55. Curiosity, Flow and the Paradox of Effortless Selling

In this episode, my good friend Alistair Corrie and I take a deep dive into toe topics of mindset, mastery, and how we get out of our own way—whether in selling, sports, leadership, or life.

Alistair draws from a range of disciplines—The Inner game, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, martial arts concepts like Shu-Ha-Ri-Kokoro, Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, and more—to explore what mastery really looks like and how we can create environments where people discover their own paths to skill and flow.

We also talk about the role of limiting beliefs, deliberate practice, and why sometimes letting go of “the box” entirely is more powerful than trying to think outside of it.

This one is about sales, but also about life—and about how the stories we tell ourselves shape what’s possible.

🔑 Key takeaways:

• Mastery is letting go, not adding more. Concepts like Shu-Ha-Ri-Kokoro remind us that mastery comes from unlearning and allowing—not forcing.

• Limiting beliefs are often invisible. Sometimes it takes intentional “intervention” to see where old programming is running in the background.

• Curiosity unlocks creativity. In sales (and beyond), focusing on the customer’s world—not your product’s facts—leads to more authentic conversations and better outcomes.

Whether you're a seller, a coach, or someone on a path of personal growth, there’s plenty in this episode to chew on.

Thanks as always to Alistair for another thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation. We’ll be continuing this thread in future episodes—stay tuned.