The Art of Sales with Art Sobczak - podcast cover

The Art of Sales with Art Sobczak

Art Sobczak, cold calling and sales trainertheartofsales.com
Everyone sells, regardless of what your job title is, and this is your place for authentic, conversational sales and prospecting tips without the sleaze factor. Art Sobczak shares proven sales and cold calling (without the cold) tips that you'll feel comfortable using, and that get the results you want. You'll help people buy, instead of pushing them into being sold. Over the past 30 years Art has helped hundreds of thousands through his books, newsletters, audios, videos, online courses, public seminars, customized company training and keynotes, and now, this podcast.
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Episodes

329 GUEST Joe Dalton- You Don't Have a Closing Problem, You Likely Have This Instead

What if your biggest sales problem isn't closing… but everything that happens before it? In this episode, Art Sobczak sits down with sales trainer, speaker, and author Joe Dalton to break down what truly separates professionals from amateurs in sales. Joe shares how he went from "just talking to people" to mastering a proven sales process, and why he now views selling as a craft, not a transaction. You'll discover: • Why most "closing problems" are actually discovery failures • The simple shift ...

Apr 14, 202638 minSeason 1Ep. 329

328 Why Prospects Quickly Decide to Get Rid of You, and What to Say Instead to Fix That

You know that kid in the produce aisle who has no idea where the dill is? The one who starts apologizing and wandering around while your brain checks out? That's what most prospecting calls sound like in the first 20 seconds. In this episode, Art breaks down exactly what's happening in your prospect's brain the moment they pick up the phone, why most common openers actually trigger the resistance you're trying to avoid, and the simple 4-part framework that makes prospects lean in instead of push...

Mar 18, 202616 minSeason 1Ep. 328

327 What to THINK to Avoid Saying the 26 Banned Sales Words and Phrases

Last episode I banned 26 sales words and phrases. But the truth is… banning the words isn't the solution. Because the words aren't the problem. They're the emotional "cover" salespeople use when they don't feel confident—apologies, permission-begging, softeners, and filler phrases that are designed to make the seller feel safer. Unfortunately, they do the opposite for the buyer. In this episode, I'll show you how to eliminate insecure language by fixing the thinking behind it—and I'll give you a...

Jan 26, 202614 minSeason 1Ep. 327

326 The 26 Sales Words and Phrases I'm Banning in 2026

Salespeople don't struggle because they lack tactics. They struggle because of the language they use—often without realizing what it reveals about how they're thinking. In this episode, Art Sobczak shares 26 sales words and phrases he's banning in 2026. Not because they sound bad—but because they quietly lower status, create resistance, and sabotage confidence before the conversation ever begins. You'll learn why phrases like "Sorry to bother you," "Just checking in," "Thoughts?" and "This is a ...

Jan 05, 202632 minSeason 1Ep. 326

325 GUEST: Lee Salz: Why Discovery Calls Must Die (And What to Do Instead)

Too many salespeople celebrate getting the meeting… and then blow it with a stiff, self-serving "discovery call" that prospects secretly dread. In this episode, Art sits down with sales differentiation strategist and bestselling author Lee Salz to rethink that critical first conversation—and turn it into a client-centric consultation that buyers actually value. Lee shares how to deliver meaningful value in the first meeting, why "discovery" language and agendas instantly signal "this is about me...

Dec 01, 202538 minSeason 1Ep. 325

324 Why Most Salespeople Hear But Don't Listen—and the 2-Second Fix

Think you're a good listener? Try this: Can you remember the exact words your last prospect used to describe their biggest problem? If not, you weren't listening—you were waiting to talk. In this episode, Art reveals the Two P's framework (Purpose and Pause) that will transform how you show up on sales calls. Learn the 2-second technique that gets prospects to reveal what they really mean, not just what they're supposed to say. Resource mentioned: Art's coaching and training app: http://Studio.c...

