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Send us a textToday's guest is Bobby Payne from Shift Group. He is an Air Force veteran and a really awesome guy who I've gotten to know a lot more recently. Since starting The Veteran Professional in 2019, I have been contacted by a number of veteran-focused recruiting companies. I even worked for one for a bit. The only one I have decided to partner with in a meaningful way is Shift Group. Here is why: 1,000+ veterans and athletes placed300+ hiring partners9 months average time to promotion for new placements, compared to an average of 18 monthsAnd the stat that sealed this for me, they have
Send us a textGet ready for a ride! The Ones Ready crew teams up with Bobby Payne, a retired Senior Master Sergeant turned rockstar (literally). From crushing it as a firefighter during the GWOT to opening for 38 Special, Bobby's story is proof that life after service can be EPIC. We dive into his time helping veterans transition, why he hates resumes (same), and how a chance call landed him on stage with a drum set.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review (we know you're lurking). Want even more? Consider joining our membership for exclusive content and insider access. Be ready for laughs, leadership lessons, and more short jokes than Trent deserves.
WELCOME BACK TO GAMETIME! I'm your host and coaching teammate, Shauna Griffiths, and I'm grateful to bring you another conversation with an impactful leader. This edition features JR Butler, CEO & Founder, Shift Group - that focuses on bridging the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Their mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals. I'm proud to count as JR friend, a fellow member of The Post, AND a member of the 2025 #LeadershipAthlete Draft Class. And, I'm grateful and to share his knowledge, insights, and wisdom with you through this episode. Tuning-in will be a lot like dropping into the Lockeroom of a Head Coach who keeps it real and delivers the heat. You've been warned! You'll hear how this passionate, authentic leader elevated his own game and evolved himself from being a championship seller to the self-aware entrepreneur JR is today. You'll be informed, inspired, and entertained - especially when you hear about JR's playlist. Don't miss our conversation which also covers: 1) Why he created Shift Group when he had been a championship level salesperson 2) Why sales and sports analogies go hand in hand 3) Why Athletes and Veterans have a propensity to work in - and succeed in - sales 4) The increasingly rare combination of intangible characteristics that Athletes and Veterans share 5) Why you can't trade AI for patience in sales 6) Authenticity as your superpower 7) Hard truth about career choices 8) An innovative approach to resumes And more! We hope you enjoy this episode, and we look forward to hearing your feedback! LEADERSHIP IS A SPORT & IT'S GAMETIME.
Send us a textIn this inspiring episode of The Matt Brown Show, Matt sits down with JR Butler, the founder and CEO of Shift Group. From hockey rinks in Boston to the boardrooms of North America, JR shares his personal journey of transitioning from being a professional athlete to creating a company that bridges the gap for retiring athletes and military veterans entering the business world.Shift Group isn't just a platform—it's a movement. With its unique blend of self-discovery, micro-learning, and coaching, JR's company transforms individuals into highly competitive, resilient, and coachable professionals that organizations can't wait to hire.Matt and JR dive into everything from the parallels between sports and business, the process of rediscovering your identity after life-changing transitions, to the importance of perseverance in building a successful career and company. They also explore Shift Group's innovative tech-driven recruiting platform and its mission to create lasting impact on a global scale. Support the show
In this episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, I'm joined by JR Butler, a former college hockey player who took the grit he learned on the ice and built a powerhouse career in tech. From leading teams to scaling companies, JR has proven that athletes and veterans bring something rare to the business world. Now, as the CEO of Shift Group, he's helping other former athletes and vets find their place as high-impact leaders in business.We dive into what makes athletes and veterans a cut above in leadership roles, why they're primed to thrive in high-stakes environments, and how JR is bridging the gap between the field and the boardroom. If you're ready to learn what it really takes to dominate in business—from resilience to drive and the hunger to win—this one's for you.Listen in for JR's journey and why athletes and veterans are ready-made for leadership.Josh Kosnick: linktr.ee/joshkosnickJR Butler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrbutler/Shift Group: https://shiftgroup.io/about-us/CONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube
Send us a textWhat if surviving 22 brushes with death could completely change your outlook on life? Join us as we sit down with JR Butler, the remarkable founder and CEO of Shift Group, who opens up about his unimaginable experience of facing death 22 times in just 11 days. This life-altering ordeal has profoundly influenced his perspective as both a father and leader. We explore Jared's deep ties to the hockey world, his connections with Joey Dacord of the Seattle Kraken, and how sports lessons have seamlessly translated into his business endeavors. This conversation is rich with insights on gratitude, resilience, and the enduring impact of mentorship.Reflecting on pivotal family moments, we share how these experiences have shaped our accountability, humility, and work ethic values. With personal anecdotes from his upbringing in a hockey-loving household, influenced by a Hall of Fame high school hockey coach's father, we discuss life lessons that have carved out JR's path today. You'll hear about my bittersweet journey of parenthood, sending my son off to college, and realizing that every loss is a lesson waiting to be learned. These stories underscore the importance of remaining grounded and resilient, no matter how high you soar professionally.Health is wealth, and we tackle this truth head-on by recounting personal health scares that could have been fatal if ignored. Listening to one's body and the importance of self-advocacy in medical matters cannot be overstated. We challenge the illusion of work-life balance, proposing instead a model of work-life integration, where being truly present in each moment takes precedence. This episode is a heartfelt invitation to prioritize your health, remain resilient, and fully engage in life—because nothing is more valuable than being there for your family and yourself.Please don't forget to leave us a review wherever you consume your podcasts! Please help us get more dads to listen weekly and become the ultimate leader of their homes!
