Your Exclusive Offer Here.-------------------------Want more content like this?The Wednesday Debrief is our free weekly newsletter for recruiters who take their craft seriously. Join 7,000+ subscribers here: https://newsletter.recruitmentmentors.com/-------------------------Get in touch with me:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hishemazzouz/-------------------------

In this episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben and his guest, John Barron, Co-Founder & CEO of GoChallenge, explore how a gamified movement platform is helping teams boost wellbeing, deepen engagement, and build stronger company cultures. GoChallenge is a science-backed HR tech platform that uses team-based movement challenges to improve employee wellbeing, prevent burnout, and strengthen workplace culture. It helps HR and People & Culture leaders increase engagement and build more connected hybrid teams through simple daily physical activity that fits into the workday. Unlike traditional fitness apps, GoChallenge is designed specifically for organisations - requiring no gym, equipment, or extra time outside work routines. Trusted by organisations such as Tirlan, DocuSign, Gartner, Red Hat, and Three Ireland, GoChallenge delivers measurable impact across wellbeing, performance, and retention. Users report reduced stress and improved productivity, while companies see stronger cross-team connections and alignment with ESG and CSR goals. The platform is easy to deploy at scale and is built on behavioural science to make workplace wellbeing both effective and engaging. You'll hear practical strategies for how to attract HR consulting clients, running a workplace consulting business, and business growth strategies for consultants. Whether you identify as HR, workplace, L&D, OD, recruitment, or people & culture, you'll discover real stories and actionable advice to attract clients, win contracts, and grow sustainably. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Insights on the power of movement-based challenges to build workplace connection and engagement How to use inclusive wellbeing programs to appeal to HR and people & culture leaders Lessons from GoChallenge's growth - scaling through values-led marketing, partnerships, and proven client results Episode highlights: The inspiration behind GoChallenge and the real obstacles to regular exercise. Building movement, motivation, support, and accountability into workplace initiatives. The role of meaningful workplace connection - why it's essential for wellbeing and performance. Employee stories: From workplace rivalry to authentic relationships through team challenges. How GoChallenge works for employers: challenge formats, inclusivity, and rewards. Creating a level playing field to boost engagement across all abilities. Bringing company values to life and examples of running challenges globally. Marketing and business development: blending conferences, LinkedIn, partnerships, and charity tie-ins. Outbound selling and value-driven messaging to busy HR professionals. Practical challenges of scaling, integrating with existing platforms, and keeping things simple for buyers. The role of internal comms teams and having a plug-and-play “playbook” for successful implementation. Marketing and Business Growth: John outlines a two-pronged approach to growing GoChallenge: attending conferences and events for traditional networking and lead generation, alongside leveraging the visibility of successful client challenges on LinkedIn, often with video content and charity partnerships. The GoChallenge team uses targeted outbound email, focusing on company values and pain points. They emphasize the importance of being easy to work with and integrating seamlessly with existing HR and comms tech stacks. Plans for further growth include partnering with benefits providers and health insurers for wider distribution. Resources & Links Mentioned: Company's website: www.gochallenge.com John's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/johnrbarron Thanks, John! Check out this B2B podcast launch service. About The A Better HR Business Podcast The A Better HR Business shares strategies, tactics, success stories, and more about marketing for HR consultancies and marketing for HR tech companies, and how to get more clients. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don't miss future episodes. For show notes and to see details of our previous guests, check out the podcast page here: www.GetMoreHRClients.com/Podcast HR BUSINESS GROWTH RESOURCES Get the new book - Grow A Successful HR Business Your Way Launch your own business podcast: B2B Podcast Agency VISIT GET MORE HR CLIENTS Want more clients for your HR-related consultancy or HR Tech business? Visit the Get More HR Clients website for articles, newsletters, podcasts, videos, resources, and more at www.getmorehrclients.com.

We're doubling down on our YouTube content, so if you want to watch this video instead of listening to it, you can watch it on our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessionBioAbout Succession  Succession helps founders and sales teams close more deals with biotech and pharma. We partner with our clients to run modern lead generation campaigns, up-skill their team through personalized sales training, and build AI workflows using cutting-edge tools and technology.Ready to take your go-to-market to the next level?Check out all our free tools: https://succession.bio/free-tools  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://blog.succession.bioBook a strategy call: www.succession.bio  

About Succession  Succession helps founders and sales teams close more deals with biotech and pharma. We partner with our clients to run modern lead generation campaigns, up-skill their team through personalized sales training, and build AI workflows using cutting-edge tools and technology.Ready to take your go-to-market to the next level?Check out all our free tools: https://succession.bio/free-tools  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://blog.succession.bioBook a strategy call: www.succession.bio

