Repeat after me - some money is NOT better than no money. 

In this Sales is NOT a Dirty Word episode, I walk through a real client situation that exposes how easy it is to agree too quickly, stay vague to preserve harmony, or assume clarity will come later. 

Those small boundary lapses rarely feel urgent in the moment, but over time they erode trust, damage mental health and compromise results.

What this conversation keeps returning to is a simple but often resisted truth: boundaries are not performative self-care. They are structural. They make responsibility, scope, and value explicit, which is what actually protects working relationships.

Inside this episode, you will learn:

If you have ever felt uneasy about an agreement but moved forward anyway, or worried that naming your limits would damage the relationship, this offers a more grounded way forward.

If you want support developing clear, humane boundary language or navigating complex client dynamics without escalation, you can book a Sales Level-Up Call and we will work through it together in real time:  https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup

01:18 – The “special rate” client story that sparked this episode

#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesBoundaries #PeoplePleaserRecovery #ClientCommunication #HighIntegritySales #ServiceProviderLife #ScopeCreep #ClientExpectations #SalesWithoutPressure #BlackSheepSales #AleashaBahr #SalesMindsetShift #PricingWithConfidence #SalesCoaching #SalesStrategy #EmotionalIntelligenceInSales #ClientRedFlags #SalesPodcast #NoMoreDiscountDeals #BoundariesBuildTrust

Connect With Aleasha:

After reviewing hundreds of sales calls, there are phrases people use in sales conversations that quietly sabotage the sale.

The intention is usually to be polite. However, on an unconscious level, they erode trust, clarity, and authority.

Buyers do not need more politeness. They need clarity. And a confused mind always says no.

In this episode of Sales Is Not a Dirty Word, I break down the most common language patterns I hear people unintentionally use on sales calls that make buyers hesitate or mentally check out. 

These are habits people use without realizing it, and once you hear them, you cannot unhear them.

Phrases like “I think,” “kind of,” “maybe,” and “does that make sense?” weaken credibility and create confusion. 

You will also learn why the fear of overpromising often causes service providers to undersell themselves. That fear shows up in language, and buyers feel it immediately.

Inside this episode, discover:

If you want direct feedback on where your language may be costing you sales, book a Sales Level Up Call:

Because the problem many times isn’t your offer - it’s your language. 

04:25 How soft language creates buyer hesitation

05:40 Why “does that make sense?” causes confusion

06:55 Confusion vs price as the real reason deals stall

08:05 Opinion language vs experience based authority

09:15 How fear of overpromising leads to underselling

10:25 What buyers actually need instead of politeness

11:30 Final thoughts on clarity, confidence, and trust

#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesConversations #SalesLanguage #SalesCommunication #AuthenticSelling #SalesCoaching #ServiceProviderSales #HighTicketSales #SalesConfidence #SalesStrategy #SalesPsychology #BlackSheepSales #EthicalSelling #SalesSkills #ConversionOptimization

Most people are not bad decision makers. They are just repeating the same decision pattern (without realizing it) and wondering why nothing changes.

In this new Sales is NOT a Dirty Word episode, I break down one of the most overlooked responsibilities in highly effective, ethical selling. 

Helping someone recognize the decision pattern that is keeping them stuck. Not through pressure, information dumping, or manipulation.

Instead, it’s about clarity, asking better questions, reflecting behavior honestly, and allowing someone to examine their own choices without shame or force.

If you sell a product or service that genuinely helps people, this will change how you think about sales conversations, objections, and what it actually means to serve someone well.

What You’ll Discover When Listening:

If this resonates, there is a strong chance decision patterns are already showing up inside your sales process.

Your messaging.

Each one either reinforces clarity or quietly allows the same stuck loops to repeat.

If you want a clear, honest look at what is really happening inside your sales conversations, book a Black Sheep Sales Audit.

This is not a pitch.

👉 Book your audit here:

Key Moments

#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #EthicalSales #SalesMindset #DecisionMaking #ConsultativeSelling #SalesLeadership #BusinessGrowth #BlackSheepSales #SalesPsychology #BuyerBehavior #SalesConversations #DecisionPatterns #SalesStrategy #FounderSales #ConsultativeSales #SalesCoaching #ClientAlignment #SellingWithIntegrity

Connect With Aleasha:

Most salespeople spend their time perfecting their pitch, memorizing scripts, and thinking about how to close. 

