Make It Happen Mondays - B2B Sales Talk with John Barrows

Latest Episodes:

Nick Hill: Coaching, Training & The Real Role of Enablement Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

Nick Hill is the Director of Sales Enablement at Crunchbase, with a track record of building performance-driven coaching programs at Miro, Sprinklr, and beyond. In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows and Nick dive deep into all things enablement—from structure and timing to coaching reps and aligning with RevOps for real impact.

They explore when companies should actually invest in enablement, how to differentiate training vs. coaching vs. enablement, and how to hold frontline managers accountable in the process. Nick shares practical ideas for simplifying call coaching (without listening to 50 hours of recordings) and lays out his vision for how AI will transform sales enablement in the years ahead.If you’re in sales leadership, enablement, or just trying to scale a winning team, this conversation is a must-listen.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Visit our sponsor Website: https://otter.ai/

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasahill

Check out Nick's Website: https://about.crunchbase.com/

Mark Raffan: Stop Discounting, Start Negotiating Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Mark Raffan is the founder and CEO of Negotiations Ninja™, a former procurement pro turned sales ally, and one of the sharpest minds in the negotiation game today. In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows welcomes Mark back for a tactical, no-fluff conversation on why most sales reps lose deals in the final 10%—not to competition, but to poor negotiation.

They dive into some of the biggest silent killers in dealmaking: value leakage, premature discounting, and procurement intimidation. Mark shares fresh takes on how to shift from reactive to strategic selling, why reps need to stop deferring to their managers, and how procurement actually evaluates ROI (hint: it’s about total cost of ownership).

You’ll also get a preview of his latest book, 9 Secrets to Win Deals and Influence Stakeholders, along with a sneak peek at what he calls negotiation alchemy.This one’s packed with practical insights that will make you rethink how you close.

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markraffan/

Connect with Mark on IG: https://www.instagram.com/negotiationpod/

Check out Mark's Website: https://negotiations.ninja/

Dan Sperring: Rethinking ICP to Drive Revenue Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

John Barrows is joined by Dan Sperring, founder of AlignICP, to unpack one of the most overlooked—but critical—elements of GTM success: your Ideal Customer Profile.

Dan has made it his mission to help sales and marketing teams work together to define, refine, and activate a high-impact ICP strategy. The conversation dives into common ICP mistakes (like defaulting to company size or segment), how your ICP evolves year over year, and what characteristics actually matter when targeting the right customers.

John and Dan also break down the data on vertical vs. horizontal selling, discuss sales efficiency, and share real-world tips for aligning GTM teams to hit their number more effectively—with less waste.If you want to stop guessing and start closing with clarity, this episode is a tactical must-listen.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansperring/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/86145623/

Check out Dan's Website: www.alignicp.com

Karen Kelly: Hypothesis Selling and Creating Safe Spaces for Buyers Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

Karen Kelly is a sales strategist, speaker, and founder of K2 Performance Consulting, where she helps B2B companies sell with confidence, clarity, and purpose. In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows sits down with Karen for a tactical and inspiring conversation that covers everything from her immigrant upbringing and biology background to coaching, confidence, and creating safe spaces for buyers.

They explore her concept of hypothesis selling, the importance of showing up with perspective during qualification, and how reps can catch that elusive “sales groove.” Karen shares actionable coaching strategies, the power of preparation, and how to detach from what others think in order to show up more authentically in sales conversations.

The episode also highlights Karen’s advocacy for women in sales—and why opening more doors in the industry isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s smart business. This one is packed with wisdom, heart, and practical advice for anyone serious about elevating their sales game.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kelly-sales-trainer-/

Connect with Karen on IG: https://www.instagram.com/k2perform/

Check out Karen's Websites: https://www.k2perform.com/, https://k2salesacademy.com/ and https://k2perform.webflow.io/webinar-series-2#registerednurse

Blair LaCorte: Beyond the Safe Zone—Leading with Awareness May 26, 2025

Show notes

On today's episode, John Barrows sits down with Blair LaCorte—a transformational leader whose career has spanned aviation, AI, tech, entertainment, and aerospace. With multiple highly successful exits, Blair brings battle-tested wisdom to the table, but what sets him apart is his focus on people, purpose, and emotional intelligence. They explore everything from growing up with entrepreneurial parents to the role of money as a vehicle for freedom—not fulfillment.