Automation has increased sales activity while reducing effectiveness, as AI-driven outreach floods the market and drives conversion rates down. In this segment, Greg Casale explains why outbound phone calling remains a critical channel for pipeline generation, especially in complex B2B environments where live conversations create immediate learning and engagement. He outlines the discipline required to make phone work, from hiring and training to technology and compliance, and why this channel continues to perform when easier options break down. The discussion highlights a clear operational reality for sales leaders: teams that invest early in outbound phones build a durable advantage when selling gets harder. Greg Casale is the Founder and CEO of Reveneer Inc., where he leads a system-driven approach to outbound pipeline generation through embedded SDR teams. He began his career as a chemical engineer and brings a manufacturing and process control mindset to building repeatable, data-driven sales operations. Connect with Greg: LinkedIn Resources mentioned: Hyperbound TitanX Listen to the full episode here: How to Build a Predictable Pipeline Engine Without Sales Heroics with Greg Casale Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results. This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale. Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Hope is not a sales strategy. Outbound is what fills the pipeline. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down why waiting for inbound leads can starve your business and how to build a ruthless outbound engine that puts you back in control. Let's be real… Posting content is not enough. Having a nice website is not enough. Waiting for the phone to ring is not enough. If nobody knows you exist… You have to go to the market. In this episode, you'll learn: Why relying only on inbound leads can kill your revenue How outbound sales puts you in control of your pipeline Why rejection must be treated like math, not emotion How daily prospecting creates predictable opportunities and consistent growth The truth is simple: You cannot cash hope. You cannot deposit likes. And you cannot build a serious company by waiting to be discovered. High-level operators hunt. They make the calls. They send the messages. They knock on the doors. They track the numbers. They master the pitch. Because when you know the math behind your outbound engine… You can scale your pipeline on command. Stop waiting for the market to find you. Take the fight to the market. Do the outbound work. Close the deal. And keep leveling up. Your Network is your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhDAD1JyGGzSQUPD9lc9HQLinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you: www.CashSwipe.com FREE Copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold - The New American Dream”www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week is all about disc eliminations, XBox canceling everything, and game prices.  Then JD gives his First Impression on Outbound, and Peterson reviews Human Resources Machine.  

Hiren bootstrapped Tectivity from a smart locker idea into an IT asset management SaaS that competes with VC-funded rivals — with 25 people, zero outbound, and a customer base that refers each other across job changes.In this episode: → Why he pivoted from hardware to software, and the years he wishes he'd gotten back → How a two-week feature turnaround beats competitors who "charge for innovation" → The $900K his team saved one enterprise from a couple of reports on mobile phone usage → The security breach that hit them four years ago — and how they rebuilt trust with SOC 2 and forensics reports → Why founder-led support stops working, and when to actually step back → How 90% of growth comes from SEO and referrals — with zero cold outreachFor founders building bootstrapped B2B SaaS in crowded, well-funded categories.----------- Episode's Chapters -----------0:06 — Introduction & Hiren's Background1:10 — How the Smart Locker Idea Was Born2:05 — Pivoting from Hardware to SaaS2:29 — Why Hiren Chose to Stay Bootstrapped3:44 — Founder-Led Support on Slack: Sustainable?4:41 — Customizing the Product for Each Customer6:35 — Word of Mouth as the Primary Growth Engine9:54 — SEO vs. AI Search: What's Actually Driving Traffic14:03 — The Security Breach & Lessons Learned15:47 — Building Remote Culture with a 25-Person Team20:24 — Biggest Win, Biggest Failure & Final Hack

SaaStr 865: The Agents #008: Agents Are Merging, Not Multiplying. Plus, Sam Blond on Why Outbound Isn't Dead. Everyone told you the future is 100 specialized agents, one for every job. That's not what's happening at SaaStr AI. Their AI VP of Finance didn't get its own app. It moved in with the AI VP of Marketing. The agents are collapsing into each other, sharing knowledge, sharing context, going deeper together. In this episode, Amelia and Jason do a live breakdown of their AI VP of Finance: how they wired Bill.com, QuickBooks, Brex, and PandaDoc into one agent, what the agent found on day one that their human finance team never did, and why contract close to invoice now takes 30 seconds instead of a day. Then Sam Blond, founder and CEO of Monaco and one of the most respected sales minds in SaaS, joins to talk about why outbound still works, what brand and message market fit actually mean for AI agents in the field, and why Monaco is building toward one GTM platform that does everything. You'll learn: Why SaaStr's agents are merging, not multiplying, and what the "monorepo" model means for your own AI stack The exact integrations that power their AI VP of Finance (and which ones took 10 minutes vs. an hour) How the agent surfaced collections problems and automations the human team never knew existed Why "set it and forget it" is a myth, and what happened when Qualified was still selling 2026 tickets weeks after the event ended Sam Blond on brand, message market fit, and what actually makes AI outbound work for companies that aren't SaaStr Why FDE relationships are now more valuable than any AE, and what that means for how you buy and sell software This is for you if: You're a founder or operator wondering whether to build a separate finance agent or fold it into what you already have You run outbound and keep hearing it's dead (it's not) You're evaluating your GTM stack and wondering if you need five agents or one You want a real, unfiltered look at what it takes to run AI agents in production, including the failures

