Most coaches and consultants didn't start their business because they were excited to "do sales." They started because they're good at solving problems, serving clients, and doing the actual work. But then business development shows up like an extra job with a name badge nobody asked for.

In this episode, Will Riley shares how he grew his consulting business by 75% in one year without cold outreach, pushy pitches, or a giant social media machine. His approach is simple: five coffee catch-ups a month, a thoughtful relationship list, and conversations that feel human instead of forced. If sales has ever felt awkward or opportunistic, this episode gives you a practical way to grow that actually fits who you are.

Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Cold Start & Introduction 00:04:23 – Why Will Hates Sales - and Built a Better Way 00:06:18 – The 80/20 Rule That Changed Everything 00:10:48 – Five Coffees a Month: The Simplest Growth Strategy Ever 00:12:41 – When a Casual Catch-Up Becomes a Client 00:14:31 – Why People Actually Open Up to Will 00:18:18 – How to Turn a Conversation Into an Opportunity 00:20:07 – What to Do When Someone's Guard Is Up 00:22:21 – Build the Relationship List Before You Need It

Links:

Guest: Will Riley Website: coopmarketing.co LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/willrileycoop