How to Start a Business Without Quitting Your Job

How to Start a Business Without Quitting Your Job

Author: Aleasha Bahr March 20, 2025 Duration: 32:06
Do you need to quit your job to start a business? Nope. In this episode of Sales Is Not a Dirty Word, I talk with Delaney Thompson, co-founder of Bahia AI, about how she built a successful company before leaving her 9-to-5. From selling cars to launching a smoothie shop to running an AI-powered recruiting business, Delaney has done it all—and she’s sharing what worked (and what didn’t). If you’ve been holding back on starting your own thing because you’re not sure where to start, this episode will give you the roadmap. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ How to test a business idea before taking a big financial risk ✅ The smartest way to sell your offer—even if you don’t have a product yet ✅ Why rejection in sales (and business) isn’t personal—and how to handle it ✅ The hiring mistakes companies make (and how AI is changing the game) ✅ Why women crush it in sales and how to use that to your advantage 👉 Connect with Delaney or learn more about Bahia AI at www.bahia.ai or on LinkedIn. #EntrepreneurTips #StartABusiness #WorkSmarterNotHarder #SideHustleSuccess #SalesStrategy #WomenInSales #AIRecruiting

Ever feel like the whole idea of "selling" makes your skin crawl? You're not alone, but what if everything you've been told about sales is wrong? Sales is NOT a Dirty Word is built on the idea that genuine connection, not manipulation, is the real engine of business growth. Host Aleasha Bahr, creator of the Matchmaker Sales method™, dismantles the high-pressure stereotypes one conversation at a time. Instead of scripts and tricks, she opens up her playbook, sharing insights and strategies typically reserved for her private coaching clients-where achieving an 80% conversion rate on sales calls isn't a fantasy, but a regular outcome. Each episode of this podcast features candid talks with experts who offer alternative, refreshingly human perspectives on the process. You'll hear real stories about building trust, understanding client needs deeply, and creating agreements that feel good for everyone involved. This isn't about learning to pretend; it's about discovering a framework where your authenticity becomes your greatest asset in closing deals. Tune in to transform your approach from something you dread into a natural, even enjoyable, part of your professional life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Sales is NOT a Dirty Word
Podcast Episodes
How to Turn Sales Demos Into High-Converting Conversations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:56
Most demos don’t fail because of the product. They fail because no real conversation ever took place. What should be a back-and-forth turns into a walkthrough. Feature after feature, then: “Does that make sense?” “Any qu…
How to Win the Deal Before You Even Meet the CEO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:25
Most service providers think the goal is to impress the CEO because they’re the decision buyer. However in more complex deals with larger companies, you rarely get the CEO first. You speak with the CMO, the ops lead, the…
Define Your Anti-Audience and Increase Your Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:19
Most people can describe their target audience. Very few can clearly articulate who they are not for. That blind spot is expensive. It shows up as nightmare clients who drain your energy and income more than adding to it…
Why Hiring a Sales Team Too Early Can Kill Your Profit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:10
You are in a phase most people do not talk about honestly. Your offer works. People are buying. You are busy enough to feel stretched but not stable enough to feel safe. So the idea of hiring a salesperson or team of the…
The Smart Way to Increase Sales Without Trashing the Competition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:09
One of the phrases that can put many on the defense is, “We’re also talking to a few others.” Sometimes it’s said plainly. Other times it’s softened into something like, “We’re still exploring our options.” Either way, i…
When Being “Nice” in Sales Turns Into Self-Sabotage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:40
Repeat after me - some money is NOT better than no money. In this Sales is NOT a Dirty Word episode, I walk through a real client situation that exposes how easy it is to agree too quickly, stay vague to preserve harmony…
The Language Patterns That Undermine Trust in Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:59
After reviewing hundreds of sales calls, there are phrases people use in sales conversations that quietly sabotage the sale. The intention is usually to be polite. However, on an unconscious level, they erode trust, clar…
Disrupting Delayed Decision Patterns in Sales Without Pressure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:50
Most people are not bad decision makers. They are just repeating the same decision pattern (without realizing it) and wondering why nothing changes. In this new Sales is NOT a Dirty Word episode, I break down one of the…
Why Curiosity Is the Most Underrated Skill in Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:58
Most salespeople spend their time perfecting their pitch, memorizing scripts, and thinking about how to close. But here’s the truth: what separates a top performer from someone average in sales is not what you say - it’s…
What Founders Get Wrong About Sales Compensation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:31
One of the most expensive mistakes founders make happens the moment a salesperson starts performing. Revenue rises. Momentum builds. …and then the first large commission check appears. Instead of celebrating the growth,…