How to Win the Deal Before You Even Meet the CEO

How to Win the Deal Before You Even Meet the CEO

Author: Aleasha Bahr April 9, 2026 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 SEO manager, or the HR director.  In other words, there is a person standing between you and the final yes. If you approach them the same way you would the CEO, there’s a bigger chance that you will lose the deal. In this episode of Sales Is NOT a Dirty Word, you’ll learn one of the most overlooked and costly sales mistakes and how to fix it. You’ll learn how to shift your conversations so internal stakeholders feel supported, not threatened or like you want to bypass them. Because the truth is, they are not focused on company-wide growth.  They care about how your solution impacts their role. They are deciding if you make them look effective or replaceable. When you understand this, everything changes. Inside this episode: Why internal decision makers have different motivators than CEOs How to position your offer as support and relief instead of competition The questions that reveal what actually matters to them How to turn internal stakeholders into advocates who sell for you Why helping someone look good accelerates the close This is the shift that separates average sales conversations from ones that convert 6 figure deals with big companies.  You are not just closing a deal.You are building an internal ally who helps you win it. If you’re ready to stop losing deals in the middle of the process and start closing with confidence, book a Sales Team Level Up Call and let’s build a strategy that actually works for your sales conversations:👉 https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup 01:30 – Who you’re actually selling to first (and why it matters)02:15 – Why internal stakeholders think differently than CEOs03:10 – The mistake: pitching company-wide results too early04:05 – What CMOs and internal teams really care about05:10 – How to position your offer without threatening their role06:20 – The “make them look good” strategy explained07:15 – Discovery questions that change everything08:20 – Turning internal stakeholders into advocates09:10 – How to equip them to sell you internally10:00 – Getting in front of the CEO (the right way)11:00 – Creating a collaborative “team” dynamic11:45 – Final takeaway: treat them like their own buyer #SalesStrategy #B2BSales #SalesCoaching #ServiceBasedBusiness #AgencyGrowth #ConsultingBusiness #SalesTips #CloseMoreDeals #DiscoveryCall #SalesProcess #EntrepreneurSales #HighTicketSales #LeadConversion #BusinessGrowthStrategy #SalesTraining #ClientAcquisition #SalesPsychology #BlackSheepSales #WomenInBusiness #SalesIsNotADirtyWord

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…
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,…
How To Stand Out When Everyone Is Using AI in Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:01
Everyone is racing to automate sales. Buyers are racing to avoid anything that sounds automated. People are talking about AI in sales like it is the magic solution to every problem. But if you have actually used it, you…