In Blair's experience, the most common reason a lead generation plan doesn’t get executed is it doesn’t recognize and leverage the strengths or motivations of the individuals executing.

LINKS

"The Best Lead Generation Plan" article by Blair Enns for WinWithoutPitching.com

"The Rungs You Can Reach on the Ladder of Lead Generation" 2Bobs episode

David describes the differences in what kind of people principals should hire during the early stage of their creative firm’s development when it’s all about “what we can afford,” the middle stage when it’s about “what we need,” and then the later days of an agency when it’s about “what we can learn.”

LINKS

“How Your Hiring Strategies Change” by David C. Baker for punctuation.com

“The Problem of Standards” by David Maister

Blair borrows a concept from finance and fitness to help creative agencies find the balance between low risk and high risk pricing strategies.

Blair interviews David about his new book, Selling Your Professional Services Firm: A Primer.

LINKS

Buy a copy of David's new book from him directly.

Buy David's new book and audiobook on Amazon.

Blair interviews David on his recent article about the idea that expertise does involve supplying answers, eventually, but mainly expertise is about asking the right questions, first, and then offering a few answers after the truth surfaces.

“Expertise Is Mainly About Asking Great Questions” by David C. Baker on Punctuation.com

Blair shares how to determine whether or not we are the advantaged player the “polite battle for control” within the game of sales, and how we can get the odds of winning the sale to be more in our favor.

“Assume an Advantaged Player” article by Blair Enns on WinWithoutPitching.com

David interviews Blair about his new book, which lays out his proven framework B2B service providers can use to increase closing ratios and average proposal values.

Links

Order The Four Conversations: A New Model for Selling Expertise by Blair Enns

Blair and David reminisce about their podcasting journey since Blair first pitched the 2Bobs idea to David back in 2016, sharing what they've learned along the way, and what they might like to try with the podcast in the future.

David unpacks six principles that can help creative firms benefit from delivering strategic guidance through their account managers.

LINKS

"Account Managers and Strategy" by David C. Baker at punctuation.com

Blair sees four common behaviors when business owners are looking to get deals moving in times of economic decline, stagnation, or uncertainty that end up doing long term harm to their positioning and pricing.

LINKS

"Four Ways to Commodify Your Offering" by Blair Enns on WinWithoutPitching.com

"Phase Your Client Engagements" 2Bobs episode

Every few years we’re told that we need to move on from using email newsletters as a part of our marketing platform. And David says that advice has always been wrong.

David’s article on Punctuation.com (subscribe to his newsletter at the bottom of the page)

“Email is the Most Consistent, Reliable Marketing Channel on the Web and I Can Prove It” by Rand Fishkin