In this episode of Unfinished Business, host David Sliman sits down with Bradley Rausch, Owner of Level Up Influence, to unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of revenue growth: customer retention. Bradley brings years of experience in sales, customer success, and backend optimization — and he makes a compelling case that the real money isn’t in closing the deal… it’s in keeping the client.

As Bradley puts it early in the conversation, “the industry overall… glamorizes the marketing… and the sales and the front end… I’m just here to say there’s something to add to that equation” . This episode dives deep into that “something.”

Episode Highlights

• Retention Starts in the Marketing Bradley explains why customer success begins before the sale — in the promises you make, the expectations you set, and the way you position your offer. “If we just stop making these promises on the front end, we don’t have to fix so much retroactively on the back end.”
• The Unmarketed Delivery Moment One of Bradley’s signature strategies: delivering a high-value, unexpected touchpoint 20–40% into the customer journey to spike belief, deepen trust, and prime clients for referrals and testimonials.
• The Four Sales Framework Bradley breaks down his model for maximizing lifetime value:

1. The First Sale
2. Onboarding
3. Advocacy (Referrals & Testimonials)
4. Ascension He explains why most companies obsess over step one and ignore the other three — leaving massive revenue on the table.

• Onboarding That Actually Works Bradley shares his 72-hour onboarding philosophy: “What happens in the first 72 hours will decide whether the client becomes a liability or an asset.” He walks through the four emotional shifts every new client must experience: Safety, Clarity, Momentum, and Identity.
• How to Ask for Referrals the Right Way Bradley outlines his “soft ask” and “hard ask” method — and why timing matters more than results. “Ask when the belief that they will get results is the highest… usually 30–50% of the way through the container.”
• Culture, Hiring, and Cross-Team Alignment From DISC profiles to sales-CS collaboration, Bradley explains how to build a company culture where retention is everyone’s job — not just the CSM team.

Guest Contact Information

Email: b@bradleyrausch.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-rausch/

In this episode of Unfinished Business, host David Sliman sits down with Drew Norton, the voice behind The Everyday Sales Leader. They dive deep into the mindset and discipline required to move from an average salesperson to an elite performer. Drew shares his philosophy that you don't have to be spectacular to be elite; you just have to master the fundamentals and show up with consistency.

• The Power of Discovery: Why a thorough discovery process is more valuable than a "product vomit" presentation, and how it builds long-term value for the client.
• Mindset and Affirmations: How elite sellers use mental conditioning and affirmations to overcome limiting beliefs and show up with confidence.
• The Future of Sales in the AI Era: Why relationship-based selling and "being human" will become even more critical as AI handles more marketing and automation.

• Website: theeverydaysalesleader.com
• Email: drew@theeverydayleader.co
• Social Media: Look for @TheEverydaySalesLeader on all major platforms.

"It's not about titles. It's about how you show up every day."

Episode is LIVE — and if you run an outside sales team, you need to hear this.

On this episode of Unfinished Business, I’m joined by Matthew Sniff, Founder of Map My Customers, and we break down what’s really happening in field sales today

Here’s the reality:

Most outside sales teams are working hard… But not always working smart.

We dive into:

• The KPIs sales leaders should be obsessed with
• How to build accountability without micromanaging
• Why territory intelligence = competitive advantage
• How to maximize rep time in the field
• Where field sales still wins in an AI-driven world

One line that stuck with me: You have to inspect what you expect.

If you don’t know what’s happening in your territories, you can’t scale performance.

This conversation is practical, tactical, and built for leaders who want transparency and results.

🎧 Streaming everywhere now.

#UnfinishedBusinessPodcast #DavidSliman #MatthewSniff #SalesLeadership #FieldSales #SalesManagement #RevenueGrowth #SalesTools #B2BLeadership #MapMyCustomers

What if everything you were taught about success left out the one thing that actually makes it work?

In this episode, John Mitchell, entrepreneur, author, and founder of the 12 Minute-a-Day methodology, joins host David Sliman for a powerful conversation on how to bridge the gap between knowing what to do—and actually doing it.

This isn’t theory. John used this process to 25x his income, coach elite NCAA coaches, and get his course The Science of Success approved at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.

💡 You’ll learn:

• Why most success advice doesn’t work long-term (and what’s missing)
• The neuroscience behind why your brain ignores your goals
• How to rewire your subconscious in 21 days using a simple daily practice
• The exact 12-minute method John used to radically change his health, income, and relationships
• Why 98% of people never achieve their potential—and how to join the 2% who do

This episode is a must-watch for high performers, entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to stop winging it and start living with clarity and intention.

📘 Learn more about John's methodology: 👉 https://themissingsecret.org 📧 Contact: john@thinkitbeit.com

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnfinishedBusinessPodcastShow

• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

In this episode, host David Sliman sits down with seasoned entrepreneur and strategist Rick Meekins to talk real growth—and why so many companies stall when they try to scale.

If you're a founder, leader, or operator trying to grow your business without losing control, this episode is a masterclass in systems thinking, culture building, and team alignment.

🔍 What we cover:

• Why most scaling efforts fail before they start

• How to avoid the “key employee vacuum” that cripples momentum

• Building plug-and-play systems that outlast your hires

• The power of org charts, clarity, and communication

• Why growth plans must be pressure tested (and how to do it)

• Rebuilding team culture after fast growth or fragmentation

📈 Rick shares proven strategies from his 30+ years of experience helping businesses scale from $6M to $24M+ while keeping teams aligned and focused.