Calling all sports fans — you guys are going to love this one!In this episode, Sam interviews JR Butler, founder and CEO of Shift Group, which focuses on bridging the gap for military veterans & former athletes as they enter into the corporate world. Throughout the conversation, JR emphasizes the importance of resilience, coachability, and teamwork in recruitment — and the fact that a 4.0 GPA can't speak to the true abilities of a candidate. Some of the innate values of those with athletic and military backgrounds make them highly trainable (and great team players!) — and JR shares how Shift Group trains and prepares them for success in sales roles and beyond.Ultimately, the conversation highlights the significance of a team-first mindset and the long-term benefits of investing in early-career talent — and thinking outside the corporate box in doing so. In short: GO TEAM!Chapters:00:00 - Podcast intro03:13 - JR Butler: Bridging the gap between athletes, veterans, and business08:24 - How Shift Group tapped into a unique recruiting niche13:02 - How soft skills reveal high-potential candidates20:30 - The power of preparation: Coaching candidates to success25:14 - JR Butler's winning tactics for business development31:22 - Departing words: How to recruit for success Explore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
Excited to welcome Bill Burke to the show this week to wrap up this season of Merchants of Change!Bill played football at Michigan State under legendary coach Nick Saban before making his transition to the professional world.Currently, he is an Associate Partner at the Podium Group and has written a book on how athletes can rediscover their purpose post sports titled "Victory Outside the Arena"----------------------Connect with us on social @shift_hq on all platforms! Today's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billburke16/Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals. The Shift Connect platform, accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.Discover how Shift Group can transform your hiring process and unlock the potential of exceptional talent. Visit us at shiftgroup.io to learn more.
A great conversation with Jennifer Beale on this week's Merchants of Change!JR & Jennifer chat about her transition from Division 1 hockey into a new career, the tactical skills for success as a new professional, and how she has climbed the ladder to her current role as a MidMarket Account Executive with HubSpot!8:47 Transitioning from Elite Athletics to a New Career17:34 Translatable Skills from Sports to the Professional World23:06 Tactical Skills for Long-Term Success33:40 Being Dialed In as a Professional----------------------Connect with us on social @shift_hq on all platforms! Today's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-beale-93677441/Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals. The Shift Connect platform, accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.Discover how Shift Group can transform your hiring process and unlock the potential of exceptional talent. Visit us at shiftgroup.io to learn more.
Excited to welcome Jackson Brewer, RVP of Growth Sales at Toast to Merchants of Change this week!!JR & Jackson chat about winning a college hockey national championship, becoming a sales coach at Harvard Business School, and his growth in a new career after transitioning out of sports!8:21 Transitioning into A New Career from Sports20:49 Sales Coaching at Harvard Business School31:11 Keys to Success in Your New Career44:10 Being Dialed in as a Sales Professional----------------------Connect with us on social @shift_hq on all platforms! Today's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackson-brewer-71122413a/Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals. The Shift Connect platform, accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.Discover how Shift Group can transform your hiring process and unlock the potential of exceptional talent. Visit us at shiftgroup.io to learn more.
Joining us this week on Merchants of Change is Chrissy Gikas, former collegiate softball player and current Sales Development Manager at Starburst!Tune in Thursday for the full conversation on how athletes can leverage their unique skills into success in their new uniform!4:40 Transition to Sales16:49 Skills That Translate from Sports to Sales14:46 Advice to Senior Athletes Preparing to Transition27:18 Why I Love Sales----------------------Connect with us on social @shift_hq on all platforms! Today's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissy-gikas-83856ab3/Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals. The Shift Connect platform, accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.Discover how Shift Group can transform your hiring process and unlock the potential of exceptional talent. Visit us at shiftgroup.io to learn more.