Nov 24, 202512 minSeason 1Ep. 324

323 The Real Reason Sales Training Doesn't Work (And What Does)

You know what to do. So why aren't you doing it? In this episode Art reveals why sales success isn't about knowing more—it's about BECOMING more. And why most sales training fails to create actual transformation. You'll discover: Why you revert to "permission begging" even when you know better The difference between conditioning and intention (and why conditioning always wins) Why webinars, books, and workshops don't create lasting change What musicians and athletes understand about mastery that...

Nov 18, 202512 minSeason 1Ep. 323

322 No One Is Born a "Natural Salesperson" — Here's How You Can Become One

Most people think great salespeople are just born with it — with confidence, charisma, the ability to say the right thing at the right time. But that's a myth. "Natural" salespeople aren't born. They're built through identity, practice, tone, repetition, and learning how to think in the moment. In this episode, Art breaks down: Why hesitation happens even when you know what to say How identity beats tactics in real conversations Why confidence comes from conditioning, not hype What separates "na...

Nov 11, 20259 minSeason 1Ep. 322

321 The Psychology Behind "We Don't Need It" (And How to Flip It Instantly)

Ever had someone tell you, "We don't need that"? You'll love this one. Art shares a hilarious old Century 21 commercial that nails one of the biggest sales mistakes out there — showing people what you want them to buy instead of what they actually want. Then he breaks down how to turn that around using simple, conversational questions that uncover real needs and make buyers lean in instead of tune out. This episode will help you stop creating objections before they ever happen — and start guidin...

Oct 21, 20259 minSeason 1Ep. 321

320 "Don't Lose Her!" (And Other Terrible Sales Advice We Tell Ourselves)

Ever catch yourself thinking, "Don't blow this call" or "They probably won't be interested anyway" ? Those little thoughts can sabotage your success before you even say "hello." In this episode, Art shares a powerful (and funny) story from the softball field that perfectly illustrates how negative suggestions, assumptions, and self-talk quietly kill sales results. You'll discover: Why your brain acts on what you focus on—especially the negative. The dangerous assumptions salespeople make every d...

Oct 06, 202510 minSeason 1Ep. 320

319 How to Inspire People to Get Back to You (And Why You Shouldn't Need To)

Tired of sending follow-up messages into the void? Getting ghosted by prospects who seemed interested? The problem isn't your follow-up strategy—it's what happened BEFORE you needed to follow up. In this episode, you'll discover the tough-love truth about why people don't respond and the four non-negotiables that make follow-up unnecessary. Learn how to structure initial conversations so prospects can't ignore you without breaking their word. What You'll Learn: The Four Non-Negotiables for creat...

Sep 10, 202517 minSeason 1Ep. 319

318 What the Top Salesperson--Who Does Everything Wrong--Knows, That You Don't

_*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> Ever wonder why Scott in the next cubicle breaks every sales rule you've learned... yet consistently crushes his numbers? Why some reps can open calls with "Got a minute?" and get prospects leaning in, while others use perfect technique and get hung up on? In this eye-opening episode, sales legend Art Sobczak reveals the hidden psychology behind why rule-breakers often outperform rule-followers. What You'll Discover: The real reason "perfect" sales techniques sometimes ...

Jul 31, 202521 minSeason 1Ep. 318

317 Why You Stare at the Phone Instead of Picking It Up (and how to fix it)

You know the feeling. You have calls to make, leads to follow up on, prospects to reach out to. But instead of picking up the phone, you find yourself staring at it like it's radioactive. Maybe you reorganize your desk. Craft another "perfect" email. Research prospects for the third time. Anything except dialing. Sound familiar? In this episode, Art reveals why this isn't a discipline problem, a laziness problem, or a motivation problem. It's something much deeper - and completely fixable. Disco...

Jul 24, 202517 minSeason 1Ep. 317

316 How to Win Every Sales Call (Even When You Get a NO)

What if you could never lose on a sales call again - even when prospects say no? Most salespeople approach calls with one goal: get the sale or appointment. When that doesn't happen, they feel rejected and start avoiding the phone altogether. In this episode, Art reveals the "Secondary Objectives" strategy that turns every conversation into a win. Whether you're building rapport, gathering intelligence, or learning about their decision process - you'll discover multiple ways to succeed on every ...