💡 Favorite quote: "If you don't document it, you can't improve it." Whether you're stuck between stability and scale, or trying to lead through chaos—this episode gives you real tools to move forward with clarity.

📌 Connect with Rick Meekins: LinkedIn: http://salesproformance.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnfinishedBusinessPodcastShow

• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple, and wherever you get your podcasts. 📣 Like, comment, and share this episode if it resonated with you!

#UnfinishedBusinessPodcast #DavidSliman #RickMeekins #LeadershipDevelopment #ScalingBusiness #OperationsStrategy #OrganizationalGrowth #BusinessSystems #CompanyCulture #ChangeManagement #TeamLeadership #PodcastInterview #EpiphanyConsulting

In this powerhouse episode of Unfinished Business, host David Sliman sits down with B2B sales systems expert Kevin Downey to break down what really works in lead generation, outbound email strategy, and scaling sales teams in today’s competitive landscape. From cold emailing at scale (think 6,000+ per day!) to hiring and managing sales reps who actually move the needle, Kevin shares hard-won insights that flip the script on traditional sales ops.

If your business depends on qualified leads, consistent pipeline, and performance-driven salespeople—this is your playbook.

• 📧 Cold Emailing at Scale: Why sending thousands of emails daily is more effective than you think—and how to do it without getting blacklisted
• 👥 Sales Team Structure: Why most reps fail at prospecting—and how to hire for real activity, not just résumés
• 💰 Tech Stacks & ROI: From Apollo to Smartlead to Mailreef, Kevin breaks down the most cost-effective tools to power your outbound engine

“Activity breeds business—it’s that simple.” – Kevin Downey

If your B2B pipeline is struggling—or if you're tired of sales reps who look great on paper but can’t generate leads—this episode will open your eyes. Subscribe to Unfinished Business with David Sliman and share this with your sales team, C-suite, or anyone responsible for growth.

🌐 Website: https://kevinmdowney.com 📧 Email: kevin@kevinmdowney.com 💼 Services: Sales recruiting, SDR training, and high-volume outbound infrastructure consulting

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnfinishedBusinessPodcastShow

• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by TMX Creative – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow!

#UnfinishedBusiness #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #TMXCreative

#UnfinishedBusinessPodcast #DavidSliman #KevinDowney #B2BSales #ColdEmailMarketing #SalesOps #OutboundStrategy #SalesHiring #SDRRecruiting #EmailAutomation #LeadGenerationTools

Is your sales and marketing strategy ready for the AI revolution? In this forward-thinking episode of Unfinished Business, host David Sliman sits down with Rebecca Gonzalez, founder of Orange Marketing and a trailblazer at the intersection of AI, sales strategy, and marketing integration.

Rebecca shares real-world insights on how AI is changing the game—from automating lead generation and sales presentations to shaking up SDR teams and buyer journeys. Discover how companies are rethinking brand, pipeline, and performance as AI tools like ChatGPT become revenue engines. If you’re a sales leader, marketer, or founder trying to stay competitive in today’s AI-driven market, this episode is your roadmap.

• Why sales and marketing alignment is no longer optional—and how AI can make or break it.
• The death of the SDR role? What outreach.io’s bold move means for the future of sales teams.
• How Rebecca uses AI + HubSpot to create customized sales proposals in minutes—and how you can, too.

“The more they can test and pivot faster, the more money they’ll make. That’s the power of AI in marketing.” — Rebecca Gonzalez

Don’t miss this high-energy conversation on how AI is rewriting the rules of engagement in sales and marketing. Share it with a colleague, subscribe, and join the movement to stay ahead of the AI curve.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccagonzalez 🌐 Website: https://www.orangemarketing.com

E-mail: rebecca.gonzalez@orangemarketing.com

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnfinishedBusinessPodcastShow

• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by TMX Creative – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow!

#UnfinishedBusinessPodcast #DavidSliman #RebeccaGonzalez #SalesAndMarketing #AIinSales #HubSpotExperts #RevenueGrowth #MarketingStrategy #SalesLeadership #OrangeMarketing

What separates a top-performing sales rep from a true sales leader? In this high-impact episode of Unfinished Business, host David Sliman sits down with Nick Rella, a 13-time award-winning sales leader with 25+ years of success building and leading high-performance sales teams across the healthcare space. Together, they unpack the fundamentals of modern sales leadership, from coaching with empathy to balancing process with creativity, and from culture-building to performance turnarounds.

Whether you're a rising sales star, a seasoned executive, or building a team from scratch, this episode is your playbook for authentic leadership, talent development, and sustained performance.

• The 2 must-have traits of every great sales leader—and why listening matters more than talking.
• How to build culture intentionally, not artificially, even in underperforming teams.
• Why diversity of background and thought strengthens sales teams—and how to hire for it.

“If you're not developing people for the jobs of tomorrow, you're telling them they have no future here.” — Nick Rella

If you're serious about building a winning team that goes beyond quotas and drives culture, hit play now. Share this episode with a teammate, sales leader, or exec who needs to hear it—and don’t forget to subscribe to Unfinished Business for more real conversations that drive results.

🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickrella/

Email nick.rella@bausch.com

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com//@UnfinishedBusinessPodcastShow

• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by TMX Creative – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow!

#UnfinishedBusiness #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #TMXCreative #Training #Results #CEO #CEOLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Success #Podcast #Interview