Simple Fitness Changes for Salespeople on the Go, Ep #481
Sales Reinvented
Ian Cartwright thrives on maintaining headspace through disciplined organization, both physically and mentally. Drawing inspiration from his training routine, he likens his approach to rowing—focusing on executing every stroke perfectly rather than worrying about the outcome. For Ian, success in sales, much like athletic performance, comes from controlling the controllables: dedicating time to preparation, fitness, and structure. By keeping his environment and routines in order, Ian believes the desired results will naturally follow.Joining me is Ian, a New Zealand-based sales coach,...
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Small Fitness Habits, Big Sales Wins, Ep #480
Sales Reinvented
There’s a powerful link between physical fitness and professional sales performance, and my guest, Nick Kane, founder and managing partner of Janek Performance Group, joins me to dig into the details this week. With over 25 years of experience, Nick shares compelling insights on how building healthy habits and maintaining physical well-being can sharpen your focus, increase energy, boost confidence, and fortify resilience—essentials for thriving in the demanding world of sales. From morning routines and movement throughout the workday to the importance of treating health as an investment,...
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Morning Routines That Boost Sales Energy and Focus, Ep #479
Sales Reinvented
On the show this week, I’m joined by renowned sales expert Mark Hunter—also known as "The Sales Hunter"—for a dynamic conversation about the powerful link between physical fitness and sales performance. Mark shares personal stories and actionable insights, drawing from decades of experience, including his global speaking and best-selling books like "A Mind for Sales" and "High Profit Prospecting." We explore how daily fitness habits foster energy, resilience, and relentless discipline—essential ingredients for thriving in the demanding world of professional sales. You’ll hear...
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How Fitness Habits Drive Sales Success, Ep #478
Sales Reinvented
Karen Kelly’s approach to corporate sales has always gone beyond scripts and talk tracks—it’s rooted in her personal commitment to fitness and wellbeing. Early in her career, Karen set herself apart not just through her expertise, but through the discipline of starting each day with a run. Her colleagues quickly came to recognize that when she arrived fresh from her morning exercise, Karen was “unstoppable.” This daily ritual gave her mental clarity, energy, and stamina for the long days and tough meetings ahead. Unlike others who needed a caffeine boost by midafternoon, Karen found...
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Why Strong Bodies Build Better Sales Careers, Ep #477
Sales Reinvented
This week on the show, we welcome Denis Champagne—a trilingual sales coach, elite athlete, and creator of the Body Business Balance framework—for a powerful conversation all about the link between physical fitness and sales performance. Drawing on over 35 years of experience in international sales leadership and coaching, Denis shares how athletic discipline, strength training, and healthy lifestyle choices can transform not only your personal well-being but also your professional sales results. From the value of discipline over motivation, to practical advice on building resilience...
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Managing Stress and Burnout on the Road Through Healthy Habits, Ep #476
Sales Reinvented
Renowned negotiation strategist Dr. Keld Jensen—ranked among the top three negotiation experts globally and author of 27 books, including the upcoming "The Smart Negotiator" joins me on the show to shine a spotlight on the powerful link between physical fitness and professional sales performance. As someone who spends more than 200 days a year on the road advising governments and Fortune 500 companies, Keld brings invaluable personal insights on how exercise, nutrition, sleep, and even fasting keep him sharp, resilient, and creative—no matter the demands of travel or high-stakes...
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Improving Sales Results With These Simple Daily Fitness Habits, Ep #475
Sales Reinvented
Brandon Cornthwaite’s story is one of discipline overcoming distraction. Growing up in South Africa, a country shaped by military rigor, Brandon’s journey took him from the world of elite cycling to a life in the military. Throughout his varied career, Brandon discovered that maintaining physical fitness wasn’t just about health—it was key to unlocking energy, focus, and professional success. Living with ADHD, Brandon dedicated himself to exercise as a way to boost cognitive performance, manage neurotransmitter balance, and avoid the need for medication. His commitment to staying...
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Fitness Habits That Elevate Your Sales, Ep #474
Sales Reinvented
Kristie Jones — sales consultant, B2B SaaS expert, and author of "Selling Your Way In”- discovered that her best workouts aren’t defined by the time of day, but by consistency. After long, sometimes challenging days at the sales office, Kristie prefers to “defrag” with evening exercise sessions, finding them the perfect way to unwind and recharge. Rather than chasing morning routines, she focuses on fitting in activity at least five days a week, motivated by the endorphin boost each session brings. For Kristie, the most important part of fitness is enjoying the process and staying...