Joining the show this week is former professional baseball player Branden Kline!After hanging up the cleats, he successfully transitioned to sales, leveraging his unique skills and experiences as an athlete. Today he is currently a Commercial Account Executive with SmartRecruiters and knocking it out of the park!10:23 Transition from Pro Baseball to Sales20:24 Skills that Translate from Sports to Sales23:55 Advice to Seniors/Transitioning Pro Athletes35:02 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional!----------------------Connect with us on social @shift_hq on all platforms! Today's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/branden-kline-b2071a1a6/Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals. The Shift Connect platform, accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.Discover how Shift Group can transform your hiring process and unlock the potential of exceptional talent. Visit us at shiftgroup.io to learn more.
Former NFL and College football coach John Bonamego joins Merchants of Change this week to talk about his coaching career & transition to sales!Johns's coaching career is impressive including stops with the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, and Miami Dolphins in the NFL and Michigan, West Point, and Head Coach at his alma mater, Central Michigan in college.3:05 Coaching Career & Lessons Learned Along the Way16:30 Common Traits of Elite Teams21:30 What Translates from Coaching to Sales32:25 Why John Loves Sales & Being Dialed In----------------------Connect with us on social @shift_hq on all platforms! Today's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-bonamego-6122188/Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals. The Shift Connect platform, accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.Discover how Shift Group can transform your hiring process and unlock the potential of exceptional talent. Visit us at shiftgroup.io to learn more.
Joining us this week on Merchants of Change is Samantha Schlicht, current Senior Commercial AE at Zscaler and former Minnesota cheerleader!JR & Samantha talk about the transition to sales, advice for women entering the career, what it means to be hashtag #dialedin, and much more!8:55 Transition & 1st Sales Experience 16:45 Challenges of the Transition 27:10 Advice for Selecting Your 1st Company33:35 Why I Love My Career in Sales----------------------Connect with us on social @shift_hq on all platforms! Today's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaschlicht/Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals. The Shift Connect platform, accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.Discover how Shift Group can transform your hiring process and unlock the potential of exceptional talent. Visit us at shiftgroup.io to learn more.
Send us a Text Message.How did a casual joke in a group chat evolve into the lowercase dooms block party, an event with a profound mission? Join us as we sit down with Luke Cavanaugh, Travis Thompson, and Kevin "BK" Shears from Snake Farm to uncover the origins of this community-driven initiative. This episode sheds light on how the block party aims to foster camaraderie and support critical missions like the FOLAND initiative, all while collaborating with organizations such as the Combat Control Foundation. Discover the importance of creating genuine, impactful gatherings that go beyond fleeting get-togethers to truly resonate with and support the veteran community. Transitioning to civilian life can be a challenging journey for veterans and athletes alike. We discuss the invaluable support offered by organizations like the Honor Foundation and Shift Group. Kevin provides insights into the rigorous training and job placement assistance that Shift Group offers, emphasizing the importance of utilizing available resources to make transitions smoother. The unique camaraderie and humor found in military meme culture also play a crucial role in providing support during these pivotal moments. Hear compelling anecdotes that illustrate how shared experiences and humor can help ease the stress of life changes. Lastly, we are inspired by the story of a community project honoring the memory of SSgt Forrest Sibley, a fallen Air Force Combat Controller (CCT). Led by Brent Sibley, Forrest's father, this initiative has transformed a piece of land into a sanctuary for Veterans, Active duty service members, and their families to bond and heal. With the community's support, this outdoor retreat has become a site for resiliency retreats and team-building activities. We also explore Travis and Luke's strategies for balancing demanding civilian careers with family life, emphasizing the integration of family time into work routines. Learn how these veterans leverage their military skills in civilian roles while maintaining focus on what truly matters.We greatly appreciate your support, so please remember to LIKE, FOLLOW, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE! Instagram: @securityhaltX : @SecurityHaltTik Tok: @security.halt.pod The Lower Case Dooms Block Party is going down July 26th through July 27th. For more information, CLICK THE LINKS BELOW! snakefarmco.comamericanmisfitco.comalpharesolutegroup.com Snake Farm IG: snakefarmcoAmerican Misfit IG: american_misfitAlpha Resolute Group IG: alpharesolutegroup Support the Show.Produced by Security Halt Media
Joining this week's episode of Merchants of Change we've got Chris Davis, former Division 1 and professional hockey player!After his playing career, he transitioned to sales in the manufacturing space where he has climbed the ladder to his current position as Director of Sales at Roto Pumps.11:00 Transition from Professional Hockey to Sales17:30 Skills & Mindsets that Translate21:18 Pump & Manufacturing Sales Deep Dive32:10 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-davis-mba-81565126/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Excited to welcome Kyle York to Merchants of Change this week!A great conversation with the CEO of our partners at York IE offering advice on leveraging the skills you learn as a seller into leadership and management roles, the importance of selling as an entrepreneur, and much more!----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyork20/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Merchants of Change is back this week with former Major League Baseball player Shane Peterson!!JR Butler & Shane talk about his transition out of baseball, finding a new passion in, and the skills from sports that have allowed him to find success in his new career as a sales professional!9:30 Skills that Translate from Pro Baseball to Sales18:49 Advice to Seniors/Retiring Athletes23:16 Why I Love Sales & Being Dialed In----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaneapeterson/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