Most outbound motions are built the same way: build a big list, blast everyone, hope something converts. It doesn't work anymore — and Regan and Luigibreak down exactly why.In this episode, they unpack the modern outbound motion they're building at CoachPilot — how they monitor 2,200 companies in real time, narrow their active prospect list down to 292 trigger-based targets, and why a cold call with no meeting booked is never actually a failed attempt.This is one of the most tactical episodes Revenue Leaders has recorded — no frameworks, no theory, just the exact system they're running right now.What you'll learn:→ Why blasting your full ICP list is the fastest way to destroy your conversion rate→ How to use firmographic and technographic filters to find your top 50 in-market prospects→ The trigger-based prospecting system that monitors 2,200 companies and surfaces 292 active targets→ Why a failed cold call is still a win — and how to extract value from every touch→ The relationship funnel that runs parallel to your outbound motion and closes deals before the first call→ The human-nonhuman touch framework that builds trust invisibly over months→ Why AI-generated outreach is getting easier to spot — and the one tell that kills credibility instantly→ The manual step you should never automate no matter how good your tools get→ Why outbound will always be the dominant lead channel even in a world of inbound and events→ How to build a trigger waterfall specific to your industry and ICPIf you're an AE, BDR, or sales leader and your outbound isn't converting — this is the episode that changes how you prospect.

Al and Kevin talk about Discounty. Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:05: What Have We Been Up To 00:20:00: Game News 01:06:28: New Games 01:08:48: Discounty 01:36:48: Outro Links Harvest Moon: Echoes Of Teradea Trailer Kynseed “Tavern” Update Bitter Harvest “1.4” Update Outbound “Fishing” Update Sun Haven “3.1” Update Hotel Galactic “Digging Deeper” Updaet Go-go Town EA Saves Info Haunted Chocolatier Blog Petunia’s Purgatory Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/

Subscribe to the Outbound Kitchen newsletter-Florin Tatulea is GTM Engineer in Residence at ZoomInfo, where he builds the AI agents and workflows behind modern outbound. He was Loopio's first sales hire, on the team that grew revenue 65x in six years, and he built the outbound engine at Common Room, where he 4x'd the SDR team, grew monthly outbound pipeline 20x, and sourced seven figures in outbound revenue. He writes Prospecting from the Trenches, and he treats outbound as a system to design, not a headcount number to fill.We discuss:The top-down headcount math that quietly over-hires outbound teamsTAM vs SAM, and why the real number was 6,000 accounts, not 30,000Why you don't need an SDR before $1M ARR or product-market fitHiring two SDRs at once to separate the person from the processThe four things Florin looks for in a first SDR, and how he vets curiosityBuilding the team like a sports team, with complementary skill setsWhat AI and GTM engineering actually change about the team you buildWhy Anthropic, OpenAI, and Clay are still hiring SDRsReferenced:Prospecting from the Trenches (Florin's newsletter): salesflo.substack.comFlorin Tatulea on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/florintatulea/ZoomInfo: zoominfo.comHyperbound (AI roleplay, Florin is an advisor)When you're readyWant to work with me? Send me a DM -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/elriclegloire/Connect with me[Connect on LinkedIn] -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/elriclegloire/[Subscribe on YouTube] -> https://www.youtube.com/@ElricLegloireOutbound[Connect on X] -> https://x.com/elriclegloireChapters:(00:00) Intro: who is Florin Tatulea(01:29) The episode outline(02:21) Where the scaling math breaks(04:55) TAM vs SAM: 30,000 accounts or 6,000?(09:23) What CROs and CMOs get wrong next(13:06) Why you don't need an SDR before $1M ARR(16:25) Hire two SDRs, not one(19:17) What to look for in your first SDRs(22:00) How to actually vet for curiosity(24:53) The prospecting homework task(28:14) Build the team like a sports team(32:55) A better way to interview for passion(35:43) Vetting coachability on a live cold call(38:46) What changed in 2026: AI and GTM engineering(42:18) Why the best AI companies still hire SDRs(46:13) The best AI use cases for SDR teams(51:45) Automating the deal handoff(53:08) Q&A: trade-show lists with Claude Code(54:44) Where to find Florin