Jun 25, 202511 minSeason 1Ep. 316

315 Mastermind Part 2 - The Mindset That Built Multimillion-Dollar Empires

In this second part of Art's exclusive mastermind session recorded on a Mediterranean cruise, four extraordinarily successful entrepreneurs reveal the mindset shifts, identity traits, and beliefs that took them from startups to multimillion-dollar exits. Meet the panel: Tim Murphy - Built Presidential Pools from cleaning pools to 35,000+ pools and the largest pool builder in the US Tim Barone - Grew Vantage Mobility from $5M to $350M in wheelchair accessible vehicles Darren Wellborn - Scaled his...

Jun 03, 202533 minSeason 1Ep. 315

314 Mastermind at Sea: Sales and Success Secrets from Four Business Builders Who Sold Big

Art takes listeners aboard a cruise ship for a unique mastermind session with four incredibly successful business people... friends of his who built and sold multimillion-dollar companies. This rare group conversation features: Tim Murphy - Built Presidential Pools from startup to 35,000+ pools and the largest pool builder in the US, selling twice over 35 years Tim Barone - Grew a handicapped van conversion company from $5M to $350M in revenue over 25 years Louis Basile - Founded and built Wildf...

May 29, 202550 minSeason 1Ep. 314

313 Dealing with the Fear, Rejection, and Lies that Hold Salespeople Back

Even top-performing sales pros feel it. Fear. Resistance. That creeping hesitation before hitting "send" or dialing the next number. In this honest, no-fluff episode, we're talking straight about fear in sales—where it hides, how it disguises itself, and most importantly, how to stop letting it drive the bus. You'll learn: Why fear isn't your enemy—and how to turn it into motivation How disguised fear shows up as procrastination, perfectionism, or "just one more tweak" A powerful reframe to beco...

May 06, 202512 minSeason 1Ep. 313

312 You Sell Every Day (Whether You Admit It or Not)—Now Master It

Think you're not in sales? Think again. In this episode, Art breaks down why everyone sells—whether or not it's in your job title. You'll discover the three big reasons people fear selling, how to reframe what sales really is (hint: it's helping), and the five mindset and action shifts that let you sell naturally, confidently, and without ever feeling pushy. If you've ever influenced, advised, persuaded, or guided anyone… you've sold. Now let's make sure you're doing it the right way....

Apr 21, 202516 minSeason 1Ep. 312

311 Name-Dropping Can Help or Hurt- Use the "Three R's"

Is name-dropping a powerful credibility booster or a fast track to sounding desperate? In this eye-opening episode, Art reveals the shocking truth about strategic name-dropping that most sales professionals get completely wrong. Discover why mentioning the right name can boost your email open rates by an astonishing 468%, while the wrong reference can instantly kill your deal. Art shares his embarrassing early-career mistake that taught him the "3 R's" framework for name-dropping that actually w...

Mar 30, 202510 minSeason 1Ep. 311

310 Two Powerful Questions to Get Prospects Selling Themselves

Ever had a prospect who knows they have a problem but just hasn't pulled the trigger on fixing it? In this episode, I share two simple but powerful questions that uncover what's been holding them back—and more importantly, what's finally pushing them to take action now. We'll break down the psychology behind these questions, how a paver salesman used them on me to close a deal I had been putting off for years, and how you can apply them to your own sales conversations to create urgency without p...

Mar 11, 202513 minSeason 1Ep. 310

309 My Experience with a Painting Contractor's Mistake-Filled Sales Approach

Art breaks down a real-life sales experience with a local painting company and uncover the critical sales mistakes that cost them the job. From the first contact to the follow-up (or lack thereof), we'll dissect what went wrong—and more importantly, how sales pros can avoid making these same costly errors. You'll learn: -Why rigid qualifying questions can push buyers away -The power of asking the right questions—and actually listening -How unnecessary upselling can lose trust and sales -Why spee...

