Drink Coffee, Make Friends (The C|SUITE Practical Selling Framework Podcast)

In a world full of options, prospects aren’t just looking for features—they’re looking for solutions. That’s why a well-executed product demo isn’t just a sales tool; it’s a moment of clarity.

A great demo helps the prospect

·         Visualize how the product fits into their workflow

·         Understand how it solves a specific pain point

·         See the path from problem to solution—from goal to achievement

It’s not about showing off every bell and whistle. It’s about telling a story where the prospect is the hero—and your product is the guide.

I’ve seen this firsthand.

When I sold Oce Engineering equipment, I’d open the machine and show how the paper fed straight through—unlike other models where it zigzagged. That simple visual made a huge impact. Fewer paper jams meant less downtime, especially when dealing with 40" wide rolls. That demo didn’t just show a feature—it solved a real problem.

Later, selling software solutions for a Microsoft VAR, I’d grab a whiteboard and sketch out the flow of the solution. Seeing the process laid out helped prospects connect the dots. It wasn’t just about the software—it was about how it fit into their world.

If you’re in sales, product, or customer success, remember: the best demos don’t just inform—they inspire action.

What’s your favorite demo tip or story? Let’s share and learn from each other.

#SalesTips #ProductDemo #CustomerSuccess #StorytellingInSales #B2BMarketing

Meet Lief Andresen, Market Leader with Novatech. Novatech is a wonderful partner who sponsors the Novatech Sales Competition for the Advanced Selling class.

Partner interview with Brad O'Neil

Welcome Back to Business,

Fall Drink Coffee, Make Friends '25Podcast Series!

Get ready for a season packed with energy, insight, andinnovation—straight from the heart of MTSU!

We’re beyond excited to launch another round ofconversations that connect classroom learning with real-world experience. Thisfall, we’re bringing you 13 dynamic episodes co-hosted by ThomCoats, Director of the Center for Professional Selling and the one andonly Mark Roberts, the unmistakable voice of MTSU and Director ofthe Dale Carnegie program. Mark’s passion for professional development andstudent success makes every episode a must-listen.

But that’s just the beginning.

This season, we’re shaking things up with threebrand-new formats designed to bring you even closer to the action:

Corporate Partner Interviews
Hear directly from our visiting industry leaders about what’s happening in thefield, what skills they value most, and how students can stand out in today’scompetitive landscape.

On-the-Street Style Interviews
We’re going live from our events to capture spontaneous, unscriptedconversations with students and partners. You’ll hear what’s being learned,shared, and discovered—in real time.

Graduating Student Spotlights
Hosted by Macee Vincent, you’ll meet the next generation of sales professionals.These episodes dive into their journeys, lessons learned, and what they’reexcited about as they step into the professional world.

Whether you're a student, educator, industry partner, orlifelong learner, this series is built to inform, inspire, and connect.It’s more than a podcast—it’s a front-row seat to the future of saleseducation.

Subscribe, share, and let us know which episode you're mostexcited to hear!

#MTSU #Fall25 #PodcastSeries #SalesProfession #DaleCarnegie#ProfessionalDevelopment #StudentVoices #CorporatePartners #NextGenSales#RealWorldLearning

The sound is off; I didn't have Mark with me, and he's the tech guy. In this episode we chat about why athletes make great salespeople and why sometimes they don't

When attending business events, the decision to drink (or not) can impact how you're perceived and perform. Here are the top three reasons to drink at business events, the top three reasons to abstain, and three tips to ensure you maintain a professional image if you do decide to have a drink. Understanding the pros and cons can help you make the right call for your career.

Take back your day from tech and use it to do more.

During this episode, Mark and I give a few tips on how you can become a LinkedIn COI (center of influence)

Mark and I review the book, Never Split the Difference