Helena Klaus and Will Aitken audited nine sales tool categories live and named what to keep at each team size.Helena Klaus, founder of Sales in DACH, surveys her members on stack adoption. They worked through CRM, sales engagement, contact data, intent, dialers, scheduling, conversation intelligence, deal execution and AI, and recommended no single stack.When is Salesforce the wrong answer?Will: teams buy on brand recognition. With no RevOps person or admin, Salesforce slows you down at roughly three times the price of a right-sized tool. His ladder runs spreadsheet, Pipedrive, HubSpot, Salesforce. Helena's real constraint is adoption, because a young team finds excuses when the UX is bad. Will's warning on all-in-one: HubSpot's built-in sequences will usually cost you deliverability.What separates intent from timing?Helena: people confuse intent and signals with relevance and timing. She is getting a dog and searching for a leash she does not need for three months. Intent sorts a list. It does not mean someone is ready to buy.How do you pick a data provider?Will keeps ZoomInfo, Prospeo and FullEnrich open at once. Sometimes one has the mobile number, sometimes all three, sometimes none. Test across a large sample, because accuracy swings by geography and job title. Helena reads the logos on a vendor's site and calls those customers. For DACH prospecting, check GDPR compliance first.Where does AI stop?Helena will not hand forecasting to a tool, because she sat in the room and read the body language. Will will not run autonomous prospecting, since anything sent in his name can be screenshotted. He uses AI for research, list building, call prep, drafts and recaps. On build versus buy, he prices a seller's hour against quota at $200 to $300, making nine hours of building a false saving against a $50 tool.Resources mentionedTario's AI cold calling reportThe Speakers:Will Aitken, Host, Sell BetterHelena Klaus, Founder, Sales in DACHCatch The Daily Sales Show liveFollow Sell BetterExplore our YouTube ChannelWatch the replayThank you to our sponsors: Tario, Aligned, Prospeo

This episode is part of our occasional Fintech Revealed series, where we do an extended deep dive into one topic with two industry experts. The topic today is vertical fintech, and I am joined by Matt Hennessy, the Business Lead at Increase, the modern banking infrastructure company, and Jamie Fox, the General Manager of Fintech at Tekion, the AI-native cloud platform that runs the entire business for auto dealerships across the US, Canada, and the UK. Tekion built its embedded banking on Increase, so the two of them give us both sides of the same story: the platform that lives inside the dealership and the infrastructure that connects it to the banking system. We get into the surprisingly large money flows inside a single dealership, why paper checks still beat instant rails for many operators, how compliance and trust get engineered into the product, and just how big this embedded banking opportunity gets.What We CoveredWhat vertical fintech is and why it matters nowThe money flows hiding inside a single car dealershipWhy outbound dealer spend is roughly 2x inboundOperating account vs. ledgering account adoption pathsDealer-to-dealer payments as a ledger change with zero rail feesInstant rails: RTP, FedNow, and Request for PaymentThe persistence of paper checks and the cost to operationalize themDirect Fed access vs. layers of middlewareCompliance as code, codified into the productBuilding trust in building blocksWhere agentic payments and "know your agent" fit inHow large the embedded banking opportunity ultimately getsKey TakeawaysOwning the financial system of record inside core operating software is the defensible position in an age when light "systems of engagement" can be replicated with AI.Outbound payments, not inbound, are the bigger prize: US auto dealerships pushed out roughly $1.3 trillion in 2024, about 2x what they took in.The barrier to instant rails is education, not technology. Many dealers do not know RTP or FedNow exists, or that they can pay a vendor any day of the week.Trust cannot be launched all at once. Holding a dealer's operating cash is a different level of trust than processing a payment they can fall back on, and it is earned in building blocks.For the founding story and more about Increase, check out my conversation with CEO and Founder Darragh Buckley from last year.Connect with Fintech One-on-One:Tweet me @PeterRentonConnect with me on LinkedInFind previous Fintech One-on-One episodes

The bottleneck in outbound moved. It is no longer how many touches you can send, it is knowing who to call, why, and what to say when they pick up.James Buckley sat down with Shara Davoodi, Director of Sales at Nooks, on what actually changed. A poll during the show put sixty-one percent of the audience on the volume play and not getting replies.Habits worth droppingShara went after three. Over-personalization, because value beats trivia and an assumption gives the prospect something to correct, which earns you credit when you get it right. Spray-and-pray dialing and mass email, both finished. And local dialing, matching your number to the prospect's area code, which he says stopped working because buyers recognize the trick. James has had people answer thinking he was their kid's school.The fourth is the introduction nobody asked for. Beyond what the law requires, get to why you are calling. Shara calls the rest wasted space, and James says the same of email: your name is in the signature, and if they want it they will ask.Assume you have the right personShara's tip for new callers. Do not confirm, assume. If you are wrong they will correct you, and assuming lets you get straight to the reason for the call.The one-two-three, inside five minutesCall, then email, then LinkedIn, in the same short window. James has run this as his first touch for fifteen years and does not care which channel replies.Shara's addition is the most actionable thing here: go look at step one of your sequence. Calls are usually buried at step three or four, so reps do all the other work first, when a connect would have made most of it unnecessary.He also reframes success. A booked meeting is the goal, but learning one thing is gold: who they are with, when they renew, a feature they dislike.Multi-thread with your own leadership, not just theirsAt Nooks, managers email managers, and the CEO, CRO, and VP reach into deals where a rep has not made contact. James's read: leaders talk to leaders as peers, which is a different conversation than a rep can have.Their internal mutual action plan includes an org chart the rep fills in, showing how far up the account they have reached and whether the prospect's own leadership knows the deal is happening.Talk to the room you are inFrontline people care about features and their day. Managers care about outcomes. Executives care about numbers. Not in the same conversation. James's version, credited to John Barrows: talk about features and you get routed to people who deal with features, talk about business impact and you get pushed upwards.Two signals that are already staleFunding announcements are late. By the time it is public the money has been in the bank for weeks. Shara skips the congratulations and goes at what it implies: the targets just went up.Promotions are worse. Nobody updates their title the day they are promoted, because every vendor in their category descends the moment they do. Assume they got the job six months ago, which makes congratulations on the new role both stale and obviously automated.What Nooks uses instead is first-party: job postings, which name the tech a team runs and the call volume they expect.Resources Shared:How a Rep Generated $3million in PipelineHow to Master Prospecting as an AEThe Speakers:James Buckley, Host, Sell BetterShara Davoodi, Director of Sales, NooksCatch The Daily Sales Show liveFollow Sell BetterExplore our YouTube ChannelWatch the replayThank you to our sponsor: Nooks