This week on Merchants of Change, Katie Tynan, former Bentley Falcon and current Senior AE at Onshape, a PTC Technology joins the show!JR & Katie cover the value of being in-office to start your career, applying the mindset of an athlete for success, and much more!4:03 Transition from Sports to Sales8:58 Advice to Seniors Preparing to Transition19:23 Boxes to Check in Your 1st Company26:00 Preparing for Success in the 1st 30 Days----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-tynan-6159b0136/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
An awesome guest, Eddie Caron joins Merchants of Change this week to talk about his transition from sports to sales!Eddie played Division 1 hockey at the Univeristy of New Hampshire before starting his career in sales with Masco. Today he is the Ecosystem Sourcing Sales Director at Accenture.Some great advice for our audience and some even better stories!8:02 Transition from Hockey to Sales22:29 Advice to Senior Athletes Preparing to Transition33:04 Overcoming Adversity37:14 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-caron-905275100/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Joining Merchants of Change this week is Marine Veteran, David Guarino!!Currently, he is the VP of Sales for Tribar Technologies Inc. and has had a long and successful sales career after transitioning from service.Awesome conversation for our veteran audience on the opportunities of a career in sales and how to prepare for the transition!12:41 Transition from Service to Sales18:35 Challenges of the Transition28:13 Advice to Veterans Preparing to Transition36:00 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwguarino/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Former college baseball player Tyler Huntey joins the show this week to talk about his transition from sports to sales and eventually becoming a CEO!Some great nuggets in this conversation on leveraging the mindset that made you elite at your sport into becoming a successful sales professional!5:35 Transition from Baseball to Sales9:53 First Sales Job and Experience 16:55 Advice to Senior Athletes24:20 The Importance of Selling as a CEO/Entrepreneurship----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-huntey-16b90895/About Face Development: https://www.linkedin.com/company/about-face-development/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Today's guest has had an incredible journey over his career, going from playing college hockey to becoming the CRO of Pillir. JR Butler is the CEO and founder of Shift Group, which helps transition elite athletes and veterans to become dialed in as sales professionals. JR joins Host Matt Benelli for a deep dive into the continuous nature of training and development, why leaders need to really understand what motivates their team members, and the importance of authenticity in leadership.Takeaways:Far from being a one-time event, training and development in sales must be continuous in order to build a culture of ongoing learning and growth to stay competitive.Mindset is foundational for training and coaching, linking success directly to an individual's ability to adapt, learn, and be resilient. Leaders are encouraged to cultivate a growth mindset within their teams, focusing on imagination, determination, and self-confidence.Good leaders get to know their people deeply – their backgrounds, aspirations, and motivations. This understanding allows for tailored guidance and support that is most conducive to an individual's professional growth and success.Embrace authentic leadership. Authenticity in curiosity, empathy, and compassion are critical for effective leadership. Being genuinely interested in and caring for your team members can significantly impact their engagement and performance.Remote work can be a double-edged sword for both leaders and employees. While remote work has become more prevalent, early career individuals particularly benefit from in-person experiences and mentoring.For early career hires, resiliency, competitiveness, and coachability are key attributes to look for. These qualities often signify a candidate's potential for success and adaptability in sales roles.Leaders should embody the behaviors and practices they wish to see in their teams. This includes being present, both physically and in their commitment to the team's development and success.Quote of the Show:“Pressure is a Privilege” - JR ButlerLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrbutler/ Shift Group Website: https://www.shiftgroup.io/ Shoutouts:Jamie SheperdJim McInernyMark ThurmanWays to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Yb1wPzUxyrfR0Dx35ym1A Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coach2scale-how-modern-leaders-build-a-coaching-culture/id1699901434 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fd188af6-7c17-4b2e-a0b2-196ecd6fdf77 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/coach2scale-how-modern-leaders-5419703 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Coach2Scale CoachEm™ is the first Coaching Execution Platform that integrates deep learning technology to proactively analyze patterns, highlight the "why" behind the data with root causes, and identify the actions that will ultimately improve business results going forward. These practical coaching recommendations for managers will help their teams drive more deals, bigger deals, faster deals and loyal customers. Built with decades of go-to-market experience, world-renowned data scientists and advanced causal AI/ML technology, CoachEm™ leverages your existing tech stack to increase rep productivity, increase retention, and replicate best practices across your team.Learn more at coachem.io
