Sales & Cigars | Serve Up and Coach Down with Nathan Jamail | Episode 223
Release Date: 07/01/2025
What Comedians Can Teach Us About Sales with Kevin Hubschmann
Sales and Cigars
What do improv comedy, standup, and high-performing salespeople have in common? More than you think. In this episode of Sales & Cigars, Walter Crosby sits down with Kevin Hubschmann to explore how comedy skills like active listening, adaptability, brevity, and comfort with failure directly translate to better sales conversations. Kevin shares how doing improv in a cramped New York apartment sharpened his instincts on sales calls, why scripts often fail in real-world selling, and how learning to bomb—on stage and in sales—became a competitive advantage. This is a practical,...
info_outline
Stop Buying Cheap Swag: Branded Merch that Elevates Your Brand with Eric Turney
Sales and Cigars
Is your “swag” secretly hurting your brand? In this episode of Sales & Cigars, Walter sits down with Eric Turney from The Monterey Company to talk about why your promo gear should do more than just check a box—it should actually say something about your brand. Eric shares his unconventional path from construction, to almost becoming a physical therapist, to “falling backward” into sales and eventually buying the company he worked for. He and Walter dig into the real differences between being a great salesperson and being a great sales manager, handling customers who only care...
info_outline
How to Build a Sellable Business (That Could Run Without You) with B.D. Dalton
Sales and Cigars
If you’ve started a business, you’ve probably spent more time thinking about growth than your exit. But what if building a sellable business actually makes it a better business right now? In this episode of Sales & Cigars, Walter Crosby sits down with BD Dalton—sales guy turned financial adviser, business coach, and exit-planning pro. From jacking up frozen burrito sales in the northwest to helping entrepreneurs sell their companies for 150% more than they expected, BD has seen what makes a business attractive to buyers (and what absolutely kills value). Walter and BD dig into...
info_outline
Building Trust in a Digital World with Butch Nicholson
Sales and Cigars
Welcome back to Sales & Cigars, the podcast where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. In this episode, Walter sits down with Butch Nicholson, Partner at Fist Bump, to talk about something every seasoned sales professional needs to hear: how to stay relevant and authentic in today’s digital world. Butch has spent more than four decades in sales, building relationships the old-fashioned way—by getting to know people, earning their trust, and delivering value. Now, he helps Gen X and boomer leaders translate those timeless relationship skills into modern selling through platforms like...
info_outline
You’re Not Behind on AI—You’re Choosing to Stay There with John Kelley
Sales and Cigars
Welcome back to Sales & Cigars, the podcast where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. In this episode, Walter sits down with John Kelley—a firefighter, entrepreneur, podcaster, and co-founder of Beefy Marketing—for a powerful conversation about AI, automation, burnout, and what entrepreneurs need to stop doing if they want to grow. John’s journey is anything but ordinary. From running into burning buildings as a paramedic and firefighter to helping small businesses humanize their marketing strategies, he brings a refreshing mix of heart, hustle, and tech-forward thinking. The two...
info_outline
Embracing Customer-Centric Strategies with Laura Patterson | Sales and Cigars Podcast
Sales and Cigars
In this episode of Sales and Cigars, Walter interviews Laura Patterson, founder of Vision Edge Marketing, as they discuss the evolving landscape of search and the importance of being customer-centric in today's market. Laura shares insights into her entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the significance of understanding customer value and creating effective growth strategies. She also recounts a memorable story about her grandfather that underlines the importance of knowing your target audience. This episode is packed with valuable tips on aligning sales and marketing efforts, serving clients...
info_outline
Revenue, Profit, and Cash Flow—Oh My! Aligning Sales with Business Growth with Rocky Lalvani
Sales and Cigars
Welcome to Sales & Cigars—where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. This week, Walter sits down with Rocky Lalvani, the numbers-savvy entrepreneur behind Profit Comes First and the Profit Answer Man podcast. Rocky is on a mission to help business owners truly understand the business of business—from P&L and cash flow to aligning sales compensation with long-term growth. If you’ve ever had a killer sales quarter but still couldn’t figure out where the money went, this episode is for you. Rocky breaks down how to build wealth, why market share is won in tough times, and what...
info_outline
Helping People First: Turning a Sales Career into a Workforce Movement with Michael Cole
Sales and Cigars
Welcome to Sales & Cigars—where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. This week, Walter sits down with Michael Cole, founder of Next Level Technician, for a conversation all about helping people—the true heartbeat of sales, business, and leadership. What started as a way to connect a few underserved young people with skilled trade jobs turned into a national staffing and training company with real community impact. From hospitality to sales to entrepreneurship, Michael’s journey is rooted in one belief: if you help enough people, you’ll get what you need. This episode unpacks what...
info_outline
Myth Busting: Sales Leadership & Experience Demystified
Sales and Cigars
Welcome to Sales & Cigars, the sales podcast where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. Join host Walter Crosby in this eye-opening solo episode as he tackles common misconceptions in the sales industry. In this episode, Walter takes on two big myths: first, that promoting your top salesperson to sales manager is a smart move, and second, that hiring someone with extensive industry experience is crucial for a sales role. In this episode: Walter dives deep into why these widely held beliefs can be pitfalls for business owners. He argues that while top salespeople often possess great...
info_outline
Mastering B2B Sales: F.A.S.T. Development with John Powers
Sales and Cigars
Welcome to Sales & Cigars, the sales podcast where the only smoke we blow is from cigars. Join host Walter Crosby as he sits down with sales veteran John Powers, founder of Power Up Sales, for an enlightening discussion on developing effective B2B sales strategies. With decades of experience, John’s first-time podcast appearance brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. In this episode: John introduces his F.A.S.T. sales development model—focus, accountability, strategy, and teaching/coaching—highlighting its universal applicability across industries. They explore why having a...
info_outlineWelcome 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 leadership. He emphasizes the importance of clearly defined goals and strong team dynamics as essential components for achieving success. He also introduces a unique training concept he calls "scrimmaging," in which sales teams role-play realistic scenarios to prepare mentally and emotionally before engaging with actual customers.
Nathan further explains how his approach to executive coaching integrates core sales principles with strategic leadership development. He encourages leaders to foster alignment through shared purpose, metrics, and effective communication rhythms. Notably, he discusses his innovative AI-driven coaching tool, designed to support traditional coaching methods by providing personalized insights and scalable feedback—demonstrating how cutting-edge technology can elevate leadership training.
The episode wraps up on a more personal note as Nathan shares his enjoyment of cigars and narrates anecdotes that reveal how these relaxed moments promote camaraderie, reflection, and stress relief amid the fast-paced world of sales.
More about Nathan Jamail
More about Walter Crosby