Sales Without the Ick: Real Talk with the Sales Maven
There’s this word that makes a lot of entrepreneurs—especially women—tense up just hearing it:Sales.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that selling has to feel pushy or performative. That if we’re not following a slick script or mastering every objection, we’re doing it wrong.
But what if I told you it doesn’t have to be that way?
This week on The Seed, I sat down with the incredible Nikki Rausch—aka The Sales Maven—to talk about how to reframe sales entirely. And let me tell you: it was one of those conversations that shifts how you feel, not just how you think.
Sales Isn’t About Persuasion—It’s About Connection
Nikki has an extensive background in the tech world as a professional sales rep, but what makes her approach so different is that she doesn’t teach how to convince people. She teaches how to connect with them.
And as someone who’s building a business rooted in community, trust, and reciprocity, this hit home for me.
She broke down how sales conversations don’t have to be awkward or robotic—they can be real. The secret? Learning how to communicate in a way that feels aligned and comfortable for the person on the other side.
The Power of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)
This wasn’t about buzzwords or manipulation. Nikki explained how NLP—neuro-linguistic programming—is really just a deep understanding of how people process information, the language they use, and the habits they follow. She even gave practical examples about things like matching someone’s rate of speech so you don’t accidentally shut them down.
(Trust me, when she said, “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape,” I had to pause and jot it down.)
Why Scripts Don’t Work—and What Does
So many people avoid selling because they think they have to use someone else’s words. Nikki shut that myth down fast. She shared that the key to success in sales isn’t scripting—it’s structure. Knowing what step you’re on in the conversation and how to move to the next one without skipping ahead.
Spoiler: her five-step Selling Staircase is pure gold. It lets your personality lead while giving you a confident roadmap for the conversation.
This Applies to Everyone—Even If You Don’t Think You’re “in Sales”
If you’re thinking, “Well, I’m not really selling anything,” stop right there.
Because if you’re running a business, pitching a nonprofit idea, growing a membership, talking about your services, or just trying to get your kid to eat dinner—you are selling something.
Sales isn’t sleazy. It’s how we share, how we connect, and how we invite people into what we’re building.
Free Gift for You: Questions That Close Sales
Nikki is generously offering a free training to all The Seed listeners called Seal the Deal: Questions That Close Sales—and I promise, this resource is a game-changer.
Grab it here: yoursalesmaven.com/seed
If you’ve ever felt like you’re fumbling through sales calls, not sure what to say or how to guide the conversation—this is for you.
At the end of the day, we all just want to be heard and seen. And when you lead your conversations from that place? That’s when the magic happens.
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Listen to the full conversation here.Don't forget to check out our blog, beyond the podcast, by clicking here.