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From Burnout to Breakthrough Sales Success Through Wellness, Ep #473
Sales Reinvented
There’s a powerful connection between physical fitness and professional sales success. Bob Woods, a leading LinkedIn and social selling strategist, best-selling author, and Chief Product Officer at Social Sales Link, shares how fitness energizes and builds resilience—key ingredients that help sales professionals shine in their roles. From his personal journey of losing 120 pounds to the daily habits that keep him sharp, Bob offers practical strategies and real-world examples of how movement, sleep, and consistency fuel both business achievements and personal health. Whether it’s treating...
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Uplevel Your Sales with Fitness and Mindset Routines, Ep #472
Sales Reinvented
Laura Hayton, Head of Business Development North at Transicon and a passionate advocate for the power of physical fitness in boosting sales performance, is with us on the show this week. Laura opens up about her personal journey, revealing how strength training helped her overcome anxiety, build resilience, and unlock a new level of professional success—all while balancing the demands of her career and being a single mother to neurodivergent twins. We explore the direct connections between physical well-being and high performance in sales, and discuss the practical steps sales professionals...
info_outlineI’m sitting down with Kent Kononoff, a seasoned B2B sales leader with over 25 years of experience in sales and sales leadership. Kent is known for his expertise in value-based selling, collaborative negotiation, and strategic planning to drive high-stakes deals. Kent shares his go-to collaborative approach, his favorite negotiation tactics like calibrated questioning and strategic silence, and reveals his top dos and don’ts for effective negotiations.
Plus, don’t miss a real-world story that brings these concepts to life and a powerful reminder that everyone in your organization, including those outside of sales, can all uncover new opportunities.
Outline of This Episode
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[04:30] Kent’s three favorite negotiation tactics—including collaborative questioning and strategic silences
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[07:43] Effective negotiation strategies include value-based selling and collaborative approaches.
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[09:38] How to spot aggressive tactics like unrealistic deadlines or extreme terms and stay calm under pressure
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[14:24] Avoid undermining your own sales pitch
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[16:10] Leveraging strong customer relationships and market positioning to secure new opportunities
Confident, Collaborative, and Value-Driven Negotiation
Kent frames strategy as the overarching plan—your big-picture approach to closing a deal, shaped by your objectives, the client relationship, your position in the marketplace, and how your company is perceived. Tactics are the actionable tools that help execute the strategy: the specific maneuvers, like deploying credibility-building testimonials or positioning yourself as a subject matter expert. Strategy provides direction; tactics are how you get there.
When it comes to high-stakes negotiations, Kent prefers a collaborative strategy. Instead of pushing generic solutions, Kent concentrates on building rapport, understanding the customer’s precise needs, and creating a solution that fits the individual circumstance. This approach sets the stage for trust and long-term partnership.
We also discuss why not every negotioation counterpart will be cooperative—some may come in with a “win-lose” mentality. According to Kent the secret is to stay patient, ask calibrated questions, and gradually guide even competitive negotiators toward mutual understanding. Relationship-building and deep discovery remain essential, ensuring that you become more of a partner than just another vendor.
Essential Negotiation Tactics for Difficult Deals
Kent’s negotiation toolkit is robust but centers on three tactics:
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Calibrated Questions:
Asking calibrated questions, positions you and the customer as teammates working on a problem together. Examples are, “How can we solve this together?” or “What are the biggest challenges your team faces?” -
Strategic Silence:
Sitting with silence can be uncomfortable, but Kent believes “sales are made in the silence and lost in the noise.” Pausing give clients space to share objections or hesitations they wouldn’t otherwise have mentioned. -
Anchoring:
Kent believes in anchoring expectations early on during discovery. By citing market trends or industry challenges, he helps shape a realistic frame of reference, making pricing discussions smoother down the road.
The Irreplaceable Role of Planning
Planning, Kent insists, is everything. Quoting Benjamin Franklin, he reminds us: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Kent attributes 90% of success to diligent preparation, including knowing your customer, mapping out strategies and tactics, and setting clear objectives. Ad-hoc negotiation may result in occasional wins, but consistent, sustainable results only come with meticulous planning.
Recognizing and Countering Aggressive Tactics
In negotiations, especially with professional buyers, you’ll inevitably encounter aggressive tactics—take-it-or-leave-it offers, last-minute demands, or anchoring at a very low price. Kent’s advice? Stay calm, never react impulsively, and always use your rapport to bring the conversation back to shared goals and values. Ask clarifying questions to uncover the real motivations behind demands, and always know your own BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement) so you’re prepared to walk away if necessary.
Sales isn’t just the job of the “sales team.” Any team member, from operations to delivery drivers, can spot opportunities and bring them forward. It’s a culture of service and curiosity that uncovers hidden value for both customer and company.
Thoughtful negotiation transforms sales from a transactional contest into a platform for partnership and value creation. From strategy and planning to calibrated questions and collaborative tactics, Kent Kononov’s wisdom offers B2B sales professionals a powerful toolkit for success in even the most challenging deals. Remember: Prepare, listen deeply, and always seek the win-win.
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