Sales and Cigars

Sales and Cigars

Welcome to Sales & Cigars, the sales podcast where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. In this episode of Sales and Cigars, host Walter Crosby chats with Sarah Nay of Duct Tape Marketing. Sara shares her unique approach to marketing, emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurs taking accountability and owning their marketing efforts. With over a decade at Duct Tape Marketing and now in the CEO role, Sarah discusses their two-fold business model—direct marketing strategies for small business clients and training marketing agencies and consultants.  They highlight the importance of...

Sales and Cigars

Welcome to another episode of Sales & Cigars, where the only smoke we blow is cigar smoke. In this solo episode of 'Sales and Cigars,' Walter takes the mic to bust the widespread myth that sales training is the ultimate solution for underperforming sales teams. Walter explains why sales training is actually the LAST thing you should do - not the first -while highlighting the 5 fundamentals that must be in place before any training can get traction.   He shares insights from a real case involving a distribution company's CEO, pinpointing the five fundamental issues that need addressing...

Sales and Cigars

Welcome to Sales & Cigars, the sales podcast where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. In this episode of 'Sales and Cigars,' host Walter Crosby from Helix Sales Development is joined by Matt Barry, VP of Sales and Marketing at Reliable Fire and Security. They delve into two significant topics: the importance of salespeople selling internally within their company as well as externally, and the current challenges of hiring competent salespeople in the manufacturing sector. Matt shares insights from his career journey, from starting in specialty steel sales to  running businesses,...

Sales and Cigars

Welcome to Sales & Cigars, the sales podcast where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. In this episode, host Walter Crosby sits down with sales expert and executive coach Nathan Jamal to explore Nathan’s impressive and varied journey, which began by selling Encyclopedia Britannica, transitioned into insurance, and eventually led him to leadership roles at Sprint. These rich experiences laid the foundation for both his sales philosophy and his work as an executive coach. During the conversation, Nathan highlights the fundamental role of accountability and alignment in effective...

Sales and Cigars

Welcome to Sales & Cigars, the sales podcast, where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. In this episode, host Walter Crosby is joined by Mark Cox, founder of , to discuss his journey from leading sales organizations in large tech and outsourcing companies to becoming a consultant and entrepreneur. Mark shares how, after stepping away from a high-travel role, he stumbled into consulting through personal connections and quickly realized he preferred working with midsize businesses over large corporations. This epiphany led to the launch of In the Funnel, where he has since helped over a...

Sales and Cigars

Welcome to Sales & Cigars, the sales podcast where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. On today’s episode, host Walter Crosby is joined by guest Ethan Decker for a tactical discussion on branding for entrepreneurs, at times employing what can at times seem like counterintuitive, and a much needed discussion on the best drink pairings for cigars.   To begin, Ethan shares his early dreams of Broadway and environmental science, detailing his journey through music and ecology, and how he “fell backwards” into marketing and advertising. Walter and Ethan exchange stories about...

Sales and Cigars

Welcome to Sales & Cigars, the sales podcast, where the only smoke we blow is from cigars.   In this episode, host Walter Crosby is joined by marketing professiona James Hipkin to discuss common marketing mistakes business owners make and how to better align marketing strategies with customer needs. To begin, James emphasizes that a company’s greatest growthengine is its current customer base. By understanding and nurturing relationships with existingcustomers, businesses can drive referrals and scale more effectively. Marketing should startwith a deep understanding of these best...

Sales and Cigars

Welcome to Sales & Cigars, the sales podcast where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. On  today’s episode, Walter is joined by returning guest Nate Tutas to explore a concept Nate calls  the "core four." This framework is designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners scale  effectively while avoiding the common pitfall of chasing shiny distractions. The episode is a  candid conversation about strategy, focus, and execution.   To begin, Nate shares insights from his current packed schedule, including involvement in  multiple masterminds,...

Sales and Cigars

Changes are afoot! As I mention at the top of this episode, we’ll be moving to a bimonthly schedule and trying to live by the ethos of “quality over quantity”. You’re going to see a more nuanced, dual perspective between sales leaders and the CEO’s who need them. I can’t wait to show you what we have in store over the next few weeks.   Today’s guest Jason Abell (President of Rewire, Inc.)  joins the discussion to share insights on effective leadership and the importance of core values in navigating tough times. Jason highlights common mistakes leaders make in meetings...

Sales and Cigars

🔥 STOP WASTING MONEY ON MARKETING PLANS THAT COLLECT DUST! Get your FREE Strategy Guide now at Had an incredible conversation with Kelly Schuknecht, founder of Two Mile High Marketing! Kelly shared her inspiring journey from publishing to marketing, and how being laid off became her opportunity to launch her dream business. What struck me most was her insight on what many marketing agencies miss - the tactical implementation that turns strategy into results. Kelly expertly explained why thought leadership isn't about immediate sales but positioning yourself as an expert over time. Her...