83: Tadas Labudis - Overcoming the fear of founder-led selling

Founder-led sales done well has a lot of power especially in product-led companies. Tadas Labudis shares his experiences with founder-led sales and how it helped him build confidence in the product and himself.

How to embrace your vulnerabilities and the importance of leaving a positive impression in sales interactions while getting insights you would never get just by looking at data.

How to balance product-led growth with effective sales strategies before its too late.

takeaways

• Sales can be enjoyable once you find your own style.
• Calculated risks in entrepreneurship are often misunderstood as reckless.
• Product-led growth can coexist with sales-led strategies.
• The definition of product growth is evolving. Founder-led sales is crucial for early-stage startups.
• Hiring salespeople too early can be risky.

Sound Bites

• "I learned to enjoy sales."
• "Entrepreneurship is not as risky as it seems."
• "You cannot hurry your clients."
• "Sales is about refining the ICP and messaging."
• "Product-led growth is about cost efficiency."

Chapters

03:09 Understanding Risk in Entrepreneurship

05:59 The Psychology of Product Development

08:48 Balancing Product-Led and Sales-Led Approaches

12:06 Navigating Early Sales Challenges

14:52 The Importance of Customer Retention

18:11 Building a Product That Sells Itself

21:00 The Role of Paid Pilots in Sales

23:57 Leaving a Lasting Impression in Sales

27:36 The Power of Founder-Led Sales

30:26 Misconceptions About Sales and Selling Styles

33:16 The Importance of Personal Sales Experience

36:19 Leveraging Sales Insights for Product Development

43:01 Refining Messaging and Understanding Customer Expectations

48:03 Balancing Product-Led Growth and Sales Strategies

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