But here’s the truth: what separates a top performer from someone average in sales is not what you say - it’s what you ask.

When you lead with curiosity, you stop guessing. You stop assuming. 

Instead, you uncover what your prospects really want, what they truly need, and what they mean beneath the surface.

In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I break down exactly how to leverage curiosity at the center of every sales conversation to close more. 

You will discover:

If you want to close more clients without pressure and turn every conversation into a partnership, this episode gives you the exact mindset and approach to make it happen.

Sales teams struggling with listening, rushing scripts, or losing deals too quickly will benefit enormously from this episode. If you want to take your full sales system to the next level, book a Black Sheep Sales Audit today: https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup

#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #CuriosityInSales #SalesSkills #ActiveListening #SalesStrategy #AuthenticSelling #SalesLeadership #BlackSheepSales #SalesConversations #SalesTraining #HighTicketSales #EthicalSelling #SalesCoaching #BuyerPsychology #FitFirstSelling

One of the most expensive mistakes founders make happens the moment a salesperson starts performing. 

Revenue rises.

Momentum builds.

…and then the first large commission check appears. 

Instead of celebrating the growth, the owner panics. They see the payout instead of the profit.

Here’s the thing: a big commission check is not the problem. It is proof your business is scaling and that’s something to celebrate! 

If your sales person is making good money - that means you’re making good money. You should definitely be making more than when they weren’t there. 

And if you’re not - that’s a problem with the plan - not the rep.

In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, common comp plan issues, how owners unintentionally sabotage their best performers and the ripple effect that can end up costing you a lot more money than you save. 

Listen in to discover: 

✔ Why flat commission plans cap performance

You’ll learn how to design a comp plan you never resent paying and how to use incentives to shape the behaviors that move your business forward.

If you want a compensation plan that matches your margins and growth strategy, book a Black Sheep Sales Audit at calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup 

#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesCompensation #SalesLeadership #CommissionPlan #SalesStrategy #SalesTeamSuccess #BlackSheepSales #SalesManagement #SalesHiring #SalesCoaching #SalesCompensationPlan #BusinessGrowth #FounderTips #SalesRetention #AuthenticSelling

Everyone is racing to automate sales. Buyers are racing to avoid anything that sounds automated.

People are talking about AI in sales like it is the magic solution to every problem. But if you have actually used it, you already know it is far from perfect.

In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I break down what AI consistently gets wrong in sales, how to use it in a way that drives sales instead of damages them. 

AI tools are producing cold messages that sound robotic, repeat common errors, and chip away at trust with every send. Automation made it faster to reach people, but it also made it easier to sound like everyone else.

Here is what you will learn:

If your messages are not landing the way they used to, this episode explains why and shows you how to fix it quickly. When buyers are drowning in AI generated noise, you have to do something different to get a different result. 

👉 Listen now and learn how to use AI as a tool, not a crutch.

If you are ready to make your sales strategy more human, more personal, and far more effective, book a Black Sheep Sales Audit with me: https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup. Let us build a system that helps you stand out, not blend in.

#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesAndAI #AIFail #SalesLeadership #SalesStrategy #AuthenticSelling #HumanCenteredSales #SalesAutomation #SalesCoaching #SalesTraining #SalesSuccess #SalesProcess #SalesEthics #BlackSheepSales #TrustInSales

Most salespeople are trained to talk, not to truly communicate.

We’re told to “use this script,” “say this line,” or “overcome objections” as if we’re robots following a formula. But the reality is that the best salespeople are the ones who understand their prospect the best and LISTEN to them. 

In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I sit down with Shawn Karol Sandy, CRO and seasoned sales expert, to talk about the science of communication and why it changes everything about how we sell.

Shawn breaks down how fear, empathy, and even basic human biology affect the way we connect and close. She shares how awareness, tone, and timing can completely shift a sales conversation from pressure to partnership.

