Why does selling feel so uncomfortable—for both sides?

In this solo episode, Chuck Blakeman flips the script on traditional sales thinking and reveals why nobody wants to be sold, but everybody wants to buy.

Chuck unpacks four timeless principles that help you stop pushing products and start building relationships that naturally lead to business. You’ll learn how to move from transactional to relational selling and create conversations that make people say, “Oh, you get me.”

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

✅ The four core principles that transform selling into serving

✅ Why consistency builds trust—and how to make it practical

✅ How to “meet people where they are,” not where you wish they were

✅ Why listening (not pitching) is your greatest business development tool

✅ How to create real connections that make people want to buy

If you’ve ever dreaded “selling,” this episode will help you rethink everything you know about business development—so you can stop selling and start serving.

💡 Listen now and learn how to flip the script for good.

How can small business owners grow faster without chasing one client at a time? In this inspiring conversation, Chuck Blakeman sits down with Valerie Reid to unpack a powerful mindset shift — stop hunting trees, and start finding lumberjacks.

Valerie shares how the concept of “lumberjacks”; strategic partners who already have trusted relationships with your ideal clients, has transformed her approach to marketing, partnerships, and growth. Together, they explore what happens when you stop competing and start collaborating, and how to build win-win relationships that multiply opportunity for everyone involved.

You’ll learn: ✅ The difference between “hunting trees” and “finding lumberjacks” ✅ Why trust, not money, is your greatest business asset ✅ How collaboration with competitors can actually scale your business ✅ Practical ways to identify and nurture your own network of lumberjacks

If you’ve ever felt exhausted by chasing leads, this episode offers a smarter, more sustainable way to build your business through authentic relationships and mutual growth.

🔗 Want to go deeper into the concept of Lumberjacks? Check out Episode 27 – Stop Networking and Start Building a Network Instead!

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Valerie Reid is the CEO and Founder of Simple Cremation USA, a national online platform connecting families with funeral homes. A strategic and results-oriented leader, Valerie brings over a decade of experience advising Fortune 100 and 500 companies during her time at Deloitte. She’s passionate about innovation, collaboration, and helping others build scalable businesses rooted in trust and purpose.

🌐 Website: simplecremationusa.com 📞 Phone: 1-866-333-5130

How do you stay top-of-mind with the people who matter most to your business without feeling like you’re “selling” to them?

In this solo episode, Chuck Blakeman dives into the power of a Drip System, a relationship-driven approach to marketing that keeps you consistently connected with potential clients and your key referral partners (what Chuck calls “Lumberjacks”).

Chuck lays out practical principles for creating a drip system you’ll actually enjoy doing for years, focusing on serving, not selling, while building the trust that fuels long-term success.

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or running a team, this episode will help you:

• Design consistent, energizing touchpoints with your audience
• Use recency and frequency the right way, without being pushy
• Pace yourself for long-term success instead of short-term sprints
• Build relationships that naturally turn into clients and referrals

🔗 New to the term “Lumberjacks”? Go back to Episode 27: Stop Networking – And Start Building a Network Instead! for the full backstory.

This is the roadmap to growing your business through authentic, relationship-based marketing, one steady drip at a time.