Big thanks to Pat D'Amico, for joining us on Merchants of Change this week!This is an awesome conversation digging into the science of selling and the keys to success from BDRs to the C-suite!After serving in the U.S. Army, Pat transitioned to sales and eventually sales development. After 20+ years leading and training sellers, he started his own company About-Face Development, LLC!8:10 Sales Development, Enablement & Training15:35 Training Elite Sellers23:50 The Science of Selling38:20 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patjdamico/About Face Development: https://www.linkedin.com/company/about-face-development/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Excited to welcome former NFL player Canaan Severin to the show this week!!After his college career at UVA, Canaan played with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers before making his transition to sales as an Account Manager with Coinbase!8:32 Transition from the NFL to Sales13:09 Why Athletes Are Successful in Sales29:00 Skills to Develop as a New Seller33:14 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/canaan-severin-2a448417b/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
On this week's episode of Merchants of Change, we welcome Tad Gold, a former professional baseball player, two sport collegiate athlete, and current District Sales Manager at Toast!JR & Tad talk about his transition out of baseball, the skills that translate from sports to sales, and how he has quickly climbed the ladder and earned multiple promotions at Toast!10:43 Making His Transition to Sales17:37 Keys to Getting Promoted26:25 Advice For Your 1st Company32:41 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tad-gold-5b153751/Diverse Athlete Placement: https://wearedap.com/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
This week we welcome Danya Abrams, former Boston College basketball player, to Merchants of Change for an awesome conversation!After his college career, Danya played professionally before starting his own financial services firm and founded Diverse Athlete Placement, a platform helping minority student-athletes transition out of sports!7:57 Transition from Basketball to Sales & Entrepreneurship12:37 Skill That Translate from Sports to Sales20:21 Shift Group x Diverse Athlete Placement Partnership30:51 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danyaabrams/Diverse Athlete Placement: https://wearedap.com/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Super excited to welcome Keenan to the show this week to kick off another great season of Merchants of Change!!As a Best-Selling Author, Founder, and CEO, Keenan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in sales, making this a must-listen conversation!He pulls no punches, tells it like it is, and is convicted in his opinions not because they get impressions, but because he actually believes them.----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimkeenan/Gap Selling: https://www.amazon.com/Gap-Selling-Problem-Centric-Everything-Relationships/dp/1732891001To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.6:55 Transition to Sales16:05 Writing His Book's Not Taught & Gap Selling29:17 What is Gap Selling38:55 Advice to Athletes/Veterans
THE SHIFT - Group coaching journey starts soon! Send me a DM on Instagram to claim your space, or to enquire about 1:1 coaching - http://instagram.com/benjam Website - http://benjam.uk YouTube - http://youtube.com/benbrown Love you
Ending Season 7 of Merchants of Change with a bang! Super excited to have Ryan Feely, former Florida State football player, and current Senior AE at Seamless.AI join the show for an awesome conversation!Ryan has had an incredibly successful run in his sales career, being promoted 5 times in 5 years, from BDR to Director of Sales. This conversation highlights the skills, traits, and characteristics he took from his football career that allowed him to succeed in sales!9:12 Sales Degree's in College19:22 Climbing the Ranks & Getting Promoted29:49 Advice to Athletes Preparing to Transition41:07 Accountability & Extreme Ownership47:24 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional ----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-feely-%F0%9F%94%8E-91801a134/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
In this curated episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, John McMahon and John Kaplan delve into the essential characteristics of successful hiring companies, joined by J.R. Butler, founder of the Shift Group. Together, they explore the key elements that make a company excel in recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent, particularly athletes and veterans transitioning into sales roles.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:00:49] Characteristics of A-Players: A-Players are hungry to learn, self-starters with a no-victim mentality, and persistent learners from their mistakes.[00:01:23] Key Considerations for Hiring Companies: Sell the opportunity and potential outcomes. Foster a culture of excellence, growth, and development. Establish clearly defined goals to drive performance.[00:02:30] Culture Beyond Surface: True culture goes beyond superficial elements like themed Zoom days. It's about what people do when nobody's looking, emphasizing structure, practice, and rewarding the right behaviors.[00:05:08] Intimate Leadership: Leaders must understand the nuances of individuals, whether athletes or military veterans, to guide their growth effectively.[00:06:44] Work Preferences of Athletes and Veterans: Consider the unique situations of career transitioners, and understand their willingness to relocate or work remotely.[00:08:35] The Art of Selling the Opportunity: Companies should be adept at not only selling the job but also articulating why the candidate should choose them over other opportunities.