Sales Maven

In this heartwarming episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch welcomes Levi Ware—musician, speaker, and co-founder of the Melodic Caring Project (MCP). Levi shares the incredible origin story of MCP, a nonprofit that streams live concerts to children and families navigating serious illnesses. If you've ever wondered how to start a nonprofit rooted in passion and purpose, this episode is for you. Levi takes us behind the scenes of MCP’s early days, including the emotional first concert, the power of community, and how he turned a personal mission into a scalable, impactful organization. From maintaining authenticity to navigating personal sacrifices and innovating through COVID-19, Levi’s journey offers both inspiration and practical wisdom for aspiring changemakers. Listeners will come away with: * A deeper understanding of how to turn a passion project into a nonprofit * Powerful stories of connection and healing through music * Actionable advice on launching and sustaining a mission-driven organization Timestamps (Adjusted): 00:43 Welcome to the Sales Maven Show 01:22 Meet Levi Ware & the Melodic Caring Project 04:43 How the Idea Was Born 09:24 Katie’s Story – The First Concert 14:00 Braden’s Story – Expanding the Vision 19:35 Building with Purpose & Relationships 25:19 Turning Music into a Mission 28:17 The Family Impact of Illness 31:15 How to Start a Nonprofit from the Heart 33:42 Staying True to the Mission 38:05 Pivoting During a Pandemic 44:12 The Sacrifices Behind the Scenes 48:33 What’s Next for MCP 51:20 How You Can Get Involved 54:26 Campaigning for Sustainable Support To learn more or support MCP, visit: MelodicCaring.org [https://melodiccaring.org] Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch nikki@yoursalesmaven.com Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/yoursalesmaven] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/your_salesmaven] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolerausch] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yoursalesmaven] Sales Maven Society [https://www.salesmavensociety.com] Work With Nikki Discussion To download free resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven [https://www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven]

In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch chats with Jill Shroyer, a trusted member of the Sales Maven Society and founder of Expedition HR. Jill shares how she's streamlined her sales process and grown her business by improving how she consults with potential clients. You'll hear practical strategies for navigating tough HR conversations, shortening discovery calls without sacrificing results, and asking better questions to build stronger client relationships. Jill emphasizes the power of simplifying how she consults with prospects—and how that shift has positively impacted her business. If you’re looking to refine your sales process and make your consults more effective and efficient, this episode is full of gold. Timestamps 00:43 – Welcome to the Sales Maven Show 01:14 – Meet Jill Shroyer of Expedition HR 02:08 – How to Navigate Difficult HR Conversations 06:54 – Streamlining Consultations for Better Results 08:15 – The Art of Asking Impactful Questions 11:20 – Improving How You Consult With Prospects 27:02 – Wrap-Up and Where to Find Jill 🔗 Learn more about Jill’s work at expeditionhr.com [https://www.expeditionhr.com/] Timestamps 00:43 – Welcome to the Sales Maven Show 01:14 – Meet Jill Shroyer of Expedition HR 02:08 – How to Navigate Difficult HR Conversations 06:54 – Streamlining Consultations for Better Results 08:15 – The Art of Asking Impactful Questions 11:20 – Identifying and Responding to Buying Signals 27:02 – Wrap-Up and Where to Find Jill 🔗 Learn more about Jill’s work at expeditionhr.com [https://www.expeditionhr.com/] Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch nikki@yoursalesmaven.com Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/yoursalesmaven] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/your_salesmaven] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolerausch] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yoursalesmaven] Sales Maven Society [https://www.salesmavensociety.com] Work With Nikki Discussion To download free resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven [https://www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven]

