Tea and Timbits

In this episode we bravely wade into the world of CRMs — not the most glamorous topic, but definitely one that can make or break your business sanity. We kick things off with a cautionary tale about mysterious contract clauses (spoiler: they weren’t included, but were somehow still binding?), before diving into the myth that picking the "right" CRM tool is the secret to sales success. Spoiler #2: it’s not.

We explore why y...

In this episode, we kick off our new series on technology and tools by diving headfirst into the buzz (and occasional chaos) surrounding AI. From echoey mics to echo chambers of bad RFPs, we talk about the real-world applications, risks, and etiquette of using AI in business. Scott shares hard-won wisdom from the trenches of proposal hell, while Andy questions whether AI wrote that overly nice email you just got. We break down how ...

In this episode, we go from nostalgic concerts to cold, hard conversions as we break down pipeline stages that actually move the needle. Spoiler: ticking boxes and wishful thinking won’t cut it. We riff on why your pipeline should be guided by buyer behavior (not your internal task list), how to avoid zombie deals haunting your CRM, and the magic of knowing when to walk away. Plus, Andy has a mini identity crisis after realizing ou...

This week we go deep (well, as deep as we ever go) on target market analysis—or as we like to call it, “the thing that stops you from chasing every shiny object on the internet.” We unpack the difference between total addressable market (a.k.a. the fantasy) and actual target market (a.k.a. the people who might pay you this year).

Scott shares a cautionary tale from a Chicago business trip turned unexpected road trip to Toronto, and ...

We’re back and celebrating two whole years of Tea & Timbits! 🎉 And what better way to mark the occasion than by talking about one of the driest-yet-most-vital topics in business development: forecasting and pipeline management?

In this episode, we kick things off with a tale of boardroom betrayal and the ever-predictable rise of internal politics (spoiler alert: it doesn’t end with a contract). Then, we dive headfirst into the ...

In this episode, we toss aside the spreadsheets and strategy decks to talk about something more primal—like whether we can still function after a Spartan race or a surprise Swedish frost. We explore how keeping your body moving (even if just to the fridge) can lead to a sharper mind, better leadership, and fewer contracts that make you want to cry in legalese.

We also poke fun at those hyper-polished health gurus and their “12-week ...

Ever feel like your content plan is just a fancy spreadsheet collecting digital dust? In this episode, we explore why so many businesses struggle to build and stick to a content or branding strategy — and how to fix it before everything catches fire (metaphorically... hopefully).

We share a real-world example of a top-tier company that hit rock bottom due to a missing sales plan, zero accountability, and more Excel spreadsheets than...

In this episode, we dive into the thrilling (yes, thrilling!) world of personalization in business—how to nail it without making people feel like they're being followed by a marketing drone. We share tales from the trade show trenches, wrestle with the fine line between helpful and creepy, and explore how to read the digital tea leaves your prospects leave behind.

You’ll hear us break down:

• Why being genuine beats being polis...

From Milwaukee trade show floors to global maritime boardrooms, we reflect on what it really means to know your audience—and why that tired phrase doesn't cut it anymore.

We chat about the power of segmentation beyond just industry buckets, the magic of micro case studies, and the real MVP of modern marketing: resonance. Plus, we spill the tea on how AI can help personalize messaging without sucking your soul dry.

If you’ve ever ...

In our (yes, we made it—cue the confetti!), we kick off our October theme: Content & Branding Strategies by diving headfirst into the wild world of mapping the buyer journey. If you’ve ever thrown up your hands mid-sales cycle yelling, “Why are they ghosting us?!”, this one's for you.

We reflect on our own trade show tales (some glorious, some...not), break down why most buyer journeys resemble spaghetti more than a staircas...

In this episode, we leap headfirst into fall — aka the “Business New Year” — and trade show season. We spill the beans on prepping for events, navigating awkward booth chats, and following up without sounding like a desperate ex. Andy shares a cautionary tale about a supplier who nose-dived from hero to horror story, reminding us all how fragile reputation can be. Meanwhile, we debate whether booking a follow-up at a cocktail party...

It’s the Business New Year and we’re kicking things off with a globe-trotting topic—international expansion! This week, one of us is podcasting from a Polish hotel (with surprisingly good Wi-Fi), and we’re diving into the joys of taking your business beyond borders.

We unpack everything from AI-enhanced productivity to why blindly opening a foreign office is the corporate equivalent of ordering sushi at a gas station. You'll lea...

We’re back from our weather updates across the globe (you're welcome) to kick off the “Business New Year” with a bang—or at least with fewer bad pitches. In this episode, we dig into the surprisingly elusive art of customer experience and why your 20-slide company history isn’t winning you any deals.

Andy shares a story of a pitch so generic it could've been written by a chatbot in 2011, and we riff on how tailored value, co...

We’re declaring September the Business New Year and kicking off Q4 like it’s January 1st — minus the gym membership guilt and broken resolutions. In this episode, we talk about how to reset after the summer slowdown, re-energize your team, and approach the last quarter with purpose and momentum.

Scott shares how a casual conversation with his wife turned into a full-blown account growth strategy (and a two-page template), while we b...

In this episode, we take on the sometimes awkward, often misunderstood world of probationary periods. Are they necessary checkpoints or just a corporate commitment-phobe’s way of saying “it’s not me, it’s you”? One of us thinks they’re essential for building trust, the other thinks they’re a lazy crutch for indecisive leaders. Spoiler: it gets spicy.

We also share a hilarious cautionary tale involving a sales call, a window manufact...

In this episode of Tea and Timbits, we get a painfully relatable tale of legal déjà vu, where Scott finds himself buried in contract markup mayhem. Spoiler: ChatGPT didn’t save him, but it was close.

Then we shift gears and dive into the real meat: how to onboard new sales hires by fostering collaboration between sales, marketing, and finance. We explore why alignment isn’t just HR’s problem and how onboarding needs more than produ...

In this episode of the T & Timbits podcast, we finally tackle the meat of hiring effective salespeople. After an onboarding-first approach in the last episode, we now shift focus to recruitment—and oh boy, it's not about just getting anyone through the door.

We talk about the critical (and often overlooked) difference between hiring for what someone has done versus what they can do in your business. There’s a deep dive into role...

This week, we ditched recruitment for a hot sec and dove headfirst into the wild world of onboarding. But not the “here’s your laptop, now good luck” kind — we’re talking mutual accountability onboarding. You know, that rare unicorn where both the company and the new hire actually know what’s going on.

We unpack the difference between ticking boxes and setting up humans to succeed, share a “we almost lost a client story” (don’t worr...

In this bonus July episode, we explore what it means to live in a state of constant evolution (and how a flat tire can be surprisingly enlightening). From late-night roadside reflections to the business lessons hiding in market stagnation, we talk about shifting mindsets from doers to leaders, and operators to guides. It's part strategy, part therapy, and—let's be honest—part coping mechanism for when your growth chart flat...