Sales expert Walker McKay joins Fire at Will to talk about why most salespeople approach selling the wrong way. He shares why skepticism beats optimism, how to handle rejection like a pro, and why you need to stop convincing and start qualifying. If you’ve ever struggled with closing deals, getting ghosted, or feeling stuck in the sales process, this episode will change how you think about selling forever. 01:45 Walker’s book 03:17 The True Source of Self-Worth 06:15 Harnessing Rejection 08:24 T...
Feb 11, 2025•44 min•Ep. 25
I’ve been looking forward to this episode of Fire at Will for a long time. Jonathan Parker is someone I deeply admire, not just for his expertise but for the person he is. We go way back, and every time we chat, I leave the conversation better. He has this rare ability to take something as intricate as communication—arguably one of the hardest skills to master—and break it down into concepts that feel clear and actionable. As someone who’s built an entire career around communication, this episod...
Jan 13, 2025•48 min•Ep. 24
I sit down with Daniel Allison, a guy who’s anything but average despite the nickname he proudly wears. He's one of the most unstoppable networkers I’ve ever met who has this contagious energy and a genuine passion for connecting people. It’s not just something he’s good at—it’s his calling. He’s taught me so much about making real, meaningful connections, and today, he’s sharing some of his best insights. Daniel’s life hasn’t been a straight line, and he doesn’t pretend it has. He talks about a...
Dec 09, 2024•31 min•Ep. 23
What’s the cost of ignoring cybersecurity? For a lot of businesses, it’s everything. This week, I’m talking with Mike Snively, a business development pro who’s spent decades helping companies prepare for the threats they never saw coming. Mike lays out some jaw-dropping stats about cybercrime and explains why so many businesses are at risk without even realizing it. We break down the difference between sales and business development, why relationships are the real secret weapon in business, and ...
Nov 25, 2024•23 min•Ep. 22
Helpful links Read Matt Detjen's book Learn more about Matt Detjen Learn more about Will Stewart Timestamps 00:00 - Matt's superpower 01:18 – How introverts hold valuable insights 03:27 – Avoiding “The Fish” in sales conversations 05:25 – Traits of the best salespeople 07:20 – “Don’t spill your candy in the lobby” 09:39 – Practicing reflective listening with kids 10:27 – The power of belief in your product 12:01 – Matt's Mentor 14:04 – The books that Matt recommends 15:45 – Writing a book: Lesso...
Nov 11, 2024•28 min•Ep. 21
01:00 - Early Career and Full Sail Experience - Lindsay’s journey through college and entering the music industry. 03:20 - Passion for Cooking - Discovering a love for cooking and the dream of owning a cafe. 07:00 - A Life-Changing Event - How a personal tragedy led Lindsay to rethink her path. 10:40 - Starting Over in Ohio - The decision to return home and start a cafe. 12:30 - Navigating Setbacks - Overcoming unexpected obstacles during the process. 15:40 - Market Research on a Park Bench - Ob...
Oct 28, 2024•19 min•Ep. 20
Jessica Lalley helps subject matter experts reach more people in their audience through coaching and strategic advice. Her company, Voices to Connect, leverages social media, publications, speaking events, and more to help clients deliver their message in an impactful way. She tells us about the intracacies of leading clients into the unknown to achieve their fullest abilities—beyond what they may have expected from themselves. There's a lot of good advice in this episode for people looking to d...
Aug 17, 2021•43 min•Ep. 19
Gordon Lake is an owner of Crossfit Simpsonville, an Upstate gym with an unbeatable community. Today, he tells us how his faith paved the way to building the atmosphere that keeps members coming back...and helps promote the gym better than any marketing strategy. Tune in for some inspiring lessons about caring for others, finding your footing as a leader, and the power of authenticity. Learn more about Gordon, his wife Annie, and their businesses: crossfitsimpsonville.com fittestoftheupstate.com...
Jun 22, 2021•35 min•Ep. 18
Dr. Raymond Nichols isn't just a social media influencer: he's a chiropractor dedicated to helping people find their best self through mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. On this episode, he tells us more about how he found his calling, and how he helps his clients find their full potential and live their most optimal life. Follow Dr. Ray: IG: @dr.raymondnichols TW: @raymondnichols_ Read "Lost Connections": https://amzn.to/3g7NaNaFilmed and recorded at the 9/8 Central Studio in Gr...
Jun 02, 2021•56 min•Ep. 17
On this episode, we're talking to 9/8 Central's very own Brand Director, Jen Blair. Jen's career started at an engineering firm and a digital marketing agency in her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before life brought her to Greenville and 9/8 Central. We're talking about books, social media, and whether or not words still matter in a world where TikTok dances are shaping modern advertising. Follow Jen on social media: Instagram: @ohthatjenblair Twitter: @jmtblair Follow 9/8 Central: Insta...
May 18, 2021•38 min•Ep. 16
"This week, I had the pleasure to talk to local Greenville legend, John Sterling. Not only did John play basketball against Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson during his years at The Citadel, but he also built software startup Datastream into a publicly-traded company that sold for over $200 million. As the VP of Sales, he trained over 150 sales reps, many of whom went on to be 6- and 7-figure commission earners. Today, we're talking about his career, the lessons he's learned, and his new book, Sa...