Outbound rarely fails because reps are lazy. It fails because nobody told them who to target, what to say, or how often to say it.Will Aitken ran this one solo, walking through the outbound system he builds for teams. Almost every broken outbound motion fails at one of three points: weak messaging, targeting that is far too broad, and execution with no system behind it.Your buyer never asked what you doNinety-five percent of the market is not buying right now, so leading with your product lands on nobody. Will's fix is to work out the buyer's status quo first. Competitor, doing it themselves, spreadsheet, or outsourced? Each breaks differently, and those breakages are what you reach out about.His shortcut for any role: every function exists to make the company money or protect the company's money. Work out which, then how that person is measured.The problem identification chartWill's core tool, borrowed from Gap Selling, which he notes he can use since he wrote the sequel. Three columns: the business problem, its impact, the root cause.You fill it in by asking what goes wrong next, repeatedly. His worked example ran from nobody trained to handle a mental health incident, through someone getting hurt, litigation, a PR problem, employees leaving, being unable to hire, to lost revenue. That last link is what a buyer actually cares about.Three kinds of signal, and they are not the same thingCatalysts are events that create the problem. Layoffs mean the remaining team cannot maintain policies across twenty systems. An acquisition means two IT environments getting blended into more chaos.Symptoms are observable directly. A job posting mentioning policy updates across networks tells you they have a capacity problem today.Intent is someone showing interest, in you or a competitor. Downloads, profile views, an old deal cycle, site visits.Start with the people who already half know youWill ranks prospects by familiarity, not fit alone: past users who changed companies, old deal cycles, webinar attendees, anyone connected to your executives or customers. The version that scales is building your list from lookalikes of existing customers. Reach out to Coca-Cola on the back of your PepsiCo work and they do not know you, but they know PepsiCo.He caps research at five minutes for mid-market, and is blunt about personalisation theatre. You cannot connect someone's interest in hiking to a cybersecurity audit. One good business reason beats a full account brief.Know your math before you change anythingHis example chain: two hundred calls, twenty connects, ten conversations lasting over thirty seconds, three meetings booked, two that showed up qualified.Each gap points somewhere different. Few connects means contact data, call timing, or spam flagging. Connecting but not converting means your opener is not creating curiosity. Conversations that do not become meetings means the problems you raise are not the ones they have.Resources mentionedGAP ProspectingProblem Identification Chart TemplateThe Speakers:Will Aitken, Host, Sell BetterCatch The Daily Sales Show liveFollow Sell BetterExplore our YouTube ChannelWatch the replayThank you to our sponsor: Outbound Sales Pro, First Orion, Replay, ZoomInfo

China has unveiled new regulations on outbound investment to push ahead high-level opening-up while safeguarding national security and interests. Why has China introduced the rules at this particular moment? What do they mean for Chinese companies expanding overseas and for their international partners? And how can China balance opening-up and security? Host Dou Hongyu is joined by Adjunct Professor Warwick Powell at Queensland University of Technology; Assistant Professor Wang Yaojing with the School of Economics, Peking University; Senior Research Fellow Zhou Mi with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, to answer these questions.

In this episode, Jason and Ken Amar from Rippling, talk about how he booked meetings at a 41% rate as an SDR, the custom landing pages and groundswell calls Rippling uses to break into accounts, high-value gifting and in-person plays that actually scale, and where he thinks the SDR role is headed next. Check out more free content and get help with outbound at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://outboundsquad.com.⁠

