REMASTERED:  Perfecting Your Sales Pitch, with John Livesay | (Selling, Networking, CEO, Engagement)

REMASTERED: Perfecting Your Sales Pitch, with John Livesay | (Selling, Networking, CEO, Engagement)

Author: Southwestern Family of Podcasts - Southwestern Family of Companies May 26, 2026 Duration: 17:16
As a funding strategist, John Livesay helps CEOs craft a compelling pitch that engages investors in a way that inspires them to join a startup’s team. He hosts The Successful Pitch podcast with investors from around the world. He is the Pitch Mentor at Startfast.net, the number one accelerator in Upstate New York. After a successful 20 year career in media sales with Conde Nast where he worked across all 22 brands in their corporate division [GQ, Vanity Fair, Wired, W and Vogue] and created integrated programs for clients such as Lexus, Hyundai and Guess, John won salesperson of the year in 2012 across the entire company. John’s book, The 7 Most Powerful Selling Secrets and has been translated into Spanish and Russian. John has a B.S in Advertising from the University of Illinois. Show Highlights: Not only do you need to have a solid pitch, you need to know the answers to the questions investors will ask you. @John_LivesayThe moment you lose credibility, the answer is no. @John_LivesayThe entire purpose of a sales pitch is to get people interested, not to over inform them. @John_LivesayInvestors invest in the jockey, not the horse. Your horse is the idea, but you make it happen. @John_LivesayThe two reasons people go out of business are 1) lack of customers 2) lack of funding @John_LivesayYour network is your net-knowledge. Who you know is everything. @John_LivesayThe more you understand the problem the more investors think you have the solution. @John_LivesaySell the problem before you sell the solution. @John_LivesayConfident people are quietly humble. Arrogant people are loudly braggadocios.When you become comfortable with the silence in your head, you become comfortable with the silence in the room. @John_Livesay The Action Catalyst is a weekly podcast hosted by Dan Moore, President of Southwestern Advantage, the oldest direct-sales company in America, and Partner with Southwestern Consulting. With more than 45 years in sales leadership and marketing management, Dan has a wealth of knowledge to share on how to make better use of time to achieve life, sales, and other business goals. Each week, he interviews some of the nation’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing meaningful tips and advice. Subscribe on iTunes and please leave a rating and review!

What does it take to move from thinking to doing, from planning to achieving? The Action Catalyst is a podcast built on the premise that real progress requires more than just motivation-it demands actionable insight. Each conversation features a different top leader or accomplished achiever, but the focus remains consistently practical: extracting the hard-earned lessons they learned on their way up. You’ll hear stories not just of success, but of the setbacks and plateaus that preceded it, with guests offering concrete strategies for navigating those inevitable challenges. This isn’t about abstract theory; it’s a resource for anyone feeling stuck in mediocrity or unsure of their next step in business, personal development, or their professional journey. The discussions are designed to help you uncover a more personal source of inspiration and then translate that into a clearer path forward. Tune in for a regular dose of candid advice and proven methods to help dismantle obstacles and reach your specific goals. The Action Catalyst is produced by the Southwestern Family of Podcasts, part of the Southwestern Family of Companies, and delivers these conversations with the understanding that sustained action is the most powerful catalyst for change. You’ll find each episode centers on a transferable idea or a shift in perspective that you can apply immediately, making the podcast a tool for ongoing education and self-improvement.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Action Catalyst
Podcast Episodes
Cut For Time:  Going Out Like Koufax [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21
In this cut-for-time clip from Episode 504 of The Action Catalyst, Dr. Tony Alessandra, founder of Assessments 24x7 shares how when it was time to leave the speaking circuit, he looked to a few MLB greats for guidance...…
CLIP:  10 Minutes to Pitch / 90 Seconds to Succeed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12
John Livesay, funding strategist and author, reveals how to structure a winning pitch, grab attention in the first 90 seconds, and position the founder as the “jockey” investors want to back. Hear John's full interview i…
Overtime with Outland:  Dr. Tony Alessandra, Episode 504 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:18
Overtime with Outland is Action Catalyst host Adam Outland's reflections and commentary on discussions with each of his esteemed and accomplished guests.In this segment, Adam dissects Episode 504 with Dr. Tony Alessandra…
CLIP:  Business Isn't Personal...But It Is [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50
Entrepreneur Julie Wainwright, founder and former CEO of unicorn company TheRealReal, shares the importance of relying on data and balancing passion with objectivity as you both start, and scale, your business.Hear Julie…
CLIP:  When To Gift and How Much [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:17
John Ruhlin, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of "Giftology", offers guidance on when to give, how much to spend, and how to calculate ROI on gifting to clients or prospects.Hear John's full interview in Episode 173 of…
CLIP:  Winning Hearts and Minds in Totality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:46
Lifang He, brand strategist, and former leader at Apple, Amazon, Ring, and Bloomberg, explains how branding is a truly wholistic experience, and one that doesn't stop after you've come up with a name and logo...every int…
CLIP:  The 5 Love Languages at Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:12
Best-selling author and counselor Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, explains what the 5 love languages ARE, and how to translate the languages into the workplace. Hear Dr. Chapman's full interview in E…