May 04, 2021•42 min•Ep. 15
"I'm excited to kick off the next season of Fire at Will with Andrej Suttles, CEO of Suttlesolution. Andrej's a content creator and entrepreneur who's telling us the story about how he got started—and, more importantly, where he's going. First, a book. Second, mentorship. Andrej's a big believer in helping the next person get what they want—and finding a mentor was something that wasn't easy to do. So, he's helping men like him find mentors, discover the path to what they really like to do, and ...
Apr 20, 2021•50 min•Ep. 14
I’m chatting with Tom O’Hanlan today of BookerLAB (BookerLAB.com). Tom started his first company in 1986 called Sealevel Systems (Sealevel.com) and grew it into a thriving multi-million dollar company. After retiring in 2016, Tom couldn’t stay away so he started BookerLAB, combining his love of computer hardware and music. Tom is one of my favorite people. He’s about as antithetical to the average CEO as any I’ve met. His personality is as big as his stories. We talk about a lot in this episode:...
Aug 10, 2020•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 13
I'm incredibly excited to have speaker and writer Lindsey Stemann on the show. Lindsey's superpower is LinkedIn. She's helped thousands of professionals and teams drive revenue for their businesses. LinkedIn can often be misunderstood. Many companies have a hard time understanding where it fits in their marketing strategy. We're discussing all of that and more on the show! Learn more about Lindsey at https://www.mcmillionconsulting.com. For more episodes of the show, check out http://www.fireatw...
May 04, 2020•55 min•Ep. 12
I'm chatting with Dr. Rich Constantine. Filmed at Pronk Studios. Get your very own professionally produced livestream show too. www.pronk.tv See previous shows and show notes at www.fireatwillpodcast.comFilmed and recorded at the 9/8 Central Studio in Greenville, SC. Learn more about our video podcast studio.
Apr 20, 2020•48 min•Ep. 11
If you want your business to survive the COVID-19 economic crisis, you need to love your employees like never before. We discuss that and much more today with Chris Patton of His Way At Work. Filmed at Pronk Studios. Get your very own professionally produced llivestream show too. www.pronk.tv See previous shows and show notes at www.fireatwillpodcast.com.Filmed and recorded at the 9/8 Central Studio in Greenville, SC. Learn more about our video podcast studio.
Apr 17, 2020•36 min•Ep. 10
Join me as I chat with Micah Brandenburg. Watch more shows at fireatwillpodcast.com.Filmed and recorded at the 9/8 Central Studio in Greenville, SC. Learn more about our video podcast studio.
Apr 17, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 9
In this episode I chat with Andy Mendelsohn. Watch more shows at fireatwillpodcast.com.Filmed and recorded at the 9/8 Central Studio in Greenville, SC. Learn more about our video podcast studio.
Apr 17, 2020•42 min•Ep. 8
Jackson Herlong of Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby's International Realty discusses how they built a sustainable brand in a competitive market. Watch episodes live on the Facebook page . Filmed and recorded at the 9/8 Central Studio in Greenville, SC. Learn more about our video podcast studio .
Apr 11, 2019•50 min•Ep. 7
I’m joined by Jason Blumer of Blumer & Associates. Jason started as a CPA but he’s evolved his services especially for the creative industry. In addition, he has created a unique community called Thriveal that serves CPAs who think differently. In this episode, Jason discusses the struggles that fledgling businesses face and how to overcome the first 5 years to grow a business that thrives. Show notes, as well as the live video from the show, are available on the episode page . Filmed and re...
Dec 04, 2018•54 min•Ep. 6
I’m joined by Ryan Hamilton , Head of Operations and Product Development for Plus-Plus USA . As the lead distributor for a child’s play system, Ryan knows a lot about what it takes to successfully market and ship a product. In this episode, he shares the successes and failures of starting a thriving business. If you ever thought wanted to develop, market, and ship a physical product, this is the episode for you. Show notes, as well as the live video from the show, are available on the episode pa...
Oct 25, 2018•48 min•Ep. 5
Successful business owners are always thinking about something bigger than their company. It’s evident that Marco Suarez of Methodical Coffee thinks a lot about sustainability. It has shaped the decisions he’s made to support his company, the environment, and the vendors they interact with on a daily basis. View the entire show notes >> Having a reason why you exist is important. Those values help you make decisions on what to do and how to them. It’s easy to skip this part and get right t...
Aug 07, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 4
"Farm to table" is a phrase that is used a lot by restaurants and quite frankly, doesn't mean much. But when it come to Jonathan Willis , it's his way of life. Not only does Jon own an authentic farm to table restaurant , he spends his hours away from the kitchen consulting with local farmers so that they can create a viable and authentic business. For behind the scenes photos and even more inspirational content, check out our Instagram or Twitter . We also live-streamed this show on Facebook . ...
Jun 18, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 3
Erick Arbe is the co-owner of two companies, HIBR and Golf Web Design . After a short run as professional golfer, Erick partnered with a good friend to launch a web design and development company. Several years later, they began selling a mattress with innovative tech through their new venture, HIBR. For behind the scenes photos and even more inspirational content, check out our Instagram or Twitter . We also live-streamed this show on Facebook . Learn more about Will Stewart at 98c.org . Filmed...
Jun 07, 2018•56 min•Ep. 2
