Rejection comes with the territory in selling, and the best salespeople learn to expect it, absorb it, and improve because of it. But the one thing that truly unnerves those who sell isn’t losing a sale; it’s having no opportunity to win or lose in the first place. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explore why the strength of your pipeline determines more than your numbers; it shapes your confidence, your momentum, and your ability to bounce back stronger every time.

The game of craps may look like a gamble, but beneath the chips and noise is a strategic lesson many overlook: small, safe bets rarely create big outcomes. The players who succeed aren’t timid; they’re prepared to put more on the table, knowing greater commitment gives them the best chance to win. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll draw a clear line between the bold strategy of the craps table and the bold strategy required when pursuing opportunity because dipping a toe rarely gets you where diving in can take you.

Promoting top performers into management roles without actually training them isn’t a sales problem; it’s a people problem. For decades, organizations have mistaken production for preparedness, assuming that excellence in execution automatically translates to excellence in leadership. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll hear why skills that come naturally to top performers are often the very ones they struggle to teach, and how the absence of proper managerial training leads to burnout, turnover, and lost productivity. But there are solutions!

Have you ever done something so many times that it starts to feel stale, or even frustrating? Boredom can sneak in, and with it comes doubt and a temptation to change what’s already working. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explore why embracing repetition, rather than altering it out of boredom, can improve consistency, preserve effectiveness, and keep your performance sharp no matter how many times you deliver it.

For decades, studies have tried to pinpoint the true indicators of success, and the answers often seem complicated. But sometimes, the real measure is simpler than we think; it comes down to how people respond when life, or business, throws a punch. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explore why resilience and the ability to get back up after setbacks matter far more than product knowledge, appearance, or personality, and how this principle applies in both sales and life.

Athletes are notorious for their rituals and routines, many of which seem excessive or even, at times, neurotic. Yet these behaviors often serve a greater purpose than performance; they help remove doubt and strengthen confidence. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explore how deliberate preparation and consistency can silence the inner voice of doubt, allowing you to perform at your absolute best not just in sports, but in any high-stakes challenge.

The networking grind tells us to “just keep reaching out,” cast a wide net and something will stick. But chasing everyone often means connecting with no one in a meaningful way. Author David Ackert sits down with Rob to explore why focusing on a carefully chosen short list of high-value contacts can spark deeper relationships, more meaningful interactions, and career-defining opportunities. Drawing from decades of experience helping professional services firms accelerate revenue, David shares practical strategies to identify, prioritize, and engage the people who matter most.

What’s wrong with sitting back and making ourselves comfortable? Sometimes nothing, but comfort can also be a signal that we’re settling on the status quo, missing opportunities, or stopping growth in its tracks. In this quick, four-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explore why discomfort can actually be a sign of progress, and how leaning into it can help you improve, innovate, and avoid the trap of “good enough.”

Ever notice that a boxing championship fight lasts longer than a typical match? Those extra rounds, the ones that test a fighter’s endurance, grit, and heart... hold lessons that reach far beyond the ring. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll share what the “championship rounds” can teach you about perseverance, performance, and pushing through when fatigue and doubt start whispering, “You’ve done enough.”

Isn’t it great when a prospect smiles, nods, and seems to love everything you’re saying? Be careful; that pleasant conversation may not be the good news you think it is. Sometimes, politeness masks hesitation, and that can create some misreads that are significant. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll show you how to spot the warning signs of what I call, “The Polite Prospect Syndrome,” and share a few trial-close questions that can help you separate real interest from empty courtesy.

There’s endless advice on how to make a sale, but what about when you lose the sale? Most sales training stops short of addressing rejection, yet that’s where some of the most valuable lessons live. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll share a difficult phone call that can change how you handle rejection, and strengthen your relationships in the process.

