585 – Crafting Your Sales Pitch
The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.
Release Date: 10/20/2025
The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.
Entrepreneur Norman Crowley shares his remarkable journey and explains why ideas matter far less than the courage to start and the discipline to execute. As Norman explains, "Just begin. The customer will fix your idea very quickly." Show Notes Page: What does it really take to come up with a good business idea, and does the idea even matter? In this compelling conversation, international entrepreneur Norman Crowley unpacks the truth behind entrepreneurial success, from his early welding business at age 12 to the billion-dollar gaming venture he nearly sold just hours before the 2008...
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A practical 10-step guide to creating your small business strategic plan for the year ahead. Show Notes Page: In this episode, Henry Lopez breaks down how to create a clear and practical strategic plan for the year ahead, without overcomplicating the process. Strategic planning gives small business owners a roadmap for growth, helping them stop reacting and start leading with intention. Henry walks through a 10-step framework that includes reviewing the previous year, refining your vision, conducting a SWOT analysis, defining strategy, setting goals and KPIs, breaking plans into quarterly...
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A referable client experience is the key to earning organic referrals, and Stacey Brown Randall joins the show to break down how small business can get referrals without asking. Show Notes Page: In this episode, Henry Lopez welcomes back referral expert Stacey Brown Randall to explore how small business owners can generate referrals naturally, without asking. Stacey shares insights from her new book, The Referable Client Experience. She explains why great work alone doesn’t create referrals, and why the emotional experience you deliver matters just as much as the deliverables...
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Bookkeeping essentials for small business with Jodi Arrant, including best practices, and the biggest mistakes to avoid in small-business bookkeeping. Show Notes Page: This episode brings a practical deep dive into small-business bookkeeping with financial professional Jodi Arrant, who shares her journey, best practices, and the most common bookkeeping mistakes business owners make. Henry and Jodi talk through essential topics like proper transaction categorization, the differences between Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet statements, and why regular bank reconciliation protects business...
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How to use the Eisenhower Matrix to cut through chaos, focus on what truly matters, and make faster, smarter decisions as a small business owner. Show Notes Page: Feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list? In this episode, Henry Lopez explains how to use the Eisenhower Matrix—a simple yet powerful framework—to prioritize your daily tasks and regain control of your time. Originally developed by Dwight D. Eisenhower and later popularized by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the matrix helps business owners separate what’s urgent from what’s...
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Motivating hourly employees starts with a mindset shift. To do it well, it requires rethinking how we lead, communicate, and create purpose for hourly workers. Show Notes Page: Host Henry Lopez and his original co-host and business partner David Begin explore what it really takes to motivate, manage, and retain hourly or minimum-wage employees. Drawing from years of experience leading both corporate teams and blue-collar workforces, Henry and David reveal why so many entrepreneurs struggle when managing hourly staff and how a simple but powerful mindset shift can change everything. They...
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Toy designer and educator Cas Holman explores how embracing play can unlock creativity, reduce stress, and help small business owners reframe failure as part of growth. Show Notes Page: Cas Holman, renowned toy designer, educator, and author of Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity, shares with host Henry Lopez how play isn’t just for children. It’s a powerful mindset for entrepreneurs. From her early projects like Rigamajig and playful installations at New York’s High Line to working with teams at Google, Nike, and the LEGO Foundation, Cas...
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Learn a simple, repeatable framework for crafting an effective sales pitch that connects, communicates value, and inspires action. Show Notes Page: Crafting an effective sales pitch isn’t about being slick or persuasive - it’s about clarity, empathy, and storytelling. In this episode, host Henry Lopez breaks down how small business owners can build a compelling sales pitch using a customer-centered approach inspired in part by Donald Miller’s book Building a StoryBrand. Henry explains that every great sales pitch starts with understanding your audience (your ideal client or avatar),...
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Attorney and entrepreneur Wesley Henderson shares practical legal insights every small business owner needs to protect their business and operate with confidence. Show Notes Page: Disclaimer: The information in this episode is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice; listeners should consult their own attorney for guidance specific to their situation. From forming an LLC to crafting airtight contracts, this episode is packed with essential legal guidance for small business owners. Henry Lopez welcomes Wesley Henderson, a business attorney, entrepreneur,...
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Engineer-turned-entrepreneur Joshua Talbert shares his journey from defense contractor to tech startup founder and CEO of MySherpas.ai. Show Notes Page: In this episode, Henry Lopez interviews Joshua Talbert, co-founder and CEO of MySherpas.ai, about his entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned in building and scaling startups. Joshua shares how his engineering background provided the problem-solving skills that have guided his ventures, including the successful growth and sale of his first med tech company. Joshua highlights the critical importance of strong partnerships,...
info_outlineLearn a simple, repeatable framework for crafting an effective sales pitch that connects, communicates value, and inspires action.
Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/585-crafting-your-sales-pitch/
Crafting an effective sales pitch isn’t about being slick or persuasive - it’s about clarity, empathy, and storytelling. In this episode, host Henry Lopez breaks down how small business owners can build a compelling sales pitch using a customer-centered approach inspired in part by Donald Miller’s book Building a StoryBrand.
Henry explains that every great sales pitch starts with understanding your audience (your ideal client or avatar), defining their problem, and showing how your solution helps them win.
You will learn six core elements of every great pitch: Audience, Problem, Solution, Differentiator, Proof, and Call to Action. Then, Henry walks through a five-step process that will help you craft and use an effective sales pitch for your small business.
Drawing insights from past guests like Andy Paul, Carole Mahoney, and Ryan Dohrn, Henry shows that clarity and empathy consistently outperform clever slogans and aggressive selling.
Whether you’re refining your elevator pitch, rewriting your website copy, or preparing for a formal sales presentation, this episode gives you the structure to tell your business story with confidence and authenticity.”
This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com