We get into what actually happens in your body when you sell, why so many people lead with fear without realizing it, and how small, intentional changes in how you communicate can make you instantly more trustworthy and effective.

You’ll hear:

If you’ve ever walked away from a sales call thinking, “I said all the right things, so why didn’t it land?” this episode will show you exactly what’s missing.

Because at the end of the day, selling isn’t about convincing. It’s about connecting. And once you understand how humans actually communicate, every part of your sales process becomes easier, faster, and more natural.

👉 Connect with my guest, Shawn Karol Sandy, on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/shawnsandy/ and keep learning how to sell with science, empathy, and confidence.

#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesLeadership #SalesCommunication #EmpathyInSales #SalesPsychology #SalesCoaching #SalesTraining #ModernSelling #AuthenticSales #SalesSuccess #SalesStrategy #BlackSheepSales #HumanCenteredSales #SalesMindset #B2BSales

Let’s be real. Sales onboarding standards are so low they’re non-existent. There are none. 

In too many companies, new reps are thrown into the deep end and told to “figure it out.” They’re expected to sell a product they barely understand, position it without a strategy, and hit quota within 90 days. It’s not a learning curve. It’s a setup for failure.

In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I break down why poor onboarding is one of the biggest performance killers in sales teams today,  and how redesigning it can instantly reduce turnover, strengthen confidence, and empower new hires close faster.

You’ll learn what effective sales onboarding should include, why it’s the foundation of employee retention, and how it turns seemingly mediocre sales hires into consistent performers.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

If your new hires are struggling to gain traction or your sales team feels like a revolving door, this episode will show you what’s missing and how to fix it fast.

👉 Want help building a sales onboarding process that actually sets your team up to win? Book a Black Sheep Sales Audit at https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup and turn your sales onboarding into a true launchpad for success.

#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesOnboarding #SalesLeadership #SalesTeamSuccess #SalesStrategy #BlackSheepSales #AuthenticSelling #SalesTraining #SalesRetention #SalesPerformance #SalesCoaching #SalesProcessFix #SalesManagement #HighPerformingTeams #BusinessGrowth

You know that one salesperson who crushes their quota but leaves everyone else walking on eggshells?

It happens more often than leaders want to admit. A “rockstar” rep brings in numbers, but the cost is high — low morale, high turnover, and a team that’s quietly burning out.

This week on Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I sat down with Randi Deckard, SVP of Growth at Bessler, to talk about what happens when you let toxic high performers run the show, and how to stop letting revenue justify damaging behavior. 

Randi shares her firsthand experience managing a top performer who had all the results at the expense of the rest of the team. 

And how leadership’s decision to finally choose culture over chaos completely transformed their organization for the better.

We dig into the uncomfortable truth every sales leader faces: real leadership isn’t about keeping your best sellers happy. It’s about creating an environment where everyone performs at their best — together.

Here’s what you’ll take away from this conversation:

If you like leaders who talk straight and lead with clarity, Randi’s LinkedIn is where you’ll want to spend your next scroll break.

Positioning can make or break your sales strategy — and it’s most business owners are winging it or not doing it at all. 

In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, I break down what positioning really means in sales, how to use it in real conversations, and why it’s the biggest factor that determines whether your offer converts or gets ignored.

Too many entrepreneurs sell deliverables instead of value. 

They list what’s included instead of showing what their offer actually does for the client. 

That mistake leads to low conversions, price objections, and long sales cycles.

In this episode, I’ll share how to fix that fast with real world examples. 

Listen in to discover how to tailor your message to different audiences, connect with what truly motivates them, and position your service as the obvious solution.

Key points you’ll discover in this episode:

If you’re tired of price objections, long sales cycles and getting ghosted this episode is for you!

👉 Want expert help with your sales positioning?

Book a Black Sheep Sales Evaluation with Aleasha Bahr: https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup

#SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesStrategy #OfferPositioning #SalesCoaching #AuthenticSelling #SalesLeadership #SalesMessaging #ValueBasedSelling #SalesTeamSuccess #SalesTrainingTips #BlackSheepSales #EntrepreneurSales #SalesConversion #BusinessGrowth #SellWithoutPressure