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What if the path to sales and marketing excellence was hiding in your favorite summer pastimes? Evan Polin and Craig Andrews reveal powerful business strategies inspired by golf, baseball, and pickleball in this thought-provoking episode.

Golf isn't just about swinging clubs—it's a masterclass in preparation and customized strategy. Like selecting the right club for each hole, successful sales professionals choose the perfect approach for each prospect. The "platinum rule" of treating others how they want to be treated becomes your green-reading guide, helping you understand whether your prospect values results, relationships, or a specific communication style.

Baseball's greatest lesson? Consistency beats occasional brilliance. While everyone loves watching home runs, the player who reliably hits singles and draws walks creates more scoring opportunities. Similarly, steady prospecting and reasonable conversion rates typically outperform the hunt for blockbuster deals. A baseball player batting .300 is exceptional—and sales professionals should recognize that similar success rates can lead to tremendous results with sufficient volume.

The newest sporting sensation, pickleball, teaches agility and responsiveness. In today's digital marketplace, prospects expect immediate attention when showing interest. Like a pickleball player anticipating their opponent's next move, sales teams must be prepared to respond promptly when opportunity knocks, or risk losing business to more responsive competitors.

Throughout the episode, Evan and Craig emphasize the importance of metrics-driven improvement. Whether tracking your golf handicap, baseball batting average, or sales conversion rate, data reveals improvement opportunities and enables strategic adjustments.

Ready to transform your approach to business development? Listen now to discover how sports psychology and strategy can elevate your sales and marketing performance. Subscribe for more insights, and follow us on social media for bonus content that will help you outperform the competition.

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The halfway point of the year often sneaks up on us—one moment we're setting ambitious goals for January, and suddenly we're staring down July, wondering where the time went. This critical juncture demands honest reflection: Are you on track to hit your annual targets, or do you need to recalibrate?

Evan Polin and Craig Andrews deliver a masterclass in mid-year sales strategy assessment with their "Summer Break, Time for Sales Tune-Up" episode. They break down four essential areas every sales professional needs to evaluate now: messaging effectiveness, pipeline reality, CRM optimization, and skills development. The summer months—with fewer networking events and client meetings—create the perfect opportunity for this strategic reset.

When examining your messaging, the focus shouldn't be on creativity but consistency. As Polin emphasizes, "If something's working, how can we double down, triple down?" This data-driven approach eliminates the common sales tendency to chase shiny new tactics when existing strategies are already proving effective. Similarly, your pipeline requires brutal honesty—are you hanging onto opportunities from last November simply because removing them feels uncomfortable? The hard truth: "I have worked with very few people who get paid on what's in the pipeline. Almost everybody only gets paid when somebody becomes a client."

The podcast also tackles CRM maintenance (suggesting monthly check-ins) and the importance of continuous skills development. Just as elite athletes never stop training, sales professionals must regularly sharpen their fundamentals—from elevator pitches to referral conversations—to stay competitive. This summer tune-up isn't merely administrative; it's the strategic reset that positions you for accelerated success when business activity intensifies after Labor Day.

What one thing will you implement before summer ends? Share in the comments for some public accountability—studies show you're more likely to follow through once you've stated your intentions!

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What happens when compliance isn't a jail sentence but a collaborative approach to protecting your organization? Today's conversation with Raul, VP and Chief Compliance Officer for Jackson Health System, reveals the unexpected parallels between effective compliance work and successful sales and marketing strategies.

With oversight of healthcare compliance for 15,000 employees across multiple hospitals and healthcare centers, Raul shares how his team has transformed potential fear and reluctance into trust and partnership. The secret? Embedding compliance officers directly within administrative teams, where they become trusted advisors rather than feared enforcers. "The approach has to be 'I'm a member of your team,'" Raul explains. "I may sit in this corporate office, but every day I'm here with you guys and I'm the one that's here to help you stay out of trouble."

This relationship-building approach pays dividends when issues arise. By participating in activities beyond compliance functions and demonstrating a solutions-oriented mindset, compliance officers earn the credibility needed when difficult situations emerge. As Raul notes, "If they bring you issues and you make a mountain out of a molehill, that causes you to lose credibility." The key is positioning yourself on the same side of the table, working together to address challenges before they escalate.

Like any strategic function, compliance must demonstrate its value through data. Raul's team conducts surveys, tracks reporting metrics, and monitors training effectiveness to quantify their impact. His three key takeaways? Don't be the police, recognize that sales and marketing principles apply to compliance work, and build awareness throughout your organization. Whether you're in healthcare compliance or any leadership role requiring internal buy-in, these insights will help you transform rule enforcement into collaborative problem-solving.

Subscribe to the Sales and Marketing Playbook Unleashed wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media for more strategies to transform your business approach.