Live from Sales HQ with Corey Richardson
Our Guest Corey Richardson is a seasoned sales leader with a remarkable journey from collegiate baseball to sales. He shares insights from his career, including his early struggles in business school and the lessons he learned from his mentors. Currently, Corey is with Teamworks, a company that supports elite sports organizations.
Key Quotes
"Sales professionals like to network, they like to collaborate, and they like to talk."- "I think that was when I learned that there is something called sales where influence...if someone understands how to connect with the buyer, I have a chance."
- "I'm a big believer that if your comp plan works, you're not going to lose people. What loses people is when it doesn’t work."
5 Key Takeaways
1. Importance of Networking in Sales
- Collaborative Environment: Sales HQ fosters a collaborative environment where sales professionals from various backgrounds can network.
- Building Relationships: Corey's journey highlights the significance of building relationships with mentors and peers.
- Continuous Learning: Networking offers opportunities to learn from others and improve sales strategies.
2. Overcoming Academic Challenges
- Resilience: Corey’s story of overcoming poor grades to gain admission into business school demonstrates resilience.
- Mentorship: Regular meetings with the dean helped Corey navigate academic challenges.
- Self-Advocacy: Advocating for oneself can lead to unexpected opportunities, as Corey experienced with his business school admission.
3. Role of Mentorship in Career Development
- Guidance: Mentorship provided Corey with essential guidance early in his career.
- Learning from Experience: Working closely with experienced professionals like Dick Peterson was crucial for Corey's development.
- Support System: Having a mentor offers a support system that can help navigate career challenges.
4. Innovative Sales Strategies
- Team-Based Selling: Teamworks employs a team-based selling approach, ensuring all members benefit from collective success.
- Specialization: The company hires product and industry specialists to enhance sales effectiveness.
- Precision Targeting: An account-based sales approach helps Teamworks target and serve clients efficiently.
5. Leadership and Team Culture
- Servant Leadership: Corey values servant leadership, rolling up his sleeves and working alongside his team.
- Incentive Structure: Teamworks uses a combination of individual and team-based incentives to motivate employees.
- Strong Hiring Practices: The company’s rigorous hiring process ensures that only highly motivated and qualified individuals join the team.