Blair opens up about risk-taking, self-awareness, and his philosophy on living outside the “safe zone” without slipping into complacency.The two also dive deep into the future of human connection in a world dominated by AI, arguing that EQ—not IQ—is where we’ll win from here on out.If you’re a founder, leader, or anyone trying to grow in uncertain times, this conversation is packed with grounded insights, personal stories, and strategic wisdom. Let’s make it happen.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Blair on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-lacorte-68084/

Check out Blair's Website: https://mastermindinnovate.com/

Kelly Cheng: Building Buyer Trust Before They’re Ready to Buy May 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows sits down with Kelly Cheng, CMO at Goldcast, for a wide-ranging and insightful conversation on sales, marketing, and the evolving buyer journey. From her early days as a self-proclaimed rebel growing up in Hong Kong to working with top brands like Adobe and Microsoft, Kelly brings a fresh, strategic perspective to how modern go-to-market teams win mindshare before buyers are ready to buy.

They dive into “mindshare marketing,” the challenge of measuring brand ROI, and why most of your market isn’t in-market—and why that’s exactly where your attention should be. Kelly also shares her thoughts on video’s role in building trust at scale, the problem with attribution models, the shifting role of SDRs, and the impact (and ethical complexity) of AI influencers.

If you care about building long-term success in a noisy, AI-driven world, this one’s packed with real talk and actionable insights.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyhcheng/

Check out the Goldcast Website: https://www.goldcast.io/

Dustin Crawford: How to Motivate Reps and Decode Buyer Behavior May 12, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode, John Barrows sits down with Dustin Crawford, VP of Sales at Otter.ai, for a deep dive into the intersection of sales, psychology, and modern leadership. While Otter.ai is a sponsor of the show, this conversation goes far beyond the product—it’s about the why behind how salespeople operate and how leaders can unlock their team’s full potential.Dustin shares insights on everything from asking better questions and reading buyer psychology, to navigating the balance between transparency and confidence as a leader. They explore the value of optimistic vs. pessimistic reps, the importance of identifying buyer sophistication, and how to drive urgency without overstepping.If you’re looking to level up your leadership, improve rep performance, or just understand the mental game behind great selling, this one’s packed with actionable takeaways.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Dustin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincrawford/

Check out Otter.ai Website: https://otter.ai/

Alyssa Merwin: Inside LinkedIn’s $1B Sales Engine May 05, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, John Barrows is joined with with Alyssa Merwin, Global VP of LinkedIn Sales Solutions, to unpack the findings from LinkedIn’s brand-new ROI of AI Report—a first-of-its-kind look at how AI is truly impacting sales outcomes, not just activity metrics.With over $1 billion in revenue under her leadership and a rich career path shaped by EQ, adaptability, and grit, Alyssa shares how she’s guiding one of the most innovative sales organizations in tech. The conversation dives into her journey from a liberal arts background to sales leadership, her time at Corporate Executive Board (home of The Challenger Sale), and what she’s seeing as the biggest shifts in modern selling.The takeaway? If you’re not using AI in your sales process every day, you’re falling behind. This episode is a wake-up call—packed with insights, data, and leadership wisdom from one of the top voices in the industry.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa1/

Sam Jacobs: Community, Character, and the Future of Leadership Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

John Barrows reconnects with longtime friend and Pavilion CEO, Sam Jacobs. Sam is the author of the bestselling book Kind Folks Finish First, and he’s on a mission to prove that building with integrity and empathy isn’t just good for the soul—it’s good for business.John and Sam dive into the hard lessons learned from the rollercoaster ride of 2023, how timing and positioning can humble even the best ideas, and why leading with values matters more than ever. They also break down the evolving role of the CRO in today’s AI-driven world, the power of community, and how authenticity is becoming the new competitive edge.This conversation is real, reflective, and packed with insight for anyone trying to do good business—without losing their soul in the process.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samfjacobs/

Check out Sam's Website: https://www.joinpavilion.com/

Kevin Evers: Taylor Swift’s Masterclass in Brand, Loyalty & Strategy Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Kevin Evers is a senior editor at Harvard Business Review and author of the upcoming book There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift. In this episode, Kevin and John break down what makes Taylor Swift one of the most brilliant business minds of our time.

From reclaiming her masters to building an unbreakable bond with fans, Swift’s ability to scale the unscalable, adapt to change, and maintain authenticity offers powerful lessons for sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Whether you’re a Swiftie or not, this conversation is packed with insights on vision, branding, and long-term success.

Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today’s AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let’s Make It Happen together!

Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/

Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/

Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1

Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-evers1/

Connect with Kevin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/there_is_nothing_like_this/

Get Kevin's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Nothing-Like-This-Strategic/dp/B0DD2XL7C5