In this solo episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch tackles a topic every business owner faces but few like to talk about: harsh feedback. Whether it’s an offhand comment online or unsolicited criticism from someone who isn’t your ideal client, knowing how to handle negative feedback is a crucial skill for any entrepreneur. Nikki shares practical strategies to navigate tough comments confidently and grace, without letting them derail your progress. This episode explores: 1. How to determine whether feedback is worth your energy 2. What to do (and not do) when someone criticizes your content or business 3. The importance of focusing on your ideal audience 4. Smart ways to repurpose content that’s received pushback 5. Real-life examples of how Nikki has dealt with critical responses   If you've ever felt discouraged by a comment or questioned whether you should keep showing up, this episode reminds you of your value and keeps you focused on serving the people who matter most. 🎧 Timestamps 00:43 – Welcome to the Sales Maven Show 01:06 – Facing criticism as a business owner 03:12 – Processing feedback with clarity 05:25 – How (and when) to respond 08:06 – What to do with unsolicited advice 19:34 – Final encouragement for moving forward   Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch nikki@yoursalesmaven.com [nikki@yoursalesmaven.com] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/yoursalesmaven] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/your_salesmaven] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolerausch] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yoursalesmaven] Sales Maven Society [https://www.salesmavensociety.com] Work With Nikki Discussion To download free resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven [https://www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven]

In this episode of The Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch welcomes her inspiring client, Samantha Irwin, for a conversation packed with strategies to help you close more sales through exceptional customer service. Samantha works with women business owners to elevate frontline service and create customer experiences that drive loyalty—and revenue. They dive into: * How to engage staff in ways that help close sales * Simple yet powerful techniques to delight customers and boost conversions * Why consistent training is key to higher-performing teams * Samantha’s personal journey of growth in sales and business leadership She even shares a creative sales lesson inspired by her garden that will stick with you long after the episode ends. If you're looking for practical ideas to improve your customer experience and close more sales, this episode is for you. 🎧 Timestamps 00:43 – Welcome to the Sales Maven Show 00:52 – Meet Samantha Irwin: Her mission and success 01:34 – Creating exceptional customer experiences that close sales 03:23 – How Samantha supports business owners 04:19 – Connecting with customers through engaged staff 05:29 – Why employee training drives revenue 12:34 – Samantha’s transformation in sales 15:28 – Lessons from the garden: Sales insights in bloom 22:25 – What’s next for Samantha 23:47 – Final thoughts and takeaways to help you close sales Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch [http://www.yoursalesmaven.com] nikki@yoursalesmaven.com [nikki@yoursalesmaven.com] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/yoursalesmaven/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/yoursalesmaven] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolerausch] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/your_sales_maven/] Sales Maven Society [https://yoursalesmaven.com/society/] Work With Nikki Discussion [https://calendly.com/salesmaven/work-with-nikki-discussion] To download free Resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven [http://www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven]

Ever wonder what it really takes to spark a meaningful connection and keep a conversation flowing with ease? In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch is joined by Jake Stahl, CEO of Orchestraight and a top expert in neurolinguistic programming and sales strategy, to show you how to make great conversation—and turn it into a powerful tool for building rapport and increasing sales. Jake unpacks his signature two-ten rule for active listening, shares techniques for course-correcting conversations in real time, and explains why the key to communication often starts with checking your ego. You’ll also hear surprising tips on how something as simple as your headshot can influence rapport before you even speak. If you’re looking to up your influence, connect more authentically, and master the art of persuasive dialogue, this episode is a must-listen. Episode Highlights: * [00:44] Welcome to the Sales Maven Show * [01:21] Introducing Jake Stahl: Communication Powerhouse * [03:26] The Concept of Orchestraight * [05:18] Crafting the Perfect Conversation * [08:20] The Importance of Active Listening * [15:31] Setting and Achieving Conversation Goals * [24:04] The Two 10 Rule: Enhancing Conversations * [25:28] Active Listening Techniques * [29:05] Course Correcting Conversations * [33:21] The Power of Apologies * [36:05] Crafting the Perfect Headshot * [38:12] Personal Insights and Business Excitement * [42:19] Conclusion and Final Thoughts 👉 Connect with Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakestahl/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakestahl/] Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch nikki@yoursalesmaven.com Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/yoursalesmaven] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/your_salesmaven] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolerausch/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yoursalesmaven/] Sales Maven Society Work With Nikki Discussion Download free resources: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven [https://www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven]