Noob School

In this episode of Noob School, we sit down with Jake Bennett (via Zoom), cofounder and Principal of Well Street Partners. You can find him on LinkedIn here: linkedin.com/in/jake-bennett314  Jake is a Virginia native whose journey spans systems engineering at West Point, five years of active duty in the U.S. Army (with assignments in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Afghanistan), and an MBA from Michigan Ross. After his service, he joined McKinsey’s Chicago office—leading operational transformations for lower/middle-market industrial firms and executing procurement strategies across industries.  Today, Jake and his cofounder are focused on acquiring, operating, and growing small and mid-market businesses through Well Street Partners. In this episode, we dig into:  How his systems engineering and military background shaped his leadership and operational mindset  What he learned at McKinsey and how that informs his approach to transformation and execution  The “what, why, and how” behind Well Street Partners – investment criteria, operations playbooks, and value creation Sales, execution, and building credibility in small / middle market businesses  Career transitions: how to lean into your strengths, navigate uncertainty, and build upward momentum  Whether you’re early in your career or plotting your next pivot, Jake offers a compelling blueprint at the intersection of operations, strategy, and mission-driven investing.  Get your sales in rhythm with The Sterling Method: https://SterlingSales.co  I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, but if you want them all at your fingertips, start with my book, Sales for Noobs: https://amzn.to/3tiaxsL  Subscribe to our newsletter today: https://bit.ly/3Ned5kL  #SalesTraining #B2BSales #SalesExcellence #SalesStrategy #BusinessGrowth #SalesLeadership #SalesSuccess #SalesCoaching #SalesSkills #SalesInnovation #SalesTips #SalesPerformance #SalesTransformation #SalesTeamDevelopment #SalesMotivation #SalesEnablement #SalesGoals #SalesExpertise #SalesInsights #SalesTrends#salestrends

When I sat down with Lamar Flatt — former Harvard basketball player, USC law graduate, and now partner at Best & Flatt, P.A. — I knew we’d cover a lot of ground. Lamar’s story takes him from the court to the courtroom, starting his law career in Savannah, GA, before returning to South Carolina, and he’s built a reputation as both a sharp attorney and a lifelong learner.  In our conversation, we talk about why curiosity matters, the importance of always seeking knowledge, and a perspective we discuss called “ant theory.” Imagine a closet that, to a colony of ants, is their entire world. They don’t realize there’s an entire house beyond it, or even more beyond the house. The same goes for us as humans: there’s always more to discover if we keep looking and keep learning.  Along the way, Lamar shares stories from his own path in law, how he approaches cases, and the mindset that’s carried him through challenges and opportunities. If you’re serious about growth, staying curious, and seeing the bigger picture in your own life and career, this episode will resonate.  Get your sales in rhythm with The Sterling Method: https://SterlingSales.co  I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, but if you want them all at your fingertips, start with my book, Sales for Noobs: https://amzn.to/3tiaxsL Subscribe to our newsletter today: https://bit.ly/3Ned5kL  #SalesTraining #B2BSales #SalesExcellence #SalesStrategy #BusinessGrowth #SalesLeadership #SalesSuccess #SalesCoaching #SalesSkills #SalesInnovation #SalesTips #SalesPerformance #SalesTransformation #SalesTeamDevelopment #SalesMotivation #SalesEnablement #SalesGoals #SalesExpertise #SalesInsights #SalesTrends#salestrends

Michael Pace is back on Noob School for the third time, and every conversation with him feels like catching up with an old friend. We swap stories from our careers, dig into the pros and cons of comp plans, and talk about how AI tools are changing the way we work in sales and entrepreneurship. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how Michael frames “being a noob” — not as a weakness, but as a real strength when you’re willing to try new things, stretch yourself, and build confidence in new areas of business and life. Michael’s experience and perspective always bring practical lessons for sales professionals and entrepreneurs alike.  Get your sales in rhythm with The Sterling Method: https://SterlingSales.co  I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, but if you want them all at your fingertips, start with my book, Sales for Noobs: https://amzn.to/3tiaxsL  Subscribe to our newsletter today: https://bit.ly/3Ned5kL  #SalesTraining #B2BSales #SalesExcellence #SalesStrategy #BusinessGrowth #SalesLeadership #SalesSuccess #SalesCoaching #SalesSkills #SalesInnovation #SalesTips #SalesPerformance #SalesTransformation #SalesTeamDevelopment #SalesMotivation #SalesEnablement #SalesGoals #SalesExpertise #SalesInsights #SalesTrends#salestrends

