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
Harnessing ADHD for Productivity and Sales Growth with ST Rappaport [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:43
Feeling like your ADHD is running your business (instead of you running your business)? In this candid conversation, brain engineer ST Rappaport shares how to transform what you thought were ADHD "limitations" into your…
How to Be Better at Networking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:31
Ever feel like you're slowly dying by “connection calls” and “virtual coffee chats”? 🖤 You’re investing all this time “networking” with nothing to show for it - it’s incredibly frustrating! And a tale as old as time, rea…
When Sales Calls Go Too Long [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:17
Are your sales conversations going long and feeling more like lectures than anything else? If you’re lecturing, I can promise that no one is buying. So, all of the “value” you feel like you’re giving will be for nothing.…
What Do You Say When a Prospect is Talking to the Competition? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:17
Every service provider faces that moment when a prospect mentions they're "shopping around" - and how you handle it can make or break your business growth strategy. Your instinct might be to trash talk the competition or…
The BIG Difference Between B2C and B2B Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:58
Using the same strategy for B2B and B2C audiences can cause a BIG, bad difference in your sales. It’s a prime example of how one size definitely doesn't fit all when it comes to sales strategy. In this revealing episode,…
Quiz Funnels: The Conversion Secret You're Missing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:05
One of THE most overlooked lead generation approaches is quizzes. Even when people implement this tactic, they’re missing big opportunities by creating boring quizzes no one wants to take. In this game-changing episode,…
Future-Proofing Your Business: Turning Chaos into Opportunity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:49
Ever feel like you're one curveball away from total chaos? Buckle up because this episode is your secret weapon against the unexpected. Join me as I sit down with Margaret Cascio, a seasoned expert with over 20 years of…
Hidden Objections In Your Sales Conversations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:51
Objections don’t always come in the form of “I have a concern and this is it.” A lot of times they come in the form of questions and most people miss them entirely. Instead, they just answer the question and it’s a massi…
Cold Calling Reimagined: How to Win Hearts (and Sales) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:12
Ever feel like cold calling is as outdated as a flip phone? In this eye-opening episode, I'm joined by Anna Morgan, founder of Career BFF, to challenge everything you thought you knew about cold calling. If you aren’t ge…