Good Morning. Fireflies co-founder Sam Udotong revealed that their AI note-taker originally wasn’t AI at all. It was just 2 guys secretly joining calls and taking notes by hand during more than 100 customer meetings. A true masterclass in doing things that don’t scale. So next time you don’t feel like sending handwritten cards or writing individual emails, remind yourself that it could be worse. You could be taking notes on a stranger’s Zoom call while they tell their team an AI bot is doing the work. Now, let’s get into today’s Follow Up. (:
Ask for a real example ❓
Persuading without manipulating people 🤝
Managers managing managers no more. ❌
Sales jobs & a meme 😂
Sales Tip of The Day 💡
When you’re deep in discovery and a prospect gives you a vague answer, ask them to go a level deeper.
❌ “Got it, thanks.”
✅ “That’s helpful, but can you give me an example so I understand the real impact?”
Real examples give you context, which in turn gives you leverage
The more you know about their problem, the better you can help them solve it.
Master Every Sales Call with These 30 Ready-to-Use Scripts
Nail your next call with confidence using 30 proven templates built to convert. From first touch to upselling, these scripts are designed to keep you in control and ahead of the conversation:
Templates for every stage of the sales process, from cold outreach to closing
Customizable templates for phone, email, and voicemail
Built-in conversation flows to help guide prospects toward “yes”
Proven scripts that help you connect with leads, overcome objections, and close more deals
You’ve got the charm, now get the words. These scripts do the heavy lifting so you can focus on closing.
How to Persuade Without Manipulating
Every good salesperson wrestles with this question: Where's the line between persuasion and manipulation?
You want to close deals, but you don't want to be known as that sleazy rep that people warn their friends about. You've seen what happens when salespeople cross that line. It gets ugly fast.
So what's the actual difference between persuasion and manipulation?
It comes down to one thing. Who benefits from the outcome?
When you persuade someone, you're helping them make a decision that serves their best interests. When you manipulate, you're serving yourself at their expense.
In good sales, both parties win. But your intent determines whether you're building trust or destroying it.
Let’s talk about it.
How Manipulation Shows Up on Sales Calls (And Why It Always Backfires)
Most prospects have been burned by manipulative salespeople. They can smell BS from a mile away. Here’s the classic manipulation tactics that instantly kill trust.
Fake urgency. "Prices go up at midnight, so I need to get you signed today." You say this because you're panicking about your quota, not because it's true.
When they discover prices didn't actually increase, you burned their trust. Forever.
Cherry-picking the truth. You show the ROI graph but conveniently forget to mention the hidden implementation costs. You highlight customer wins but ignore the ones who churned.
This will catch up to you. It always does.
Making up social proof. "Everyone's switching from your current vendor because they know we're the future." If this isn't actually happening, don't say it.
Overpromising results. Telling prospects your product will solve all their problems when you know it won't. This is particularly dangerous because you'll eventually have to deliver or confess that you lied.
Neither option ends well for your career.
How to Ethically Persuade Prospects (Without Feeling Like a Scumbag)
You still need to close deals. Here's how to do it without destroying your soul.
Be radically transparent. Your buyer already knows you want to sell them something. Stop pretending otherwise.
The fastest way to build credibility is by telling the truth. This includes where your product won't meet their needs.
Admitting your downsides shows that you have their best interest in mind, which builds their trust quicker.
Show, don't tell. Treat prospects like intelligent humans. Show them why your product works for their specific situation based on their actual needs.
Frame everything from their business perspective, not your feature list.
When prospects feel understood, they become receptive to solutions.
Actually empathize. Discuss their real pain points. Understand their internal politics. Acknowledge their legitimate reasons for hesitating.
When you demonstrate genuine empathy, you create respect and authenticity.
Only after you've done this should you explain how your product solves their problems.
Empower, don't pressure. Give them all the information they need to make a smart decision. Be ready to handle objections. But also be willing to let them walk away.
Once you've told the truth, shown the path forward, and proven your value, you have to let them choose.
The best salespeople make prospects feel smarter.
Why Integrity Actually Works Better
Buyers are drowning in "urgent" sales pitches and manipulative tactics. Every rep claims their solution is revolutionary and time-sensitive.
Give your prospects a break. Be real, open, and honest.
They'll respect you for it. And respect closes more deals than pressure ever will.
Which manipulation tactic do you see most often?