Feb 12, 202520 min

308 Stop Asking IF There's a Problem—And What TO Ask That Will Transform Your Calls

Asking prospects "Do you have a problem?" is ineffective, and causes conversations to die. A better approach that gets them to open up is using "assumptive problem quesitons. These get them to relive their challenges, and create urgency for a solution. Art breaks down the psychology behind these questions, shares examples from different industries, and provides an actionable exercise to create your own. Learn how to turn conversations into results and position yourself as the trusted expert ever...

Jan 27, 202511 minSeason 1Ep. 308

307 How to Be the Ultimate Sales Professional: The Four Pillars

There are four pillars that comprise being the Ultimate Sales Professional, and not someone who just does sales. Being fearless and rejection-proof, Being others-focused in your thinking and actions, Mastering a proven prospecting and sales process, and messaging, Having the discipline, habits, and radical responsibility to do the work. You'll hear the problems and challenges you might experience when someone is lacking in any of these areas, and what to do to excel in all of them. To learn abou...

Jan 03, 202518 minSeason 1Ep. 307

306 How to Be the Most Interesting Person in the Room (Or on the Call)

We explore the art of being genuinely interested in others—both in social settings and sales conversations. Inspired by observations at recent holiday parties, Art shares how most people fail to listen effectively, turning conversations back to themselves instead of encouraging others to share. This behavior isn't just socially frustrating—it's costly in sales. Learn to recognize critical "problem/trigger words" like "We're noticing…" or "The problem is…," and discover simple, powerful questions...

Dec 17, 202410 minSeason 1Ep. 306

305 GUEST: How to Easily Make "Happy" and "Positive" Your Default Modes, with MK Mueller

MK Mueller has changed lives worldwide with her "8 to Great" simple methodology for having a positive attutude, ALL of the time. As salespeople, we know that our attitude has more of an effect on our results, and income, than any sales process or technique. MK shares tips, stories, and how-to exercises than anyone can implement right now to get and keep our attitude at high levels.

Nov 25, 202448 minSeason 1Ep. 305

304 And the Winner Is, YOU, if You Choose To

The election is over. Some are ecstatic, others angry. Those who rely on the results to determine their happiness and success will be greatly disappointed. Ultimately, if you want change, YOU need to change. No outside influence affects your destiny like you do. In this episode you'll hear how to take control of your own success. And, if this message resonates, get notified of my new coaching program that covers this very necessary aspect that is absolutely required to be the Ultimate Sales Prof...

Nov 06, 20248 minSeason 1Ep. 304

303 Use "How?" Instead of "Why?" to Get Better Results

Asking someone "Why?" they do or say something has the potential to put someone on the spot and feel like they need to defend themselves. A scientifically-proven better option is to word questions with "How?" In this episode you hear the reasoning, and specific examples of how to use "How?" to get more and better information, build relationships, and make more sales.

Oct 23, 20249 minSeason 1Ep. 303

302 Stop Calling What Happens, Rejection

Probably the biggest roadblock to success for most salespeople is the fear of rejection. But, rejection doesn't actually exisit. It is the story that someone attaches to an experience. When we take control, and tell ourselves different, better, and positive stories, rejection doesn't happen. You'll hear exactly how to do this, and how to never be rejected again.

Oct 11, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 302

301 Victims Make Horrible Professional Salespeople

Someone who is always the victim has little chance to succeed in professional sales. Sales, when done at the highest level is all about taking responsibility, ownership, and leading. If someone is not getting the results they want, it is on them. Not because of anything, or anyone else. In this episode you'll hear what to do to identify victim tendencies, and specific actions to take full ownership, all of the time.

Sep 30, 20246 minSeason 1Ep. 301

300 How to Handle a Specific Price Objection

An objection some salespeople hear is, "I only want to pay if I get the results you say we'll get." Art shares how he suggested a fellow coach handle that actual objection that she received from a prospect, and the exact process that you can use to prepare for and address your own objections. And it's not by using silly, adversarial objection "rebuttal" techniques, but instead getting someone talking and explaining the reason behind their belief. The process is covered more in-depth in Art's fre...

Sep 17, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 300
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