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:08] "As a hiring company, you need to sell the opportunity and the potential outcome. But you also have to have a culture of excellence, growth, and development."[00:02:09] "Culture is what people do when nobody's looking. To create a culture where people do the right things, you've got to have that type of structure where they can practice and are rewarded for practice."[00:07:34] "Why would somebody want to work for this company? Why would somebody want to work for you? It's a really good exercise. So important."Listen to the full episode with JR Butler through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/assembling-a-top-sales-team-with-jr-butler/Check out John McMahon's book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management's Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/
This week on Merchants of Change...we welcome Nathan Frieberg, former Vermont Catamount and current Outbound Sales Manager at 280 Group to the show!After his soccer career Nate started his own company and then transitioned to sales, where he's built an impressive resume as a sales professional leveraging the skills that allowed him to be a Division 1 athlete!10:56 Advice to Seniors Preparing For Life After Sports17:52 Critical Sales Skills to Develop23:17 Characteristics of a Good Hire27:14 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional-----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-frieberg/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Excited to welcome Katie Grimm to Merchants of Change this week!A former Virginia Tech lacrosse player and current VP of Sales at S2N Health, Katie offers some great advice for our audience on transitioning your experiences as an athlete into a successful career in sales!4:50 Transition to Sales & Leadership15:13 Importance of Coachability24:45 What to Look for in Your 1st Company/Manager36:08 What is MedTech42:33 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional-----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-spicer-8189b43/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Merchants of Change welcomes Ryan Spicer to the show this week to talk about the value your athletic background can bring to any organization!As a former professional soccer player and coach, Ryan took his experiences and translated them into a long and successful career in media sales!Sales is hard, but if you apply the same grit, determination, and resiliency that made you successful in sports or military service, you will succeed!15:50 Transition from Professional Sports to Sales24:30 What is Media Sales?42: 35 What to Look for in Your First Company47:44 Being Dialed In as a Sales Professional-----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-spicer-8189b43/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
JR Butler is the CEO & Founder of the Shift Group and our interview covers a range of topics including the balance between talent and coaching, personal drivers of success, and practical leadership strategies. It also touches on the transferability of skills from sports to sales and highlights the importance of effective coaching and continuous improvement. Throughout the conversation, JR's personal anecdotes and insights offer valuable insights for listeners pursuing a successful career in sales or sales management. #salesconsultantpodcast #sales #salesmanagement #coaching #salescoach #salescareer #saleseffectiveness #hockey #salesskills #roleplaying #practicing #talentdevelopment #entrepreneurshipTime Stamps:[2:10] - JR's reaction to Bill Belicheck being released from the New England Patriots as their Head Coach (we recorded the same day the news broke).[3:45] - Is it the Player or is it the Coach? Is it the rep's individual talent or is it the environmental conditions that manager's create that makes winning teams? JR gives us his perspective.[8:10] - JR opens up about what has driven him to be successful. He gets real with us on this one and shares some inspiring stories. [14:40] - JR explains his quote, “athletes have the right balance of humility and confidence”.[17:00] - How to avoid complacency.[19:56] - We discuss how sports is or is not uniquely qualified in its ability to facilitate a transfer of useful skills/attributes to a profession in sales.[23:30] - Operationalizing an emphasis on “practicing” in a sales environment the way we do in sports.[27:40] - Why it's easier for JR to coach teenage hockey players than adult sales professionals.[32:30] - Having difficult coaching conversations with low performing reps.[34:00] - Derrick puts JR through a rapidfire challenge where JR has to come up with his best sales analogy based on a variety of hockey concepts.[39:00] - Why “coachability” is so sought after when at the same time we all know there is a massive opportunity for managers to do more/better coaching with their teams.43:30] - JR takes us through the inflection point in his life where he decided to go all in on building The Shift Group. Connect with JR:JR's LinkedIn page - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrbutler/Shift Group website - https://www.shiftgroup.ioConnect with Derrick:Connect with Derrick on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrickis3linksales/These interviews are also available on Derrick's YouTube page - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFfMnGtGWVrzO3BorCimojw