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 161: AI Is Coming Fast — What Family Businesses Should Do Now with Jack Potvin   In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker is joined by AI product builder Jack Potvin for a fast-moving, practical conversation about artificial intelligence and what privately held and family businesses need to do — right now — to stay competitive. Jack built his AI foundation working on one of the world's first computer vision models for sports before the rise of large language models, and now dedicates his work to helping independent businesses harness this technology before the window closes. Chris and Jack make the case for why family businesses — historically outperformers — are at a critical inflection point: large corporations are pouring tens of billions into AI adoption, and the playing field will not stay level for those who wait. Together they explore what AI actually is, the two core value drivers of efficiency and capability expansion, where to start when your team is at zero, why governance policies matter more than most owners realize, which specific tools deliver immediate value, and what AI genuinely cannot replace — deep domain expertise, broken process diagnosis, and nuanced human judgment. They also dive into real-world case studies from a beverage manufacturer and an insurance agency that have completely transformed their operations through AI, and close with a grounded, practical framework for family business leaders ready to take their first meaningful steps. Episode Chapters ·       0:00   Welcome and Framing the Opportunity ·       1:00   Meet Jack Potvin — From Sports AI to Family Business Adoption ·       4:06   Why Family Businesses Are at a Competitive Inflection Point ·       7:28   What Is AI? Defining LLMs, Efficiency, and Capability Expansion ·       13:18  Should Your Company Have an AI Policy? ·       16:04  Addressing the Fear: Job Loss, Data Privacy, and the Real Risks ·       22:10  Where to Start: Daily Drivers, Existing Tools, and Filling the Gap ·       26:54  Best AI Tools Right Now: Read AI, Whisper Flow, Notion, Gamma ·       30:29  Operational Efficiency, Analytics, and Business Development ·       31:11  Two Real-World Case Studies: Beverage Manufacturer and Insurance Agency ·       35:23  What AI Is Great At — and Where Humans Must Lead ·       40:40  AI for Business Development, Outbound, and CRM Automation ·       45:59  Strategic Planning, Knowledge Bases, and Building Your Company's AI Brain ·       50:20  Q&A and Closing Resources   Websites ·       businessautomation.com ·       chrisyonker.com   About Jack Potvin Jack Ryan Potvin is an entrepreneur and AI strategist focused on helping businesses adopt practical artificial intelligence solutions that improve efficiency, decision-making, and competitive positioning. As the founder of Business Automation, Jack works with companies to integrate AI into everyday business operations — from automating workflows and improving internal knowledge systems to enhancing marketing, sales, and strategic insight. Jack specializes in translating rapidly evolving AI capabilities into practical tools that business leaders can implement today, without requiring large technical teams or massive technology investments. He is particularly passionate about helping family-owned and employee-owned companies adopt AI in ways that strengthen their long-term competitiveness while preserving the leadership values and culture that make these businesses successful.

Al and Codey talk about Outbound. Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:27: What Have We Been Up To 00:14:17: Game News 00:22:38: New Games 00:32:16: Outbound 01:43:35: Outro Links Budgie’s Bug Shop Release Solarpunk Release Plush Parade Release Country Slime on Steam Tideborne Haven on Kickstarter Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/

A small business in Skokie lights the way for cyclists.

Vi sier som Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy-håndkleet fra Outland: DON'T PANIC!

A small business in Skokie lights the way for cyclists.

De mannen zijn er weer bij met een nieuwe aflevering vol games en onzin. Simon gaat even uitleggen waarom zwaartekracht niet bestaat, waarom Mixtape een k*tgame is, van welke BN'er ze groot fan zijn en de cozy campergame 'Outbound'. Geniet van het luisteren en/of kijken hé, Baklap!00:00 Intro02:20 Jacco's ijzeren vuist04:10 Hier hebben we het niet over06:10 Simon heeft gescoord11:00 Simon: "Zwaartekracht bestaat niet"12:15 Mixtape18:20 Ganzenplaatjes22:00 Scam Bellers23:40 Simon wordt opgewonden van strijken27:40 Simon's interviews31:00 Immersive Sim38:30 fan zijn van BN'ers 44:10 TV-presentatoren48:00 Souverain50:50 Outbound52:30 Saros55:00 kan iets tippen aan GTA6?57:20 Widow's bay01:01:45 outro #mixtape #Outbound #souverain

Amanda and Aaron sit down this week to chat about games they've been playing. Games: Mixtape, Outbound, Invincible VS, Saros, Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library!, Pragmata. To contact us, email call@gamerswithjobs.com! Send us your thoughts on the show, pressing issues you want to talk about, or whatever else is on your mind. Links & Show Notes.

On this week's episode of the Massively OP Podcast, Bree and Justin talk about EVE Online's latest expansion, EverQuest Legends' beta, Spirit Crossing's housing system, Throne and Liberty's new progression system, and more studio financials. It's the MassivelyOP Podcast, an action-packed hour of news, tales, opinions, and gamer emails! And remember, if you'd like to send in your question to the show, send 'em in through our tips form. Now, listen to this week's show… Show notes: Intro Adventures in MMOs: World of Warcraft, Outbound, Palia, LOTRO, SWG, Guild Wars 2 (Colin's post) EVE Online announces Cradle of War expansion EverQuest Legends' beta is drawing a lot of attention Spirit Crossing gets some serious housing Throne and Liberty adds a Stellar Journey progression system Financials for NCsoft, Pearl Abyss, Square Enix, Nexon Outro Other info: Podcast theme: "Red Glowing Dust" from EVE Online Your show hosts: Justin and Bree Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Player FM, Pocket Casts, Amazon, and Spotify, or follow our uploads with RSS Follow MassivelyOP on Bluesky, Mastodon, Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook

In this episode, Jason and Armand Farrokh from 30 Minutes to President's Club talk about turning around an SDR team fast, the frameworks every outbound rep needs, and creative pipeline plays beyond cold calls and emails. Check out more free content and get help with outbound at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://outboundsquad.com.⁠

On this week's episode of the MassivelyOP Podcast, Bree and Justin talk about Guild Wars 2's latest zone, EVE Online studio's rebranding, Path of Exile 2's next step, Ultima Online emulators, and the early access rollouts of Farever, Reaper Actual, and Outbound. It's the MassivelyOP Podcast, an action-packed hour of news, tales, opinions, and gamer emails! And remember, if you'd like to send in your question to the show, send 'em in through our tips form. Now, listen to this week's show… Show notes: Intro Adventures in MMOs: World of Warcraft, FFXIV, Outbound, SWG Guild Wars 2 reveals its latest zone, Eternity's Garden EVE Online's CCP rebrands as Fenris Games Path of Exile 2 announces Return of the Ancients People are crushing on Farever Reaper Actual is hitting early access on May 20th EG7 and Daybreak financials Why don't we talk about Ultima Online emulators? Outro Other info: Podcast theme: "Mog Theme" from Farever Your show hosts: Justin and Bree Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Player FM, Pocket Casts, Amazon, and Spotify, or follow our uploads with RSS Follow MassivelyOP on Bluesky, Mastodon, Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook If you're having problems seeing or using the web player, please check your flashblock or scriptblock setting.

There's a question I hear more than almost any other from business owners: “How should I compensate my salesperson?” It sounds simple. It isn't. Get it wrong early and you create a situation that's hard to fix. You either end up with a salesperson negotiating from a position you can't push back on, or a top performer reconsidering their role after a change to commission. Both are expensive. Both are avoidable.   In this latest episode of Sales is NOT a Dirty Word, I break down how to build a compensation structure that works for you and your salesperson, without guesswork, frustration, or unintended leverage. Here's what I cover: The Sales Diva Problem and how to avoid it The base + incentive structure that actually drives performance.  The three tiers every comp plan needs.  Why monthly and quarterly bonuses outperform annual ones.  The most expensive mistake in sales leadership   A strong compensation plan should be a win/win. If it doesn't, it will show up in your results.   If you're not sure how to structure compensation, start with your margins, identify what you need off your plate, and build from there. And if you want support doing exactly that, including building a repeatable and predictable sales process your salesperson can actually run, book a Sales Level Up Call with me:

Mit Philipp Baumanns (telli) Staffel #13 Folge #3 | #Marketing_021 Der Podcast über Marketing, Vertrieb, Entrepreneurship und Startups *** www.telli.com/ www.linkedin.com/in/philippbaumanns/ *** Im Podcast „Marketing From Zero To One“ erzählt Philipp Baumanns, Co-Founder von telli.com, über den Aufbau seines KI-Startups für automatisierte Telefonie im Vertrieb und Kundenservice. Telli entwickelt Voice Agents, die eigenständig mit Kunden telefonieren, Leads qualifizieren und Prozesse entlang der gesamten Customer Journey skalieren. Zentrale Themen sind die schnelle Entwicklung seit der Gründung 2024, die Teilnahme am Y Combinator, ihre Zeit im Silicon Valley sowie der Fokus auf skalierbare B2C-Use-Cases mit hohem Anrufvolumen. Darüber hinaus gibt Philipp spannende Einblicke in ihre Go-to-Market-Strategien, den Einsatz von KI im eigenen Startup und die langfristige Vision für telli. *** 2:37 – Live-Demo des telli Voice Agents "Emma" 4:01 – Hintergrund & Weg zur Gründung 4:51 – Ursprungsidee kam von Enpal (Callcenter-Probleme) 6:01 – Automatisierungspotenzial in Telefonie 6:09 – Studium & unternehmerische Motivation 7:20 – Praktika & Hardskills (Finance & Analytics) 8:25 – Co-Founder-Team & Entstehung 10:02 – Marktsetup & bestehende Lösungen 12:29 – Bewerbung & Aufnahme bei Y Combinator 15:27 – YC-Erfahrung & Arbeit in den USA 16:48 – Wachstum & Produktentwicklung im Accelerator 18:36 – Demo Day & Investorennetzwerk 19:28 – Erste Kunden & Go-to-Market 20:29 – Lead-Qualifizierung als zentraler Use Case 21:33 – Skalierung über Industrien hinweg 22:47 – Einsatz bei großen Kunden (z. B. Sky) 24:47 – Produktlogik & Agentensteuerung 25:28 – Akzeptanz von Voice AI bei Endkunden 27:39 – Personalisierung & Multilingualität 29:52 – Pricing-Modell (usage-based) 31:17 – Zielkunden & ideale Use Cases 32:39 – Kundengewinnung (Inbound & Outbound) 35:13 – Rollenverteilung im Gründerteam 36:10 – Social Media & virale Use Cases 38:25 – Internationalisierung (USA vs. Europa) 39:30 – Wettbewerb & Positionierung 41:53 – Vision: AI-first CRM & Engagement-Plattform 44:31 – Abhängigkeit von LLM-Providern 46:35 – Neue Business-Chancen durch Voice AI 48:40 – Multilingualität & neue Use Cases 49:42 – KI im eigenen Unternehmen 51:04 – Hiring & AI-first Mindset 52:25 – KI als Growth-Enabler (Sales & Marketing) 53:54 – Namensfindung (Telli vs. Sprich.ai) 55:15 – Start-Initiative & Engagement 56:10 – Studium vs. Startup-Realität

