Why Authors and Creatives Struggle to Sell (And How to Fix It)

In this episode of Sales Made Easy, Harry Spaight sits down with Janine Bolon, serial entrepreneur, scientist, and author of Published Profitability, to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing authors and creatives today: why so many struggle to sell, and exactly what to do about it.

Most entrepreneurs get it backwards. They pour money into marketing before they've ever made a single sale. Janine breaks down why sales has to come before marketing and how to make selling feel completely natural.

Janine shares how she helps authors, artists, and creatives at "level zero" shift their identity around sales, build their first contact list from scratch, and start generating real revenue without spending a dime on ads.

In this episode:

• Why "sales is gross" is a mindset problem and how to fix it
• The master contact sheet strategy that keeps you busy for your first year
• How to sell without feeling like you're selling
• Why your business is a hobby until it has revenue
• The difference between doing something to someone vs. doing something for someone

Connect with Janine: janinebolon.com/connect (Free Friday Coffee, open to everyone)

MCS (Master Contact Sheet Lesson): https://janinebolon.com/2020/11/28/your-master-contact-sheet/

How to download your FB contacts: https://janinebolon.com/howdoi/

How to Sell Without Selling: The Power of Story

In this episode of Sales Made Easy, host Harry welcomes Neal Foard, founder of StoryFire and former worldwide head of creative education at Saatchi & Saatchi.

Drawing from 30 years in advertising, Neal explains why stories are the default operating system for human beings and why bullet points and logic alone rarely close deals. He reveals how to use storytelling to build instant trust, create emotional connections, and make your message memorable, turning skeptical buyers into engaged customers who feel like they already know and like you.

Neal shares real-world examples, including the iconic Toyota Sienna commercial that spoke directly to overwhelmed moms, the power of choosing uplifting stories over complaints, and why the best salespeople never position themselves as the hero. He also dives into practical techniques: crafting relevant stories with a relatable protagonist and happy ending, using your actions (like handwritten thank-you notes) to tell a story, and leaving your prospect with one clear, memorable takeaway.

Whether you’re a salesperson, entrepreneur, or leader, this conversation will show you how to stop feature-dumping and start connecting on a human level, the fastest way to build relationships and close more sales.

Episode takeaway: All business is relationships, and storytelling is how you prove you’re the kind of person people want to do business with.

Perfect for anyone who wants to become a more persuasive, memorable, and trusted communicator in sales.

Neal Foard is the founder of Storyfire®, a professional-level storytelling course for ambitious executives. Neal is an expert in using storytelling for business, having spent 30 years shaping award-winning ad campaigns for global icons like Budweiser, Lexus, and Sony. For his international work on Toyota, he was listed among the top ten most decorated creative directors in the world. As Worldwide Director of Creative Learning for advertising giant Saatchi & Saatchi, Neal authored a program to teach professionals to sell their work more effectively. Today, he consults with Fortune 500 companies, universities, and governments on the art of persuasive messaging. A sought-after speaker with multiple appearances on the TEDx stage, Neal is known to millions for his viral videos celebrating everyday human kindness.

In this episode of Sales Made Easy, Harry welcomes Jonathan Aberman, founder of Hupside and creator of Original Intelligence Quotient (OIQ), for a powerful conversation on AI, authenticity, and why humans will always matter in sales and business.

Jonathan shares why AI is creating a “sea of sameness” in emails, LinkedIn posts, and content, and explains how smart professionals can use AI as an accelerant for their own originality instead of a crutch. He also discusses the surprising cognitive impact of over-relying on AI and why authenticity is becoming more valuable than ever.

Timestamps:

• 01:10 - Why AI creates polished but homogenized content
• 03:45 - Using AI as an accelerant vs a crutch
• 05:50 - How overusing AI can cause cognitive decline
• 08:20 - Imposter syndrome and the temptation of “perfect” AI output
• 11:15 - Why consumers are craving human originality and connection
• 14:30 - Jonathan’s funny AI hallucination stories
• 17:40 - What is Hupside and the OIQ Challenge?
• 22:10 - Why Jonathan started the company
• 25:45 - Entrepreneurial lessons and resilience
• 28:30 - Advice for small business owners and salespeople using AI
• 32:50 - Where to take the free OIQ Challenge

If you want to stand out in the AI era, this episode will show you exactly how to protect and amplify your most valuable asset — your authentic human voice.

Guest: Jonathan Aberman, Founder of Hubside

Take the free OIQ Challenge:https://www.hupside.com/oiq-challenge

Jonathan Aberman is an entrepreneur, investor, and innovation strategist focused on redefining human potential in the age of AI. As co-founder of Hupside, he is advancing “Original Intelligence,” a new category that quantifies human originality as a business advantage. He’s a partner at Ruxton Ventures, founding dean of the School of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology at Marymount University, and serves as Visiting Entrepreneur and Strategic Advisor to the Frank J. Guarini School of Business at John Cabot University. Jonathan has been named a Washingtonian “Tech Titan,” included in the Washington Business Journal’s “Power 100,” and recognized among Virginia’s most influential entrepreneurs.