In this episode of Noob School, I catch up with Scott Millwood, a familiar voice in the Greenville startup scene and co-founder of Founderville, a venture capital fund based right here in Greenville, SC. Scott shares his journey after Datastream, diving into some of the ventures he’s led and the successes he’s achieved along the way. We spend time discussing his current focus at Founderville. The fund is dedicated to supporting B2B SaaS startups, helping promising companies scale and thrive in today’s competitive market. Scott gives insight into his role with the fund, the kinds of startups they look for, and the strategies they’ve used to foster growth in the Greenville tech ecosystem. Looking ahead, Scott shares exciting plans for the future, including the anticipated launch of Fund II. It’s clear that Founderville isn’t just a fund—it’s a growing part of the Greenville startup community, and Scott’s dedication to supporting founders is a big reason for its impact. Throughout the episode, we also touch on investing, entrepreneurship, and the lessons Scott has learned from years of building businesses. Whether you’re an aspiring founder, investor, or just curious about the Greenville tech scene, there’s a lot to take away from this conversation. Get your sales in rhythm with The Sterling Method: https://SterlingSales.co I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, but if you want them all at your fingertips, start with my book, Sales for Noobs: https://amzn.to/3tiaxsL Subscribe to our newsletter today: https://bit.ly/3Ned5kL #SalesTraining #B2BSales #SalesExcellence #SalesStrategy #BusinessGrowth #SalesLeadership #SalesSuccess #SalesCoaching #SalesSkills #SalesInnovation #SalesTips #SalesPerformance #SalesTransformation #SalesTeamDevelopment #SalesMotivation #SalesEnablement #SalesGoals #SalesExpertise #SalesInsights #SalesTrends#salestrends

I’m thrilled to welcome Bill Rice to Noob School for Episode 151 — joining us over Zoom to talk about how counterintelligence thinking, data-driven marketing, and AI are reshaping lead generation and business exits. Bill’s one of those rare people who’s walked serious, structured careers in two very different worlds. He started his professional life as a U.S. Air Force officer running counterespionage and information-warfare activities — an experience that sharpened his analytical approach to patterns, risk, and human behavior. From there he moved into entrepreneurship and marketing, founding Kaleidico and later Bill Rice Strategy Group to help companies build predictable lead-generation engines. Over the last 20+ years he’s focused on fintech and B2B clients, building scalable sales systems and teaching teams how to convert marketing into reliable revenue. In this wide-ranging conversation we dig into: How lessons from counterespionage translate to modern marketing: spotting patterns, validating signals, and avoiding confirmation bias. Practical frameworks Bill uses to build predictable demand-generation for fintech and SaaS companies — what to measure, what to automate, and where human judgment still wins. Real talk on AI: what founders should actually expect from AI today, how to integrate it into content and outreach without losing product-market fit, and cheap experiments that move the needle. Preparing a business for acquisition: what buyers look for in lead-gen systems and the operational readiness that increase valuation. If you run a startup, lead a sales or marketing team, or are thinking about scaling (or selling) your business, this episode is full of tactical steps and thought experiments you can use tomorrow. Pull up a chair, grab your notes, and let’s learn how strategic thinking, data, and a little military-grade pattern recognition can make your marketing less messy and more profitable. Get your sales in rhythm with The Sterling Method: https://SterlingSales.co I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, but if you want them all at your fingertips, start with my book, Sales for Noobs: https://amzn.to/3tiaxsL Subscribe to our newsletter today: https://bit.ly/3Ned5kL #SalesTraining #B2BSales #SalesExcellence #SalesStrategy #BusinessGrowth #SalesLeadership #SalesSuccess #SalesCoaching #SalesSkills #SalesInnovation #SalesTips #SalesPerformance #SalesTransformation #SalesTeamDevelopment #SalesMotivation #SalesEnablement #SalesGoals #SalesExpertise #SalesInsights #SalesTrends#salestrends