138: "Always Be Closing" Is Gross. Here's What to Do Instead...

"Always Be Closing." It's been celebrated as the golden rule of sales for thirty years. Turns out it was written to show how gross that world is and bro-marketers put it on a poster and ran with it as the gospel. The irony is almost too good.

In this episode, we break down why ABC culture spread, what it's actually costing you, in refunds, in reputation, and in how you feel after every sales call, and the framework she uses to sell with full confidence and a clean conscience.

You'll learn:

• The 8 classic high-pressure tactics and exactly why they work against you
• The real difference between guiding and pushing (and how to tell which one you're doing)
• Why pressure selling erodes your confidence over time
• 4 guardrails for ethical, high-converting sales conversations
• What it actually sounds like to invite a decision without pressure

Plus the one thing my mom told me when I started my business that reframed everything she thought I knew about sales.

Ready to sell in a way that feels good, converts well, and builds a reputation you're actually proud of? 

I'm hosting a free masterclass where I teach the full framework behind ethical, high-converting sales conversations, the nine psychological triggers, how to read where someone is in real time, and how to guide someone to a yes without ever feeling gross about it.

Save your spot at 👉 www.easiestyes.com

137: The Co-Signer Problem: Why Your Dream Was Never Theirs to Approve

There's a conversation I keeps coming back to. One of my clients who was done explaining. Done justifying. Done trying to make the people in her life understand what she was building and why it mattered so much.

If you've ever felt that way, this episode is for you.

Today we unpack one of the most quietly damaging things entrepreneurs do. Waiting for permission. Waiting for someone to co-sign the dream before fully committing to it. And why that waiting is costing you more than you realize.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why the people who love you most are sometimes the ones who understand you least, and why that's not a reflection of your dream
• Where permission seeking actually comes from and why it follows us into our businesses without us ever questioning it
• The co-signer framework, and why your dream was never theirs to approve
• Why crazy usually just means you were right too early
• Why hiding your ambition is costing you the version of life that's actually waiting for you
• The validation trap and how to break it one decision at a time
• How to find your people, the ones who grab a marker instead of giving you a worried look

136: What Separates the Top 2% in an AI World: The Human Advantage

If AI can write your emails, build your funnels, and generate your content.. what's left?

That's the question we unpack in this episode. And the answer has nothing to do with finding a better tool.

For the first time in history, emotional intelligence is more predictive of success than IQ. This is the fundamental shift happening right now, and it has massive implications for every entrepreneur building in an AI world.

In this episode I walk through the 6 human skills that AI cannot replicate, why the online business industry stopped investing in them, and why the entrepreneurs building these skills right now are quietly pulling away from the pack.

This one is going to change how you think about where you're investing your time and energy.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why the barrier to entry just dropped to zero and what that actually means for your competitive advantage
• The 6 skills that separate the top 2%: Presence, Active Listening, Emotional Intelligence, Persuasion, Conviction, and Storytelling
• The skill nobody puts on their resume that closes more sales than any script ever could
• Why human skills compound differently than tactical skills and why that changes everything
• The honest truth about why the industry stopped teaching these skills

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

"AI just handed everyone the same playbook. Skill is no longer enough. The strategies are no longer exclusive. The tools are available to everyone. So what's left? The human."

"For the first time in history, EQ is more predictive of success than IQ. AI handed everyone the same analytical brain. IQ is no longer the scarce resource. Everyone has it now."

"The asset was never the funnel. It was never the framework. It was never the tool. The asset is you. It always has been. AI just made it impossible to ignore."

"The question in an AI world isn't what tool are you using. The question is who are you becoming."

"Every conversation you show up fully for builds the kind of intuition that can't be taught."

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Join the The Easiest Yes Free Masterclass: www.easiestyes.com

CONNECT WITH LINDSAY: Instagram: @LindsayvanHarssel 

Episode 135: The Silence Was the Story: How I've Been Rebuilding

If you've been waiting for a new episode — it's here. And this one is different.