Joining us this week is Kevin Reed Jr., former pro football player turned sales professional with Excedr!This conversation dives deep into skills, traits, and processes that translate from athletics into a successful career in sales!Kevin also talks about the NIL resource he has built for student-athletes called All Gas Athletics (link in the notes)10:49 First Cold Call Story12:52 Skills, Traits, and Processes that Translate from Sports21:15 First Company Advice25:21 Keys to Having a Quick Start as a BDR------------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinreedjr/All Gas Athletics: https://allgasathletic.com/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Joining us on Merchants of Change this week is Matt Barr, former Bentley basketball player and current VP of Sales & Client Success at Breezeway!15:45 Starting at a Small or Large Company17:27 Advice to Transitioning Athletes27:45 Pillars to Sales Success as a BDR35:07 What it Means to be Dialed In as a Sales Professional-------------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjbarr/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Awesome conversation this week with Jenn Haskell, Director of Sales Enablement & Training at Nasuni and former 3 sport collegiate athlete!Jenn is our first guest who works in sales enablement and provides some great insight into the career and how she is training her reps to be successful!9:37 The Value of Sales Enablement20:20 The Art of Sales28:20 Sales Enablement Playbook40:10 Why I Love Sales & Being Dialed In------------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennhaskellmba/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
We are excited to welcome Steve Travaglini to Merchants of Change this week to discuss what makes an elite sales professional!Steve is a former football player at Assumption University who transitioned to sales, quickly climbing the ranks, and is currently the Chief Sales Officer at LinkSquares! 7:57 1st Sales Job17:48 Advice to Young Athletes30:34 Sales Playbook41:21 Elite Sales Skill & Being Dialed in------------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevetravaglini/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Carey spoke with Sean Hurd, a former Army Ranger, Green Beret, and the Director of Growth for Shift Group, a sales staffing firm that helps elite athletes and military veterans transition successfully into tech sales. Follow Sean on LinkedIn where you can also follow Carey. Shift Group is on Instagram, and so is Veteran Made. Follow for daily updates! This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.
Former Boston University hockey captain, Patrick MacGregor joins us on Merchants of Change this week for an awesome conversation!JR at Pat talk about the challenges of the BDR role, what to look for in your first company, and how to translate your skills as an athlete into becoming an elite sales professional!9:50 Transition to Sales19:10 1st Company and Advice to Transitioning Athletes24:25 Telling Your Story34:53 Elite Sales Skill & Being Dialed In------------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-macgregor-32945386/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Merchants of Change is back with a brand new season, loaded with elite guests and awesome conversations!In episode 1, we welcome Charles Ruiz, a former college & professional baseball player who transitioned to sales and eventually started his own coaching company, CLR Connection.JR & Charlie talk about his transition to sales, advice for young sellers, his playbook for sales success, and what it means to be dialed in!9:37 Transition to Sales19:40 Telling Your Story25:50 Playbook for Sales Success29:30 Elite Sales Skill & Being Dialed In------------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-ruiz/CLR Connection: https://www.clrconnection.com/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
On the last episode of Season 6 of Merchants of Change, we welcome Esther Iyamu, Founder & CEO of GrowthQ to the show!Esther is a former NFL and NBA cheerleader who successfully transitioned into a successful sales career before founding her own company, GrowthQ!A conversation filled with advice on starting your sales career, the importance of selling in entrepreneurship, getting dialed in, and much more!1:53 Cheer/Dance Career17:40 Transition to Sales29:40 Entrepreneurship38:50 Core Sales Beliefs44:05 Elite Sales Skill and Being Dialed In------------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-ayorinde/GrowthQ: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
Excited to welcome another elite guest to Merchants of Change this week, Vince Nistico, former college football player and current Strategic Enterprise Account Executive at ServiceTitan!Another awesome conversation, loaded with advice for anyone looking to start a career in sales! JR & Vince talk about picking the right company, establishing your operating rhythm, and being dialed in!9:10 Preparing for the Transition25:25 Picking the Right 1st Company31:55 Establishing Your Operating Rhythm41:40 Being Dialed in------------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincenistico/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
This week on Merchants of Change we welcome Dan Fantasia, President & CEO of Treeline, Inc. to the show!With over 20 years of experience in helping companies build elite sales teams, this is an episode packed full of great advice for athletes & veterans preparing to break into a career in sales!Getting prepared for your interviews takes a lot more than just showing up. There are countless steps you can take to ensure you show up to that interview prepared and land that sales role!9:00 Core Sales Beliefs17:15 Preparing For Your Interviews25:50 Telling Your Story30:30 Choosing Your 1st Company------------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danfantasia/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
This week on Merchants of Change, we welcome Cianna Levi, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and current Enterprise SDR at Outreach to the show!Cianna has taken the skills & characteristics that allowed her to be elite in dance and used them to transition to a successful start in sales.JR & Cianna talk about her transition, advice for telling your story in an interview, picking your first company, and getting comfortable with starting a new career from the bottom of the ladder.7:40 Dallas Cowboys Operational Excellence16:50 Cianna's Transition24:40 Telling Your Story34:15 Picking Your 1st Company38:30 Elite Sales Skill & Being a Pro-----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioToday's guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levici/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.