Jason was a guest on The Sales Management. Simplified. Podcast hosted by Mike Weinberg. In this episode, they talked about why outbound is harder than ever, what broke the classic SDR–AE model, and Jason's Too Good To Ignore outbound methodology. Check out more free content and get help with outbound at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://outboundsquad.com.

Get free access to the full course + companion workbook (50+ pages of frameworks, templates, and AI prompts): https://masterclass.outboundsquad.com/ --- Outbound isn't dead, but it's broken. Reply rates are below 2%. Connect rates are below 4%. The irony? The tools designed to make outbound easier have made it exponentially harder. But the top 25% of reps are booking 4.3x more meetings than everyone else. This course teaches you exactly what they do differently. The Outbound Masterclass is a free, 3-hour course covering the complete methodology we've used to train 20,000+ reps at companies like Shopify, Gong, Zoom, Rippling, and iHeartMedia. Here's what's inside: 1) Disqualify and avoid wasting hours pursuing bad-fit accounts 2) Leverage AI as your personal assistant to eliminate most busywork 3) Control the Conversation with prospects on cold calls and secure the meeting 4) Own the inbox with best practices from 85M+ cold emails we studied with Gong 5) Handle nearly any objection prospects throw at you 6) Build offers prospective buyers feel stupid for ignoring This is the live premiere of the Outbound Masterclass. It's also available on-demand at the link below. Get free access to the full course + companion workbook (50+ pages of frameworks, templates, and AI prompts): https://masterclass.outboundsquad.com/

Send a textRyan Pineda and cohost Brian Davila break down a step-by-step blueprint for beginners to make $15K in 30 days through real estate wholesaling, covering how to find deals, talk to sellers, negotiate contracts, and close profitable assignments.⁣⁣__________⁣If you want to start your real estate investing business, we'll give you 1:1 coaching, seller leads, software, & everything you need. https://www.wealthyinvestor.com⁣⁣If you're a business owner who wants to get in peak physical shape, we can help! https://www.allproceo.com⁣⁣Join our private mastermind for elite business leaders who golf. https://www.mastermind19.com⁣⁣Join free Bible studies and workshops for Christian business leaders. https://www.tentmakers.us⁣__________⁣CHAPTERS:⁣0:00 - How to Make $15K in 30 Days With Real Estate Wholesaling⁣8:57 - The 3 Ways to Find Wholesale Deals (Free, Outbound, Inbound)⁣24:23 - How to Evaluate Deals and Estimate Property Value⁣32:55 - Locking Up the Contract & Setting Up Renegotiation⁣44:08 - Renegotiating With Sellers to Secure Profit⁣47:15 - Assignment Agreements & When You Get Paid⁣50:55 - Final Advice for Getting Your First Wholesale DealLearn how to invest in real estate with the Cashflow 2.0 System! Your business in a box with 1:1 coaching, motivated seller leads, & softwares. https://www.wealthyinvestor.com/Want to work 1:1 with Ryan Pineda? Apply at ryanpineda.comJoin our FREE community, weekly calls, and bible studies for Christian entrepreneurs and business people. https://tentmakers.us/Want to grow your business and network with elite entrepreneurs on world-class golf courses? Apply now to join Mastermind19 – Ryan Pineda's private golf mastermind for high-level founders and dealmakers. www.mastermind19.com--- About Ryan Pineda: Ryan Pineda has been in the real estate industry since 2010 and has invested in over $100,000,000 of real estate. He has completed over 700 flips and wholesales, and he owns over 650 rental units. As an entrepreneur, he has founded seven different businesses that have generated 7-8 figures of revenue. Ryan has amassed over 2 million followers on social media and has generated over 1 billion views online. Starting as a minor league baseball player making less than $2,000 a month, Ryan is now worth over $100 million. He shares his experiences in building wealth and believes that anyone can change their life with real estate investing. ...