The system designed to care for our veterans too often leaves them waiting, struggling, and unheard. When healing is tangled in bureaucracy, pain lingers and, in some cases, lives are lost. But what if real recovery isn’t hidden in policy, but rooted in practices that have existed for centuries? US Navy veteran and author Rob Greene sits down with Rob to explore how ancient modalities like yoga, martial arts, and meditation are helping veterans reclaim strength beyond the limits of modern systems. With powerful stories and grounded insight, they unpack how these practices move people from survival to restoration when traditional paths fall short.

Releasing a book is always a big day, but when "Why People Don’t Believe You" hit the shelves, it felt personal. Too many of us struggle not with what we say, but with being believed when we say it. That struggle chips away at confidence until we find ourselves hiding behind our words instead of truly connecting with them. And once we retreat into doubt, it only gets harder to break free. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explain why words alone won’t save us, and why the tune behind the words is where the real magic lives. You’ll hear how learning to master your pitch, pace, pauses, and presence can help anyone bring their words to life so people truly will believe them.

The labor pool in the U.S. is tightening faster than most leaders realize. With baby boomers retiring and birthrates dropping, 2025 marks the first year we add barely a fraction of the workers we once did—and the ripple effects will hit every industry. Author Dick Finnegan sits down with Rob to discuss why the real competitive edge isn’t in scrambling to recruit, but in learning how to retain the people you already count on. Together, they dig into the mindset and strategies that keep top talent engaged, committed, and off the job market.

As we push through another year, most of us are juggling goals, deadlines, and plenty of to-dos. But what if the most meaningful addition to your plate this year doesn’t cost a cent, and ends up being the most rewarding thing you do? In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll share a lesson from my father, a lifelong Lion, about the kind of giving that goes beyond money. You’ll hear why time, presence, and even the smallest acts of kindness can become the ultimate gift, both for others and for yourself.

Some people still don’t understand the true value of a well-trained salesperson, but when one of the largest banks in the country doesn’t get it, that’s really disappointing. . A slick ad, a bold new café concept, and then a tagline that undercuts the very profession designed to protect customers from costly mistakes does not sit well with me!. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll unpack why Capital One’s “Ready to help you; not sell you” message is more harmful than helpful. You’ll hear why dismissing sales isn’t just a branding misstep; it’s a dangerous misunderstanding of what trusted professionals actually do.

Agency isn’t just a buzzword; it’s about reshaping how individuals and teams see themselves and the impact they can make. But what does it really mean in practice, and why does it matter so much right now? Authors Fred Miller and Judith Katz sit down with Rob to unpack their vision of creating “a leader in every seat.” They explore how agency differs from empowerment, what organizations stand to gain, and the first steps leaders and team members alike can take to spark lasting change. With practical tools, a 10-step roadmap, and real-world stories, they show how agency transforms not just companies, but the people inside them.

The humble pawn may be the least valued piece on the chessboard, but it holds the potential to become the most powerful. That’s why I call it the perfect underdog; overlooked, underestimated, and yet capable of surprising everyone with what it can achieve. With the right mix of skill and luck, the pawn transforms from weakest to strongest, and there’s a lesson in that for all of us. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll share how the pawn’s journey mirrors our own, and why you should never underestimate what’s possible when you combine hard work with opportunity.

Perfection feels like control, but it can just as easily become a trap. Chasing flawless execution often delays the work that really matters, and keeps ideas from ever reaching the world. Architect and author Jason McLennan sits down with Rob to explore the power of strategic imperfection, a counterintuitive mindset that fuels creativity, momentum, and bold innovation. From pioneering green buildings to launching game-changing organizations, Jason shares how letting go of “perfect” can open the door to your best work.

Perfection sounds noble, but it often becomes the single biggest roadblock to achieving our goals. Whether it’s an author rewriting chapters for years or a jobseeker endlessly reworking a résumé, the pursuit of perfection often leads to unfinished work and lost opportunities. Done, as it turns out, really is better than perfect. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explain why striving for progress beats chasing perfection every time, and how adopting this mindset can help you finish what matters most.