Episode 1157 – Sales First, Everything Else Later: The Ultimate Success Hack
A Fun Chat with Jenell Newell
Mike Campion kicked off the podcast with a big shoutout to the one and only Jenell Newell—because honestly, who doesn’t love saying her name out loud? But it’s not just the catchy name that makes her a star. Jenell’s role in helping business owners level up is crucial. While Mike handles the “what” and “how” of running a business, Jenell and Suzanne tackle the “who you are” part, which is arguably the most important piece of the puzzle.
Grandma’s Dishes and Your Business
Jenell shared a story about how her grandmother taught her to do dishes—a lesson that surprisingly relates to running a business. Her grandma taught her to wash dishes in the order of what touches your mouth first: silverware, glasses, plates, and finally pots and pans. This lesson taught Jenell the importance of prioritizing tasks. In business, that means focusing on what “feeds” your business first: sales. She pointed out that too many people get distracted by the less important “pots and pans” like processes and systems before they’ve nailed down sales, which is like washing your pots before your silverware—messy and inefficient!
Sales First, Everything Else Later
Mike couldn’t agree more with Jenell’s dishwashing analogy. He shared examples of business owners who focus on everything but sales, even though nothing happens until somebody makes a sale. Whether you’re just starting or running a seven-figure business, if you’re not bringing in sales, you’re just playing business. Mike emphasized that getting caught up in things like logos and systems is like trying to play house without any actual responsibilities. The hard truth? Sales need to come first.
Don’t Treat Your Business Like a Hobby
Jenell and Mike both agreed that many people treat their business like a hobby, which means it’s going to cost them like a hobby. If you want your business to pay like a business, you have to treat it like one. That means doing the hard stuff first, even if it’s not fun. The key takeaway? Don’t let distractions, whether they’re shiny new systems or social media advice, steer you away from focusing on sales.
Shift the Focus from “Me” to “Them”
Mike wrapped things up by encouraging business owners to make a decision about what they really want from their business. Is it just a hobby that makes them feel good, or is it a serious business that’s going to pay the bills and then some? Once that decision is made, the focus should shift from “What do I want?” to “How can I serve my clients better?” Ironically, when you focus on serving others, you end up getting what you wanted all along.
So, Cleaning Nation, the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the “pots and pans” in your business, remember Jenell’s grandma and start with what feeds your business first—sales!