After a few months of quiet on the podcast, Lindsay is back with the most personal episode she's ever recorded. This isn't a strategy episode. It's the real story of what happens when the chaos that built your business finally stops — and your nervous system doesn't know what to do with the silence.

In this episode Lindsay covers:

The survival mechanism that kept life and business in separate boxes for years — and what shifted when she finally let the two worlds touch.

Why hustle isn't a dirty word — but what's behind the hustle matters more than the hustle itself.

The 10 out of 10 in business, zero at home split — and where that actually comes from.

What healing really looks like on a Tuesday afternoon (hint: it's not a sunrise post).

The intrusive thought framework her coach taught her that changed everything — and why reassuring yourself is actually making it worse.

The "oh my god" phase — the two versions of it, and why nobody warns you about what comes after the healing starts to work.

Why she's done building for external validation — and who she's building for now.

A line from this episode: "The silence was the story. And I'm ready to tell it now."

Connect with Lindsay: Instagram: @LindsayvanHarssel DM Lindsay and tell her what you're building 💙

If this episode resonated: Share it with a woman in your life who is crushing it on the outside and quietly falling apart on the inside. She needs to know she's not alone.

134: Sales Convos Pt. 3 - Pushy, Sleazy Sales: From The Gorgeous Effect

This episode is an excerpt from my conversation with Julie Chenell and Cathy Olson on The Gorgeous Effect Podcast, and it’s part 3 of our special sales series.

In this segment, we take a real, honest look at why so many sales conversations feel awkward, high-pressure, or downright sleazy, and what you can do to change that in 2026 and beyond. If you’ve ever cringed at pushy tactics, tone-deaf DMs, or the classic “car salesman” energy, you’re in good company. We’ve been there too.

Together, we swap stories from the worst sales interactions we’ve seen, unpack why those outdated tactics fall flat with today’s trust-driven buyers, and talk through simple shifts that help your sales conversations feel natural, grounded, and human again.

If you’re ready to ditch the pressure and step into an approach that feels aligned, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to rework your sales conversations for the year ahead.

Join our upcoming free class: www.Easiestyes.com/class

" Master Your Sales Instincts, Double Your Close Rate, & Start Guiding Conversations Where Buyers Sell Themselves"

133: Sales Convos Pt. 2 - The Sales Script Myth: From The Gorgeous Effect

This episode is an excerpt from my recent conversation on The Gorgeous Effect Podcast with Julie Chenell and Cathy Olson,  part 2 of our 3-part Sales Series.

In this segment, we dive straight into the real talk around sales scripts, AI, and what actually creates a confident, high-converting sales experience. You’ll hear why memorizing a script (or leaning on AI alone) won’t turn anyone into a strong closer, and why the magic really lives in nuance, understanding human behavior, and bringing your full energy into the process.

We unpack the difference between surface-level selling and the kind of connection-driven conversations that lead to genuine yeses. You’ll hear candid stories, practical insights, and the simple shifts that help you move away from “salesy” tactics and into a more natural, aligned approach.

If you’ve ever wondered why some people sell with ease while others get stuck, or you’re ready to rethink how you show up in your sales process, this episode is packed with the perspective you need.

Tune in for a fun, honest, strategy-rich conversation pulled straight from The Gorgeous Effect.

Join our upcoming free class: www.Easiestyes.com/class
" Master Your Sales Instincts, Double Your Close Rate, & Start Guiding Conversations Where Buyers Sell Themselves"

Featuring Julie Chenell, Cathy Olson & special guest Lindsay J. Williams

I’m kicking off a special three-part series from my guest appearance on The Gorgeous Effect Podcast with Julie Chenell and Cathy Olson of Funnel Gorgeous  and this first episode dives straight into a question every business owner needs to answer:

Do you have a leads problem, or a sales problem?

Julie and Cathy invited me onto the show to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in online business: believing you need more leads when what you actually need is a clearer, stronger sales process. We talk about what really drives conversions, why more traffic isn’t always the answer, and how to diagnose what’s actually going on behind the scenes of your funnel.

