Stop Apologising for Selling

Stop Apologising for Selling

Author: Polly Lavarello September 18, 2026 Duration: 20:30

In this week's episode I'm talking about why you're still apologising for selling, somewhere, in some form — and what watching someone else do it without a flicker of apology taught me.

You know sales keep your business alive. And yet somewhere it's still there - fewer invitations in your emails, fewer emails in the first place, going quiet in your stories instead of telling your warmest people about the thing you've built. Somewhere you're still carrying the belief that being salesy means being pushy, or unethical, even though no other department in your business would get away with going quiet like that.

Six years in business and fifty-odd webinars run, and it took watching someone else pitch for a full ninety minutes without once apologising for it, for this to properly land for me. Every time I felt the numbers dropping in the chat, I used to rush my own pitch to spare people's feelings - except the people who actually wanted to hear it were still sitting there, waiting for the invitation.

So this episode is about putting your energy where it belongs: on the people who are excited to be sold to, not the ones who were never going to buy. Giving someone the full picture of what they're being invited into isn't pushy. It's an act of service.

Selling isn't the thing to rush through so nobody feels uncomfortable - it's the thing you owe the people who actually want it.

Highlights

(00:32) - why chances are you're still apologising for selling somewhere in your business right now

(01:55) - what six years in business and fifty-odd webinars hadn't taught me until last week

(06:29) - the masterclass I watched with my embroidery in hand, and what it changed for me

(11:31) - why watching people drop off mid-pitch used to make me rush mine, and why that was the mistake

(13:44) - the "no pitch, no fluff" promise AI keeps tempting you to make, and why it's not quite honest

(15:06) - the one line to say at the start of a workshop instead of half-apologising for what's coming

(20:07) - the invitation to go make another one

Catch the replay here: https://cushyceo.com/free-training

To find out more:

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Polly Lavarello, an evergreen marketing expert, hosts Make More Money without Selling Your Soul. This is for coaches, consultants, and online service providers who feel caught between the drive to grow their business and the need to maintain their personal integrity and wellbeing. Each episode explores that very tension, offering practical strategies for sustainable sales and marketing that don't rely on hype or pressure. You'll hear conversations that get into the real mechanics of attracting clients and generating revenue, all while prioritizing a balanced, ethical approach. Polly's guidance focuses on building a business that feels good to run, where financial success is aligned with your values. Tuning into this podcast means finding a reliable source for both tactical advice and mindful encouragement, designed for those who believe that ambition and authenticity aren't mutually exclusive. It’s about creating meaningful income without compromising the soul of your work.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Make More Money without Selling Your Soul
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