In this episode of Warriors Unmasked, we welcome back J.R. Butler, a former NCAA hockey player, founder of Shift Group, an expert in post-athletic career transition, a mental health advocate, and a new dad. His journey is an inspiring story of transformation and resilience, filled with deep insights into the challenges athletes face when transitioning from their sports careers to everyday life. J.R. dives into his personal experience of losing his identity as a hockey player and how it felt like mourning a lost loved one. This profound loss propelled him into a period of self-discovery, leading him to understand the importance of finding purpose beyond the rink. He emphasizes that purpose and passion are distinct yet interconnected aspects that drive our actions and decisions. His narrative is a powerful example of how athletes can leverage their innate characteristics—resilience, coachability, teamwork, and competitiveness—in their post-sport careers. J.R.'s journey through these challenging transitions has equipped him with unique insights that he now shares through Shift Group, helping other athletes and military personnel find their path after their careers. As a new father, J.R.'s purpose has evolved, yet his passion for helping others discover their potential remains constant. His story is a testament to the fact that while careers may end, the qualities honed during those careers can open doors to new, fulfilling endeavors. This episode is more than a conversation; it's a guide to navigating life's transitions with grace, resilience, and an unwavering sense of purpose. It's a roadmap for anyone facing a crossroads in life, affirming that with self-reflection and determination, every end can mark the beginning of a new, exciting chapter. If you're looking to explore the depth of J.R.'s insights and experiences or seeking guidance in their own journey of transition and self-discovery, press play on this episode and embark on a path of empowerment and transformation. GUEST LINKS: Shift Group | Technology Recruiting & Training for Athletes: https://www.shiftgroup.io Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shift-groupllc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shiftathlete LINKS: malarchuk.com/book malarchuk.com www.thecompassionateconnection.com www.warriorsunmasked.com Join Chuck's Text Community: 251-418-7966 Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook Subscribe To Our YouTube My Community Contact Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 Introduction + Messages from Our Sponsors 00:15 The Journey of J. R. Butler: From Hockey to Career Transition Expert 03:29 Understanding Post-Athletic Career Transition 05:10 The Impact of Identity Loss in Athletes 07:34 The Importance of Purpose and Passion in Career Transition 09:11 The Struggles and Challenges in Career Transition 11:26 The Role of Self-Discovery in Career Transition 18:21 The Importance of Purpose in Finding Passion 26:38 The Mental Health Journey in Career Transition 36:11 The Formation and Mission of Shift Group 44:22 The Similarities Between Athletes and Military Personnel 47:53 Final Thoughts J.R. and Advice for Athletes in Transition
This week we welcome Josh Richards, former West Point hockey player & Army Ranger to Merchants of Change to talk about his military service, transition out of the army, and much more!As a platoon leader in the Army, Josh understands what it takes to be a successful leader. The traits that served him in the military have translated directly to sales success as a Senior Sales Manager with Cherry.8:24 Military Career12:55 Advice for Veterans & Companies 23:00 Telling Your Story28:40 Skills That Translate from the Military to Sales31:05 Elite Sales Skill & Being Dialed In-----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioTodays Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuamrichards/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.
Terry Husayn (Talha), VP of Technical engagement and a member of the founding team at Orum. In this part Terry spoke about the process of building an early stage sales team - from the ground up. Specifically we focused on hiring, training and creating compensation plans for BDRs and SDRs. Some mentions from the episode: Winning an SDR interview, Terry's blog Betts recruiting - recruiting AlwaysHired - SDR school Shift Group - shiftgroup.io - recruiting Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talhahusayn/ Link to Orum: https://www.orum.com/ And of course, keep an eye out on our articles through SubStack that you can check out here.
Merchants of Change is back this week with Darnell Shiver, one of our first veteran placements! Darnell currently works as an SDR on the Intent team with Limble. After serving in the army he has made a successful transition to sales and is crushing it so far in his new career!Darnell & JR talk about his military service, his transition into sales, the challenges he faced and that all vets face in their transition, and how his sales career has been going so far.9:20 Challenges of the Transition from Service 11:25 What Companies Can Do to Support Veterans21:25 Advice for Veterans Making the Transition28:00 Skill That Translate from Service to Sales32:35 What it Means to be Dialed In-----------------------Connect with us on social @shiftathlete on all platforms! Learn more about Shift Group at shiftgroup.ioTodays Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darnell-shiver-115361276/To our Athletes & Veterans: We will find you a career that you love, over prepare you for success, and connect you with great companies where you will grow, learn, and earn consistently.To our Hiring Partners: We will help you find the best candidates in the world that will outwork, outlearn, and outperform your highest expectations. We will work closely with you to match our candidates to your leadership style, your culture, and your expectations for performance.