This episode is packed with simple, psychology-driven insights you can use right away, whether you run wedding shows like me or funnels like FG. Julie and Cathy pull back the curtain on mistakes they’ve seen hundreds of entrepreneurs make, and together we break down how to spot whether your bottleneck is marketing… or sales.

If you're ready to stop guessing and start understanding what your numbers are really telling you, this is a must-listen.

Join our upcoming free class: www.Easiestyes.com/class
" Master Your Sales Instincts, Double Your Close Rate, & Start Guiding Conversations Where Buyers Sell Themselves"

Episode 131: What 11 Years of Entrepreneurship Taught Me About Living

This week marks 11 years since I launched into entrepreneurship, and this episode is unlike anything I’ve ever shared before.

When I sat down to reflect on what I’ve learned over the past decade, I realized this isn’t just about business. It’s about becoming.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what the journey has really looked like, the seasons of survival, the rebuilding, the healing, and the growth that changed everything.

I’ll walk you through 11 insights from 11 years in business... the truths I’ve learned not just as an entrepreneur, but as a woman who’s learning how to live again.

It’s real. It’s raw. It’s vulnerable.
But my hope is that by the end, you’ll see yourself somewhere in this story. Because there’s no finish line. Just deeper peace, bigger purpose, and the person you’re meant to be on the other side.

130: Your Standards Shape Your Life, Not Your Goals

 This one’s a little different, and it’s personal.

Over the last six months, I’ve walked through one of the hardest seasons of my life. I haven’t shared it publicly until now, but I’ve been navigating my divorce. And while it’s been painful, it’s also brought more clarity than I’ve ever had before.

This season has taught me something I’ll never forget:
Our standards shape our life, not our goals.

Your goals are what you want.
But your standards? They’re what you allow.
They determine what you say yes to, what you walk away from, and ultimately, what kind of life you build.

In this episode, I’m talking about what it looks like to truly raise your standards,  not from a place of perfection or control, but from a place of self-respect. I’m sharing the lessons that came from realizing I didn’t want to live feeling unseen and undervalued, and how I made the decision to choose myself, even when it meant starting over.

We’ll talk about:
 ✨ The difference between goals and standards (and why one matters more)
 ✨ What happens when you compromise your standards — and how to stop
 ✨ The freedom that comes from taking back your power
 ✨ Showing up as the version of you who enforces her boundaries with grace and confidence
 ✨ Why it’s okay to be “the villain” in someone else’s story when you’re protecting your peace

This isn’t just a motivational pep talk, it’s real, raw, and from the heart.
If you’ve ever found yourself settling, shrinking, or silencing what you need to keep the peace, I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re allowed to want more.

Because you are a grown adult who gets to choose.
And when you finally stop lowering your standards to keep everyone else comfortable, you make room for the life that truly fits you.

Episode 129: Hustle? Rest? Or Risk? Here’s How You Know…

I had one of those pull-the-car-over-and-voice-note-myself moments this week, the kind that hits you right in the middle of a messy, beautiful season of business. After a conversation with my coach (and a few late-night thoughts from my mentorship students), I realized something big: so many of us are getting discouraged not because we’re doing it wrong… but because we’re following advice meant for a different season than the one we’re in.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the three seasons I’ve lived, over and over again, in my own business: Hustle, Optimization & Boundaries, and Risk Tolerance & Scaling. I’m sharing what each one really looks and feels like, beyond the curated Instagram version, and how to know which one you’re standing in right now.

We’ll talk about…
 ✨ The truth about hustle culture (and why hustle isn’t toxic, burnout is)
 ✨ How to stop feeling guilty for working hard or resting when you’ve earned it
✨ What to focus on in each season so you can actually move forward
✨ And how to stretch without snapping when it’s time to take bigger risks

This one is equal parts pep talk and permission slip. Because I want you to stop beating yourself up for not being where someone else is, and start honoring what your season needs from you right now.

Whether you’re in the trenches building momentum, learning to protect your peace, or taking the big, scary swings that stretch your comfort zone, this episode will help you recognize where you are, own it fully, and trust that every season is shaping you into the business owner you’re meant to be.

Because you’re not just building a business. You’re becoming the version of you who can hold it.